The prince is more stable

Chapter 627 Unexpected News
This well-to-do family was the residence of Zhang Xiaoyi, a good friend of Zhao Xiaoqian.

Zhang Xiaoyi no longer makes a living as an idle errand boy. In the past year or two, while Zhao Xiaoqian was guarding the border, Zhang Xiaoyi secretly assisted Zhao Xiaoqian, helping him build a civilian intelligence network in the streets and alleys of Bianjing.

Of course, Zhao Xiaoqian will provide the funding.

In addition to ordinary citizens, Zhang Xiaoyi also secretly planted spies in the residences of certain powerful and influential figures.

For example, right now tonight, the person knocking on the door is Zhang Xiaoyi's spy planted in Zhao Ji's residence. He is just an inconspicuous advisor who has been lurking in Zhao Ji's residence for more than half a year.

To avoid suspicion, this staff member rarely contacted Zhang Xiaoyi unless there was a major incident.

Tonight, his staff suddenly knocked on the door at midnight. When Zhang Xiaoyi opened the door, he was startled.

He knew something must have happened, and it was related to Zhao Ji.

After glancing warily towards the door, Zhang Xiaoyi pulled his advisor inside and said, "Come in and let's talk."

After entering, the two went to the grape trellis in the yard and sat in the shade, whispering to each other.

"What happened?" Zhang Xiaoyi asked in a deep voice.

The aide whispered, "Yesterday, several strangers came to the Prince of Suining's residence. They were quite burly and walked with light steps. They should be martial arts practitioners."

"Zhao Ji took them to a side courtyard of the Prince's Mansion to talk. I secretly followed behind and hid in the corner of the wall, where I overheard some things."

"In Zhao Ji's words, he mentioned a man named 'Huang Chenxiang,' who was said to be a palace eunuch, and a junior eunuch at that. This man should be a pawn that Zhao Ji planted in the palace. Three days ago, he escaped to the outside of the city for some unknown reason. Yesterday, he sent a letter to Zhao Ji, the gist of which should be asking Zhao Ji to help him save his life."

"Zhao Ji secretly discussed with those martial arts figures, saying that keeping Huang Chenxiang alive would surely cause trouble, and Zhao Ji planned to ask them to silence him and kill Huang Chenxiang."

Zhang Xiaoyi was stunned for a moment, then murmured, "A eunuch who escaped from the palace? There have been many important events in the palace recently. I heard that the Emperor is going to depose the Empress, and the young prince has also passed away. This person's escape must be related to these two events."

The advisor nodded: "That's right. I overheard Zhao Ji talking about the death of the young prince."

"It is said that this man named Huang Chenxiang was instructed by Zhao Ji to commit a heinous crime. Later, the Crown Prince of Chu and the Imperial City Guard were ordered to investigate and arrest him. They were closing in on him and Huang Chenxiang saw that things were not going well, so he fled overnight to escape the disaster."

“Zhao Ji was afraid that if Huang Chenxiang fell into the hands of the Imperial City Guard, it would implicate him, so he planned to silence Huang Chenxiang.”

Zhang Xiaoyi's expression grew increasingly solemn. He said, "Regardless of what this person has done, since His Highness the Prince is investigating the case, this person must be very important to His Highness. We must intercept him before he can silence him and deliver him to His Highness alive."

As he spoke, Zhang Xiaoyi looked at his advisor and asked, "Do you know where Huang Chenxiang is hiding now?"

"According to Zhao Ji, Huang Chenxiang sent a letter asking him for travel expenses. They agreed to meet at the bottom of a cliff outside the north city early tomorrow morning. Zhao Ji promised to send him money."

Zhang Xiaoyi was startled. He looked up at the sky and said, "There are only a few hours left tomorrow morning. We must gather manpower, or something might happen."

After saying that, Zhang Xiaoyi stood up and said, "You should go back quickly and not arouse suspicion. Leave this matter to me."

Knowing the matter was of great importance and that he, a failed scholar, could do nothing, the staff member didn't stand on ceremony, bowed, and hurriedly left.

Zhang Xiaoyi paced back and forth in the courtyard alone, and soon gritted his teeth.

Tomorrow morning is the last chance. If they miss it, the person Zhao Xiaoqian wants to arrest might be silenced by Zhao Ji.

Zhang Xiaoyi didn't know how important this person named Huang Chenxiang was, nor did he know why Zhao Xiaoqian wanted to arrest him, but Zhao Xiaoqian mobilized the Imperial City Guard and made such a big show of arresting this person, so Huang Chenxiang must be very, very important.

Moreover, it must be a living Huang Chenxiang.

So Zhang Xiaoyi rushed out of his house, called on the idle men who hung out in the vicinity of Zhouqiao, and sent someone to the Chu King's mansion to inform Zhao Xiaoqian of the news.

Before long, Zhang Xiaoyi gathered about twenty people and hired several carriages from a carriage shop. They immediately met at Yongtai Gate in the north of the city and set off for the city after dawn.

Late at night, outside the gates of the Chu King's mansion, the imperial guards on duty were drowsy, but they tried their best to stay alert and stand dutifully outside the gate.

In the still of the night, a slender figure hurried over. The imperial guards on duty outside the door perked up and watched the approaching figure with vigilance.

The figure seemed to understand the warning in the Imperial Guards' eyes and hurriedly said, "Heroes, please don't be angry. I am a friend of Brother Xiao Yi from Zhouqiao. I have been ordered by Brother Xiao Yi to have an urgent matter to discuss with the Crown Prince of Chu. Please do me a favor."

His opening remarks were typical of a leisurely idler from Bianjing, and a captain of the Imperial Guards on duty glanced at him.

The imperial guards who served Zhao Xiaoqian in the Chu Prince's mansion year-round naturally knew the name Zhang Xiaoyi.

They knew that the Crown Prince considered Zhang Xiaoyi a friend and held him in high esteem. Although it was late at night, Zhang Xiaoyi had an extremely urgent matter to attend to, so the Imperial Guards outside the gate dared not delay. Thus, the captain hurriedly turned around and entered the mansion.

About an hour after an incense stick's time, the messenger was politely invited into the mansion by the Imperial Guards.

Zhao Xiaoqian, his clothes disheveled and his face full of sleepiness, sat in the Yin'an Hall yawning incessantly, his eyes flashing with an unfriendly light.

He secretly made up his mind to wake him up in the middle of the night. If it was something trivial, he would not hesitate to go to Zhang Xiaoyi's house and steal his eggs, not just this idle man.

The idler stepped forward and bowed, then immediately relayed Zhang Xiaoyi's words. Upon hearing the last part, Zhao Xiaoqian was instantly wide awake, his eyes gleaming with delight.

"Huang Chenxiang has been found? It really is Zhao Ji!" Zhao Xiaoqian muttered to himself.

Immediately, Zhao Xiaoqian raised his voice and shouted, "Someone, bring Chen Shou here!"

A moment later, a sleepy-eyed Chen Shou also arrived at the Yin'an Palace.

"Chen Shou, immediately mobilize your men, about a hundred or so, and set off now with firearms and ammunition," Zhao Xiaoqian ordered.

Chen Shou dared not ask any further questions and immediately clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.

Zhao Xiaoqian patted the idle man who was delivering the message and said with a smile, "You have done me a great favor. How can I possibly thank you?"

The idler shook his head with a smile: "Your Highness is the number one hero of our Great Song Dynasty. I have heard the story of the Prince of the County pacifying Liao countless times in the brothel of Zhouqiao. To be able to run errands for the number one hero is already a blessing from my ancestors and an unparalleled honor. How dare I accept your reward?"

"Haha, you speak well, but you still deserve a reward." Zhao Xiaoqian patted him hard and said deeply, "The news you brought is very important to me, brother. Thank you very much. Go to the Prince's account office and get one hundred taels of silver as my reward. Please don't refuse."

After saying that, Zhao Xiaoqian smiled at him and hurriedly went out the door.

The idle man stood inside the Yin'an Hall, his face radiating an unprecedented glow, and he seemed to have transformed completely.

"His Highness the Prince doesn't look down on me because I'm just an idle man, and he even calls me brother..." The idle man murmured, "I, I also want to be a hero. I can't let His Highness the Prince call me brother for nothing! I have to be worthy of this title."

The idler then left the palace. As for the one hundred taels of silver that Zhao Xiaoqian had asked him to withdraw, the idler gave up without even thinking about it.

Courage often comes from humble beginnings; not everyone is only interested in money.

Stepping out of the Prince's mansion, the idler took a deep breath and suddenly made a decision.

He wanted to go home to settle his family before joining the army.

Zhao Xiaoqian never imagined that simply calling someone "brother" would unknowingly change their life.

…………

Outside Yongtai Gate in the north of the city, Zhao Xiaoqian arrived with Chen Shou and others. They saw about twenty people squatting under the city wall, with Zhang Xiaoyi leading the group.

The crowd gathered inside the city gate, all waiting for it to open in the morning.

Zhao Xiaoqian dismounted, and Zhang Xiaoyi recognized him and greeted him with a smile.

Upon meeting, Zhao Xiaoqian gave Zhang Xiaoyi a big bear hug without saying a word and slapped him a few times.

"Good lad, you've done me a huge favor without me even saying a word. How can I thank you enough? How about I find you another wife?" Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily.

Zhang Xiaoyi's smile froze instantly, and he hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, there will be fighting at home, and my blind old mother will not have peace either. I already have a wife at home, one is enough."

Zhao Xiaoqian glanced sideways and saw about twenty idlers gathered behind Zhang Xiaoyi, and asked curiously, "What are they doing here...?"

Zhang Xiaoyi grinned: "I always felt this matter was quite important. I was worried that you wouldn't have enough manpower, and I was also worried that you would miss the appointed time, so I called a few friends to help. If you can't get here in time, I'll call the brothers to go out of the city and get things done."

Zhao Xiaoqian patted him on the shoulder with emotion.

He led more than twenty idlers to wait at the foot of the city wall late at night, just waiting for the city gate to open, so that he could calmly face death for his cause.

This is a true friend, priceless.

“Brother, I’ll remember your kindness for the rest of my life.” Zhao Xiaoqian pressed his shoulder firmly and said deeply, “It is my honor to have a friend like you in this life.”

Zhang Xiaoyi gave a simple, honest smile, then lowered his head awkwardly: "Don't say that, it's a bit disgusting. I still prefer to see your arrogant and spoiled brat look."

Zhao Xiaoqian laughed heartily and said, "I have brought enough men. This time we are going to kill someone. The brothers you called can't handle this situation. Leave it to me. You take the brothers back. After this is over, I will personally treat the brothers to drinks."

Zhang Xiaoyi nodded, but then said, "They can go back, but I want to go with you and see what it's like."

"Are you sick? What's so interesting about murder?"

"I find it interesting because I haven't seen it before. Maybe I can be of some small help." Zhang Xiaoyi smiled sincerely.

After some deliberation, Zhao Xiaoqian concluded that the trip should not be too dangerous, since the Imperial Guards under Chen Shou's command were all equipped with firearms. He and Zhang Xiaoyi could simply stand at a distance and watch the spectacle.

"Let's go, I'll show you around!" Zhao Xiaoqian readily agreed.

“Chen Shou, give my waist token to the general guarding the city gate and tell him that he is on official business from the Imperial City Guard and has been ordered to leave the city to carry out his duties. Order him to open the city gate immediately.”

(End of this chapter)