Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

The Empress hysterically declared: "Issue my decree: First, thoroughly investigate the Imperial Guard. Anyone associated with Xiao Qingfang must be severely interrogated and shown no leniency."

Second, issue me a warrant for the arrest of Xiao Qingfang, regardless of whether she is dead or alive.

"Call Huang Shengyan here again..."

"Yes, Your Majesty..."

The guard received the order and left the Guanfeng Hall.

"Xiao Qingfang, Xiao Qingfang..."

Thinking back to the Youzhou case a few years ago, he realized that he had been tricked by the fake delegation, and it was Xiao Qingfang who had supported him behind the scenes.

Wu Zetian was furious. Having been manipulated by these people several times in a row, her anger can be imagined.

Besides these, the most important thing is Yuan Tiangang.

The Serpent Spirit was actually created by Yuan Tiangang. Back then, Yuan Tiangang used the matter of presenting a stele at the Luo River to lure Wu Zetian to Luoyang to establish the capital.

This created an extremely favorable condition for her to ascend the throne and become empress.

However, she later discovered that Yuan Tiangang had placed his cronies in various government offices in the capital, and that he even had people in the Imperial Guard.

This incident made her extremely wary, and she later sent Xiao Qingfang to capture him. Little did she know that Xiao Qingfang was also one of Yuan Tiangang's men.

They never expected that Xiao Qingfang was a descendant of Consort Xiao.

Taking a deep breath, Wu Zetian forcibly suppressed the surging anger in her chest: "Huaiying, what are your thoughts on the matter of the snake spirit?"

"Your Majesty, Xiao Qingfang and the Serpent Spirit are plotting in secret."

A few years ago in Youzhou, the Great Zhou almost went to war with the Turks. Although Di Chun has exposed their identities, I think they will not let it go.

They're definitely plotting something in secret.

According to Di Chun, Xiao Qingfang's purpose in capturing him was to send someone to infiltrate my inner circle.

In order to keep an eye on my movements at all times when they take future actions.

It seems she understands His Majesty very well, and knows very well that if a similar major case to the one in Youzhou were to occur again in the future, His Majesty would definitely send me to handle the matter.

So what will they do next?

"This humble servant is reminded of the Youzhou case."

Di Renjie looked at Wu Zetian with a solemn expression.

He continued, "They are nothing more than foreign tribes outside the Great Zhou, such as the Turks, Khitans, and even the Tibetans."

Your humble servant believes that Xiao Qingfang will most likely incite these foreign tribes to attack the Great Zhou in order to profit from it.

Or perhaps they could establish internal connections with anti-military forces.

After listening to Di Renjie's words, Wu Zetian nodded in agreement.

"You're right. So, what do you think should be done next to wipe out the Serpent Spirit rebels?"

Di Renjie shook his head: "Your Majesty is unaware of this. This is the first time I have heard of the traitorous Serpent Spirit."

Currently, all that is known is that Xiao Qingfang is the leader of this organization; nothing else is known.

As for Xiao Qingfang, she is the Grand Secretary of the Inner Guard, and I know very little about her.

Even a skilled cook cannot cook without rice. Under the current circumstances, I have no way of starting to eliminate the Serpent Spirit rebels.

We can only devise a strategy to eliminate them next time they strike.

Upon seeing this, Wu Zetian sighed. It was already quite remarkable that Di Renjie could deduce from the current situation that Xiao Qingfang would collude with foreign tribes.

We really shouldn't make things too difficult for him.

With a sudden thought, Wu Zetian wondered: Should I tell Di Renjie about the relationship between the snake spirit and Yuan Tiangang?

She thought of Yuan Tiangang's meticulous creation of the Luohe Bagua Stele, a top secret known only to her and Yuan Tiangang.

Once this matter gets out, where will the emperor's authority be? The entire court will surely have reservations about her, and her prestige as emperor will inevitably plummet.

Just as Wu Zetian was agonizing over this matter, Di Renjie said, "Your Majesty, why don't you let Di Chun share his opinion? He has been in contact with Xiao Qingfang for quite some time."

Perhaps he'll say something unexpected.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zetian looked down at Di Chun. In her eyes, Di Chun was no longer the steward of Di Renjie.

Di Chun contributed significantly to both the Bloodstained Eagle case and the Youzhou case.

In that case, perhaps Di Chun will actually say something unexpected about the Serpent Spirit.

"Di Chun, what's your opinion?"

Di Chun stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe that among all the foreign tribes, the Khitan are the most likely."

Perhaps Xiao Qingfang will collude with the Khitan.

Before Wu Zetian could ask any further questions, he gave his reason: "More than two years ago, the Turks had just signed an alliance with the Great Zhou."

Jili Khan swore that as long as he remained in power, he would never invade the Great Zhou.

Of course, I'm not saying that this kind of alliance has any effect.

Given the opportunity, it is certain that Jili Khan will break the alliance.

My humble opinion is that the Turks and the Great Zhou have been engaged in a war for more than a decade, and both sides are now somewhat exhausted.

Our Great Zhou recovered much faster, while the Turks, being nomadic peoples of the grasslands, did not recover as quickly as we did.

More than two years have passed, and the Turkic region has still not recovered.

Jili Khan was well aware of this, especially since he had previously been nearly killed by the Serpent Spirits in alliance with Mordo.

Unless there are huge benefits involved, he would not restart the war with the Great Zhou under these circumstances.

As for the Khitans, they live in a harsh and cold land with a consistently difficult living environment. If Xiao Qingfang were to entice them with benefits, there would be a greater chance that they would rebel against the Great Zhou.

Upon hearing this, Di Renjie immediately stepped forward: "Di Chun is right. From these aspects, the Khitan are indeed the most likely candidate."

"Alas, that Xiao Qingfang, I wish I could tear her to pieces..."

Wu Zetian sighed, then said angrily.

Although it is speculated that the Khitans are most likely to be contacted by Xiao Qingfang and lured with benefits.

However, she could not take the initiative and launch a preemptive attack on the Khitan.

At this time, the Wu Zhou dynasty and the Khitan were in a state of tributary relationship.

The Khitans are, at least for now, subordinate to the Wu Zhou dynasty, and outwardly submit to it.

In this situation, how could we take action against the Khitan when they hadn't done anything?

If we were to take action, wouldn't that chill the hearts of other ethnic groups who were under the control of Wu Zhou?

If other alien races worry about their own safety, wouldn't they also rise up in rebellion?

Therefore, she could only monitor the Khitans, but could not take action against them.

"And Your Majesty, the strength of the Khitan is far inferior to that of my Great Zhou."

Even if Xiao Qingfang lures them with benefits and they rebel, they will definitely not be a match for my Great Zhou.

Regarding the matter concerning Youzhou, I have another guess.

Before Di Chun could finish speaking, Wu Zetian herself realized: "Collusion between insiders and outsiders."

"Indeed, Your Majesty. Xiao Qingfang has served as the Grand Commander of the Inner Guard for many years. No one knows how many people she has placed in the court."

But one thing is certain: she definitely planted more than just people in the Inner Guard.

She must have people in other government offices in the central government, as well as in local government offices.

"Once the Khitans attack, there will definitely be her people causing trouble in the several prefectures bordering the Khitans."