Chaos of Ming 1628

"Complete fabrication!" Tian Ergeng's eyes were bloodshot, and he suddenly tightened his grip. "You dare to frame me like this?"

With a sharp pain in his throat and difficulty breathing, Sun Qing gritted his teeth and said, "I'm afraid the carriage is almost at the capital. Governor Tian, ​​what? Didn't your mother tell you?"

"Damn it!" Tian Ergeng threw Sun Qing away violently, but there was already a hint of panic in his eyes.

A sensitive and suspicious person only needs a little bit of information to make up countless possibilities, thus making their logic consistent.

Madam Ke deliberately sent them away, and Xiao Jun disappeared. Even when officials came at night, Madam Ke instructed her to ignore them. She even carried him away in the early morning and made him kill Zhou Ji…

The sheer number of things involved, once connected, becomes immense.

Sun Qing sighed and slowly said, "It seems the Emperor intends to rely on the Ninth Prince, but I also wonder why Lady Fengsheng left the palace?"

"His Majesty can even uncover all the aphrodisiacs in the palace, so how can he not understand why the imperial offspring have ceased to exist?"

Tian Ergeng's gaze toward Sun Qing already held a dangerous glint.

Sun Qing seemed oblivious, overwhelmed with emotion: "When the late Emperor was alive, she was the Lady of the Imperial Sacrifices. And now?"

"What the emperor is thinking is unimportant. What's important is that he soon discovered that with the pregnant woman prepared, some people with ulterior motives had more to do than simply want an official position."

Tian Ergeng remained menacing, but cold sweat rolled down his temples. Though he remained silent, his hand slowly descended to his ankle, pulling out a dagger.

A cold glint flashed, and Tian Ergeng sneered repeatedly: "Sun Qing, you're too clever. Why should I believe you?"

"You should know that Sun Chengzong has never given his godfather a kind look."

If he answered incorrectly, this knife would surely fall on his heart. Without hesitation, Sun Qing replied, "To leave a way out for the Ming Dynasty, how can the mistakes and grudges between us compare to the greater cause of the nation?"

"The divination indicates that with the passing of the Nine Thousand Years Old, the Ming Dynasty's fate will also be sealed."

One advantage of ancient times was that all inexplicable things could be attributed to gods and ghosts.

The "Biographies of Diviners" also records that Qin and Han emperors specially appointed Grand Diviners, and that they would consult the oracle before launching military campaigns, moving the capital, or establishing an heir.

Even after the Wanggongchang explosion in the sixth year of the Tianqi reign, news immediately arrived from the Imperial Observatory to divine and observe the stars.

A person from the future can predict future events, even death. But once you consult the oracle, things become entangled with ghosts and gods, and everything starts to make sense.

As expected, Tian Ergeng's expression softened. Regardless of whether Sun Qing truly knew divination, he was at least flattering Wei Zhongxian.

But the doubt still lingered in their eyes.

He placed the dagger on the table, sat down with a flourish, and said, "I didn't know you could do divination?"

"Throughout history, most well-read scholars have been familiar with this principle. Even Zhuge Liang knew the world was divided into three kingdoms before he even left his thatched cottage. When he went on military campaigns, he always observed celestial phenomena and consulted divination to determine good or bad fortune."

Actually, even without Sun Qing saying it, Tian Ergeng was a firm believer in divination. The only person he doubted was Sun Qing.

If it's true, this is a serious matter. What is Madam Ke planning to do behind their back?

Tian Ergeng casually asked, "It's quite a coincidence that I just submitted a memorial today. Young Master Sun, would you like to take a look and see what kind of reply I'll get?"

The copper coin in his hand made a crisp sound, and Sun Qing did not hesitate at all, shaking the copper coin in his hand.

While I was shaking, I thought about what had happened. A lot had happened in September.

However, considering what is currently happening, the one with the greatest potential for success has been chosen.

The copper coin landed on the table. Sun Qing moved his palm away and shook his head repeatedly: "What you ask for is not to be asked for. I'm afraid it will only bring trouble."

"What?" Tian Ergeng laughed loudly, looking down at Sun Qing: "You're a liar."

"Do you know what I'm reporting to the Emperor about?" Tian Ergeng looked down at Sun Qing, stood up, and put his hands behind his back. "I'm merely reporting to the Emperor that I want to repair the destroyed shrine in Jiahe County."

Given Wei Zhongxian's current power, this matter is nothing. If the late emperor hadn't passed away, he wouldn't even have needed to report it.

"Sun Qing, you've given yourself away." Tian Ergeng's hand was once again on the dagger.

Sun Qing remained calm and said slowly, "By the way, there was another anomaly in the divination just now."

I don't believe a single word you say.

"Oh?" Sun Qing raised his voice and pointed to the copper coins on the table: "This hexagram is Kui, with fire above and water below, yin and yang in conflict, indicating that even close friends will become estranged and confidants will turn against each other. The world line is located inside, which means that the people are originally on the same path, but the responding line is secretly associated with Xuanwu, which is a hidden ghost and a treacherous villain. Xuanwu represents secret plots, and the ghost line is the treacherous villain within."

"Consider it a gift I give to Your Majesty."

The copper coin was placed back on the table, and Tian Ergeng had already gripped the dagger in his hand, staring at Sun Qing with a hostile expression.

Sun Qing smiled slightly, completely unconcerned about the dagger, and left on his own.

Tian Ergeng was a bloodthirsty killer; countless loyal and virtuous people had fallen victim to him. But Sun Qing was not afraid, because for now, Tian Ergeng would not kill him.

Sure enough, until Sun Qing left, Tian Ergeng neither killed anyone nor ordered anyone to stop him.

With a complicated look in his eyes, he walked over to Mr. Ke's room.

To Madam Ke's surprise, Tian Ergeng had learned about the pregnant woman's situation.

He grew anxious: "How did you know? Has Xiao Jun been found?"

"Him?" Upon hearing this, Tian Ergeng's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and his voice suddenly became shrill: "You're actually willing to believe an outsider, but not me?"

"Xiao Jun isn't an outsider," Madam Ke said sharply. "I believe him, but how did you know?"

"If I don't know, will you tell me?" Tian Ergeng's voice was already trembling slightly.

Mrs. Ke glanced at him, showing no remorse whatsoever. After all, it was just a very docile dog; scolding or beating it was a minor matter.

He said nonchalantly, "I'm doing this for our own good."

"The current emperor is unyielding and even favors the Donglin Party. Don't be fooled by his current polite treatment; who knows what he's plotting to kill us?"

In the past, Tian Ergeng would have had no doubts. Now, his tone was devoid of any warmth: "What if the current emperor were willing to give us an important position?"

"dream!"

Madam Ke scoffed, "They weren't raised on my breast milk, how could they possibly be obedient?"

"Geng'er, I know you are a filial son. But you must understand, if it weren't for me, what would you and the Great Wei be?"

"Behave yourself. Don't worry about the little money in Jiahe County. Send me back to the capital as soon as possible to a place with more lucrative opportunities, like Hejian Prefecture, to amass wealth."

"The emperor will always be the one who obeys. And you, too, must obey."

Ke Shi was confident of victory.

However, a surge of resentment was churning within Tian Ergeng.

"Is Sun Qing dead?" Madam Ke asked.

Tian Ergeng finally snapped out of his reverie. Faced with the questioning, he felt guilty and shook his head slightly.

"Hmph!" Madam Ke snorted coldly. "You're becoming more and more unreliable. What use are you?"

"Fine, I'll do it."

Post station.

Just as Sun Qing arrived at the room door, the postmaster rushed over.

He quickly bowed and said, "Young Master."

Sun Qing stopped.

The postmaster hurriedly said, "A letter has arrived from the county government."

"They say that Madam Zhou is grateful for your visit to pay respects to Lord Zhou and would like to invite you to a banquet tonight."

Please, please don't refuse.