Special Forces Queen, arrive! Give Tang Lin enough face, she can make a scene as much as she wants!
His Majesty King Wang looked towards An Lin and ordered: "Go and summon Zhang Xiangyang and others!"
"Yes!" Having said that, An Lin bowed and backed out, leaving the imperial study.
After He Anlin left, Shao Qi's expression became more serious. He looked at the Emperor and asked: "Your Majesty, is leaving behind a low-ranking general to discuss the anti-royal court spies and enemy country's moles who mixed into the contestants?"
The emperor nodded, got up, walked around the table and came down. "This matter is to be discussed, but it has been mentioned before, so let's not mention it tonight. You returned in a hurry, I haven't understood what happened to you on the way back to the capital, what exactly happened?"
Shao Qi calmed down a bit, remained silent for a long time before answering truthfully: "This general encountered three waves of cavalry on the way back to the capital from the border, but none of them knew where they came from!"
The Emperor said: "Recently, the rebels have become more and more rampant, and they have even killed their way into the palace. Unfortunately, my trick of guarding the tree stump has not yielded any results. This time, I'm having you participate as a contestant, mixed in with them, is to have you keep a close eye on these contestants. Among these people, it's likely that there are not only rebels, but also spies from enemy countries who are mixed in. Ah, yes, there's one more thing I haven't asked you about!"
"Your Majesty, please speak!"
His Majesty said: "It's about impersonating me and sneaking into your military camp, the case of the fake imperial edict!"
"Indeed, there was such a thing. That night, an urgent report came from the border that Your Majesty had arrived in person. I, Shaokang, personally went out to welcome you. At the time, what I saw was indeed Your Majesty. Afterwards, I invited you into the camp to discuss the situation on the border. However, Your Majesty suddenly ordered me to hand over my military seal. I was shocked and asked for a reason, but Your Majesty did not give any explanation and simply ordered someone to capture me.
In our conversation later, I realized that the person who had come earlier was not you, but rather someone skilled in disguise who had transformed into your appearance to forge an imperial decree! I ripped off his mask and saw his true face. However, he took one of my generals hostage and successfully escaped from the camp, heading towards the capital.
I immediately ordered two officers under me to pursue him with all their might!"
After listening to Shao Qi's detailed account, the Emperor said: "That spy escaped, and your officers didn't catch him! However, this matter cannot be dropped like this. I have already ordered the Ministry of War to thoroughly investigate this case and find out that spy! By the way, how are you sure that spy is an enemy national?"
Shao Qiuru said, "At that time, the fake emperor's order was to hand over the military token. He said that the two countries had already formed an alliance a month ago and would not invade each other from then on. However, their countries were still in a state of war, and they hoped to mobilize General Mo's troops to go and provide support! If they weren't enemies, how could they have thought of transferring General Mo's large army?"
The Holy Lord asked again: "What was it that made you realize that person was an imposter?"
Shao Qi said: "That person from head to toe referred to himself not as 'I, the Emperor' but as 'me', and it was only later that he suddenly came to his senses, thus avoiding a great mistake!"
His Majesty, unmoved and expressionless, asked: "At that time, if I were that person, I would have taken your military token like that and ordered the officers under you to capture you. Such unfair treatment, why didn't you kill me directly at the time? Then... rebellion."
"I dare not," Xiao Qi knelt down in fear, a sentence from the Holy Emperor's words made him break out in cold sweat. "The military symbol of this general was given by Your Majesty, and it is only natural for Your Majesty to take it back. This general does not feel...unfair!"
"Really?" The emperor looked at him, asking softly, the emotions in his eyes were exceptionally calm, but his gaze... was very deep. Finally, he suddenly smiled and helped Shao Qi up, "Shao Ai doesn't need to be nervous, I was just joking!"
The emperor's words seemed like a joke, but Shao Qi couldn't laugh. He never expected that the emperor would be such a profound person. In the past, he had always stood by the emperor's side without feeling like he was walking alongside a tiger, but now...he did.
He had always thought that the emperor would treat him like a friend, trusting him forever, but he overestimated his own intuition and underestimated the emperor's mind.
A wise and capable ruler who can govern a large country so well, if he is not profound, how can he suppress the ministers who hold military power and control the life and death of the people?
Shao Qi hastily nodded, "The words of this general are all true and without any ulterior motives, I beg Your Majesty to understand!"
Since becoming a great general under the emperor, for the first time, the emperor did not give him face, harsh words like a knife, directly piercing his heart. Whether he had rebellious intentions or not, the emperor would say this sentence that was both joking and not joking in front of him. The emperor was trying to intimidate him, feeling it was time to suppress this military officer who held the highest military power.
It's also true that if an emperor doesn't restrain his officials, one day they will come back and rebel against him.
"The Holy Emperor intentionally annoyed Shao Qi with a glance, 'Hey, why are you so tense? I've already said that what I just said was just a joke, it doesn't count as true. Alright, you're also tired, go back and rest first.' He gently patted Shao Qi's shoulder to comfort him. 'As for the matter of impersonating the Emperor, and those three waves of people who tried to kill you, you don't need to investigate these things, I'll have someone else handle it. Your current task is to help me secretly monitor the movements of all the contestants who passed the test, and find out the traitor!'"
"Your subordinate obeys orders!"
The Holy Lord waved his hand at the gate and said lightly: "Go, go back and rest first!"
"Yes, I will withdraw!" After finishing speaking, Shao Qi exited the imperial study, and when he reached the door of the imperial study, his footsteps stopped. He quietly turned his head to glance at the Emperor who was sitting back on the throne, and this one glance revealed many emotions. After turning around, his face... changed, becoming very stiff. His eyes were also exceptionally cold. A fierce killing intent burst forth from the bottom of his eyes.
With this hidden murderous aura, Shao Qi quickly walked out of the imperial study.
——
An Lin brought Zhang Tongling and others into the house.
"Anlin, go and instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a sumptuous meal, then have it delivered to the palace where Princess Tanglin is being held under house arrest!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go and take care of it right away!" Anlin said, then withdrew.
The Holy Lord looked at the four people in front of him, the ones he trusted the most, and instructed them one by one: "Yifeng, for tomorrow's second round match, you must make sure to be fully prepared and cannot afford to make any mistakes! Yitang and Yishuang, you are responsible for keeping a close eye on the 100 contestants who hold the invitation letter. Of course, except for Tanglin, you don't need to keep an eye on her. Zhang Tongling, this year's Grand Inner Guard selection competition is entirely entrusted to Yifeng, but you can't be idle either, there are many things for you to handle!"
Zhang Xiangyang nodded and said: "I understand, please instruct me, master."
His Majesty said: "No matter what means you use, I want to see the real Empress Chenghuan within these three months, and also find out who helped Empress Chenghuan escape from the palace and investigate that person's background! Second, investigate the enemy spies who infiltrated General Shao's camp and forged imperial edicts, as well as the three groups of people who assassinated General Shao; Third, strengthen the allocation and management of internal guards, beware of traitors attacking the palace during the Imperial Guard selection competition!"
"Understood, I will definitely complete the task with all my might!"
"Yi Feng," the Emperor turned to Yi Feng and instructed again, this time with a less severe tone, "During the Imperial Guard selection competition, no matter what Tang Lin does, whether she disguises herself as an imperial guard or pretends to be a palace maid, just turn a blind eye and don't make things difficult for her. In the South Palace and other areas, she can move about freely, but if you find out that she's heading in the direction of the main palace, you must inform me immediately. She likes to participate in the Imperial Guard selection competition, I permit it with all my heart, let her play as she wishes, follow her interests. However, since she is not yet my Empress, I don't want people from the main palace and the harem to meet her, lest when she becomes the Empress in the future, there will be endless gossip and rumors."
Yi Feng nodded and said: "I know what to do, Master. Please rest assured that I will secretly take good care of the future Empress!"
His Majesty smiled with relief, "Hm, with your words, I can rest assured. Alright, everyone go attend to their respective duties!"
"Yes!" Zhang Xiangyang and others responded one by one, then retreated in succession.
Not long after those people left, the Emperor also put on a mask and left the imperial study...
——
The night is getting deeper.
Softly/brightly lit inside Tong Lin's small palace.
At this moment, several palace maids brought up dishes of food and set them on the table, then retreated together.
An Lin stood by the dinner table, watching Tang Lin devour her food with gusto, shaking his head and chuckling from time to time, reminding her: "Eat slowly, eat slowly, don't choke!"
Tang Lin chewed her food while continuously sending more into her mouth, mumbling unclearly: "I've been starving for a whole day, and now that I finally see something to eat, can't I just indulge? Choking to death would be perfect, anyway, I won't live much longer!"
An Lin smiled and asked, "Why can't you live?"
Tang Lin gave him a white eye and said weakly: "I made such a big mistake for the emperor, will he let me go? Joke! Tomorrow, I will definitely be humiliated in front of all the officials, how can I, Tang Lin!"
An Lin couldn't help but smile and said: "You're misunderstanding the Emperor, he didn't mean it that way!"
Tang Lin didn't believe it, "As if, you're just a foolish ruler!"
At this time, a voice came from outside, "The emperor has arrived!"
Tang Lin heard the sound, immediately put down her chopsticks, then hid under the table and poked her head out to say to An Lin: "An General Manager, when the Emperor comes later, please ask him to sit down, but whatever you do, don't tell him I'm underneath!"
"What do you want to do?"
"Tang Ling's teeth itched and she said, 'Even if I die, I want to see his true face clearly. I plan to wait until he is off guard and then rip off his mask. Like this, I'll hide first!' After finishing speaking, she quickly withdrew her head back into the tablecloth."
Soon, Yu Sheng Jun came in, An Lin gave a courtesy, "Your Majesty!"
His Majesty looked at the messy dinner table and chuckled: "Where are they?" Then he sat down in Tang Lin's seat.
"Your Majesty..." An Lin's eyes widened as he saw the Emperor sit down.
But An Lin's reminder came too late, as Tang Lin suddenly emerged from under the table and crawled up onto Yu Sheng Jun's body until her slippery hands touched his mask.
——
Thank you very much [Qing Cheng Ao Xue] for sending 1 bouquet of flowers, thank you dear.
