HPDBC #193 - Brothers' Plot
#193 - Brothers' Plot
Amidst Liang Jin's puzzled gaze, Zhao Bao continued, "Actually, I've joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Liang Jin was first stunned, then enlightened.
It seemed his previous guess was correct, that Cao Xian really had a background with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Zhao Bao probably entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard through Cao Xian's connection.
He helplessly shook his head: "You shouldn't have told me this."
Zhao Bao joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard but didn't work there; instead, he went to serve Consort Han.
This indicated that Zhao Bao was carrying out a secret mission.
If it were leaked, it wouldn't be beneficial to Zhao Bao.
Zhao Bao smiled: "At first, I kept it from you because I knew I shouldn't say it."
"But later, I thought it through. What in this world is more important than family?"
"Brother Jin is my family, I shouldn't hide it from you."
Sure enough.
Zhao Bao began to explain to Liang Jin.
It turned out that the current emperor had always been suspicious of his royal uncle, Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang.
So, when Zhao Yu came to the capital some time ago, the emperor placed Zhao Yu under house arrest, arbitrarily beating and humiliating him.
Because Zhao Yu was obese, the emperor gave Zhao Yu the title of "Pig King."
The emperor also used a bamboo cage to hold Zhao Yu for weighing, treating him like a pig.
The emperor even ordered people to dig a pit in the ground filled with muddy water, strip Zhao Yu naked, and push him into the pit, placing a wooden trough filled with pig feed in front of him, ordering him to eat like a pig to amuse himself.
After tormenting him like this for a while, Zhao Yu went mad.
After Zhao Yu went mad, the emperor gradually lost interest in tormenting Zhao Yu, after all, there wasn't much sense of accomplishment in tormenting a madman.
But even so, the emperor was unwilling to let Zhao Yu go, deciding to kill Zhao Yu as the New Year's pig during the New Year.
The Shangshan Supervisor was responsible for guarding Zhao Yu, but ultimately sent Zhao Yu to Liang Jin's post.
After listening, Liang Jin pondered: "I'm afraid Eunuch Che of the Shangshan Supervisor, and my colleague Xue Feng, are both people of the Prince of Huaiyang, right?"
Zhao Bao nodded: "Xue Feng is a descendant of the Marquis of Anqing, the second son of the Vice Commander of Changzhi Garrison, their family is related to the Prince of Huaiyang."
"Che Ziyi is greedy for money and has been bribed by the Prince of Huaiyang's people, so he sent the Prince of Huaiyang to Xue Feng's post for Xue Feng to take care of him."
Liang Jin felt helpless upon hearing this.
He didn't expect the matter to be so complicated.
Especially Xue Feng, who was on duty with him, was actually a descendant of a meritorious family.
Xue Feng's ancestor, the Marquis of Anqing, followed Emperor Taizu to conquer the country.
Xue Feng's father, the Vice Commander, was also a military officer of the third rank.
He originally thought that he came to be a Imperial Guard some time ago to gain experience for promotion, but who knew it was for the Prince of Huaiyang.
With Xue Feng's status, if he tried hard, he might have the opportunity to become a Imperial bodyguard.
If the official positions in the Imperial Guard were reserved for the children of official families, then the bodyguards were reserved for the real children of meritorious families.
It seemed that if it weren't for the Prince of Huaiyang, Xue Feng probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to be on duty with Liang Jin.
Zhao Bao comforted him: "Brother Jin, don't worry, the emperor is going to kill the Prince of Huaiyang tomorrow."
"No matter how bold the Prince of Huaiyang's people are, they wouldn't dare to rescue him openly."
"Once the Prince of Huaiyang dies tomorrow, everything will be fine."
Liang Jin also knew that he could only wait patiently for this matter.
Zhao Bao was right.
As long as the Prince of Huaiyang died, then Xue Feng and Eunuch Che would all disperse.
In the future, Liang Jin and them probably wouldn't have any intersection for the rest of their lives.
And what needed to be dealt with urgently was Xiaolian's matter.
It wasn't easy for him and Zhao Bao to talk privately, and if they didn't solve the matter today, they might not have the opportunity in the future.
Liang Jin immediately asked: "Zhao Bao, what do you think is the way to help Xiaolian?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Bao frowned and replied: "I've been thinking about this matter all night."
"Consort Zhang's personality has become eccentric and tyrannical since she fell out of favor, and this personality is probably difficult to change."
"If you want Xiaolian to have a good life completely, you have to transfer Xiaolian away."
"Unfortunately, my position is too low, and I can't directly transfer Xiaolian away."
"Unless…"
"Consort Zhang is thrown into the Cold Palace, or deprived of her title as Consort, in which case I might have a certain chance to ask someone to transfer Xiaolian away from Consort Zhang's side."
Liang Jin nodded, which was roughly the same as what he thought.
In the palace, the number of eunuchs and maids allocated to concubines of different ranks is different.
For example, a Consort can be assigned two eighth-rank chief eunuchs, twelve ordinary eunuchs, and eight maids.
If a Consort is demoted, then the number of eunuchs and maids serving her will be reduced.
If a Consort is thrown into the Cold Palace, then all the maids and eunuchs serving her will have to leave and accept new assignments.
If something happened to Consort Zhang that required reducing the number of maids assigned to her, and Zhao Bao happened to have the ability to make Xiaolian one of the reduced maids, then the matter would be resolved.
Zhao Bao said worriedly: "Unfortunately, it is not easy to bring down Consort Zhang in the short term."
"My master, Consort Han, wants to seize Consort Zhang's weakness every day, but she never has the opportunity."
"I've also inquired at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and there is no information for the time being either."
After saying that, Zhao Bao helplessly drank another glass of wine.
Liang Jin said while holding his wine cup: "Perhaps, I have a way."
Zhao Bao looked at Liang Jin in confusion.
Liang Jin said: "I got a piece of information, and this information is very accurate."
"You are from Consort Han and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. If you can dig deep along this information, then you will definitely be able to dig out something unfavorable to Consort Zhang."
"Two days ago, Consort Zhang sent her chief eunuch Yao Yang out of the palace to discuss assassinating the monk Wushang of Dafosi Temple with the Earl of Ruian. I'm afraid they will do it within these two days."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Bao's face was full of suspicion.
Liang Jin was on duty every day, how did he know such important information?
How true is this information?
Liang Jin just said: "It's not convenient for me to say this."
"But it concerns Xiaolian, you don't need to doubt it."
Zhao Bao couldn't help but sit up straight, his eyes lit up.
Since Liang Jin said it so seriously, Zhao Bao believed this information.
If this news was true, then the death of an ordinary monk would not affect Consort Zhang's position.
But how to make a fuss about it was what the Embroidered Uniform Guard was good at.
Especially it was unreasonable for a Consort to kill a monk, there must be hidden secrets.
If it could be used well, it might really threaten Consort Zhang's position as Consort.
"Brother Jin, I know."
"I'll go investigate and then I'll use this to deal with that Consort Zhang."
A trace of ruthlessness also appeared in Zhao Bao's eyes.
Although he was just a small eunuch.
But if anyone bullied his Xiaolian, then he would never let them go.
Even a Consort!
Zhao Bao said and was about to leave.
He didn't want to delay Xiaolian's matter for a moment.
Liang Jin grabbed him: "Wait."
"When you go out to handle affairs, safety is the first priority."
"I have something here, take it for self-defense."
Liang Jin couldn't intervene in this matter and could only leave it to Zhao Bao to handle.
Consort Zhang and her father, the Earl of Ruian, were both people with great power, and Zhao Bao might encounter danger if he ruined their good deeds.
So Liang Jin took out the Pear Blossom Rain Needle and the secret manual 'Full Sky of Falling Flowers' and gave them to Zhao Bao.
The Pear Blossom Rain Needle is a very special hidden weapon.
It looks like an ordinary small wooden box, seven inches long and three inches thick.
Three rows of extremely thin needle holes are arranged on the side of the box, with nine holes in each row.
A line of words is engraved on the wooden box: Must see blood when released, empty return is ominous; In times of urgency, the king of hidden weapons.
The terrible thing about this hidden weapon is that it is extremely powerful, extremely fast, and very difficult to defend against.
Especially even a person who doesn't know martial arts can kill a master unexpectedly once they master the method of using this hidden weapon!
It's simply a great weapon for sneak attacks!
Its upper limit may not be too high, but its lower limit is very high.
If it is combined with the hidden weapon secret manual 'Full Sky of Falling Flowers', then it is easy to kill enemies beyond your level.
The only shortcoming.
That is, this hidden weapon is only suitable for sneak attacks, for one-on-one or one-on-a-few battles.
If others know the secret, then the power will be greatly reduced.
It is also not suitable for group battles, especially not suitable for killing enemies in battlefield formations.
Liang Jin originally wanted to pass this Pear Blossom Rain Needle to one of the Seven Souls.
But now, he felt that Zhao Bao needed this weapon for self-defense more.
Zhao Bao took the hidden weapon and the secret manual, his face full of complexity:
"Brother Jin…"
He could naturally see that this hidden weapon and secret manual were extremely precious.
He didn't expect to receive Liang Jin's great kindness again, which made Zhao Bao feel very uncomfortable.
But he really needed these things.
This Pear Blossom Rain Needle can be carried with you and is not easy to attract attention.
Whether he was acting as an undercover agent for the Embroidered Uniform Guard or entering and leaving the palace, he could use it.
This made him unable to refuse.
Liang Jin patted him on the shoulder:
"We're brothers, no need to say more."
"If you encounter any trouble that you can't solve, you can tell me. I know a lot of friends, maybe they can help."
Liang Jin hadn't used the undercover agents of the Transforming Dragon Sect lurking in the city and the palace.
Liang Jin had never taken the initiative to contact these undercover agents, and he didn't want to contact them in advance unless it was absolutely necessary.
Zhao Bao sighed secretly, then saluted Liang Jin:
"Brother Jin, I know."
"Then I'll go handle affairs. If there's any news, I'll notify you as soon as possible."
After saying that, Zhao Bao turned and left.
He was in a hurry, very eager.
Liang Jin sat down to eat the wine and dishes. He ordered such a large table of food, he couldn't waste it.
He ate and drank while sighing slightly.
Han Guozhang, the father of Consort Han, could be regarded as Liang Jin's enemy in Qingzhou.
On the contrary, the Earl of Ruian, the father of Consort Zhang, was a force to contain Han Guozhang.
Liang Jin's original plan was to help Consort Zhang first and bring down Consort Han.
But who knew that this Consort Zhang was not a good person.
Then Liang Jin could only bring her down first.