Chapter 1 The Di Lao Want to Harm Zhen

When Elder Xu Chang called out "Zhu Fu," the Queen's heart sank halfway. Upon hearing the words "tyrannical ruler," she felt a chill run through her entire being.

Zhang Yuanqing felt the same chill from head to toe. Elder Xu Chang of the Green Dragon Gang was not only a swordsman but also someone who knew her.

This development had almost completely blocked his path.

Zhang Yuanqing simply stopped pretending and said coldly, "You know me!"

Elder Xu Chang's expression changed from astonishment to excitement, and then from excitement to hatred. "Three years ago, during the autumn hunt in the southern suburbs, several assassins infiltrated the sheep palace to kill you, but they failed. Three of them escaped, and I was one of them. Has Your Majesty already forgotten?"

This entire instance is filled with treacherous subjects who want to harm me! Sensing the strong animosity and hatred in the other man's emotions, Zhang Yuanqing stopped speaking and turned his head to look at the Queen.

As the tyrannical ruler hated to the bone by the Green Dragon Gang, no matter what he said, the other party would sneer at it. Saying too much would only anger him, so he simply remained silent.

Elder Xu Chang would definitely be curious as to why a dignified ruler of a country would become a stupid thief and why he would appear here, so he would not kill him for the time being.

In this situation, he could only leave it to the Queen to perform. Elder Xu Chang took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and regained his serious and steady demeanor.

"Elder Xu Chang, I have something to report," the Queen said, proving that she was not only well-endowed but also intelligent, having understood the Heavenly Venerate's eyes, and seizing the opportunity to speak.

"Bei Wang, take them to the basement." After thinking for a moment, he personally pulled Zhang Yuanqing out of the carriage, grabbing him by the back of his collar and striding away.

Zhang Yuanqing hung in the air like a chick, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He angrily said, "I am the ruler of a country, how dare you be so rude! Put me down quickly!"

Wang Bei Wang stared dumbfounded at the backs of Elder Xu Chang and Zhang Yuanqing. Even at this moment, he had not recovered from the shock just now.

His cousin Li Erdan was the current Emperor Zhao Shun. Why would the emperor appear at his house? He had spent the whole day with the tyrannical ruler Zhao Shun, but he hadn't killed him!

No, he had stabbed him with a sword. He had actually stabbed the emperor with a sword.

The candlelight flickered in the dim basement, and Wang Bei Wang's mind was in a mess. It wasn't until Elder Xu Chang's figure disappeared into the corridor that he regained his senses, hurriedly picked up Jiang Jingwei and the Queen, and strode to catch up.

Zhang Yuanqing sat stiffly against the wall, wearing handcuffs and shackles, unable to speak or move.

Elder Xu Chang took him very seriously. Not only did he not undo the soft-bone powder, but he also sealed his acupoints. Now, several acupoints around his body were injured and numb from the finger strikes, and it would take at least a few hours to recover. Beside him was Jiang Jingwei, who was being treated the same way.

The Queen was not there; Elder Xu Chang had taken her to the next secret room.

In the room separated by a wall, the Queen told Elder Xu Chang what had happened in the palace.

"The course of events is like this: after escaping from the palace, I met His Majesty by the river in the south of the city and hid with him in a civilian house, but unexpectedly, it was Wang Bei Wang's home."

Elder Xu Chang sat at the table, holding the porcelain cup in his palm for a long time without moving or speaking. Even as an elder of the Green Dragon Gang, he needed time to digest such important information.

The Zheng family was plotting a rebellion, the emperor was in distress, and the Southern Dynasty might usher in an unprecedented political upheaval.

Although the Green Dragon Gang was a Jianghu (martial world) force, it also had a heart for the country and the people and could not ignore such a major event.

After a full quarter of an hour, Elder Xu Chang suddenly asked, "Since you have already escaped from the palace and are with the tyrannical ruler, why didn't you bring him here?"

The Queen met his sharp, sword-like eyes, which seemed to be able to see through everything, and calmly spoke her mind: "Because I don't want His Majesty to die."

Lying in front of a swordsman would only cause her to lose her identity advantage and cause the other party to no longer trust her. Since she could not lie, she might as well be honest.

Hearing this, Elder Xu Chang snorted coldly, "What? Have you developed feelings for the emperor? Back then, your father pleaded for the people but ended up with his entire family being executed. The gang leader admired your father's integrity, so he took action to save you. Now that the enemy is right in front of you, you have developed compassion. How can you be worthy of Zhu Daren (Sir Zhu), worthy of the gang leader?"

"Elder, allow me to explain." The Queen took a deep breath and explained her well-prepared thoughts: "Zhao Shun is indeed fatuous, but he is not the main culprit. According to my observations over the years, Zhao Shun only knows how to enjoy himself in the palace and has no interest in political affairs. Most of the affairs in the court are decided by Zheng Wenhan. He is like a knife; Zheng Wenhan is the main culprit."

Zheng Wenhan is the knife—these were all true words. Seeing that Elder Xu Chang was unmoved, the Queen continued, "I have another matter to report to you, Elder. I know who the mastermind behind the Zheng family is."

Elder Xu Chang frowned, "There's someone behind the Zheng family?"

The Queen nodded repeatedly, "It's the National Preceptor."

Elder Xu Chang's expression changed drastically. "Nonsense! The National Preceptor is a Taoist master, helping the world and saving people, loving the country and the people. How could he do such a rebellious thing?"

The Queen looked directly into Elder Xu Chang's eyes. "Elder, you have a pair of eyes that can see through people's hearts. You know whether what I'm saying is true or false with just one look."

The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and Elder Xu Chang's expression gradually became serious. He pondered, "The tyrannical ruler is incompetent, and the National Preceptor supports the Zheng family perhaps to promote change."

"Elder Xu Chang is still a fan of the National Preceptor?" The Queen sneered, "Changing things by sacrificing three hundred young boys and girls?"

"The notice during the day was issued after His Majesty escaped from the palace, promoted by the Zheng family and the National Preceptor. Does Elder Xu still believe that the National Preceptor loves the country and the people?"

Elder Xu Chang's expression froze!

The Queen continued, "There is also another matter to report to Elder. The Zheng family is secretly colluding with Shi Ba, the commander of the Northern Dynasty. Once the Zheng family seizes power, they will definitely find a way to eliminate the Yang family and then feed the 50,000 troops on the front line to the Northern Dynasty as a token of their compromise to Tuoba Rentu (Shi Ba's nickname meaning "butcher"), and Tuoba Rentu's army will directly attack the capital to support the Zheng family."

"There's such a thing?" Elder Xu Chang crushed the porcelain cup, his anger erupting. What kind of impact was this? It was even greater than the appearance of Zhao Shun. Although he didn't want to believe it, Zhu Fu's micro-expressions told him that she wasn't lying.