Chapter 8 Taking Down Jiang Zuo Wang

The imperial capital's surrounding towns, jujube trees, and the late Emperor's bestowed stone tablet!

Jiang Chen's thoughts raced, several familiar locations flashing through his mind.

As the Emperor, he had a basic understanding of the cities under his rule, especially the surrounding towns that guarded the imperial capital. He knew them like the back of his hand.

In a few breaths, he roughly locked down the hidden troop location of the mastermind behind the scenes.

"Jing Yue, send a Dark Guard team to investigate Hongchang County, north of the imperial capital. Be careful and don't alert the enemy!"

"Feng Jin, go and fetch the portrait I prepared and have this Gu Master identify it."

Understanding the importance of the matter, both of them dared not delay, nodding in agreement and leaving to carry out their orders.

Jiang Chen, with a solemn expression, strode into the dark prison cell and said coldly, "In a moment, I will have you identify the mastermind's appearance. Cooperate well and don't disappoint me."

The extraterritorial Gu Master was frightened by his imposing manner, his legs weakening. He nodded repeatedly, feeling puzzled.

What did this dog Emperor mean?

He knew I hadn't seen the prince's face, so why was he having me identify him?

Soon, Feng Jin returned behind Jing Yue, holding a scroll the length of a forearm. At Jiang Chen's signal, it was unfurled before the extraterritorial Gu Master.

"Take a look, do you recognize this person?"

The cold tone made the extraterritorial Gu Master suppress his inner grumbling and honestly approach, scrutinizing the painting.

"Hiss, these eyes, nose... It seems like your Royal Uncle, Jiang Zuo Wang?"

The uncertain tone led Jiang Chen to nod. "That's right. Since you can recognize him at a glance, it shows that you two have a deep relationship. It seems the mastermind is him."

"As his capable subordinate, you must know many secrets."

"At the morning court tomorrow, I want you to attend and identify him. Perform well, think carefully before you speak, and don't do anything that displeases me."

The extraterritorial Gu Master was completely dumbfounded, his eyes staring blankly at Jiang Chen.

You dog Emperor are insidious and shameless enough to frame someone with such a brazen lie!

And you want me to testify against this Jiang Zuo Wang in court, determined to kill your own Royal Uncle?!

Although he was full of complaints, the extraterritorial Gu Master still wore a docile look on his face, flattering with a smile, "Yes, I understand your meaning."

"The person in this portrait is the instigator who ordered me to commit the crime. The army is also cultivated by him, and the poison that flowed into the palace earlier was also his doing... I will definitely expose his crimes in front of the officials tomorrow!"

Although he was not sure if this Jiang Zuo Wang was the prince who contacted him, if Jiang Chen said he was, then he must be!

Such an understanding performance earned Jiang Chen's satisfied gaze.

"Yes, not bad. Rest well tonight and don't mess up tomorrow."

After saying that, Jiang Chen walked out of the prison cell and ordered coldly, "Xu Mu, inform the Court of Imperial Affairs and the Ministry of Justice to immediately arrest Jiang Zuo Wang and escort him to the palace."

"The relevant personnel in the Wang estate are to be thrown into the Imperial Prison. Without my order, no one is allowed to visit!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Mu clasped his hands, a stern look flashing across his resolute face.

"Jing Yue, take my edict and have Xu Changqing select an elite force. As soon as the Dark Guards confirm the location of the hidden troops, immediately dispatch troops to quell the rebellion!"

"Leave no one alive, take them all down."

"Your subordinate obeys!" While taking orders, Jing Yue's figure disappeared into the darkness, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

After giving the orders, Jiang Chen stood there with a cold expression, his heart restless.

When Mei Wen Shi rebelled, a mysterious army appeared in the imperial capital, most likely the garrison the Gu Master spoke of.

Currently, it seemed ninety percent likely that it was Jiang Zuo Wang. There were only three princes residing in the capital, and the sixth and seventh princes didn't have the ability or courage.

I didn't plan to use this method to move against you... But, my good Royal Uncle, your actions have completely violated my bottom line, and I won't give you another chance!

When this Gu Master confesses in public tomorrow, I will have no more constraints and can take action against you!

A long time passed.

The extraterritorial Gu Master, who had been secretly watching Jiang Chen for a while, cautiously spoke, "Your Majesty, will you let me go after tomorrow's events?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen's eyes flashed with disgust and killing intent. This dog harmed so many people, and still wants to live? What wishful thinking!

"Of course not. You have many uses. I will consider letting you go after I deal with the treacherous officials in the court."

After saying that, he left with his hands behind his back.

In the prison cell, the extraterritorial Gu Master looked at his back, a relieved expression on his flattering face.

Useful is good, useful is good!

Since this dog Emperor still wants to use me, then I am temporarily safe. At least while I am working for the dog Emperor, he won't touch me.

The extraterritorial Gu Master had been tempered in the martial world for many years and was cunning. He wouldn't place his hopes on the enemy's promises. The words just now were to test him.

If Jiang Chen's answer was that he would be released after the court session, it would mean that his situation was very dangerous. The Emperor would most likely discard him after he had served his purpose. After all, only the dead keep secrets, and he had poisoned the Emperor's beloved concubine.

Late at night.

Xu Changqing, having received a reply from the Dark Guards, secretly mobilized his confidants to set off, quietly surrounding Hongchang County and the five nearby villages.

They were sharpening their knives, ready to attack at any moment.

At the same time, the imperial capital, a hundred miles away, was also experiencing turbulent undercurrents.

Jiang Zuo Wang was suddenly escorted away by the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Guards, imprisoned in the palace. The Wang estate, from top to bottom, was also implicated and thrown into the Imperial Prison.

The approaching storm alarmed many nobles, who sent out their connections to inquire about the reason for this commotion.

Although Jiang Zuo Wang had not gone to his fief, he was still a legitimate noble with real power and land. Many eyes were watching him.

If His Majesty really took action against him, those regional governors and other princes would never just stand by and watch. At that time, the Wei dynasty would probably be turbulent again!

While the nobles outside the imperial city were worried, the imperial city was also not calm.

As Jiang Zuo Wang was escorted into the palace, countless Imperial Guards were mobilized, blocking several imperial roads and guarding the palace.

When Jiang Chen received the report that Jiang Zuo Wang had been completely confined, it was already midnight.

Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, a hint of suppressed fatigue showing in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, now that the matter is settled, you should rest!"

"It's so late, and there's a morning court tomorrow. You need to conserve your energy," Consort Shu gently advised, her beautiful eyes full of heartache.

Jiang Chen put down the memorial in his hand, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and buried his head in her plump, fragrant breasts.

"Hoo, it's still my Yun'er who is considerate. If these rats in the gutter weren't so troublesome, how could I be so tired?"

"Sometimes I really want to ignore everything, drag them all out, take them to the suburbs, behead them and display their heads to the public, to relieve the hatred in my heart!"

Consort Shu tried to ignore the strangeness coming from the sensitive area and said softly, "Your Majesty is a wise ruler and wouldn't do that!"