Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 111: Eldest Brother Regrets

The first half of a month passed in a flash. Li Xuanzhen's injuries were getting better and better by the day, but he was getting thinner and thinner as time passed.

Zheng Biyu sent Zhu Luyun to his side.

When Li Xuanzhen was defending Liangzhou, Du Sinan and Zheng Jing, from the information sent back by Li Yaoying, interrogated every servant around Zhu Luyun and thoroughly investigated her collusion with Southern Chu, Western Shu, and Northern Rong. According to the account from the Princess's guards, Grand Princess Yiqing's loyal servant who died under Li Xuanzhen's sword was only one of the many inner circle servants sent back to the Central Plains by the Grand Princess. There were more servants loyal to her scattered all over Western Shu and Southern Chu.

Their real purpose was not to request that the Central Plains empire send troops to rescue Grand Princess Yiqing, but to use her identity as Zhu clan's daughter to stir up people's hearts, to gather information for the Northern Rong, to incite the nations in the Central Plains to conquer each other and weaken their military strength. When the Central Plains descended into chaos, the Northern Rong could drive straight in without resistance.

This time, the Northern Rong's raid was just a test for Haidu Aling.

After reading the confession, Li De and the courtiers had palpitations, their cold sweat overflowing.

Zheng Jing also found out another thing that the ministers had been puzzled by for a long time: why did Southern Chu ambush Li Zhongqian?

The spy truthfully explained the reasoning: Southern Chu's influential clans numbered many. The royal power was weakened, and each and every major family were openly and covertly fighting to succeed the throne. Haidu Aling's inner circle took advantage of the opportunity to persuade the Eldest Prince to launch an attack on Li Zhongqian, provoking a war with the Great Wei.

That sneak attack team was made up of the elites of Southern Chu. If Li Yaoying had not made a deal with Li Xuanzhen to save Li Zhongqian, Li Zhongqian would have surely died.

Du Sinan wrote an earnest yet sharp letter, informing his old friends in Southern Chu of Haidu Aling's plan. Those old friends were in high positions in the Southern Chu court, and after confirming that there were spies around the Eldest Prince, they joined forces to bring down the Eldest Prince: although they were like fire and water with Great Wei, without the lips, the teeth were cold. If Northern Rong seized the Central Plains, would Southern Chu be left untouched?

The Eldest Prince and Western Shu were both asking the tiger for its skin!

Southern Chu changed its crown thereafter.

Zheng Jing presented a memorial, proposing to arrest Zhu Luyun for treason. The court ministers had a heated debate, but because Zhu Luyun had no knowledge of Haidu Aling's plan, she was finally exonerated and all her servants were killed.

When Zhu Luyun saw Li Xuanzhen return with serious injuries, she felt guilty and heartbroken.

Li Xuanzhen was no longer as warm and comforting as before, all day muddled. He and Zhu Luyun had a big fight.

Zhu Luyun cried and said she wanted to leave Chang'an.

Zheng Biyu was so annoyed that she ordered someone to send Zhu Luyun back to her room.

A few days later, Li Xuanzhen inadvertently saw the letter that should have been delivered to him months ago.

He shuddered, vomited blood, and found Zheng Biyu, his bloodshot eyes staring at her unblinkingly, accusing her like a malicious ghost: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why?!"