In an inn north of the Forbidden Garden, Yu Wen Zhiji led more than 20 subordinates to wait for Li Shanheng's arrival, which was the place where they had made an appointment to meet.

Yuwen Zhiji was in a very complicated mood. More than ten years ago, he and Li Shanheng were both palace guards. They stayed together for five years and had a very deep relationship. Moreover, Li Shanheng was also his father Yuwen Shu's confidant general. Now that things are done, they want to kill people to silence him. Yuwen Zhiji always thinks this is a bad idea.

He felt that he could give Li Shanheng a sum of money, let him fly away, or hide him, and in a few years, he would come out after the limelight was over, but he would kill someone to silence him.

Yuwen Zhiji is not a person with good thoughts. He is simple-minded, irritable, and cruel, but sometimes he occasionally has nostalgia for his old friendship.

"Second Young Master, someone is here!"

Someone whispered to remind Yu Wen Zhiji that in the dark, two figures were running towards this side quickly. Yu Wen Zhiji quickly ordered: "Catch the person first!"

When the two figures rushed to the gate of the station, more than 20 warriors hiding around the gate rushed up and pressed the two black shadows to the ground.

Yuwen Zhiji walked out calmly and said coldly: "Li Shanheng, you really shouldn't have come here!"

"We're not!" two people who were pressed shouted.

Yuwen Zhiji was shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to take a closer look. These two people were indeed not Li Shanheng. Yuwen Zhiji was furious and drew his sword to hold their necks. "Who are you?"

"We are General Li's subordinates, and he asked us to come here."

Yuwen Zhiji seemed to have thought of something, and looked up into the distance, and he saw a black shadow flashing across the official road and running towards a small river.

Yu Wen Zhiji was anxious and ordered: "Chasing me!"

He ran wildly into the distance, and the twenty subordinates behind him followed him closely, but the black shadow had already swam across the river and rushed into the woods opposite, running without a trace. There was nowhere to chase.

Yuwen Zhiji knew that the person just now must be Li Shanheng. He saw through his intention to kill someone to silence him. Yuwen Zhiji was angry and anxious and cut him hard on the tree. Li Shanheng escaped. How could he explain to his father?

Although the emperor Yang Guang issued an order to block the news, the harassment outside the Changhe Gate spread throughout the court and the public early the next morning, but the rumors had changed. Tens of thousands of troops attacked the palace, attempting a palace coup, and a fierce battle with the Imperial Guard. Even Yu Shiji was injured in the melee.

The news became alarmist, which shocked countless people. In all dynasties, mutinies or court coups were major events that shake the national system. However, in addition to being shocked, many people were confused. If it were really a court coup, how could it be so calm?

Soon, the rumors were gradually clarified that it was not a court coup, but a group of generals who participated in the Battle of Goguryeo petitioned outside the Changhe Gate. They asked the court to release the general to protect the enemy. At present, all of these generals have been arrested.

This made the court officials very sympathetic to Hu'er. They were already responsible for their crimes, but such a fuss would only add to the crime.

On a long corridor outside Daye Hall, Yan King Yang Nuo hurriedly walked towards the Imperial Study.

Yang Xuan was studying in Hongwenguan. He just heard about the riot that occurred last night, which made him very worried about Zhang Xuan's safety. Zhang Xuan also returned from Goguryeo and was stationed in Xineiying. Could he also participate in the petition?

Yang Qing walked out of the corridor, and in front of the emperor's grandfather's imperial study room was the imperial study room. At this moment, he suddenly heard someone calling him behind him. Yang Qing turned around and saw that it was Pei Ju, the Minister of Personnel, who was waving to him and hurriedly ran over.

"Is there anything wrong with Shangshu Pei?" Yang asked respectfully.

Pei Ju smiled and said, "Is Your Highness going to the Imperial Study for Zhang Xuan's business?"

“That’s right!”

Yang Qing was very surprised. How could Pei Ju guess his thoughts?

"The old minister knows about Zhang Xuan, please come with him."

Yang Qing followed Pei Ju to a secluded place and asked anxiously: "Has Zhang Xuan been arrested?"

"Don't worry, your highness, he will not make such a mistake. He is currently very good and is ordered to maintain order in Xineiying. This is what the General Zhang Jin told me in person just now."

Yang Yi felt relieved immediately, and he sighed and said, "I didn't go home late last night. I heard that he had asked me in the afternoon. I was going to take some time to see him, but I didn't expect that such a thing would happen."

Pei Ju lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, the old minister heard that someone was secretly planning this matter and using rumors to deceive the soldiers of the Eastern Expedition. The intention was very vicious. Once the emperor was furious and severely punishing these soldiers of the Eastern Expedition would seriously damage the emperor's prestige in the army. If there is any foreign invasion in the future, no one will be willing to work hard."

Yang Nao was shocked and immediately said: "I'll go and tell the emperor's grandfather now!"

He turned around and wanted to leave, but Pei Ju grabbed him, "Your Highness, don't be impatient, listen to the old minister finish his words."

Yang Nao also realized that he was too impatient and smiled bitterly: "People say it!"

"Your Highness, after all, these generals have made mistakes injuring Yu Shiji. I heard that the Lord has asked Pei Yun to investigate the matter strictly. Your Highness first see what the conclusion of the investigation is. If it is unfair, it will not be too late to make suggestions to the Lord."

Yang Nai nodded. Pei Ju's suggestions were very steady and he really couldn't be too hasty. He thought about it and asked again: "Why is Pei Shangshu also very concerned about Zhang Xuan's affairs?"

Pei Ju sighed, "Your Highness should know that he has helped the old minister in the grassland. The old minister owes him a favor, so the old minister has always wanted to find an opportunity to repay him. Yesterday he came to find the old minister, and the old minister also agreed to do his best to help him."

Yang Nai also knew that Pei Ju was responsible for 300,000 military armor, and Zhang Xuan was indeed helping him a lot. It seems that Pei Ju really wanted to help Zhang Xuan.

Yang Qing pondered for a moment and said, "I really don't have time to meet him these days, so I ask Shangshu Pei to tell him for me and let him wait with peace of mind. In any case, his achievements in Goguryeo will be rewarded as due, and I will also do my best to help these soldiers in the Eastern Expedition to escape from their crimes."

"Your Highness has this intention, which is a blessing for the great Sui country!"

After hearing Pei Ju's words, Yang Li no longer rushes to find the emperor's grandfather, and turned around and returned to Hongwenguan.

Pei Ju pondered for a moment, turned around and walked towards the Censorate in a hurry.

The reason why Pei Ju was concerned about this assassination was not only for Zhang Xuan, nor was it just for sympathy for these soldiers in the Eastern Expedition, but because he discovered the strangeness of this incident. Zhang Jin told him that someone spread rumors in the Xineiying camp that the emperor wanted to disband the former army in the Eastern Expedition, which caused panic among the soldiers.

Secondly, all the generals did not carry weapons, and only a crossbow was found at the scene. It was obvious that someone had ulterior motives and shot Yu Shiji to make things worse.

But intuition tells Pei Ju, what else is hidden behind this incident?

Pei Ju came to the Censorate's Office and went straight to the backyard. This was the official room of the Censor Pei Yun. Pei Ju said to the guard at the door: "Go and inform Doctor Pei and say I have something important to him."

The guard quickly walked into the official room. After a moment, Pei Yun personally greeted him and laughed: "Why are you here, brother?"

Pei Yun is Pei Ju's clan brother. Although the two do not belong to the same church within the Pei family, Pei Ju is the head of the family, and Pei Yun also needs to show enough respect for the head of the family.

"Something small, let's go in and talk about it!"

Pei Yun invited Pei Ju into the reception hall. The two of them took a seat. A tea boy served them tea. Pei Ju took a sip of tea before asking lightly: "Have you been to see the emperor?"

Pei Yun was so smart that he immediately heard Pei Ju’s implication and asked immediately: “Does brother have anything to do with the Changhe Gate incident?”

"I have nothing to do with this matter, but I'm very interested in it."

"interested in?"

Pei Yun laughed, "Brother is rarely interested in this kind of thing. I don't think it's as simple as being interested!"

Pei Ju also smiled and said, "Why do you have to ask so bluntly?"

"I'm not hiding it from my brother. Is this matter big or small or small or small? Is it not big because the emperor is not very concerned about this matter. He is just very annoyed and wants to severely punish these lawless generals in the Eastern Expedition. This is his attitude."

"You mean, there is room for redeem in this matter, right?"

"That's true, but I said this is not a small matter because I found something hidden behind it."

"Is anyone using this to damage the prestige of the emperor in the army?" Pei Ju asked casually.

Pei Yun shook his head, "It's not that simple."

Pei Ju pretended to be stunned, "Why is that?"

Pei Yun did not directly answer Pei Ju's question. He picked up the tea bowl and took a sip of the tea, and said lightly: "Is this matter related to the interests of the Pei family?"

Pei Yun’s implication is that if it has nothing to do with the interests of the Pei family, Pei Ju should not ask any further.

Pei Ju certainly understood what he meant. He stood up and said, "It's not easy for me to be the leader of the clan! Since you don't want to say it, I won't force it."

He turned around and wanted to leave. Pei Yun also realized that he was inappropriate and annoyed his brother. He quickly stopped him, "Brother, please stay!"

Pei Yun apologized: "It was me who was wrong and offended my brother, because the emperor repeatedly told me that no one should interfere."

"Anyone is actually referring to me!"

Pei Yun smiled bitterly. His brother was too powerful. He said helplessly: "The emperor is not concerned about these middle and lower-level generals, but about Lai Hu'er. Is Lai Hu'er interested in rebellion?"

"I don't care about Lai Hu'er."

Pei Ju said bluntly: "I just want to know, how is this case not simple?"

Pei Yun pondered for a moment and said, "Have you heard of a prophecy circulating on the streets of Luoyang recently?"

"You mean Taolizhang?"

"It's this prophecy."

Pei Ju smiled meaningfully, "What does these soldiers' petitions have to do with this prophecy?" (To be continued)
Chapter completed!