The news of the great defeat in Dingzhou was blocked by the court, and only a few people knew that because five days left was His Majesty's 60th birthday. General Pingnan Jie Banshan died in battle, and a secret decree was issued to the Pingnan Army camp, and Jie Hu, the son of Jie Banshan, took charge of the Pingnan Army on his behalf.

The capital was filled with lively and peaceful atmosphere, with lanterns hanging on the streets, and court officials from all over the world and foreign envoys from other countries also entered the capital, bringing all kinds of tributes.

During the death of Vancouver, the imperial court was buried with a grand funeral and posthumously named Vancouver Marquis Dingyuan. Xiao Jinyan, the murderer of the Dengwenyuan bloody case, was also arrested by the imperial court.

The news of Xiao Jinyan's arrest spread wildly and caused a considerable sensation in the capital.

Some people applauded.

Xiao Jinyan is the junior brother of the traitor Li Chuntie and is also a member of the party. Li Chuntie traitors, and Xiao Jinyan is naturally not innocent, not to mention that he killed so many people.

Some people were worried about him.

In the past two days, Dongfang Nuannuan has used almost all her relationships and cannot find where Xiao Jinyan was locked up.

However, Zhao Langjiang was extremely calm.

From the secret whistle report observed at the door of his mansion, Zhao Langjiang almost never left the house. He played with his children during the day and practiced swords, and read in the study at night. He was very regular and did not act abnormally.

However, based on the relationship between Zhao Langjiang and Xiao Jinyan, the biggest abnormality is the biggest abnormality.

This matter was quickly diluted by another thing.

News from the Ministry of Rites that the negotiations between the Ming Dynasty and the Northern Zhou Dynasty made breakthroughs.

It is said that during this negotiation, Duke Lu was reasonable and determined, and argued, saying that the Ming Dynasty attacked the Northern Zhou Dynasty was a peaceful move, not to occupy the Northern Zhou territory. In addition, there were deserts and Gobi everywhere between Shenxiangou and Fenghuang Ridge, and there was no useable value at all. In the end, the Northern Zhou Dynasty redeemed it for 30 million taels.

Thirty million taels are the taxes for the Ming Dynasty for one year.

In addition, the Northern Zhou court agreed to submit to the Emperor of Ming Dynasty as a foreign country of the Ming Dynasty.

The government and the country were shocked.

This is a great victory, a timely victory, which further demonstrates the style of the King of Ming Dynasty.

The people in the entire capital were inspired by the news and came to the streets to celebrate.

However, what the people don’t know is that the Northern Zhou Dynasty will pay these 30 million taels in one hundred years, and 300,000 taels per year.

Another point is that the Northern Zhou Dynasty paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty and paid tribute to the emperor every year. In order to demonstrate the national prestige of our country, the imperial court gave the Northern monarchy a year of 300,000 taels of monarchy every year.

It is said that when Prince Xue heard this news, he almost vomited blood.

Shenxiangou is a hard bone. He used the blood of countless soldiers to kill him. How could he not feel shame if he handed it back so easily?

The letter of return will be presented to the Emperor Ming Emperor on the tenth day of the tenth month of the lunar month, on the 60th birthday of the Emperor Ming Dynasty. The Northern Zhou delegation will present it to the Emperor Ming Dynasty.

All of this was written by Tuoba Lanruo.

She came from the north and walked very slowly. She visited every village and city in the northern border, and even stayed in some key places for a few days, thus drawing a conclusion: the seemingly powerful Ming court was unable to launch a full-scale war against the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and the Shenxian Grooved deep into the abdomen of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. If the Ming Dynasty stationed troops there, it would consume a lot of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, and would also face the continuous harassment of the Northern Zhou army.

Therefore, if Tuoba Lan is sure that Shenxiangou will definitely be back, this city is of great strategic significance to the Northern Zhou Dynasty, but it is a waste of money to the Ming Dynasty. After reaching this conclusion, the rest is spending money.

He even secretly kidnapped the son of Duke Lu to make Duke Lu surrender, from Duke Lu to the Ministry of Rites, and then to the Ministry of War, to handle the situation from the top and bottom.

The money that falls into your own pocket is the real money. As for the compensation, it is the money of the court and the money of the Ming Dynasty. As long as Your Majesty does not pursue it, it is everyone's money.

...

At night.

Zhao Langjiang was studying in the study. Every day, he would stay in the study. He was a little absent-minded and had not seen any pages turn for a long time.

A figure flashed and Dongfang Nuannuan appeared in front of him.

Zhao Langjiang quickly stood up, "Miss Dongfang, is there any news?"

Since Xiao Jinyan was arrested, Dongfang Nuannuan came to him. He was closely monitored and it was inconvenient to go out. The investigation of Xiao Jinyan's whereabouts fell on Dongfang Nuannuan.

Zhao Langjiang was not familiar with Dongfang Nuannuan, and had only had a few dealings. He knew this woman's scheming and methods and could not have a close relationship. However, he understood that this woman had some feelings for Xiao Jinyan and was not ordinary, so he chose to cooperate with her.

Dongfang Nuannuan said, "I have some eyebrows."

She looked around, quite wary.

Zhao Langjiang said, "The guards around me are all brought by me from Yin Yang. The court still needs to give this little face."

Dongfang Nuannuan said, "When I found someone to read the files, I found that when Zhu Liye was still King Yong, he had a mansion in the capital. Later, he used it for other purposes. It is said that it was used to imprison the envoy of Shujian Mountain. Brother Xiao is very likely to be locked up there."

“The message is reliable?”

"It happened that the person who delivered food to the house was a believer in my sect. I asked someone to ask, and said that a prisoner did come two days ago, and the appearance described was somewhat similar to Brother Xiao. Moreover, my subordinates also saw that Mr. Fang from Wangyou Pavilion had also appeared there in the past two days."

Zhao Langjiang had never heard of Wangyou Pavilion and asked, "Mr. Fang?"

Dongfang Nuannuan explained, "Mr. Fang is the first sorcerer of the Wangyou Pavilion, one of the four great sects, and is also a master in the Pavilion. He is good at alchemy techniques and has defected to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty many years ago."

The emperor today loves alchemy. In addition to the Taoist Master Yuxi of the National Master Mansion, over the years, he has also a mysterious sorcerer around him who has refined elixirs for him. Therefore, the emperor is nearly sixty years old and still looks like a man in his forties or fifties.

"There was a rumor that the messenger of Shujian Mountain who went down the mountain with Zhu Liye was refined into elixirs by Mr. Fang, and Zhu Liye's martial arts made rapid progress at that time."

Zhao Langjiang remembered that when he was facing the saint a few days ago, Zhu Liye did not have any true energy fluctuations, but there was a deterrent force in his eyes. Combined with the rumors he heard, it was enough to prove that this Majesty was a hidden master.

Zhao Langjiang asked, "Can you arrange for me to come in and see him?"

Dongfang Nuannuan said, "I will arrange it tomorrow night."

The two discussed some details again, and Dongfang Nuannuan stood up and said goodbye. Zhao Langjiang said, "This yard is surrounded by eyes and ears. You can walk through the east gate, be careful."

Dongfang Nuannuan said, "Lord Zhao underestimated me too much." After that, she shook her figure and disappeared from Zhao Langjiang's eyes.

Zhao Langjiang smiled bitterly, and he was a little worried. After all, he was a saint of the Divine God Sect, and a woman. If he didn't have some means, how could he control the world's number one demon sect?

On the morning of the next day, the court sent people to send two sets of banquets for Zhao Langjiang and Yang Xiaoxiao to attend the emperor's birthday party. Nowadays, the etiquette and law are strict, with different ranks and ranks. There are different standards for clothing and crowns for officials entering the court, worshiping and state banquets. Moreover, these clothes are made in the imperial dyeing and weaving bureau. After Zhao Langjiang and Yang Xiaoxiao came to Beijing, they sent people to measure the size and delivered them a few days in advance.

The birthday banquet was delivered with the vintage crown. Zhao Langjiang took a closer look and found that the whole birthday banquet was divided into three parts.

First, all nations came to the court. The cabinet led civil and military officials and envoys from various countries to celebrate the emperor's birthday and gave birthday gifts and birthday words.

The second is to return to the letter and surrender the letter. The Northern Zhou delegation celebrated the emperor's birthday alone and praised the Ming Dynasty. In order to show his generosity, the court rewarded the Shenxiangou to the Northern Zhou Dynasty.

The third is immortality. This is just a brief introduction to the ritual process and has not been described in detail, but Zhao Langjiang smelled a different smell.

Eternal life?

He knew that the emperor believed in alchemy and favored the sorcerer. Could it be that Mr. Fang from Wangyou Pavilion offered him elixir?

Or there is another possibility.

That is the Li Chuntie incident that caused a lot of controversy in the capital. His Majesty once said that he would execute Li Chuntie with the method of killing ten thousand swords of Lingchi at the birthday party.

Thinking of this, Zhao Langjiang had an ominous thought in his heart. He decided to do something for his brothers.

All day, Zhao Langjiang hid in the mansion and did not go out, but there were jingling sounds in the yard.

At night, he came to the study as usual, lit a candle, and asked a subordinate to sit in his seat and pretend to read.

He has an hour.

During this period, no one would disturb him, except Yang Xiaoxiao would come in to send him some midnight snacks and talk to him for a while.

He changed into loose clothes, went out through the back window, and then mixed among the servants who left the mansion, avoided the eyes and ears of surveillance inside and outside the mansion, and left the Duke Anguo Mansion. Those who knew his whereabouts were his confidants and wife.

He came to a small alley, met with Dongfang Nuannuan, and found the believer who delivered food to King Yong's old house.

"Old Liu, I'll leave this person to you."

The believer said, "Please rest assured that the saint will go through fire and water to serve the God's religion."

Dongfang Nuannuan reached out and pressed his hand on top of his head and said softly, "May the light be with you."

Lao Liu prepared the food box and asked Zhao Langjiang to carry it to Prince Yong's Mansion. He introduced, "These guards are all from the palace and have a very big temper. You have to be careful not to hit them."

Zhao Langjiang nodded from his arms

He took out a thousand taels of silver notes and handed them over, "I don't have any respect for a little bit of meaning."

Although Lao Liu didn't know where Zhao Langjiang came from, he did not refuse when he saw him being generous. After all, he took great risks to do things for him. He also said, "The official's meal is on the upper level. As for the person in the prison, they gave orders and were not allowed to speak nonsense. Then put the food in the hole."

Zhao Langjiang asked, “Can you get into the cell?”

Lao Liu smiled and said, "I advise you to die of this heart. The prison cell is made of steel. Without a key, even people in Tongxiang Realm cannot open it."

“Where is the key?”

"It seems that only Mr. Fang has the key. When he heard the official chat, he came once a day and took a bowl of blood from the prisoner and left."

When Zhao Langjiang heard this, he felt angry, but he knew the priorities and quickly adjusted his mindset.

"Who is that person you?"

"My brother." Zhao Langjiang replied.

When he approached King Yong's old house, the guard saw Zhao Langjiang carrying a food box and asked, "Lao Liu, why are you late today? Who is this?"

Lao Liu said, "I scurried my waist when I was cooking today, and I delayed some effort. My nephew, let him do some rough work for me. Are you hungry? I made beef stewed with potatoes."

The officers and soldiers in the leader did not feel suspicious and said to Zhao Langjiang, "Pick it in." Zhao Langjiang agreed with a hump, raised his arms, and took the food box to the mansion with a little difficulty.

There are a total of sixteen guards on the periphery, and they seem to have good martial arts skills. Zhao Langjiang deliberately suppresses the breath of the realm so that the other party will not notice it.

He opened the food box and distributed the things to everyone. The officers and soldiers were alert and divided into three groups to eat. After a meal of wind and clouds, the leader said to Zhao Langjiang, "There are two brothers inside, go and send the meal."

He picked up a broken bowl, picked up some leftovers, put them in, and spit out the phlegm in the bowl, saying, "There is another prisoner, just send it in, don't speak, otherwise your life will be unsuccessful, do you know?"
To be continued...