The wooden barrel was filled with steam. Xue Bai washed away the dust and dust all over his body. He closed his eyes and squinted for a while, as if he was about to fall asleep.

A pair of soft hands pressed on his shoulders, squeezing gently.

"Did your Majesty really meet Wu Lang first?" Du Jin asked, standing behind him.

"yes."

Xue Bai took Du Jin's hand and said, "Compared to you, Wu Lang is easier to find and doesn't attract anyone's attention."

Having said that, he may secretly feel that Du Jin is more ambitious, so he trusts Du Wulang more.

Du Jin said: "I'm afraid someone with care has noticed it. I guess someone followed Wu Lang. I guessed that you and Wu Lang arrived at Du's house together and took my carriage into the imperial city the next day, so they arranged this assassination."

Xue Bai asked: "Who?"

Du Jin did not answer immediately. She washed Xue Bai's hair and said, "If I said it was someone you trust very much, would you be angry?"

"Won't."

After hearing this answer, Du Jin was about to speak out her analysis when Xue Bai added another sentence.

"But I may not believe it."

"What if there is conclusive evidence?" Du Jin asked.

"Then let's wait until we see the evidence." Xue Bai said.

Du Jin said: "Some people don't want you to return to the palace right now. Even if you go back, it is not safe. You have been out on patrol for so long. I don't know how many people in the palace and imperial guards have been bribed."

"I know, so I came to find you." Xue Bai said, "I plan to send a letter to Wang Nan, Li Sheng, Yan Wu, Xue Xin and others. In addition, I will call Lao Liang and Jiang Hai to the east capital."

"Raise troops?"

Du Jin was a little surprised, knowing that this would be an open break with the conservatives who opposed the reform.

This was a situation that Yan Zhenqing had been trying to avoid, but Xue Bai made this decision without hesitation as soon as he came back.

"It doesn't matter if we raise troops. The worst outcome is that I will start my own business again."

"Starting a business again? This is a new word." Du Jin said, "You are already the supreme emperor, what else do you want to create?"

"The emperor is just a position, and will be subject to various shackles. If I cannot achieve my ambitions in this position, I should continue to improve. I have to be me, and I am more important than the emperor."

Even Du Jin couldn't fully sympathize with these words. She could only feel the man's ambition to keep making progress and never be satisfied.

It is precisely because of this ambition that he always has surging vitality and can keep her fascinated.

Unknowingly, she was pulled into the tub by him.

The two of them were a little anxious, and her clothes were completely soaked, making it even more difficult to take them off.

So, the water in the bucket swayed for a long time, and the two of them rubbed their ears and temples until they were out of breath, but they still couldn't finish the clothes.

"Xue Bai."

Du Jin urged anxiously and unconsciously called Xue Bai's original name.

"Do you believe me?" she asked.

She is an extremely perceptive person and seems to have noticed that Xue Bai does not trust her as much as Du Wulang.

Even if it's just a small difference, she still wants to fight for it.

~~

Everyone knows that the emperor has an organization in the hands of Du Erniang that can collect information for him. He collects information from all over the world through banks, inns, wine shops, teahouses, and newspapers.

Therefore, when Xue Bai arrived at Du Jin's place, he could understand the basic overall situation.

The chaos in Zhengzhou became even more serious. The rioters blocked water transportation and also blocked the return route of the "royal driver";

In Luoyang, just two days after Du Jin was assassinated, Prince Yijia and all the officials left the west gate of Luoyang and began to return west.

Xue Bai did not immediately rush back to Ziwei Palace to stop it, but waited patiently.

"Your Majesty, don't you believe it yet?"

Du Jin rushed to see Xue Bai as soon as possible. This time she no longer avoided taboos and said directly: "Yan Zhenqing took the prince and returned to the west. This move is no different from treason."

Xue Bai said: "I will ask him clearly in person."

"If he didn't know that you had returned to Luoyang, he should have recruited troops to attack the rebels in Zhengzhou; but if he knew that you had returned to Luoyang, and instead of sending someone to pick you up, instead of immediately taking the prince away, his evil intentions would be even more obvious.

"

"What was Guo Ziyi's reaction?"

"Good question." Du Jin said: "Guo Ziyi has led his troops from Longyou back to Chang'an. He must provide military support for Li Zuo's ascension to the throne."

Even though she was already trying to restrain herself, this kind of news still strengthened her judgment on the situation.

"I am 80% certain that Yan Zhenqing and Guo Ziyi have conspired to support Li Zuo."

Xue Bai said: "These two people have always been committed to maintaining the stability of the world."

Du Jin said: "But they betrayed you."

"Don't rush to a conclusion." Xue Bai said, "How is the investigation of the assassination going?"

Du Jin shook his head, his expression looked a little helpless, not because he couldn't find out the identity, but because Xue Bai wouldn't believe him even if he told the truth.

Besides Yan Zhenqing, who else is capable of arranging this assassination?

~~

Xin'anyi.

Yan Zhenqing looked up, saw the flags fluttering in front of him, and sighed slightly unnoticed. Not long after, a general arrived in front of him, got off his horse, folded his hands and saluted.

"I've met Mr. Yan."

"Why is General Liang here?"

"I have been ordered by His Majesty to escort the Crown Prince back to the Eastern Capital." Lao Liang was a calm man, with a relaxed smile on his face.

Then let the prince return to Chang'an to avoid the chaos."

Yan Zhenqing said: "We are returning to the capital as the crown prince, not to avoid chaos, but to ensure the stability of the country."

"Yes, but now His Majesty has a decree. Why doesn't Duke Yan follow the decree and return to the Eastern Capital?"

"The prince is on his way with hundreds of officials, so it is not appropriate to go back and forth." Yan Zhenqing said, "Let me write a memorial and explain the whole story to your majesty. Perhaps your majesty will issue a new decree to allow the prince to return to the capital?"

Lao Liang sighed and said, "Is Mr. Yan just trying to get rid of me?"

"I will never lie to the general."

"no."

Lao Liang already looks old-fashioned, but when he is in trouble, deep wrinkles appear on his forehead.

He took a few steps closer, leaned into Yan Zhenqing's ear and said: "Tell the truth to Mr. Yan. His Majesty asked me to intercept Mr. Yan from returning to Chang'an because someone accused Mr. Yan of betraying Your Majesty. Go back and explain a few words, otherwise Your Majesty will ask

Get up, I have to tell Mr. Yan that you don’t want to return."

Yan Zhenqing said: "What about this? Let the prince and all the officials stay at Xin'an Yi, and I will go back with the general to report to your majesty."

"Why is Mr. Yan so stubborn?"

“I really don’t want to waste manpower and material resources in vain.”

"Okay." Lao Liang said, "Please arrange it, Mr. Yan."

Yan Zhenqing recruited Yan Quanming.

The uncle and nephew avoided Lao Liang and walked aside.

"I will go back to Dongdu to see His Majesty." Yan Zhenqing said, "You can leave all the officials behind and escort the prince back to Chang'an overnight."

After that, he handed over a letter.

"Give this letter to Guo Ziyi and tell him that the stability of the country is your top priority."

"uncle."

"Don't worry," Yan Zhenqing said, "I will convince your Majesty."

Yan Quanming had no choice but to accept the letter, and he and all the officials followed the prince's ceremonial drive to station at Xin'an Yi.

Lao Liang left most of his troops to guard him, and he personally followed Yan Zhenqing eastward.

After Lao Liang left, Yan Quanming summoned his close guards and asked Li Zuo to change his clothes, and the group quietly headed west.

However, after walking more than ten miles, they saw flags fluttering in front and soldiers and horses lining up. It was Jiang Hai and his men who had blocked the official road and had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing that Yan Quanming had indeed arrived, Jiang Hai did not look proud, but instead let out a long sigh.

He knew that His Majesty did not want to believe that the Yan family was also involved in the rebellion, but this time, he was indeed caught red-handed.

~~

Two days later, Luoyang.

There is also snow on the Luoshui River, and the broken bridge has not yet been repaired. If you want to get to the north bank, you can only go through the further Xinzhong Bridge for the time being.
To be continued...