The events that took place in the Golden Palace soon spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.
Many commoners applauded Xiao Wang's actions and even composed ballads to praise him.
After Ruan Jiu and Xie Jingchu heard about this, they immediately went to the Eastern Palace to inquire with Xiao Wang about what had happened in the palace.
As soon as they entered, Xiao Wang was the first to speak. "Thank you both for reminding me that the Northern Rong envoy group is not here for peace talks."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have made preparations in advance for the possible provocations from the Northern Rong people.
It was the first time Ruan Jiu had seen Xiao Wang being so polite.
Hearing his thanks, she felt a bit uncomfortable instead.
So she forced a smile awkwardly and then asked, "Did you notice anything strange about them?"
Xiao Wang replied, "Although the third prince of the Northern Rong, Wanyan Tuo, came this time, I found that those Northern Rong people seem to only follow the orders of Chai Ronglie."
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu looked solemn.
He had heard of this Chai Ronglie before. He was the Tiger - Might General of the Northern Rong and was highly valued by the Northern Rong King.
But since the Northern Rong King had already sent Chai Ronglie, why did he also send Wanyan Tuo?
As far as he knew, Wanyan Tuo was the least favored prince of the Northern Rong.
Thinking of this, a terrifying guess suddenly came to Xie Jingchu's mind.
Frowning, Xie Jingchu asked, "Have there been any strange faces in the city recently?"
Xiao Wang nodded. "As early as two months ago, many Northern Rong people had sneaked into the capital in disguise. Fortunately, they are tall and easy to recognize. In the past few days, we've caught quite a few of them."
"As long as we stall the Northern Rong envoy group for a few more days, we should be able to root out all the remaining Northern Rong people in the city."
Xie Jingchu stared into the distance and thought for a while.
Then he said, "There's no need to catch the remaining Northern Rong people anymore."
"Why?" Xiao Wang asked in confusion.
"Catching the turtle in the jar," Xie Jingchu squinted his eyes, his gaze deep.
If they wanted to catch the turtle in the jar, they naturally couldn't let the turtle notice in advance.
It had been so hard to make the Northern Rong people show their true colors. They had set up this stage for so long. They had to wait until the play was over.
Moreover, he had to verify his guess first.
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After a two - day rest, the Northern Rong envoy group couldn't wait to send someone into the palace with a message, expressing their desire to enter the palace to discuss the peace talks.
It would be more accurate to say that they were plotting with Xiao Qi on how to usurp the throne rather than resting.
But on the day of the peace talks, the Northern Rong envoy group didn't enter the palace for a long time.
"The Northern Rong people don't take our dynasty seriously at all! It was they who set the time, but they're so late!"
"I say we just forget about the peace talks. We might as well fight them again!"
Most of those who spoke were military generals. They had always been dissatisfied with the peace talks.
Now seeing the Northern Rong people being so negligent, they were even more indignant.
They all wished they could immediately mount their horses with swords in hand and flatten the Northern Rong.
Compared with these impatient military generals, the civil officials of the prime - minister's faction seemed rather quiet.
They all hung their heads and said nothing.
The Emperor also seemed to be getting impatient. The teacup on his table had been refilled three times.
When the chief eunuch saw that the Emperor's teacup was empty again, he immediately stepped forward.
But the Emperor waved his hand irritably, indicating that there was no need to refill.
Just then, there was a sudden commotion outside the main hall.
Then Chai Ronglie led a group of angry Northern Rong people in.
Taking a closer look, there were actually more than a dozen more Northern Rong people than a few days ago, and each of them was holding a knife.
The chief eunuch was so frightened that he screamed, "Guards! Protect the Emperor quickly!"
Seeing this, Xiao Wang immediately stepped in front of the Emperor and roared at Chai Ronglie, "How dare you bring swords into the palace!"
In the entire imperial palace, except for the Brocade - Robed Guards, no one was allowed to wear swords, not even the crown prince!
Not to mention foreign envoys!
The Brocade - Robed Guards immediately rushed into the Golden Palace and surrounded both the Northern Rong people and the court officials.
Facing Xiao Wang's roar and the Brocade - Robed Guards, Chai Ronglie sneered, "Since you've torn up the pretense first, don't blame us!"
Hearing this, the Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. There was an imposing air between his eyebrows even without anger. "Tiger - Might General, what do you mean by this?"
Chai Ronglie said, "Our third prince of the Northern Rong was killed at the post - station today. If you can't give the Northern Rong a satisfactory explanation, don't blame us for spilling blood in the Golden Palace!"
Hearing this, the Emperor's eyebrows twitched slightly. "The third prince of the Northern Rong was killed?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw several Northern Rong people carry in Wanyan Tuo's body and place it in the middle of the Golden Palace.
Pointing at Wanyan Tuo's body, Chai Ronglie said, "We, the Northern Rong, came from afar for peace talks, but you actually laid hands on our third prince!"
Xiao Wang sneered. Chai Ronglie wanted to blame Wanyan Tuo's death on them with just a few words.
Wouldn't the next step be to stir up the war between the two countries?
Sure enough, as Xiao Wang had expected.
Chai Ronglie waved his big knife and roared, "If you have no intention of peace talks, then we, the Northern Rong, are not afraid of going to war with you!"
The Emperor said in a deep voice, "Tiger - Might General, since the third prince of the Northern Rong was killed at the post - station, I will naturally send someone to investigate thoroughly and find out the murderer. But the death of the third prince of the Northern Rong has nothing to do with us, let alone the court."
Chai Ronglie snorted, with a look of dissatisfaction in his eyes. "What a joke! If you didn't kill the third prince, who did? I'll make you pay for his blood with your own!"
It seemed that Wanyan Tuo's death was just an excuse.
The Emperor also understood that they were not here for peace talks at all.
For a moment, the two sides were at a stalemate.
Just then, Xiao Qi suddenly stepped forward.
"Father, I have a perfect plan."
"Oh?" The Emperor's gaze fell on Xiao Qi, his expression complicated. "Tell me."
"Father, the third prince of the Northern Rong died at the foot of the imperial city after all, and all the matters regarding the envoy's visit to the capital were handled by the crown prince. Now that such a big mistake has occurred, perhaps only by handing over the crown prince can we appease the anger of the Northern Rong."
As soon as Xiao Qi said this, many court officials and military generals were dissatisfied.
Grand Tutor Zhao was the first to step forward and pointed at Chai Ronglie, roaring, "Why should we hand over our crown prince to the Northern Rong!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the right arm of Grand Tutor Zhao was cut by a Northern Rong person's knife, and blood immediately flowed.
If it weren't for the Cavalry General beside Grand Tutor Zhao who pulled him back, Grand Tutor Zhao's entire right hand might have been cut off!
The Northern Rong people's blatant act of hurting someone in the Golden Palace caused an uproar.
"Brocade - Robed Guards, immediately arrest Chai Ronglie for me!"
The Emperor's voice was low and terrifying. His anger had reached its peak.
But the Brocade - Robed Guards seemed not to hear. They all stood still in their places.
The Emperor's gaze sharpened. In fact, since those Northern Rong people had rushed into the Golden Palace with swords, he had suspected that the Brocade - Robed Guards in the palace had been replaced.
Now seeing the reaction of the Brocade - Robed Guards, his suspicion was further confirmed.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded outside the Golden Palace.
"Your Majesty, if I heard correctly just now, were you calling for the Brocade - Robed Guards?"