On the night of the 28th day of the lunar month of the third year of the Apocalypse, Zhu Youzhen, the king of letters, was assassinated in the Xiaoyao Bo Zhou Kui Mansion.

Although Zhu Youzhen was fine, he had multiple abrasions all over his body. Princess Zhou Ruiniang was hit by the sword in two places, and fell into a coma due to excessive blood loss. Zhou Kui was safe and sound.

The rest of the people, Teng Xiang's deputy commander of the right guard made Lin Youkun hit the sword, and seven lower-level officials of Jinyiwei died in the melee, seriously injuring two and lightly injuring four; A total of 46 people died, 8 were seriously injured, and 22 were slightly injured; The officers and soldiers of the Yulin Guard, who rushed to help in the battle, killed eight people in the battle and slightly wounded three people.

The Assassins who broke into the Xiaoyao Mansion were killed on the spot by thirty-five people, and the rest escaped.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse was furious when he heard this, smashed a beautiful coffee table that had just been completed, and passed down a strict order: Dongchang, Jinyiwei, Shuntianfu, and the Jingshi Jiumen Inspection Division will thoroughly investigate the whole city and arrest the murderer. The missionary John Tang was awarded the title of deputy supervisor of the sixth rank of Qintian for his meritorious service in sacrificing guns to protect the driver. And Yin Liu Zhixuan of Shuntian Mansion, Li Yunsheng, the commander of the Jiumen Inspection Division, and Lin Youkun, the deputy commander of Tengxiang's right guard, were all dismissed from their posts and retained.

All of a sudden, Dongchang Fanzi, Jinyi Wei Tiqi, the officials of Shuntianfu and Yu Linwei and Jin Wuwei of the Jiumen Inspection Department went out to search and arrest the whole city, and the chickens and dogs jumped.

At the same time, the Criminal Department, Dali Temple, Jinyi Weibei Town, Fusi, and Dongchang respectively sent to carefully examine the bodies of the Assassins who died in Xiaoyaobo's Mansion, looking for clues that could reveal the identity of the Assassins.

After a day and night of intense investigation, Wei Zhongxian, the governor of Dongchang, Tian Ergeng, the commander of the capital and Jinyiwei, Li Yangzheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Yao Shishen, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, jointly played: The assassins were all Jiangyang thieves, who were bought with a lot of money, and attempted to assassinate King Xin and Xiaoyaobo, in order to vent the anger of Xiong Tingbi, Yang Lian and others being sent to prison. Under the search of the whole city, some of the murderers have been arrested and confessed to the crimes. Although I don't know who the mastermind behind the scenes is, it is inferred from his actions that he should be a friend of Xiong Tingbi, Yang Lian and others, and may also be a member of the Donglin Party.

Tianqi was furious when he heard this, and strictly ordered Jinyi Wei to strictly interrogate Xiong Tingbi, Yang Lian and others, and forced them to confess to the mastermind behind the scenes. After the case is closed, Xiong Tingbi will be beheaded in the West Market and passed on the first nine sides.

In this way, the Ming Dynasty ushered in the New Year's Day of the fourth year of the Apocalypse in a bloody color.

In the early morning of this day, under Bao Yulian's careful treatment, Rui'er finally woke up from a coma. However, due to excessive blood loss, his body is still very weak. Bao Yupian was afraid that she would be excited, so she didn't let Zhu Youzhen go in to visit, and Zhu Youzhen had no choice but to pace back and forth irritably in the Yin'an Palace.

After a while, Zhou Kui came to visit his daughter, and Zhu Youzhen hurriedly welcomed him into the Yin'an Palace to introduce Rui'er's injury.

Zhou Kui knelt down on the ground in panic and said: "The despicable duty accidentally caused a big disaster for a while, and almost harmed His Royal Highness and Niangniang, and the crime of despicable duty deserves death!" "I'm going to slap my mouth when I say that.

Zhu Youzhen hurriedly picked him up and said: "Father-in-law, don't do this, this is all a gangster's murder, what does it have to do with your father-in-law?" Besides, if it weren't for my father-in-law and Yan Daxia to come to the rescue, Rui'er and I would have died on the spot. ”

While he was talking, Lin Youkun hurriedly entered and told Zhu Youzhen and Zhou Kui the content of the latest edict of the Apocalypse.

Zhu Youzhen said in disbelief: "Did the Donglin Party do it?" It's impossible, it's a group of white-faced scholars, it's okay to scold people, let them fight with open fire to kill people, what are you kidding! Besides, Xiong Tingbi and Yang Lian were arrested, what are you doing with me? This reason is too fake, it is really a crime to add, why bother! ”

Lin Youkun also said with a gloomy face: "If it is not expected by the humble position, this time the East Factory is a thief shouting to catch a thief, and they did it." ”

"How so?" Zhu Youzhen asked in surprise.

"Can't you? If the people from Dongchang did it, there are so many of us present, they are not afraid of being recognized? Zhou Kui also stroked his short beard and said suspiciously, "Besides, Dongchang and Jinyiwei are now one, but this time Jinyiwei also suffered heavy losses and was killed more than ten officials..."

"The vast majority of the assassins who carried out this assassination were very raw, and they really did not leave any conclusive evidence." Lin Youkun said coldly, "But the masked man who fought with me, I can't mistake those eyes, it is one of the four masters of the East Factory, Xu Xianchun's younger brother Xu Xianzhen!" ”

"As for the Jinyiwei officials who were killed," Lin Youkun groaned and analyzed, "It may be that the people from Dongchang did it, and they didn't have any scruples about Jinyiwei; second, Wei Zhongxian's sworn friends such as Xu Xianchun and Cui Yingyuan had left before the assassination began, leaving only some lower-level officials; The three moves can also hide people's eyes and ears, making it difficult for people to suspect Dongchang and Wei Zhongxian. ”

Zhu Youzhen was stunned for a long time, and suddenly raised his foot sharply and kicked the bookcase in front of him. His script was to vent the anger in his chest, but it turned out that the book case was made of solid wood, which was very heavy. At this step, the bookcase did not move at all, but Zhu Youzhen almost kicked the bone and broke it, and his porcelain teeth grinned in pain.

Zhou Kui and Lin Youkun saw that Zhu Youzhen was angry, and they knelt down together in a panic and said, "Your Highness is angry!" It's all unfavorable for lowly ranks, please punish Your Highness heavily! ”

"What does this have to do with you? It turned out that it was Wei Zhongxian, an old boy! Zhu Youzhen scolded viciously, "This old bastard, it's not once or twice that I have yin!" I also hurt the princess this time, and if I don't fucking fight back, I'll really become a turtle with a shrunken head! I'll go into the palace to find the emperor now and sue him fiercely! ”

The two of them hurriedly advised: "Your Highness, don't be impulsive! According to the ancestral system, unless the edict is given, the vassal king is not allowed to enter the Forbidden City! ”

"Then I'll write a recital to him!" Zhu Youzhen said angrily.

"That's not allowed." Lin Youkun hurriedly said, "Now the power of the celebrant to approve the red is controlled by Wei Zhongxian, and all the pieces must pass through him first. Anyone who participated in his recitals could be detained and not presented to the emperor. If you rush to the capital, not only will it be difficult to reach the heavens, but it will startle the snake and provoke Wei Zhongxian's jealousy. Besides, to catch a thief is to get stolen, and to catch a traitor is to be double. and did not arrest Xu Xianzhen on the spot, just relying on his humble words, he went to Banzai, and I am afraid that he will not be able to win this lawsuit. ”

Zhu Youzhen also remembered what happened to Yang Lian before, and said hatefully: "Then I still have no tricks for him?" ”

Zhou Kui and Lin Youkun were speechless for a while, so they had to reluctantly say: "Your Highness, don't be impatient, the matter is big, and it still needs to be considered in the long run." ”

"From the long-term plan, from the long-term plan, and then from the long-term, I'm going to the underworld!" Zhu Youzhen blushed and said thickly, "No, I'm going to clean up this grandson now!" ”

He walked back and forth in the Yin'an Hall twice irritably, and suddenly stopped, his eyes lit up and said, "If the bright ones can't work, can't we come to the dark ones?" If he Wei Zhongxian can assassinate me, I can't assassinate him? Father-in-law, your martial arts are so strong, and with the help of Senior Brother Yan Ling, plus Commander Lin, it shouldn't be a problem to take the rank of general in a million army! Moreover, you are the deputy commander of the Jinyi Guard, and you are in charge of the power of the Jinyi Guard, so you mobilized 1,800 people, and everyone rushed up to divide him into pieces, isn't it over! ”

Zhou Kui's face turned white with fright, and he waved his hand again and again: "Your Highness, you can't do it!" Although the lowly post is named as the deputy envoy of the Jinyi Guard, Xu Xianchun, Cui Yingyuan and others only listen to Dongchang, and they only obey the lowly position. Not to mention 1,800 people, even a pawn can't be transferred! Moreover, Wei Zhongxian was either in Dongchang on weekdays, or in his own mansion outside the palace, every place was heavily guarded, and there were often hundreds of people guarding him. Although there are two hits between the lowly and the inferior, it is absolutely impossible to break in! ”

Lin Youkun also shook his head and said, "Your Highness, it's not that you are despicable and greedy for life and afraid of death. Over the years, Wei Zhongxian doesn't know how many Zhongliang he has framed, and his enemies can be said to be all over the world, so he is also afraid of others seeking revenge, and attaches great importance to his own safety. Don't say anything else, let's just say that the four masters of the East Factory are all outstanding in martial arts. It is said that Xu Xianzhen can only rank last among the four masters. But that's it, and lowly is no match for him. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought of the man in black who fell from the sky, and shuddered: "How did he escape later?" ”

Lin Youkun said ashamedly: "At that time, he was injured by his humble position, but fortunately, Yan Ling came to help in the battle. The two of us fought against him, and he was still at ease! ”

"Why didn't my father-in-law take it?"

Hearing Zhu Youzhen's question, Zhou Kui hurriedly said: "Seeing that Commander Lin and the apprentice can hold back the man in black, he will go to the courtyard first to kill the other assassins." ”

"Isn't it 'shoot the man first and shoot the horse first, and capture the thief and capture the king first'?" Zhu Youzhen asked in surprise, "That man in black is obviously the leader of the assassins, why don't you restrain him first?" ”

Lin Youkun patiently explained: "At that time, the battle situation was dangerous, there were many assassins, and the target was obviously His Highness, if he was entangled with Xu Xianzhen for too long, any other assassin could hurt His Highness." Xiaoyao Bo had the highest martial arts among us, so it was the fastest way to kill those assassins with slightly lower martial arts, which was also the most correct choice at that time. But Xu Xianzhen saw that Xiao Yaobo personally killed more than ten assassins, and knew that the general trend was gone, so he crossed the wall with a false move. The lowly rank cared about the safety of His Highness and did not chase after him. And with his skills, I'm afraid he can't catch up. ”

"What a powerful Xu Xianzhen!" Zhu Youzhen muttered, "Who are the other three masters of the East Factory?" Is it more powerful than Xu Xianzhen? ”

Lin Youkun replied: "I have only had a relationship with Xu Xianzhen, and the other three have only heard of it. It is said that in third place is an Oriental man named Kenmasa Sanada; In second place, Wan Qisong, the head of Wanjianmen; As for the head of these four masters, it is very mysterious, and he doesn't even know his name. ”

"I don't care if he has the Four Heavenly Kings or the Eight King Kongs, in short, he has to clean up! Father-in-law, Lord Lin, think about it again, is there any other way? I can't swallow this breath! Zhu Youzhen was in a hurry.

Zhou Kui and Lin Youkun looked at each other, and were about to persuade Zhu Youzhen to endure his anger for a while, when Yi Yi suddenly hurriedly broke in and said, "Lord, Niangniang invites the prince to come over, there is something important to return!" ”