Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 328

Chapter 328 An Unexpected Discovery

Half a year ago, Xiangyang appeared an ugly, but can not help but attract the attention of some people.

He was tall and untidy, often dressed in messy clothes and a messy beard, silent but kind to others. Every day, he picked up a set of burdens, which contained some candy people’s desserts or linen needles and threads that children liked, and shuttled between Xiangyang city and countryside, rain or shine without hindrance.

There were many such merchants everywhere. What caught his attention was an inadvertent event. On that day, he was still carrying a burden to sell goods in the northern port city. Suddenly, a frightened mad horse rushed into the port city, knocking over many stalls and injuring some people. Seeing that it was about to crash into a shop specializing in sugar sellers, with many children, women and children, it was on the verge of death. At this time, the grocer appeared diagonally, like lightning hitting the horse’s head. With a single punch, he forcefully knocked the crazy horse to the ground!

A tragedy was averted, and for the first time, people seemed to have noticed that this hidden and somewhat powerful merchant only had one arm.

“General, a toast to you!”

In one of the houses, the grocer raised his bowl and smiled at Qin Mubai.

Qin Mubai raised the bowl, but she was not in a hurry to drink it. Instead, she looked at the familiar and unfamiliar man and smiled.

“Zhang Tong, have you always stayed in Xiangyang?”

“No, I just came back a year ago.” Zhang Tong wiped his lips and grinned. He smiled a little ashamed, but he didn’t hold back at all.

Just a year or two ago, this Zhang Tong in front of him was still a glorious member of the Hundred Cavalry. He accompanied Qin Mubai to Xiang Zhou with Pang Fei and 30 other cavalry, but secretly helped his biological father Wei Mubai betray him, and eventually cut off one of his arms to atone for his sins. Since then, Qin Mubai has never heard from him again. He never expected that he would meet him here today.

When old friends met, all the grudges of the past were about to dissipate. What was present here was more emotions and sighs.

Qin Mubai drank a bowl of wine and looked around at the shabby house. There was still a knife hanging on the wall. It was the Baiji special saber he used to cut off his arm that day. Apart from that, everything was ordinary and crude.

Qin Mubai said, “Zhang Tong, why didn’t you return to Chang’an?”

“I’m back.” Zhang Tong nodded and replied briefly, “I went back to my hometown to recover from my injuries and accompany my mother. Soon after, my mother passed away, and I was not at peace in Chang’an every day, so I came to Xiangyang again.”

“Not peaceful?” Qin Mubai frowned in confusion.

“King Wei.” Zhang Tong frowned and said, “I don’t know where he found out about me, but he wanted to rope me into his camp.”

“To rope you in?” Qin Mubai was even more confused, “Why?”

Zhang Tong smiled and said, “Has the general forgotten about the Xiangyang Water Ghost case? There weren’t many people who really knew the truth at that time. This lowly person was one of them. In fact, this lowly person is already a cripple, and he has no power, no name, no hope. What does King Wei want me to do?”

Qin Mubai’s heart couldn’t help but brighten up as he said, “He wants to target Prince Wu and me?”

Zhang Tong glanced at Qin Mubai and nodded solemnly. “The Xiangyang Water Ghost case involves many things, including the Weidu Clan and the Chang’an Clan, as well as many generals and squire in the Jingxiang area,” he said. “This lowly person did not agree to anything from King Wei. He only vaguely sensed from his words that apart from wanting to know all the details of the Water Ghost case, he also hoped that this lowly person would give false testimony, slander the General and King Wu for their corruption and indiscriminate slaughter in Xiangzhou, and secretly collude with their own factions to target the Eastern Palace.”

Qin Mubai nodded slowly and said, “When you return to Chang’an to recuperate, it should be around the time when Emperor Yang’s Mausoleum was discovered.” At that time, there happened to be a case of King Qi plotting to assassinate Donggong and frame King Wu and rebel. King Wei found you at that time and asked you to testify. It was indeed a ruthless move. First, you are the person beside me who knows everything about the case. Second, your identity as a Baiji is also a powerful explanation. If you had agreed to join King Wei, King Wu and I would have been quite passive. ”

“That’s why I didn’t agree.” Zhang Tong’s expression was very calm, but his eyes flashed with two burning rays of light. He sonorously said, “I have betrayed the general once, and my conscience is worse than death! To put it bluntly, the death of my mother is not as painful as my conscience’s condemnation! Even though I have broken an arm, I cannot forgive my previous sin! How can I betray the general again?”

Qin Mubai heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, “Come, drink this bowl!”

After drinking a bowl of wine, Zhang Tong said, “At that time, I was still observing my filial piety, but I couldn’t care less and escaped overnight.” Originally, I wanted to find you to explain this level to you, but at that time … I really didn’t have the face to see the general again. Moreover, at that time, the general was also in trouble because of King Qi’s rebellion. If I appeared again, it would attract even more suspicion. Thus, Zhang changed his name and returned to Xiangyang, becoming an inconspicuous little merchant-however, General Pang Fei knew the villain! It is precisely because General Pang Fei is here that this lowly person dares to live in seclusion in Xiangyang. ”

Qin Mubai couldn’t help but laugh, “Pang Fei, this brat’s mouth is very firm. He didn’t tell me anything about you even after meeting him.”

“Perhaps we just met and didn’t have enough time to talk about it!” Zhang Tong smiled and said, “Today, I ran into General Pang Fei and a few of my former colleagues in the street. Seeing those former colleagues, I knew that the general had come to Xiangyang. So, after I heard the news, I waited until midnight and finally waited for the general. I finally recognized the general!”

Qin Mubai nodded with deep emotion and smiled, “Zhang Tong, I said that day that you were guilty, but you weren’t wrong.” I never really blamed you. Now, regardless of what kind of life you choose, I am relieved to be able to live a peaceful and peaceful life. I think your life is a bit miserable now, but it’s still a peaceful one. How about this, you don’t have to hide your name and live a shameful life. Things are over. I don’t blame you, and King Wei won’t have any more ideas about you. You can find a job in Qin Xian’s shop, buy a decent manor, and get a wife who can meet people. I’ll arrange these for you. ”

“No, no, no!” Zhang Tong hurriedly stood up and waved his hand in panic. “Zhang Tong has no regrets in this life that he can see the general again and talk to the general like this! Zhang Tong is a sinner, and he has no face to return to the general’s side, let alone to see his former colleagues! General … Please forgive me for not accepting this!”

Qin Mubai looked at Zhang Tong with a smile and nodded, “Everyone has their own aspirations. I won’t force you. However, my Qin Clan’s door will always be open to you. Whenever you have any difficulties, just come find me. You’re welcome.”

Zhang Tong’s bearded face was filled with wind and rain. His brows were tightly knitted as he looked at Qin Mubai. He raised a fist and placed it on his chest, saying, “General, although this lowly person is no longer worthy of being a soldier, in the eyes of this lowly person, this lowly person will always be a soldier of the general! Please accept this lowly person’s single punch and bow!”

He clenched his fists and knelt on one knee. She lowered her head. Although she was extremely patient, her tears flowed down her cheeks in disappointment.

Qin Mubai stepped forward and slammed his palm into his fist, just in time to gather a military salute to clasp his fists.

“I accept this bow.”

“Thank you, General!”

Zhang Tong couldn’t hold back his tears anymore as he kowtowed on the ground.

Qin Mubai did not pull him up or stop him. Perhaps, this way, he could feel even happier and untie the knot that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time.

Quietly, Qin Mubai took off her purse and placed it on the table. She patted Zhang Tong who was still kowtowing and said, “I’m leaving. Take care.”

“Greetings, General!” Zhang Tong did not hold back, but turned around on the ground and continued to kowtow to the door Qin Mubai had left.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang

‘”How can I, Qin Mubai, be considered a good person? I can’t believe that a mortal is worth Zhang Tong treating me like this …” Zhang Tong, who had his arm severed, Zhang Tong, who had died in battle, and Zhang Tong, who has been accompanying me all this time.

“Treasure! Their existence proves that my life is not in vain!”

After walking out of half a pitch-black alley, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind him, and Zhang Tong’s voice sounded, “Qin …!”

Qin Mubai, on the other hand, had run back to return the money bag, so he stopped and waited for him to speak.

Zhang Tong stood still and looked around alertly. “This lowly person lost his composure and forgot to tell the general about an important matter! Please return to the humble abode!” He whispered.

Qin Mubai frowned, “Alright!”

When the two returned to their humble abode, Zhang Tong seemed to have returned to the Baiji Guard of the day. He carefully checked the room without any surveillance or partition ears before returning to his room. At this moment, he saw the money bag on the table and couldn’t help but froze. He must have kowtowed and suddenly remembered this, so he ran away without even looking at the table.

Qin Mubai smiled and said, “Just accept it. There’s no need to shy away from it. Let’s get down to business.”

Zhang Tong sat beside Qin Mubai and whispered, “When this lowly person returned to Chang’an, he didn’t leave. One day, someone suddenly came looking for me. The person who came claimed to be from Deng Zhou was from King Qi, surnamed Liang.”

“Liang Mengbiao?” Qin Mubai said.

“Yes, it’s him! This lowly person has seen him in Xiangyang before. He has been following King Qi around, but he has never interacted with him before.” Zhang Tong said, “At that time, he almost made the same request as King Wei. He wanted me to provide you and King Wu with evidence of their rebellion in Xiangyang, and then give me a high-ranking official and a generous salary.”

“Mm, that’s not strange.” Qin Mubai said, “Liang Mengbiao must have listened to Yin Hongzhi’s orders and went to find you. At that time, they were already plotting to intercept Prince Qi and Princess Gaoyang, who had returned to the capital to confess their guilt, and force them to rebel against me and King Wu.”

“These lowly people don’t know. It was precisely because of his appearance that this lowly person fled overnight. However, I heard a shocking piece of news from his mouth!” Zhang Tong said.

“What news?”

Zhang Tong lowered his voice even further and said, “At that time, King Qi rebelled in Dengzhou, and there might have been an inner echelon in the court!”

“What?!” Qin Mubai was shocked, “Who is it?!”

“He didn’t say anything.” Zhang Tong said, “He only said that once Deng Zhou raises the matter, the capital will also make trouble for the palace. At the same time, they have a secret in their hands that even His Majesty the Emperor is afraid of, so they are fully qualified to negotiate with the Imperial Court! At that time, he also encouraged me like this. He said that as long as I provide evidence against the Imperial General and King Wu, it will be a great achievement!”

Hearing this, Qin Mubai’s heart was covered with a layer of gloom. “Is there a secret that even His Majesty the Emperor is afraid of?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.” Zhang Tong said, “I don’t know the specifics. They didn’t say much to me. When I heard this, I was terrified. I promised to buy them two yellow goods to relax their vigilance, so I escaped overnight to avoid being silenced.”

“Good job, I haven’t disgraced Baiji’s name!” Qin Mubai took a deep breath and nodded. “At that time, you weren’t enough to report anyone. After all, it was just a one-sided statement. There was no evidence, and it wasn’t enough to be trusted. It was right to escape overnight. But didn’t you get any information about the court? Or was it that secret?”

“At that time, this lowly person really wanted to inquire, but he was afraid that asking too much would arouse their suspicions, so he didn’t dare to ask any further.” Zhang Tong said, “However, Liang Mengbiao doesn’t seem to know very well, which makes him want to show off. This lowly person deliberately tried to get close to him while he was drunk, but he only vaguely mentioned a very strange word-the Ancestral Emperor!”

“The first emperor?” Qin Mubai was even more surprised.

“Yes, this lowly person remembers it very well. There is absolutely no mistake. That secret may have something to do with the ‘Ancestral Emperor’, but I’m afraid Liang Mengbiao doesn’t know the exact details.” Zhang Tong said.

Qin Mubai slowly nodded, thinking that Yin Hongzhi, Li You, and his accomplices were all dead. Facts had proved that they did not use any insider and so-called “secrets” at that time. Otherwise, they would not have lost so quickly, and the Imperial Court would not have been able to see anything out of the ordinary.

“Who exactly is the inside man? What kind of secret is it?” Qin Mubai fell into deep thought …