Steal my marriage? Turn around and marry the tyrant to take the throne

Chapter 1735 Knowing Jiang Wange is not dead (Bonus chapter for 290 million reward points)

Shen Zhinian's heart stirred slightly.

The north naturally refers to the Xiongnu.

In her memories of her past life, the Xiongnu had always been a major threat to the Great Zhou. Even after a temporary defeat and the sue for peace, their ambition to move south was never extinguished.

Shen Zhinian couldn't bring up her past life, so in order to continue the topic, she followed Nangong Xuanyu's words and said worriedly, "The Xiongnu came to the Great Zhou at the beginning of the year to cede territory and pay reparations, presented a large number of fine horses, and even humbly asked to marry the Great Zhou princess in order to seek peace."

"How dare you still be restless?"

A flash of coldness crossed Nangong Xuanyu's eyes as he sneered, "Openly, they naturally wouldn't dare."

"But in reality... the capital city may not be clean."

Shen Zhinian understood immediately, knowing that the emperor referred to the hidden agents.

Following Nangong Xuanyu's tone, she said dismissively, "I see."

"Operating in the shadows, it naturally cannot be seen in the light of day."

"But since they are lurking in the capital, they must have something on their mind. And now they are not at peace. Could it be that they have noticed something?"

Nangong Xuanyu sneered, "Yes, the Huns are quick to run!"

"Like rats in the gutter, they sense the slightest danger and flee back to their lair in a panic."

"It's a pity... we couldn't catch them red-handed and leave them with solid evidence!"

Otherwise, the Great Zhou would have occupied the high ground and could rightfully punish the Xiongnu!

Without concrete evidence, even if they knew that the Xiongnu were responsible, they could not openly launch a large-scale attack to punish them.

This left Nangong Xuanyu feeling frustrated and constrained.

The essential oil has been applied.

Shen Zhinian sat up and said softly, "Why should Your Majesty worry so much? No matter how cunning a rat is, it is still a rat and cannot be exposed to the light."

"The fact that the Xiongnu spy managed to escape this time has exposed their fear. It has also let His Majesty know that the Xiongnu do indeed have connections in the capital."

"There is plenty of time ahead. As long as the Great Zhou is impregnable and we remain vigilant, their evil tricks will eventually be exposed."

Her words were gentle yet firm, possessing a calming power.

This is exactly what Nangong Xuanyu needs most at this moment.

The emperor reached out and pulled Shen Zhinian into his arms, letting her lean against his chest, and said gently, "Nian Nian is right."

The next day.

After the morning court session, Nangong Xuanyu returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Li Changde silently waved his hand, and the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall all bowed their heads and withdrew.

He stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, the Jiang family has confessed."

Nangong Xuanyu looked up at Li Changde, signaling him to continue.

Li Changde bowed and said, "She confessed that she did have an affair with the lecherous monk Xingchen."

"On the ninth day of the tenth month last year, Jiang met with Xingchen secretly through a secret passage at Fatu Temple, where they committed an illicit act..."

Even with the precedents set by the Feng and Chu families.

Even though Nangong Xuanyu had long suspected Jiang Changzai.

But when he heard the confirmed news, the emperor's eyes suddenly turned cold!

Another green hat...

Li Changde braced himself and continued, "Afterwards, Madam Jiang was worried that she would fail the physical examination and suffer a terrible disaster. So Xingchen introduced her to Granny Xue, who was in charge of the physical examination."

"According to Granny Xue in the palace register, she is a palace maid who entered the palace during the reign of the late emperor. She is forty-five years old this year, has a clean family background, and is skilled in her methods."

"Over the years, she has inspected countless women for the imperial concubine selection and has never made a mistake."

"According to Jiang's confession, this person's true identity was also an early spy for Empress Dowager Gongsu. He was skilled in medicine and also knew the lost art of muscle-retaining."

Nangong Xuanyu frowned and asked, "The Muscle-Concealing Technique?"

Li Changde replied, "Yes."

According to Jiang's description, this technique requires the use of a special ointment, which can conceal the marks on a woman's private parts within twelve hours, making them appear as if they were intact.

Nangong Xuanyu sneered, "What a clever tactic!"

"Empress Dowager Gongsu has been gone for so long, yet she still left me this 'generous gift'!"

According to the rules of the Great Zhou Dynasty, palace maids could leave the palace and marry on their own when they reached the age of twenty-five.

If one voluntarily stays to work as a nanny, and wishes to leave the palace in the future, all that is required is the approval of the Imperial Household Department.

Li Changde respectfully replied, "This servant has investigated and found that at the beginning of this year, Granny Xue retired from her post in the Imperial Household Department on the grounds of advanced age."

"She lived in a house in the western suburbs and rarely went out. She had only one distant nephew who would visit her occasionally."

"After receiving the confession last night, I secretly ordered Commander Zhan to send men to surround that house."

"Commander Zhan reported half an hour ago that the man had been captured and a number of secret letters and prescriptions were found in the house, including the formula for a muscle-reducing ointment."

"The relevant physical evidence is being verified, and Commander Zhan is personally overseeing the process to ensure that nothing is overlooked."

Nangong Xuanyu said coldly, "Among the people left behind by Empress Dowager Gongsu, besides the old nanny who helped the Chu and Feng families deceive everyone, there was also this Granny Xue?!"

Li Changde confirmed, "Your Majesty, in the previous cleanup, Granny Xue was one of those who slipped through the net."

"The maids used by Chu and Feng only knew some rudimentary skills in concealing their actions, and they have been brought to justice after the incident."

“This Granny Xue is even more cunning and her methods are even more sophisticated. If it weren’t for Madam Jiang’s confession, there would be no clues at all from her daily behavior.”

The coldness in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes deepened. "Empress Dowager Gongsu is indeed far-sighted!"

Li Changde continued his report: "Your Majesty, Jiang has also confessed to something... It concerns Your Majesty's health, and I will explain in detail."

"The Jiang family has a prescription called 'Cold Marrow Powder'. It is pale in color and tasteless, and can be dissolved in water or wine."

"After the woman takes it, the effects of the medicine will remain in her body temporarily, and then... when they make love, it will be able to be transferred to the man..."

"This medicine is extremely toxic. If a man is repeatedly exposed to it, he will initially only feel weak, cold, and lack energy. But over time, the foundation of his kidney essence will be damaged..."

"Jiang wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to serve the emperor in bed to slowly erode the essence of his body and avenge Xingchen."

"Fortunately, Lady Jiang doesn't receive much favor; His Majesty only visits her a handful of times. Otherwise, I dare not even imagine the consequences..."

"Your Majesty's health is a matter of vital importance to the nation and its people, and there is no room for complacency. This humble servant dares to humbly request Your Majesty to summon Imperial Physician He to carefully examine your pulse and prescribe some tonifying and regulating remedies to ensure your safety!"

A fierce killing intent surged in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes!

He vaguely remembered that Madam Jiang was a woman with a soft voice and beautiful eyes. She could be coquettish, and she would look at him timidly when she was serving him in bed.

So that's how vicious she was!

Indeed, the more beautiful the women in the imperial harem were, the more poisonous they were!

After a long pause, the emperor finally suppressed the intense killing intent in his heart: "...Granted."

"Have Judge He wait; he will be here shortly."

Li Changde replied, "Yes."

"Your Majesty, the Jiang family also revealed that... the fire at Yawen Garden was actually a ploy to escape their clutches."

"Jiang Wange didn't burn to death inside!"

Nangong Xuanyu suddenly raised his eyes, stared at Li Changde, and said, word by word, "Say it again!"

Li Changde was so frightened that he knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, Jiang Wange is not dead. That charred corpse is a substitute."