Chapter 230: The Headless Corpse and the Troubles of Meeting the Emperor

After the morning court session, Wu Zetian looked unhappy and left in a hurry, as if she had something urgent to do.

Di Renjie, Zhang Jianzhi and Zhao Jizhe slowly walked out of the solemn court room. The first two had frowns on their faces, their hearts full of worries about the political situation.

In sharp contrast, Liang Wang Wu Sansi looked relaxed, with his hands behind his back, and walked out of the court room with brisk steps.

"A villain is successful!" Zhang Jianzhi looked at Wu Sansi's back and shook his head helplessly.

Wu Zetian will go to Hanguang Temple to burn incense tomorrow on the Ullambana Festival as per custom. According to the old system of the court, the Crown Prince should be the first to offer incense on behalf of the cabinet officials and the six ministries and nine officials.

But Wu Zetian chose Di Renjie to take her place, obviously she was very dissatisfied with the recent behavior of Crown Prince Li Xian.

Wu Sansi was naturally happy that Li Xian was in trouble.

Di Renjie was full of doubts and whispered to Zhang Jianzhi, "Jianzhi, the prince is too gentle, and everyone knows that he is not a lustful person. How could he be addicted to wine and women? I think there is something fishy going on."

Zhang Jianzhi sighed and said, "Who said it wasn't true? I have advised him several times, but he just won't listen. The two Zhang brothers have been slandering the prince in the palace, why doesn't he know how to restrain himself?"

The two Zhangs are the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, who were Wu Zetian's favorites. They once spoke in favor of Li Xian's restoration as crown prince, but recently they have fallen out with Li Xian and have been slandering him.

Zhao Ji was also a little puzzled. Li Xiancai in this world line was a little green, but he knew how to protect himself. Could he really be a womanizer?

While the three were hesitating, Huan Bin ran over quickly with his sword in hand, as if he had something urgent to do.

"Two elders! General Zhao." Huan Bin greeted the three of them. When facing Zhao Ji, his expression was quite unnatural.

Di Renjie observed his expression and asked directly, "General Huan, you look so hurried, is there something urgent?"

Huan Bin took a deep breath and reported in a serious tone: "Today, I led the Qianniu Guards to investigate the Hanguang Temple and found a headless male corpse in the back garden."

Upon hearing this, Di Renjie's expression suddenly changed. He and Zhang Jianzhi quickly exchanged shocked glances and asked in unison, "Headless male corpse?"

Huan Bin nodded heavily and continued, "That's right. Lord Di, this matter is of great importance. Do you think it is necessary to report it to His Majesty immediately?"

Di Renjie hesitated for a moment, his eyes revealing caution and deep thought, and finally shook his head: "The situation is unknown, it is best not to report it rashly. What do you think, Jianzhi?"

Zhang Jianzhi nodded and said, "That's right, Brother Huaiying. You are a well-known judge in the court. I think you should take the trouble to go to the scene to investigate and then make a decision."

Zhao Ji looked at Di Renjie in disbelief, and I said, "No way, how dare you not tell Wu Zetian about this? If things go wrong, this is knowing the truth but not reporting it, and you are suspected of being an accomplice."

"My two ministers, I think this is inappropriate. A murder has occurred in a place where the emperor is about to be buried. This is a very bad omen. Your Majesty should be informed at least!" Zhao Ji tried to dissuade them.

Huan Bin's eyelids twitched suddenly when he heard this, and this action was also seen by Zhao Ji.

Zhao Ji said again: "Hanguang Temple is outside Luoyang City, and it takes time to go back and forth. If you report it a little later, His Majesty will be asleep, and if no one dares to disturb him, it will be too late."

Zhang Jianzhi nodded repeatedly and said, "What Chengyuan said makes sense, Brother Huaiying."

Di Renjie hesitated for a moment, and finally agreed: "Well, General Huan and I will go to Hanguang Temple, and Chengyuan and Jianzhi will go to see His Majesty to give him a warning first."

After that, the four of them separated. Di Renjie and Huan Bin left the palace, while Zhao Ji and Zhang Jianzhi went to see Wu Zetian.
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Zhao Ji and Zhang Jianzhi chatted and laughed all the way until they arrived in front of Wu Zetian's bedroom.

The ones on duty today are the Right Thousand Bull Guards led by Huan Bin. Several of them are Zhao Ji's old colleagues, but they are all Huan Bin's confidants.

Zhao Ji stepped forward to negotiate: "Please inform me and tell me that Zhang Gelao and I have important matters to discuss with Your Majesty!"

The guard looked embarrassed and responded softly: "General Zhao, His Majesty has important matters to attend to, and he has ordered that no one should disturb you. If you have anything to say, you and Lord Zhang can come back tomorrow."

Zhang Jianzhi frowned and stepped forward, saying, "It will be too late tomorrow! Please go in and wake up the emperor immediately, and tell him that it is a matter of life and death. Please allow me and General Zhao to see you!"

The guard looked terrified and said anxiously, "Sir, this is really not possible today! Anyone who dares to disturb His Majesty now will probably lose their lives!"

When these words were spoken, Zhao Ji and Zhang Jianzhi looked at each other in surprise.

Zhao Ji pointed at a guard and ordered, "Please ask Shangguan Cairen to come! I don't believe that I can't see His Majesty today!"

Seeing this, the guard blocking the door sighed again: "General Zhao, I'm afraid Shangguan Cairen can't do anything..."

A moment later, Shangguan Wan'er came hurriedly: "Lord, General Zhao, did you ask me to come here to see His Majesty?"

"That's right. Please let me pass on the report for you." Zhang Jianzhi was very polite.

Unexpectedly, Shangguan Wan'er also looked embarrassed and said, "Sir, it is really inconvenient today. If you have any important matters, please tell Wan'er. It will be the same if Wan'er reports to His Majesty later." The three of them were in a stalemate for a moment, and the atmosphere was solemn.

Zhao Ji said helplessly: "Your Majesty, a headless body was found in the Hanguang Temple where you will visit tomorrow. This is a major event, so we need to report it to your Majesty as soon as possible to see if your Majesty can cancel or postpone tomorrow's trip!"

Shangguan Wan'er was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and then she said in a deep voice: "Wan'er knows, and I will definitely tell Your Majesty. But Your Majesty must go to Hanguang Temple, I'm afraid you can't cancel it."

"Why is this?" Zhang Jianzhi became more and more confused.

Shangguan Wan'er gave a fake smile and said insincerely, "Your Majesty's temper, I know that..."

Zhang Jianzhi smiled upon hearing this, but shook his head helplessly: "Well, Chengyuan, you should also go to Hanguang Temple. It seems that I can only rely on you and Di Gong. I have some government affairs to attend to, so I will go first."

After bowing, Zhang Jianzhi turned away. Zhao couldn't stop him, so he could only watch Zhang Jianzhi go away.

At this time, Shangguan Wan'er also turned around quietly and prepared to leave, but as she turned around, she subtly signaled Zhao Ji with her eyes to follow.

Zhao Ji understood what she meant, and quickly quickened his pace. After a few jogs, he finally caught up with Shangguan Wan'er.

The two of them walked to a remote and deserted corner, and Shangguan Wan'er stopped, turned around, and there was a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Zhao Ji suddenly felt embarrassed. Ever since he met Xiaomei, he always felt awkward every time he saw Shangguan Wan'er.

This talented woman was very perceptive and had long noticed that Zhao Ji was becoming distant from her.

"It's not that I don't want to help. Your Majesty is with the two Zhangs now. No one dares to disturb them." Shangguan Wan'er explained.

Zhao Ji was shocked and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Sister, you are too kind. I think it's no wonder that Your Majesty..."

You criticized Li Xian for indulging in alcohol and sex, but you yourself also have a lover... This is really hard to judge.

Shangguan Wan'er saw through Zhao Ji's thoughts and reached out to stop him from continuing. She said seriously, "What happened in Hanguang Temple? Why is there a body?"

Zhao Ji glanced at Shangguan Wan'er and understood that she knew something about Yuan Tiangang's affairs.

So, he no longer concealed it and said bluntly: "The Snake Spirit might want to assassinate me at the Hanguang Temple!"

Shangguan Wan'er frowned when she heard this: "Are you sure?"

Zhao Ji curled his lips and said, "My guess is almost right."

Shangguan Wan'er's expression instantly became anxious when she heard this. In her mind, since Zhao was 90% sure, he could hardly be wrong.

She opened and closed her lips slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but it seemed like she had something to hide.

Zhao Ji probably guessed what she was thinking, and said to comfort her: "Don't worry, sister, Di Gong is already in Hanguang Temple, I will go there right away to catch the assassin. I promise that your majesty will be safe tomorrow!"

After hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er's frown gradually relaxed and she felt a little relieved. The two of them already had a tacit understanding on certain issues.

"Your Majesty has a secret in Hanguang Temple, so Your Majesty must go there. I don't know the details, but I think it has something to do with the snake spirit."

"Be careful and protect yourself!" Shangguan Wan'er couldn't help but remind him.

Zhao Ji responded with a warm smile: "Sister, be careful tomorrow! I'm going to Hanguang Temple."

After saying that, he turned and left. Shangguan Wan'er looked at Zhao Ji's departing back and shook her head.
-
Inside the Hanguang Temple, Di Renjie and his teammate Huan Bin, who had made matters worse, had confirmed that the deceased was a monk in the temple.

There was a very obvious callus on the joint of the index finger of the corpse's right hand, which was clearly caused by years of chanting Buddha's name and fiddling with the rosary.

Once this matter became clear, Di Renjie naturally understood that the murderer cut off the victim's head in order to conceal the victim's identity.

The murderer went to so much trouble just to disguise himself as the deceased and sneak into Hanguang Temple.

The disguise is bound to remind people of the human skin mask of the snake spirit. In addition, the emperor will go to the Hanguang Temple to pay homage tomorrow, and the big move of the snake spirit mentioned by Li Yuanfang...

Di Renjie immediately understood that there might be a snake spirit killer who had sneaked into the Hanguang Temple and was planning to assassinate the emperor tomorrow!

　There is a small bug in the original drama. Di Renjie said that Wu Zetian would go to Hanguang Temple to burn incense three days later, and then a male corpse was found on the same day, and Li Yuanfang fought against Kui Wenzhong at night. As a result, Wu Zetian went to burn incense the next day. What happened to the three days later?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)