Chapter 8: Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell

  Zhao Cong sat in front of the Tianwang Temple and heard a distant noise, occasionally mixed with shouts of killing and the sound of clashing weapons.

  The sound came from the Renhe Gate of Bianliang's inner city, where Zhao Kuangyin's army entered the city. Dingli Temple was inside the inner city and not far from Renhe Gate.

  The Zhao family has left under the escort of Chu Zhaofu and is certainly going to see Zhao Kuangyin.

  But myself...

  Chu Zhaoxian left behind thirty palace guards, beautifying the name as protection, but Zhao Cong's heart was clear that this was surveillance and house arrest.

  The reason was Zhao Yanran's question, until the time of departure, that sharp sister still stared at herself tightly, with a few points of vigilance in her puzzled eyes.

  Zhao Yanran's behavior is justified, if guessed correctly, the Zhao family previously believed in themselves and stayed at Dingli Temple. It's likely due to a misunderstanding, or perhaps they thought they were coming on Zhao Kuangyin's orders.

  It can be inferred from Zhao Yanran's reaction that Zhao Kuangyin must have had a premeditated plan for the military coup, and her family members should also know about it. This is also the reason why Zhao Yanran remains calm and composed, as she has made up her mind that her brother would not ignore their safety during the coup in the city, and should send someone to rescue them.

  This person should be Chu Zhaofu, but he came too late, and instead, he inadvertently took on this role.

  However, Chu Zhao Fu surprisingly did not recognize Zhao Zheng, which made Zhao Yan Ran very puzzled and suspicious.

  She was more concerned about how she had known it in advance than thanking herself for saving her own life.

  Not Zhao Kuangyin's trusted aide, how would he know about tonight's coup? And yet, he risked his life to protect his family.

  It's obvious that he is a prophet, but who would believe it if I said it out loud?

  Without any other reasonable explanation, they will inevitably be suspicious and vigilant. Think about it, if someone knows in advance that you are going to rebel and plot to usurp the throne, what a terrible thing is this?

  What would be the consequences if Zhao Zhen was not in Dingli Temple to rescue the Zhao family, but instead went one step ahead to find the young emperor and Prime Minister Fan Qi?

  Zhaoyan's vigilance and suspicion are rooted here, she is now going to see her brother Zhao Kuangyin, after the exchange between the siblings, they will undoubtedly be more convinced.

  One's appearance and behavior seem very abrupt and strange!

  Even if Zhao Kuangyin had saved their whole family's life, he couldn't help but be suspicious.

  Once remembered by the emperor, forget about rising to prominence, it's a wonder if one can even keep their life. As for owing a debt of gratitude, humph, relying on the kindness of rulers is the most foolish behavior, and will only lead to an even quicker death.

  At that time, things were urgent and didn't think so much, but now it's a considerable problem.

  How to interpret this?

  Zhao Zhuang was very frustrated, it was obviously a case of knowing before asking, but he couldn't explain it, it was really a headache.

  ……

  Chu Zhaofu soon returned with Zhao Kuangyin's edict, but it was neither to summon him into the palace nor to arrest and interrogate him.

  But... on-site salvation of the deceased!

  Uh...

  Zhao Zhuang was speechless, reciting scriptures to help the deceased, how could this be! The former Zhao Zhuang who had renounced worldly desires was a fool, having only done miscellaneous chores in the temple for three years and didn't understand Buddhist scriptures at all. Reborn as a human being, Zhao Zhuang understood even less, yet the Emperor arranged such an errand for him!

  There was no way out, and the imperial edict could not be disobeyed. Zhao Zhong had to grit his teeth and go, thinking of how to get through it.

  "General Chu, dare I ask who is being given superiors?" Zhao Zhuang was quite perplexed by this.

  Chu Zhao Fu coldly laughed and said: "It was that guy who set fire to the Qing Xin Pavilion, he actually dared to try to burn down Your Majesty's residence, but in the end, he himself got burned to death!"

  "What's with the hunchback? Is it... Han Tong, the imperial guard?"

  "That's right, the eldest son of Han Tong is a hunchback, known as the 'Camel Boy', but he's clever and cunning, only his heart is not in the right place, with a belly full of evil intentions!" Chu Zhaofu smiled and asked: "Little Master, being in the Buddhist temple, you seem to be quite familiar with the imperial court too?"

  There's more to it than meets the eye!

  Zhao Zhuang hastily said: "Nothing, it's just that there were many officials and nobles who came to the temple to burn incense in the past, so I've heard a few names before."

  "Is that so?" Chu Zhao Fu smiled and didn't say anything else, directly bringing Zhao Zheng to a fire scene in the inner city. This place was originally the residence of Han Tong, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard of the Later Zhou Dynasty, but now it has become a charred ruin.

  As for his master, one was beheaded and another was said to have been burned to ashes...

  ……

  ……

  Zhao Kuangyin staged a coup at Chen Bridge Garrison and marched back into the city, but it was not all smooth sailing.

  Returning from Chenqiao Postal Station, the nearest road was to go out of the northeast side of Bianliang's outer city through Chenqiao Gate. However, when the army arrived, they were met with a refusal by the garrison at Chenqiao Gate to open it. At such a critical moment, it was naturally impossible to launch a strong attack, so they had no choice but to take a detour via Fengqiu Gate in the west.

  It's okay, finally entered the outer city, wanting to enter the inner city but circled around again. Han Tong timely ordered to strengthen the guard at the northwest gate of the inner city. Helpless, Zhao Kuangyin had to take a detour to the southeast Renhe Gate, where Wang Shenzhi had been waiting for a long time.

  Han Tong arrived in time, but ultimately one step late. The Imperial Guard and the Palace Guard clashed fiercely, with the Imperial Guard emerging victorious. Zhao Kuangyin led his army into the city.

  Han Tong was beheaded by General Wang Yan, so far the only high-ranking official to die in the mutiny.

  As for his eldest son Han Wei, he was blocked by Zhao Kuangyin when he went to capture the family of Zhao Kuangyin at Dingli Temple. Seeing that Chu Zhaofu had come to protect the emperor, he knew it was hopeless and hastily fled.

  After learning of his father's death, Han Wei hastily returned home to rescue his young siblings, but was blocked by Wang Yan at the gate. It is said that Han Wei did not want to be a prisoner, so he set fire to himself and burned to death, and when his body was found, it was already unrecognizable.

  Zhao Kuangyin, upon hearing of this matter, severely reprimanded Wang Yan and ordered someone to invite a monk to hold a memorial service for the deceased members of the Han family. The nearest water tower gets the moon first; this matter fell on the shoulders of Dingli Yuan's young master, Xiaose.

  When Zhao Zhuo and Chu Zhao arrived, the big fire had been extinguished, but the unburned wood was still emitting black smoke. The cold wind blew by, stirring up the dusty smoke on the ground, which was choking. Zhao Zhuo covered his nose and walked over, just in time to see the soldiers carrying out several charred corpses.

  Han Wei died, and two of Han Tong's older sons also died. On the contrary, several younger children survived.

  Killing the old but not the young, Zhao Zhuang didn't find it strange at all. As the only high-ranking official to be killed in the military uprising, Han Tong must have had a reason for his death. His children being spared and not completely exterminated was already a great fortune.

  Chu Zhao Fu said: "Master Jie Se, recite the scriptures and help them attain enlightenment. Let's send them off first, later the officials will give the Han family a grand burial, handling things in a dignified manner."

  Alas! As for this kind of routine imperial tactics, Zhao Zhuang had nothing to say, only a sigh.

  Zhao Cong just wanted to pretend to recite scriptures, but his eyes fell on the hunched corpse, and his intuition told him that something was wrong.

  "Is this Han Wei's corpse?"

  Chu Zhao Fu looked at Zhao Zheng with a puzzled expression and said lightly: "Obviously hunchbacked, it must be him!"

  "No, the build doesn't seem right!" As a lawyer, Zhao Zhuang had an excellent memory, almost photographic. Although they had only met once tonight, Han Wei's hunched figure was already deeply etched in his mind. Despite being completely unrecognizable, the body shape seemed distinctly different.

  Chu Zhao furrowed his brow and asked doubtfully: "Are you saying..."

  "Wait a minute!" Zhao Zhuang ordered the soldiers to pry open the mouth and nose of the charred corpse, took a look inside and saw that it was clean, then turned around and asked: "Are you sure Han Wei was burned to death?"

  "Yes, the soldiers under General Wang Yan's command personally saw him set fire..."

  Before Chu Zhao finished speaking, Zhao Zheng shook his head and said: "There is no large amount of smoke dust in the mouth and nose of this corpse, which means that he did not breathe in the fire scene, and should have been dead before entering the fire scene."

  Zhao Zhuo had read some forensic medicine books in his previous life and still had some understanding of this basic knowledge.

  "You're saying......" Chu Zhao Fu looked at the other corpses with a puzzled expression, and said firmly: "This is indeed self-immolation by fire..."

  Zhao Zhuang sneered inwardly, thinking that Han Tong's other two sons must have been beheaded and then stuffed into the fire pit, but as for Han Wei...

  "General Chu, there are many ways to commit suicide, hanging oneself, cutting one's throat, or poisoning oneself can all be done quickly and with little pain. So why did he choose self-immolation? This is a relatively painful way to die!" Zhao Zhen's doubts were rekindled in his heart.

  Chu Zhao Fu seemed to understand something and muttered: "Could it be..."

  Zhao Zhuang said: "After the big fire, as long as a hunchbacked corpse is found, people will subconsciously think it's Han Wei. Han Wei was hunchbacked, but is there only one person with a hunchback?"

  "Golden cicada sheds its shell?!" The two of them almost spoke in unison, saying out loud the most likely possibility.

  "So, the camel has escaped?" This result left Chu Zhao Fu at a loss, quite troublesome.

  "A clever and ruthless person, where can he easily take his own life? With his father dead and brother gone, what do you think he wants to do most?"

  "Revenge!"

  When he heard this sentence, Zhao Zhuang himself was startled. Would his own name be on Han Wei's list of revenge?

  Chu Zhao Fu hastily said: "No way, must report to the authorities, hurry up and catch them!"

  Just then, a palace guard came forward with an imperial edict, summoning Master Fahua to enter the palace and pay his respects!