The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 229: Three Generals Gathered
"My third brother and I are brothers, so naturally I have to speak for him." Li Heng replied seriously.

Du Liangdi sobbed and stared at Li Heng with tearful eyes.

According to her understanding, Li Heng had been trying to trip up Li Ying many times. Logically, Li Ying should have taken the opportunity to add insult to injury at this time.

Li Heng met Du Liangdi's eyes and asked, "You said you used 500 pieces of silk to save your life. How are you going to fulfill your promise of silk to the killer?"

Du Liangdi said: "I carried some flying money with me, and I gave it to them."

"I see."

Li Heng has some ideas.

Judging from his motives, Li Heng should not be so stupid as to get himself into trouble by plotting an assassination after getting divorced.

If we analyze the results together, it is even less likely to be Li Heng, but more likely to be Li Linfu.

Because with the methods used by Li Heng and Li Linfu, after so many years of operation, the killers they send out are generally not easily tempted by money.

Besides, the killer wouldn't be stupid enough to exchange flying money for silk.

If this is the case, there is only one explanation, that is, the killer deliberately let Du Liangdi go.

Li Linfu sent people to capture Du Liangdi, making her think that Li Heng wanted to kill her. This would completely infuriate Du Liangdi so that she could bite Li Heng back.

Li Heng had a guess in his mind, but he did not trust Du Liangdi, so he did not say it out loud.

Li Heng thought for a while and said, "I can't figure out who wants to kill you for the time being. I only know that you are in danger now. What are your plans next?"

"I..." Du Liangdi shook her head, "I don't know either."

A day ago, she was still a high and mighty concubine, but in the blink of an eye, she became an abandoned child who was in danger of losing her life at any time.

The huge gap broke down her psychological defenses, making it difficult for her to think about the problem rationally for a while, so she could only shake her head in response to Li Heng's question.

Li Ying asked, "Since you think my third brother wants to kill you, are you going to sue him?"

Du Liangdi said angrily: "I would like to go, but how can others believe me without any evidence?"

Li Heng said, "If you file a complaint with the Right Prime Minister, he will most likely accept it."

Du Liangdi asked, "Why would he help me for no reason?"

"First, you have a common enemy. Second," Li Heng looked at Du Liangdi's body, "you are not worthless."

Du Liangdi read his expression and understood what Li Heng meant. She stood up angrily and said, "You, you...how can you speak so frivolously to me..."

Du Liangdi had just woken up from a coma, and she was still dizzy. In addition, she got up too fast, so she felt dizzy for a while. She couldn't catch her breath after saying half a sentence.

Li Heng took a step back and said, "I am only speaking the truth. If you are willing to humble yourself, you can go find the Right Prime Minister."

Du Liang Di took a breath and said, "Although I hate the prince, I will avenge him if I can. If I can't, I will just die. I will never lose my integrity."

Li Heng's words to Du Liangdi just now were provocative because he wanted to cut off Du Liangdi's way of looking for Li Linfu to prevent her from muddying the waters.

Seeing Du Liangdi like this, Li Heng already knew what was going on, so he said, "If you don't have any plans for the time being, you can follow me first. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can still keep you safe."

After Li Heng finished speaking, he turned around and continued to walk towards the place where the ghost fire was burning, regardless of whether Du Liangdi agreed or not. Du Liangdi hesitated for a moment, but still chose to follow him.

Not long after, Li Heng and others arrived at the place of will-o'-the-wisp.

This is a depression, in which lies a pile of corpses in varying stages of decay.

Li Ying said: "These bodies have not been buried. Either they died an unnatural death or they have no relatives. I never thought that outside the prosperous city of Chang'an, there would be so many bones exposed in the wild."

He Jin covered his mouth and nose to block the stench of the corpse and said, "Your Highness, this place is creepy. Let's go back."

"Alright." Li Heng couldn't stand the smell and turned around to leave with everyone. At this time, Chang'an City was under curfew. Li Heng didn't want to use his privileges to cause trouble, so he found a place with few graves in the forest to rest and wait for dawn.

Zhang Guangsheng and the soldiers gathered some firewood and started a fire. Then they came to Li Ying and whispered, "Your Highness, what should we do with those bodies?"

Li Heng took Zhang Guangsheng away and said, "This matter must be reported to the court, but not all the bodies can be given to us. Find three and hide them. Du Liangdi doesn't know the death toll, so this matter must not be known to her."

"I understand." Zhang Guangsheng accepted the order and secretly called two soldiers to follow suit.

Li Ying returned to the fire, and Aqisi came over and asked, "Your Highness, why aren't you afraid of the will-o'-the-wisp fire just now?"

Li Heng was not afraid because he knew that the will-o'-the-wisp was actually phosphorous fire.

Human bones contain phosphorus. After the corpse decays, it will react and produce phosphine. Phosphine has a very low ignition point and can spontaneously combust.

But although the truth is simple, it is difficult for people to believe it in feudal society. Therefore, Li Heng did not explain, but just smiled and said: "To be honest, I am the reincarnation of a god. Wherever I go, all ghosts retreat."

"That's great." Aqisi moved closer to Li Ying, leaning her head on his shoulder, and said, "I'll stay close to Your Highness, so I won't be afraid."

Li Ying asked, "Do you really believe me?"

"Yes." Aqisi smiled slightly and closed her eyes.

For Aqisi, it didn't matter whether what Li Ying said was true or not. What mattered was that she could use this opportunity to get closer to Li Ying.

He Jin was also a little scared and unconsciously moved closer to Li Heng. As for Du Liangdi, she sat opposite Li Heng and examined him.

Li Ying remained calm and composed, closing his eyes to rest.

……

The next day.

As the sun rose, the eerie atmosphere in the forest suddenly disappeared by half.

Li Ying and his group packed up their things and went into the city together. They went straight to the West Market and prepared to have dinner there.

When everyone arrived at the West Market, a new round of performances had already begun and the market was still packed with people.

Li Ying originally planned to change the place, but when he looked up, he saw two familiar faces upstairs in the tavern.

These two people were Wang Zhongsi and An Lushan.

When Li Ying looked at the two of them, their gazes also happened to be his.

Wang Zhongsi waved towards Li Ying and invited him to come upstairs for a chat from a distance.

Li Ying did not refuse. He asked Shi Shouyi to take Aqisi back home to treat her injuries first, and sent two guards to report the case. He himself took Zhang Guangsheng, He Jin and Du Liangdi and left the restaurant.

When they came upstairs, Li Heng greeted Wang Zhongsi and An Lushan and sat down together.

Li Heng sat in the middle, Wang Zhongsi on the right, and An Lushan on the left.

Li Heng smiled and said, "You two are both governors. If someone with ulterior motives reports our meeting with exaggerated information, it might cause misunderstanding."

Wang Zhongsi said, "I was watching a play and passed by and happened to meet General An Jie."

"That's right." An Lushan agreed.

"I see."

Li Ying said this, looking towards the stage.

On the stage, the person performing is the famous opera star Lei Haiqing, who is known as the best pipa player during the reign of Emperor Li Longji. He is now playing "Green Waist", with six female dancers accompanying him.

(End of this chapter)