When Song Qingshu approached the imperial study, he became doubtful when he saw that Wei Xiaobao and Duo Long were also there, but he suppressed his doubts and bowed to Emperor Kangxi.
“Okay, Qingshu is here too.” Emperor Kangxi smiled warmly, sat back on the dragon throne, looked at the few people before him and said, “We called you here this time to hear your opinions, what do you think should be done with these assassins?”
Duo Long said, “These assassins are so daring, they should be sent to the gallows to be executed at the end of this day as an example.”
‘You mother*u*ker!’ Wei Xiaobao squinted at Duo Long, and was furious in his heart, ‘The Red Flower Society is also doing enough things to oppose the Qing Dynasty and restore the Ming Dynasty, and maybe they would also cooperate with our Heaven and Earth Society in the future. I have to think of a way to help them, so as not to be blamed by my Master in the future…’
He hurriedly stepped forward and said, “It’s not difficult to kill these assassins, but this Xiaobao is worried that it will harm the glorious image that the Emperor has been promoting for many years, and has finally established in the hearts of the common people. If the assassins are executed with such cruelty, then the common people who do not know the truth would be easily misled by the rebels… But the emperor is wise and intelligent, he must have already thought of a solution.”
Emperor Kangxi smiled without saying a word, looked back at Song Qingshu and asked, “Qingshu, what do you think?”
“I think that the most urgent task at the moment is to find out the mastermind behind the assassins. Otherwise, the other party may have follow-up actions. The life and death of these assassins is a trivial matter.” Song Qingshu felt cold in his heart. He turned his attention away from saving the people of the Red Flower Society, and tried to find a way to save himself. Otherwise, if he was directly related to ordering the execution, then he really would have no way out.
“No need to investigate, We already know.” Emperor Kangxi said solemnly.
“Aren’t the assassins still being held in the Heavenly Prison without being tried?” Duo Long looked at Emperor Kangxi with admiration after a moment’s surprise, “The Emperor is really unfathomable.”
“Last night, when We heard that they were the Red Flower Society, We immediately knew who the mastermind was,” Emperor Kangxi said bitterly, “The relationship between Chen Jialuo, the chief of the Red Flower Society, and Prince Bao has always been very ambiguous. Our spies reported that the assassination was secretly ordered by Prince Bao.”
“Prince Bao?” Duo Long’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that Prince Bao and the Emperor were supposed to have abandoned their previous hatred and they even fought against Mongolia together not too long ago.
“That ingrate! Prince Bao is so bold,” Wei Xiaobao stroked his sleeves, and looked like he was about to fight, “The Emperor has treated him generously, but I didn’t expect Prince Bao to be more aggressive and act so recklessly to deceive the Emperor. He is pis*ing in the plate that feeds him! The Emperor should quickly decree him to be arrested and tortured, so as to relieve the hatred in his heart.”
“Oh? Since you are so active, Xiaobao, then I will give you an imperial decree. You go to Shengjing and arrest him back.” Emperor Kangxi glanced at him with a half-smiling smile.
Wei Xiaobao smiled shyly and said, “If this lowly one had that ability, why would the Emperor be so worried.”
“May I know how the Emperor plans to deal with the people of the Red Flower Society?” Song Qingshu noticed a faint sign of hope. Kangxi already knew the mastermind behind the incident. At this moment, the people of the Red Flower Society were like chicken bones to him. The bone itself was tasteless, but it was a pity to just throw it away.
“I plan to let them go.” As soon as Emperor Kangxi said that, everyone present was shocked.
Wei Xiaobao was overjoyed, but he said, “Your Majesty, are you really going to let them go so easily?”
Song Qingshu also looked at Emperor Kangxi suspiciously, not knowing what the other party was really thinking at the moment.
“Of course not!” Emperor Kangxi stood up, paced back and forth in the room, then spoke after slowly sorting out his thoughts, “Now that the offensive of the Mongolian army is strong, We still need the strength of Prince Bao, so now is not the time to move him.”
“Isn’t that the same as letting him bully us, but we can’t fight back?” Wei Xiaobao asked with wide eyes.
“That’s not true.” Emperor Kangxi smiled. “Some time ago, We dealt with the Golden Serpent King in the south. Now that We have no worries. In fact We can start dealing with Prince Bao anytime we want, but all this will take time.”
Song Qingshu suddenly realized, “No wonder the Emperor wants to let the people of the Red Flower Society go, it is likely that Prince Bao will be afraid of their betrayal.”
“That’s right.” Emperor Kangxi nodded approvingly, “Prince Bao must have been closely watching the movements in the capital recently, worried that the people in the Red Flower Society would reveal him, and so he is very tense. People with ulterior motives are fanning the flames, and if Prince Bao directly rebels, then We will be in danger.”
“So the Emperor simply won’t even punish them, and will directly release the members of the Red Flower Society, and let Prince Bao stay calm?” Song Qingshu’s eyes lit up.
“But it’s too easy for those rebels.” Duo Long said indignantly.
“Really?” Emperor Kangxi showed a sly smile, “Everyone in the Red Flower Society entered the palace to assassinate Us. Not only did We let them go, but We also did not punish them at all. Even if the people of the Red Flower Society told Prince Bao that there was no interrogation. What do you think Prince Bao will think?”
“He would think that the Red Flower Society has defected to our side.” Wei Xiaobao said excitedly, “Under mutual suspicion, the dog will definitely bite the other dog.”
Emperor Kangxi slightly smiled, thinking in his heart, ‘Even if Bao thinks that the Red Flower Society didn’t leak the secret, it doesn’t matter anyway. We already knew what was there to know.’
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Interesting. We now have conflicting accounts. Luo Bing claims Prince Bao was not involved. In fact, she’s still scheming to get his assistance. Meanwhile, Kangxu thinks Bao is directly responsible for the assassination attempt.