Chapter 35: Cutting Grass and Eradicating Roots

  Late at night, in the Prime Minister's residence, a secret chamber.

  The party officials of the Right Party are gathering together, on the couch above the secret room, Nalan Xino is sitting there leisurely, Nan Gongyan and Youxiang are sitting on both sides respectively, the secret room is silent.

  Suddenly, Quan Long rushed into the secret room, hastily walking to the center of the room, his face filled with surprise and joy. "Something's happened!"

  Everyone's heart tightened, and they all asked what had happened. Nalan Xianyu slightly curled up the corners of his mouth, and Quan Long also became happy. He continued: "An hour ago, Liu Gonggong was assassinated!! Wang Guo Shu brought soldiers to surround Liu Gonggong's mansion, and the people in Liu Gonggong's mansion were carrying coffins all over the courtyard!"

  "What?!" The officials looked at each other in dismay, their faces filled with uncontrollable surprise.

  Hong Xiangguo's eyes widened slightly as he turned his head to look at Nalan Xianyu. Nalan Xianyu sat on the hall, with a slight curve of her lips and a faint smile that said nothing. Beside him, Nan Gongyan looked at Nalan Xianyu with surprise and delight, and in his gaze, there was also a layer of intriguing light.

  Since the eunuchs formed their own party, they have elected three senior ministers to decide the political strategy and direction of the eunuch group. The three senior ministers are all old and cunning, always maintaining neutrality and watching from the sidelines.

  The Left Party has also thought about borrowing the power of a third party to give itself some time, but Liu Gonggong is careful not to offend anyone and is cautious, just not falling into their trap.

  Now that Nalan Xianyu has appeared, the Righteous Party immediately turned against Liu Gonggong, which really makes one involuntarily admire.

  Hong Xiangguo was obedient and respectful in his treatment of Nalan Xingde. He asked, "Young master, I will now go to the Liu Gonggong's residence to offer condolences and at the same time make our position clear..."

  At this juncture, what the eunuchs needed most was support from another quarter, because in comparison, the power of the Righteous Party far exceeded that of the eunuch group. It would be entirely possible to wipe them out completely, it's just that it would take some time and effort.

  Nalan Xixi shook her head and said, "Don't rush."

  Hong Xiangguo hesitated for a moment and said: "Young Master, now is the best opportunity!"

  Nalan Xixi slightly furrowed her brow and said, "Now they do need a companion, no mistake about that. However, they are all intelligent people. You're so eager to lend them a helping hand, they will be suspicious and it's easy for them to think that you had a hand in this matter."

  The officials around him listened, suddenly enlightened and nodded in agreement. Hong Xiangguo patted his forehead and nodded: "Young master is right, I was confused..."

  Nalan Xixi sneered, "Don't worry, within half an hour, Zhao Song will definitely come to ask for your help personally. At that time, you can make excuses and say that the Righteous Party has really turned against them this time, and you need to think about the bigger picture, you can't easily meet with them."

  He Furrowed his brow and said: "Why? Aren't we in need of them right now?"

  Nalan Xixi gave him a cold glance, and He Xian immediately shut his mouth. However, Nalan Xixi patiently explained: "The current situation is clear to them, and what we need to do is give them a reassurance pill, tell them that for them, it's no longer a struggle for fame and status, if they don't fight back, they will lose their lives."

  Hong Xiangguo nodded repeatedly, secretly marveling at Nalan Xinnuo's plan to put pressure on them and intensify their sense of crisis, now that Liu Gonggong had been killed so brazenly by Wang Guobo.

  Eunuchs and the Leftists have also torn their faces apart. The power of the Leftists is much greater than that of the eunuchs, and if they do not counterattack, they will definitely be killed to the last one. Now they are equivalent to being forced into a desperate situation.

  All I can do is fight back with all my might.

  If they were to counterattack with all their might, this force would be no trivial matter.

  The room fell silent for a moment, and Nalan Xiong's expression turned serious as he said, "We can begin now."

  She turned around, looked at Nan Gong Yan and said: "Princess, please return to the palace immediately now. Let the Empress Dowager summon Zuo Xiang, Guo Shu and other core members of the Left Party, as well as several other officials on the next day at Chen time."

  "Good!" Nangong Yan nodded without hesitation.

  She turned around and said to Quan Long: "Now go immediately and bring me three thousand elite troops, dressed as Imperial Guards, to await my orders."

  "Yes!" Guan Long led the order and retreated.

  "General He." She glanced at He Xian faintly.

  "Your Highness, please speak!" He almost called out "Princess", but under Nalan Xixi's nearly murderous gaze, his brain suddenly underwent a high-speed rotation and changed "Princess" to "Prince".

  "Tomorrow, please have General He bring troops to follow Lord Hong into the government council. Regarding the petition for aid documents, whoever dares to oppose will be beheaded. Then at noon, hang the severed heads on the city gate. At this time, Lord Hong will issue a document, and at the same time, announce to the world that the Left Party rebels have plotted a rebellion and have been completely eliminated."

  "Yes!" He Xian accepted the order without hesitation.

  "Is...this okay?" Hong Xiangguo hesitated a little.

  Nalan Xixi raised her eyes and looked coldly at Hong Xianguo. "What does Lord Hong mean?"

  Hong Xiangguo trembled in his heart at the cold gaze from above and nodded: "Your humble servant understands."

  At this time, Hong Xiangguo's confidant walked in and whispered: "Sir, the young master, Zhao Song, Zhao Gong has come to visit."

  Nalan Xixi smiled lightly and said, "You all go back first."

  The officials around them stood up one after another, bowed to Nalan Xinnuo and Hong Xiagu, and then retreated.

  Nalan Xixi turned around and walked up to the hall, sat down, and said calmly: "Please trouble Prime Minister to go and receive Zhao Gongzi first."

  Hong Xiangguo nodded and retreated, at this moment, the secret room was left with only Nalan Xianyu and Nan Gongyan. Nan Gongyan looked at Nalan Xianyu, who was usually overbearing but now seemed like a docile little sheep, obeying Nalan Xianyu's every command.

  "Princess, regarding the eunuchs and the Right Faction joining forces to resist the Left Faction, I need to have a good talk with Lord Zhao..."

  "I understand." Nangong Yan knew that she needed to go and explain her identity to Zhao Song herself.

  The eunuch's power relies on the Nan Gong family, so it has always been someone trusted by the Nan Gong family. Therefore, if she comes forward to introduce herself, it will save a lot of trouble.

  Nangong Yan also left, and the secret room was left with only Nalan Xinnuo.

  Behind the hall, the sound of wooden wheels rolling echoed through the empty and desolate room.

  "Everything is ready."

  "Uh-huh."

  It was a long silence again, and the sound of the wooden wheel rolling started again, but it was in the opposite direction.

  "Shameless."

  Nalan Xixi gently closed her eyes, and her tone was as indifferent as ever.

  "You're right." Nalan Xianyu turned around, looking at the tall and dark figure. "I'm protecting Nan Gongyin, I won't let anyone harm him, so I'll spare your life."

  In the darkness, that voice trembled slightly, after a long while, he coldly laughed. "Then just kill me."

  At this time, footsteps sounded at the door. Nalan Xianyu turned her head and saw Nan Gongyan leading Zhao Song in. When Zhao Song saw Nalan Xianyu, he was very respectful. These people had a natural flattery towards the royal nobles.

  He bowed deeply to Nalan Xinnuo, who turned around and sat down. "Lord Zhao, no need for such courtesy, please sit."

  "Thank you, sir." Zhao Song stood up, bowed his waist and retreated to one side, then sat down.

  Nangong Yan walked to Nalan Xianyu's side, whispered in her ear, and after finishing, Nalan Xianyu raised her eyes, looked at Zhao Song, smiled slightly, and said calmly: "Since the Marquis of Hong has already decided to help Lord Zhao, then I will certainly do my best to assist."

  "The young master's great kindness is etched in Zhao Song's memory like a tooth mark."

  "What plan does Lord Zhao have?"

  Zhao Song hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "I, Zhao Song, am just an ordinary person with bravery but no strategy. Now that the imperial court is in crisis, I dare not speak recklessly, I will follow your orders, young master."

  Nalan Xixi raised her eyes and looked at him, his face calm and unruffled at this critical moment. He was not flustered or panicked, but rather calm and rational, and very clear about his position.

  Concealing one's true nature. Nalan Xiong's gaze turned slightly cold as he said lightly, "I've troubled Lord Zhao."

  Zhao Songbow lowered his head, never looking up at Nalan Xianyu, a perfect servant's appearance, but beneath this servant's appearance, hid an extraordinary ambition.

  "Tomorrow, the Empress Dowager will summon several gentlemen from the Left Party to enter the palace. Once they enter the palace, I will order the Imperial Guard to seal off the palace and set up ambushes at all four gates. Meanwhile, Lord Zhao will set up an ambush in the Empress Dowager's palace. When the time is ripe, we will launch a surprise attack from both inside and outside, and capture them all at once." Nalan Xianyu looked at him, explaining her plan.

  "This...this matter is done by eunuchs, it's not suitable, right?" Zhao Song raised his head and looked at Nalan Xianyu. "These few gentlemen from the Left Party are all from famous families, with high martial arts skills...these eunuchs are all weaklings..."

  "Among the eunuchs, there are also many skilled warriors who would die for their cause, aren't there?" Nalan Xianyu interrupted him. "It seems that Lord Zhao is not sincere, and we do not want to take this risk either. Please leave, Lord Zhao."

  Nalan Xixi got up and was about to leave, Zhao Song hastily said: "Young Master, wait! I will obey orders."

  It's actually not difficult for the eunuchs in the palace to take down those people, it's just a matter of killing a few people, and there's no big deal, but Zhao Song understood what Nalan Xinnuo meant.

  The Left Party is a faction with a considerable number of supporters, they can cut off the dragon's head but cannot kill them all. If those people from the Left Party were to die at the hands of eunuchs, then the eunuchs would become the target, and the remaining Left Party remnants would certainly seek revenge on them. Unfortunately, he could understand this, but he had no choice.

  He then discussed some details with Zhao Song, and after Zhao left, Hong Xiangguo sent him off and hurried back to the secret chamber, where Nalan Xinnuo was sitting upstairs.

  When Hong Xiangguo returned, Nalan Xinnuo said seriously: "Hong Xiangguo, you must do these things well."

  Hong Xiangguo's footsteps paused, and he replied, "Young Master, please give your orders."

  "Firstly, immediately send a message to Tu'an and Yuanping countries, asking them to dispatch troops for reinforcement. Wang Shang will probably not last beyond tomorrow."

  Nangong Yan clenched his fists tightly, and Hong Xiangguo also became truly tense, everything was imminent.