The middle-aged man was seething with rage, but he could not lash out in anger.
Because Ning Yunzhao repeatedly professed to defend the emperor.
Although he despised Ning Yunzhao for being a spineless flatterer, he had no intention of becoming the kind of official who defied his ruler out of sheer loyalty to justice and truth.
He didn't believe that anything said here at this moment could escape the ears of the Jinyiwei. And if the Jinyiwei heard it, the emperor would certainly know as well.
The man struggled to find words, unsure of how to respond, watching as Ning Yunzhao stood among the crowd, speaking with enthusiasm.
Who let Ning Yunzhao in here? Everything was going fine until he messed it all up.
The man glared around the room furiously.
...........................…
"This won't convince many people."
Ning Shiyi sighed and said.
"They've been planning this for a long time. The emperor's reputation is undoubtedly something they've already taken into account."
He looked toward Ning Yunzhao.
Ning Yunzhao sat opposite Ning Yan, playing chess.
"I know," Ning Yunzhao said with a smile toward Ning Shiyi. "But convincing even a few is better than none at all."
Having fewer troublemakers outside the city gates is still an improvement.
But how much difference would a few less make? The crux of the matter is that this issue cannot be suppressed.
"The situation is grim." Ning Shiyi sighed again.
"The capital may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath."
"Forcing donations from salaries to reward the military generals—this is unprecedented for the civil officials and scholars and is deeply unsettling."
"And more importantly, it's not about how much money is involved; the real issue is that this sets a dangerous precedent."
"Once there's a first time, a second is inevitable. Everyone is determined to prevent such a scenario, and they'll surely cause a stir to stop it."
Ning Yan set his chess piece down and let out a soft breath.
"In the end, the Duke of Chengguo's demands for rewards are ill-timed," he said.
The Duke of Chengguo returned after the peace negotiations, and even though he came back from the Jurchen Territory, it wasn't a victorious return but rather a bitter escape from the jaws of death, saved by others.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a glorious triumph, yet the emperor has bestowed such lavish rewards, making it hard for anyone to accept.
"Exactly. Otherwise, Lord Huang and the others wouldn't have agreed to such rewards so easily," Ning Yunzhao chuckled and said.
"This is an attempt to elevate only to destroy," Ning Shiyi said. "They're pushing him into the spotlight to redirect the resentment of the populace and officials onto the Duke of Chengguo."
As he spoke, he leaned forward again, nearly knocking over the chessboard.
"To provoke the resentment of all officials—that's equivalent to offending the entire court. For the Duke of Chengguo to enter the capital this time, he's walking right into danger."
He shook his head and let out a bitter laugh.
"Entering the capital—he might not even make it inside."
Ning Yan's expression was heavy.
"Is there truly no way?" he asked. "Are we just to let villains have their way, deceiving the ruler and the people?"
"Not necessarily," Ning Yunzhao said. "It may not be so dire."
"You're well aware of how bad the situation is, Tenth Brother, so why say such things?" Ning Shiyi frowned and asked.
Ning Yunzhao smiled slightly, picking up a chess piece.
"Because they only see the Duke of Chengguo entering the capital, but they've forgotten there's another person entering as well," he said.
As he spoke, he set the chess piece down, smiling faintly.
"I've won."
Ning Yan and Ning Shiyi instinctively looked at the chessboard, and sure enough, Ning Yunzhao's black pieces already dominated the board.
"Huh? Father held the upper hand earlier?" Ning Shiyi couldn't help but exclaim.
Ning Yunzhao smiled and looked at the board.
"That's why you should never underestimate any single piece," he said. "A single seemingly insignificant move can lead to your total defeat."
He gently stroked the smooth, jet-black chess piece in his hand.
"More so when that piece has been meticulously planned, with every step laden with intent."
.....................…
"I knew it was those big merchants stirring up trouble behind the scenes."
Manager Liu whispered to Seventh Chen.
"They've spent plenty of money, rallying a group of people."
Seventh Chen frowned deeply.
"That means there are likely hundreds of people involved," he said. "Quite impressive—they've gotten so many to act."
Manager Liu chuckled lightly, picking up a tea bowl for a sip.
"What's impressive? It's all just money. A certain amount for an adult, a certain amount for a child, even a price for crying—it's all clearly calculated," he said.
Seventh Chen spat disdainfully.
"Shameless," he said.
But the shameless ones are often the hardest to deal with. Pacing back and forth in the room, his anxiety was evident.
"Does the young master know about this?" he inquired. "And where on earth has Miss Jun gone? Does she even plan to step in on this matter?"
He stopped in his tracks as he spoke, clapping his hands suddenly.
"If she doesn't enter the capital with them, then honestly, this has nothing to do with us. The Duke of Chengguo being harassed doesn't concern us either."
Manager Liu laughed.
"Xiaoqi, whether she enters the capital or not, she's already tied to the Duke of Chengguo. She was the one who saved him in the first place. If the Duke of Chengguo loses face, so does she," he said, then paused for a moment of thoughtful silence. "Rest assured, she has a plan, and the young master has a plan too."
"Honestly, the simplest approach is just to make her identity known—Miss Jun of Jiuling Hall. Let's see who would dare stand in her way," Seventh Chen said.
Manager Liu laughed heartily.
"That would be too much of a loss," he said. "Miss Jun's people wouldn't dare block her, but the Duke of Chengguo still can't be impeded. Those are two separate things, two distinct honors."
Clenching his fists as he spoke, his expression was firm and resolute.
"Not a single one can be compromised."
................................
On the ninth of May, long before daybreak, the Lu Mansion was already illuminated with lights.
"The princess has arrived."
A voice came from outside, just as Lu Yunqi, who had accepted an official robe from two servants, hesitated briefly, turning to look at Princess Jiuli entering the room.
"Is it today?" she asked. "My lord, so early?"
The princess and Lu Yunqi did not live together, and the duty of assisting him with his official robes for court was naturally not hers. In fact, it was her first time coming to rest in Lu Yunqi's chambers after so long.
The two servant girls kept their heads down as they assisted Lu Yunqi in dressing.
Lu Yunqi stretched out his arms, letting them work, and merely responded with a hum toward Princess Jiuli.
The princess said no more, merely standing to the side, seemingly watching intently as Lu Yunqi donned his official robe.
What she was watching was not him—Lu Yunqi knew that perfectly well. He said nothing, quickly finishing putting on his crimson robe and official hat, and headed outside.
The princess stood at the doorway to see him off, watching as Lu Yunqi, surrounded by a squad of Jinyiwei, walked away—a scene that seemed harmonious, like a couple deeply in love.
Will she return as well?
"My lord, the merchants and scholars have already begun to act," Jiang Qianhu approached and whispered to Lu Yunqi.
Lu Yunqi's expression remained emotionless.
"There's no movement from the Duke of Chengguo's side. He's still camped out in the Capital Suburb," Jiang Qianhu continued.
Lu Yunqi remained silent, ignoring him, and walked to the doorway, gazing at the solemnly standing guards of the Jinyiwei with their Jinyiwei knives at their waists.
"No news from Miss Jun," Jiang Qianhu finally said. "Since the trail went cold in Jin County, her whereabouts remain unknown."
Lu Yunqi mounted his horse.
"She'll come today," he said, looking toward the distant street, which was still shrouded in darkness. "We'll see if they can stop her."
..................….
Meanwhile, at a large camp outside the capital suburbs, the lights were also blazing, and squads of soldiers were assembling. Flags flapped fiercely in the wind, accompanied by the rolling sound of hooves and marching footsteps, forming an orderly formation.
Their armor gleamed, and their long spears stood densely like a forest. So precise and coordinated were their movements that at first glance, the entire phalanx appeared to be standing still. Yet, it moved forward at an observable speed, like a fortress rolling forward and crushing everything in its path.
Witnessing this formidable display, the Imperial Guard soldiers at the Capital Suburb Camp turned pale, drawing sharp breaths of cold air.
They had known all along that these battle-hardened troops were different from the Imperial Guard. While they had seemed not much different a few days ago, seeing them assembled in military formation now was a stark revelation of their intimidating presence.
Another squad of troops moved into motion. It was the Duke of Chengguo, riding at the forefront, surrounded by a group of officials and generals. Dressed in his white armor, he held a long saber in his hand.
As the Duke of Chengguo arrived at the front of the formation, the phalanx halted, falling into total silence. In the dim pre-dawn sky, only the sounds of fluttering fire-lit flags and banners could be heard.
The Duke of Chengguo's gaze swept over the formation.
For ten years, they had fought and bled at the borders, enduring wind, frost, and the sword to guard the frontier, all for the sake of securing peace and prosperity for the people behind them.
Now they had the chance to return to witness the lands they had protected, the bustling world they had helped create, and to let the people see firsthand the soldiers who were their defenders in flesh and blood.
The Duke of Chengguo raised his long saber high.
"Enter the city," he said.
The phalanx moved in unison, long spears raised high, their voices thundering.
"Enter the city!"
"Enter the city!"