The authenticity of the imperial edict?
Ji Li had been ordered by Jing Yi to stop him!
He straightened his steps and raised his eyebrows. "Your Highness, this lowly official understands that the monarch is the monarch and the official is the official. However, due to my duty, I cannot back down. If Your Highness wants to enter the city today, you must obtain the Emperor's imperial edict. Otherwise, Your Highness will be disobeying the imperial edict, and those who disobey the imperial edict should be executed."
His words were loud and clear!
Each word was loud and clear!
Hearing the word 'executed', Lang Po's face turned red with anger. He immediately drew his sword and pointed it at the arrogant Ji Li.
"Impudent! You're just a War Secretary, yet you dare to say 'executed' to His Highness."
Immediately, the two sides drew their swords and faced each other, waiting for their leaders to give the order.
Jing Rong raised his hand, signaling the people behind him not to act blindly without thinking.
He was outnumbered and would die without a doubt!
Seeing this, Ji Li said, "Your Highness is someone who prioritizes the overall situation. If you force your way in now, both sides will suffer. Without the Emperor's permission, this lowly official will not take a step back."
Qi Zhen Emperor had been pressured by the officials in court to issue an oral edict. If he allowed Jing Rong to return to the capital now, it would be a slap in the face and a breach of his promise. The officials would most likely protest. At that time, it would be like twenty years ago when he first ascended the throne. Because the officials supported the Imperial Duke, they were dissatisfied with his ascension. Thus, there would be a huge upheaval and a complete reshuffle.
Thus, if there was another upheaval because of this matter, it would not be worth it.
After weighing the pros and cons, Qi Zhen Emperor would not publicize the secret edict to summon Jing Rong back to the capital.
Ji Li had made up his mind and cooperated with Jing Yi to send troops to intercept Jing Rong outside the city.
At this moment, Jing Rong's expression was cold and stern, but he appeared abnormally calm.
He said, "War Secretary Ji, on the way here, this prince thought that if you withdrew your troops and gave way, this prince could let bygones be bygones. But as the esteemed War Secretary of the Ministry of War, Lord Ji, all the civil and military officials of the Imperial Court know that you understand the current situation, know the pulse of life, know the pros and cons, and have an accurate grasp of the situation. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to hold the position of War Secretary for so long. But now, in this prince's eyes, you are an extremely foolish person. Back then, North Placid Marquis said that you are a 'Yelling Wolf' who eats people without spitting out their bones. He was right."
Chi Lang was ferocious, but also stupid. It was a perfect description for Ji Li.
Although Jing Rong's tone was sarcastic, his words were full of killing intent.
Ji Li's face alternated between green and white. He gripped the sword at his side tightly in his hand.
Jing Rong seemed to be deliberately provoking him. His devilish lips curled up as he continued, "War Secretary Ji is a smart man. As an official in the Imperial Court, you have never been manipulated by others. Even when the Crown Prince was still alive, he couldn't control a single soldier of yours. But now that Prince Yi has married your Ji family's daughter, War Secretary Ji is like a bird in a cage that has disarmed itself and surrendered to Prince Yi's side, willingly trapped and at the mercy of others. Such a War Secretary Ji is truly an eye-opener for this prince."
The more he spoke, the more Ji Li's face turned green.
It looked extremely comical.
At the end of the day, Jing Rong wanted to give him a chance on account of Ji Yunshu. As long as he immediately withdrew his troops, Jing Rong would keep his word and not pursue the matter.
But —
Jing Rong didn't know that Ji Li also didn't want to be manipulated by others, and even more so, he didn't want to be led by the nose by Jing Yi. However, his sister had lost her chastity in the Imperial Palace. If news of this were to spread, Ji Muqing would undoubtedly die, and the entire Ji family would be implicated. Jing Yi had used this point to threaten him, and he was forced to do so.
Taking a deep breath, Ji Li tried his best not to be affected by Jing Rong's words. "Your Highness, there is no need to say so much. Even without Prince Yi, this lowly official would still be here today to stop you. His Majesty has already issued an oral order: those who resist will be killed on the spot."
Those who resist will be killed on the spot.
Jing Rong had given him a chance!
But he didn't want it!
He couldn't blame anyone!
"Those who resist will be killed on the spot? Does that mean that the late Emperor will be executed as well?" Jing Rong questioned, his tone gentle.
The crowd was in an uproar.
The late Emperor? The late Emperor had died a long time ago. How could he be executed?
Ji Li was confused, his eyes fixed on Jing Rong.
Jing Rong slowly took out a yellow imperial edict from his wide sleeves and raised it in his hand. His eyes were like torches as he swept his gaze across the crowd.
"This is the late Emperor's imperial edict. Who dares to stop me?!"
Ah!
The soldiers were astonished. They looked at each other, the swords in their hands trembling slightly as they took several steps back.
Only Ji Li remained unmoved.
He looked at the imperial edict, his heart filled with doubt.
"The late Emperor's imperial edict? Impossible! "
He flatly denied it, refusing to acknowledge it.
"War Secretary Ji, you are not allowed to doubt the imperial edict in this prince's hands. Those who see the imperial edict are the same as seeing the late Emperor. If you dare to cross the line, you will be disrespecting the late Emperor. According to the laws of the Great Lin, you will be punished with death."
Ji Li was speechless. His eyes widened slightly. "If the late Emperor really had an imperial edict here, it would not be in Your Highness's hands. Whether the imperial edict is real or fake, we do not know."
"The late Emperor has passed away. How can this prince pass off a fake as the real one? The authenticity of the imperial edict is not something that you, War Secretary Ji, can doubt."
"..."
"Get out of the way!" Jing Rong growled.
As expected, the soldiers were about to make way, but in the next moment, Ji Li suddenly ordered, "Do not move."
Thereupon —
The soldiers could only stand where they were. They could neither advance nor retreat.
Ji Li's face was gloomy. "Although this lowly official cannot determine whether the imperial edict in Your Highness's hands is real or fake, if it is, this lowly official will naturally send the soldiers out of the way. But if it is fake, then this lowly official can only forgive this lowly official for obstructing Your Highness's entry into the capital."
"You mean, you want to look at this imperial edict?"
"That's right."
"You are not qualified to look at the late Emperor's portrait. If you want to know whether it is real or fake, hurry up and get your men out of the way. As long as the imperial edict is presented to His Majesty, he will naturally determine its authenticity. If you, War Secretary Ji, continue to be stubborn, this prince guarantees that you and the soldiers under your command will all be buried here." Jing Rong's threat was very serious. His bottomless eyes were like an abyss of ice, causing one to shudder.
Ji Li hesitated, his heart wavering.
To let?
Or not to let?
He couldn't decide.
After pondering for a long time …
"Very well, if that is the case, then please wait here, Your Highness. This lowly official will order someone to inform His Majesty and await his decree."
Jing Rong remained silent.
Ji Li summoned a soldier and whispered a few words into his ear. The soldier nodded, glanced at Jing Rong, then left.
Go and report!
Before receiving the Emperor's decree, the two sides were now in a stalemate.
No one dared to act rashly.
Jing Rong returned to the side of the carriage and summoned Lang Po.
"Secretly send someone to inform the city magistrate outside the capital gates. Tell him to immediately enter the palace and inform His Majesty."
Eh?
Lang Po was surprised. "Your Highness, didn't War Secretary Ji already send someone to inform His Majesty?"
"He didn't send someone to inform His Majesty, but to Prince Yi's estate."
Oh!
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