Yan Qianli had never traveled in a sedan. Furthermore, he had always worn the same armor as the rest of the Yan Cloud Cavalry. This was no secret in the Great Xia Dynasty.
However, even though he didn't look different from the rest, it was this ordinary look that made everyone take a step back subconsciously.
Even Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's feet moved.
There was no oppressive aura or murderous intent. His name alone could make the entire Flame Capital City, or even the entire Great Xia Dynasty, tremble.
This was Yan Qianli.
"So the Crown Prince is also here." A slightly hoarse voice came from the figure's mouth, but it gave the illusion that it was as loud as a lion's.
He didn't explain too much.
In other words, to Yan Qianli, some things didn't need to be explained at all. He only needed to say that the Crown Prince was here and everyone would understand what he meant.
He did not see the Crown Prince.
Even though the Yan Cloud Cavalry was standing in front of the Crown Prince and they were less than five meters apart, no one dared to question Yan Qianli's words.
This was Yan Qianli's dominance.
Of course, Yan Qianli's tyranny did not mean that he disregarded the etiquette of a ruler and official, nor was he arrogant because of his achievements. On the contrary, ever since the day the Emperor ascended to the throne, Xi Liang had paid taxes every year. Even during the years of famine, they had never been short of one tael of silver.
Furthermore, the most important point was that Yan Qianli did not have an army. Whether it was the guards of the Xiliang Prefectures or the elite Yan Cloud Cavalry, there had never been any changes in their numbers. They had always maintained the numbers set by the Great Xia Dynasty when it was founded.
It was precisely because of these points that Yan Qianli's prestige in the Great Xia Dynasty was unparalleled.
A region that even the Thirteen Constabularies couldn't enter, yet they were extremely loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty. A region that had no one supervising it, yet they still maintained the etiquette of a subject, not adding a single soldier.
Then …
No matter how overbearing he was, so what?
"When the Prince of Yan returned to the capital, Tianrong was unable to go out of the city to welcome him. It is …"
"Your Highness, you don't have to be so courteous. I understand the relationship between an official and a ruler. I wonder if Your Highness is here to plead for Shen Ming?" Yan Qianli didn't wait for Crown Prince Lin Tianrong to finish his sentence.
It was a very ordinary question, and the tone was also very ordinary.
However, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's heart skipped a beat. He stared at Yan Qianli, his lips parted, but no words came out.
"Your Highness, if you don't want to speak, then I'll take him away first." Yan Qianli had no intention of waiting any longer.
"Alright." Crown Prince Lin Tianrong gritted his teeth. He did not ask Yan Qianli how he was going to deal with Shen Ming, nor did he ask where Yan Qianli was taking Shen Ming.
Because when he made this choice, it meant that he had given up on the position of Minister of War. In that case, whether Shen Ming lived or died was no longer important.
"Your Highness …" Shen Ming turned to look at the Crown Prince. He felt that since the Crown Prince had stepped forward, he would definitely plead on his behalf.
But …
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's reply was heartless.
At this point, Minister of War Shen Ming finally understood that when he was on Yan Qianli's side, it wasn't hard for him to make a decision.
"Kaboom!"
Lightning flashed across the sky once again, and the thunder boomed once more.
At this moment, the Yan Cloud Cavalry moved again. They raised a red flag and the Yan Cloud Cavalry, who were separated, gathered together once again.
Everything seemed to have returned to how it was before.
The only difference was that no one dared to question the Yan Cloud Cavalry. No one dared to stop them from doing anything.
"Take him down!" The leader of the Yan Cloud Cavalry spoke once more.
Four of the Yan Cloud Cavalry stepped forward and surrounded the Minister of War, Shen Ming, who was rolling on the ground.
Minister of War Shen Ming did not resist. When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong said the word 'fine', the outcome was decided.
The Imperial Court was a place where one could stand at the pinnacle and enjoy glory. At the same time, it was also a place where one could be buried in hell.
He did not blame anyone.
Because he was very clear about the rules of the Imperial Court. The winner was king, and the loser was bandit.
The four Yan Cloud Cavalry didn't spend too much effort tying up Shen Ming. They just lifted him onto the back of a horse and laid him across it.
Then, they quickly returned to the group.
The rain continued to fall, lashing against the black cloaks that covered their faces. The warhorses neighed softly as they galloped across the ground, causing water to splash everywhere.
A black flag was raised once more.
The Yan Cloud Cavalry turned their horses around in unison and marched towards the gates of the Ministry of War. They were as fast as lightning and they were in perfect unison.
All of the officials and guards of the Ministry of War watched as the Yan Cloud Cavalry left. No one said a word, and no one tried to stop them.
They only regained their senses when the sound of the Yan Cloud Calvary faded into the distance and disappeared.
"Is that Prince Yan?" All of the officials heaved a sigh of relief as they looked in the direction where the Yan Cloud Cavalry disappeared.
It was an aura that had been suppressed in their hearts for a long time.
When this aura was released, the officials of the Ministry of War were more or less confused.
Yan Qianli did not seem to have done anything. He did not even get off his horse. His face was also completely covered by the black cloak.
He led his troops into the capital, surrounded the Ministry of War, and kidnapped a Rank Two Minister. Furthermore, he did it in front of the Crown Prince. No one would believe him.
But Minister of War Shen Ming had been taken away just like that.
No one even knew where he was going.
The Crown Prince looked in the direction where Yan Qianli had disappeared. No one knew if he was waiting for the rain to stop or for the sun to rise.
…
At the gates of King Duan's Residence.
Old Wen, who was dressed in a black and white robe, looked at a figure rushing towards him. He was deep in thought.
"Old Wen, Minister of War Shen Ming has been taken away!" The figure landed beside Old Wen.
"Where to?"
"Prince Yan did not say. The Crown Prince did not ask either. However, the Yan Cloud Cavalry is heading towards the Ten Mile Lake." The figure replied.
"Ten Mile Lake? I understand. You may leave! " Elder Wen nodded. Then, he looked up at the sky and said, "In one night, the Left Prime Minister fell, the two Assistant Ministers of the Ministry of Justice were detained, and now, the Minister of War, Shen Ming, was taken away. This plan is much bigger than we thought. If there is a follow-up to this plan … it will be unimaginable!"
Elder Wen pondered for a moment before he turned around and walked towards the mansion, completely disregarding the torrential rain that was falling from the sky.
…
The rain continued in the afternoon. Emperor Lin Mubai returned from the Ten Mile Lake.
However, Yan Qianli did not accompany them. The Yan Cloud Cavalry continued to camp at the Ten Mile Lake like they did a few days ago. The only difference was that there was someone kneeling at the edge of the lake.
Minister of War Shen Ming.
In front of the Minister of War, Shen Ming, was a fiery red rock. Names were carved on the rock, densely packed together.
This was the tombstone of the battle at the Ten Mile Lake.
There was no towering white jade that pierced through the clouds, nor were there any exquisitely decorated tombs. Names were carved on the rocks just like that, mingling with the bright red clouds.
It was hard to imagine.
However, this was the truth. The person who made this decision was Yan Qianli. He rejected the decision to turn the Ten Mile Lake into the Yan Family Tomb.
His reason for rejecting the decision was simple.
"The Ten Mile Lake should be the Ten Mile Lake. It should not be touched because the blood is still red and the fire is still burning!"
"Is the King of Yan here to participate in the fight for the throne?" Minister of War Shen Ming did not turn to look at the figure behind him. He knelt quietly in front of the red rock and stared at the names, allowing the rain to fall on him.
"If Official Shen thinks so, then so be it. If Official Shen thinks not, then so be it." A raspy voice rang out from behind Shen Ming.
"I am not satisfied. The Ministry of War did send someone to the Seven Star Lane, but the person I wanted to assassinate was Fang Zhengzhi, not Yan Xiu!" Shen Ming shuddered when he heard the voice behind him. Then, he grit his teeth.
"Mm, I know." The raspy voice rang out once more.
"Prince Yan knows?! Haha … I understand now. However, I never expected that Prince Yan would be willing to be used by someone else! "
"In Lord Chen's heart, the word 'use' is more important than use, but I am more important than profit. If profit can become mutual, why wouldn't I be happy to do it? The Yan Cloud Cavalry will definitely enter the capital. It is just a matter of when and how they will enter. Since Official Shen has given me the chance to enter, why shouldn't I? "
"Prince Yan is indeed Prince Yan. However, no matter what, I am still the Minister of War. Even if I am guilty, it should be decided by His Majesty. Right now, I have not been tried by the Ministry of Justice and my crime has not been determined. Are you really not afraid that His Majesty will blame you for abusing your power?"
"I will not torture you, and I will not decide your crimes. Kneel for three days, and I will send you back to the Flame Capital City to be judged by the Ministry of Law!"
"Three days? Hahaha … kneel for three days! Yes, after three days, I'm afraid that the position of the Minister of War will no longer belong to me, right? "
"I don't care about such a small matter."
"..."
…
Ping Yang Residence.
In an elegantly decorated room, Fang Zhengzhi reclined on a chair. Beside him, Ping Yang, who was dressed in a red dress, held onto his arm tightly. She refused to let go.
Fang Zhengzhi could not help but smile wryly at this.
A man and a woman in the same room. What was wrong with them? Putting everything else aside, if someone saw them sticking together like this, they would probably misunderstand something.
"Do you dare to let go, or stay away from me? You are a princess, can't you have some dignity? "Fang Zhengzhi tried to sound as fierce as possible.
"No, I won't let go, unless you tell me what your plan is!" Ping Yang pouted and hugged Fang Zhengzhi's arm tightly. She did not notice that her chest was pressed against it.
"What do you want to know?" Fang Zhengzhi was exasperated. He did not mind Ping Yang hugging his arm, but she had grown up.
Some places would feel weird if they touched too much.
"The Ministry of Law! Yes … the Ministry of Law. Who are you going to appoint as the Minister? Right, there is also the Ministry of War. The Ministry of War is gone. What are your plans? "Ping Yang asked.
"I am not your father. Do you think I have the final say?" Fang Zhengzhi pursed his lips.
"That … that's true! I don't care. Why don't you guess who will be the Minister of Justice and the Minister of War? "Ping Yang was stunned for a moment, but then she quickly said," Who do you think will be the Minister of Justice and the Minister of War?
"There is no need to guess. The Minister of Law will be decided tomorrow morning." Fang Zhengzhi wanted to use his other hand to push her away, but she was hugging him too tightly. Her entire body was pressing against him.
"Tomorrow morning?"
"That's right."
"But father hasn't attended morning court for a few days. Are you sure he will attend tomorrow?"
"Of course. With so many things piling up, your father has no choice but to attend morning court."
"That's true. But you still haven't answered my question?"
"Haha, I am not stupid. If I tell you, there is an 80% chance that you will run to the palace and tell your father that I am plotting against him!"
"How do you know? Alright … This Princess won't go and tell on him! "
"Then let's talk about money. 100,000 silvers for each question."
"100,000 silvers? That's daylight robbery! "
"Don't ask!"
"Alright, let me ask. Who will be the Minister of Law be?"
"Are you sure you want to ask this question?"
"Yes!"
"Actually, you can easily guess this question. There were only three assistant ministers in the Ministry of Justice. Now that two of them are gone, who else do you think can become the Minister of the Ministry of Justice?"
"Wen Chuan, the Right Assistant Minister of Law, Wen Chuan! How could it be him? Wait a minute, Wen Chuan is Wen Dabao's father. You … no, no … your plan last night was not certain that the person who came was the Left Prime Minister. In other words, you did not plan to deal with the Left Prime Minister and the Minister of War. Instead, they came here on their own. But if there was a certain person … it would be the two assistant ministers of the Ministry of Justice. So … could it be that everything you did was just to make Wen Chuan the Minister of Justice? "Ping Yang's eyes suddenly lit up as if she had thought of something.
"Oh? You've really become smarter? "
"Hmph! Of course I am smart. Then … then let me ask another question. "
"A total of 200,000 silvers."
"Fine, let me ask you. Since you have no interest in participating in the fight for the throne between my Sixth Brother and Third Brother, why did you spend so much effort to make Wen Chuan the Minister of the Ministry of Justice?"
"To reverse the verdict." Fang Zhengzhi replied matter-of-factly.
"Reverse the verdict?! You want to reverse the verdict?! Wh … when? " When Ping Yang heard this, she finally let go of Fang Zhengzhi, her face filled with shock.
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