Chapter 23 The Heartless and Unfeeling Top Scholar

"This old minister has noticed that Your Majesty's condition has not improved. I obtained a folk remedy from the common people that can help Your Majesty recover soon."

"That's why I brought Master Changsheng with me."

Prince Rong: "You bring just any Tom, Dick, or Harry into the palace? If something happens, can you take responsibility?"

The Taoist priest bowed to Prince Rong and said, “I foresaw in the Taoist temple that the country would be in trouble and His Majesty would face a great calamity! That is why I came down the mountain. It would be bad if Your Highness were to delay important matters.”

"Shut up!" Prince Rong's face darkened. "His Majesty is merely unwell; what do you mean by 'a great calamity'?"

"Guards! Throw this evil Taoist priest into jail!"

"Your Highness, if we delay His Majesty's health, can you bear the responsibility?" The Prime Minister interjected, "If you don't allow the Taoist priest to treat His Majesty, are you plotting to harm him?"

"Shut up! Your Excellency, you dare to use folk remedies on His Majesty? Who gave you the audacity?"

"Who is it that is plotting to harm His Majesty?" Prince Rong asked solemnly.

The surrounding guards were ready to draw their swords at any moment.

The surrounding firelight illuminated the Prime Minister's face, revealing his terrifying features.

"This old minister is only concerned about His Majesty's health. Why won't Your Highness allow us ministers to see His Majesty?"

"Could it be?" the Prime Minister scoffed, "that you have some unspeakable secret?"

"Prince Rong, what are your and Ji Huaizhi's true intentions in trapping His Majesty?"

Prince Rong stood with his hands behind his back, quietly watching his performance.

"No one can compare to you, Prime Minister, when it comes to turning the tables on others."

The Taoist priest then spoke up: "I not only foresaw that His Majesty is in great danger, but I also foresaw that it is the work of a treacherous person. If this treacherous person is not eliminated, His Majesty will certainly be in mortal danger."

Prince Rong sneered: "You're right. If the treacherous people aren't eliminated, His Majesty won't be able to rest easy."

The imperial guards surrounded the prime minister and the Taoist priest.

The atmosphere became tense and deadlocked.

The Prime Minister intended to have this Taoist priest deliver the final blow to the Emperor, but he did not expect that Prince Rong would be so difficult to deal with.

If that's the case...

"A treacherous person is blocking the way, and His Majesty is trapped." The Prime Minister gave an order: "Prince Rong and Lord Ji Huaizhi are colluding to deceive His Majesty."

"His Majesty is now trapped and his life is in danger. It is all the work of such treacherous people."

"Guards! Whoever can 'rescue' His Majesty will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!"

The words had barely left his mouth.

A strange noise came from afar.

Countless arrows flew towards them, and the Imperial Guards quickly protected Prince Rong.

The prime minister and the Taoist priest had already been protected, and suddenly many men in black appeared in the palace.

Judging from this, the Prime Minister couldn't hold back any longer.

"Your Highness, many men in black have appeared in the palace and are heading straight for the First Prince's palace," someone reported.

Prince Rong looked at the Prime Minister; his target was the eldest prince.

The palace was filled with the clash of soldiers, dark clouds obscured the moonlight, only the howling wind and the urgent sound of gongs pierced the night sky.

Men in black surged in from all directions like a tide.

The firelight illuminated their狰狞 faces.

The Imperial Guards brandished their long swords, the clanging of metal echoing incessantly.

The prime minister smiled; he had finally waited for this day.

He didn't notice that the palace eunuchs and maids were all gone; his mind was filled with the excitement of his imminent success.

He also ignored Prince Rong's calm demeanor, thinking that he must be terrified by now.

The emperor is nearing his end, and Ji Huaizhi is probably hiding out of fear.

Prince Rong was not taken seriously at all. As long as those people killed the eldest prince, the third prince could officially 'succeed'.

Isn't the world still ruled by the Jiang family?

Blood stained the bluestone pavement, and flames soared into the sky from the palace.

Spears clashed with broadswords. Prince Rong and the Prime Minister stared at each other, surrounded by Imperial Guards and men in black protecting them.

Shouts of battle and screams of agony filled the air.

The palace was thrown into chaos.

Sudden.

The sound of horses' hooves came from afar.

From far to near.

Ji Huaizhi led his generals and countless reinforcements, along with elite cavalry, to the rescue.

The prime minister's face suddenly changed.

The rebels fell one by one.

No one noticed that the Taoist priest had already infiltrated His Majesty's palace.

The general charged to the palace gates, followed closely by Ji Huaizhi, while the prime minister was surrounded in the center.

"Your Excellency, Prime Minister." Ji Huaizhi looked at him coldly from his horse.

"Lord Ji, General Qi, you're late." The Prime Minister sneered; he no longer needed to pretend.

"The eldest prince should already be..."

Before the Prime Minister could finish speaking, Ji Huaizhi ordered a group of people to be thrown out.

They were the people he sent to assassinate the eldest prince.

The Prime Minister glared fiercely at Ji Huaizhi when suddenly, a Taoist priest in the hall let out a scream.

"ah!"

All eyes turned to them.

"Your Majesty!" Upon hearing the commotion, Prince Rong ran into the hall.

Suddenly the palace doors opened, and the first person to emerge was Eunuch Su.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The Emperor's dazzling dragon robe came into view. The Emperor, with a majestic expression, walked out surrounded by the Imperial Guards.

The Prime Minister, seeing this scene, was speechless: "Your Majesty..."

"You're not?"

"What am I not?" the emperor asked, looking at him. "Should I be clinging to life, suffering from deadly poison?"

Then the Taoist priest was forced out.

The prime minister's shoulders suddenly slumped.

He stared blankly at them and their group.

The soldiers held torches, and the prime minister's lips twitched, his expression somewhat out of control.

Ji Huaizhi and the general dismounted and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

"My beloved ministers, rise." The emperor walked in front of the prime minister.

"Prime Minister, you have lost."

The muscles on the Prime Minister's face twitched incessantly: "This old minister has indeed lost."

"This old minister acknowledges it."

After speaking, his gaze fell on the sharp sword at the waist of the officer: "Your Majesty, I was too hasty. The victor is king, the loser is villain. I concede defeat."

After saying this, he immediately drew the sword of one of the soldiers beside him. Everyone thought he intended to assassinate the emperor, and they immediately shouted:

"Protect His Majesty!"

But the prime minister did not.

The wind ruffled his gray hair. He had lost, but he didn't want to become a prisoner.

He raised the sword in his hand, ready to slit his own throat.

Ji Huaizhi subtly flicked a pebble from the side, and the Prime Minister felt a jolt in his wrist as his sword fell to the ground.

Upon seeing this, the general beside him immediately restrained him: "Your Majesty!"

The emperor looked coldly at the prime minister: "Jiang Fulu launched a rebellion, attempting to assassinate me. All ministers involved will be beheaded and their heads displayed to the public as an example to others."

The prime minister knelt on the ground.

My wrist is still a little numb.

He didn't know who had just hit him with a stone, but he had a gut feeling.

His gaze fell on Ji Huaizhi, and thinking of the masters who disappeared that night, he suddenly smiled.

Everyone just thought he was crazy.

"Your Majesty, I will not be the first."

"Let me give you a heads-up: be careful of the people you trust most." The Prime Minister smiled broadly: "Be careful of those close to you!"

The emperor, expressionless, said: "Drag him away."

When the Imperial Guards encountered him, he shook off their hands and said, "This old minister will walk by himself."

After finishing speaking, he straightened his clothes and left with his head held high.

The emperor watched his retreating figure with his hands behind his back, his eyes narrowing.

Be careful of the people around you!

Ji Huaizhi stood calmly to one side, without saying a word.

Prince Rong frowned: "Your Majesty, is he trying to sow discord after his defeat?"

The general scratched his head: "Be careful of those around you? We're all loyal and devoted, the one with the most cunning mind is that old scoundrel!"