Right now!
A curfew was imposed in Xijing City after nightfall, and the streets were deserted, with only the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling soldiers echoing on the stone pavement.
But this apparent calm cannot conceal the turbulent undercurrents.
Although the news of the emperor's sudden death was not officially announced, it was already known to everyone in high-ranking circles.
All the troops outside Xijing City were recalled to strengthen the city's defenses, and the number of guards around the palace increased several times over.
The hall of state affairs was brightly lit. Pei Lun and Fan Nan sat facing each other, with a long list spread out between them.
Both of them looked tired, but their eyes were unusually focused.
"Thirty-seven people were all executed last night."
Pei Lun's voice was low, "But according to the clues provided by Commander Qu, there are twelve other people who have had secret dealings with Cao the traitor. Although they did not directly participate in yesterday's events, but..."
"Better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free!" Fan Nan replied, tapping his finger on the list. "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken."
"These twelve people will be apprehended tonight and imprisoned pending trial. The charge... will be that they are suspected of colluding with the rebellious eunuch and plotting treason."
Pei Lun nodded and picked up his pen to make annotations next to the list.
He knew what this meant—of these twelve people, three were officials of the fifth rank or above, two were military generals, and the rest were also prominent figures.
But political purges are always brutal. With the emperor dead, swift and decisive measures must be taken to deter anyone who might harbor disloyal intentions.
"His Highness Prince Jin should have received the news by now." Fan Nan glanced at the dark night sky outside the window. "Judging by the time, he should arrive in the capital as early as tomorrow afternoon."
"Where is the Grand Commander?" Pei Lun asked.
"The carrier pigeon has arrived in Shuozhou, and the Grand Commander must have already set off. Given his style, he will surely travel light and fast, perhaps even arriving in the capital before His Highness."
The two remained silent for a moment.
This is a delicate moment—the emperor is dead, a new ruler is about to ascend the throne, and Zhao Muyun, who holds real power, is about to return.
These civil officials were to choose between loyalty to the newly enthroned Emperor Yinji and loyalty to Zhao Muyun, who heavily relied on them and held significant military power.
"Brother Fan!" Pei Lun put down his pen and rubbed his temples. "Do you think the Grand Commander... would be content to stop at 'assisting in government'?"
Fan Nan did not answer immediately. He got up and walked to the window, looking at the outline of the imperial city faintly visible in the night.
“Brother Pei, we have known each other for many years. You should know that things in this world are not simply black and white.”
"The Grand Commander has the bearing of a hero and the ambition to save the nation. His Highness Prince Jin is young, but you and I have both witnessed his performance at Longmen Pass over the past year or so. He is by no means an ordinary person."
He turned around, his gaze sharp: "Right now, we are surrounded by powerful enemies, and there are undercurrents within. The Grand Commander needs Your Highness's legitimacy, and Your Highness needs the Grand Commander's military power and strength."
"These two are inseparable, at least until the external threats are eliminated. As for the future..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Pei Lun already understood.
What the future holds depends on how the situation evolves, and even more so on the wisdom and magnanimity of these two individuals.
“The most urgent task is to ensure His Highness’s safe return to the capital and to hold the enthronement ceremony as soon as possible.” Pei Lun stood up. “As for the Ministry of Rites, Minister Zhou has already instructed Vice Minister Zhu to prepare the ceremony.”
"Once Your Highness and the Grand Commander arrive, we can choose an auspicious day to hold the ceremony."
“There’s one more thing,” Fan Nan lowered his voice, “shouldn’t we go and pay our respects to the Empress Dowager?”
They are referring to Lady Wang, the legal mother of Yin Zhao, the late emperor's empress, and now the empress dowager.
When the emperor dies suddenly, according to the established rites, the empress dowager has the highest authority.
Pei Lun smiled wryly: "The princess went there this afternoon. The Empress Dowager was frightened and is not in good spirits. She has said that 'everything is left to the loyal ministers of the court and Prince Jin to decide.' She... is very pragmatic."
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a knowing look in each other's eyes.
The Empress Dowager has lived a long and peaceful life, which means she naturally knows how to assess the situation.
At this critical juncture, not causing trouble is the greatest support one can offer.
"Report—" came the announcement from outside the door.
"Come in."
A clerk rushed in and presented a secret report: "My lords, Commander Lin of Longmen Pass has sent an urgent report that Li Hu seems to have learned of the changes in the capital. His attacks have been unusually fierce recently, and the battle at the pass lasted for two hours before he was forced to retreat."
"Governor Lin requests the imperial court to replenish the arrow oil!"
Pei Lun and Fan Nan's expressions darkened simultaneously.
The news leaked so quickly!
Li Hu clearly knew of the emperor's death and wanted to take advantage of the power transition and instability in Xijing to break through Longmen Pass in one fell swoop!
"Immediately dispatch 30,000 arrows and 1,000 barrels of oil from the Beijing garrison and send them to Longmen Pass first thing tomorrow morning!" Pei Lun decisively ordered. "Reply to Lin Feng and tell him to hold out for a few more days. Once the situation in the capital stabilizes, reinforcements will surely arrive!"
The official accepted the order and left.
Pei Lun sighed deeply: "These are truly turbulent times. Yunzhou in the north is in dire need of help, Longmen Pass in the east is embroiled in a bloody battle, Yang Yan of Jiannan in the south is eyeing us covetously, and the western regions are still fighting fiercely... Now this great upheaval has occurred in the capital."
Fan Nan revealed a resolute look: "That's precisely why we must act swiftly and decisively, establish a new ruler as soon as possible, and stabilize the people's hearts!"
"Brother Pei, let's double-check the enthronement ceremony and the imperial edict one more time. We must ensure there are no mistakes!"
The candlelight flickered, casting the shadows of two key ministers on the wall; they had not slept all night.
......
In the darkness of night, a cavalry force of about three hundred men was galloping along the official road.
Horse hooves shattered the thin ice, splashing up fine snowflakes.
At the front of the group, Yinji was dressed in a black outfit with a fox fur coat over it, his face appearing and disappearing in the flickering torchlight.
Six hours had passed since they left Longmen Pass. They changed horses but not riders along the way, galloping westward at breakneck speed.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com