The talisman traveled around once and finally condensed again in the dantian.
Mo Yunhan felt the heat all over his body disappear, and the torment of alternating ice and fire also disappeared.
He was just about to try using his internal energy.
But Jiang Qingwan stopped him.
"You cannot use force before the Yin-Yang Formation is successful."
She had barely finished speaking.
Zheng Qing strode over in a hurry.
"Yunhan, you're here! I've been looking everywhere for you. It's complete chaos outside."
Ye Qi carefully sheathed his longsword.
"Uncle, the Empress Dowager is in mourning, even the morning court session has been suspended, what major event could there be?"
Zheng Qing said, "It was because the morning court session was suspended that such a big incident occurred. Qin Run, the prince who was just recognized, killed someone. After the Prefect of Jingzhao investigated, he handed the case over to the Ministry of Justice for review. Before the Ministry of Justice could report to the palace, someone wrote down the details of the case and posted them on the most conspicuous bulletin board."
Qing Sui snorted coldly.
"Since the evidence is conclusive, then just behead him and display his head in public. What's the big deal?"
Lian'er pondered, "Is it because he became a prince, so he can't be beheaded even if he kills someone?"
Zheng Qing waved his hand.
"It's not what you're talking about."
"Whether or not to behead him is a decision only the Emperor can make. The scholar who died was Qin Run's classmate at Yulin Academy. I don't know what happened, but the people from Yulin Academy and the people from the Imperial Academy started arguing. The group of scholars escalated the prince's murder case into a dispute over the injustice of the education between the sons of the powerful and the sons of commoners. It caused quite a commotion, and with the onlookers, half of the long street was blocked."
Ye Qi was suspicious.
"The disturbance is so severe that it's affecting the security of the capital. Haven't any troops been dispatched?"
Qing Sui spoke coolly.
"Who would go? Dealing with those pedantic scholars would surely get us scolded, and besides, the Imperial Academy is full of sons of powerful and wealthy people. Who in the patrol camp would dare to offend them so easily?"
Zheng Qing nodded.
“You’re right. Scholars are not like hooligans; they are the most difficult to deal with. Once they are harmed, it will be even harder to quell public resentment under such circumstances.”
As they were discussing this, a guard led the chief eunuch in.
He held the bright yellow imperial edict high in his hand, and his shrill voice soared up.
"By imperial decree, the Ninth Prince Mo Yunhan is hereby ordered to quell the rebellion at the academy and proceed immediately to handle the matter without delay."
After speaking, he bowed and handed the imperial edict to Mo Yunhan.
"Your Highness has worked hard."
After the imperial edict was read, he flicked his whisk, turned around, and left.
They didn't stop for even a moment.
Zheng Qing was stunned, and after a long while, he flew into a rage.
"What do you mean? What exactly does the Emperor mean? Does he really need you to do this kind of job? Isn't this just pushing you out to get scolded? This is too much!"
Mo Yunhan, however, did not react much.
"All the princes are keeping vigil, and I am the only one who is free. This case involves a prince, so it is most appropriate to send me. Moreover, my memorial to relinquish my military and political duties has not yet been approved, and I am still in office. How can I refuse?"
Zheng Qing felt even more helpless upon hearing this.
"The Emperor must have known you would agree; this is too much."
"Who bullied you again?"
Song Yushu walked in from outside.
Fu An'an followed beside him.
Seeing that everyone was there, he quickly bowed and greeted them.
"Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness."
Zheng Qing immediately went to Song Yushu's side to complain.
"Madam, you've heard about the chaos outside, haven't you? I'm furious..."
Song Yushu was taken aback.
"You all know about the plague?"
"plague?"
Zheng Qing's eyes widened. "What plague?"
Jiang Qingwan understood immediately and her gaze fell on Fu An'an.
"Did that maid named Xiao Cui come back to look for you?"
Fu An'an hurriedly said, "It was her brother Xiao Zhuang, who knelt in front of me crying with tears and snot all over his face. He said that the lives of the whole village are in danger. I don't know how serious this matter is, so I can only ask you."
Mo Yunhan frowned and looked at Jiang Qingwan.
"What exactly happened?"
Jiang Qingwan recounted what happened that day.
"If the plague spreads, many people will really die."
At the same time, the words of Fang Mingxin, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, echoed in both of their ears.
The Ziwei star position was shrouded in deathly energy.
The Great Zhou Dynasty is in grave danger!
Mo Yunhan grasped her hand, his voice low and hoarse.
How confident are you?
He could not turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, nor was he qualified to implicate Jiang Qingwan as a citizen of the Great Zhou.
Jiang Qingwan looked at his slightly furrowed brows.
Raise your hand and gently smooth it out.
“Actually, I couldn’t be bothered with it. But this plague is extremely strange. If it’s not controlled, not only the capital, but also the surrounding cities will be affected. Moreover, this plague is different from a natural plague. It is not naturally occurring, but man-made. I suspect that this is aimed at the Ninth Prince’s Mansion.”
"Once the plague breaks out, the Imperial Observatory will inform the Emperor of its advice. The people's grievances will boil over, and the Emperor will surely use the Ninth Prince's Mansion as a sacrifice to appease the anger."
Ye Qi angrily said, "Why should our royal family always take the blame? Do you really think we're pushovers?"
Jiang Qingwan ignored him, her gaze still fixed on Mo Yunhan.
"Actually, I'm just like you. I don't like that group of people, nor do I like many troublemakers who can't distinguish right from wrong. But the common people are innocent."
The phrase "the people are innocent" silenced all of Mo Yunhan's words.
He recalled the question Jiang Qingwan had asked Fang Mingxin after she came to the Prince's mansion to beg him.
"So, will you save her?"
He didn't want to answer.
But the answer was already clear in my heart.
At this moment, Zheng Qing's heart was also stirred by the phrase "the people are innocent".
Even if he were slow-witted, he could tell that both the plague and the recent imperial edict were aimed at the Ninth Prince's residence.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
