Chapter 578 Bandits
The person who came in the snowy night came and went quietly. A eunuch quickly went to the emperor's study and reported something to the emperor. After listening, the emperor waved his hand casually to indicate that he understood.
"Your Majesty, what about tomorrow?"
The emperor's voice was deep and menacing: "If they don't act after the list is leaked, how can this charade continue?"
"Should we go and inform the First Prince and the Duke?"
The emperor pondered for a moment, then nodded: "You can tell Rong'er."
He shook his head as soon as he finished speaking: "Never mind, don't tell them yet."
The next morning at court, a group of officials, as if they had planned it beforehand, launched a joint attack on Qi Rong, with Yun Gui and the censors working together.
Having failed to bring Lin Changning down a while ago, these people turned to Qi Rong and began to attack him, accusing him of various crimes such as being unfilial and not shaving his head.
Lin Changning stood in the queue, quietly observing the people in the crowd, trying to see who was shouting the loudest.
If it weren't for this group of people, Ah Shu's health wouldn't be in such a bad state. They failed to bring her down, so they switched to someone else to make trouble. The power struggle is truly disgusting!
Lin Changning remained silent, standing quietly in the crowd, listening as they pinned all sorts of unfounded accusations on Qi Erge.
She is just the beginning; there will likely be more trials to come, involving the Ji family, the Su family, the Zhou family, and the Wu family.
Lin Changning's gaze swept over the marquises who had disappeared into the background, his eyes filled with a hint of murderous intent.
Duke Ningguo glanced at Lin Changning, whose expression was unfriendly, and smiled at him: "Marquis Wu'an, how has the princess been feeling lately? I heard you've been attending to her in the palace?"
Lin Changning glanced at the Duke of Ningguo without saying a word. A few days ago, two marquises had made trouble for her, and the Duke of Ningguo was behind them. Lin Changning clenched her fist tightly under her red robe.
Then the Duke of Ningguo said, "The princess's health has never been very good. It's kind of Marquis Wu'an to be willing to stay by her side all this time. My niece said that there are rumors in the capital that Marquis Wu'an is very affectionate. It seems that it is true. However, a good man should make achievements and establish his career. What kind of hero is he who serves his wife all day long? You agree, Marquis?"
Lin Changning turned around and ignored the person.
The court assembly was noisy from beginning to end. After returning to the palace, Lin Changning watched Li Mingshu drink her medicine and said to others, "A-Shu, I'm going home for a bit, but it's late today, so I'm afraid I won't be back until tomorrow morning."
Li Mingshu didn't see the emotions in Lin Changning's eyes. She nodded and said to him, "Alright, after staying in the palace for so many days, I'm starting to miss home. Come back soon and take me home."
Lin Changning concealed the gloom in her eyes, smiled at the person, and said with a smile that curved her eyebrows, "Okay, we'll be home soon."
After saying that, she quietly left the room and closed the door behind her.
After leaving the palace, Lin Changning rode directly to the capital garrison, took out his token, and said: "Gather five hundred soldiers and generals to surround the mansion with me!"
It just so happens that Lao Qin hadn't finished his shift yet today. Seeing Lin Changning riding his horse and leading five hundred men out of the camp, he blinked, thinking something was wrong. He waved to Lin Changning, who was at the head of the group, and asked, "Didn't you take leave recently? Why are you suddenly taking people to training today?"
As soon as he spoke, Old Qin sensed something was wrong. He rode his horse closer and saw Lin Changning's rather serious, even murderous, expression. His heart skipped a beat.
"Changning? What's this?"
Lin Changning pursed his lips, but his hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his knife: "Uncle Qin, I have something to say."
Old Qin knew something was wrong as soon as he saw Lin Changning. He was about to say something when he saw Lin Changning gripping the knife hilt tightly, which made him even more suspicious.
"Changning, what are you doing with those men?"
Lin Changning looked at Old Qin with broken eyes: "Uncle Qin, A-Shu only has one month left, please don't stop me, I beg you..."
Old Qin opened his mouth, having heard about the recent events in the capital. The matter originated from their Beijing garrison, and he wanted to persuade Lin Changning, but he didn't know where to begin.
Seeing that Lin Changning and his men were becoming increasingly tense, Old Qin noticed the token at Lin Changning's waist, waved his hand, and looked at the guards beside him: "Make way, I suddenly remembered that I have some official business to finish, so I'll go back now."
As he spoke, Old Qin led a group of his personal guards to make way.
After Lin Changning had walked away, Lao Qin sat in the tent and waited. He sighed and said to the guard beside him, "Send someone to keep an eye on him. If anything happens, send troops to help him."
Lin Changning led his men all the way to the Ji residence. The streets were deserted today. Lin Changning sat on his horse, coldly looking at the two characters "Ji Residence" on the plaque. He then led his men to smash open the gate. Seeing the maids and servants scattering inside, he grabbed one of them and asked where Ji's mother was.
Ji's mother was quickly dragged out of the backyard by the soldiers and staggered as she was thrown next to Lin Changning.
Lin Changning looked at the paper in his hand. The one in the lead was Ji's mother. It was this person who poisoned Ashu and ordered the servants to mistreat the mother and daughter.
Miss Ji crawled timidly to her mother's side.
"Mother! Mother! What are they going to do?"
Madam Ji glared at Lin Changning and shouted angrily, "Who are you! I am an official's wife, without imperial decree! Who dares to touch me?!"
Lin Changning looked down at Ji's mother, his eyes seemingly filled with ice: "So it was you who poisoned Ashu?"
Madam Ji looked up at Lin Changning, paused for a moment, and then suddenly cursed, "You're that little slut's lover!! Let me tell you, I am."
Before she could finish speaking, Ji's mother felt her vision suddenly shift.
Lin Changning sheathed his knife and took out the silk handkerchief that Li Mingshu had embroidered for her to wipe the bloodstains from his hands.
The scream of Miss Ji rang in my ears: "Ah!! Murder! Murder! Mother! Mother!"
Lin Changning lowered his eyes and muttered under his breath, "So noisy!"
After saying that, he handed the list to the guard beside him: "Find these people and kill them on the spot!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The screams and curses in the Ji residence soon ceased.
Lin Changning led a group of people out of the Ji residence and quickly headed towards several other residences.
At the city gate of Kyoto, Old Ma, accompanied by a group of guards in disguise, said helplessly, "Lushan, this is a matter of life and death. Why did you have to come along?"
Lu Shan shrugged: "The Marquis has been very kind to me. I'll lend a hand when necessary. If I don't show my loyalty now, when will I? Besides, look at you, all soldierly and military. You don't look like a bandit at all."
Lu Shan gave Old Ma a sly look. Don't think he didn't know that without His Majesty's permission, how could the Marquis have obtained the token so easily and let them sneak into the city gate disguised as bandits during the shift change?
The eldest son of the Ma family happened to be in the Beijing garrison recently. He had just delivered people to Lin Changning's command when he got a job, and his arrival just happened to take up the eldest son's spot.
Expressing loyalty to one's superiors—who doesn't know how to do that?
Seeing a fire burning in the city, Old Ma helped Lu Shan mount his horse: "The Ji family has started! Let's go! Into the city! Let's kill!"
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