Chapter 411 The Emperor Couldn't Wait Any Longer
"Your Excellency, the commotion outside the city was caused by Marquis Chengen's suppression of bandits." His attendant returned from scouting and cautiously reported to the Prime Minister.
Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister clenched his aged hands tightly, the veins on his withered hands throbbing. "What's going on there?"
"Outside the city, Black Stone Ridge looked as if several gaps had been blasted open on the mountaintop. Rocks and broken logs were scattered everywhere, and yellow smoke rose into the air, darkening the sky. The wind also carried the acrid smell of gunpowder. I heard that the bandit's den in the mountain valley was blown up so badly that not even a proper path remained."
The attendant, still shaken by what he had just witnessed, continued, "It is said that the explosion on the mountain was sudden, and not a single soldier of the Marquis of Chengen was killed or injured."
The Prime Minister narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment, "A sudden explosion, and not a single soldier of the Marquis of Chengen was killed or injured. Where did you get this information?"
The attendant said, "I heard it from the onlookers."
The prime minister clenched his fist in silence, and after a while said, "You may leave."
"Yes." The attendant carefully withdrew, and Pei Hanming said somewhat anxiously, "I haven't heard of any bandits at Black Stone Ridge!"
The prime minister leaned back in his chair, looking utterly exhausted. "How could there possibly be bandits right here at the foot of the capital?"
“Then…” Pei Hanming wanted to ask why the Marquis of Chengen had caused such a commotion. But thinking of the most likely reason, he kept quiet. Fear rose in his heart again.
At this moment, the Prime Minister said, "Although Jiang Yu's reform of the money shops and trading companies has not been very effective in a short period of time, the national treasury is much fuller than before, giving the Emperor more confidence. In addition, Prince Rui has developed such a powerful weapon, and the Emperor can't wait any longer."
Upon hearing this, Pei Hanming's hands involuntarily clenched tightly. The stronger the imperial court, the greater their chances of failure.
The room was completely silent, a silence that was oppressive.
After a while, the Prime Minister's voice rang out again, "But there's no need to worry too much."
Upon hearing this, Pei Hanming sat up straight, looking at him hopefully. The Prime Minister narrowed his eyes and said, "His Majesty is not a decisive person. Otherwise, he would have wiped out the Prince of Lingnan who has occupied the southern border for so many years long ago. Why has it been delayed until now?"
The current grand display of having Marquis Chengen "suppress bandits" and test weapons is ultimately just a way to intimidate various factions. He has far more concerns than we do; the stability of the court and the unrest among the people require careful consideration, and he won't easily break off relations.
"So we still have time," Pei Hanming said with a sigh of relief.
The Prime Minister nodded, "Moreover, the Crown Prince's succession to the throne is perfectly legitimate."
After saying that, he gave a sly smile. Pei Hanming smiled too. Yes, as long as the current emperor died suddenly, the crown prince's succession would be legitimate.
"Send a message to Lingnan?" Pei Hanming asked.
"Pass it on," the Prime Minister snorted. "His Majesty's purpose is to intimidate the Prince of Lingnan, so we must obey his orders."
...
Jiang Yu and the others, who were reviewing files in the archives, naturally heard the explosion. Jiang Yu knew that the Marquis of Chengen was going to "suppress bandits" today, and seeing the shocked expressions on the eight people's faces, he reassured them, "It's the Marquis of Chengen suppressing bandits, nothing to worry about."
These eight people all knew some of the inside story. Upon hearing her words, they exchanged glances and then continued to carefully examine the case files.
Jiang Yu lowered her eyes and pondered for a while before getting up to write a memorial at a small table. She knew perfectly well what the Prime Minister was planning to do, and the Emperor probably knew as well. However, it was still best to submit a memorial to remind him.
After finishing the memorial, she handed it to Xia He, saying, "Send it to the palace."
........
Lingnan
In June, people in the capital had already changed into lighter clothing, and the weather in Lingnan was even hotter. Locals mostly wore short-sleeved shirts and thin silks, their exposed necks and arms glistening with sweat. Although the market was bustling, the cries of vendors carried a hint of languidness, as if the emperor had left the capital far behind.
But hidden beneath this languid state are countless undercurrents of turmoil.
At this moment, Ning Yunchuan was in a dark alley corner, panting with his hand on the wound on his shoulder. He didn't know if word had leaked out, but he and the heir of the Marquis of Chengen were intercepted as soon as they arrived in Lingnan.
He and the heir of the Marquis of Chengen fought their way out of the encirclement, but the pursuit continued relentlessly. Just moments ago, while they were eating at a small stall, they were attacked again. They fought back fiercely and barely escaped with their lives. However, he and the heir of the Marquis of Chengen were separated.
Their most crucial task now was to establish contact with the Lingnan court's garrison. Thinking of the jade pendant Jiang Yu had given him before he left the capital, he gritted his teeth, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and went outside.
He stole a set of clothes from a dilapidated tenement and changed into them. He then found a secluded corner to hide in and didn't go out until it was completely dark. More than half an hour later, he stood in front of a gate with two prominent characters on the plaque above it: Yu Residence.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door knocker. A moment later, a young man who looked like a servant in his twenties opened the door. After looking him up and down, noticing his coarse clothes but the imposing aura he exuded, he asked, "What brings you here, sir?"
Ning Yunchuan didn't waste any words, taking out the jade pendant Jiang Yu had given him and handing it to the servant. The servant looked down at it, his face filled with shock. Then he respectfully asked, "May I ask your surname?"
Ning Yunchuan: "Ning comes from the capital."
"Please come in." The servant ushered him in, arranged for him to sit in the gatehouse reception area, and then hurried inside. After a short while, a man in his forties strode in.
"My name is Yu Heng. May I ask who you are?"
Ning Yunchuan stood up and clasped his hands in greeting, "Ning Yunchuan of the Duke of Wei's Mansion."
Upon hearing the words "Duke of Wei's Mansion," Master Ning, Yu Heng, was shocked. He immediately returned the greeting and led him toward the study of the Yu family's patriarch.
Upon arrival, Old Master Yu Yanqiu was already waiting in his study. He immediately rose and bowed upon seeing Ning Yunchuan. Last time he visited the capital, he had thoroughly investigated the information of the major dignitaries in the capital, so he naturally knew Ning Yunchuan's identity.
Ning Yunchuan, needing a favor, didn't put on airs. After returning the courtesy, he sat down to talk with the father and son. At first, there was a period of testing, but once they trusted each other, Ning Yunchuan revealed his needs: to find the whereabouts of the Marquis of Chengen's heir and go to the garrison in Lingnan.
The Yu family is a prominent family that has been entrenched in Lingnan for hundreds of years, so this matter was not difficult for them. Yu Yanqiu immediately agreed upon hearing this and then instructed his son, Yu Heng, "Quickly send someone to secretly find the heir of the Marquis of Cheng'en."
Yu Heng responded and immediately got up to leave. Yu Yanqiu then arranged for Ning Yunchuan to wash up and had a doctor treat his injuries. When Ning Yunchuan reappeared before him, he was once again a handsome and dignified man.
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