Chapter 488 Is Duke Chi really that influential?
General Wan was still somewhat worried: "General, are you really alright? Why don't you take a break first?"
Li Rong shook his head: "Let's go."
He then got up, picked up the roast goose that had fallen to the ground, and continued to follow behind General Wan.
Chi Heng couldn't help but go to help Li Rong, but in the blink of an eye, Li Rong pushed her to the front. Li Rong glanced at the second floor and said, "There are too many people around. Xiao Yuanshan probably thinks I will be coming to the capital in a few days. Don't give yourself away."
Upon hearing this, Chi Heng naturally understood the gravity of the situation. Fearing that Li Rong might not be able to hold on, she quickened her pace, eager to get to the palace as soon as possible.
At the palace gate, Commander Liu paced back and forth, glancing outside every now and then, his brow furrowed.
Seeing the commander's expression, one of the younger guards couldn't help but lean closer and ask, "Commander, what are you waiting for? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Commander Liu was already irritable, and when he saw these brats, he glared at them and said, "You're everywhere! So leisurely, standing in a stance for an hour!"
Upon hearing this, the young guard immediately slunk back to his original position and stood obediently in his stance. However, his eyes darted around, clearly showing his curiosity.
Commander Liu has always treated them kindly, usually with a gentle demeanor and offering guidance. Why is he acting so strangely today?
Now, their commander is a favorite of the emperor, a close advisor to the Son of Heaven. Who could possibly warrant the commander's personal entourage to come and fetch someone in such a hurry, yet no one has been sent to urge them on?
As I stood in this stance, slightly sweating, I saw a group of people approaching on horseback in the distance.
The young guard craned his neck to look over, and as the horse drew near, he could clearly see who it was.
So it's Duke Chi.
There was another person following behind him, dressed in the attire of a military officer, who appeared to be of a high rank, but he had never seen him before.
But are these two people really worth their commander coming to pick them up?
You have to understand, even the Prime Minister, who is not given any face by the Commander, guards the capital every day. What kind of people haven't he seen? As for the Duke of Chi, he is just a Duke. If a stone were to fall from the capital, it could hit two people with titles.
Just as he was wondering what was going on, he saw his commander running to pick up the person.
He even helped the general's guards out of the carriage.
The young guard and the guard on duty not far from him were both dumbfounded.
Good heavens, who is this unfamiliar general?
How could their commander value it so much?
Commander Liu looked at Li Rong in front of him, his eyes reddened, his lips trembled several times, and he managed to hold back from stepping forward to pay his respects. He took several deep breaths before managing to force a smile.
"You've returned! It's good that you've returned! Gentlemen, His Majesty instructed me to wait here and to enter the palace for an audience upon your arrival."
Then, he bowed slightly and led the group toward the emperor's bedroom.
The young guard behind him was stunned: "Wait, has the commander gone mad? Why isn't he searching him?"
The other one was also dumbfounded: "Wait, is Duke Chi really that influential now?"
"Should we be more respectful next time?"
"."
"Arong, look!"
Upon entering the Qianqing Palace, Chi Heng abruptly stopped, his body tensing, and he subconsciously glanced at the men at the entrance of the main hall in the distance.
Li Rong followed Chi Heng's gaze and his pupils suddenly contracted.
A crowd was seen surrounding a person as he exited the main hall.
"Xiao Yuanshan, you! You're utterly absurd! I am a high-ranking official, and you want me to write down your achievements? Bah! I'd rather die than comply! If you have the guts, just kill me!"
An old, frail minister glared angrily and spat fiercely at the leader.
Xiao Yuanshan was dressed in a dark purple royal robe, wearing a purple jade crown and gold-embroidered bamboo-patterned boots. He seemed to be listening attentively to him, a gentle smile playing on his lips. However, his deep eyes were devoid of any emotion.
Then, he merely glanced at his robe and waved his hand dismissively.
In the blink of an eye, the person beside him covered the old minister's mouth, and a guard held a sword to the old minister's neck. In an instant, blood was drawn.
"Tsk, what's going on?"
He gave the guard beside him a reproachful look, then personally helped the person up.
"Lord Yu is so old, how can he withstand such jokes?" He smiled and took out a handkerchief to help Lord Yu wipe the bloodstains from his neck.
Xiao Yuanshan's expression remained gentle, but the officials behind him dared not even breathe loudly.
After a while, he said in a calm voice, "The achievements are considerable, but let the world decide. Lord Yu, please don't misunderstand, I have no such intention. My colleagues, please don't misunderstand either."
The people behind him praised him repeatedly, saying they dared not accept such praise.
Xiao Yuanshan glanced at him casually and said, "Then let's call it a day."
Lord Yu was covered in sweat at this moment. He got up as if to say something, but was led away by his colleagues.
The officials behind him dispersed shortly afterward.
Only two people remained, following behind Xiao Yuanshan.
One of them, a thin man dressed in the court robes of a first-rank official, was none other than Zhang Lian, the regent.
The other person, dressed in the court attire of a second-rank military officer, was tall and robust; he was Marquis Cheng'en, Xie Zhang.
At this moment, the three of them walked down the high steps.
Li Rong and the others walked up the small steps on the side.
They passed each other from a distance and both saw each other.
Chi Heng subconsciously clenched her fist, pursed her lips and gave a cold laugh before quickly passing by.
Behind them, Wan Yu and Commander Liu, following protocol, clasped their fists in salute. Afterwards, the group proceeded to the palace behind the Emperor.
Lord Xie Zhang narrowed his eyes slightly: "Chi Heng, that good-for-nothing, has returned to the capital? And who is that beside him? He looks somewhat familiar."
Lord Zhang Lian also looked over and laughed, "That's General Wan Yu, recently promoted by the Emperor. He's the garrison commander of Canglin City. Speaking of which, he's quite capable. When he was the garrison commander, a plague swept through the Canglin army, but he unexpectedly eradicated it in one fell swoop, making him very prestigious in Canglin City." After a moment's thought, he added, "It seems that with Yelü Jun's army pressing in, the Emperor has no choice but to recall many generals to the capital."
Xie Zhang sneered: "Ha, the Emperor doesn't believe me."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lian stroked his beard, then looked at Xiao Yuanshan ahead and carefully spoke: "Your Highness should already know, right? Among the generals the Emperor recalled, there are quite a few former subordinates of Li Rong. The Emperor is probably determined not to use our people."
"What does it matter if he's an old subordinate or a new one! Even if Li Rong comes back, so what? At his peak, didn't he still suffer a crushing defeat?"
Xie Zhang sneered: "Does Your Majesty think that by gathering some shrimp soldiers and crab generals, you can create some trouble and suppress us?"
Xiao Yuanshan's expression was relaxed. Listening to the two men's words, he simply said lightly, "They want to challenge me to a duel."
In a daze, he sighed, "My nephew is quite different from the benevolent late emperor. Yet, his constitution is exactly like that of the celestial emperor. It's truly a pity."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Lian's eyes flickered, and then he simply sighed deeply: "His Majesty's health is worrying. I'm afraid some princes will have a hard time in the future."
Xie Zhang snorted coldly: "It's really making me anxious."
Xiao Yuanshan remained noncommittal, lifting his eyelids to glance at the retreating figures of Li Rong and the others. Then, a playful glint appeared in his eyes.
"Interesting. These past few years have been quite dull. It's about time things started to get lively again?"
(End of this chapter)
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