Chapter 158 Secret Return to Beijing
At night, with the lingering heat of the day and the salty smell of the sea breeze, the study in Prince Yong's mansion was shrouded in an icy silence.
The candlelight flickered, casting a flickering shadow on Nangong Ye's well-defined profile, making the murderous intent surging in his eyes, almost tangible, even more terrifying.
The murderous intent did not come from anger, but a deep, cold feeling of being betrayed by loved ones, and... the coldness of the dust settling.
Between his slender fingers, he held a piece of special letter paper, as thin as a cicada's wing and almost transparent. It was blank, with only a barely perceptible blood-drenched wolf's head embroidered in fine silver thread in the lower right corner—the highest-level secret signal for the Shadow Wolf secret guards.
Nangong Ye's gaze was as calm as a deep pool. He channeled a trace of pure inner energy into his fingertips, gently brushing over the wolf head mark. The silver thread, heated by the heat, slowly revealed several lines of tiny, mosquito-like characters, each one as sharp as a knife cutting through the heart:
Prince De, Nangong Yi, and the Fourth Prince, Nangong Huaijin, met secretly at the Yuquan Villa outside the capital. They bribed Zhao Ben, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and won over Zhang Qing, the Minister of Rites, and Wang Bi, the Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue.
Because the crown prince was ill and could not inherit the throne, Prince Yong had been away from the central government for a long time and was afraid that he would have ulterior motives. So he linked up with his old meritorious officials and privately cast weapons and armor.
It is planned that on the fifteenth day of next month, while the Emperor and the Empress go to the Western Hills to offer sacrifices to heaven and the capital is deserted, they will forge an imperial edict to enter the palace, force the Crown Prince to abdicate, and support Prince De to ascend the throne.
The Fourth Prince is plotting to take the throne of regent. His minions are already moving, and undercurrents are brewing. Shadow Wolf Number Seven, I beg for your judgment.
Every word was like a red-hot iron, burning Nangong Ye's heart!
Prince De Nangong Yi! His eldest brother! The one who, because of his narrow-mindedness and cruel methods, was demoted by the previous emperor and sent to the bitter cold of the north!
When the late emperor was dying, he held his and his brother Nangong Yu's hands, his cloudy old eyes filled with worry:
"Yier... I'm unwilling to accept this and fear that something bad might happen. Ye'er, for me... for Dayan, keep an eye on him..."
This glance, it's been twelve years.
For twelve years, Prince De has been enjoying the beautiful scenery in his fiefdom, but Nangong Ye's Shadow Wolf has never let up.
He condoned Prince De's secret operation of the iron mine, condoned his dealings with some frustrated old heroes, and even condoned his quiet accumulation of power.
He gave this royal brother enough time and space. It was both an opportunity and a trap - he wanted to see how far this royal brother, who was tormented by the desire for power, could go and how many people he could drag into the water!
And then there was the Fourth Prince, Nangong Huaijin! That nephew, born to a humble mother, who had always been gentle, respectful, and frugal, and who was obsessed with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet who had no sense of existence in the court, like a shadow!
It turns out that hidden behind that mask of indifference to the world is actually the regent's ambition! What a pig in disguise to eat the tiger!
"Oh……"
A very low and cold chuckle escaped from Nangong Ye's tightly pursed thin lips, breaking the dead silence in the study.
There was no surprise in that laughter, only a kind of cold realization that the prey had finally entered a dead end after waiting for too long, and... a trace of deep sadness and determination at being completely abandoned by a blood relative.
"Twelve years..."
He slowly raised his eyes and looked at the dark blue night sky outside the window. His deep eyes seemed to reflect the fangs of the shadow called the Emperor Brother under the towering palace of Kyoto.
"Royal brother, I've let you play this game for twelve years. I gave you the chance, but in the end... you still chose a dead end."
His voice was not loud, but it carried a cold quality like the sound of metal clashing, and every word was like cutting gold and jade:
"Finally... you can't help yourself anymore and are about to reveal your true nature as a jackal who kills the king and usurps the throne?"
The door of the study was silently pushed open. Dongfang Yuning walked in with a cup of warm ginseng tea.
She walked quietly, and when she saw the letter that had already appeared in her husband's hand and the cold breath emanating from him that was enough to freeze the air, she paused slightly and then understood.
She didn't say anything, but just gently placed the teacup on the corner of the desk, walked to his side, and swept her eyes over the lines of glaring cinnabar characters.
Those bright eyes that always sparkled with wisdom and golden light, when seeing the words "Prince De" and "forcing the emperor to abdicate", a hint of cold sharpness and understanding flashed across them.
When she saw the mark of the eldest prince, a complex ripple appeared in the depths of her eyes.
She understood what this meant to Nangong Ye - he was her blood brother, and it was a betrayal deeper than that of an ordinary traitor!
But that slight ripple was quickly replaced by an all-knowing understanding and... a calculating light that was almost excited.
She knew her husband too well and was well aware of the cruelty of this game.
"oh?"
Dongfang Yuning's lips curled up in a meaningful arc, and his fingertips habitually twirled lightly in his sleeves, as if he was fiddling with invisible golden abacus beads.
"Is it Brother Prince De and our Fourth Prince nephew, who is as gentle as a chrysanthemum?"
Her tone was filled with a hint of playful sarcasm and a hint of cold alienation.
"It seems the leeks in the capital, especially those produced by the royal family, have grown so lush that they've forgotten who's supposed to harvest them? They even dare to covet the inheritance of their own brothers and nephews."
System 118 instantly became excited in her sea of consciousness:
[Ding! Ding! Ding! Keywords detected: 'capital', 'forced abdication', 'rebellion', 'royal family'! Triggering the SSS+-level hidden dungeon - 'Capital Household Seizure (Royal Family Special Edition)'! Risk Assessment: Extremely High (involving the core struggle for imperial power, target identity is sensitive).
Benefit assessment: Immeasurable and with a political premium (target related assets: large refined iron mines in Prince De's fiefdom x3 (purity 95%, estimated at more than one million taels of gold), the century-old secret collection of the Liu family, the mother's family of the Fourth Prince (antiques, rare books, underground banks, estimated at more than eight hundred thousand taels of gold), and the property of traitorous officials x∞)!
Pre-loading the MAX Rich Index... Host! The Royal Chive Field, the Golden Scythe is thirsty and hungry! Do you want to start the ultimate harvesting process?!
Nangong Ye turned his head and looked at the familiar, eager yet concerned light in his young wife's eyes. The murderous intent that had frozen everything just now was melted a little by this light.
He reached out and wrapped her slightly cold little hand in his warm and broad palm, rubbing his fingertips hard on the back of her delicate hand, as if drawing strength from it.
"Ning'er,"
His voice lowered, with an unquestionable determination and a hint of imperceptible fatigue.
"The winds of fratricide are blowing in the capital. The undercurrent has become a vortex that devours people. Some people can no longer restrain themselves. They want to take advantage of our absence to overturn this chessboard entrusted to them by our father and guarded by my brother and me, and stain his throne red with the blood of his loved ones."
He paused, his gaze as sharp as lightning, piercing the void, as if he had seen the bloody storm that was about to unfold in the depths of the palace thousands of miles away, filled with the smell of blood:
"We should go back and clean up the mess."
Dongfang Yuning held his hand tightly with his backhand, using force with his fingertips to convey unspoken understanding, support and heartache.
Her eyes were astonishingly bright, carrying a resolute and domineering aura that swept away all the monsters and demons:
"Alright! Go back! Chop off the claws of those jackals who would even betray their blood ties!"
She raised her head slightly, looking at him with disdainful eyes.
"My little cutie, after being quiet for so long, it's finally time for me to show off my skills, enforce justice, and clean up the royal family's garbage!"
Nangong Ye looked at her excited look, as if she was sharpening her knife to attack pigs and sheep, yet showing her firm support. Finally, a very faint smile, but one filled with endless doting and indulgence, appeared at the corner of his cold lips.
He lowered his head and placed an exceptionally warm, dependent kiss on her smooth forehead.
"Um."
He responded in a low voice, his voice filled with unbreakable tenderness and determination.
"Go back and clean up the mess. Return the capital and the Dayan royal family to a truly clean state."
Thousands of miles away, in Kyoto, the Marquis’ Mansion.
The night was as dark as ink, weighing heavily on this mansion that symbolized supreme military power.
There was only a single lamp lit in the study, and the dim light stretched out the tall figure of the Marquis of Zhenguo, Dongfang Liezheng, and cast it on the wall, like a giant sword about to be unsheathed.
In his hand, he also held a newly revealed piece of letter paper with the mark of a bleeding wolf head.
The above content is exactly the same as what Nangong Ye received, and is even more detailed. It includes detailed recent movements of Prince De and the Fourth Prince and some transcripts of secret letters exchanged between them.
Dongfang Liezheng's face was as deep as an ancient well under the dim light. Only his eyes, as sharp as an eagle, suddenly shrank after scanning the content, emitting a terrifying cold light!
A murderous aura emanating from a sea of blood and corpses, like a tangible ice storm, instantly swept through the entire study, causing even the candlelight to flicker!
"Finally... we've come to this point."
His deep voice was like thunder, carrying the coldness and heaviness of a warhorse.
A few months ago, Nangong Ye kept his elder brother-in-law in the capital on the pretext that Yanmao was just being settled and a general was needed to take charge. Ostensibly, it was to let him accompany his wife who was about to give birth and share the joy of family.
In fact, he just wanted this national treasure sword to help him and his wife to watch the big game in Kyoto!
Stare at the poisonous dragon lurking in the dark, eyeing the throne covetously—Prince De Nangong Yi!
This is trust, and it is also the heavy responsibility of entrusting one's life, property, and country to others!
"My Lord."
A shadowy figure, shrouded in a black cloak, appeared silently in the corner of the study. His voice was hoarse and low, carrying the chill of a night owl.
"Eagle Eye Urgent Report: Over a thousand sets of fine iron armor and armor have been found smuggled into the cellars of Prince De's mansion! Two hundred crossbows! A secret passage through the rockery in the back garden of the Fourth Prince's mansion leads to the Liu family manor outside the city. Food and military supplies are stored within the manor, and a suspected replica of the previous dynasty's imperial seal has been discovered!
Zhao Ben, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, has secretly replaced 30% of the Xuanwu Gate defenders with his confidants!
At the homes of Zhang Qing, the Minister of Rites, and Wang Bi, the Doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, a copy of a secret letter exchanged with Prince De was found, mentioning the phrases of 'clearing the imperial court' and 'righting the throne of the Crown Prince'! Everything points to the fifteenth day of next month!
"knew."
Dongfang Liezheng's voice was without any ripples, like a thousand years of ice.
"According to Longyuan's plan, execute it immediately."
"yes!"
The black shadow responded, and his figure flashed, blending into the darkness like a ghost.
Dongfang Liezheng walked to the huge Kyoto City Defense Map, his eyes blazing like a god of war commanding thousands of troops. His fingers pointed precisely at several critical locations.
The Xuanwu Gate of the imperial palace (Zhao Ben), Prince De's Mansion (armory), the Fourth Prince's Mansion (secret passage), the Liu Family Manor (troop station), and the residences of officials who colluded with the rebellion, such as Zhang Qing and Wang Bi.
"Longwu Guards, Left Camp, break camp immediately. Under the pretext of bandit suppression exercises, block all major roads from the capital to the Western Hills! Not even a fly is allowed to disturb the Holy Emperor! Hold my tiger talisman, and anyone who stands in your way will be killed without mercy!"
Military orders are as heavy as a mountain, carrying the smell of blood.
"Right Guard of the Cavalry Battalion, break up into small groups, dress in plain clothes, and infiltrate the tile market in the south of the city and the mule and horse market in the west. Keep a close eye on all vehicles and personnel entering and leaving Prince De's Palace, the Fourth Prince's Palace, and the Liu Family Manor! Anyone who moves unnaturally will be arrested first, and then reported!"
"Nine Gates Governor's Office, city-wide martial law is hereby declared ahead of schedule! From today on, only Zhengyang and Anding gates will be open, and inspections will be doubled!
Anyone carrying weapons or large quantities of unidentified items will be detained and handed over to the personal guards of the Zhenguo Houfu for interrogation!"
"To the Five Cities Military Department, all yamen runners and patrol soldiers cancel their leave and take to the streets! Focus on patrolling the areas surrounding the residences of the nobles, especially at night! Anyone gathering more than ten people will be charged with gathering a crowd to commit riots and will be arrested and tried later!"
One after another, cold, precise, and iron-blooded commands came out of the mouth of the imperial military god.
Under the seemingly peaceful night sky of Kyoto, an invisible giant iron net with barbs, composed of the most elite forces, was closing in with the force of thunder as he willed!
Inside the mesh is the burial place of King De and his followers!
After arranging everything, Dongfang Liezheng's gaze returned to the location of Nangong Ye and his wife in Yanmao on the map. He picked up a pen, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote a few bold, iron-like, murderous characters on the back of the letter:
"The Dragon Abyss has been opened, engulfing the world. I await your return, to rip off your scales and break your claws!"
The handwriting was grim, carrying the determination to sever all ties of kinship!
Nanhai, Prince Yong's Palace.
A seemingly ordinary merchant caravan quietly left the port in the darkest hour before dawn. The merchant ship was old, with an ordinary flag, and it was carrying some unremarkable South China Sea dry goods.
The salty sea breeze blew across the deck.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the atmosphere inside the core cabin of this caravan was as heavy as iron. Nangong Ye, dressed in a dark suit, closed his eyes, resting like a prehistoric beast about to pounce on its prey, emanating an icy aura that kept strangers away.
It is the pain of betrayal by loved ones, and it is also the impending determination to sacrifice one's own family for the sake of justice.
Dongfang Yuning changed into a dark-colored outfit that was convenient for movement, and tied up her long hair neatly.
A huge map of the distribution of assets of the powerful in Kyoto was spread out in front of her. Her fingertips were pointing at the location of Prince De's Mansion, but the usual golden gleam in her eyes was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp look that examined the spoils.
"Husband,"
Her voice was very soft, with a subtle soothing tone.
"The three barren iron mines in my brother Prince De's fiefdom contain enough refined iron to arm a hundred thousand soldiers.
Half of the deeds to his five summer resorts in Jiangnan were forged using illegally annexed farmland.
And how many of those exquisite toys in his Kyoto treasury were tributes embezzled?
These are irrefutable evidence of his treason and the blood debt he owes to the people of Dayan. Confiscating them is only natural."
She was stating the facts and also helping Nangong Ye strengthen his resolve.
The electronic sound of System 118 is also less jarring than usual:
[Ding! Target asset deeply locked: Prince De Nangong Yi. Estimated core assets to be confiscated: Large iron ore x3 (valued at 1.2 million taels of gold, including strategic value premium),
Illegal estates and land (valued at 600,000 taels of gold), embezzled tributes and illegally acquired treasures (value to be determined, but estimated to be no less than 500,000 taels)...
Total preliminary estimate: starting at 2.3 million taels of gold. Host, this is just a small fortune.]
She pointed to the Fourth Prince's Mansion:
"As for Nangong Huaijin and his noble maternal family, the Liu family...how many families have been ruined by their high-interest loans?
The salt tax he embezzled by colluding with salt merchants is enough to feed 100,000 northern border troops for three years! What is buried under the Liu family ancestral hall is the blood and sweat of the people! Executing him is to enforce justice on behalf of heaven!
[Ding! Target assets locked: Fourth Prince Nangong Huaijin and his maternal clan, the Liu family. Estimated confiscation: Illegal proceeds from the Liu family's "Tonghui" bank and underground network (estimated at 900,000 taels of gold),
Illegal salt channels and their exorbitant profits over the years (estimated at 400,000 taels of gold), a hidden cache of antiques and curios (including a suspected replica of a previous dynasty's imperial seal, valuation to be determined)...
Preliminary estimated total value: 1.3 million taels of gold. Justice delayed but served!]
"And these termites who rely on the traitors..."
Dongfang Yuning's fingertips passed through the residences of Zhao Ben, Zhang Qing, Wang Bi and others, like the soul-drawing pen of the King of Hell.
"Clean up their wealth, which will give an explanation to the people they exploited, and also provide winter clothes for the soldiers at the border!"
System 118:
[Ding! Estimated confiscation of related targets: Starting from 700,000 taels of gold. Estimated total proceeds from this 'Royal Family Special Edition Confiscation': Over 4,300,000 taels of gold!]
Host, the proceeds will be automatically injected into the special projects of 'Yanmao New Port Construction' and 'Northern Border Army Reequipment'. Take from the enemy and use it for the people.
Nangong Ye slowly opened his eyes.
In those deep eyes, the last trace of hesitation towards family affection has been replaced by cold determination.
He looked at his young wife who was analyzing the pros and cons for him and taking a firm stand, and a hint of warmth flashed in the depths of his eyes.
He reached out and tightly wrapped her hand, which was slightly cold due to the cold night, in his warm and broad palm.
"Ning'er,"
His deep voice carried a calmness that cut off the past.
"Scraping off scales and claws is the real work, but cleaning out these maggots clinging to the rotting flesh... is a must. Let's go."
He put his arm around her shoulders and looked out the porthole at the horizon gradually dyed red by the rising sun. His eyes were as sharp as a dragon-slaying blade drawn from its sheath.
"Return to the capital. Clean up the mess. This land of Dayan has no place for wolves that devour their own kind, nor does it tolerate even the slightest bit of... filth that tarnishes the hard work of my father and my brother!"
The merchant ship broke through the bloody morning light and sped towards the north, towards Kyoto, where undercurrents were turbulent and a fratricidal war was about to break out.
An unknown return of a hidden dragon to the capital and a bloody purge are about to begin their cruel prelude.
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