Nighttime, Beijing, the Forbidden City.
At this moment, Zhu Qi, lying in bed, couldn't fall asleep.
His empress patted Zhu Qizhen, trying to reassure him.
"Your Majesty, are you worried about the Duke of Liaodong?"
After hearing the Empress's words, Zhu Qizhen nodded and said to the Empress beside him with concern:
"Tomorrow, Li, the Duke of Liaodong, will lead his army back to the capital."
In less than a month, he pacified Shanxi.
"I...I'm really worried that if he comes back, because of that incident a while ago...ah."
He even sighed at the end.
The Empress, of course, knew what he meant.
Of course, it was some time ago when an army took advantage of Li Qin leading his large army away from the capital.
With the capital city undefended, and with the help of an unknown source, they seized the opportunity under the cover of night to break into the capital.
And they almost stormed into the capital.
However, they were eventually driven back and fled to the Taihang Mountains in the west.
Regarding this coup d'état.
Li Qin will definitely investigate when he returns, and who knows how many people will lose their heads to appease his anger.
The empress, who was lying next to Zhu Qizhen, immediately understood what was going on when she saw Zhu Qizhen's condition.
Then she brought her face close to Zhu Qizhen's ear and asked:
"Your Majesty, were you also involved in this coup d'état?"
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Zhu Qizhen, who was lying beside her, was also startled, and then shook his head repeatedly with a look of horror on his face.
Upon seeing Zhu Qizhen's condition, she, who had been empress for decades, immediately realized that the emperor was definitely involved in this matter.
He even knew, otherwise he wouldn't be so terrified.
He is now terrified that this matter will cause Li Qin's anger to be directed at him.
Then the Empress took Zhu Qizhen's hand and said:
"Your Majesty, you are the emperor. Even if Li Qin is arrogant, he is still a subject, at most a powerful minister."
As long as you are still the emperor and he is still his subject, he will not dare to do anything to you.
He still needs Your Majesty.
After hearing the Empress's words, Emperor Zhu Qizhen, who had been extremely worried, felt much more at ease.
However, he was still terrified of Li Qin, who was about to return to the capital.
The next day, outside the capital city.
Zhu Qizhen, dressed in a yellow robe, personally led civil and military officials to the city gates to welcome Li Qin, who was returning in triumph.
Upon seeing Emperor Zhu Qizhen personally leading a hundred officials to greet him, Li Qin immediately dismounted and bowed to Zhu Qizhen, saying:
"Your Majesty, I have lived up to the imperial mandate, quelled the treacherous minister Yang Zhiyong in Taiyuan, and brought all of Shanxi back to the court."
Zhu Qizhen nodded with a smile upon hearing Li Qin's words, and stepped forward to help Li Qin up, saying:
"My dear minister, my dear minister, you are truly a pillar of my great Wu."
He is a pillar of our dynasty.
Although Zhu Qizhen wore a smile, his heart was filled with sorrow.
He believed that Li Qin had eliminated loyal subjects of his Great Wu.
He watched as Li Qin swept away these loyal ministers, but could only offer his congratulations to Li Qin.
At the same time, he was also very afraid that Li Qin would hold him accountable for the previous coup.
After Li Qin stood up, his gaze swept over the assembled officials.
At this moment, none of the civil and military officials dared to meet Li Qin's gaze; instead, they lowered their heads even further.
It could be said that when Li Qin's gaze swept over them, all the officials trembled.
They all knew that a bloody storm was about to break out in the capital.
Everyone hopes not to get it on themselves.
Li Qin, with a smile on his face, walked into the capital with Emperor Zhu Qizhen.
It must be said that although Li Qin did not take Emperor Zhu Qizhen seriously at all.
However, under the watchful eyes of everyone, he still maintained the appearance of a subject.
After completing the formalities in the imperial court, Li Qin immediately returned to his residence.
After Li Qin returned to his residence, his trusted confidants who were responsible for guarding the capital immediately arrived and knelt before him.
Even Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to his residence and knelt before him.
Everyone waited for Li Qin to speak.
Li Qin also put away the triumphant smile he had just worn at court.
He looked at the crowd in front of him with a gloomy expression.
Everyone who saw Li Qin's expression felt a chill run down their spine.
Then Li Qin spoke to them:
"Get up, everyone."
Only after hearing Li Qin's words did they stand up shakily.
Li Qin, however, looked toward Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in the crowd.
"Commander Luo, did your Embroidered Uniform Guard not notice anything at all during this coup?"
Upon hearing Li Qin's words, Luo Yangxing trembled with fear and walked unsteadily to Li Qin's side.
He immediately knelt down at Li Qin's feet and said:
"My lord, I am utterly loyal! I absolutely did not participate in this coup."
At this moment, Luo Yangxing knelt in front of Li Qin, his heart pounding in his chest.
He was terrified that Li Qin had received no reward from the Embroidered Uniform Guard for their role in the coup.
They assumed he was also involved in the rebellion, and thus suppressed the information, deliberately concealing it.
In that case, he would be completely finished. He would probably be the first target of Li Qin's anger this time.
He was dragged out and beheaded.
However, if he were to say that he did not participate in this coup, he would be wrong.
However, as the head of intelligence for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was completely unaware of this rebellion.
This is a serious dereliction of duty and incompetence.
It's fair to say that any choice he made would not have led to a good outcome.
He now needs to prove to Li Qin that he still has value as soon as possible.
"My lord, after the rebellion broke out, I sent people to investigate, and now some officials and their cronies have been arrested."
"Give me one more day, Duke. Tomorrow, I can give you an answer."
After hearing Luo Yangxing's words, Li Qin replied expressionlessly:
"Okay, I'll give you one day. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer tomorrow."
Although Li Qin spoke calmly, without the fury of someone smashing a cup.
But everyone knew that Li Qin was extremely angry about this coup.
Although he appeared calm and did not smash the cup, they knew that in the next moment, he could become the cup and be smashed to death by Li Qin's men.
After Li Qin's gaze swept over them, he waved his hand and said:
"Get out of here. I will decide who is guilty and who is innocent."
Li Qin then waved his hand and ordered most of the people to leave, but he left behind Gu Deyuan, Bo Wengu, and other trusted confidants.
Looking at them, he said, "You did a good job this time. I will reward you handsomely later."
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