Chapter 1213: A Just Cause (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"The people around her? Isn't this just paying lip service while secretly disobeying?"
To assassinate someone without Mei Meng's consent, regardless of whether the initial intention was for Mei Meng's benefit or to use Mei Meng's name for personal gain, is seen by outsiders as Mei Meng's doing, essentially forcing someone into a situation. This behavior, in severe cases, constitutes betrayal.
Shen Tang sneered: "Aren't there plenty of cases of people paying lip service while secretly going against orders?"
"Some people are too clever for their own good, trying to figure out what the other party wants, thinking they're doing what the other party truly desires. If they're right, then both sides will naturally agree, but what if they're wrong? Mei Jinghe helped a neglected princess, reduced to a power struggle between her father and brothers, rise to become the ruler of Qi Kingdom. Do you think she did it all by herself? In the beginning, starting from scratch, there might have just been the two of them, the ruler and his minister, and everything could be discussed and decided, which was simple. But as she gained more power, she also gained more people."
Liao Qian sensed a hint of emotion and wistfulness in these words.
He said, "Having more people is a good thing."
Shen Tang disagreed: "Many hands make light work. If we can work together and put our efforts in the same direction, that's naturally a good thing. But everyone has selfish motives, interests, ideas, and stances... Everyone has different demands, which will inevitably lead to conflicts. Mei Jinghe assists the king out of her own desires, but are those who follow her also driven by the same desires? The idea that 'love conquers all' only exists in stories. There are always people who need to support their families and pursue fame and fortune. Mei Jinghe lost power, and she could remain indifferent. Can those who depend on her do the same?"
Mei Meng disdained to assassinate, but what about the others?
Even the most authoritative leader can't make every sheep obey; there will always be some who do things their own way. Shen Tang hadn't felt this deeply before, but with the establishment of the Kang Kingdom and the increase in the number of royal court and local officials, similar incidents became commonplace.
How many cases of corruption and dereliction of duty have been uncovered by the Censorate and the Censorate?
When has Shen Tang ever failed to kill anyone?
Each crackdown only has a temporary deterrent effect. Once the heat dies down, others will find another way to exploit loopholes. Do they not know that getting caught will result in a devastating loss for their entire family? Or even a group purchase of a one-way trip to the underworld? These people know all this, but they still dare to do it!
Some of them were even ones she had high hopes for and had high expectations for.
Was she blind at the time?
Or is it that people's hearts are fickle?
Shen Tang has now changed her mindset.
Anyway, their necks aren't as tough as my guillotine.
As long as I'm alive, I'll capture and kill anyone I can!
"Aren't you afraid of being held accountable if things come to light?" In Liao Qian's impression, Ms. Mei was no pushover and had a ruthless approach to things.
"Hold her accountable? No way. She'll have to suffer in silence this time."
Not only do they have to swallow their anger, but they also have to accept the blame.
If Mei Meng loses power, and severely reprimands her subordinates for acting on their own initiative, will they be without complaint? Won't others harbor resentment? Once these people become dissatisfied and disperse, it will be difficult for Mei Meng to regain power. Even if she does manage to make a comeback, her power will not be what it once was.
“There are exceptions. If she is confident that she can recover in a short time, then the person who took it upon themselves to do so will be in big trouble.”
There is a very high probability that Mei Meng will make an example of him to deter others and establish her authority.
Liao Qian: "..."
That's why he could never feel close to Shen Tang. He always felt that with his limited abilities, he'd be sold off one day and still be foolishly counting money for her. He wouldn't even know when he was being schemed against. Only the person who borrowed his identity could tolerate it.
Mei Jinghe was indeed in a bit of a mess right now.
Anger surged through my chest.
Since the demotion order was issued, Mei Meng, contrary to her usual behavior, neither argued nor protested. She quietly accepted the decree and remained secluded for several days, ordering her steward to pack her belongings and prepare for her new post. This lack of response, contrary to much outside speculation, left many puzzled.
result--
The people below her caused such a big mess!
What infuriated her even more was the assassination attempt, which she had learned about through the Gods Society branch! She immediately summoned the man to confront him, expecting him to show remorse and guilt, but to her surprise, he was completely self-righteous and showed no remorse whatsoever.
The two even argued for a while.
He claimed to be concerned for Mei Meng's future, yet every word he uttered betrayed his own selfish motives, and he harbored resentment towards Mei Meng's questioning. Finally, Mei Meng could only manage a cold laugh: "...And do you even know that the assassin you hired has failed?"
He was terrified, his pupils filled with horror.
"How...how is this possible?"
He was absolutely certain of success in this assassination attempt.
He knew he couldn't carry out an assassination under his real name, and he also knew his target was highly skilled in combat, having survived multiple assassination attempts before. Taking him down would require a special assassin. This assassin was originally a tool used by the Eternal Life Cult's higher-ups to eliminate dissidents, and had also done many unsavory things for powerful families, never failing before.
Due to his special abilities, he also has a place in the Southwest Branch. He is not well-known outside the industry, but he is a formidable figure within the circle.
This person actually failed?
"Why is it impossible? There are countless hidden talents in the world! You underestimate the heroes of the world! If you could calculate everything perfectly and do whatever you wanted, not only the southwest, but the whole world could fall into Qi Guo's hands, instead of being restrained everywhere like we are now!"
"It is true that I did not consider things carefully... but I have a heart full of love for you. I think that you have served the king wholeheartedly, which is why she has such a high position today. Now she wants to discard you after you have served your purpose. You may not feel wronged, but I cannot stand by and watch!" After learning that the assassination attempt had failed, his arrogance had subsided considerably, and a hint of fear had arisen in his heart. Even his voice was not as strong as before.
A ruthless person who could escape unscathed from such an assassination attempt—wouldn't they investigate who orchestrated it afterward? Wouldn't they seek revenge later? The thought sent a chill down his spine. But he never imagined—he wouldn't die at Shen Tang's hands, but in front of Mei Meng. A cracking sound of bones dislocating echoed in his neck, and pain shot through his brain as the world seemed to turn upside down.
"Why...why—"
He died with his eyes wide open, still wanting to question Mei Meng before he died.
Mei Meng's red lips parted slightly, a mocking and cold glint in her eyes, as if to say, "Naturally, it's because you betrayed me!"
Looking at the corpse lying on the ground like a dead pig with disgust, Qi Cang shook his right hand: "I'll kill this man for you, but I'm not responsible for burying him, nor for the trouble he'll cause after his death. Mei Jinghe, if you ask me, it wouldn't have been so bad to keep him alive—"
Qi Cang wasn't one to tolerate injustice. He even felt that as long as the benefits were sufficient, the unfortunate fellow on the ground wasn't necessarily worth keeping alive, as long as he could do things for him. The stains that Mei Meng cared about were nothing to Qi Cang!
In comparison, the king's behavior pleased him more.
Cold-blooded, ruthless, and selfish, she can turn on people who are of little use to her... even if that person is Mei Meng!
Mei Meng pulled a piece of cloth over the man's unfocused and lifeless eyes: "Keep him? Keep him to take my life later? I can see more clearly than you how much loyalty he has and how much selfishness he has."
This person absolutely cannot be allowed to live.
Qi Cang curled his lip, unconcerned.
During this period of seclusion, Mei Meng, despite having relieved himself of heavy political duties, looked even more haggard and tired, all because of a thorny matter that urgently needed to be resolved—a matter that was also the fuse that led to Cui Hui's imprisonment—the theft of a confidential letter!
The contents of the letter are deadly!
This is a troop deployment map!
The document contains detailed records of Qi State's upcoming military plans, as well as the deployment of its own troops and the location of its granaries. If leaked to the wrong person, it will inevitably bring great trouble to Qi State!
In more serious cases, it could even shake the very foundations of the nation!
Upon discovering this, Mei Meng immediately scrapped the entire original plan and placed all those involved under close surveillance to minimize the losses. The king was furious and, unusually, showed genuine anger towards Mei Meng.
【Mei Jinghe, do you know what you're doing? How could something so important be lost so mysteriously? It's good that it's discovered now. If it had been discovered after the army had set out and the soldiers were fighting on the front lines, how many lives would have been lost years later?】
If the State of Qi were to perish, would she, as its ruler, still be alive?
Mei Meng was ordered to resolve the issue within a specified period.
If the mastermind behind this is not brought to justice, the Qi state will never have peace of mind again!
Mei Meng devoted herself to this cause, neglecting to eat and sleep.
The investigation is planned to start from the source. Many people know of the letter's existence, mostly high-ranking officials in the Qi Kingdom, closely connected to its fate. Theoretically, it shouldn't be them, but Mei Meng dares not let her guard down. Until the dust settles, everyone is a suspect!
The investigation revealed a far-reaching and chillingly extensive network involved!
The Cui family and several other prominent families are the prime suspects. Cui Zhi used his ex-wife Cui Hui as a cover to amass troops and build up his strength, clearly harboring rebellious intentions. This Cui Hui was no ordinary, weak woman; she played a pivotal role in this affair.
Mei Meng arrested and detained her, intending to test and warn Cui Zhi.
Judging from Cui's actions over the years, there is still room for negotiation between the two sides. These are turbulent times; why risk a lose-lose situation?
If an agreement can be reached, those past issues can be forgiven.
Who would have thought that Cui Hui nearly lost his life; the Cui family used this as an excuse to make exorbitant demands; military officers who were close to the Cui family took advantage of the situation to make exorbitant demands, deliberately making things difficult, and listing Mei Meng's major crimes; the granaries at the front line, which had not yet been transferred, caught fire unexpectedly on the eve of the transfer, but it was discovered in time and no irreparable damage was caused...
These effects were all coincidentally contained to the level of "skin and flesh wounds," seemingly without having a disruptive effect on the overall situation, but they all acted as silent threats, threatening Mei Meng's true backer—the king.
Mei Meng has been targeted repeatedly over the past two years. At first, he thought it was political enemies stirring up trouble, but after more confrontations, he realized that this person was much more cunning than he had imagined. The king initially believed Mei Meng's words, but as time went on, under the influence of the frequent slander from the villains around him, he couldn't help but think that this was a lie by Mei Meng to use others to kill and eliminate dissidents.
Once doubt takes root, trust crumbles.
The rift between the two sides has widened to the point of mutual distrust.
When Mei Meng submitted the evidence she had gathered, the result chilled her to the bone: [A fire broke out last night, and the side hall was burned down.]
[A fire? What a coincidence?]
Mei Meng didn't need to guess to know what had been burned.
She even knew who set the fire.
[The weather has been dry lately, with frequent thunderstorms, making fires a common occurrence. The negligent eunuch has been punished.] The king, avoiding the sharp, unsettling gaze that Mei Meng could slash through, revealing the vulnerable beneath, said, [Jing He, this matter will be discussed later.]
[Just a eunuch?]
Mei Meng refused to accept this awkward offer.
The king was immediately enraged and ashamed.
Having worked together for many years, they had a tacit understanding. How could she not hear the sarcasm in Mei Meng's words? She was mocking her for being afraid because so many people were implicated, enough to threaten her current position, and that's why she didn't hesitate to burn all the evidence Mei Meng presented!
【Mei Jinghe, is this how you think of me?】
The queen leaned closer, her eyes blazing with a murderous fire. She showed no mercy to Mei Meng, shoving a stack of things in front of her: "Then look at all this!"
Did Mr. Cui really do what you said?
Mei Meng's pupils trembled as she read the contents.
The information above was almost entirely contrary to what she had found. Not only was Cui Shi not a suspect, but even Cui Hui posed no threat as she had imagined. The king said, "I'm covering for you... This isn't the first time, but I hope it's the last..."
Mei Mengdao: [This one is fake.]
"I know, but is what you've given me necessarily true?" the king blurted out. "The Cui family can't prove their innocence, but you can? Jinghe, I am not your puppet for power."
This is the second time he's said this; the third time is the limit!
Mei Meng was demoted, and the king tried his best to repair relations with the Cui family.
This unsolved case left behind a mess and many unanswered questions.
The king stopped investigating, but Mei Meng could not stop.
She had to find out who stole the secret scroll and where it was now. As for You Bao, who replaced her as the king's confidant, and Shen Zhongli, whom the king had been actively courting and promoting, they were secondary. Her subordinates' double-dealing and assassination attempts had caused Mei Meng considerable trouble, further solidifying the king's accusations of her eliminating dissidents and abusing her power.
Where did that secret go?
Hey, it naturally ended up in the wrong hands.
The Qi state wanted to expand outwards, and naturally there would be unfortunate ones who would be annexed. When these unfortunate ones learned that they were about to be captured, how could they just surrender and wait for their deaths? Naturally, they would ask for help.
Kangguo, the royal court.
Shen Tang watched the prey that had come seeking help with great interest.
Finally connected to the network, it was worth the long wait.
"I've heard that the southwestern kingdoms have formed an alliance. Weren't they quite united a few years ago?" Shen Tang's tone was sarcastic. Back then, Kang Kingdom was caught in a two-front war, and the southwestern kingdoms even joined forces to launch a surprise attack on Kang Kingdom's border. If Kang Kingdom hadn't been quick enough to annihilate its enemies, the southwestern kingdoms' alliance would have also joined forces to get a share of the spoils. The two sides have a grudge!
A small southwestern country actually came to Kangguo for help?
It's somewhat comical.
The envoy from the small country seeking help was shameless, showing no qualms about this past event, and even spouting nonsense about Shen Tang's magnanimity. In truth, seeking help from Kang was a desperate measure; the alliance of southwestern states was already defunct, and several countries stronger than the small one were also on the verge of collapse. Qi's ambitions were obvious to all. Trying to stop them by banding together with the weak was useless!
There was only one powerful neighboring country, Kang.
Even knowing they would be given a hard time, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and do it.
Small countries are willing to become vassal states in exchange for their own survival.
Shen Tang said, "I have not received any news of Qi State's military action. You came to my door asking for help. How do you know that you were not in cahoots all along?"
The envoy was clearly prepared and produced evidence.
A letter.
The volume that Mei Jinghe looked very familiar with.
|ω`)
Today I went to climb Mount Li and bought a round-trip cable car ticket. I almost couldn't get down because I missed the last cable car (it ends at 5:50, and I missed it at 6 o'clock). I had to pay a private car to take me down.
I took a guided tour of Huaqing Palace during the day. Two things really stood out to me: the many bathing pools and the story of Chiang Kai-shek, at the age of 49, escaping to a rock crevice halfway up Mount Li in just 15 minutes. The guide even mentioned it more than once, and the black guy next to me who was eavesdropping couldn't help but comment that he couldn't even do that at 31. Chiang Kai-shek must have had a knack for staying healthy...
(End of this chapter)
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