Ling Feng nodded repeatedly: "Master is right. Being in a high position naturally invites jealousy. It’s difficult to settle all the past disputes and enemies. It’s really hard to get out of the situation at this time. With no real power in hand, who knows how many old enemies will take advantage of the situation? Master’s foresight has not gone to waste."
Now that the Emperor had such a strong suspicion of Mu Houchu, how could he turn danger into safety without handing over all his power? But if he really did hand it over, not only would it be extremely dangerous, but who could be willing to let go of such great power?
Luckily, Mu Houchu had cultivated many capable officials in the Imperial Court over the years, who kept low-key and seemingly had no relationship with him. They were actually talents nurtured by him for a day like this.
Since Emperor was played by Old Man Chen this time, he would certainly not trust the Chen family anymore, nor the Shen family, nor Mu Houchu, who was too powerful to make the Emperor fearful. The Emperor would definitely want to disperse Mu Houchu’s power and hand it over to the still-rising capable officials in the Imperial Court, nurturing his own left and right arms. In this way, those low-key talents would be put to use.
Mu Houchu spoke softly, "You go back to Mansion first and find the list of court officials that I have hidden in the dark. I will return to the Mansion tomorrow morning and deal with it personally."
Ling Feng hesitated, "Master will not return to Mansion?"
Mu Houchu mounted his horse: "Yes."
He immediately sped away.
It took Ling Feng quite a while to suddenly remember something. He slapped himself on the mouth, "I’m so stupid. The madam hasn’t returned yet. How can Master go back?"
——
When Mu Houchu returned to the medicated spring, the sky was still dark, but the light of dawn was faintly visible.
Xin He, who was tired yesterday, slept extremely soundly. Even when Mu Houchu returned now, she was still sleeping.
Mu Houchu gently entered the room, looking at her peaceful sleeping face on the bed, the corners of his lips slightly curling up. Although he hadn’t slept all night, he didn’t feel sleepy at all. It was a rare moment of peace, and he couldn’t bear to sleep.
He got into bed, eventually holding her in his arms, touching her face, and whispering, "You’re always afraid that I won’t be content, and you always feel that it’s not worth it for me to give up everything for you. You don’t know how happy I am because I have you."
Xin He briefly opened her mouth, muttered something, then turned over and snuggled more tightly into his arms. She seemed to have found a comfortable spot and fell into another deep sleep.
The corner of Mu Houchu’s lips curled up, and he helplessly smiled.
——
When the sky brightened, the capital city was in turmoil.
Because the imperial guard had stormed into Old Man Chen’s mansion and confiscated his property.
"What’s going on? Wasn’t it said that Lady Li from Le Yuanhou’s Mansion hurt Consort Guifei yesterday? Old Man Chen was ordered to arrest her. How is it that today, the imperial guard didn’t go to confiscate Le Yuanhou’s Mansion but went to Old Man Chen’s instead?"
"Indeed! I find this very strange. Could there be a change in the situation?"
"There must be a change! Would the Emperor arrest people without reason? In my opinion, there might be something fishy about yesterday’s incident! Otherwise, why is Le Yuanhou’s Mansion still safe and sound, while Old Man Chen’s Mansion suffers instead?"
Common people knew nothing about the power struggle, but they still discussed the situation lively, even just from the appearance, it indeed resembled a grand drama.
Old Man Chen was waiting happily this morning for the Emperor’s rewards, but instead of receiving rewards, he got a fright. The imperial guard stormed into his mansion, scaring him nearly out of his wits.
"You, you have the audacity to break into my mansion! Do you want to die?!" Old Man Chen exclaimed in a rage.
The leading imperial guard sneered, "Do you think we’d dare to defy the Imperial Decree otherwise? Look carefully! The Emperor personally ordered the arrest of the traitor!"
Chen Dezong trembled at the imperial guard’s attitude, trying to suppress his fear, questioning, "What kind of traitor am I? Weren’t things different yesterday?"
About yesterday’s incident, it had already happened. Today, this became Chen Dezong’s reality. "You asked me what crimes you committed? Alright, let me tell you! Traitor Chen Dezong colluded with Gongsun Yi, leaked the defense layout map, and even framed the imperial guard! This is the first crime! The second is deceiving the Emperor, framing Mu Xiang! The third is that you sent someone to assassinate Concubine Shen and framed Eldest Miss Li Xinhe of Le Yuanhou Mansion! Now, Chen Dezong, count how many times can you die for these crimes?!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Dezong stumbled to the ground, his face pale and extremely ugly, "How, how is this possible?"
"Ha! This is all true! Don’t think about turning things around, Old Man Chen! Seize him!"
Chen Dezong stared in disbelief at the unfolding situation. How were these two crimes discovered? The last item baffles him the most. How could he be accused of plotting against Concubine Shen when it was clearly the Emperor’s scheme? As for Li Xinhe, she was indeed the one who killed Concubine Shen! How did he become the criminal in all this?
These three capital crimes not only cleared Mu Houchu and Li Xinhe of any allegations but also exposed all of Chen Dezong’s wrongdoings.
However, Chen Dezong had no opportunity to argue back. The imperial guard, furious with him because of Gongsun Yi’s previous incident, didn’t leave him any dignity, taking him away and confiscating everything in his mansion.
For a while, the whole capital city was buzzing and chaotic.
Only in the remote mountains and forests, everything remained as quiet as ever.
In the morning, apart from a few birds chirping, there was almost no sound. Xin He slept very sweetly, so tired from yesterday that she slept until late in the morning.
When she finally woke up, she was shocked to see how late it was and to take in the bright sun outside the window. She squinted her eyes and rubbed them.
"Awake?"
"Yes." Xin He turned over and then suddenly gasped, feeling as if all the bones in her body were aching.
"What’s the matter?" Mu Houchu asked in concern.
Xin He glared at him: "What do you think? It’s all your fault!"
Mu Houchu touched his nose, feeling a little helpless: "I’m sorry, I wasn’t considerate enough yesterday."
How long would this stubborn girl hold a grudge over this?
Xin He propped herself up, looked at the sun outside, and exclaimed, "Oh, it’s so late, but everything outside ..."
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