Chapter 139 Taking Over the Xiao Family Army
The capital city, the imperial palace, and the Zhengde Hall.
This morning at court, the imperial court once again engaged in heated debate over the matter of taking over the Xiao family army.
The Prime Minister of Qin supported the Crown Prince, arguing that as the heir apparent, the Crown Prince needed to gain experience.
The Duke of England supported the second prince because he was both a scholar and a warrior, and had experience leading troops to quell rebellions, making him the most suitable candidate.
Supporters of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince also offered their advice, leading to a heated and contentious debate.
The emperor was exasperated and ordered the eunuchs to adjourn the court and discuss the matter again at a later date, but he was inclined to favor the crown prince.
The Crown Prince is the heir apparent. If the Second Prince were to take over the Xiao family army, and he harbored other intentions, the court would be in turmoil. He did not want to see his sons kill each other.
The Emperor's favoritism towards the Crown Prince made many people feel that the Second Prince had little chance of winning.
The eunuch announced the end of the court session, and the court officials filed out, forming two lines.
Leading the procession were the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, followed by the ministers, dressed in vermilion, crimson, blue, and green official robes, holding ivory tablets, with jade belts around their waists. Their robes fluttered with their steps, their features were striking, and their demeanor was solemn and dignified.
The Crown Prince, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and gave the Second Prince a victorious smile. "Second Brother, you've conceded to me."
Seeing the gloom between the Second Prince's brows, the corners of her lips curved into a deeper smile, and she patted his shoulder.
The Second Prince casually brushed the hand resting on his shoulder and said, "Crown Prince, Father hasn't even said that you'll take over the Xiao Family Army yet. Isn't it too early to say you're yielding the position?"
The Crown Prince slowly lowered his hands, folding them in front of him. His smile was undisguised as he shrugged and raised an eyebrow, saying, "It's not early. It's a done deal."
After saying this, he led Prime Minister Qin and a group of ministers away, each of them standing tall and straight, like victorious soldiers returning from a battle.
The second prince stared at his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips. His eyes narrowed, and the gloom between his brows vanished, replaced by mockery. He muttered in a low voice, "Be smug, huh? Let's see how long you can keep it up."
The Prime Minister's Residence.
Madam Qin, accompanied by a group of servants, waited at the door for her youngest daughter to return. Qin Yurong was her youngest child, whom she had pampered since childhood. This was the first time she had been away from her for more than a month, and she longed for her return every day, worrying that she wasn't eating or sleeping well while away.
She had only three children. Her eldest son had died, her eldest daughter was in the palace and she could only see her a few times a year. Her youngest daughter was her only remaining thought.
I waited in the front hall for two hours, but still no one came. I drank two pots of tea.
Madam Qin's right eye kept twitching, and she had a feeling that something bad was going to happen today. "Send a few guards to the city gate to meet them. If they don't see them before noon, go directly to Weishi County."
"Yes!" Just as the personal maid was about to go and make arrangements, Madam Qin picked up a cup of tea and brought it to her lips when suddenly a servant's voice came from outside the door, "Madam, something bad has happened, something has gone wrong."
Madam Qin's hand holding the teacup trembled, and the tea spilled onto the table with a loud crash!
The cup lid slipped off, hit the ground, and shattered into pieces.
The old woman gestured to the two maids to clean up the broken pieces and the table, then scolded the servant, "What happened? Why are you making such a fuss? Today is the day the second young lady returns, and the madam is in a good mood. What's wrong with what you said? Do you believe I'll drag you out and give you a beating?"
servant boy, "Second Miss, Second Miss, she...she's dead."
Madam Qin stood up abruptly, her eyes wide with anxiety. "Dead? Rong'er was in Weishi County, and the magistrate was Master's man. Who killed Rong'er? What exactly happened?"
"It seems that the second young lady went to some bandit's den and was killed."
Madam Qin: "Which bandit's den? How could Rong'er have gone to such a place? What are the servants doing? Where is that damned Qin Feng? Why didn't he protect my Rong'er?"
There is Qingfeng Village a few dozen miles away from Weishi County. Qingfeng Village is also under their master's control. Who would dare to touch her Rong'er?
The servant, who had been staying in the mansion and knew nothing, came in to report when he saw Qin Yurong's body. When Madam Qin asked him anything, he shook his head vigorously, saying, "Madam, I don't know anything, I know nothing..."
From the Qin Gate came the wailing of Granny Qin, followed by several servants carrying two corpses covered with white sheets. The Madam had just lost her temper.
"Madam, the second young lady and the second son-in-law died tragically. You must avenge them!"
Her only son, Qin Feng, also died. She cried for hours and fainted several times in the carriage, needing her maid to help her down.
"I received a letter from Rong'er the day before yesterday, saying she was going back to the capital. She'll be back today, so how could Rong'er be dead? I don't believe a single word you're saying!" Madam Qin swept the teacups and teapot off the table like a madwoman, "Bang!"
It wasn't until the servant carried Qin Yurong's body outside the hall that this continued.
This scene seemed familiar. A few months ago, the eldest son was also carried back, covered with a white sheet, and then he was lying in a coffin.
"Rong'er...no, it can't be my Rong'er." Madam Qin's body went limp, and she had to hold onto the table to stand up before her maid helped her out.
With bloodshot eyes, Madam Qin roared at Granny Qin, "What exactly happened? Who killed my Rong'er? I will tear her to pieces!"
Granny Qin shook her head, "This old servant doesn't know who killed them. I only know that the people from Qingfeng Village intercepted the exiles and brought them up the mountain. The Second Miss wanted to ask them for someone, so she took Qin Feng and a few guards up the mountain and told this old servant and the others to wait at the foot of the mountain. This old servant didn't wait for them, so when she went up the mountain to look for them, she found their bodies..."
All they saw were corpses scattered on the ground; the murderer had long since vanished.
Madam Qin stumbled over and lifted the white sheet to see Qin Yurong, who was deathly pale with a hint of blue. Her body was already stiff. She raised her hand to check her breath, but there was no life. She was dead, truly dead.
"Ah! Rong'er, my Rong'er, your mother has been longing for your return day and night. How can you bear to let your mother, an old woman, bury her young son, just like your elder brother? Rong'er, ah..."
Madam Qin clutched her daughter's upper body and wailed in agony. Overwhelmed with grief, she fainted.
The servants helped her up, and the old woman shouted, "Madam, Madam, someone come quickly and fetch a doctor..."
Prime Minister Qin returned to the courtyard of the Prime Minister's residence in a sedan chair, and heard the maid shouting, "What's going on?"
"Master, master, the second young lady has been murdered."
"Who the hell killed him?"
When Prime Minister Qin learned that Qingfeng Village had been destroyed, his heart skipped a beat. He had a feeling that something bad was going to happen, so he immediately sent people to find out what had happened.
The Second Prince's Residence.
As soon as the Second Prince returned to his residence, the steward reported that someone had thrown evidence of the collusion between Prime Minister Qin and Qingfeng Village into his study.
With evidence to bring down Prime Minister Qin, it would be tantamount to cutting off the Crown Prince's arm, and the Xiao family army would surely be his.
The Second Prince looked at the evidence with excitement. "Great! I originally thought it would take a lot of effort to get the evidence of Prime Minister Qin's collusion with Jingguo, but now it's come to me effortlessly! Heaven is on my side! Heaven is on my side! Hahaha!!!"
A dark glint flashed in Wanyan Zonglie's eyes as he stood to the side. "I would like to offer my congratulations in advance to the Second Prince on his successful takeover of the Xiao Family Army!"
The Second Prince said, "From now on, there will be no Xiao Family Army, only my Hebei Army."
At this moment, a guard came in and whispered something in his ear.
The second prince asked in confusion, "Xiao Xuance? Wasn't his martial arts crippled? How could he have killed those bandits from Qingfeng Village all by himself?"
I've heard that some of the leaders of Qingfeng Village are capable of taking on ten men each.
Qingfeng Village was easy to defend and difficult to attack. The government sent troops to suppress the bandits many times, but all their efforts were in vain. Even with Prime Minister Qin secretly protecting them, they would have been wiped out long ago if they didn't have some strength.
"The letter said it was related to Princess Zhaoxue, who used her beauty to drug the wine."
Wanyan Zonglie raised his hand to touch the wound on his arm; she was indeed very special.
They had a feeling that they would meet again.
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