On the way back, seeing the serious look in Chi Yan's eyes, Shen Tangning pondered for a long time but still couldn't help herself:
"What's wrong? What did His Majesty say to you? Is it related to the Eldest Princess?"
Chi Yan met her concerned gaze, but the words that were on the tip of his tongue just wouldn't come out.
His Majesty ordered him to target the powerful families, and the Xie family was the first to be targeted. After all, as the head of the powerful families, there was no more effective way to make an example of them than to kill the chicken to scare the monkey.
Knowing how much effort Shen Tangning had put into protecting the Xie family, His Majesty now wanted him to be the one to use this knife against her closest relatives.
How should he bring this up with her?
He opened his mouth, hesitated several times, but swallowed his words back and quickly lowered his eyes: "It's nothing, I just asked me how to deal with the Princess."
He suddenly dared not guess how she might react.
If he really did that, what would she think of him?
A petty person who forgets gratitude for power?
But if he doesn't act, a sword called "imperial power" hangs over his head, ready to fall at any moment.
Moreover, Chi Yan was well aware that the dismantling of the powerful families' influence was only a matter of time. No emperor would tolerate the loss of power, and even if the crown prince ascended the throne in the future, he would still face such a choice.
Tang Ning may not be unaware of this principle, but as someone directly involved, how could she calmly watch the Xie family decline?
Not to mention, the person wielding the knife was her bedmate.
Shen Tangning, unsuspecting, asked, "Then what conclusion has been reached? What are His Majesty's plans?"
"It's hard to say, as His Majesty has not expressed a clear attitude."
Her expression relaxed slightly: "No news is actually good news. Now we can only try to buy time and wait for Jiang Zhijing's situation..."
*
"Your Highness, the Princess's residence is heavily guarded, and the Emperor's spies are everywhere," Yin Fang said in a low voice with a cold face. "Putting everything else aside, I've already tested the food for poison for two days in a row! This shows the sinister intentions of the person behind this!"
She looked around and wrote the character "潜" (qián, meaning "stealth" or "hidden") on the table. "Should I send someone to make contact...?"
Yan Mingyi raised her eyes and chuckled lightly: "If my good brother really wanted to make a move, would he need to go through all this trouble? Killing me would be as simple as a word from him." Her eyes darkened. "He's forcing me to lose my composure."
A ruthless glint flashed in Yin Fang's eyes as she gritted her teeth: "If all else fails, we'll force a coup!"
"Silly girl." Yan Mingyi's lips curved into a helpless smile. "How many Imperial Guards are there, and how many of us are there?"
Her Qianlin Guard only numbered around 20,000, and although each of them was an elite force, they were no match for the overwhelming numbers.
There are 30,000 Imperial Guards stationed in the capital, and not far from Yanjing, there is the Shenwu Camp with nearly 50,000 troops. How easy would it be to force the emperor to abdicate?
“Since they’ve followed me, I have to take responsibility for them.”
Unless absolutely necessary, Yan Mingyi would never allow the Qianlin Guard to be put in danger; this was the last thing her father left her.
This is also why she was imprisoned in Putuo Temple for more than ten years, and despite having countless opportunities to escape, she never took any action.
If they escape, they will have to live a life of hiding, fear, and being hunted down.
The name "Mingyi" carries too many of her father's expectations for her. She must be rightfully entitled to the title and make her good brother, the emperor, completely convinced.
*
It was late at night, but the candles in the study were still burning.
Shen Tangning pushed open the door and entered, carrying a bowl of bird's nest soup.
Chi Yan was resting her head on her hand, deep in thought, when she heard the sound and looked over in surprise, instinctively hiding the things in front of her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
