Chapter 491: Empire (1/2)
Chapter 491: Empire
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
”I'm not planning to micromanage everything on this trip. I just want to take in the sights. I'll leave the details to my grandson.”
”I understand.” Chi Hou nodded.
As the leader of the Northern Region, he could read between the lines. The fact that someone as respected as him was letting someone else take care of the details...
That said a lot.
As to why Yan Qianli had decided to go to the capital...
It was to assert dominance.
He wanted to help cement the position of the next leader of Western Liang.
He couldn't do so if he was in Western Liang. He had to do it in the capital. Chi Hou was certain that the heir to that position would be confirmed after this trip.
However...
Only Yan Qianli had the answer to why he would follow Yan Xiu all the way to the Northern Mountain Village before going to the capital.
Chi Hou didn't bother with any more guesses. However, he was certain that Yan Qianli's trip to the capital was not as simple as merely taking in the sights.
Could it be that they were going to participate in the battle for the throne?
Or was there something deeper?
Regardless, he had to warn King Duan in advance. If they could have Yan Qianli's support in the fight for the throne, it would give them a huge boost.
...
Over the next three days, Yan Xiu stayed in the Fang Residence and Fang Zhengzhi brought Yan Xiu around.
Yan Qianli never showed himself.
Chi Hou wanted to use these three days to interact with Yan Qianli and understand his thoughts. However, Yan Qianli remained inside the Yan Cloud Cavalry camp.
Yan Qianli didn't even seem to want to meet Fang Zhengzhi.
Three days later, Fang Zhengzhi said his goodbyes and joined Yan Xiu on their journey to the capital. The Red Pinion Squad and Yan Cloud Cavalry followed behind.
Zhang Yangping, Fang Houde, Qin Xuelian, and the other villagers all watched in awe as the convoy left the village.
However...
As ordinary villagers, they couldn't possibly stop them.
”Village elder, do you think Zhengzhi will...”
”No! Chi Hou said that he was here to help Fang Zhengzhi! He will definitely help Fang Zhengzhi get his acquittal!”
”My son...”
”Mother of my son, let's go back. Zhengzhi may be back soon!”
”Nothing will happen to him right?”
”Of course not, definitely not!”
...
Spring was usually a joyous and vibrant time, but the atmosphere in the capital seemed suppressed and down.
Inside the Crown Prince's residence.
Dozens of officials stood outside his study, each one of them visibly anxious.
Inside the study, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong sat behind a desk. He was dressed in a silver robe and he looked at the officials solemnly.
There was a stack of shredded papers on the table. That was an emergency letter that he just received.
”Bloody Divine Constabulary... how dare you go against me so openly?! What do you think I should do?!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's hand swept across the table and his teacup shattered on the floor.
The officials shook their heads when they saw this.
”Your Highness, Chi Hou has always been King Duan's right-hand man. It is no surprise that he would bring Fang Zhengzhi to the capital.” One of the officials spoke up.
”Yes, the problem now isn't the Divine Constabulary, it's the Yan Family of Western Liang...” Another official spoke up, his eyes glittering.
”We never expected that the Yan King... Yan Qianli would leave Western Liang for this. This makes an ambush along the way quite impossible.”
”Yes, fighting 2000 soldiers of the Red Pinion Squad is difficult enough. If we want to go against that and an additional 3000 Yan Cloud Cavalry, we will need to tap on the army! However, King Duan still controls most of the army! It will be difficult to do anything without revealing ourselves!”
”The Emperor may even welcome Yan Qianli at the gates of the palace. If he does so, it'll make things even more difficult for us.”
”Do you think that Fang Zhengzhi would dare to tell his side of the story when he meets the Emperor?”
”With his character, I wouldn't put it past him to say anything. If anything he says gets out, it could be detrimental to your cause.”
”We must not let him enter the city!”
”Everyone, you are all thinking too much!” A voice rang out and the Minister of Law, Wan Chong, stood up. ”Actually, we have already passed judgment on Fang Zhengzhi's case. We have also issued a warrant for his arrest. The Emperor cannot simply pardon him just because the Divine Constabulary asked for it. Unless new evidence comes to light, the case will remain solid. The Crown Prince need not worry!”
”Official Wan is correct, we should remain calm and not act rashly!”
”Indeed, indeed!”
All of the officials expressed their agreement.
At that very moment, a middle-aged man in Ministry of Rites robes stood up. He straightened his robe and bowed to the Crown Prince.
”There is one other thing that I need to report. I have news that the Queen of the Southern Region is making a trip to the capital. I was wondering... if this had anything to do with Fang Zhengzhi?”
”...”
Silence. The officials looked at each other and stopped their discussions. There were too many things happening at once.
Starting with Fang Zhengzhi showing himself at Huai An County.
Then, everything had happened so quickly from that moment on that they had no time to catch their breath.
Was it a coincidence? Or had it been planned beforehand? No one could say for sure, but they all felt that everything was just a tad too coincidental.
Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping rapped his fingers against the armrest as he looked at the officials and a kneeling soldier.
”Did our intel say what Yan Qianli did in the Northern Mountain Village?” Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping queried.
”Prime Minister, he did not show himself in the Northern Mountain Village.” The soldier reported.
”He didn't show himself? Then how do you know that Yan Qianli is coming to the capital with Fang Zhengzhi?” Yu Yiping frowned.