Chapter 7
The purpose of Qi Junmu's trip out of the palace was to make his intentions clear to Shen Nian and, at the same time, confirm Shen Nian's reaction and attitude. Compared to that, he didn't care at all about how Shen Nian handled his family affairs.
He had given all the face that was due. Whatever Shen Nian wanted to do next was Shen Nian's own business.
Qi Junmu only wanted one outcome: he wanted Shen Nian to become a blade in his hand. If Shen Nian agreed, everything would be fine. If not, that was also fine—he could find someone else to be that blade.
It was just that Qi Junmu rather liked Shen Nian's intelligence and the hidden madness in his bones. Finding someone else might not yield the same results. Besides, as everyone knew, standing before the emperor and pointing a blade at others was not an easy job.
People in such a position typically held high rank and great power, enjoyed boundless favor, and yet bore great risks. They were used by the emperor, fawned over by others, and if someone failed to curry favor, they would scheme against them instead. Such people were easily hated, became the target of everyone's eyes, and worst of all, often did not meet a good end.
Qi Junmu did not absolutely need Shen Nian. The reason he hadn't revealed his identity on the spot was to give Shen Nian a brief moment to think. Once that moment passed, regardless of what Shen Nian thought, Qi Junmu would put him directly over the fire and roast him.
Whether what he had attracted was a wolf or a dog—only time would tell.
In truth, Qi Junmu was quite confident that Shen Nian would agree. A man sought glory and built a career; as for someone truly free of all desires, he had only ever read about such a person in books. He didn't believe that Shen Nian had completely let go of the North Frontier. Shen Nian had lived there for over a decade, protected its people for over a decade, and the scars on his body had all been left there during his time fighting on the North Frontier.
The North Frontier could be called the homeland that Shen Nian carried in his heart.
If he hadn't been forced to, in his previous life Shen Nian would surely have been willing to return to the North Frontier to guard the border, rather than abandoning everything and leaving the capital in despair, his fate ultimately unknown.
Thinking of this, Qi Junmu was in an excellent mood. A subject with Shen Nian's temperament—others might see him as somewhat rebellious, but Qi Junmu liked him very much. In his previous life, aside from wanting the military power in Shen Nian's hands, he had never forced Shen Nian to do anything. Of course, he had still given him due trust while maintaining necessary caution.
It was precisely because of this, combined with the troubles in his own family, that Shen Nian had finally left the capital altogether.
But Qi Junmu's good mood lasted only until he reached Zhuque Street before it vanished. Zhuque Street was still some distance from the palace when they ran into the Imperial Guards sent from the palace to find him.
These Imperial Guards came in two groups, running separately and clearly distinct. One group was led by Qi Junzhuo—not many, just a small squad, all in plain clothes, though the clothes seemed hastily changed, some not fitting well.
The other group was led by Yang Jinglei, Left Commander of the Imperial Guard, with several squads of men in full Imperial Guard uniform, riding tall horses, looking very formidable and grand.
Qi Junzhuo and Yang Jinglei spotted Ruan Jiqing. Feeling relieved, they whipped their horses forward. Yang Jinglei arrived a step ahead of Qi Junzhuo and spoke first: "Eunuch Ruan, is His Majesty inside?"
Ruan Jiqing hurriedly replied: "His Majesty is inside."
Qi Junzhuo and Yang Jinglei dismounted and went to pay their respects to the emperor. Qi Junmu was in a bad mood and didn't even lift the carriage curtain. His tone was slightly cold: "Return to the palace."
The carriage moved very slowly. Qi Junmu had Hu Ze clear the way on both sides and summoned Qi Junzhuo to the carriage to ask: "What is this about?"
Qi Junzhuo bowed slightly from horseback and said quietly: "As I was leaving the palace, I ran into an Imperial Guard at the Meridian Gate. Seeing his panicked expression, I asked the reason. He said Imperial Brother might have left the palace without any guards. I grew anxious, so I took his small squad and went out to search. Left Commander Yang was sent by the Empress Dowager to find Imperial Brother. Imperial Brother, leaving the palace without a single guard is far too dangerous. You frightened both the Empress Dowager and the Left Chancellor."
Qi Junmu ignored this and asked: "Which garrison did that Imperial Guard you encountered come from?"
He asked this for a reason. The Imperial Guard was under the emperor's direct control.
Most of the Imperial Guard was stationed at North Mountain, not far from the imperial city, and was called the North Mountain Imperial Guard. Fifty thousand troops were stationed there, led by the Imperial Guard Commander, but also watched over by appointed generals who kept the Commander in check.
If anyone ever plotted rebellion, the emperor could send someone with the military tally and imperial edict to directly order the North Mountain Imperial Guard into the imperial city for support.
As for the Imperial Guards who guarded the palace itself, inspecting and patrolling day and night, these were the ones who served directly by the emperor's side.
The palace complex faced south. The Imperial Guards inside were divided into four garrisons, each guarding the east, south, west, and north gates of the imperial city, all under the command of the Imperial Guard Commander. Those who could appear before the emperor were the best of the best, selected from these four garrisons, and were called the Imperial Bodyguards.
Beyond this, the capital also had other troops guarding various parts of the city outside the imperial palace, under the unified command of the Prefect of the Capital.
Naturally, Qi Junzhuo answered the emperor's question fully. Besides, the emperor could simply look up the duty roster for the Meridian Gate and find out everything himself—there was nothing to hide. So he said: "It was Hu Ze, an Imperial Guard of the North Garrison."
Qi Junmu's eyelids moved slightly. "And the report to Empress Dowager and the Left Chancellor—was that also him?"
Qi Junzhuo said: "No. After he encountered me, I suppressed the matter. The report to Empress Dowager and the Left Chancellor must have come from another guard. According to Hu Ze, the guard on duty with him today at the gate was Wang Jun of the South Garrison."
Qi Junmu made a sound of acknowledgment and said nothing more.
Back at the palace, Qi Junmu ordered Hu Ze and Wang Jun each given twenty strokes with the staff for leaking the emperor's whereabouts and disregarding the emperor's safety.
Then, without even changing his clothes, he went directly to see Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was already in a bad mood. If he delayed any longer, she would likely become angry.
Even though Qi Junmu went to the Empress Dowager's palace immediately, her expression was still very grim.
After Lin Xiao paid his respects to the emperor, the Empress Dowager could not help but say angrily: "Your Majesty, you are the emperor of Da Qi. Look at yourself. What are you wearing? What have you done? Not one thing about any of this is befitting an emperor."
Qi Junmu's expression darkened. For some reason, these words grated sharply on his ears.
Seeing his expression, Lin Xiao thought to himself that this was bad—this mother and son were about to become estranged. He quickly said respectfully to the Empress Dowager: "Empress Dowager, please calm your anger. The late emperor passed away, and His Majesty ascended the throne. These days, His Majesty must surely have had sorrow weighing on his heart. This trip out of the palace was merely to clear his mind. Your servant knows that the Empress Dowager is concerned for His Majesty's safety, and His Majesty understands this clearly as well."
In the past, Qi Junmu would have followed Lin Xiao's words, apologized to the Empress Dowager, expressed gratitude for her concern, and promised never to do such a thing again to cause her worry.
But now, feeling uncomfortable, he could not be bothered to put on this performance of a devoted mother and filial son.
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