After dismissing Wang Jun, Shen Nian lay back on his lounging chair and thought to himself that the Emperor's mind was truly hard to read. He had appeared before the Emperor almost every day recently, and yet he had not heard a single word about Prince Jin's return.
Everyone called him the Emperor's favored minister, yet who would have guessed that there were things he only found out about after everyone else?
To be a favored minister in such a state was rather laughable.
Whatever the Emperor intended to do, he, as a subject, could only watch and wait. There was no need to know the reasons behind it.
As for what Shen Nian was thinking, Qi Junmu naturally had no idea.
After the morning court session, he summoned Lin Xiao to the imperial study.
Before they could discuss official matters, Lin Xiao began beating around the bush, fishing for details about Shen Nian's stay in the palace.
Qi Junmu did not wish to discuss Shen Nian's family affairs, nor did he want to bring up how he had softened that night. He said, "I had state matters to discuss with Marquis Zhenbei. The discussion ran late, and it was already dark, so I had him stay the night."
In his heart, Lin Xiao naturally assumed this was part of the Emperor's scheme.
Unwilling to linger on the topic, Qi Junmu continued, "This is actually something I wanted to speak with Uncle about."
Lin Xiao straightened his expression, clearly ready to listen attentively.
Qi Junmu said, "The national treasury is currently well-supplied. I intend to allocate funds from the Ministry of Revenue to repair the defenses on the West Frontier. It is no small sum, and I want Prince Rui to escort the silver there."
"Prince Rui?" Lin Xiao was taken aback, momentarily unable to recall who that was.
When it dawned on him, his face changed. He said, "Your Majesty, this absolutely cannot be done."
Prince Rui—Qi Junyan—was the eldest son of Emperor Jing, born of Empress Wang, who had taken her own life in the palace.
As the legitimate eldest son, he had been bright and clever in his youth, but after Empress Wang's death, he gradually became dull-witted.
Some said he was pretending; others said he had been frightened into it.
But whether it was real or feigned, Lin Xiao believed he should never appear before the public eye. Empress Wang had indeed committed an offense and taken her own life; Emperor Jing had indeed never favored Qi Junyan—yet Qi Junyan's status as the legitimate son remained an undeniable truth.
With such a background, Lin Xiao felt it would be best if the world simply forgot he existed.
Qi Junmu, however, seemed to have been stirred by something and insisted on dragging him into the light, drawing everyone's attention.
Qi Junmu fully understood Lin Xiao's concerns, but he could not very well reveal that Chang Sheng would one day bring ruin to the West Frontier. He simply said, "I understand Uncle's worry, but Prince Rui has long kept to his residence. His status is plain for all to see—whether he acts or not, others will not forget."
"Besides, it is merely an escort of silver. I also wish to see where Prince Rui's true intentions lie."
Lin Xiao pondered the Emperor's words for a moment, then said gravely, "Your Majesty intends to use this to test Prince Rui?"
Qi Junmu smiled but said nothing.
Lin Xiao considered the matter seriously and finally spoke again, "This is of great importance. I beg Your Majesty to think thrice."
"Uncle, my mind is made up." Qi Junmu said. "Moreover, by sending Prince Rui, I also want Chang Sheng to help me look into Shen Nian."
Out of nowhere, Qi Junmu dropped another bombshell. Lin Xiao felt his head spinning, barely able to keep up.
The Emperor's ideas just kept coming one after another—how on earth could Chang Sheng, all the way out on the West Frontier, possibly look into Shen Nian?
Lin Xiao's expression flickered through several changes. But Qi Junmu had already laid out his intentions, and whether Lin Xiao agreed or not, he was not going to change course.
"Does Your Majesty truly distrust Marquis Zhenbei so deeply?" After a long silence, Lin Xiao finally asked.
Qi Junmu did not answer. In Lin Xiao's eyes, that was as good as a confirmation.
Shen Nian—aside from his overly unorthodox methods—was someone Lin Xiao rather liked.
But his Shen Family Army was a sword hanging over the Emperor's head. From the sovereign's perspective, Lin Xiao could understand why Shen Nian's refusal to hand over military command might seem grating.
It was not yet a thorn in the eye, however.
Now that he heard Qi Junmu had gone to such lengths just to investigate Shen Nian, Lin Xiao found it rather regrettable.
A ruler's suspicion was a blade at a general's throat—one misstep and blood would be shed, and heads would roll.
The conversation between the Emperor and Lin Xiao could go no further. After Lin Xiao left the imperial study, Qi Junmu issued the imperial decree directly. Aside from Qi Junyan, the Minister of Works, Xing Yi, was also to go.
All these men held official titles and ranks—which made Cheng Jin's name stand out as particularly unusual.
Once the decree was issued, the court exploded.
Some approved; many more opposed.
They clamored and argued, while Qi Junmu sat steadily upon the dragon throne, watching coldly from above.
When the noise finally died down, he said, "This matter is settled. The Left Chancellor and the Ministry of Revenue are to arrange the silver as soon as possible."
The Minister of Revenue wore a pained expression. Yet unlike his predecessors in previous dynasties, he could not very well plead poverty—Emperor Jing had never been one for extravagance, so Da Qi's treasuries were still quite well-stocked.
Now that Qi Junmu had ordered the funds released, the Minister of Revenue, no matter how reluctant, could only grimace and consent.
With the West Frontier arrangements in place, Qi Junmu turned his full attention to Qi Junzhuo, who was about to return.
The assassin, A Duo, had long since been secretly brought to the capital.
Qi Junmu had not thrown her into the Ministry of Justice's dungeons. Instead, he had purchased a private residence in the capital and had her guarded there.
He had not interrogated A Duo—perhaps out of trust in Qi Junzhuo, or perhaps because he wished to keep putting it off.
Now that Qi Junzhuo's return was imminent, Qi Junmu decided to resolve the matter before his arrival.
Because of the West Frontier affair, the court was abuzz with discussion, and inevitably the talk turned back to Shen Nian. People said all the good fortune had fallen to him—now even a mere guard had become a high-ranking official dispatched to the West Frontier by the Emperor.
Truly, the extent of Marquis Zhenbei's favor could not be more apparent.
The plan had been devised jointly by Shen Nian and the Emperor. Now that it had come to fruition, the officials' criticism proved sharper than expected. To avoid stirring up more resentment, Shen Nian deliberately stayed out of sight and hadn't gone anywhere near Qi Junmu for days.
Now that all was settled, Qi Junmu summoned him again.
The moment he laid eyes on Shen Nian, Qi Junmu said, "Go change your clothes. Accompany me out of the palace."
"Leave the palace?" Shen Nian was startled. "Your Majesty does not wish to bring anyone else?"
Qi Junmu nodded. "This time, it will be just you and me."
Seeing the Emperor's grave expression, Shen Nian knew this was no ordinary outing. After a moment's thought, he tactfully advised, "Your Majesty, that may not be safe."
"Is Marquis Zhenbei afraid?" Qi Junmu raised an eyebrow. "Or does the Marquis believe he cannot protect me if danger arises?"
"That is not the case." Shen Nian, feeling his competence doubted, could not help but defend himself. "Should danger arise, this humble subject would naturally protect Your Majesty—but two hands are no match for four fists. If something were to happen, I fear Your Majesty might be injured."
Qi Junmu smiled. "Rest assured, Marquis Shen. The place I wish to go is guarded by imperial guards. There is no real danger. I simply wish to ask for your help."
"So that's how it is." Shen Nian breathed a sigh of relief.
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