But for Mo Ti Zhun, wasn’t this an opportunity to force Li Shi Long to disrupt his formation? He had originally planned to lie in wait like a yellow bird, tracking and capturing the people after Feng Miao Jun, and had made considerable preparations for it. However, the current outcome was even better than he had anticipated—Feng Miao Jun had unexpectedly drawn Princess Han Yue into the situation, which meant the Jin King was also involved.
She remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:
“What deep hatred exists between the Prime Minister’s manor and you?” To be an enemy of the Grand Minister required power, influence, and determination. She had originally not intended to inquire about the grievances between these powerful figures, but since the battle had reached her doorstep, she needed to understand clearly.
“Five years ago in summer, the central Jin region suddenly experienced an earthquake. Within half an hour, buildings collapsed, plateaus rose from flat ground, and two major cities, including the secondary capital, were left with hardly a structure standing, resulting in devastating casualties. Both cities had populations exceeding three hundred thousand. So many died, and with the hot weather, epidemic diseases soon followed, making it seem like hell on earth. While the royal court was busy with disaster relief, the Zhi Yuan Kingdom took the opportunity to harass our borders. Facing both internal troubles and external threats, the kingdom was momentarily exhausted.”
Feng Miao Jun waited for him to continue.
“At that time, over eight hundred thousand people were affected by the disaster. Civilians suffered from hunger and cold, bandits ran rampant, and cases of assault and cannibalism were common. Great Jin had never encountered such a natural disaster since its founding. Some even took the opportunity to declare independence and establish their power. I consulted with the King, and given the more severe domestic situation, we allocated most resources to contain the disaster and suppress rebellions and bandits to stabilize public sentiment, with only a small portion reinforcing the border troops. The one leading those border troops was Li Shi Long’s second son, Li Yuan Xiong.”
Mo Ti Zhun took a deep breath: “In that battle, we did not win. Li Yuan Xiong died for the country.”
“So Li Shi Long blames you for his son’s death and is trying every means to kill you?” Feng Miao Jun turned over to listen to the story. “I thought the Prime Minister was broad-minded enough to put State interests before personal grudges. Hmm, by this account, countless people in Jin must wish you dead?”
“The Prime Minister being broad-minded? Which fool told you that? The position of Grand Minister is inherently one that offends people. Li Yuan Xiong had transitioned from civil to military service and had accumulated numerous military achievements. He was highly regarded as a military commander and had been promoted to Commander at a young age. Had he not died, his future would have been limitless. Li Shi Long, with his petty mind, is convinced that I deliberately harmed Li Yuan Xiong.” Mo Ti Zhun gave a light laugh. “But my enmity with Li Shi Long began with his father’s generation. This incident merely added frost to the snow. You’ll understand in the future.”
Feng Miao Jun asked him: “How will you handle Li Yuan Fa? Will you turn him over to the King?”
The smile on Mo Ti Zhun’s face gradually faded: “Since the King knows the cause and effect, he naturally won’t allow me to continue holding Li Yuan Fa. I have already disclosed his hiding place, and the King has sent people to retrieve him.”
The Jin King could not possibly allow Mo Ti Zhun to privately execute Li Yuan Fa, disregarding the monarch’s face.
Feng Miao Jun looked at him strangely: “I never would have guessed you were so magnanimous.”
Mo Ti Zhun’s face was solemn: “As the Grand Minister, I naturally must consider Great Jin’s interests in all matters and cannot act solely for personal gain. If I killed Li Yuan Fa, there would likely be others secretly gloating. How could I give them what they want?”
Feng Miao Jun lightly applauded him: “I admire that.” Since arriving in this world, she had lived as a spectator, never feeling a sense of belonging to any country, including the early-lost An Xia, so she couldn’t truly understand what it meant to “put public duty before private interests.”
But Mo Ti Zhun continued: “The King will soon make a ruling on this matter. The Li family can’t escape.”
“So Li Yuan Fa will still suffer misfortune?”
“He may be spared from death, but not from punishment,” Mo Ti Zhun snorted. “Attempting to assassinate the Grand Minister—he cannot bear this crime alone; the Prime Minister’s manor must shoulder it!”
So Mo Ti Zhun’s strategy was to spare Li Yuan Fa but drag the entire Li manor down with him? The Jin King must be racking his brains over how to rule on this matter.
The biggest difficulty with this case was that it couldn’t be handled openly. If the fact that the Li manor had targeted the Grand Minister hadn’t leaked out, how should the Jin King punish the Prime Minister’s household? He couldn’t arbitrarily find a reason to deal with this family, as countless eyes in the royal court were watching for fairness.
Although Feng Miao Jun had awakened, she still couldn’t get out of bed. The Jin King sent people to record her testimony in detail. She told everything she could, thoroughly and honestly.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and the Jin King had not yet made a decision.
Then five days, seven days, ten days…
While Feng Miao Jun was confined to the manor recovering from her injuries, she questioned whether the Jin King was employing delaying tactics to diminish the significance of the matter until it disappeared. Mo Ti Zhun scoffed at this: “What do you take me for!”
The anger of the Grand Minister could not be taken lightly, even by the monarch, especially since the Li manor’s recklessness had also endangered Princess Han Yue. The fact that the Jin King had delayed his decision for so long could only mean that this matter was truly difficult for him to resolve.
The more thorny the issue, the more annoyed the Jin King would become with the Prime Minister’s manor.
Feng Miao Jun snorted: “I just heard that Li Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, Li Yuan Ying, is the King’s favored consort and has given birth to his only son.” Everyone said that pillow talk was powerful. She had no opportunity to whisper such words, nor had anyone whispered to her, but she imagined that even heroes found it difficult to resist beautiful women. If Li Yuan Ying were to shed tears and plead for her father and brother, the Jin King might soften his heart.
She had heard all these gossipy details from Mo Ti Zhun’s great-granddaughter, Rong Xiu Yun. Rong Xiu Yun, upon hearing that her great-grandfather had taken a new disciple, came to the manor to visit. With Feng Miao Jun injured and unable to go anywhere, she had become friends with this straightforward woman.
The Jin King was in his prime, with five daughters but only one son, born to Li Yuan Ying. Ten years ago, he had another son who died shortly after birth.
“A mother’s status is elevated by her son”—this perfectly describes Li Yuan Ying’s current situation. Understanding this relationship, Feng Miao Jun finally grasped where the Prime Minister’s manor found the confidence to challenge Mo Ti Zhun.
For this reason alone, the Jin King could not truly take severe action against the Prime Minister’s manor.
Half a month later, the matter suddenly developed. By then, it was midsummer, and the Anlu River had entered its full flood season, with water levels increasing daily. As a result, a large dam that had been rebuilt downstream just last year suddenly breached, flooding hundreds of miles and causing numerous civilian casualties.
The local official responsible for the dam construction was directly dismissed and imprisoned. Li Shi Long, for his failure in supervision and neglect of the people’s welfare, requested to be demoted one rank, fined a year’s salary and also sent his son Li Yuan Fa to the disaster area.
As a result, Li Yuan Fa encountered falling rocks while rescuing people and broke both his legs. Even though he was later found by his attendants, the best time for medical treatment had passed. To prevent necrosis, the military doctor had to amputate both his legs.
Despite Mo Ti Zhun’s cultivation of composure, upon receiving this news, he smashed his wine cup and cursed, “Seeking fame and praise!”
Feng Miao Jun, however, had to exert great effort to restrain herself from applauding Li Shi Long. Using a natural disaster to resolve his predicament—the Prime Minister had played this hand with exceptional skill.