No one expected that the person named would actually be Ji Huan.

Pairs of eyes immediately turned toward him.

He was already full of hostility, angry because his elder brother had been stripped of his position. Unexpectedly, now it was his turn.

By rights, he was a military general—sending troops to eliminate the barbarians wouldn’t be a problem.

But everyone knew he was the Changlin General who held military power. A small barbarian tribe didn’t require him to take action at all—any military general could simply be dispatched.

From this, it was clear that Emperor Qizhen’s order was obviously strange and meaningful.

He immediately stepped forward, clasped his hands and bowed, “Your Majesty, this subject…”

Before he could finish, Jing Yi spoke up, saying, “Father Emperor, although the barbarians are savage by nature, dispatching one hundred thousand troops is more than sufficient. But General Ji is a great general. This barbarian elimination absolutely doesn’t require him to lead the troops.”

“I have thought this through thoroughly.”

Not open to rebuttal.

“General Ji guards the capital with illustrious military achievements. For the matter of eliminating the barbarians, Father Emperor could dispatch General Gao or General Shao to go.”

His nervousness wasn’t without reason.

Right now was when he needed people, yet Emperor Qizhen had stripped Ji Li of his position, and now planned to send Ji Huan to the godforsaken border. His just-grown wings were being forcibly broken off—of course he was unwilling.

Emperor Qizhen’s hand inside his dragon robe clenched tightly. His dragon countenance was displeased as he said seriously and sternly, “Indeed, Ji Huan has achieved countless military victories and even won several cities for Dalin. Having him lead troops to the border to eliminate barbarians is somewhat using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. But as I said, I’ve also considered this. The barbarians have been at the border for hundreds of years, and now they’ve established a new leader—their power cannot be underestimated. To guard against any eventuality, I must dispatch someone trustworthy with both courage and strategy to lead the troops. Looking throughout the entire court, the most suitable candidate is only Ji Huan.”

“Father Emperor, please reconsider.”

“I have already thought it through.” He immediately slammed the table and ordered, “Ji Huan, I command you to lead one hundred thousand troops and within three months, you must bring back the head of the barbarians’ new leader to ensure peace at our borders.”

The imperial decree had been issued!

Ji Huan was a general who held military power in his hands, but his superior was ultimately Emperor Qizhen.

Although his heart was full of anger—having finished off his elder brother, now coming after him—he was naturally furious.

But—

He could only comply with the decree.

Unwillingly and reluctantly, he accepted the command, “Yes, this subject… obeys the decree.”

Good boy!

At this moment, Jing Yi’s face turned ashen. What a move with the “late emperor’s edict”—it had so easily severed both his wings.

He glared furiously at Jingrong.

But Jingrong remained expressionless, silent, playing the role of an uninvolved outsider who didn’t compete for anything.

Jingrong’s expression seemed calm, but his heart was stirring with waves. Emperor Qizhen’s decisions were all within his expectations.

After the ministers quieted down, Emperor Qizhen planned to play dumb and not mention whether Jingrong would stay in the capital or not.

He only said, “If there are no other matters, court is dismissed.”

Of course there were other matters!

The ministers who had received Jing Yi’s instructions yesterday immediately began performing their siege tactics.

One of them said, “Your Majesty, regarding Prince Rong’s matter, how should it be handled?”

“What matter?”

Continuing to play dumb.

“Your Majesty’s initial oral decree stated that if Prince Rong couldn’t investigate the imperial treasury’s disaster relief silver matter, he could not return to the capital. Now that Prince Rong has delivered the late emperor’s edict, shouldn’t he immediately leave the capital and return to the imperial treasury to continue investigating the disaster relief silver matter?”

Emperor Qizhen was silent for a moment, as if pondering in his heart for a long time, before saying, “It’s true that I issued that decree by oral command, but this time, in resolving the barbarian matter, Jingrong’s contribution cannot be denied.”

The court minister refuted, “The edict was given by the late emperor to Marquis Kang. If we’re talking about merit, it should be credited to Marquis Kang and has nothing to do with Prince Rong.”

What do you mean it has nothing to do with him?

He went through so much hardship to bring it to the capital—how does it have nothing to do with him?

Really speaking nonsense with eyes wide open.

And just after that minister finished speaking, the ministers behind him also began echoing one after another.

“Your Majesty, Prince Rong failed to solve the case, so he cannot return to the capital. Moreover, Your Majesty’s oral decree came first, so Prince Rong must obey the decree.”

“We implore Your Majesty to issue an order for Prince Rong to return to the imperial treasury again.”

“Please have Prince Rong leave the capital.”

……

Everyone talking at once!

So noisy.

Emperor Qizhen’s brows furrowed higher and higher.

He knew he couldn’t keep playing dumb now.

He also knew in his heart that these ministers were clearly being incited by Jing Yi.

“What all the beloved ministers have said, I understand in my heart. As a prince, Jingrong should naturally investigate the whereabouts of the disaster relief silver before returning to the capital. But regardless, it was he who brought the edict into the palace. Even if there’s no merit, there’s hard work. As for the disaster relief silver matter, I will dispatch someone else to the imperial treasury to investigate.”

The crowd wouldn’t listen!

“Initially, it was Prince Rong who volunteered to take on the disaster relief silver matter. Since he took it on, he should investigate it clearly. Moreover, Your Majesty also issued an oral decree, so we implore Your Majesty to immediately issue a decree ordering Prince Rong to return to the imperial treasury.”

Pressing aggressively!

Emperor Qizhen had anticipated this and wasn’t surprised.

But—

He was determined to keep Jingrong here.

Jing Yi was too hasty now—he could only rely on this son, Jingrong.

But the ministers all knelt down together at this moment.

“We implore Your Majesty to issue a decree ordering Prince Rong to immediately return to the imperial treasury.”

Coercion!

Kneeling filled the ground.

Each one had eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard.

Emperor Qizhen was simply speechless, his brows locked and not relaxing.

And Jing Yi, who had just had both wings severed, secretly smiled.

But Jingrong suddenly stepped forward at this moment and said, “Your son risked his life to bring the late emperor’s edict, already solving a difficult problem for Dalin. If Father Emperor issues a decree for your son to return to the imperial treasury, your son will naturally accept the command.”

What?

He’s not resisting?

Everyone was dumbfounded.

He went through so much hardship to return to the capital, nearly becoming a soul under Ji Li’s sword. It was obvious he returned to participate in factional struggles and would be determined to guard the capital and not leave. How come now, he’s being so obedient?

However, this did fit his princely persona of not competing or fighting for anything.

And Qin Shiyu, who had been silent all along, also stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, although Prince Rong volunteered and Your Majesty issued an oral decree, Prince Rong is after all a prince. If the disaster relief silver matter can never be investigated, wouldn’t Prince Rong never be able to return to the capital for the rest of his life? Prince Rong has not violated any of Dalin’s laws, nor has he harbored any treasonous intentions. Moreover, Your Majesty also knows Prince Rong’s temperament—he is absolutely not someone who would disturb the court. Without crime or fault, he should not remain at the imperial treasury forever. We implore Your Majesty to graciously allow Prince Rong to remain in the capital.”

Qin Shiyu had always been someone whose words carried weight in court. Now speaking on behalf of Jingrong would naturally be useful.

But—

Now the ministers were kneeling, and Emperor Qizhen had issued an oral decree.

If he took it back, the emperor’s so-called absolute authority would probably lose its prestige.

Minister Yu from the Court of Judicial Review also said, “Minister Qin speaks truly. Prince Rong is without crime or fault. We implore Your Majesty to graciously allow Prince Rong to remain in the capital.”

Two factions!

Neither yielding!

Jing Yi and Jingrong stood side by side.