“If the Empress Dowager wants to arrest someone, why is there no decree? As an external relative, Marquis Qingyang should not forget the historical lessons and avoid doing things he shouldn’t!”
Qin Yining felt grateful in her heart for Ji Zeyu’s arrangements. For his people to arrive so timely, it must have been Ji Zeyu’s careful planning. With help, she felt much more confident.
Marquis Qingyang’s face turned iron-blue with rage. He swung his fist and charged forward to strike Qin Yining with his fists and feet.
Qin Yining inwardly sneered “idiot” and looked at Marquis Qingyang with cold mockery.
The people around her immediately swarmed forward. The Elite Tiger Guards protected Qin Yining behind them, while Ji Zeyu’s men acted with lightning efficiency, rushing forward to pin Marquis Qingyang’s arms behind his back and subdue him on the ground.
Marquis Qingyang was pressed with his cheek against the ground, his face flushed red as he struggled: “Let go! You bold madmen! I’ll have the Empress Dowager chop off your dog heads! Release me!”
Ji Zeyu’s trusted subordinates seemed completely unafraid and pressed the man even harder to the ground, giving Marquis Qingyang no chance to suddenly rise and harm anyone.
The Golden Guards behind Marquis Qingyang looked at each other uncertainly, hesitating whether they should step forward to rescue him. They could see that these people before them must all be from border armies, each capable of fighting ten men easily. They Golden Guards were like tigers raised in cages—facing howling wild wolves would mean suffering losses.
Seeing that the people arranged by Ji Zeyu acted exactly like the Elite Tiger Guards, Qin Yining understood the situation. She smiled at the leader: “General, please release him. Marquis Qingyang has a pampered body and noble flesh—he probably can’t endure this.”
Using “pampered body and noble flesh” to describe the current commander of the Huben Army was extremely sarcastic.
The Elite Tiger Guards and others around her burst into laughter upon hearing this.
The leader smiled and waved his hand, ordering his men to release Marquis Qingyang. He cupped his hands toward Qin Yining: “This humble one is Lin Hongyu.” After introducing himself, he turned to Marquis Qingyang who was struggling to get up: “My lord Marquis Dingbei’s orders: with Tatars invading the borders, there may be Tatar spies causing trouble in the capital. He specifically ordered us to protect Prince Zhongshun’s manor’s safety. Whether Marquis Qingyang acts from personal motives or other reasons, please return.”
“Good! I see you want to rebel!”
Marquis Qingyang wiped the dust from his face and pointed at Qin Yining, but didn’t dare approach further.
Ji Zeyu himself was a madman, and his subordinates were all mad enough—they didn’t even put the Empress Dowager in their eyes. He worried these reckless men would directly kill him. Even if he died, even with the Empress Dowager’s backing, what use would it be!
Lin Hongyu had long experience on battlefields and had seen all types of people. Seeing Marquis Qingyang’s expression, he knew this man had definitely backed down. While sneering inwardly, he also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
If Marquis Qingyang had been tough, they would probably have had to fight to the death. Scaring him away like this was better and saved much trouble.
Everyone ignored Marquis Qingyang’s shouting.
Seeing this, Qin Yining felt there was no point in arguing with Marquis Qingyang and ordered: “Return to the manor, close the gates.”
The fifty-plus guards brought by Lin Hongyu responded along with the manor troops and entered the prince’s manor together with the Elite Tiger Guards.
Marquis Qingyang was so ignored that he stamped his feet in rage. But he didn’t have the courage to challenge Ji Zeyu’s men. Watching the manor gates close, Marquis Qingyang snorted coldly: “Return to the palace. I want to see the Empress Dowager!”
The eunuch and Golden Guards who had come along now looked at Marquis Qingyang as if viewing a coward who had fled from battle.
With only a door separating them, the guards confirmed that the Golden Guards and others had left before completely relaxing.
Qin Yining had led people to forcefully drive away the invaders. But Marquis Qingyang would definitely go complain to the Empress Dowager now. She worried the Empress Dowager might harm her father and felt somewhat anxious again.
Qin Huaiyuan had already thanked Lin Hongyu and the others, sighing: “True friendship is seen in adversity. We will remember Marquis Dingbei’s kindness in our hearts.”
Lin Hongyu quickly smiled and bowed: “Master Qin need not be so formal. Actually, to tell you the truth, the day after the incident on the mountain, we were arranged by Marquis Dingbei to come near the prince’s manor. His Lordship’s meaning was that he worried someone might take advantage of the situation to harm the prince’s manor. Today we indeed encountered Marquis Qingyang’s people.”
Qin Yining and Qin Huaiyuan exchanged glances, both quite surprised.
They hadn’t expected that Ji Zeyu, who seemed so cold, would act so meticulously. Though the prince’s manor had long been well-arranged, the people Ji Zeyu arranged had indeed helped greatly—not only providing protection but also bearing all responsibility.
Qin Yining made up her mind to properly thank Ji Zeyu when the opportunity arose.
As for Marquis Qingyang, he had originally wanted to return to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager, but was intercepted halfway by Minister of War Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi originally looked down on people like Marquis Qingyang, so he exaggerated the war situation when telling Marquis Qingyang about it, just wanting to see Marquis Qingyang’s cowardly appearance.
Marquis Qingyang indeed didn’t disappoint Wang Zhi—he was immediately frightened pale, bloodless, with trembling lips.
The Tatars were so fierce and cruel that Marquis Qingyang feared he would be captured and eaten!
He had promised the Empress Dowager to reinforce Tianmen Pass.
But looking at it now, facing Tatar Khan Wutejin—wouldn’t that be going to his death?
Marquis Qingyang was very satisfied with his current wealthy and noble life and absolutely didn’t want to lose his life over such matters.
So after parting ways with Wang Zhi, Marquis Qingyang cleverly thought of a solution to the problem.
In the Ci’an Palace, the Empress Dowager who was waiting for news instead received a reporting eunuch.
“Replying to the Empress Dowager, Marquis Qingyang went to Prince Zhongshun’s manor today to arrest Qin Meng, but was angered by Prince Zhongshun’s consort. He was about to forcibly arrest the person, but the guards arranged by Prince Consort Ji were very tough and actually injured Marquis Qingyang. Now His Lordship has such a headache from anger that he can barely stand. He has returned to his manor to rest. His Lordship said to ask the Empress Dowager to remain calm, and once he feels better, he will immediately go destroy Prince Zhongshun’s manor.”
The eunuch honestly repeated Marquis Qingyang’s words, then lowered his head and said nothing more.
The Empress Dowager was so angry that the veins on her forehead jumped.
Ji Zeyu’s people had actually been arranged to go to Prince Zhongshun’s manor! Ji Zeyu was clearly treating her as an outsider and becoming distant from them!
She was the Empress Dowager—no one listened to the Empress Dowager’s oral decree. Was this realm about to rebel!
“Good! This dowager will wait. Tomorrow when Marquis Qingyang enters the palace, immediately have him arrest Qin Meng!”
The Empress Dowager went to bed that night still fuming.
The result was even more anger the next day.
“Marquis Qingyang was attacked by rage and grief, seriously ill in bed, and definitely inconvenient to go out. Marquis Qingyang also said that the northern Tatar war situation is urgent, the Huben Army urgently needs to reinforce the north, and hopes the Empress Dowager can quickly find a suitable candidate.”
The manor’s steward gave his report and withdrew.
The Empress Dowager was so angry her face turned iron-blue. If not for wanting to maintain dignity beside the regent Prince Li, she probably would have started cursing long ago.
Prince Li still had that gentle, timid appearance, smiling apologetically: “The Empress Dowager need not worry. The Imperial Medical Academy has many skilled practitioners. Have them properly treat Marquis Qingyang.”