Li Qitian was someone who could maintain his composure. In Qin Yining’s view, given the current scene, anyone else sitting in Li Qitian’s position who couldn’t suppress matters would probably be unable to resist meting out punishment first.

But just as Li Qitian could suppress his wariness of Pang Xiao for years, it was only after Pang Xiao returned from the Tatars this time that Li Qitian felt everything was foolproof before ordering his impeachment. The Li Qitian of the past had always been able to endure and put on an act.

Now, Li Qitian was using this ability on the people they were jointly dealing with.

Qin Yining felt somewhat tired and quietly shifted her stance, transferring her weight to her other foot.

Seeing her move, Pang Xiao, who stood beside her, immediately stepped closer to support her, letting Qin Yining lean all her weight on him.

Qin Yining felt some resistance. After all, the position they stood in was before all the ministers – the people below only needed to raise their heads to see them.

But Pang Xiao simply held onto her without letting go, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and adjusting their position to make her lean more comfortably.

Qin Yining knew that Pang Xiao didn’t much care about others’ gazes. Feeling both helpless and warm inside, she stopped struggling and settled into leaning against him while listening to the memorials and responses between the ministers below and Li Qitian.

The ministers’ memorials mainly concerned the war with the northern Tatars.

“Because the Marquis of Qingyang previously claimed illness, the matter of reinforcing Tianmen Pass has been shelved. Now the situation of the Longxiang Army defenders at Tianmen Pass is critical. Please make an early decision, Your Majesty.”

“This subject seconds the motion.”

“We subjects second the motion!”

Li Qitian slowly nodded. He understood the Marquis of Qingyang’s character all too well. The Empress Dowager’s thinking of grasping both military and political power wasn’t wrong, but her eye for choosing people was truly terrible.

“This matter is known to Us. Reinforcing Tianmen Pass is imperative. All of you ministers…”

Li Qitian’s words weren’t finished when his voice gradually weakened.

Everyone also listened intently, only vaguely hearing what seemed to be clamorous sounds outside Fengtian Hall.

“Your Majesty,” Pang Xiao said in a deep voice, “Outside seems to be the sound of shouting and killing.”

Upon these words, the ministers erupted in uproar.

“What’s happening? Could it be that there are thieves causing trouble?”

The traces left in the palace from a fierce battle were seen by all the lords, plus last night’s great fire at the prince’s mansion, as well as His Majesty’s sudden return – none of the ministers qualified to attend court were dull-witted, and by now everyone had some speculation in their hearts.

Most importantly, during regular court sessions there would occasionally be eunuchs moving about outside, convenient for receiving orders and passing messages. Today with such a great commotion outside, not a single eunuch was to be seen.

The ministers realized the seriousness of the situation.

The eunuchs must have already been mobilized to go out and defend the imperial city.

“Your Majesty, what should we do now?” a minister asked in panic.

Li Qitian’s expression was grave as he said, “No matter! The Yulin Guards and Jinwu Guards in the palace are no pushovers. Even if petty thieves dare to break into the imperial palace, the palace is easy to defend and hard to attack – the people outside can’t get in! Ministers need not panic. Continue researching the northern frontier war matters with Us is what’s important.”

Seeing Li Qitian remain so composed, the ministers all found their anchor.

Li Qitian never did things he wasn’t confident about. Since he could remain steady, it meant he was already prepared.

Therefore, those twenty percent who initially supported Prince Li were now even more nervous, almost kneeling directly before Li Qitian.

In contrast, those who were loyal and devoted, or who acted cautiously and hadn’t knelt in salute, felt somewhat more relaxed.

Li Qitian then continued discussing northern frontier matters with the ministers.

In Qin Yining’s view, Li Qitian’s composure indeed had a very calming effect on the ministers.

But was the imperial palace truly safe?

Qin Yining’s gaze fell on the wide-open palace doors.

The mighty generals in the spacious hall stood like spears, the plaza was empty with not a single person walking about, while those sounds of shouting and killing seemed to grow clearer.

Half an hour earlier.

Prince Li led the Five Cities’ Military Commissioner along with forces from the Eastern, Western, Southern, and Northern cities – over eight thousand men in total – gathered outside the palace walls.

The Five Cities’ Military Commission was responsible for imperial city security and such matters, so naturally their numbers would not be few. All the men they could mobilize were now gathered in one place.

Prince Li pointed toward the imperial palace direction and said with heartfelt grief, “Last night thieves broke into the capital city and set fire to Prince Zhongshun’s mansion. This Prince personally investigated today – not one of Prince Zhongshun’s family members survived, all were killed by the thieves!”

The crowd fell silent, with an atmosphere of sorrow spreading among them.

The people of the Five Cities’ Military Commission were also soldiers. As long as they were soldiers, as men, there wasn’t one who didn’t admire Pang Xiao’s prowess in battle.

Now this famous general of a generation was trapped in the underground palace, probably already turned into a corpse. Who knew that in the blink of an eye, disaster would strike from heaven, and the princess consort and the prince’s family members had all met with misfortune.

That princess consort was still pregnant with twins – those were the prince’s bloodline!

Everyone felt waves of sadness, which then transformed into anger.

Prince Li again mustered all his strength and shouted loudly, “Prince Zhongshun’s mansion was burned to charcoal by thieves. This Prince investigated and discovered it was the work of Tatar dogs. Everyone knows our grudges with the Tatars. But now the most detestable thing about these Tatar dogs is that they took advantage of this Prince not being in the palace to charge right in and occupy the imperial palace!”

The crowd exploded with a buzz.

The Tatars were too arrogant!

Breaking through three border checkpoints, stopping their troops at Tianmen Pass wasn’t enough – they entered the capital city and not only killed Prince Zhongshun’s family members, but actually occupied the imperial palace too!

In the imperial palace, aside from the Empress Dowager, there were the Empress and imperial concubines. The Empress, like Prince Zhongshun’s consort, was a pregnant woman, carrying what might be the future ruler!

At once, the crowd was stirred to righteous indignation.

Prince Li achieved his purpose and pointed at the imperial palace, saying, “Today spies have occupied the imperial palace. We must drive these spies out, otherwise wouldn’t this shake the very foundation of the nation? Fellow soldiers, charge with this Prince!”

Upon hearing this, the commanders of the Five Cities’ Military Commission immediately led their subordinates to deploy at the several palace gates, preparing to attack in one stroke, capture the spies, and protect the imperial family.

Only when Prince Li saw these people were willing to go did he finally relax, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

As long as this group of fools would follow orders, today they would charge in and slaughter that fellow Li Qitian, and from then on the Great Zhou’s empire would be his!

As long as he could obtain that position, all his problems would be solved effortlessly. He wouldn’t need to fear Li Qitian’s reckoning, nor worry about bearing infamy. Under his flawless calculations, Li Qitian would definitely be assassinated by “Tatar spies.”

The palace gates were tightly shut. On the high outer walls at the main gate, guards from the Jinghu Guard background saw the Five Cities’ Military Commission forces gathering outside and ordered in great alarm that all palace gates must be strictly defended.

The leading military officer began shouting, “Who are you people! How dare you break into the imperial palace! Don’t you want the things on your necks that you eat with!”

Below the city walls, the Five Cities’ Military Commission forces had already determined that the palace was controlled by Tatar spies, and the people speaking now must have already become the Tatars’ lackeys.

These people didn’t waste words and directly launched an attack on the imperial palace.