Jiang Tang, Commander of the Jinlin Guards, died suddenly.
Jiang Tang’s death was like a thunderbolt striking over countless people’s heads.
At the moment they learned of Jiang Tang’s death, countless people looked up at the gloomy gray sky and murmured, “The heavens are about to change. It seems we should stay indoors more often.”
Though it was clearly the bustling and prosperous capital, it suddenly became cold and desolate, with shops that used to be filled with customers like flowing clouds now so empty that sparrows could nest at their doors.
In front of Marquis Guanjun’s residence stood fully armed Jinlin Guards, facing off against the Marquis’s guards in a tense confrontation with swords drawn.
“Why are you surrounding our Marquis’s residence?” Shao Zhi demanded sternly.
Standing at the forefront of the Jinlin Guards was Jiang Shiyi, dressed in white robes.
He was naturally cold and taciturn, and at this moment appeared even more frigid as frost and snow: “Call your Marquis out!”
Shao Zhi sneered and retorted, “On what grounds?”
Footsteps approached, and the personal guards behind Shao Zhi called out one after another: “General.”
Shao Zhi immediately turned around and cupped his fists: “General.”
Shao Mingyuan waved his hand and stepped forward to face Jiang Shiyi: “What matter requires you to call this Marquis out?”
Jiang Shiyi stared at Shao Mingyuan for a moment, then said coldly: “We suspect the Grand Commander’s death is related to the Marquis. Please accompany us for questioning.”
“Insolent! What do you take our General for?” Shao Zhi roared angrily, directly raising his long blade. “You bastards dare to lay a finger on our General and see what happens!”
The personal guards behind Shao Zhi all drew their long blades.
The Jinlin Guards behind Jiang Shiyi raised their bows and arrows.
“Is the Marquis refusing arrest? Or perhaps planning rebellion?” Jiang Shiyi asked coldly.
Shao Mingyuan stared at Jiang Shiyi and suddenly smiled: “I never noticed before that Lord Shiyi had such eloquence.”
“I only speak based on facts,” Jiang Shiyi replied icily.
“Very well, this Marquis will go with you.”
“General!” The personal guards’ faces changed drastically.
Shao Zhi directly blocked Shao Mingyuan’s path: “General, you cannot go with them.”
Shao Mingyuan reached out to pat Shao Zhi’s shoulder, his expression unchanged: “I won’t be gone too long. Do not act rashly.”
“But—” Shao Zhi still refused to step aside.
Even if the General was eventually released, this humiliation was truly hard to swallow!
“This is an order.”
Only then did Shao Zhi step aside.
“Let’s go.” Shao Mingyuan nodded slightly to Jiang Shiyi.
Jiang Shiyi waved his hand, and the Jinlin Guards successively lowered their bows and arrows, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
They had long heard that Marquis Guanjun’s personal guard army were all brave and skilled warriors. If they truly fought, they would likely be at a disadvantage.
Fortunately, this was not the Northern Territories where Marquis Guanjun could act as he pleased, but the capital where their Jinlin Guards held sway.
On the capital’s territory, no matter whether Marquis Guanjun or Marquis Changsheng, all had to listen to their Jinlin Guards!
“Tingquan—” A woman’s voice suddenly called out.
Shao Mingyuan’s steps halted, and he immediately turned around.
Qiao Zhao lifted her skirts and walked over quickly. Two Jinlin Guards extended their long blades crosswise to block her path.
Shao Mingyuan glanced at Jiang Shiyi, who remained expressionless without any reaction.
Shao Mingyuan smiled and strode to the two Jinlin Guards, extending both hands to grasp their sword-wielding wrists and twist forcefully.
Both men cried out in pain as their long blades fell downward.
Before anyone could see Shao Mingyuan’s movements, those two long blades had already fallen into his hands.
Shao Mingyuan applied force, and the two high-quality long blades snapped with a sound, thrown forcefully to the ground.
The Jinlin Guards’ faces changed dramatically, their long blades pointing toward him in unison.
Those were their tools of trade, casually broken by Marquis Guanjun – it was an utter humiliation!
Shao Mingyuan coldly swept his gaze over the Jinlin Guards, his eyes finally settling on Jiang Shiyi’s face: “Remember, don’t point blades at my fiancée, or this Marquis will do anything.”
“Is the Marquis threatening me?”
“No, this Marquis is merely reminding you.”
Jiang Shiyi glanced at Qiao Zhao and said coldly: “If you have anything to say, Marquis, say it quickly.”
Shao Mingyuan took Qiao Zhao’s hand and walked toward the tree by the wall.
The two stood under the tree, and Shao Mingyuan smiled slightly at Qiao Zhao: “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
With the Southern Wokou and Northern Barbarians, these two great threats unresolved, he was probably still useful to His Majesty.
Qiao Zhao stuffed a pouch into Shao Mingyuan’s hand: “Inside are some medicine pills. I’ve told you their uses before – keep the pouch safe.”
“Mm.”
Qiao Zhao tightened her grip on Shao Mingyuan’s hand and lowered her voice seriously: “Given Jiang Tang’s current physical condition, he couldn’t have died suddenly without cause. There’s something wrong with his death!”
“Zhaozhao, you’re thinking—”
“Don’t worry, I won’t act recklessly. I’ll wait for you to return.”
Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to stroke Qiao Zhao’s cheek: “Mm, I’ll be back soon.”
Watching Shao Mingyuan leave with the Jinlin Guards, Qiao Zhao stood motionless under the tree.
Chi Can and the other two hurried over.
“Tingquan was taken away by the Jinlin Guards?”
Qiao Zhao nodded lightly.
“Damn Jinlin Guards!” Yang Houcheng punched the wall.
“Cursing is useless now – we need to think of a solution.” Chi Can raised his eyebrows and analyzed: “The Jinlin Guards are currently leaderless and in chaos. Though logically His Majesty wouldn’t move against Tingquan, if the Jinlin Guards pin Jiang Tang’s death on Tingquan, he’ll certainly suffer.”
“I’m worried about another thing.” Zhu Yàn glanced at Qiao Zhao and reminded: “Lord Li is still in the Jinlin Guards’ prison…”
In such chaotic times, it was easiest for people to fish in troubled waters.
“Regarding Jiang Tang’s death, who benefits most?” Zhu Yàn’s words made Qiao Zhao unconsciously bite her lip and ask coldly.
“It depends whether we’re talking internally or externally.” Chi Can sat down, interlacing his fingers. “From an external perspective, with Jiang Tang dead, the greatest beneficiary is Eastern Depot Chief Wei Wuxie!”
“Those eunuchs?” Yang Houcheng blinked.
Chi Can sneered: “Can’t figure it out? You just need to know that since Great Liang established the Jinlin Guards and Eastern Depot, it has always been the Eastern Depot suppressing the Jinlin Guards, except during these years when Jiang Tang served as Jinlin Guards Commander – it was reversed. The Eastern Depot has been holding back this resentment for a long time.”
Zhu Yàn nodded in understanding and continued: “Obviously, no matter who replaces Jiang Tang as leader of the Jinlin Guards, none can match his power and influence.”
His Majesty only had this one milk brother.
“Then there’s Chief Minister Lan Shan.” Chi Can continued: “Lan Shan and Jiang Tang have always had a mutually beneficial relationship, but Jiang Tang, how should I put it, still had some conscience. Last year, when Censor Ouyang impeached Lan Shan, he originally couldn’t escape death, but Jiang Tang intervened, and Censor Ouyang’s family was spared. Of course, Ouyang was just one example – in recent years, many who offended Lan Shan survived under Jiang Tang’s protection, including quite a few loyal ministers and generals.”
Speaking of this, Chi Can’s expression grew colder: “Lan Shan has dominated the court for nearly twenty years – how could he not resent Jiang Tang for this?”
“What about internally?” Yang Houcheng asked.