Li Yanqing covered his face with one hand. Beneath his palm, there came a burning pain.
He had come to the Bian Palace by Qi Shuhuan's order. Just thinking about how he had mobilized his troops in the middle of the night and had been through all the trouble only to be slapped by Qi Shuhuan right in front of his subordinates, Li Yanqing stood there stunned for a long while. Immediately afterwards, his mind was filled with a surge of anger. In a fit of rage, he pushed Qi Shuhuan away. Just as he was about to curse, he suddenly remembered Qi Shuhuan's status, and the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.
"Li Yanqing! You brought troops into the palace without permission. Do you know what crime you've committed?!" Qi Shuhuan shouted. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Gong Tan was leading a troop of imperial guards rushing over after Li Yanqing's army. The imperial guards quickly surrounded Li Yanqing's troops.
Although Li Yanqing had no idea what was going on, just by looking at the situation, he knew that something had probably gone wrong. Covering his burning face, he frowned and stared intently at Qi Shuhuan, his eyes full of eagerness, as if hoping for a reasonable explanation.
Qi Shuhuan couldn't say much in front of everyone. He just winked at Li Yanqing as a greeting. Then he sternly kicked Li Yanqing on the calf, making him grunt in pain.
"Are you stupid from being a soldier, Li Yanqing?! How dare you break into the Bian Palace? Have you eaten all the military rules in the army?!" Qi Shuhuan scolded and kicked Li Yanqing on the leg again. Li Yanqing staggered from the pain but endured it silently without saying a word.
Although he didn't know what had happened, he knew that Qi Shuhuan was trying to help him.
He couldn't resist. He had to admit his mistake and endure it quietly.
"Li Yanqing, as the main general of the army, you led the way in disobeying the military rules. What crime do you deserve?" Qi Shuhuan pointed at King Xia Jie's bedroom and said, "The king is currently ill in bed and has no time to punish you. But you've disobeyed the military rules like this. When the king recovers, I will surely report you to him!"
Just as Qi Shuhuan finished speaking, the door of King Xia Jie's bedroom suddenly creaked open. Qi Shuhuan was taken aback and turned to look. He saw Shen Qingfeng pushing the door open and striding out onto the steps.
Shen Qingfeng stood upright. His white robe, tinged with a glow by the moonlight, fluttered in the night wind. He casually glanced at Qi Shuhuan, his eyes filled with contempt and mockery. Qi Shuhuan, who had dominated the court for decades, was being despised by a junior with such a look for the first time. He was stunned for a moment and then trembled with anger. He stared back at Shen Qingfeng with a gloomy look.
However, Shen Qingfeng didn't intend to pay any more attention to him. He averted his eyes and motioned for the waiting maidservants beside him to go into the bedroom to attend to the king. Then he walked over to Shen Shiqiu's side and bowed to the group of senior officials. "It's really lively today... The king's condition has improved. Thank you all for your concern."
Shen Shiqiu stroked his beard. The group of senior officials behind him sighed a few times but weren't overly surprised. Presumably, they had already communicated with the Shen family and were just going through the motions.
As soon as these words were said, Qi Shuhuan and the others were all stunned. Xia Yonglin even staggered and almost fell.
"The king's... condition has improved?" Qi Shuhuan couldn't believe it.
That old man was clearly in such a serious condition. How could his condition improve?! He had clearly asked so many imperial physicians, and they all concluded that King Xia Jie didn't have much time left. How could he be cured... It was impossible!
Qi Shuhuan felt a surge of anger welling up in his heart. He let out a loud shout and said harshly, "Shen Qingfeng! So many imperial physicians said that the king's condition was serious. What methods could you and the crown prince use to treat him? Could it be that your so - called treatment is false, and you're actually threatening the officials with the king's life?"
Shen Qingfeng glanced at Qi Shuhuan out of the corner of his eye and snorted, "Humph, Assistant Minister, do you think everyone is like you?"
Qi Shuhuan paused for a moment, understood Shen Qingfeng's veiled insult, and flew into a rage. "Shen Qingfeng, don't make unfounded accusations!"
Shen Qingfeng retorted, "Am I making unfounded accusations? Then Assistant Minister, come and explain what General Li is planning to do?"
Qi Shuhuan said harshly, "Li Yanqing despised the military rules and discipline. But General Li thought the king was in danger, so he brought troops into the palace. Protecting the king came first, and breaking into the palace came later. When the king wakes up, I will surely report this matter to the king in detail and wait for the king's decision. Although General Li is a guest - minister of the Qi family, the Qi family has received the king's grace, and everything must be based on the king's order first!"
"What a good 'everything based on the king's order first'. General Li brought troops into the Bian Palace, but in your mouth, it's just a so - called disobedience of military discipline and rules?!" Shen Qingfeng's voice was harsh. He turned to look at Gong Tan standing on one side and said, "Deputy General Gong, you and General Li are both military generals. Tell me, without the king's permission, bringing troops into the Bian Palace without permission, what crime does it deserve?"
Li Yanqing, who was standing on one side, was so scared that his whole body trembled violently.
Shen Shiqiu, standing on one side, nodded slightly, smiling contentedly as he looked at Shen Qingfeng.
"Yes." Gong Tan stepped forward and clasped his fists at Shen Qingfeng. "Reply, my lord. Bringing troops into the palace without the king's order is regarded as rebellion and should be beheaded according to the law!"
Qi Shuhuan waved his hand. "Ridiculous! I've already said just now that General Li thought the king was in danger, so he led his troops into the palace. Although General Li disobeyed the military rules, he was just too eager to protect the king. How can it be judged like this!"
Shen Qingfeng narrowed his eyes and sneered, "So according to Assistant Minister, any military general can bring troops into the palace and then as long as they insist it's for protecting the king, they'll be fine? How absurd!"
Qi Shuhuan pointed at Shen Qingfeng's nose and scolded, "Shen Qingfeng, one thing is one thing. Being so one - sided and over - generalizing, is this your way of framing someone?!"
Shen Qingfeng had long guessed that this old man had a thick skin and was really capable of being the first to complain. Shen Qingfeng let out a cold laugh and said, "Assistant Minister Qi, why do you always speak for General Li? Could it be that the news that General Li got about the king being in danger was told to him by you?"
Qi Shuhuan's body trembled violently. He turned to look at Li Yanqing, who was standing on one side looking a bit flustered. He found that the latter was also looking at him fearfully. Thinking that his well - calculated plan had been outmaneuvered by Shen Qingfeng, he was filled with anger but had nowhere to vent it. But he had no choice. Li Yanqing was the guarantee for Xia Yonglin to have military power. He had to protect Li Yanqing.
Qi Shuhuan gritted his teeth and said harshly, "I did send someone to tell General Li that the king was critically ill, but I don't know why General Li misinterpreted the news and thought the king was in danger. There must be someone behind this. I will surely investigate this matter strictly in the future..."
"I don't think it's necessary to investigate!" Shen Qingfeng interrupted. "Didn't Assistant Minister just say that this matter should wait for the king's decision later?"
Qi Shuhuan looked at Shen Qingfeng. He didn't know what Shen Qingfeng was up to and just pursed his lips without saying a word.
Shen Qingfeng slightly curled his lips, showing a seemingly innocent and charming smile. "The king just took the medicine and won't wake up for a while. But this matter is of great importance. If it's not dealt with, it will be a disgrace to the royal family. Coincidentally, the crown prince is also here. Let the crown prince make the judgment on behalf of the king!"
As soon as the words were out, Xia Chuli slowly walked out of the bedroom. Behind him, Chen Qi was wiping the sweat off his forehead and trotting to catch up. He shouted while running, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what are you doing..."
Xia Chuli pushed Chen Qi, who was blocking his way, aside without even looking at him. His eyes glistened with a faint light as he strode forward.
Seeing that Chen Qi couldn't stop him, Xia Yonglin quickly said, "Xia Chuli, what did you do to Father?"
Xia Chuli glared at him and motioned towards the bedroom with his chin. "Why don't you go and see for yourself? Or are you afraid that what you expected didn't happen?"
Xia Yonglin was left speechless. Then he started to curse, but Xia Chuli didn't even bother to pay attention to him and just regarded him as air.
Xia Chuli walked straight past the senior officials of the Prime Minister's Mansion and stood not far in front of Shen Qingfeng, staring directly at Qi Shuhuan.
Qi Shuhuan's lips trembled slightly. He looked at Xia Chuli, snorted, and said, "The crown prince is uneducated. The king has already transferred the crown prince's power to Prince Cheng. Letting the crown prince make the decision, are you trying to defy the king's order?"
Chen Qi also caught up to Xia Chuli's side. In a shrill voice, half - threatening and half - persuading, he said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, don't forget that the king has already taken back your power. The king has long had a prejudice against you. Listen to this servant. Don't make the king angry anymore."
Xia Chuli looked at Chen Qi contemptuously and sneered, "A eunuch dares to ride on this prince's head. Chen Qi, do you think you've lived too long?!"
Chen Qi was intimidated by Xia Chuli. For a moment, he didn't know when this usually submissive crown prince had developed such a sharp edge. He was shocked and pointed at Xia Chuli's nose for a long time but couldn't say a word.
Xia Chuli walked closer to Chen Qi. Chen Qi was already startled by his abnormal behavior. This crown prince, who usually didn't dare to defy him, suddenly seemed like a fierce beast that had been dormant for a long time, showing his sharp fangs hidden beneath his skin. After tearing open his usually docile appearance, Chen Qi suddenly realized that the person in front of him was the crown prince of Lixia, the most noble person in Lixia besides King Xia Jie.
Xia Chuli was in a great mood now. Since he was reborn into this body, he had been acting. But now, when he saw Chen Qi trembling with fear, the blood - thirsty intention of ruling the world from his previous life, which had been hidden and suppressed in his body for a long time, was reignited. Xia Chuli's voice slowly dropped, taking on a dangerous tone. A blood - thirsty smile slowly appeared on his cold face, making Chen Qi shiver all over. "Chen Qi, you're just a eunuch without balls. When did it become your turn to interfere in what this prince does?"
On one side, Shen Qingfeng suddenly trembled violently. The familiar aura emanating from Xia Chuli made him tremble involuntarily. Looking at Xia Chuli, who was immersed in Chen Qi's fear, Shen Qingfeng also felt a trace of fear in his heart. He couldn't help but take a half - step back. Stumbling, he was supported by Shen Shiqiu.
Shen Shiqiu was startled by his pale face and whispered, "Feng'er, what's wrong with you?"
Shen Qingfeng was brought back to his senses. He shook his head, reached out and rubbed his temples, and said, "Father, don't worry. I'm fine."
After saying that, he turned to look at Xia Chuli again. But at this time, Xia Chuli had already left Chen Qi's side. Although his face still had the same expression as before, the familiar feeling that had made Shen Qingfeng feel afraid had disappeared.
Shen Qingfeng covered his chest and looked thoughtfully at Xia Chuli's back as he walked forward, pursing his lips without saying a word.
Seeing Xia Chuli walking towards him, Qi Shuhuan stared at him and said, "What, does Your Highness the Crown Prince have any objections?"
Xia Chuli let out a cold laugh and said, "Assistant Minister, have you forgotten that the king only let Prince Cheng take over this prince's administrative affairs. Administrative affairs refer to the affairs of the court. This time, Li Yanqing brought troops into the palace. This concerns the prestige of the royal family. The royal power of our Xia family was almost threatened. This is an internal matter of our royal family. Now that Father is ill in bed, as the crown prince, I naturally have the right to handle this matter."
Qi Shuhuan scolded, "Ridiculous! I've already said just now that General Li broke into the palace because..."
Xia Chuli suddenly interrupted him and said harshly, "Save your words for this matter, Assistant Minister. Explain it to Father when he wakes up! Gong Tan!"
Gong Tan, who was waiting on one side, clasped his fists and said, "This subordinate is here!"
Xia Chuli said coldly, "Li Yanqing brought troops into the palace. There is suspicion of rebellion. Quickly detain him in the dungeon. Also, convey this prince's order and order the Discipline Department to strictly investigate this matter!"
Gong Tan said, "This subordinate obeys the order!"