Chapter 1 The Calm Before the Storm

Evening, the Prince’s manor.

A deathly silence hung in the refined study!

Mei Wenshi's upright figure was somewhat hunched, revealing an age that didn't match his years.

But his gloomy eyes, fixed on the sky, were as shrewd as ever, even faintly revealing a hint of madness.

Mei Kang burst in from outside, his expression panicked and fearful!

He roared like he'd seen a ghost, "Father, the account books, the account books are gone!"

As the words fell,

Mei Wenshi's face twisted for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and said coldly, "With the Emperor's personality, he won't act rashly."

"I guessed it, there must be a problem within us, otherwise he wouldn't have issued an urgent decree to summon officials to the capital, let alone welcome Yuan Buyi into the city with such fanfare!"

"However, I can't figure out how the Emperor's people stole the account books?"

Mei Kang was now completely distraught. As the actual owner of Myriad Flowers House, he knew very well how outrageous his crimes were.

Once these crimes were made public, no one could save him!

The more Mei Kang thought about it, the more panicked he became. He knelt down and hugged Mei Wenshi's leg, "Father, what do we do now?"

"You, you only have one son like me, you can't abandon me!"

Mei Wenshi didn't even want to look at Mei Kang directly.

What a hero he once was, how could he have given birth to such a useless piece of trash?!

He glared coldly at the tearful Mei Kang, becoming increasingly annoyed, and couldn't help but roar, "Quiet!"

"Since the Emperor summoned the ministers back to the capital, he's afraid of them causing trouble. As long as these people don't go to the capital for a day, the Emperor won't break ties with us."

"This means there's still room for remedy!"

His meticulous analysis calmed Mei Kang's heart.

He realized that the situation hadn't reached the worst point yet, and their Mei family still had the capital to fight back!

"Father, let's start a rebellion!"

"Time waits for no one. While the dog Emperor is still planning, let's strike first, attack the imperial city, and kill that dog Emperor with our swords, what do you think?"

Hearing this, Mei Wenshi did not deny it outright as he had done last time.

He glanced at Mei Kang's sinister face, then at the map of the vast land on the wall, a trace of helplessness flashing in his gloomy eyes.

He muttered to himself, "In the end, have we fallen to this point?"

Mei Kang remained silent, staring at Mei Wenshi with anticipation and fear.

For a long time.

Until more than half of the candles in the room had burned out.

Mei Wenshi then regained his stern expression and said coldly, "Is Yuan Buyi dead?"

"We sent assassins to ambush him, but we haven't received any news yet," Mei Kang said cautiously.

Mei Wenshi nodded slightly, a hint of killing intent in his voice, "The matter of the account books is definitely related to this old fool. If conditions permit, be sure to take his life."

"My Mei family is not to be trifled with!"

After speaking, a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes, and he instructed, "Kang'er, you go and arrange a team of assassins now, and have them guard the official road from Xinyang City to the Imperial Capital."

"If the Emperor wants to turn the tables, he must have soldiers in his hands. Xu Changqing is the Great General he personally appointed. At this critical juncture, the Emperor will definitely summon him to the capital."

"Take more people with you, even if you can't kill Xu Changqing, at least seriously injure him, you must not let him return!"

Mei Kang nodded heavily, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes, and stood up, "Your son understands, I will not let you down, Father."

After he left, Mei Wenshi called out again, "Chen Zhong!"

A refined middle-aged man walked in from outside. He was the Mei family's butler, and even more so, Mei Wenshi's right-hand man.

"Master, what are your orders?"

"Go and invite the Jiangzuo Prince, and tell him that I have important matters to discuss with him."

…

The golden crow fell to the west, and night descended.

Jiang Chen sat upright in the Hall of Diligent Governance, absentmindedly flipping through the memorials, occasionally showing a thoughtful expression.

Too quiet!

The Mei family, and that black hand lurking in the dark, they were all too quiet, this was very wrong!

Such important things as the account books were lost, and coupled with his decree to let the local dignitaries return to the capital, it was impossible for Mei Wenshi not to notice anything unusual.

But now…

Jiang Chen closed the memorials, picked up the intelligence sent by the spies on the table, and his expression revealed a trace of seriousness.

The informants he sent out, whether inside or outside the palace, all said that they had not detected any abnormalities.

Even the dark guards reported that everything in the Mei family was as usual.

This strange situation made Jiang Chen a little irritable, he now urgently wanted to know the next move of his opponent!

He sat there until the second half of the night, when Feng Jin secretly came to report.

He indicated that everything was proceeding according to plan, and the Minister of War had summoned six thousand guards to secretly enter the palace. In case of emergency, Jiang Chen felt a little relieved.

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to bed yet?" Noble Consort Shu stood beside Jiang Chen, her pair of soft, watery eyes full of heartache.

Jiang Chen shook his head, his expression revealing a trace of fatigue, "The showdown is imminent, how can I sleep?"

"The Mei family is deeply rooted and powerful. Although I have grasped their handle, I am also worried that they will fight back before they die, hurting the people I care about!"

Speaking of this, Jiang Chen held Noble Consort Shu's jade hand, and a little concern surged in the depths of his eyes.

He deeply understood the cruelty of political struggle and didn't want his beloved woman to be affected.

Gently holding Jiang Chen's hand back, Noble Consort Shu's expression was as usual, without the slightest fear.

She met Jiang Chen's eyes, her voice as gentle as water, "Your Majesty, you don't need to worry about these things, just let go and do what you want!"

"No matter what the outcome, Yun'er will support you."

"As long as Your Majesty can get what you want, even if it costs my life, Yun'er will not hesitate!"

Under the bright candlelight, Noble Consort Shu's gentle face revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Jiang Chen met her eyes and had no doubt that as long as he opened his mouth, the woman in front of him would offer everything she had, including her life!

His eyes were a little hot, he embraced her weak body in his arms, and murmured, "You, why are you so foolish!"

Noble Consort Shu smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes full of happiness, "If it's called foolish to give for the one you love, then this concubine would rather be foolish for the rest of my life!"

Saying this, she timidly glanced at Jiang Chen, a little apprehensive, "Your Majesty, are you, are you willing to spend your life with this 'fool', hand in hand, until we grow old together?"

Jiang Chen did not answer, he hugged Noble Consort Shu tighter with his big hand, as if to merge with her.

"Yun'er, I am an Emperor who is blessed by heaven, I will definitely win."

"When I have cleaned up these rebellious officials, I will announce it to the world and make you Empress."

"I want everyone in Da Wei to know that you, Xu Yun Chu, are the only wife that I, Jiang Chen, have recognized in this life!"

Noble Consort Shu's delicate body trembled slightly, and then mist floated in her beautiful eyes, smiling and tearing up.

Enough, really enough,

She is not a greedy woman, and she doesn't ask for much,

To get this promise from Jiang Chen, she has no regrets in this life!

For a long time, until she calmed down, Noble Consort Shu smiled through her tears and said, "Your Majesty, you know that this concubine never cares about these things."

"As long as you have this concubine in your heart, as long as we can be together and stay together, this concubine doesn't care about anything else!"

Jiang Chen gently kissed the tears on her fragrant cheeks, "I know, but what should be yours, I must give it to you!"