Niao Ni
Chapter 552: A Ruthless Hand (Part One)
Then, I need to address a very important issue: while reviewing this volume, I realized I made a serious mistake, for which I am deeply ashamed.
In the book, Yan Xingshu, the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was dismissed from his position during the Emperor's first strike against the Eldest Princess. Even if he were reappointed after the Eldest Princess's rebellion, he shouldn't have risen so quickly to appear in the Taiji Hall and speak in favor of the Crown Prince.
This is a significant error, and I will slowly correct it. My sincere apologies once again.)
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Mu Feng'er was stunned, his eyes narrowing. He couldn't understand why this scholar-like fellow dared to make such an absurd request. A captured rebel wanting to see the head of the Inspection Department? Even if you are Xin Yang's chief strategist, on such a tense night, your only destiny is to be thrown into prison and keep your life for the moment.
In his heart, Yuan Hongdao probably knew he had no chance of survival, so he wanted to use his silver tongue to meet Fan Xian and persuade the director to spare his life.
However, Mu Feng'er, as an official of the Overwatch Council, deeply loathed these so-called strategists who only knew how to talk and plot. His orders didn't include any instructions related to this, and he wouldn't give Yuan Hongdao any more time to struggle.
Seeing Yuan Hongdao frantically opening his mouth to speak, Mu Feng'er became even more convinced that this little old man was terrified of death.
He frowned, giving Yuan Hongdao no chance to speak further. He retracted his short sword and punched him in the temple, creating a swelling and knocking him unconscious.
Yuan Hongdao felt a buzzing in his head, and his vision blurred before he fell to the ground. In that instant before losing consciousness, his heart was filled with anger and helplessness. As the only survivor of the first batch of nails placed by the Overwatch Council, he knew how strict the requirements of the Council's mission were. Since this Council official didn't know his identity, he would naturally choose such a crude and simple way to silence him.
In the entire world, only three people knew that this chief strategist of Xin Yang was a member of the Overwatch Council. One was the late Emperor, who had died on Da Dong Mountain, one was Dean Chen, rumored to be poisoned and pursued by the Qin family's army, and the other was Yan Ruohai. As for the palace maid who had met him once, she had already died in an accident.
Yuan Hongdao couldn't prove his identity, and Mu Feng'er, strictly following the Council's regulations, didn't give him the opportunity. This was perhaps the common tragedy of countless undercover agents throughout history and in every world: the possibility of them falling into the hands of their own comrades was often greater than the possibility of their identities being exposed and being silenced by the enemy.
He only felt some regret and intense worry.
Mu Feng'er didn't know that the man who had fallen unconscious before him was his senior, nor did he know how much unknown danger his simple punch would bring to the capital in the coming days. He simply ordered his men to clean up the Eldest Princess's estate and escorted the remaining prisoners, locking them up in the deep, dark prison of the Overwatch Council.
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Fan Xian swallowed two ephedra pills, the powerful medicine causing a faint, ominous red tint to appear in his eyes, though it was barely visible in the darkness.
He walked to the foot of the imperial city and respectfully welcomed the ministers who had been imprisoned by the Crown Prince in the Ministry of Justice's prison. He grasped the hands of Shu Wu and Grand Academician Hu, his thin lips slightly parted, unable to express his emotion.
Without needing to feign anything, Fan Xian was truly moved that Qing's civil officials would stand by his side at such a crucial moment. Although he held the Emperor's edict in his hands, and although his father-in-law in Wu Zhou had finally brought out the disciples and old friends he had hidden deepest in the court at the most critical moment, he knew how much courage it took to oppose the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne in the Taiji Hall.
If Li Chengqian were as cold-blooded as himself or the Second Prince, these ministers would probably have already become dozens of heroic souls in the imperial palace.
Shu Wu and Grand Academician Hu said nothing, simply bowing to Fan Xian. Shu Wu was the first person in the world to see the edict, and Grand Academician Hu also knew the contents of the edict, understanding that the current Fan Xian, though without the title of Regent, possessed the authority of one.
The Emperor had entrusted the power to appoint his successor to Lord Fan, a testament to trust and hope rarely seen throughout the ages.
"Time is pressing." Fan Xian knew that now was not the time for mutual praise. He said in a gentle voice to the ministers in the hall, "Please, esteemed ministers, rest here for a while. Imperial physicians will arrive shortly to treat you."
"Lord, go ahead and busy yourself," Grand Academician Hu said kindly. "At this time, we are of little use. The banner has been waved, and the call has been made. If those rebellious subjects still do not give up, then Lord Danbo must wield the Emperor's sword and execute them one by one."
Though the words were calm, their support for Fan Xian was unmistakable.
Fan Xian said, "I don't know how much more support we will need from you all. Now, the Empress Dowager is aware of the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess's evil deeds, and heartbroken, she is bedridden, entrusting all matters of the court to you two elders. I hope you will temporarily endure your physical pain and stand firm for our Great Qing."
"We dare not refuse."
Shu Wu replied in a hoarse voice, and the dozens of ministers behind him also cupped their hands. These civil officials knew that the situation in the capital was still complex and that they had to quickly settle the succession. As for the news that the Empress Dowager was bedridden, these ministers subconsciously filtered it out of their minds.
No one was a fool, especially these civil officials. They all knew that Fan Xian planned to use the Empress Dowager to command the various departments. Now that he had the late Emperor's edict, the Empress Dowager, and the support of the ministers, the entire capital, at least on the surface, seemed stable.
The ministers began to rest in the side halls of the Taiji Hall. Although it was much better than the Ministry of Justice's prison, it was still desolate, and the floor was cold and hard. But everyone knew that before the grand court assembly, they shouldn't be in a hurry to enjoy comfort.
Grand Academicians Hu and Shu followed Fan Xian into the imperial study. In this room where the Qing Emperor had presided over court affairs and reviewed memorials day after day, the lights were still bright. In front of these two grand academicians, Fan Xian no longer needed to hide anything. A look of worry naturally appeared on his calm face.
After a conversation, the faces of Grand Academicians Hu and Shu also turned grim. They had thought that Fan Xian had completely controlled the situation, but they had not expected that the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess had disappeared!
"Proceed according to ancestral precedent." In the silence, Grand Academician Hu suddenly spoke calmly, "No matter what absurd and shameless things these rebellious subjects do, we should not be surprised. Although we cannot immediately end the current chaotic situation, today's grand court assembly must be held, and the crimes of the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess must be clearly proclaimed to the world."
Shu Wu said cautiously, "Clearly proclaimed to the world... This... How will the court explain this to the people?"
Grand Academician Hu said calmly, "Legitimacy and righteousness are the explanation. If we act secretly without making it clear, it would be inappropriate."
Fan Xian nodded, thinking that Grand Academician Hu's insistence on holding the grand court assembly immediately at such a complex moment was very close to his own thoughts. Precisely because they didn't know whether the Crown Prince and the Eldest Princess would escape the capital, these people in the palace had to immediately depose the Crown Prince and smoothly pass on the Great Qing's imperial lineage, then issue a decree to the four directions...
With the discussion settled, Grand Academicians Hu and Shu began to write letters themselves, drafting a summary of what had happened in the capital. Then, Fan Xian solemnly affixed the Emperor's seal entrusted to him, the Empress Dowager's seal that had been seized from the Han Guang Hall, and his own name.
After sealing these dozen or so letters, Fan Xian handed them over to his trusted aides, who sent them through the Overwatch Council's secret postal routes to the governor-generals of Qing's seven circuits, and also to the five armies stationed on the border.
However, Fan Xian knew that the letter sent to the Northern Expeditionary Army in Cang Zhou would probably be useless.
When Fan Xian affixed the Empress Dowager's seal, Grand Academicians Hu and Shu exchanged glances and shook their heads slightly, thinking that Lord Fan was being truly bold, showing no restraint in front of them.
A dozen or so messengers, accompanied by the rapid sounds of horses' hooves, rushed out of the imperial palace at top speed, plunging into the seemingly endless dark streets of the capital, mixing with the chaotic sounds of fighting and the flickering fires, heading towards the city gates.
They carried an important mission on their shoulders.
"Can they get out of the city?" Grand Academician Hu suddenly quietly gazed at Fan Xian. This Grand Academician wanted to get a definite answer from Fan Xian as to who controlled the Thirteen City Gates Department now.
Fan Xian frowned and said, "There shouldn't be a problem. My people went there from the beginning."
Grand Academician Hu knew that Fan Xian never lied. Since he had sent people, he must have sent his most capable people to such a vital position as the Thirteen City Gates Department.
Fan Xian walked out of the imperial study, waved for Eunuch Dai, who was waiting outside the door, and said after a moment of silence, "Is there anything wrong with the Empress?"
The situation in the palace had changed. Chief Eunuch Hong and Eunuch Yao had accompanied the Emperor in his sacrifice to heaven and had probably died on Da Dong Mountain. Eunuch Hou had been shot to death by Fan Xian with a crossbow. Hong Zhu, who had been enjoying unlimited glory in the past two years, had been imprisoned in the Cold Palace along with the palace maids and eunuchs of the Eastern Palace. Eunuch Dai, who had made a great contribution by opening the palace gates today and was trusted by Fan Xian, had naturally reassumed the position of chief eunuch.
The current harem was guarded by the Imperial Guards, while internal affairs were all handled by Eunuch Dai.
He bowed respectfully and replied, "Following your orders, Lord, she has been imprisoned in the Cold Palace. The Empress is in good health, but her spirits are somewhat low."
Fan Xian nodded. Having escaped in the middle of the night only to be caught and brought back, no one could withstand such mental torment.
The effect of the medicine was gradually weakening. Fan Xian felt somewhat exhausted. Although he knew that this was not the time to rest, he still leaned wearily against a round pillar outside the imperial study, silently watching the square next to the palace.
He hadn't lied to Grand Academician Hu. Just as the First Prince had said, from the beginning, he couldn't truly give up the City Gates Department. It was just that he had too few men in the capital, and there were thousands of soldiers in the City Gates Department. It was impossible to solve the problem by force. Therefore, he had copied the Emperor's edict and given it to the person he trusted the most.
He had confidence in that person, and he also had confidence in Commander Zhang of the City Gates Department. That Commander Zhang was a staunch loyalist. After the Qing Emperor was assassinated, he only obeyed the Empress Dowager's orders, which was how he had managed to keep the Qin and Ye families' armies out of the capital.
No matter how one looked at it, the City Gates Department should now make a choice that benefited Fan Xian.
Fan Xian didn't know that the pillar he was leaning against was the place where the Emperor and Chen Pingping had held two conversations. He also didn't know that a man named Yuan Hongdao had been knocked unconscious by his loyal subordinates and locked up in the Overwatch Council's prison.
He was just very worried about Wan'er and Da Bao, as well as his father in the Jing Prince's residence. There had been no news, and he didn't know if anyone could rescue his wife and brother-in-law. He also didn't know how safe the Jing Prince's residence was at this moment.
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When the young master Yan, dressed in white, came out of the Kyoto Prefecture's rear garden, Fan Xian's sudden attack on the palace hadn't yet begun. Mu Tie, who was responsible for taking control of the Kyoto Prefecture, was still lurking in the darkness outside the mansion.
He straightened his white clothes and walked into an alley. He even had the leisure to look back at the night sky. A firework bloomed in the night sky, very beautiful.
Yan Bingyun, who was usually indifferent, smiled as he watched the firework in the night sky that quickly dissipated, knowing that Fan Xian had already made his move, and that he had to hurry as well.
He wasn't wearing night clothes today, but a striking white outfit, which stood out from the surrounding darkness. This was because his mission to the City Gates Department wasn't assassination, but to take control. Yan Bingyun knew how to gain the trust of the loyal soldiers.
Arriving at the City Gates Department's headquarters, escorted by dozens of soldiers with spears, Yan Bingyun calmly arrived at the yamen, awaiting Commander Zhang's audience.
"Lord Yan is now a wanted criminal, yet you dare to come and see this general. Your courage is indeed not small."
Zhang, the commander of the Thirteen City Gates Department, the key figure controlling the opening and closing of Kyoto's nine city gates, slowly walked out of the doorway, frowning as he looked at Yan Bingyun, who was dressed in white.
Yan Bingyun quietly looked at him. After a moment, he took out a piece of paper from his chest and said, "The Emperor's edict. I wonder if Commander Zhang will accept it or not."