Chapter 718
Chapter 718 - The Arrival of The Edict
The city guard answered, "Prince Rong arrived at the foot of Mount Liang two hours ago . However, as they did not have an imperial edict from Your Majesty, War Secretary Ji and his men barred their way . In response, Prince Rong ordered his subordinate to inform this humble official, in order to relay this message to Your Majesty . Prince Rong claims to be in possession of a posthumous edict from the late Emperor, and hoped that Your Majesty could permit entrance to the imperial palace in order for him to submit the posthumous edict to the imperial court . "
"A posthumous edict? Did the late Emperor leave a posthumous edict?" Doubtful, the Qizhen Emperor asked the city guard, "What is written in it?"
"Prince Rong didn’t elaborate further . " The city guard added, "Prince Rong only said that it was an urgent matter, and hoped that Your Majesty could send an imperial edict to permit him to enter the capital . He also said that he would return to Yufu immediately if the posthumous edict was proven to be fake . "
The Qizhen Emperor could not be bothered about how Jing Rong laid his hand on the posthumous edict . Immediately, he nodded, "Bring this oral edict to the city gates at once . We allow Prince Rong into the palace . "
"Yes!" Without further ado, the city guard left the palace to carry out his task .
However, the Qizhen Emperor could not understand how War Secretary Ji found out about Jing Rong"s attempt to enter the capital . How could he know about Jing Rong"s plans and even deploy his men to wait outside the capital .
Did someone discover the secret edict I sent to Yufu? Besides, based on what I know of War Secretary Ji, he"s not one to fan the flames . For all the years he spent in the imperial court, he always navigated politics deftly and has never been involved in any faction . Unless… he is following someone else’s orders .
And that person must be Jing Yi!
In other words, Jing Yi knew about the secret edict, and thus sent War Secretary Ji and his men to stop Jing Rong . War Secretary Ji is already siding with Jing Yi, despite appearing to be not involved in court politics .
Upon coming to this conclusion, the Qizhen Emperor became even more vexed . He thought that marrying the daughter of Ji Family to Jing Yi would put his mind at ease . However, he underestimated not only Jing Yi"s short temper but also his greed .
Sigh! The Qizhen Emperor"s eyes darkened .
In the meantime, the man Ji Li sent to Prince Yi"s estate was reporting everything that happened at the foot of Mount Liang to Jing Yi .
"A posthumous edict from the late Emperor?" Jing Yi was confused but it only took him a few moments to realize what was going on . “I didn’t expect that I would fall into Marquis Kang’s trap . ”
Dou Quan, puzzled by Jing Yi’s words, asked, “What does this have to do with Marquis Kang?”
“If this prince is not mistaken, the posthumous edict from the late Emperor has always been with Marquis Kang . Somehow, Marquis Kang decided to give Jing Rong the posthumous edict to help him return to the capital . This prince has certainly underestimated that old fox . ”
“Could the posthumous edict be a counterfeit?”
“That’s impossible . Even if Marquis Kang dared to prevaricate, Jing Rong would never do that . ”
Dou Quan added, “If the posthumous edict was real, War Secretary Ji would not be able to stop him anymore . Then…” The words died in his throat .
Jing Yi said to himself, “What could be written on the posthumous edict? Why is he so confident that the posthumous edict will allow him to stay in the capital?”
After a brief silence, he made a bold decision . He told the messenger, “Jing Rong certainly knows that War Secretary Ji’s man didn"t inform the Emperor . Therefore, he must have secretly sent someone to the imperial palace to request an edict . You have to leave the capital immediately and get there before the Emperor’s edict arrives . Tell War Secretary Ji to… kill everyone in his way . ”
The soldier was flabbergasted, but soon recomposed himself . “Yes, sir!” With that, he dashed off .
Jing Yi’s gaze was filled with a terrifying killing intent and his growing greed for power .
Concerned, Dou Quan asked, “Your Highness, you told us to kill whoever gets in our way . But what if there’s a hiccup?”
The corner of his lips twisted, Jing Yi scoffed, “Whatever happens, isn’t there still War Secretary Ji to take the blame?”
“Your Highness is wise . ”
It was an extremely insidious plan .
Ji Li only became Jing Yi’s p.a.w.n because of his troublemaker sister . Now, he even became Jing Yi’s scapegoat . Will he tear this greedy prince into pieces when he finally realises what position he has been put in?
At the foot of Mount Liang
It had already been four hours since Jing Rong sent his men to the imperial palace . Both parties were still biding their time as they awaited orders from the capital, all the while sizing their opponents up discreetly .
The soldier from Jing Yi’s estate made haste and arrived at the foot of Mount Liang before the Emperor’s edict . He delivered Jing Yi’s order to Ji Li, word for word .
Ji Li was startled but he also knew there was no turning back .
Holding onto his sword, he said to Jing Rong, “Your Highness, it has been more than four hours but the Emperor’s edict has yet to arrive . It is clear that the Emperor won’t allow you into the capital so Your Highness should probably return to Yufu immediately . ”
Jing Rong was a sharp-witted man as well . He knew that Ji Li was determined to kill him, or more precisely, Jing Yi gave an outright order to kill him .
“War Secretary Ji is determined to deny the posthumous edict then . ”
“No one knows whether the posthumous edict is authentic . This humble one has lost my patience . If Your Highness refuses to leave, you shouldn’t blame this humble one for his actions . ” As he spoke, Ji Li raised his hand, signalling his hundreds of men to draw their swords .
At the same time, Jing Rong’s men drew their swords as well, waiting for Jing Rong’s cue .
Jing Rong threw Ji Li a cold glance before he asked, “This prince is offering you one last chance . War Secretary Ji, will you let me through or not?”
“Attack!” Ji Li ordered .
Hundreds of soldiers charged forward, and the two parties immediately started fighting .
At the foot of Mount Liang, blood spilt all over the ground . A miasma of death and stench of blood slowly spread across the area .
Tang Si and Mo Ruo also joined in the fight . The former fought with her silver whip while the latter fought with his bare fists .
Although they were good fighters, they were significantly outnumbered by their opponents . They were definitely at a disadvantage, having to fight one against ten .
Tang Si was also a woman and was unable to sustain such odds for long . Seeing that her energy was almost drained from the heavy a.s.sault of numerous soldiers, Mo Ruo wanted to help her but he was surrounded and could not break through the wall of enemies .
At that moment, Wen Xian, who had been watching in the shadows, appeared and killed a few of them .
Tang Si finally was able to catch her breath . "Thanks . "
Wen Xian threw her a nonchalant glance and continued fighting .
Jing Rong s.n.a.t.c.hed a sword from another soldier and used it to meet with Ji Li"s sword . The two men exchanged blows but remained at a stalemate . Both swords were aiming to kill, but even after a long while, neither of them managed to gain the upper hand .
All of a sudden, an arrow flew towards the two men and accurately hit Ji Li"s sword . Shocked, Ji Li took a few steps backwards and his sword fell to the ground .
Following that, several more arrows appeared and hit Ji Li"s men . Accompanying them was a cacophony of hoofbeats startled several birds into flying to the skies .
"Stop!" A loud voice rang, forcing the two parties to stop their fight to look in the direction of the disturbance .
They were greeted by the sight of Qin s.h.i.+yu, leading his men on horseback .
Qin s.h.i.+yu got down from his horse and walked to the middle of the two fighting parties . Due to an old leg injury, he walked at a slower pace . He drew out an imperial edict, opened it, and recited with a solemn expression . "The Emperor has decreed that, since Prince Rong carries the Late Emperor’s edict, no one shall bar his way . Whoever disobeys the imperial edict will be prosecuted on the spot . Prince Rong is to enter the Imperial palace immediately with the posthumous edict . "
It ended there . Qin s.h.i.+yu closed the imperial edict . The imperial edict arrived right on time .
Ji Li looked at the innumerable bodies on the ground before he fixed his gaze on the edict in Qin s.h.i.+yu"s hands . At first, he felt skeptical, but Qin s.h.i.+yu, the man who delivered the edict, was influential in the imperial court . There was no way he would fake an edict .
Thus, Ji Li had to let Jing Rong through .