sbdcsierra Chapter 322 Slapping the Face of the Treacherous Regent 17
Chapter 322 Slapping the Face of the Treacherous Regent 17
"The person who gave General Li advice can be considered a genius."
"Although the method is somewhat complicated, the Left Prime Minister and the others should not be able to detect it."
After a long pause, Leng Yuexing concluded.
Shangguan Jingzhi chuckled softly, "Perhaps this idea came from Li Yan. His thinking is indeed unconventional, but he is still quite loyal."
Leng Yuexing thought of General Li, whose voice was loud and clear; he also had a very good impression of General Li.
Seeing that Shangguan Jingzhi trusted General Li so much, he felt much more at ease.
Although he had considered what he would do if General Li betrayed him, it now seemed that General Li was still loyal to the Emperor.
Another day has passed, and there are still two days until the Left Chancellor's rebellion.
A tense atmosphere inexplicably filled the court. Even the ministers who were usually the most talkative became silent, as if they had sensed some danger.
The Left Chancellor kept taking leave, and the ministers who had originally spoken out for Xuanming all fell silent, seemingly no longer caring about Xuanming's life or death.
Shangguan Jingzhi keenly sensed that several ministers must have known about the Left Chancellor's rebellion plan. Their faces betrayed their unease and excitement, as if they were about to become rich overnight.
Shangguan Jingzhi lowered his brows, gently closed his eyelids, and casually waved to his side, signaling the eunuch beside him to announce the end of the court session.
Ministers who had nothing to report left the main hall, while those who wanted to speak with Shangguan Jingzhi alone stayed behind.
In the end, only five ministers remained, including only the Minister of War, while the rest were second or third-rank officials from the Six Ministries.
The Minister of War had the most solemn expression, after the other ministers had finished their reports and left the hall.
He stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report. Please dismiss all other irrelevant persons."
Shangguan Jingzhi waved his hand, and all the other servants in the hall got up and left the hall.
The Minister of War stepped forward and whispered in Shangguan Jingzhi's ear.
"Your Majesty, the Left Chancellor has been acting strangely these past two days."
"Something's not right?" Shangguan Jingzhi asked in a deep voice.
"Whenever the Left Chancellor was ill, many ministers would visit him privately, and the Left Chancellor would receive them all."
"In the past two days, the Left Chancellor has only met with a few ministers, and has refused to see the rest."
"There is something fishy about this. I urge Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
The Minister of War had a solemn expression, and seemed to be very worried.
Shangguan Jingzhi gave him a cryptic look, then feigned anger and said, "How dare you! The Left Prime Minister has devoted himself to the court and is currently ill. How can you make such unfounded assumptions?"
"Don't mention this matter again!"
As soon as Shangguan Jingzhi finished speaking, the Minister of War's expression changed. He knelt down in fear and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I will never dare to do it again!"
Shangguan Jingzhi gently patted the Minister of War on the shoulder, "I know your loyalty and remember your past contributions. Go back now."
The Minister of War choked with emotion, wanting to say something, but after opening his mouth, he said nothing.
He stood up, bowed, and left the main hall.
After the Minister of War left, Leng Yuexing emerged from behind the screen behind Shangguan Jingzhi.
"You don't trust the Minister of War?" Leng Yuexing said confidently.
Shangguan Jingzhi grasped Leng Yuexing's hand, inviting him to sit on the dragon throne with him. He then turned to Leng Yuexing and said, "He mentioned that some ministers had visited the Left Prime Minister's residence, and he was one of them."
"So that means he was also bribed by the Left Chancellor? But if I remember correctly, the Ministry of War is full of your people, isn't it?" Leng Yuexing looked at Shangguan Jingzhi with suspicion.
“If you remember correctly, the Minister of War was also one of my men before this,” Shangguan Jingzhi said in a deep voice.
"Then?"
"His wife's younger brother was arrested by the Left Prime Minister. I guess he had no choice but to obey the Left Prime Minister because he was worried about that man's life or death," Shangguan Jingzhi said casually.
"They were probably testing my attitude just now."
Leng Yuexing couldn't help but clap her hands, "Even without my Embroidered Uniform Guard, you're still so well-informed?"
"Your bodyguards are indeed excellent; I'm even thinking of poaching a few of them."
The Embroidered Uniform Guard had only been established for a few days, and such a secretive matter had not yet been uncovered. Leng Yuexing had only just learned about it.
"You want them? Here you go. Tell me, which ones do you want?"
Leng Yuexing chuckled and waved her hand, "No, forget it. It would be a waste of your talents to have your bodyguards here."
"Just let them protect you properly."
Shangguan Jingzhi realized that Leng Yuexing really didn't want it, so he gave up on the idea of giving it to her.
However, he was also considering assigning An Yi to him, so that An Yi could protect Leng Yuexing's safety in the future.
After their conversation, it was lunchtime. Shangguan Jingzhi took Leng Yuexing to the back hall for lunch, where a table was already laden with delicious food.
In the afternoon, news suddenly spread throughout the palace that the emperor had canceled the court assembly the following day and had sent a royal physician to treat him.
The Left Prime Minister's residence received the news immediately. Although the news was sudden, they all knew that Shangguan Jingzhi was not in good health due to poisoning and would skip court every now and then.
It's likely caused by poisoning again. Although the Left Chancellor found it somewhat coincidental, he didn't pay much attention to the matter.
One of the advisors, fearing it was a conspiracy, informed the Left Chancellor of his suspicions. The Left Chancellor outwardly said he would investigate thoroughly, but in reality, he focused all his energy on the next day's plans.
The final night was fast approaching.
As night fell, the entire capital city was plunged into darkness, with only a few households still keeping their lights on.
Suddenly, the soldiers guarding the city gate were killed one by one, and then the person opened the city gate.
Outside the city gate stood hundreds of armored soldiers, carrying sharp weapons, who silently ran into the city.
Despite the large number of people, the sound of their running was perfectly synchronized, and in no time they reached the gate outside the palace.
The Left Chancellor stepped forward and knocked on the door. A eunuch opened the side door a crack and asked in a low voice, "Who is knocking on the door in the middle of the night?"
Before he could finish speaking, an arrow pierced through his hole.
The soldiers behind the Left Chancellor entered through the side gate and then fully opened the palace gate.
The next instant, all the soldiers behind the Left Chancellor rushed into the palace.
Their eyes were sharp and excited, as if they foresaw their moment of great success.
After all the soldiers entered the palace, General Li's deputy, Mo Wen, led his soldiers to guard all the palace gates, determined not to let anyone leave the palace.
After the Left Chancellor led his soldiers into the palace, he thought he would only be facing a few guards.
Unexpectedly, hundreds of soldiers suddenly rushed out from one side.
Judging from their clothing, they must be soldiers guarding the city.
The Left Chancellor was completely baffled. He ordered his men to guard the city gates tightly, not letting any suspicious person into the city.
Where did these soldiers come from?