My Cultivation Starting from Archery-Chapter 707 - 223: Chaos Under Heaven_5

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Capital City.

At the very time when turmoil struck Liangzhou in the Northern Territory, a great storm also brewed within the Capital City, thousands of miles away, the two events unfolding simultaneously.

In the seventy-sixth year of Emperor Longqing's reign, on the seventh day of the ninth month.

On the eve of Emperor Cao Kai's seclusion, Mr. Feng Chu, Fang Qingyun, intercepted him on the way to the Temple outside the city to offer sacrifices, presenting three accusations: first, the Immortals' lack of compassion; second, the Emperor's foolishness; and third, the treachery of corrupt officials.

It was this third accusation.

Before the eyes of tens of thousands of citizens, he revealed the truth about the "Ten Days in Yunzhou" and the "Three Prefectures of Guan Du," listing ten heinous crimes committed by the Yan Family father and son and imploring His Majesty the Emperor to punish them severely without mercy.

Within the Capital City, this set off a tempest.

Due to insufficient evidence, both parties stood their ground.

Therefore, Emperor Longqing ordered Chief Minister Yan Liang to temporarily step down and return to his home for recuperation, assigning King Jin, Cao Huan, along with Prince Qi and Prince Qin to thoroughly investigate the case.

Until this day.

The news of Chen Sansi's rebellion in Beiliang added a thunderclap to the already intricate and stormy Capital City.

Within Zhongjue Hall.

King Jin and Ming Qingfeng's faction faced off against Prince Qi, Prince Qin, and the representatives of the Yan Party faction.

Upon seeing the secret letter about Liangzhou's rebellion and the White Robe's assembly of a hundred thousand soldiers, the hall fell into a dead silence.

After a long while,

Ming Qingfeng broke the silence, pointing at Yan Maoxing's nose and cursing, "Yan Maoxing! Look at the mess you've made! You've incurred the wrath of heaven and the people! If you don't die, I fear all the border soldiers in the world will revolt!"

"Nonsense, where's the evidence?! Just on the basis of a few fabricated letters and the baseless talk of some obscure travelers, you're pinning such a huge blame on me?!"

Yan Maoxing countered craftily, "This is clearly a scheme you, Ming Qingfeng, along with Fang Qingyun and Chen Sansi concocted because you covet the position of Chief Minister. In my opinion, it's not Chen Sansi who intends to rebel, but you, Ming Qingfeng!"

"Enough!"

"Shouldn't we first discuss how to deal with Chen Sansi's rebellion?!"

"How dare you, young fool!"

"The court has treated him with immense grace; why would he commit such a heinous act of treason!"

"Don't panic, General Ji is still in control of Liangzhou City and should be able to hold out for some time. Moreover, with General Ji's record of slaughtering enemies and cultivation of the Divine Dao, I believe his current strength might even surpass White Robe's!"

"The root of the problem still lies in Guan Du. In my view, if we take down Yan Maoxing and his son, the people under Chen Sansi's command will naturally collapse!"

"This matter is of great importance; it's best to let His Majesty decide."

...

Longevity Palace.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty!"

Huang Hong looked at the porcelain bottle in Emperor Longqing's hand, expressing joy from the bottom of his heart: "With the Foundation Establishment Pill in hand, Your Majesty will soon achieve Foundation Establishment, and coupled with Dragon Abyss and the National Guardian Seal, you will be able to deter the Immortal Masters and protect the people!"

Cao Kai's expression was as unchanging as an ancient well as he asked indifferently, "Have you found out where Sun Xiangzong's items came from?"

"It's most likely related to the Extreme North from those days."

Huang Hong spoke earnestly, "Ever since Sun Xiangzong's death, I've been searching, not just me, but many Immortal Masters and even Cultivators from the Ancient Demon sect are searching."

"Continue the search."

Emperor Longqing waved his horsetail whisk: "We can only truly protect the people as I've just mentioned once we have all of the 'Guardian's' items. I'll be entering seclusion shortly; after I finish, I hope to receive accurate information."

"Your servant understands."

Huang Hong rose to his feet.

Yet hardly had he left for the time it takes to drink a small cup of tea, before he hurriedly returned, a look of urgency on his face.

"Your Majesty!"

"Chen, Chen Sansi has rebelled!"

"..."

The Old Emperor was momentarily taken aback, his lips coldly curling before returning to normal: "Zizhan wishes to pass on his hatred for me to his disciple. I had thought my magnanimity could transform Chen Sansi to serve me; little did I know this would be like the farmer and the snake. The Great General I painstakingly promoted bites back, alas!"

"Your Majesty, don't be enraged; consider it feeding an ungrateful stray dog."

Huang Hong spoke anxiously, "The priority now, after all, is that Chen Sansi has taken 'Yunzhou' and 'Guan Du' as pretexts to burn the Spiritual Grain, igniting signal fires eight hundred li wide in rebellion, and now he has assembled a hundred thousand troops besieging Liangzhou City. What is to be done?!"

"A traitorous subject and thief will never amount to much."

Emperor Longqing stood up, his voice as deep as the Nine Netherworld: "Whatever pretense they've used for rebellion, just obliterate with that very pretense. Once we get through this period, after my seclusion concludes, no one will be able to escape my grasp."

"Your servant understands."

...

Zhongjue Hall.

After a round of heated arguments, Yan Maoxing, alongside Prince Qi and Prince Qin, stormed out of the grand hall.

On the way back,

"Mr. Yan, be assured!"

Prince Qi comforted him, "With my brother and me here, we will never let Ming Qingfeng succeed!"

The current court landscape,

Yan Party remains the Yan Party,

but the original Crown Prince Faction has slowly been replaced by followers headed by King Jin.

If the Yan Family father and son fall from power,

there would be no opportunity for Prince Qi and Prince Qin.

Naturally, they would do everything in their power to help clear the suspicions. freeweɓnøvel.com

"Thank you both, Your Highnesses!"

Yan Maoxing gave a bow and continued, "A country cannot be without its ruler for a day, nor without a crown prince. Once this incident is over, Yan will stake his life, if need be, to endorse you as the Crown Prince for our Great Sheng Dynasty!"

The two parties said their farewells.

Yan Maoxing hurried back to the Yan Mansion.

Inside Wutong Courtyard.

As usual.

The elderly Chief Minister Yan, clad in fine silk clothes, sat leisurely in a wicker chair, feeding the birds with colorful seeds in his hand, as if everything happening in the Capital City at that moment had nothing to do with him.