Chapter 119

Xiao Qidi froze for a moment, thought seriously, "I have never heard of it."

"Hahaha!" Si Tu Wei sneered, "His Majesty said you had Immortal aid, didn't you? Does the Immortal His Majesty mentioned not know everything?"

Xiao Qidi had no reply, thinking that whatever could make Si Tu Wei act so confidently in public must be formidable, yet he knew nothing about it, fearing he could not cope; he unconsciously glanced at the hall's door, his eyes pleading for help.

Ning Jinli pursed her lips and muttered softly, "I'm not an Immortal..."

Seeing her unmoved, Xiao Qidi sighed inwardly; it seemed even Jinli had no solution to this unexpected situation.

Well then, let's meet each move with a countermove.

"What is the Qingyou Platform?" Xiao Qidi asked calmly.

Si Tu Wei's aura rose, and he shouted loudly, "Where is Wang Ji?"

The hundreds of officials present looked left and right, but no one responded.

Si Tu Wei frowned, raised his voice and shouted again, "Wang Ji! Come here!"

Still no one responded.

This left Xiao Qidi also baffled.

Si Tu Wei's face fell, he turned and scanned the crowd while asking, "Wang Ji didn't come?! Ning Shan! Is Ning Shan here?"

"Alright, it's time for your old dad to make an appearance," Ning Shan winked at his daughter, "Let's go together."

"I am here!" Ning Shan replied shortly after.

The officials all turned toward the sound and then made way for him.

Ning Shan strode forward, and Ning Jinli followed beside him.

Under everyone's gaze, father and daughter approached Si Tu Wei.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Qidi's eyes; he wondered why Ning Jinli had also stepped out, but he said nothing.

"Where is Wang Ji?" Si Tu Wei asked Ning Shan, then glanced at Ning Jinli, "Who is this?"

Ning Shan answered, "I don't know where Lord Wang went; as for this person… he is my subordinate."

Si Tu Wei immediately noticed that Ning Shan's subordinate was extraordinarily handsome, his features clear and exquisite; even in the most inconspicuous official robes and hat he looked striking.

But he had no time to dwell on it now.

"Ning Shan, come, tell His Majesty what the Qingyou Platform does," Si Tu Wei said, sneering as he looked at Xiao Qidi.

Xiao Qidi felt uneasy in his heart.

This person shares the same surname as Jinli; upon closer look, Jinli and he bear some resemblance.

Most importantly, Jinli would never appear with him for no reason.

Could it be…?

"The Qingyou Platform is an organization dedicated to gathering intelligence," Ning Shan explained calmly, "In recent years, our secret agents have collected many unknown secrets of officials; just one of them would be enough to ruin a reputation."

As he spoke, the officials behind Si Tu Wei broke out in cold sweat.

They already knew the Prime Minister had a formidable network of informants watching their every move, uncovering their hidden secrets.

But now that it was confirmed, fear still welled up in their hearts.

"I see," Xiao Qidi narrowed his eyes, "Si Tu Wei, you truly have skill; even in My presence you can bind so many officials tightly to your boat."

Si Tu Wei said proudly, "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't wish to retire and return home; it's that Daxuan cannot do without me, and Your Majesty even more so cannot do without me."

"How about you take the throne then?" Xiao Qidi said wistfully.

"Hahaha!" Si Tu Wei laughed, "I only wish to be a minister who helps Your Majesty govern the world; I have no interest in the throne, and I appreciate Your Majesty's kindness."

"Is it lack of interest, or lack of courage to bear the infamy of usurpation and be reviled for eternity?" Ning Jinli interjected sarcastically, "Since you care so much about your reputation, aren't you afraid that future histories will record today's events and posterity will curse you? Oh, it won't just be curses; they'll also ridicule you."

Si Tu Wei's face darkened, "What are you laughing at?"

"Laughing at you for wanting supreme power while trying to keep your reputation, staging this ridiculous farce of coercing court officials to command the emperor," Ning Jinli said without restraint, then added harshly, "It's like being a slut and still wanting to erect a chastity arch."

Si Tu Wei's old face twitched; he could hear the mockery in those words, but the final phrase "being a slut and still wanting to erect a chastity arch" — what did it mean?

What does "slut" mean?

"Pfft—" Ning Shan couldn't hold back his laughter.

Si Tu Wei was annoyed; although he knew he had been insulted, he didn't understand the key term, which made him feel as uncomfortable as having swallowed a fly, so he frowned and asked, "What is a 'slut'?"

"Let me tell you," Ning Jinli whispered into his ear, explaining briefly.

Si Tu Wei's face flushed red then turned pale; he suddenly bellowed, "You… you… you have the gall! Dare to insult me like this! Seize him! Drag him out and behead him!"

"Let's see who dares!"

Xiao Qidi and Ning Shan spoke at once; one leapt up from the throne, the other stepped forward to shield Ning Jinli behind him.

Si Tu Wei froze, and the others all looked stunned.

Then they all stared at Ning Jinli with incredulous and bewildered eyes.

What background does this extraordinarily handsome young man have? Even his superior would dare to defy the Prime Minister to protect him, yet even His Majesty reacts this way?

His Majesty is usually as steady as Mount Tai when facing Si Tu Wei's threats!

Si Tu Wei couldn't tell what was going on; he could ignore Xiao Qidi's rebuke for now, but Ning Shan, as Deputy Commander of the Qingyou Platform, daring to shout at him—how could he tolerate that?!

"Ning Shan!" Si Tu Wei pointed at his nose and roared, "Are you rebelling?"

"Rebellion?" Ning Shan laughed, "Just now, who flaunted the Qingyou Platform in public? Who used officials' private secrets as threats? Who harbored designs to monopolize the throne?"

Si Tu Wei's face changed dramatically; he could hardly believe that the Deputy Commander of the Qingyou Platform would dare to defy him repeatedly.

"Do you… do you know what you're saying!" Si Tu Wei's eyes could kill; he roared, "Do you know what position you hold and whose person you are!"

Ning Shan replied calmly, "If you think I'm your man, you're gravely mistaken. Si Tu Wei, I tell you now: the Qingyou Platform is under my sole authority, and has nothing to do with you."

"What… what?" Si Tu Wei stiffened all over.

Ning Shan continued, "The place where the Qingyou Platform stores its intelligence data is known only to Wang Ji and me; unfortunately, although Wang Ji obeys your every command, you can no longer find him."

Si Tu Wei's pupils contracted; his stunned, dazed look was as if struck by a thunderbolt from a clear sky on his Heavenly Spirit Cover.

Ning Shan faces Xiao Qidi, clasping his hands in a salute, and says: "His Majesty the King of Daxuan above, Qingyou Platform's actual leader Ning Shan here declares: all information and evidence gathered by Qingyou Platform over the years, how they will be handled from now on, will only follow His Majesty's arrangements."

"Ning Shan! You……" Si Tu Wei's throat tightened instantly, and with a puchi he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xiao Qidi was overjoyed, immediately looked at the officials beside Si Tu Wei, and said loudly: "You officials are all smart people; you probably don't need me to say more, right?"

Those officials had already reacted, stepped back quickly, and then all knelt down before Xiao Qidi.

Such an obvious move clearly showed they wanted to draw a line with Si Tu Wei and no longer follow him.

"You…… you……" Si Tu Wei clutched his chest tightly, then vomited another large pool of blood.

Xiao Qidi sat down again, speaking coldly: "Originally, according to Si Tu Wei's past crimes, he should have been dismissed as Prime Minister, but he secretly monitored officials' privacy, openly threatened the king, and disrupted Daxuan's court! That adds more crimes; he must have his property confiscated and be exiled! Do you officials have any objections?"

"His Majesty is sage, we have no objections!" The hall echoed with uniform voices.

"Come here!" Xiao Qidi ordered, "Immediately remove Si Tu Wei's hat, strip his robes, and throw him into prison; after confiscating his property, exile him to Shu!"

As the words fell, Si Tu Wei collapsed like a heap of mud onto the ground.

In that moment, it seemed all his vitality had vanished, his whole person appearing to have aged over a decade.

Soon, the palace guards dragged him out of the hall.

From beginning to end, his eyes were vacant and dull, like a living corpse, with no struggle at all.

Xiao Qidi watched his aged figure disappear outside the hall doors, exhaling a turbid breath as if relieved of a heavy burden; a fleeting complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

After a brief moment of distraction, Xiao Qidi said: "Ning Shan, please do me a favor."

Ning Shan clasped his fists, "Your Majesty, please speak."

Xiao Qidi looked around at the nervous officials below and said: "Previously, Si Tu Wei had Qingyou Platform gather all officials' private information, whether intelligence or evidence—destroy it all."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

This order was announced publicly; the officials originally belonging to the Prime Minister's faction were stunned, none expecting Xiao Qidi to do this.

Xiao Qidi then said to them: "Officials, Si Tu Wei has been blackmailing you with all sorts of junk for so long, but I only learned of it today, letting you suffer injustice; I feel terrible about it."

Those officials were filled with astonishment, hardly believing their own ears.

His Majesty's order for Qingyou Platform to destroy all their private information already far exceeded their expectations.

What's more, His Majesty not only did not blame them for previously supporting Si Tu Wei, but instead considered their difficulties with understanding.

They were instantly moved to tears, crying together.

Ning Shan whispered to Ning Jinli: "Your boyfriend sure has a knack for winning people over; could it be he used some trick on you too?"

"Dad," Ning Jinli wrinkled her nose, "he's sincere with me; don't talk nonsense."

Ning Shan grinned, "Hey, you're protecting him again."

Afterwards, Xiao Qidi had all officials retreat, including the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards in the hall, leaving only Ning Shan and Ning Jinli.

As the others had just left, Xiao Qidi immediately stepped down the stairs, bowed to Ning Shan, and said: "You must be Jinli's father, right? Greetings, Uncle Ning; I, Qidi, pay my respects to Uncle Ning."

Ning Shan's eyes flickered with surprise, "Your Majesty, you need not be so polite."

Xiao Qidi said sincerely: "Uncle Ning, just now, in front of a group of Daxuan officials, it was inconvenient for me to greet you; please forgive me. Also, you need not address me as Your Majesty like they do."

"This…… really no problem?" Ning Shan looked at Ning Jinli with doubtful eyes.

In Ning Shan's view, Xiao Qidi is ultimately a person of this era, and moreover a monarch of a nation; could he really let go of his dignity?

"Of course there's no problem!" Ning Jinli directly raised her arm and hooked her neck around Xiao Qidi's, "Dad, let me tell you, he's not someone who rejects new ideas and things; otherwise I couldn't like him, and I usually call him little brother."

Ning Shan quickly observed Xiao Qidi's reaction.

He saw Xiao Qidi delighted like a big fool; aside from wearing the king's ceremonial robes like an ancient person, he clearly looked like a modern young man in the throes of love.

"Cough!" Ning Shan deliberately coughed.

Only then did Xiao Qidi react, embarrassedly taking Ning Jinli's arm off his neck.

Ning Shan smiled, eyebrows relaxed, "Alright, alright, I won't be your third wheel; I'll go ahead, no need to see me off."

"Take your time, Uncle." Xiao Qidi said politely.

Ning Shan turned and walked a few steps, then stopped and looked back: "Qidi, you just had me destroy that information in front of everyone—was that just for show?"

Xiao Qidi asked doubtfully: "Uncle, what do you mean by that?"

Ning Shan smiled lightly: "I've already cooperated with you so much; there's no need for you to pretend! Haven't you seen how terrified those officials who once followed Si Tu Wei are of their private information leaking? With your intellect you surely know that keeping the information can guard against them. So……"

Xiao Qidi frowned, shook his head: "Uncle, I'm not putting on a show; I really intend to destroy that information."

"Huh?" Ning Shan exclaimed in disbelief: "You kid, you're really serious?"

Xiao Qidi solemnly nodded: "Yes."

Ning Shan, while thinking, said: "Qidi, don't blame me for butting in, but in the eyes of those old fogeys you're still just a greenhorn who just regained the throne; even if they outwardly submit and even have their hearts won over by you, when it comes to actually getting things done, they may not fully obey you, because they'll think you're too inexperienced, lacking in experience and ability, inevitably resisting your orders. Are you sure you don't want to hold their leverage as a precaution?"

Xiao Qidi said earnestly: "I understand your good intentions, Uncle, but I've thought it over carefully; if I am to become a wise ruler in the future, I cannot rely on such means to coerce them; only by letting them fully trust me will they wholeheartedly work with me to govern the state well, and I do not want the pillars of Daxuan to become mutual schemers who guard against each other; otherwise, how could the common people live good lives?"

Ning Shan stared for a few seconds, his eyes filling with relief and admiration, and gave a thumbs-up: "Well done, my daughter truly didn't misjudge you! I hope you never forget what you just said."

"Thank you for your praise, Uncle, and please rest assured."

"All right, all right! I'm off; you two take your time getting lovey-dovey, and when you have free time later, you three—me, you, and Xiao Li's mom—can get together!"

Having said that, Ning Shan left with a beaming face, humming a little tune.

The two watched Ning Shan walk out of the hall doors.

Xiao Qidi's eyes brimmed with an affectionate smile he could hardly contain: "Jinli, I can finally see you again; I really want——"

Before he could utter the word "you," Ning Jinli tiptoed, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and sealed his lips with her pair of bright red lips…