Chapter 265

First Volume, Chapter 265: Imperial Dao Surge

The Liang Emperor's gaze suddenly darkened, and the atmosphere in the Grand Hall turned grim.

Wu Mian reacted instantly, realizing his words had been a mistake, and quickly knelt to apologize: "Your Sacredness, please see clearly—even if I were given a hundred times my courage, I would never dare to slander the Li Imperial Clan. My loyalty is evident to heaven and earth…"

Before Wu Mian could finish expressing his loyalty, the Liang Emperor cut him off coldly: "Minister, no need to panic. Rise."

Wu Mian exhaled in profound relief.

The Liang Emperor's gaze flicked over to Qin Feng.

In that instant, Qin Feng actually felt intense pressure.

Is this what they call the Dragon's Reverse Scale—touch it and you die?

Qin Feng now understood why the Ministry of Personnel had rushed to send him to Fuyun County—it was to drag him into the imperial family's feud and crush him to dust.

The Liang Emperor's bottomless eyes were now fixed entirely on Qin Feng, his tone deeper than usual: "The Ministry of Personnel sent you to assist the County Magistrate of Fuyun in improving People's Livelihood. I wish to hear your thoughts."

The sovereign's words: hear one, scrutinize two, guess three.

If you're fooled by surface clues alone, you won't even know how you died.

The Liang Emperor wasn't asking about Fuyun County's People's Livelihood—he was asking Qin Feng how he viewed the Ming Prince, stranded in Fuyun County.

Qin Feng, who had always been lazy and carefree, now grew serious, his mind racing.

He hesitated only a moment before the Liang Emperor demanded: "Is this question so hard to answer?"

Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat; he dared not delay further and quickly replied: "Anyone who becomes one of the Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu's County Magistrate is no ordinary man. Isn't each one promoted gradually for proven governance in their region? Moreover, Jingzhong has long had an unwritten rule: to attain high office, besides normal promotion, there is another path—serve in the Thirty-Six Counties."

"After all, these Thirty-Six Counties are among Liang's strongest counties. If one can govern a strong county well, later assuming a key post will come easily."

The Grand Hall had fallen utterly silent.

No one dared interrupt at this moment.

Even Li Xu of the Ministry of Revenue, Qin Feng's longtime archenemy who always seized every opening to strike, remained silent.

The Liang Emperor was deeply dissatisfied with Qin Feng's answer: "Do you think I need you to tell me this? Turn around—how many among the Manchu Civil and Military have served as County Magistrate of the Thirty-Six Counties?"

This had crossed the line!

Qin Feng dared not pretend ignorance; he spoke bluntly: "My meaning is clear: the County Magistrate of Fuyun cannot act effectively—the problem lies not with the magistrate himself."

At these words, the Liang Emperor's face darkened instantly.

The entire Grand Hall's atmosphere had turned icy to its extreme.

Only when Qin Feng himself felt overwhelming pressure did the Liang Emperor speak again—this time even sharper: "Are you blaming the Ming Prince?"

"The Ming Prince is my own brother. He once guarded the borders, commanding troops with divine skill. Every major victory recorded in our dynasty came from his command—his glorious military achievements are known throughout Heaven! Now that he is old, resting in Fuyun County is entirely reasonable. The County Magistrate fears the Prince's authority, cowers and hesitates—this is his own cowardice, not the Ming Prince's fault!"

"I see—you're deliberately framing the Ming Prince!"

Though the one being scolded was Qin Feng, Qin Tianhu was already drenched in sweat.

In this Imperial Court, anything could be discussed—except the Li Imperial Clan.

Though Qin Feng also felt immense pressure, he remained composed.

The Liang Emperor's flowery words were meant only for outsiders.

If he truly defended the Ming Prince so fiercely, why would he have banished him to Fuyun County? Why would he have granted the Ming Prince's second son the lowest noble title of Baron? Isn't that slapping the Ming Prince in the face?

Of the eight princes, only the Ming Prince resides outside Jingdu.

And whenever the Ming Prince is mentioned, even the usually calm and wise Liang Emperor becomes so emotionally agitated.

Enough said!

Qin Feng could not back down now—if he did, the charge of "framing the Prince" would be confirmed, and he'd be forced to shoulder the Liang Emperor's past vendettas as a scapegoat!

Qin Feng straightened and bowed respectfully, arguing firmly: "Perhaps the Ming Prince has no intention of disturbing Fuyun County's peace, but he is still a Prince—his royal authority terrifies all directions. Even if the Ming Prince merely sits in Fuyun County doing nothing, he will still cause the locals to fear and the County Magistrate to tremble."

"As the saying goes: Equal Before the Law."

"The Ming Prince himself bears no fault, but he chose not to stay in Jingdu—he insisted on going to Fuyun County. What else could result but Fuyun County trembling beneath his royal authority?"

The Manchu Civil and Military all bowed their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.

Li Xu also kept his head down, barely suppressing a laugh—he silently thought: "Qin Feng, Qin Feng, you've thrown yourself into the fire—this has nothing to do with me! Before the entire court and the Sacred Emperor, openly accusing the Ming Prince—today if you don't die, it's against heaven's will."

Qin Tianhu's face was pale as death, his eyes filled with despair.

Unless the Liang Emperor permitted it, even the Three Dukes could not lightly discuss the imperial family.

Just as Qin Tianhu was about to kneel and plead for punishment, the Liang Emperor's stern voice rang out.

"Bold Qin Feng, daring to publicly discuss the Ming Prince! Palace Guards, seize this man, drag him out of the Grand Hall, and administer the Imperial Punishment of Ten Strokes!"

As the words ended, a collective gasp echoed through the Grand Hall.

Li Xu, who had moments ago been eagerly anticipating punishment, turned pale: "What? Ten strokes?! That's a death penalty—why such a light punishment?!"

Qin Tianhu was equally stunned, feeling as if he were dreaming.

Amid a pitiful wail, Qin Feng was dragged out of the Grand Hall by the Palace Guards, shoved into a corner, and handed a punishment rod by an Imperial Eunuch, who tossed it impatiently at his feet: "Do it yourself."

Qin Feng grinned broadly, bowing and scraping to the Palace Guards, then picked up the punishment rod, tapped it lightly against his leg several times—each tap accompanied by a fake, hoarse cry.

Everyone knew the Liang Emperor had no intention of punishing Qin Feng.

Ten strokes? Are you joking?

What no one realized was that Qin Feng himself exhaled in profound relief, his heart pounding with lingering dread—he'd been perilously close. From now on, he would never touch imperial family topics again; one misstep meant utter ruin.

As for the Liang Emperor's true intentions, Qin Feng had long understood them.

The one phrase that had truly saved Qin Feng was: "The Ming Prince insisted on going to Fuyun County."

Everyone heard it: it was the Ming Prince's own choice—what does that have to do with the Liang Emperor?

The punishment was over.

Qin Feng acted out his role, limping as the Palace Guards dragged him back into the Grand Hall.

Qin Feng collapsed onto the floor with a thud, face twisted in a bitter grimace: "Your Sacredness's punishment is just—I admit my fault."

The Liang Emperor let out a cold snort, his face still icy: "Know your fault? What fault do you have?"

Qin Feng immediately bellowed: "Prince Ming insisted on going to Fuyun County—even if that was a fault, he is a prince, and it is not for this subordinate to comment!"

Liang Emperor's Wrath: "How dare you speak out of turn! Drag him out! Imperial Punishment of Five Strokes!"

The officials in the Grand Hall stared, dumbfounded.

How could the punishment possibly be getting lighter?

Outside the Grand Hall, Qin Feng's "howls" echoed once more…