Chapter 433: First Volume, Chapter 433: Relations Ease

First Volume, Chapter 433: Relations Ease

Xie Yun'er released her grip, but her small face grew even more serious; seeing Qin Feng's lazy, carefree demeanor, she was furious. But so many civilians had gathered around that she couldn't lash out, so she glared at Qin Feng, lowered her voice, and whispered a warning.

"Everyone is terrified—yet you act as if nothing's wrong. Don't you know the entire Jingdu is under martial law because of you? And… Grand Commandant Qin assumes Lin Taibao secretly intervened, and now he's standing off against Lin Tianbao inside the Imperial Palace. Moreover, due to the prior nomination for Grand Commandant, the Emperor clearly favors Lin Taibao."

"If you delay any longer, chaos will erupt!"

Qin Feng naturally knew all about the nomination for Grand Commandant—after all, the Taolin Party had already consulted him in advance.

Appointing Qin Tianhu as Grand Commandant was never Qin Feng's intention; it was merely a matter of circumstance. All Civil and Military Officials had their eyes fixed on the Grand Commandant post, and now the Qin Family had unmistakably become the Party Chief of both the Taolin Party and the Pro-War Faction. The ministers naturally wished to use Qin Family as a vessel to offer the Grand Commandant title to them.

What they didn't know was that Qin Feng had no desire for the position at all, yet he couldn't refuse the ministers' goodwill.

Anyone could accept the Grand Commandant post—except the Qin Family. If Qin Tianhu took it, the Liang Emperor would harbor hatred for him for life. No matter how harmonious their surface relationship appeared, behind closed doors it would become a fight to the death. Qin Feng sought conflict without destruction—not mutual annihilation.

Now, Wei Xiao and his faction had suddenly intervened, inadvertently helping Qin Feng escape the dilemma.

Qin Feng grabbed Xie Yun'er's arm. Not only was he calm, he even grinned and teased: "Let them stand off—what does it have to do with us younger generations? But you—why are you suddenly wearing armor?"

Seeing Qin Feng so nonchalant, Xie Yun'er found it utterly baffling. "Qin Feng, what are you up to? At a time like this, why are you even concerned about whether I'm wearing armor?"

Qin Feng shrugged, looking perfectly reasonable. "You're my Qin Family's future Young Madam. If not you, who else should I care about?"

Hearing this, Xie Yun'er's face flushed red. She shot him a glare and snapped: "My father is the Duke of Ning. I inherited his military role—what's wrong with that? This armor is my Xie Family's ancestral heirloom!"

Armor doesn't distinguish gender—only size.

Qin Feng scanned Xie Yun'er, fully armed to the teeth, finding her uniquely beautiful, and couldn't help feeling secretly delighted.

He'd thought he'd married a spoiled brat—yet it turned out she was a female general. Tsk tsk tsk—wasn't this a blood-soaked bargain?!

Sensing Qin Feng's lewd gaze, Xie Yun'er spat: "You scoundrel—what filthy thoughts are you having now?"

Qin Feng chuckled, offered no explanation, and simply strolled through the streets with Xie Yun'er, looking utterly smug. As for entering the palace? He had no such intention. He'd rather inspect the Qin Family Grain Shop.

Meanwhile, in the Jingong Yushufang.

The Liang Emperor's face was dark as iron as he watched Qin Tianhu and Lin Taibao exchange sharp words.

At that moment, a voice came from behind the Screen.

"Your Majesty, Qin Feng has returned to Jingdu, safe and unharmed."

Upon hearing this, the Liang Emperor's expression darkened further. Qin Tianhu and Lin Taibao were already deadlocked; now that Qin Feng had returned unscathed, the Grand Commandant post was almost certainly lost. The Qin Family already held military power and had numerous allies in the Imperial Court.

If the Grand Commandant position also fell into Qin hands, no one in all of Shedynasty would be able to check them. This had clearly crossed the Liang Emperor's red line.

As the Liang Emperor gritted his teeth, preparing to make a desperate gamble, Wei Xiao's voice came again.

"Qin Feng knew both Grand Commandant Qin and Lin Taibao were inside the palace, yet he made no move to enter. Instead, he strolled through the streets with Xie Yun'er and went straight to the Qin Family Grain Shop."

The Liang Emperor's previously venomous expression instantly cleared. He exhaled softly in relief.

The Liang Emperor immediately interrupted Qin Tianhu and Lin Taibao, speaking in a deep tone: "Minister Qin, the matter of Qin Feng's abduction has been clarified—it has nothing to do with Lin Taibao. Furthermore, Qin Feng has returned safely to the city and is now at the Qin Family Grain Shop auditing accounts."

At these words, the entire Imperial Study fell silent.

Lin Taibao snorted: "Grand Commandant Qin, do you know what crime you commit by falsely accusing me?"

Seeing Lin Taibao escalate, before Qin Tianhu could reply, the Liang Emperor stepped in as the peacemaker: "This is no fault of Minister Qin's. As parents, their anxiety is understandable. If there's nothing else, Lin Taibao, please return to rest."

Since the Liang Emperor had spoken thus, Lin Taibao could only reluctantly let it drop.

On the other side, Qin Tianhu fell into deep thought.

Qin Feng's safety was certainly good news—but at this moment, Qin Feng should have rushed to the palace immediately to forcibly seize the Grand Commandant post and leave the Emperor no room to maneuver. Yet Qin Feng did the exact opposite. Clearly, he was deliberately reminding him: the Grand Commandant post isn't worth having.

Realizing this, Qin Tianhu immediately bowed to the Liang Emperor: "Since my son is safe, this old minister will no longer trouble Your Majesty. I take my leave."

Seeing Qin Tianhu say nothing more about the Grand Commandant post, the Liang Emperor was overjoyed, though his face remained as calm as ever. He waved his hand: "Minister Qin, you may go."

Watching Qin Tianhu depart, the Liang Emperor exhaled deeply and turned sharply to Wei Xiao: "Go tell the Black Guard Corps—cancel all plans targeting the Qin Family immediately!"

Wei Xiao didn't understand why the Emperor had changed so abruptly. "The Black Guard Corps has already shifted its focus from Bei Di back to Jingdu, preparing to fully confront the Qin Family. To halt now… might…"

Before Wei Xiao could finish, the Liang Emperor cut in coldly: "The Grand Commandant post is Qin Feng's offering to me. With support from the Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party, the Grand Commandant title was inevitable for the Qin Family. Yet Qin Feng deliberately avoided it—clearly, he does not wish to oppose me."

"The court's situation is now crystal clear. Whether Pro-War Faction or Taolin Party, both are secondary. Whether the court remains peaceful depends entirely on Qin Feng's will. Since Qin Feng wishes to ease relations with me, I must respond in kind. Two harmful weights—choose the lighter. I can no longer afford to fight the Qin Family. Any action must wait until after the National War!"

Since the ImperialWill was settled, Wei Xiao did not press further. Before leaving, he asked: "What of the Brocade Guard?"

The Liang Emperor replied with a question: "How does the Brocade Guard compare to your Black Guard Corps?"

Wei Xiao answered without hesitation: "That scoundrel Qin Feng is the best at training troops. Though the Brocade Guard was formed recently, it's already on par with the Black Guard Corps and the Bei Di Night Owls!"