Chapter 503: First Volume_Chapter 503: Yizhi Yunjin

First Volume_Chapter 503: Yizhi Yunjin

The Liang Emperor had his own ruler in his heart, untouched by outside forces.

One side of this ruler measured the threat this person posed to imperial authority, the other side weighed the person's worth.

If worth outweighed threat, he could continue to be used; if threat outweighed worth, he would be removed without the slightest hesitation.

The Liang Emperor did not know how many times he had weighed Qin Feng inside and out, but each weighing left him shaken by Qin Feng's growth, while at the same time, Qin Feng's worth was beyond reproach.

Take this National War for example — the Liang Emperor could no longer find anyone who could do better than the father and son of the Qin Family.

As for Lin Taibao's scheming, how could the Liang Emperor not know? It was merely seizing the chance to trip Qin Feng up. By comparison, the Liang Emperor found Lin Taibao all the more detestable.

One had to know that since the great war broke out on the Northern Border, the Qin Family had essentially ceased hostilities in the factional struggle with the Lin Clan, putting everything else secondary to the National War.

But look at Lin Taibao — knowing full well that the Northern Border campaign was stretched thin and the Shedynasty's very foundations hung by a thread, he actually attempted to work against the Qin Family at this critical juncture, all to crush his political rivals.

This was no longer merely detestable — it was a crime deserving of ten thousand deaths!

The Liang Emperor had already noted this debt in his heart; once the National War ended, he would naturally settle accounts with the Lin Clan, principal and interest combined.

But for now, not only was the Northern Border no place to swap commanders on the eve of battle, even in the Grand Hall of court, stability had to come first — no conflict could be allowed to intensify.

The Liang Emperor kept his face impassive, even offering Lin Taibao a faint smile.

"Taibao has truly worn his heart out for Shedynasty — I am deeply comforted. Appointing a Supervisor of War is fair and reasonable. But Minister Qin is already the Supervisor of War, and Colonel Qin is also the Supervisory Special Envoy. If we appoint yet another Supervisor of War now, would that not be overly cumbersome? As the saying goes, swiftness is prized in war, and Military Commands must be concise and clear. If reports have to pass through layer upon layer of review, we will surely miss the moment for battle."

At this point, the Liang Emperor turned to look at Zhang Xiuye and said with a kindly expression: "Taibao has rendered great service. For the sake of the Northern Border campaign, one might say he has worn himself to the bone — he ought to be rewarded and commended. By the way, how much of the Yunjin tribute from the Powerful Clan of Nan Jing remains?"

Zhang Xiuye answered promptly: "Reporting to His Majesty, Yunjin is the finest fabric in Gong Zhong. Only three thousand bolts are tribute each year, and they have already been distributed as rewards to the various noble ladies of the Hou Gong. When this servant went to the Imperial Household Department to check the accounts at the beginning of the month, he found that only... one chi of Yunjin remained."

The Liang Emperor nodded, a smile spreading across his face.

"One chi it is, then. After all, this Yunjin is exceedingly precious — there is a saying that an inch of Yunjin is worth an inch of gold. Moreover, the annual output is only so much, and all of it is tribute to the palace. People outside, no matter how wealthy, cannot buy it. Let this one chi of Yunjin be bestowed upon Lin Taibao, as a token of commendation."

Having finished, the Liang Emperor directly announced the court's adjournment, rose, and left the Grand Hall.

As Lin Taibao was leaving the Palace Gate, Zhang Xiuye caught up with him and handed over the wrapped one chi of Yunjin.

Lin Taibao offered a few words of gratitude, then tucked the Yunjin into his robes and returned to his residence in high spirits.

Within One Envoy, the matter reached the Hou Gong, and the Chang Princess went straight to the Imperial Consort's Bedchamber to offer her congratulations in person.

"I heard that at today's court assembly, His Majesty commended Taibao to his face and even bestowed one chi of Yunjin? That Yunjin is fabric reserved exclusively for the imperial clan. Since the founding of Shedynasty, those who have received a Yunjin reward can be counted on one hand — clearly His Majesty holds Taibao in great esteem."

The Imperial Consort replied with a beaming face, in a soft and gentle voice: "It is no great matter, yet it troubles Your Highness the Chang Princess to come in person. Hehehe. But speaking of it, His Majesty esteeming Taibao so highly is a blessing for my Lin Clan. For generations, my Lin Clan will devote itself utterly to Shedynasty, until death."

The maid the Imperial Consort had just promoted had long known that the Imperial Consort and the Chang Princess were at odds. Seeing the Chang Princess come to offer congratulations, the little maid's face immediately lifted to the heavens.

To give the Imperial Consort face, she promptly interjected in a low voice: "Taibao has devoted his whole life to Shedynasty — how could any other compare?"

"His Majesty naturally knows who is close and who is distant, who is kin and who is a stranger."

The maid's words were naturally meant to boost the Imperial Consort's morale and dampen the Chang Princess's prestige, hinting that the Chang Princess had bet on the wrong horse and ought not to have poured all her chips into Qin Feng.

His Majesty's bestowing one chi of Yunjin today was proof enough that, in His Majesty's heart, Qin Feng would never be fit to be mentioned in the same breath as Lin Taibao.

Even a mere little maid being so arrogant made the Chang Princess's face turn ugly. She offered a curt bow.

"The congratulations have been delivered; this Palace shall not trouble Your Ladyship any further."

With that, the Chang Princess left with a dark expression on her face.

When leaving the Palace Gate, the Lady of Qiyang Commandery was waiting at the entrance. Seeing the Chang Princess's ugly expression, she assumed she had suffered a setback and was about to offer a few words of comfort, when she saw the Chang Princess's expression do a complete one-eighty — from dark and sullen, in the blink of an eye to delighted and smug.

"That little maid truly spoke right into this Palace's heart."

"Exactly. In His Majesty's heart, who is distant and who is close is crystal clear."

Since the Chang Princess had entered the Hou Gong, this was the first time she had felt such satisfaction; on her way back to her palace, her steps were much lighter.

At the same time, the smug-faced Imperial Consort's expression instantly collapsed.

She spun around and slapped the maid across the face.

"You cheap slave, running your mouth — do you think this Palace is not humiliated enough?!"

The maid was stunned by the slap, collapsing to her knees and trembling, clutching her swollen little face as tears streamed down without cease.

In her heart she muttered endlessly — clearly just now Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort had been so pleased, so why had she turned so wrathful in the blink of an eye?

Was His Majesty's bestowing one chi of Yunjin upon Lin Taibao not something to be happy about?

The Imperial Consort glared viciously at the maid, grinding her teeth: "That Yunjin is reserved exclusively for the imperial clan. Since the founding of Shedynasty, how many of those who received a Yunjin reward have met a good end? Yunjin is His Majesty's final ultimatum. If Taibao presses his luck any further, today he may be rewarded with one chi of Yunjin, but tomorrow he could be rewarded with Three Feet of White Silk!

"You cheap slave — you don't even understand this, and you dare serve this Palace? Guards! Drag this cheap slave out and slap her mouth. This Palace has not said stop, and no one is allowed to stop!"

The Imperial Consort paid no heed to the maid's hysterical wailing and pleas for mercy, and rubbed her faintly aching temples.

That seemingly insignificant Wanfu of the past had now grown to a point that made everyone fear and dread him. Faced with the Qin Family and the Lin Clan, His Majesty had chosen the Qin Family without the slightest hesitation.

If this continued, there would come a day when His Majesty would utterly disregard the Lin Clan.

When that day truly came, given Qin Feng's way of doing things, he would surely avenge the past grievance of the Cheng Clan's Banishment back to the Ancestral Land.

Once the Qin Family made a move in Jingdu, this internal struggle would no longer involve His Majesty — it would be purely a feud between the Qin and Lin families.

If the Jiangnan Lin Family made any rash moves, Beixi County would likely send people straight over to deal with them.

If the Qin Family's continued growth were not stopped, the Lin Clan faced a slow death.

But stopping the Qin Family would touch His Majesty's core interests, and amount to disregarding the very foundations of all Shedynasty.

Simply impossible to handle!

The Imperial Consort pressed her forehead, her eyes full of melancholy — for the first time in her life, she felt so powerless...