Chapter 606

First Volume, Chapter 606: The Emperor's Dignity Fully Damaged

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

The Liang Emperor sat upright, silently listening as the Black Captain reported.

Upon learning that Qin Feng had accepted the surrender offer and already returned to the city with his men, the Liang Emperor's gaze did not lighten in the slightest—instead, it grew even colder.

Since Qin Feng's return to Beijing, the monarch and minister had clashed repeatedly, each time ending with the Liang Emperor's compromise.

This time, worse than ever!

This Qin Feng was growing increasingly uncontrollable; the Liang Emperor's uneasy premonition grew stronger by the day.

Li Qian and Lin Taibao stood silently at the center of the Imperial Study, heads bowed, daring not to speak, only exchanging glances to urge each other to advise the Emperor.

But sensing the chill radiating from the Liang Emperor, neither dared open his mouth.

Only when the Black Captain withdrew did the Liang Emperor's icy gaze fall upon them.

"When you two were judging Xie Bi, you weren't so quiet, were you?"

"Why are you mute now?"

"Has Qin Feng frightened the courage out of you?"

The Liang Emperor glanced at Lin Taibao, filled with contempt and disappointment.

Before Qin Feng emerged, the Liang Emperor had always viewed Lin Taibao as a major threat, believing that this Old Fox's struggle against Qin Feng would inevitably result in mutual destruction.

That way, he could sit back and reap the benefits.

Yet Lin Taibao had been suppressed at every turn by Qin Feng, unable to even lift his head.

The Liang Emperor was deeply disappointed; his gaze slowly shifted to Li Qian.

"Second Brother, you personally oversaw the investigation into Xie Bi's Traitor Case. I wish to hear your thoughts."

Li Qian kept his head bowed low, fists clenched tightly, palms sweating uncontrollably.

He had thought this was his chance to permanently eliminate Qin Feng's faction.

Who knew Qin Feng would be so bold—leading his troops to storm the Execution Ground, seize hostages, and force the Liang Emperor into submission?

This "feat" was unprecedented, unparalleled.

Overseeing the Xie Bi case had been the Liang Emperor's opportunity for Li Qian—and clearly, Li Qian had betrayed that trust.

Now such a commotion had erupted, and the Liang Emperor himself had to step in to clean up the mess.

Li Qian knew well: his standing in the Liang Emperor's eyes had been severely diminished.

To give up now? Impossible!

Li Qian, unwilling to yield, summoned his courage and gritted his teeth: "There's still a chance!"

"Since Qin Feng has returned to the city and agreed to temporarily enter prison for investigation, let's just kill him there—once and for all!"

"Once Qin Feng is dead, the rest are mere rabble—no threat at all."

"As for any chain reactions that follow, Son-Minister will bear full responsibility."

Hearing Li Qian's suggestion, the Liang Emperor's gaze turned strange—neither disappointment nor revulsion could fully describe it.

Li Qian dared not raise his head, yet he clearly felt the Liang Emperor's scrutiny like thorns prickling his back.

Just as sweat began to bead on Li Qian's forehead, the Liang Emperor finally spoke, letting out a helpless sigh.

That sigh signaled the Liang Emperor's abandonment of Li Qian.

"Bear full responsibility? What is your status? Can you even bear it?"

"No matter what public opinion arises, it will all be directed at me. Even if you had entered the Eastern Palace, you'd still be nothing but a Crown Prince."

"Second Brother, if you're not in the position, don't meddle in its affairs—don't you even have this basic patience?"

Hearing this, Li Qian's heart turned half-dead.

The Liang Emperor couldn't help shaking his head with a bitter laugh: "Kill Qin Feng in prison? What a ruthless, ends-justify-the-means approach."

"I am the sovereign of Heaven—not a petty thief or sneak. Such low, despicable tactics—you may use them, but I cannot!"

Li Qian bowed his head even lower, fists clenched until his knuckles cracked—not out of hatred for Qin Feng, but from dread over his own future.

At that moment, Lin Taibao, steeling himself, spoke up.

"A sage is not incapable of killing—but he cannot kill Qin Feng."

"Today, the hostages under Qin Feng's control nearly occupy half the Imperial Court."

"Even those officials not taken hostage have remained utterly silent about today's prison raid."

"Clearly, the court's senior officials have not lost faith in Qin Feng."

"When Qin Feng committed death-worthy crimes, they watched. Now that he has turned the tide and averted disaster, these officials will grow even more loyal to him."

"Your Majesty may dream of killing Qin Feng—but fear that doing so would throw the court into chaos."

Lin Taibao's words were too blunt, bordering on overstepping.

Yet the Liang Emperor paid no mind; he narrowed his eyes at Lin Taibao, silently sneering—this old fool wasn't entirely stupid.

But neither was he particularly sharp.

"Lin Taibao, if you had merely spared my face and avoided the core issue, I'd have been pleased—it would prove you're capable of holding your post."

"But if what you just said came from your true heart, and you saw only one side without seeing the second, then I am deeply disappointed in you."

Lin Taibao's heart lurched—he had indeed seen only one side; as for the "second side" the Emperor mentioned, he was utterly clueless.

But as a veteran Official, one must have thick skin; without hesitation, Lin Taibao blurted out:

"The second side… it's not for this Old Minister to spell out."

Hmph.

The Liang Emperor sneered inwardly—no wonder this Lin Taibao was called the Old Fox; his depth of cunning mattered less than his sheer audacity.

The Liang Emperor took a sealed letter from beside him and read it aloud without expression.

"Today's execution ground clash has inflicted heavy losses on the garrison troops."

"The Imperial Guard has been annihilated; the Palace Guards have been annihilated; the Temple Soldiers have suffered more than half casualties."

"In contrast, Qin Feng's troops lost eight Tianji Camp Guards and one hundred twenty-seven Beixi Soldiers."

Hearing the Liang Emperor recite the horrific battle losses, Li Qian and Lin Taibao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion, unsure of the Liang Emperor's intent.

The Liang Emperor set down the secret letter, crossed his hands atop the shushu, looked down upon the two, and suddenly laughed—but the smile was deeply unnatural.

"Amid the encirclement and interception by the Imperial Guard, the Palace Guards, the Temple Soldiers, the City Patrol, the Longhu Army, and the Western and Western Camps."

"Qin Feng, with minimal losses, rescued the Xie family father and daughter, captured the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice of Dali Temple, Longhu Army Commander Zhao Li, and a group of Ministry of War Officials."

"And he successfully led the families of the Qin, Ning, and Xie clans out through the city gate."

"Second Brother, Lin Taibao, after this incident, what have you seen?"

Though the Liang Emperor's voice was soft, even casual, Li Qian's forehead was drenched in sweat; he gritted his teeth to speak: "Qin Feng's troops are invincible."

The Liang Emperor nodded with a smile, then turned to Lin Taibao: "Taibao, what do you think?"

Lin Taibao took a deep breath, his heart in utter turmoil, yet he feigned calm: "The Imperial Capital Garrison lacks training and cannot match the Northern Border Troops."

Hearing their explanations, the Liang Emperor let out a long, drawn-out "Oh."

Slowly rising to his feet, he slammed his palm onto the shushu, his expression transforming utterly—he erupted in furious rage!