Chapter 630

First Volume, Chapter 630: From Now On, No More Imperial Consort

Mingyue Zhai began construction with great fanfare.

Although the courtyard walls could not be expanded, the uses of the buildings within could be overhauled drastically.

The Yong Ren Fang was converted into Tun Bing Fang.

Behind those private little courtyards, aside from retaining the essential residences,

all others were turned into Wu Zi Tun Ji Cang Ku.

Progress at Tianji Camp was also swift.

Although restricted by imperial authority, they could not recruit soldiers locally,

but they could recruit from the Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu and surrounding regions.

All soldiers who passed screening were brought to Tianji Camp in Jingdu for centralized training.

Just as Qin Feng was acting frequently,

the Brocade Uniform Messenger brought two bad pieces of news.

"Young Master, the Northern Di Envoy Group has entered our Shedynasty territory."

"At this rate, they will arrive in Jingdu soon."

What was bound to come, had finally come.

The Northern Di Envoy Group's visit meant the war between Shedynasty and Northern Di would be definitively concluded.

What awaited both nations next was recuperation and peace.

With the pressure from Northern Di gone, the Liang Emperor could now turn his attention and overhaul domestic affairs with a free hand.

But Qin Feng had already prepared for this, so he was not overly anxious.

Upon receiving Qin Feng's nod,

the messenger continued: "Due to neglect, the Qin Family Grain Shop is facing utter collapse."

Hearing this disaster, Qin Feng's heart sank.

After all,

the Qin Family Grain Shop had always been one of Qin Feng's key weapons to counter, even attack, Jiangnan Lin Family.

But recently, too many events had occurred.

Even if Qin Feng had three heads and six arms, he could not spare attention for the Grain Shop.

Problems were foreseeable.

But he had not expected that one problem would lead to utter collapse.

Qin Feng frowned slightly: "Since the Qin Family sold off its pillar industries—CandyWorkshop, Book Bureau—"

"the Grain Shop's financial strength had always ranked second only to CandyWorkshop."

"Even if I neglected it during this period, how could it collapse so quickly?"

Facing Qin Feng's questioning,

the Brocade Uniform Messenger lowered his head and replied solemnly:

"The crisis facing the Qin Family Grain Shop is not due to the shop's own problems."

"It has been subjected to encirclement and interception by the Northern region's largest grain merchant, the Zhao Clan."

Zhao Clan?

Qin Feng pondered.

He vaguely recalled that the Brocade Uniforms had indeed reported this to him before.

The Zhao Clan rose to prominence through Qi Liang Ying Sheng.

Now backed by the Central Plains Imperial Party, their power has grown substantially, and they are even stirring, intending to strike at the Qin Family Grain Shop.

But Qin Feng had not taken it seriously at the time.

After all, the Zhao Clan, backed by the Central Plains Imperial Party, effectively had the Li Imperial Clan as their background.

And the Qin Family Grain Shop's purpose was to suppress the Lin Clan and restore the grain price to normal levels.

This was beneficial to Shedynasty in every way, with no downside.

Even if the Li Imperial Clan hated Qin Feng, they would not use the Seven Injuries Fist—killing eight hundred enemies while losing a thousand themselves.

Yet they actually did exactly that!

It truly caught Qin Feng off guard.

Just as Qin Feng was preparing to go to the Grain Shop, another messenger rushed in.

"Young Master, the Imperial Consort has left the palace."

Hearing this, Qin Feng, who had just stood up, sat back down.

"Do you know where the Imperial Consort is going?"

The messenger did not dare delay: "Dali Temple Prison."

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes, his mind racing—he already had a clear idea.

Lin Taibao's imprisonment meant the Lin Family's pillar in Jingdu had completely collapsed.

Without Lin Taibao's support, the Imperial Consort's position would not last long.

Right now, the Lin Family's top priority is to protect the Imperial Consort.

Coincidentally, Xie Yun'er, who had come to Mingyue Zhai for an inspection, overheard Qin Feng and the messenger's conversation.

Her eyes lit up with excitement: "At a time like this, the Imperial Consort dares to visit Lin Taibao?"

"Does she not even avoid suspicion? Doesn't she fear the Emperor will cast her into the Cold Palace?"

Although Xie Yun'er had rarely interfered in the Brocade Uniforms' secret affairs,

But Qin Feng would never guard against Xie Yun'er.

Therefore, he did not order the Brocade Uniform Guards to withdraw.

He simply watched Xie Yun'er with a smiling face and asked casually.

"Yun'er, do you think the Imperial Consort's move is a bad one?"

Xie Yun'er didn't even think—she nodded immediately in agreement.

"Of course!"

"Lord Lin committed such a grave crime; the Imperial Consort should have preserved herself."

"Yet she did the opposite—what else could it be but a bad move?"

Qin Feng smiled and voiced his own opinion.

"The Lin Family no longer has any distinction between bad moves and good ones."

"Right now, there is only one move left to make."

Xie Yun'er knew Qin Feng was brilliant—even to the point she could never fathom his depths.

Since Qin Feng said the Imperial Consort's action was not inappropriate, there must be his reason.

Intrigued, Xie Yun'er sat beside Qin Feng in front of the Brocade Uniform Guards.

She asked curiously: "Is giving up the Imperial Consort's position the Lin Family's last move?"

"How can I not understand it?"

"Once Lord Lin falls, the Lin Family will have only the Imperial Consort left as their pillar."

Under Xie Yun'er's curious, admiring gaze,

Qin Feng looked up at the thin clouds in the sky, as if he had already seen through all the mysteries.

"There is one thing you misunderstand."

"If both Lord Lin and the Imperial Consort fall, it will not deliver a fatal blow to the Lin Family itself."

"Conversely, if the Lin Family collapses, then Lord Lin and the Imperial Consort will have reached the end of their positions."

"In Jingdu,"

"once Lord Lin falls, whether in the Front Hall or the Hou Gong, they will slowly dismantle the Imperial Consort like boiling a frog in warm water."

"After all, she has always been arrogant and made countless enemies in the Hou Gong—no one will spare her."

"The Imperial Consort knows very well her position is already lost, so she chooses Chang Tong Bu Ru Duan Tong and cuts her losses decisively!"

Xie Yun'er faintly understood the Imperial Consort's situation.

At first glance, it seems the Imperial Consort holds the highest status.

In truth, the Imperial Consort relies on Lord Lin in the Front Hall to solidify her position in the Hou Gong.

And Lord Lin, in turn, needs the Lin Family to solidify his position in the Front Hall.

Lord Lin serves as the link between the two.

Now, he has been cut in half.

The Lin Family's entire "Imperial Court power" has been severed, losing its former strength.

Therefore, the Lin Family's top priority now is to have the Imperial Consort return to Jiangnan to take charge.

The Liang Emperor must see this clearly.

He will never easily allow the Imperial Consort to leave.

Thus, the urgent letter reporting the Lin Family patriarch's critical illness, and the Imperial Consort's deliberate provocation of the Liang Emperor by visiting Lord Lin,

have served their purpose.

Emotionally, granting the Imperial Consort leave to return home to see her kin one last time is beyond reproach.

Officially, punishing her for her lack of decorum by sending her home to reflect is reasonable and justified.

Qin Feng's lips curled slightly—everyone says Jingdu is easy to enter but hard to leave.

Let's see if the Imperial Consort can get out.