Chapter 700: First Volume, Chapter 700: Then Kneel While You Speak!

First Volume, Chapter 700: Then Kneel While You Speak!

Qin Feng couldn't help shaking his head in admiration and bowed to Qin Tianhu: "You're truly my father—my little schemes can't hide from your eyes."

Facing Qin Feng's flattery, Qin Tianhu let out a light snort, irritable: "Don't give me that crap!"

"You brat, you're the master of digging trenches—I'm only your father, or else even I'd be tricked by you."

Qin Feng shook his head like a rattle drum: "How could that be?"

"You're my father!"

"I'd scheme against anyone, but never you."

"The third layer of meaning, naturally, is the position of Taishi Taibao."

"As you just said, the Northern Border is the First Line against foreign hostile forces."

"In this National War, losses in troops, military supplies, and cities are all concentrated in the Northern Border, so part of these sixty million taels of silver must be allocated to the Northern Border."

"Twenty million taels? Hmph, too little—I think it should be split right down the middle!"

"Don't want to give it? Fine! Trade it for the position of Taishi Taibao."

"These two positions, the Sage has guarded so tightly, even refusing to attend court meetings to prevent them from falling into our hands—even the Taolin Party and the Civil Official Faction united in pressure might still fail to force the Sage to yield."

"So, to make the Sage loosen his grip, we must give him an irrefusable reason."

Qin Tianhu frowned tightly, unable to help shaking his head in admiration.

"Feng, Feng—had you entered the Imperial Court, you'd have become a minister wielding supreme authority."

"Yet you shun the Imperial Court entirely."

"Father doesn't understand—what are you thinking?"

In Qin Tianhu's view, Qin Feng's tactics might even outmatch the Liang Emperor.

If Qin Feng entered the Imperial Court, he could ally with the Taolin Party and the Civil Official Faction to crush the Li Imperial Clan entirely.

At that point, what the Qin Family controlled wouldn't be half the Imperial Court—it would be the entire power center of Jingji.

Yet Qin Feng had zero interest in such absolute authority.

Qin Feng smiled and shook his head: "Father, I have no such grand ambition."

"I just want to develop Beixi County, protect my family and friends, and maybe become the richest man, earning a little silver."

"As for holding the reins of Heaven—I'm not interested."

Qin Feng spoke vaguely, but father and son shared a silent understanding—Qin Tianhu naturally grasped Qin Feng's thoughts.

Once Qin Feng formally entered the Imperial Court, many things would become beyond his control.

Since ancient times, there has always been the tradition of the lower overthrowing the upper.

When Qin Feng's power and position reach a certain level, those beneath him will push him relentlessly upward.

Reputation comes from above's bestowals; authority comes from below's admiration.

In short…

Qin Feng doesn't want to rebel, let alone commit traitorous talk.

Qin Tianhu was deeply relieved—after all, the Qin Family had always been loyal ministers; as long as the Liang Emperor didn't put a blade to a Qin Family member's throat, they'd never bear the disgrace of being labeled Rebel Party and Flattering Minister.

This concerns the Qin Family's pure reputation.

The father and son had already thoroughly discussed the matter and immediately returned to the Negotiation Hall.

Qin Feng's task was done; the rest of the trivial details and side matters could be handled by Qin Tianhu and Han Yu.

Qin Feng walked out of the Grand Hall with his hands behind his back, strolling leisurely.

He was about to head home and resume studying his brewed liquor.

But after only a few steps, Palace Guards blocked his path.

In the past, Qin Feng would have been nervous—after all, his covert Tianji Camp Guards and Anwu Guard couldn't enter the Imperial Palace.

Alone, if the Liang Emperor made a desperate move, Qin Feng truly had no means of resistance.

But now, Qin Feng wasn't the least bit alarmed.

Just after the State Peace Talks, would the Liang Emperor strike? Unlikely!

Qin Feng smiled as he sized up the Palace Guards: "What's this? Planning to keep me for dinner?"

The enmity between the Palace Guards and Qin Feng ran deep—even knowing Qin Feng had accomplished great deeds, they still ground their teeth in hatred.

Yet…

The Palace Guards knew perfectly well: no one could touch Qin Feng now.

They could only grit their teeth and say coldly: "Anle Bo, the Imperial Household requests your presence."

Hearing this, Qin Feng couldn't help laughing: "Imperial Household?"

"Which Imperial Household? How 'imperial'?"

At these words, the Palace Guards' faces darkened instantly—they cursed Qin Feng for his arrogance and insolence.

But they had no choice but to swallow this hatred.

Watching the Palace Guards' shifting expressions, Qin Feng felt immensely satisfied.

Ha—he loved seeing the Palace Guards seethe with hatred yet be powerless to act.

"Speak up, or I'm leaving."

Facing Qin Feng's repeated provocation, the Palace Guards clenched their teeth, speaking slowly: "Chang Princess requests your presence."

Hearing this, Qin Feng let out a long "Oh"—"Chang Princess? Indeed very 'imperial.'"

"But…"

"The Hou Gong is a sacred inner court—how could a subject like me enter without permission?"

"After all, there are countless Imperial Household members—if I, foolishly, offended any of them, wouldn't I invite certain death?"

"How about this—go report back to Chang Princess. If she wants to see me, she can come to Gong Wai."

"I hear Chang Princess hasn't gone home in ages, spending every day cooped up in the palace. Doesn't she find it dull? It's not like there are that many assassins out here in Gong Wai."

The Palace Guards tightened his fists—how could he not catch the mockery in Qin Feng's words?

Especially that last line, which was clearly ridiculing Chang Princess for being a coward who only knew how to hide in the palace and play dirty tricks, never daring to leave the palace and face Qin Feng head-on.

"Qin Feng, don't you get cocky!"

"No matter how powerful you've become, you're still just a minister!"

Facing the Palace Guards' rebuke, Qin Feng didn't hesitate. He raised his hand and delivered a slap, his eyes cold and fierce: "Even if I am just a minister, it's not for a mere guard like you to point fingers at me."

"You cur of a dog, overstepping your bounds. Believe it or not, I'll throw you into the Tianji Camp Prison right now and loosen up your bones for you!"

The Palace Guards' cheek stung, and his fists clenched so hard they creaked.

Looking across the whole of Shedynasty, anyone facing the Palace Guards would have to show him some deference. Only this Qin Feng, from start to finish, never took the Palace Guards seriously.

Slapping the Palace Guards in the palace?

In this whole world, only he, Qin Feng, would dare to do such a thing.

The Palace Guards was burning with rage, several times wanting to draw his Waist Saber and execute Qin Feng on the spot.

But at the last moment he held back every time, and could only grit his teeth and swallow this Hatred: "The Earl of Anle is right to teach me a lesson!"

The Imperial Eunuch and maids hiding in the corners covered their mouths, so frightened they didn't dare even draw a breath.

Qin Feng naturally knew that these eunuchs and maids were the eyes and ears of every palace and courtyard.

It's time these Imperial Household got a little warning too.

Qin Feng deliberately said in front of everyone, coldly: "A mere Fifth Rank Earl of Anle like me, disciplining a Third Rank saber-carrying Palace Guards—that doesn't sit right, does it?"

The Palace Guards kept his head lowered, each word measured: "I wouldn't dare."

Qin Feng snorted coldly: "Then kneel when you speak!"