Chapter 702: First Volume, Chapter 702: Scared Into the Pond

First Volume, Chapter 702: Scared Into the Pond

Military affairs are an extension of politics, but Qin Feng did the opposite: he first secured his foothold in the Northern Border, leveraging its military strength to influence the political ecosystem of the Imperial Court in Jingdu.

Then, from within the Imperial Court, he gradually took control of the Civil Official Faction.

Finally, through the Civil Official Faction, he influenced the two major Jingji military groups: the Longhu Army and the Garrison Army.

Despite having no official rank whatsoever—even his former Nine Rank county magistrate post had been revoked and given to Lin Quqi—

Qin Feng, who held only the title of "Anle Marquis," now controlled both military and political power.

The Liang Emperor watched Qin Feng's influence steadily reach its peak, yet remained powerless to stop it.

Although the Liang Emperor issued orders strictly forbidding anyone from discussing the matter, the news of Qin Feng's execution of the Palace Guards spread through the entire Imperial Palace in an instant.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

"That Qin Feng has gone mad!"

Xiao Zhuozi, pale and frantic, rushed into the Western Flower Hall and saw Li Yong sitting by the Chi Tang, fishing; his anxiety surged.

"Your Highness, that Qin Feng is heading straight for the Hou Gong—you should avoid him."

Upon hearing this, Li Yong couldn't help but laugh.

"This is the Hou Gong—I am the heir of Shedynasty. To yield to a mere Anle Marquis? If word got out, wouldn't all of Heaven laugh at me?"

"Qin Feng mad? Hmph, has he caused another mess?"

Li Yong shook his head with a sigh; just moments ago, he had received word that the State Peace Talks had ended in a decisive victory for their side.

Though Qin Feng was not the chief diplomatic envoy, he was the core of the entire negotiation—the credit belonged entirely to him.

And yet, barely had he earned his merit when he went and caused another scandal.

Hmph, Qin Feng is still Qin Feng—unchanged in the slightest.

Seeing Li Yong so calm, Xiao Zhuozi wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Your Highness, this time it's different!"

"Right after leaving the Negotiation Hall, Qin Feng publicly executed a Palace Guard."

Li Yong, who had just been so composed, froze.

Executing a Palace Guard? Such a thing had occurred only once since Shedynasty's founding—and that was during the previous dynasty.

The offender had been a fiery-tempered Grand General who, emboldened by his great achievements on the Bianchui frontier, had clashed with a Palace Guard and, in a rage, killed him.

The outcome, as you can imagine, was inevitable.

Killing a Palace Guard was tantamount to rebellion: the offender was stripped of all authority by the former emperor, thrown into a death cell, and publicly beheaded in the street.

Soon after, his entire clan—three generations—was exterminated under the charge of "rebellion."

And today, Qin Feng had done it again. Even Li Yong, whose mind was as deep as the ocean, felt a surge of tension.

After all…

Qin Feng was no mere former dynasty Grand General—he could not be compared.

Beyond his military exploits, Qin Feng held the two trump cards of political and military power; moving against him was tantamount to preparing for an Internal War.

Moreover, after killing the Palace Guard, Qin Feng did not leave the Imperial Palace—he came straight toward the Hou Gong. How brazen was this act?!

Li Yong set down his fishing rod and turned to Xiao Zhuozi, his brow deeply furrowed: "What does Qin Feng want in the Hou Gong?"

Xiao Zhuozi dared not hesitate: "He claims he was summoned by the Chang Princess."

The Chang Princess…

Li Yong, ever sharp, immediately realized the Chang Princess was merely a pretext—the real intent was the Emperor's covert warning, and Qin Feng's execution of the Palace Guard was a declaration of his stance.

Li Yong drew a deep breath, his face grim as never before: "The inevitable has come."

"Qin Feng can no longer be controlled or suppressed. Next, the positions of Taishi Taibao will become the focal point of contention."

Li Yong's mind raced; after a moment, he gave a decisive order: "Xiao Zhuozi, leave the palace at once and inform the Grand Tutor to depart Jingdu on official business immediately."

"Just tell him: Qin Feng has executed a Palace Guard. With the Grand Tutor's strategy, he will understand the stakes."

"I have already been named heir—the advantage of time is ours. Do not get entangled in factional strife now!"

Xiao Zhuozi did not dare delay; he spun on his heel and ran off.

Watching Xiao Zhuozi's retreating back, Li Yong frowned deeply—he knew full well that once the Qin Family began vying for the Taishi Taibao posts, the Grand Tutor, as one of the Three Dukes, would be forced to take a side.

If he sided with the Emperor, he would anger the entire Civil Official Faction led by Qin Feng; Li Yong, as heir, would face brutal retaliation—with consequences too dire to imagine.

But if he sided with Qin Feng, he would defy the Emperor.

Li Yong wished to offend neither side; thus, the best course was to take no stance at all—to avoid, if possible.

Li Yong stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Chi Tang before him; a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He glanced sideways at the Imperial Guard behind him, then leapt into the pond.

The Imperial Guard understood at once and shouted: "His Highness has fallen into the water!"

Li Yong clutched the An Bian, waiting quietly until numerous Eunuchs and maids arrived and witnessed his fall; only then did he nod, signaling the Imperial Guard to pull him out.

"Quick! Take His Highness back to the palace! Summon the Imperial Physicians!"

The Imperial Guard and a flurry of Imperial Eunuchs scrambled to escort Li Yong back to the palace; the entire Hou Gong descended into chaos.

Unbeknownst to them, standing outside the Door of the Western Flower Hall was a figure—Qin Feng.

Qin Feng, hands behind his back, watched Li Yong being carried away, and smiled.

"No wonder he's the Seventh Prince."

"I was just about to come find him to discuss the Taishi Taibao posts—and he falls into the pond. What perfect timing."

"Never mind. Since His Highness is unwell, I won't disturb him."

Beside him, Zhang Xiuye was pale as paper, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at Qin Feng.

Zhang Xiuye had spent decades in the palace; all the heart-stopping events of his lifetime paled beside today's chaos.

This young man had publicly executed a Palace Guard—and now, the Seventh Prince had jumped into the pond out of sheer fear—as if the entire Li Imperial Clan trembled before Qin Feng like a beast before a tiger.

Qin Feng didn't think Li Yong was cowardly; on the contrary, Li Yong was shrewd, making the most advantageous decision for himself at once.

When this kid inherits the Herald, he'll be just as troublesome as the Liang Emperor.

"Chief Zhang, didn't you say the Chang Princess was in the Western Flower Hall? Where is she?"

Qin Feng, with his hands behind his back, stared at Zhang Xiuye with a sly smile and asked irritably.

Zhang Xiuye nearly burst into tears—when had he ever said the Chang Princess was in the Western Flower Hall? Wasn't it Qin Feng who insisted on coming over to "take a look"?

Now, the blame was being dumped on him.

Zhang Xiuye dared not speak out in anger, but quickly gestured with a bow: "Young Master Qin, the Chang Princess is at the Guanyin Temple—this way, please."

Under Zhang Xiuye's guidance, they wound through twists and turns, and soon a grand and solemn temple appeared before them.

Several maids stood outside the gate; seeing Qin Feng arrive, they all bowed their heads.