Chapter 706

First Volume, Chapter 706: Who Will Laugh Last

The Empress flicked her long sleeve and turned to face the Guanyin Statue, whispering, "Feng'er, you may retire."

There are many ways to bring down a person; you don't necessarily have to kill them—preventing them from ever achieving their goals is also a kind of victory.

Undeniably, Qin Feng's momentum was fierce, leaving the entire Li Imperial Clan powerless against this reckless youth.

But from the Empress's deep and calculating nature, Qin Feng was dangerous—and yet brimming with weaknesses.

As long as the right medicine was applied, this wolf, capable of tearing anyone apart at any moment, could still be controlled.

Since the Empress had issued her dismissal, Qin Feng naturally could not overstay.

He immediately knelt and bowed, speaking calmly and without deference: "Qin Feng takes his leave."

Outside the Guanyin Temple, Zhang Xiuye, who had been waiting for a long time, hurried over.

Seeing Qin Feng's calm expression, Zhang Xiuye could not fathom what had transpired inside, so he gathered his courage and ventured a tentative question.

"Young Master Qin, are you well?"

Qin Feng, with his hands behind his back, shrugged lightly: "Fine. Everything unfolded as expected."

"No wonder even someone like Imperial Consort Lin was manipulated at the Empress's fingertips—this Empress truly lives up to her reputation."

"I just pressured Chang Princess with the Princess's marriage contract, and the Empress seized that opportunity to turn the tables on me."

"Heh—this depth of strategy, this adaptability… she doesn't resemble a devout believer who spends her days fasting and chanting sutras—she's more like a seasoned minister who gambles daily on the Imperial Court."

Hearing Qin Feng's description of the Empress, Zhang Xiuye turned pale with fear, wiping sweat from his forehead uncontrollably.

To casually discuss the Empress in this heart of the Hou Gong—unless you wished to die.

Although Zhang Xiuye had not served as Director of Internal Affairs long, he had spent his entire life within the palace.

He knew perfectly well which of the Hou Gong's nobles had strong backing, and which wielded ruthless methods.

To most, the Empress was a symbol of benevolence.

If a small Eunuch or maid accidentally made a mistake, they were most likely pardoned by the Empress.

But once one's status reached a certain level—or became a threat to the Empress's authority—they would taste her cruelty.

Given Qin Feng's current power and status, the Empress likely dreamed of executing him.

Even if she couldn't touch Qin Feng, that didn't mean she couldn't touch those around him.

Zhang Xiuye dared not respond, quickly changing the subject: "Young Master Qin, since you've met both Chang Princess and the Empress, may I escort you out of the palace?"

Out of the palace? What palace?

After coming all this way, he naturally intended to take this chance to see Third Sister.

Without hesitation, Qin Feng blurted out: "Director Zhang, please lead the way to Mingyue Princess's residence."

Zhang Xiuye sighed inwardly.

He knew it violated protocol, yet dared not refuse—so he gritted his teeth and led Qin Feng toward Mingyue Princess's quarters.

At the same moment, inside the Guanyin Temple, the Empress stood beneath the Guanyin Statue and sighed softly.

"Did you see? This is the wolf we raised ourselves."

"When facing outsiders, this wolf serves us perfectly—but when he turns his fangs toward us, he rips off a layer of our skin."

"Chang Princess, tell me—who will laugh last, you or Qin Feng?"

Hearing the Empress's words, Chang Princess felt an unprecedented weight on her heart.

She did not answer immediately, but gave a glance to the Qiyang Commandery Princess, signaling her to leave first—this matter did not concern her.

Only when the Guanyin Temple held only Chang Princess and the Empress did Chang Princess speak slowly.

"Who laughs last depends on how the Empress wishes to laugh."

"If you merely wish to chuckle behind closed doors, then yes—it's you."

"But if you wish to laugh triumphantly, stepping on Qin Feng's corpse… that is unlikely."

The Empress did not mind Chang Princess's words boosting the enemy and diminishing her own prestige; she turned, smiling sweetly at Chang Princess.

"What if I insist on laughing while stepping on Qin Feng's corpse?"

Chang Princess drew a deep breath and replied bluntly: "Impossible."

"Have you ever heard the saying: absolute strength overcomes ten stratagems?"

"Before absolute power, all schemes and tricks are powerless."

"Do you know… who holds the only Expeditionary Brigade of our Shedynasty?"

At this, the Empress's eyes flickered with confusion: "Expeditionary Brigade? When did Shedynasty even have an Expeditionary Brigade?"

Chang Princess shook her head with a bitter smile: "Very recently."

"Just the other day, Qin Feng crushed the Northern Di Envoy Group's psychological defenses on the Negotiation Table—using this Expeditionary Brigade."

"In open field battle, Shedynasty has always been at a disadvantage against the Di—we could never match them. Only siege warfare allowed us to barely maintain military parity."

"But our constant defense granted the Di the initiative in every war—whenever conflict broke out, Shedynasty always suffered greater losses."

"From the start, Qin Feng's Beixi County Soldiers were forged with the goal of becoming an Expeditionary Brigade."

"Had it not been for this negotiation, and had Beixi County Soldiers not captured a Di province in mere days, no one would have imagined Shedynasty possessed an Expeditionary Brigade."

Whether the Empress or Chang Princess, though long secluded in the Deep Palace, tending to flowers and birds, they understood military and politics intimately.

Both knew precisely what an Expeditionary Brigade meant.

Any force worthy of the term "Expeditionary" possessed terrifying combat effectiveness—capable of marching deep into enemy territory and seizing entire regions.

Today, Qin Feng's Expeditionary Brigade could crush the Northern Di without resistance.

Tomorrow, he could issue a single order, and that brigade would march straight toward Jingdu.

Who among the Central Plains Imperial Party or the Jingji Garrison could stand against this army forged in fire?

And…

Right now it is still only the Expeditionary Brigade; Qin Feng has more than once revealed his intention to expand the Army.

Given Qin Feng's strength and financial resources, once he makes up his mind, it probably won't take long before the Expeditionary Brigade becomes an Expeditionary Army.

A grand expeditionary force composed of tens of thousands of men would be enough to sweep aside every obstacle!

Seeing the Empress lost in thought, Chang Princess added another dose of strong medicine.

"This is only on the military side."

"May I ask the Empress, does she know Qin Feng's current financial resources?"

"After Qin Feng's development, the financial resources of just one Beixi County alone rival those of the entire Northern Border, and influenced by Beixi County, the People's Livelihood of the Northern Border is also rising."

"All along, the Northern Border has been implementing a policy of teaching without discrimination and refusing no one who comes."

"Anyone, as long as they reach the Northern Border, becomes a citizen of the Northern Border — land is distributed, and Household Registration is issued."

"Now, the starving people of all under Heaven are flowing toward the Northern Border!"