Chapter 713

First Volume, Chapter 713: Swords Drawn, Bows Drawn

At least for now, the Qin Family and the Li Imperial Clan can coexist in temporary peace.

As for external enemies of Great Liang, the only one left is the Northern Di.

Qin Feng had just humiliated the Northern Di Envoy Group at the negotiation table, and now he's become the head of the Pacification Mission—no doubt every single person in the Northern Di wants to peel his skin and extract his tendons.

Especially that Lü Li—his own son was killed by Qin Feng; won't he try to seek revenge?

With such immense pressure bearing down, anyone else would either collapse or be constantly frowning with worry.

Looking at his younger brother, Liu Hongyan couldn't help but sigh again.

He doesn't take it seriously at all!

He still has the leisure to study his baijiu—his heart is too big.

…

At the same moment, in the Imperial Court's Grand Hall, Civil and Military Ministers gathered.

Led by Qin Tianhu, with Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister, Imperial Academy Chancellor, and Minister of Revenue Li Xu as his deputies, the Taolin Party officials stood in silence, staring at the empty Dragon Throne.

The Liang Emperor had not announced a court session today, yet the Taolin Party officials came uninvited.

They simply stood in the Grand Hall, waiting.

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Party and several neutral upright ministers also arrived for court.

For the upright ministers, they cared nothing for party struggles; since they came to court, they came to court.

As for the Imperial Party officials, they naturally came to support the Liang Emperor and oppose the Taolin Party.

But…

All Imperial Party officials knew well: there was now no one, no force, capable of standing against the Taolin Party in the Imperial Court.

Zhang Xiuye stood below the Dragon Throne, equally silent.

Whether court would be held today was uncertain; since the Taolin Party officials were waiting here, Zhang Xiuye, as the Chief of Internal Affairs, naturally had to stand by their side.

Everyone waited from early court until evening court, yet the Liang Emperor never appeared.

Zhang Xiuye could no longer hold out—his legs trembled uncontrollably. He whispered to Qin Tianhu: "Lord Qin, His Majesty is unwell; he cannot hold court today. Perhaps we should reschedule…"

Before Zhang Xiuye finished speaking, Qin Tianhu cut him off bluntly.

"No need."

"If court is not held today, we will wait here until tomorrow."

"If court is not held tomorrow, we will wait the day after, day after day, year after year—does His Majesty intend never to hold court again?"

"A household cannot be without a master; a nation cannot be without a ruler. Since the founding of Great Liang, no emperor has ever neglected court for so long, abandoning the state and the people."

"We, the ministers of this court, are heartbroken—we can only urge His Majesty to change his mind in this manner."

Qin Tianhu's words laid bare the core issue.

The vacancy of Taishi Taibao must be addressed sooner or later; there is no avoiding it.

At that moment, the Imperial Party Chief, National Teacher Tian Yuanshou, spoke in a low, firm tone: "Lord Qin, you are mistaken."

"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has labored tirelessly, exhausting himself—every civil and military minister has witnessed this."

"Now that he is unwell and cannot hold court, you persistently press him—is this not overly aggressive?"

"Let me ask you, Lord Qin, in return."

"How many days per year do you work? How many days do you rest at home after your parents' death? Last year, His Majesty returned to the Hou Gong only twelve times and visited Jiaotai Hall only twenty-five times. Lord Qin, how much more labor do you demand of him? Does His Majesty not even have the right to rest?"

Qin Tianhu had expected the Imperial Party officials to interfere.

He replied calmly: "I work three hundred days a year; even when my parents died, I did not return to the Ancestral Land to observe Filial Mourning."

"How many days do you, National Teacher, work each year?"

"You barely reach one hundred!"

Tian Yuanshou fell silent for a long while before replying grimly: "One who holds no office should not meddle in governance. During my tenure, no religious rites in Jingdu have ever gone awry."

Hearing this, Qin Tianhu sneered: "Oh? Then what of Prince Li Lang, who died in Military Death? His Coffin with Clothing returned to Jingdu, yet his burial in the Imperial Mausoleum was delayed over a month—how do you explain that?"

Tian Yuanshou turned pale—this had always been a sore point for him.

Back then, deliberately stalling Li Lang's burial had thoroughly angered Qin Feng.

Given Qin Feng's nature, he never forgot a slight.

Now facing Qin Feng's father, Tian Yuanshou felt a wave of unease.

At that moment, Grand Commander of East Camp Ma Mo muttered sharply: "Lord Qin, His Majesty is unwell—how dare you pressure him?"

Before Qin Tianhu could respond,

Dragon Tiger Army Grand Commander Zhao Li stepped forward, glaring at Ma Mo: "Lord Qin is Minister of War—he has authority over troop movements across Jingdu and all of Heaven. In essence, you, Ma Mo, are his subordinate. Watch your tone. Dare to overstep, and I will not hesitate to turn on you!"

All military commanders had fiery tempers; Ma Mo was no pushover—he would not tolerate Zhao Li's rebuke.

He shouted back: "Old fool Zhao Li! As Dragon Tiger Army Grand Commander, you should be the empire's arm—but now you've abandoned the light for darkness, and still dare to bark in this court?"

"Others fear you—I do not! Your Dragon Tiger Army may be strong, but my East Camp troops are no pushovers!"

"His Majesty has not spoken—how dare you speak? You clearly intend to defy the throne! My East Camp troops will Reinforce the King and quell this rebellion!"

At that moment, the Grand Commander of West Camp, eager to fan the flames, also stepped forward, glaring at Zhao Li.

"Your Dragon Tiger Army's lack of loyalty does not mean all Imperial Capital Garrison forces are in league with you."

"We have served the imperial family for generations; anyone who disrespects the Emperor will face my West Camp first!"

Zhao Li sneered inwardly.

They talk grandly—but the commanders of East and West Camps are all loyalists of the Central Plains Imperial Party; to be blunt, they're blood relatives of the Li Clan—trace the family tree back ten generations, and they're all one family.

Naturally, they stand firmly with the Liang Emperor, siding with kin over reason.

"East and West Camps—come at me together. Otherwise, the world will laugh at my Dragon Tiger Army for bullying the weak."

Zhao Li's words were, in effect, the spark that lit the powder keg.

The two generals of the Eastern and Western Camps flew into a rage on the spot, jabbing fingers at Zhao Li and bellowing about suppressing the rebellion and slaying the traitor—they had already branded Zhao Li outright as the Chaotic Faction.

What they did not know was that Zhao Li was also one of the core members of the Taolin Party.

If Zhao Li was the Chaotic Faction, did that not mean the entire Taolin Party was the Chaotic Faction?

Minister of Revenue Li Xu's gaze turned unfriendly: "What bold words from the two generals. The military expenditure for your Eastern and Western Camps is also disbursed by my Ministry of Revenue. Are you planning to suppress my Ministry of Revenue along with them?"

Ma Mo's fury had nowhere to vent; he wanted to curse, but the moment he recalled that this year's military expenditure had not yet been issued, he could only swallow the words that had risen to his lips.