Chapter 88: First Volume, Chapter 88: Imperial Dao Is perilous

First Volume, Chapter 88: Imperial Dao Is perilous

With the golden sash, as long as the Liang Kingdom endures, the Qin Family will forever be a noble house under imperial grace.

Even if no one in the family ever holds official rank again, merely this honor alone can bless descendants for generations to come.

Liu Hongyan beamed with joy, her earlier fear instantly replaced by astonishment; yet as a lady of means and in public, she restrained herself, merely reaching out to pat Qin Feng's shoulder and praising:

"You idiot, you really are blessed with foolish luck—only two people in all of Liang's history have been granted the golden sash; you've already etched your name into the History Books."

Qin Feng deliberately tied the golden sash to the most visible spot on his chest, flaunting it to the crowd while feigning indifference: "Is it that exaggerated? It's just an honor, not an official position. Sigh, it's uncomfortable to wear…"

Liu Hongyan slapped Qin Feng's shoulder, exasperated: "Enough! Don't act like you're being wronged after getting lucky! Think: a Nine Rank County Magistrate is an official position, and even the Three Dukes are official positions. Official posts are ironclad, but officials come and go—no one can hold a position forever. But this honor? It's different—it can bless your descendants."

"Ah, I'm telling you all this and you don't take it seriously. Forget it…"

"Regardless, our Qin Family has finally caught a break. Father will be overjoyed when he hears."

"Go home right away and enshrine the golden sash. Don't show it off—don't let Ministry of Revenue officials spot it and use it as an excuse to impeach you for misconduct or disrespect toward imperial regalia. You'll regret it then."

As she spoke, Liu Hongyan pushed Qin Feng toward home.

Though inwardly worried, she couldn't help but feel pride, walking beside Qin Feng with a sense of glory.

Unbeknownst to her, Qin Feng's heart was far from joyful.

His earlier display of the golden sash was merely a glaring warning to those plotting against him behind the scenes.

He wanted them to weigh the consequences before acting.

But in truth, this damn golden sash—others treasured it, Qin Feng did not; it had simply fallen on his head, so he had no choice but to accept it.

Rather than an ultimate honor, it was more like a chain, firmly locking Qin Feng in place.

The Liang Emperor's true intent was not hard to guess: granting Qin Feng an honor he did not deserve was meant to make every civil and military official resent him.

If before, in Ji Wang Fu, Qin Feng had insulted the Ministry of Revenue, now he had become the public enemy of all Manchu Civil and Military.

Consider: among all the civil and military officials today, none, no matter their merit, have received the golden sash.

Yet a wastrel like him has.

What do you think others will think?

So this golden sash shines brilliantly on the front, but hides cruel malice on the back.

Now, for Qin Feng to establish himself in Jingdu or the Liang Kingdom, he can rely only on the Emperor—and must remain utterly loyal to him.

Otherwise, the Emperor need not lift a finger against Qin Feng; merely revoke the golden sash, and every official in court will find a way to kill him.

This golden sash, worn on Qin Feng's body, is a talisman; once removed, it becomes a death warrant!

This is not the Liang Emperor's fault—after all, as ruler of a nation, he must keep everyone firmly in his palm. The more Qin Feng stirs up trouble, the more the Emperor watches him, and the more he fears him.

In fact, the delicate balance between Qin Feng and the Emperor depends not on the Emperor's will, but on Qin Feng's own actions.

Throughout history, the examples of "the rabbit dead, the hound cooked; the bird gone, the bow put away" are commonplace for royal houses.

The imperial family doesn't blink when striking down founding heroes—how much less a wastrel?

The moment Qin Feng loses his value, he loses favor. So Qin Feng must constantly create capital for his own survival.

This rule applies not just to Qin Feng—it is universal. Anyone lingering in Jingdu must act this way.

Before the fire of Di fully erupts, Qin Feng must pass two trials: first, navigating alliances and rivalries, surviving the surging undercurrents to be the last one laughing.

The second is the path to wealth.

The Military Strategy Diagrams are merely Qin Feng's calling card; what the Liang Emperor truly expects is Qin Feng's commercial ability.

The Liang Emperor never cares about Qin Feng as a person—he cares only about how much profit Qin Feng can bring to him and to the Liang Kingdom.

Others may not see this clearly.

But for Qin Feng, it's as clear as a mirror…

Back at the mansion, Qin Feng and Liu Hongyan returned directly to the Back Courtyard.

The Back Courtyard was already packed: besides Qin Xiaofu and Xiao Xiangxiang and other servants, even Shen Qingci and Jing Qianying were present—after all, Qin Feng's arrest by the Jingzhao Yin Dala was no small matter.

Seeing Qin Feng return unharmed, Xiao Xiangxiang exhaled in relief, rushing forward with red-rimmed eyes—whether from crying earlier or holding back tears of joy, it was unclear.

"Master, you're safe—that's wonderful! When Qin Xiaofu told me you'd been seized by the Jingzhao Yin Dala, I thought… I thought…"

Xiao Xiangxiang stammered for a long time, unable to finish her thought.

Qin Feng reached out and patted Xiao Xiangxiang's head, grinning carelessly: "Don't go imagining worst-case scenarios. The man who can make This Young Master bleed is still training in his mother's womb."

Shen Qingci scanned Qin Feng from head to toe, confirmed he was unharmed, then quietly exhaled, her expression as aloof as ever, launching into a sharp rebuke:

"You dared to touch the Dragon-Tiger Gang? Do you know their backer is Grand Commandant Gao Family? You've stirred up a hornet's nest—if you hadn't escaped the Jingzhao Yin Dala alive, you'd be dead. If you ever act recklessly again, no one will save you."

Qin Feng didn't feel ashamed at Shen Qingci's scolding—he took it as pride, pressing close with a radiant grin: "Sister, are you worried about me?"

A flush crossed Shen Qingci's cheeks; she shoved him away, exasperated: "Who cares about you? Your face is thicker than a wall."

Seeing Jing Qianying was also there, Qin Feng's eyes lit up again: "Fourth Sister, why are you here? I thought in the Qin Family, you cared least about me."

Jing Qianying's face remained expressionless, as cold as ever: "I just came to see if you were dead."

Liu Hongyan feared Qin Feng would say more and earn a beating, so she yanked him back to her side: "Say less. No one thinks you're mute."

"Elder Sister, Qin Feng is fine, no need to worry—I reached the Jingzhao Yin Dala before he was even released."

Hearing this, Shen Qingci's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with doubt: "What do you mean? Did Qi Cheng suddenly have a change of heart and let Qin Feng go?"

Liu Hongyan covered her mouth and laughed softly: "How could Qi Cheng be so kind? He's a disciple of the Grand Commandant and a hound of the Gao Family—if he gets a chance, he'll kill Qin Feng without hesitation."

"He escaped because Qin Feng memorized the Da Liang Code. In the Imperial Court, he used legal procedure to trap Qi Cheng, leaving him powerless, and delayed him until Li Zhan arrived."

Shen Qingci had also studied the Da Liang Code.

But because it was so long and tedious, she could still only recite a small portion of the Civil Life Volume.

Learning Qin Feng had used legal statutes to corner Qi Cheng, Shen Qingci was stunned, her gaze shifting repeatedly as she stared at him.

Especially seeing his lazy, carefree demeanor, she found it utterly unbelievable.

"You really escaped using legal statutes? I know the Da Liang Code has sixteen volumes and thirty-two books—even seasoned clerks who study law daily dare not claim they can quote statutes effortlessly. When did you start memorizing the Da Liang Code? How did I never know?"

Qin Feng thought to himself, since when? It probably dated back to the very first day he planned to make money.

Qin Feng had no real strengths; if he had to name one, it was only his good memory.

Seeing how much Shen Qingci cared, Qin Feng couldn't explain the truth—after all, his original reason for memorizing the Great Liang Code wasn't to become an official, but to "exploit loopholes."

If the ever-proud Shen Qingci knew, she would despise him utterly.

Qin Feng scratched his head and laughed it off: "I just read it casually, never memorized it, and only looked at the Criminal Law Volume—it just happened to come in handy."

Shen Qingci snorted, not believing a word of Qin Feng's lie.

Even so, the Capital Magistrate was once the imperial examination's second-place laureate, brilliant and learned—how could he be left helpless by some amateur like Qin Feng?

But since Qin Feng had escaped, Shen Qingci let the matter drop.

At that moment, Jing Qianying suddenly asked Liu Hongyan: "Second Sister, you said earlier that Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Eunuch Gonggong also went to the Capital Magistrate?"

Liu Hongyan then remembered the matter at hand, quickly pulled up Qin Feng's clothes to reveal the golden belt beneath, her voice trembling slightly: "Elder Sister, Fourth Sister, look—what's this?"