Jiapingguan Chronicle

"Are the Rong family members really out of their minds? Do they even believe such self-deceiving words themselves?"

Jin Miaomiao sneered, her disgust for the Rong family completely displayed on her face, without any attempt to hide it.

"You yourself said it's self-deception. What does it matter if they believe it themselves? If they couldn't fool themselves, they wouldn't have said it so easily, right? With things like this, you have to believe it yourself for others to believe it. Besides, given their family's style, they don't care what others think. As long as they're determined to fight for it, that's enough." Seeing Jin Miaomiao's expression, Shen Cha smiled, looked at Xiao Fengqi, and said...
"However, there is one thing I really don't understand."

"Is there something you don't understand, General?"

"They left themselves absolutely no way out, or rather, they were confident that whatever they did would be forgiven?" Shen Cha spread her hands. "Whether it was A or B who sent away Young Master Lan, this action certainly took them by surprise, and they did feel panic, feeling that the power in their hands wasn't so real. But that doesn't mean their power will really disappear overnight. They haven't really reached the end of their rope, have they? Or perhaps," she frowned slightly, "that Consort Rong or the two young princes discovered the late King of Liao's secret? And that's why they acted rashly and took such a risk?"

"You mean," Xia Chen looked at Shen Cha, "that they might know about the late King of Liao's abnormal behavior?"

"Hmm!" Shen Cha nodded at Xia Chen. "That possibility can't be ruled out, right?"

"That's true." Xia Chen stroked his chin and turned his gaze to Xiao Fengqi. "Is it possible that they know?"

Xiao Fengqi looked at them blankly, shrugged, turned to Chu Han, and asked, "Is it possible that they would know?"

“That’s impossible.” Chu Han shook his head gently. “They don’t know. They just think that the Prince of Liao is capricious. Even after all these years, they can’t figure out what he’s thinking. They originally thought he would take his anger out on Young Master Lan because of the Princess’s death, but they didn’t expect that the so-called coldness and indifference were all his schemes, all his setup.”

"How did Grand Uncle find out?" Shen Cha frowned slightly. "They must have started their rebellion after the kidnapping of Young Master Xiao and Little Qi, right?"

“Yes!” Chu Han sighed. “However, they admitted that they were the masterminds behind the kidnapping and personally hired Mian to do it. The Regent sent an urgent letter to me, asking me to go to Linhuang Prefecture to participate in the interrogation. I secretly went to the palace to see the late Emperor and, after receiving permission, came to Linhuang Prefecture with the Eagle King and the Prince of Dai to personally interrogate the two young princes and the head of the Rong family.”

"My master?"

"My father?"

"Why are you so surprised?" Seeing the surprised expressions on Shen Haolin and Song Yaojia's faces, Chu Han raised an eyebrow and said, "Your master and your father were both involved in the investigation of Mian and were the main force in the arrest, so of course they had to show up. However, we were disguised and only brought a few attendants. We came overnight and didn't rest. We went straight into the interrogation. They confessed everything and expressed their disappointment with the King of Liao."

"Disappointed?" Jin Miaomiao was taken aback, and said with some disdain, "They've done things like this, and they still have the nerve to say they're disappointed? What are they disappointed about? Do they think they understand the Prince of Liao and have him under their control?"

"That's roughly the idea." Chu Han nodded. "But I didn't expect to be deceived by the King of Liao. Indeed, the heart of a ruler is unfathomable."

"Disappointed with the King of Liao, they're going to surround the Regent's Palace and the Royal Palace with their private army? Are they really going to gamble everything?" Shen Cha still couldn't understand the Rong family's thinking. "Or perhaps, even if they fail, they're confident they can escape unscathed?" "And another thing, where did they get their private army?" Chu Han raised an eyebrow. "Since ancient times, the Rong family has been mostly scholars, rarely producing military generals. If I'm not mistaken, even if the Rong family head claims to be a military general, his strength isn't that great." Seeing Xiao Fengqi looking at him, he continued, "Don't look at me like that. Their disdain for military generals isn't something that just started today. Although the Rong family of Linhuang Prefecture and the Rong family of Huizhi have long since separated, the bloodline can't be changed; it's ingrained in their bones."

"Although I hate to admit it, I have to say that the Rong family's private army is really not very good. They can only act as bullies in Linhuang Prefecture, and they dare not go to the battlefield." Xiao Fengqi spread his hands. "But back then, the Rong family was one of the first major clans to support Yelü as king, so the royal family has always been relatively lenient towards them. In addition, given the great achievements of Consort Rong back then, most people in the royal family felt that they should give them face, after all, they were meritorious in some respects."

"So what? They can have thousands of private soldiers? They can besiege the Regent's Palace?" Shen Cha took a sip of tea. "Even if the Regent wasn't the Regent back then, but still a Prince's Palace, would they dare to do that?"

“They dare, that’s their confidence. They have a get-out-of-jail-free card in their family.” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “Also, given the Rong family’s status, two thousand private soldiers is the maximum they can command, and they haven’t exceeded that requirement. Moreover, they’re operating under the banner of protecting the emperor. Even if everyone knows their true intentions, as long as they fail, no one can criticize them. That’s their real way out.”

"No wonder they're so confident."

“Actually, they just wanted to take a gamble,” Shen Haolin said, tapping the table lightly. “They were afraid that their power would vanish overnight, and they were also afraid that they might fall from grace. So, to avoid such a situation, they needed a great upheaval to test the monarch’s bottom line and figure out his thoughts.” He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said, “So, that night did look very dangerous, but for all the forces in Linhuang Prefecture, they all achieved their intended goals.”

“The Duke sees it clearly, that’s right.” Xiao Fengqi nodded and said, “The Rong family, Consort Rong, and the two young princes are certain that they will not lose their power. The late King and the Regent have made everyone see the Rong family’s ambition. After this battle, Young Master Lan can be safely raised in the Regent’s mansion, which is actually quite good.”

“It really was great.” Jin Miaomiao tapped the table and said, “I don’t want to know what they achieved, I just want to know how exciting that night was. Just satisfy me!”

“Don’t rush, Lord Jin. Isn’t storytelling supposed to proceed step by step?” Xiao Fengqi smiled and said, “I only heard it from my great-aunt. I didn’t see it with my own eyes. Of course, my great-aunt also heard it from the Regent. Later, I asked the Regent what exactly happened that night. After connecting my great-aunt’s words with the story, I came up with a complete story.”

"The Regent is a firsthand witness, so he will definitely provide more details."

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded and sighed softly. “He said that he still feels a bit scared when he thinks about it now. He never expected that his and the late king’s deliberate indulgence had allowed the Rong family and the two young princes’ ambitions to swell to such an extent.”

"Intentional indulgence?"

"Yes, the Regent said that the Rong family wants to become the second Xiao family, but they don't have the Xiao family's vision and perspective. What they want is only what they can see."

"In other words, he's short-sighted!" Jin Miaomiao clicked her tongue twice. "This regent is quite tactful in his words."

(End of this chapter)