Jiaohua

When news of Yan Qinglin's death reached the palace, Song Zhiyi was greatly alarmed.

This morning in the imperial court, he was so angered by Yan Qinglin that he flew into a rage. He was even more furious that Yan Qinglin dared to storm into the palace and kidnap his imperial concubine in public, trampling on his dignity as emperor.

As a result, she died.

Overwhelmed by the shock, Song Zhiyi remained unusually calm.

His expression remained frozen until the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided, and only then did emotions begin to surface in his eyes.

An exceptionally complex emotion.

Enrage, relief, panic.

He angrily denounced Zhiwei's betrayal.

He was freed from the invisible shackles imposed on him by Yan Qinglin.

Panic over a potential imbalance of power in the future.

He loathed Yan Qinglin, yet Yan Qinglin was so important to him.

It's not just the assassin organization and powerful intelligence network that Yan Qinglin controls, or the political capital that allows her to rival Jin Hongkang, but also the fact that, compared to the loyalty of others, Yan Qinglin's will will not change because of his identity.

Whether he was the emperor or not, Yan Qinglin didn't care. She was simply someone who would do anything for him.

After all his emotions had subsided, the suddenly enraged monarch issued orders to deploy all the Jingzhao patrol guards and garrison troops to impose a military blockade and exert high-pressure control over the entire capital.

At the same time, he ordered the Ministry of Rites' Department of Ceremonies and Department of Sacrificial Rites to immediately draft funeral rites and conduct the funeral according to the standards for a prince.

When Xia Zhaoyi brought Chen Zhiwei back to Qingque Pavilion, where they were temporarily staying, the entire city was already under martial law.

Lu Ningjin arranged a place for Chen Zhiwei to stay, and Xia Zhaoyi asked Chen Zhiwei to devise a plan to purge Yan Qinglin's remaining subordinates.

After giving her instructions, Xia Zhaoyi left.

Lu Ningjin waited for her at the entrance of the building: "Ali, do you need to keep an eye on him? Should we send a few people to watch him?"

Xia Zhaoyi shook her head: "No need."

Lu Ningjin was still worried: "...Otherwise, I'll arrange for two people to keep an eye on things."

Xia Zhaoyi felt it was unnecessary. Chen Zhiwei was a smart man who could judge the situation. If he went to Song Zhiyi, no matter what he said, the end result would be death by a thousand cuts. Chen Zhiwei dared not do that.

Seeing Lu Ningjin's expression, Xia Zhaoyi smiled and said, "If you're worried, then you can make the arrangements. Thinking about it all the time will only affect your mood."

Lu Ningjin smiled brightly: "Ali, I really like you!"

Lu Ningjin quickly arranged the manpower and returned to find Xia Zhaoyi, who was inside preparing ointment for Pei Huirao.

Two female soldiers in their twenties were helping out.

Lu Ningjin closed the door and walked over: "Ali, my people just came back and said that the city gates are closed to all people, and will not be opened for the next five days. In addition, Song Zhiyi is going to hold a state funeral for Yan Qinglin."

Xia Zhaoyi stopped pounding the jade pestle in her hand: "His new dynasty has never held a state funeral so far. I wonder what the scale is."

"It seems he still has feelings for Yan Qinglin. He didn't need to hold a state funeral for her." Xia Zhaoyi's lips curled up slightly: "If he truly had feelings for Yan Qinglin, he wouldn't have let her stay at Pingyuan Temple for so long without caring about her. His current sadness is just the sudden realization that no one else will ever be as crazy for him as Yan Qinglin, regardless of the lives of ordinary people or Yan Qinglin's own life or death."

Lu Ningjin nodded and then asked, "Ali, you killed Yan Qinglin. What are your plans now?"

"I plan to go to the Six Ministries and the Imperial Palace tonight to find someone."

Lu Ningjin said earnestly, "Ali, the security is extremely tight tonight, so please be very careful."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled and said, "Okay."

Lu Ningjin thought for a moment, then felt uneasy: "Ali, did you have no choice but to kill Yan Qinglin? For example, were you discovered and had no choice but to kill her? Or were you going straight for the purpose of killing her?"

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Yes, I want to kill her."

"...Why is that?"

Xia Zhaoyi blinked her bright eyes lightly: "I've always wanted to kill her."

“I know, but you don’t act without considering the consequences. Killing Yan Qinglin will inevitably destabilize the Daping Dynasty. Ali, aren’t you afraid that, like Yong’an back then, half the city will be filled with corpses and blood?”

As she spoke, Lu Ningjin frowned slightly: "Ali, don't misunderstand, I'm not blaming you. I just witnessed the tragedy of those years... The people of this world suffer too much. As long as the court is stable, they can still breathe, but if there is a major change in the court, they will be the first to suffer. Look, now that the city gates have been closed for five days, the prices of grain and vegetables in the city will rise again. At that time, the people will be in a state of panic, and I'm afraid countless incidents will arise."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled with relief and joy: "Ning Jin, you are kind and compassionate, with great love in your heart. But don't worry, it won't happen. This new dynasty doesn't have the same power as Li Qian."

Lu Ningjin sighed, "After all, I'm just an ordinary person too."

Xia Zhaoyi said, "In my eyes, the Great Ping Dynasty is just a floating pavilion supported by a single pillar. What you said about back then, I was young and powerless, and I couldn't take over Li Qian's mess. But now, I'm getting older, and I can take over Li Qian's mess."

Hearing this, Lu Ningjin nodded: "Yes, Hebei is thriving now, and you've managed it very well!"

"Compared to Li Qian, the Daping Dynasty is nothing at all," Xia Zhaoyi laughed. "Let's launch a massive military offensive and overwhelm it. Have you forgotten what I told you? Shen Lie is on his way. No matter how chaotic the capital is, it will only last for a few days. Once the chaos subsides, everything will be alright."

Lu Ningjin's anxious heart finally settled down, her eyes filled with tears: "Ali, I knew you wouldn't disregard the consequences and abandon the common people, that's wonderful! After so many years of chaos, we can finally see the sun shining again, that's wonderful!"

Xia Zhaoyi handed over the handkerchief and smiled, "Wipe it off."

After preparing Pei Huirao's ointment, it was almost dark. Xia Zhaoyi ate a little something and then left Qingque Pavilion for the imperial city.

Yong'an has been occupied by Song Zhiyi for many years and has not fully recovered its former vitality. Many places are still ruins burned by fire. Only the long streets near the imperial city have been completely repaired and renovated, maintaining the dignity and prosperity that an imperial capital should have.

Xia Zhaoyi's skills, honed by the harsh realities of the battlefield, became increasingly agile and nimble, and she quickly found the person she was looking for.

Commander of Ceremonial Affairs of the Ministry of Rites, Shi Wangyitai.

He was a man planted by Yang Guanxian and Wu Renhao in the Six Ministries of the Great Ping Dynasty. In order to place him in the government, Yang Guanxian used the title of "Master Zhi" left by Shen Lie to bribe at least a thousand taels of silver.

Wang Yitai had received news of her impending arrival in Beijing well in advance, and had been waiting for her in the backyard of the small teahouse in the northwest corner of the Six Ministries for the past few days.

I was on tenterhooks the past few days, fearing I'd be discovered, but today I feel much more relaxed.

Yan Qinglin's sudden death prompted Song Zhiyi to issue an order for the highest level of funeral arrangements. The entire Six Ministries were in a frenzy; no one would care that a mere clerk like him had come here. Even if someone saw him, he could easily come up with excuses. (End of Chapter)