If I send you to join the army and marry a woman, will you conquer the Empress?

Amidst a deathly silence and countless pairs of awe-inspiring gazes, the Li family's convoy from Longxi drove grandly into the capital.

The road paved with gold leaves stretched from the East Gate all the way to the most bustling Zhuque Avenue in the city, its golden light so dazzling that it was hard to open one's eyes.

Li Boyong sat upright in the Nine Dragons Incense Carriage, looking through the gauze curtain at the timid, ant-like people on both sides of the street, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

This is exactly the effect he wanted.

He wanted everyone to know that the Li family of Longxi had arrived!

He wanted to make that arrogant regent Qin Feng understand who truly held the reins of power in the Great Xia Dynasty.

The motorcade stopped in front of a sprawling mansion on Suzaku Avenue that had just been emptied.

This place was originally the residence of a prince from the previous dynasty, but it has now been bought by the Li family for a fortune and used as a temporary place to stay.

However, to the surprise of Li Boyong and all members of the Li family, the entire process from entering the city to settling down was completely unimpeded.

The guards at the city gate simply checked the visiting card as a matter of routine before respectfully letting the visitor through.

On the streets, apart from the onlookers, there wasn't a single government official who came to greet them.

Not to mention the newly appointed regent.

The gates of the Regent's Palace remained tightly closed from beginning to end, and not a single person came out to deliver a message.

This made Li Boyong, who had prepared a whole host of arguments to give Qin Feng's men a good dressing down, feel like he had punched cotton, leaving him feeling indescribably uncomfortable.

"Hmph, this Qin Feng is quite composed."

Inside the main hall of the Li residence, Li Boyong snorted coldly, his face somewhat unpleasant.

"Is he trying to intimidate us? Is he deliberately avoiding us to make himself seem more important?"

"A member of the Li family said indignantly."

"I think he's scared!"

Another person guessed, "He knows our Li family is powerful and doesn't dare to confront us directly, so he can only resort to these childish tricks!"

Li Boyong waved his hand, stopping the crowd's discussion.

A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.

"It's okay if he doesn't see me."

"If he won't come to pay his respects to me, his elder, then as his elder, I should at least 'entertain' all the civil and military officials on his behalf, shouldn't I?"

A sinister smile curled at the corner of Li Boyong's mouth.

"Issue the order: in my name, Li Boyong, host a grand banquet at my residence, inviting all officials of the third rank and above from the capital to attend!"

"I want to see which will make the people of the capital see the situation more clearly: the desolate gates of Qin Feng's Regent's Palace or the bustling crowds at my Li family's residence!"

……

the next day.

The entire officialdom of the capital was stirred up by Li Boyong's actions, causing a minor upheaval.

Countless exquisitely crafted and politely worded invitations, like snowflakes, flew into the residences of various officials in the capital.

The officials who received the invitations were all perplexed.

To go or not to go?

This is a matter of choosing sides.

Going there would be tantamount to openly offending the newly appointed and ruthless regent, Qin Feng.

Everyone knows that Qin Feng has a tense relationship with the powerful clans, and they are like oil and water.

But if they didn't go, they would offend the Li family of Longxi, the head of the "Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families".

The Li family's influence is deeply entrenched, with their protégés and former officials spread throughout the court and the country. Offending them would likely make one's future career path extremely difficult.

For a time, countless officials were in their own residences, anxiously pacing back and forth, caught in a dilemma.

However, this hesitation did not last long.

As evening fell, the city lights began to illuminate the scene.

The main street where the Li family lived was completely blocked by a line of magnificent carriages.

The Secretariat, the Chancellery, the Six Ministries...

Officials from almost all the key departments of the imperial court came.

Although most of them are deputy positions, or officials who seem unimportant but wield real power, the sheer number is still alarming.

A rough count revealed that nearly 30% of the civil officials of the third rank or above had come!

Inside the Li residence, the lights were on full display, and the place was bustling with activity.

Li Boyong sat high in the main seat, looking down at the court officials below who were vying to toast him with fawning smiles. The slight displeasure in his heart had long since vanished.

He raised his glass, full of confidence and high spirits.

"My fellow colleagues, it is truly my honor to be gathered here today! Although my Li family is far away in Longxi, our hearts are always with the court and the well-being of the Great Xia!"

"Lord Li's noble character is truly admirable!"

"Indeed! With a pillar of the nation like Lord Li, how could our Great Xia not prosper!"

"We raise a toast to Lord Li! Wishing Lord Li good health and longevity!"

A chorus of flattery rose and fell.

In the eyes of these officials, Li Boyong, who was high and mighty, seemed to be the true master of the country.

As for the regent Qin Feng, they had long since forgotten about him.

……

At the same time, at the Regent's Palace.

The lights were still on in the study.

Qin Feng was quietly drinking tea, while Fuyao and Li Jing sat opposite him.

Both of them had unusually solemn expressions.

"Your Highness..."

Li Jing, the Minister of War, a highly respected senior official in the court, had a face full of worry and anger.

"Have you heard? Li Boyong hosted a banquet at his residence, and more than 30% of the officials in the court attended! This includes the vice ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, deputies to these key departments!"

"This is blatant disregard for the laws of the court! It's an open act of forming cliques and challenging Your Highness's authority!"

Li Jing was so angry that his beard was trembling.

Empress Fuyao also looked worried, clutching the hem of her clothes tightly as she looked at Qin Feng.

"Qin Feng, they're openly slapping you in the face!"

"You've only just become regent, and they dare to do this? If word gets out, what will the world think of you? Where will your authority be?"

She knew better than anyone how painful it was to be sidelined by her subjects and left isolated and helpless.

Her father was driven to the brink of despair step by step in this way.

She didn't want Qin Feng to repeat the same mistake.

However, to their surprise, Qin Feng showed no anger or worry on his face; he even smiled.

"Thirty percent? I thought at least half would go."

Qin Feng put down his teacup, his deep eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.

"It's good that they went. It saves me the trouble of checking them one by one."

He picked up a list from the side, which Lu Jiaojiao had just sent. It was filled with the names of all the officials attending the banquet that night.

Qin Feng picked up the vermilion pen, and without even looking at it, drew a bright red cross next to each name from beginning to end.

"Minister Li, Fuyao, remember this."

Qin Feng's voice was cold and calm.

"A fence-sitter can never be helped up. Rather than keeping them around to stab us in the back at a crucial moment, it's better to uproot them all as soon as possible."

"Tonight, everyone who went to the Li family's house..."

Qin Feng threw the list in his hand into the brazier beside him, watching the names turn to ashes in the flames.

"Their official careers are over."