Chengen Marquis trembled all over, his head bowed lower and lower.
He had been arrogant and reliant on favors for too long, so much so that he had forgotten the beginning.
Chief Minister Pan said, "This old official knows that speaking too much causes annoyance and some would think I’ve been relying on my years in the cabinet to act old and pompous. Thus, I have never criticized Chengen Marquis’s actions in front of the Emperor.
But today, this old official has to speak. On the day of the grand inspection, Chengen Marquis attacked key court ministers without evidence, exceeding the boundaries of a subordinate, especially since the Emperor had promised the cabinet that Chengen Marquis would never interfere in court affairs relying on Empress Lin’s favor. I wonder if this promise still stands."
Chengen Marquis’s face turned ashen.
The Emperor’s expression was also quite unpleasant.
However, Chief Minister Pan’s stern face remained unchanged from start to finish.
He seemed to be casually talking about a trivial matter, yet also discussing major matters concerning the country’s fate.
Since Chief Minister Pan, the head of the civil officials, had spoken, other ministers naturally no longer held back, and the military generals could no longer remain silent.
Following Duke An’s cue, Marquis Wuding sighed and said, "Chengen Marquis’s words indeed chill the hearts of us soldiers. If Dingbei Marquis had always had treacherous intentions, it would be another matter, but Dingbei Marquis has just retaken Northern Border, fulfilling the long-cherished wish of several generations of ancestors, and recently married a wife. How could he harbor such great rebellion thoughts that would implicate nine families? Even just thinking about it would feel sinful."
Why choose not to enjoy good days, unless one’s mind is troubled?
"Indeed," murmured the Minister of Ministry of Justice, "I’ve heard that Dingbei Marquis vowed not to marry until retaking Northern Border, endured ten years in the harsh lands, resulting in damage to his body.
Now trusted by the Holy Emperor and overseeing the Capital Inspection with great diligence, not even a fly could enter his office; no matter who pleads, none are accepted. Such a person rebelling seems unnecessary indeed?"
It’s almost expressed that Dingbei Marquis cannot have offspring, and due to the Capital Inspection, offended imperial relatives and powerful ministers, as such, he’s a solitary loyal minister. Only a madman would consider rebellion.
Continuing further, everyone felt the emperor might be dismantling the bridge before crossing the river, unable to tolerate Gu Jinghui managing the Great Camp outside the city.
The Emperor’s face faintly showed some embarrassment.
Luckily, someone arrived to report news.
A young officer in bright red civilian clothes, like a ball of fire, hurriedly dismounted his horse and loudly reported as soon as he landed.
"Report! Dingbei Marquis has led troops into the Inner City; all Inner City Nine Gates have been closed! Previously, the rebels drove the populace to stir chaos, seized the city gate, but were caught and slain by Dingbei Marquis. It was very perilous!"
"Well done!" Marquis Wuding shouted: "Dingbei Marquis truly did well!"
No one else could handle it this beautifully.
Only Dingbei Marquis!
Duke An also said, "The outer seven and inner nine have all been captured; now we just need the imperial guard within the palace to hold the four gates tightly, and the bandits will be no real threat no matter how they move around."
Everyone knew the four gates of the Imperial City and Palace City were guarded by the imperial guard; as long as they held firmly, the bandits could only cause chaos in the outer and inner cities, not affecting the Imperial Palace.
Dingbei Marquis sent more people to search and capture, with assistance from the Five Cities Military Department and Patrol Camp, most can certainly be caught; even if one or two escape, they wouldn’t form a climate.
But if the imperial guard failed to hold, allowing rebels into Imperial City and Palace, the royal family would lose face entirely.
The Emperor couldn’t help but secretly hope the imperial guards in the palace prove useful.
Chief Minister Pan looked up at the bright moon in the sky and said, "Perhaps in another one or two hours, Dingbei Marquis will send someone to report victory; it looks that additional reinforcements might not be needed."
For a moment, everyone’s face filled with smiles.
Chengen Marquis looked ashen.
Marquis Wuding laughed and said, "The shooting inspection is over; next, the Emperor should reward and punish. But with Dingbei Marquis leading the crowd, upon return, merits should indeed be rewarded. Why not record it for now, and richly reward later?"
The Emperor nodded: "Good."
The grand inspection was finished, the crowd couldn’t return to the city, needing to find ways to divert.
At this moment, Prince Qi said, "Why not play cuju?"
Cuju and hitting ball games are often used to train soldiers, Daxing’s people, irrespective of gender or age, enjoy watching cuju and hitting ball games, and at present, no one objected.
Even the usually steady Chief Minister Pan said, "It’s great, later I also want to join in."
The Emperor laughed, "If the Prime Minister joins in, who dares to win against you? Do you expect me to join too?"
Chief Minister Pan said, "If the Emperor wishes to play hitting ball, just say so. No need to use me for cover."
Everyone laughed heartily.
Old Wang said, "The Emperor might be worried about the Prime Minister’s old arms and legs, restricting others’ abilities to show. Not to mention so many bears and tigers here on the field, the hitting ball naturally needs them to play."
Chief Minister Pan said, "You old chap protect your master too much, enough, old arms and legs are disliked, this old official will just sit here and watch them bears and tigers compete."
Old Wang laughed saying, "Grand Secretary indeed has sharp eyes."
Chief Minister Pan ignored him.
Duke An laughed and said, "I’ve heard the Grand Secretary often plays hitting ball outside the city, seems to be an expert among them, when free, why don’t we, these old arms and legs, compete together?"
"Good, an old man suddenly feeling youthful ambition," Chief Minister Pan nodded in agreement.
Everyone spoke merrily, the field was also filled with lively cheers.
The Empress Dowager’s interest increased substantially, laughing and said, "Today’s cuju game is quite tedious, this hitting ball game is indeed splendid."
The restless Empress Lin squeezed out a sentence, "Mother’s words are indeed true."
The Empress Dowager glanced at her, then turned her gaze back to the field.
The soldiers exerted themselves to showcase skills before the nobles, competing with courage as they slammed the wooden ball with moon-shaped heads, the small ball flew like a meteor, causing the mighty horses to sometimes lift hoofs, neighing and colliding.
Everyone cheered, seemingly forgetting the Capital City had descended into chaos.
The Emperor, excitedly watching, summoned servants to bring out silk and silver as prizes, exhilarating both players and audience alike, shouting continuously.
Qin Yuan couldn’t help but whisper, "Truly carefree."
Old Madam Gu laughed and said, "We rarely witness military athletes playing ball, rest assured, with the third one here, nothing will occur."
Qin Yuan laughed, "Mother hasn’t seen on that day at the Imperial College, when the third one led his subordinates in a match against Yelv Zhi and others, that was truly a spectacle, after watching that, nothing else was comparable to the breadth of experience, nothing else felt as watchable."
This remark pleased Old Madam Gu greatly.
Soon, the young officer in red returned with news, the Emperor listened and waved repeatedly, "Very good, very good, let it all be decided by Dingbei Marquis, I trust him."
Evidently, he was too pleased watching to bother about Dingbei Marquis.
Chengen Marquis’s face was stern, opened his mouth but ultimately refrained from speaking.
The messenger officer in red rode away, disheartenedly off to relay the news back.
Dingbei Marquis at this moment was covered in blood and smoke, standing with hands behind his back in the prison of the Capital Governor Mansion, watching Wang Zichuan and others huddled against straw piles by the wall, and said, "What audacity, even left writing on the screen at Yangxin Hall saying ’visited here’. Do you think this Marquis cannot catch you?"