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“An explanation?! I want an explanation too!”
Suppressing his anger had only made it explode more violently. He Huaiyuan roared furiously and kicked a large roadside boulder.
Ever since the old emperor passed, he had assisted the young emperor, serving as the prime minister—standing above tens of thousands, bowing to none. He was no pushover.
Forcing himself to calm his rage, he paced several times around the empty courtyard before giving a deep, steady command:
“Over a hundred residences across the capital were emptied overnight. This is no work of an ordinary force. Clearly, the defenses of our Southern Qi capital mean nothing in their eyes!”
“Pass down my orders—mobilize 80,000 troops from the Jingji Garrison to surround every city gate, awaiting further command!”
“Order Deputy Commander Yang Fei of the Imperial Guards to lead the remaining 50,000 troops in defending the palace at all costs! The emperor and the empress dowager must be kept safe!”
“Lock down every street in the capital. No commoners are allowed to roam outside! The Grand General of the Jinwu Guards is to assist the Capital Prefect in thoroughly investigating the thefts. Any suspicious individuals must be arrested on sight!”
Orders were swiftly issued, and teams of guards bearing official seals rushed in all directions. The capital fell into an even stricter state of lockdown.
Before long, key officials and strategists aligned with the imperial in-laws hurried to He Huaiyuan’s residence.
These high-ranking officials, who once wielded power with a mere flick of the wrist, were now disheveled, their robes in disarray—clearly victims of the same ruthless plundering.
Gazing at the secret chamber of the ancestral hall, now thoroughly ransacked and left wide open, He Huaiyuan was so furious he felt his very organs were about to shatter.
Yet, he knew the situation was dire, and emotions had no place at the moment. He forced himself to suppress his fury and began discussing their next move with his colleagues.
“Hmph! I have already deployed troops to seal off the city. Until the culprits are captured, the lockdown stays!”
“No matter how skilled they are, no thief could possibly escape with such an enormous fortune in such a short time!”
His tone softened slightly as he sneered and continued,
“The thieves will be dealt with. But we have spent too long preparing to dismantle Prince Qin’s power to let this setback ruin everything.”
“Hah! I underestimated that wastrel, Sheng San! He must have seen through Sheng Dehai’s plan and turned it against us today!”
“I always knew that dealing with the Qin royal household wouldn’t be easy. That’s why Qi Xian and I prepared something extra for them.”
A sinister smile crept across He Huaiyuan’s lips as he exchanged glances with a man in a bamboo hat seated nearby. Then, he pulled a secret letter from his robes and spread it out for everyone to see.
“This is a classified report from the border, detailing events from the Battle of Wolf Valley months ago—evidence proving Prince Qin, Sheng Jinghai, slaughtered prisoners of war and allowed his troops to pillage and rape.”
“After a joint review by the Court of Judicial Review, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate, the evidence has been confirmed…”
He Huaiyuan deliberately paused, smirking wickedly.
There was no need for further explanation. The imperial in-law faction officials instantly understood, grinning in satisfaction.
“I thought our entire plan had collapsed today because of that fool Sheng Dehai. But to think Prime Minister He had a trump card ready to turn the tables in an instant!”
“They say those who plan one step ahead are mediocrities, those who plan three steps ahead are geniuses, and those who plan ten steps ahead are true prodigies. Prime Minister He, your foresight is truly unparalleled!”
“I am utterly in awe!”
The officials wasted no time flattering He Huaiyuan. Even though their forced smiles were stiff—still reeling from their own losses—their words of praise were utterly sincere.
He Huaiyuan’s face was flushed with excitement, yet he feigned modesty by waving his hand, speaking with great sentiment:
“Look at that beast trapped in a cage—no matter how much it struggles, the outcome remains the same. Just like the Qin Royal Manor, no matter what they try, they cannot escape exile.”
“As for Sheng Dehai… he still has some use. When the time comes, we’ll find a scapegoat to clear him of his crimes.”
“That won’t do.”
A voice interrupted him. The hooded man spoke, his tone calm but firm:
“When the imperial guards raided the Qin Royal Manor earlier, Sheng San deliberately made a scene, ensuring that the whole city knew about it. If we now exonerate Sheng Dehai, wouldn’t that confirm Sheng San’s accusations?”
“Besides…”
The hooded man’s gaze swept across the now-bare Chancellor’s residence. His tone carried a hint of amusement:
“Chancellor, don’t you think it’s a bit too much of a coincidence? The Qin Royal Manor fell into crisis at the same time the entire capital was looted clean. To say these two incidents are unrelated—I simply cannot believe it.”
“We have never dared to underestimate the Qin household. But I fear that this time, we still miscalculated.”
His words were compelling, and for a moment, everyone present fell into deep thought.
Then, he continued:
“In my opinion, we should go with the flow—exile both branches of the Sheng family to the Northern Frontier.”
“When the time comes, Chancellor, you can meet with Sheng Dehai privately and have him closely observe the main branch of the family during their exile. He can use this opportunity to atone for his crimes.”
“This way, we won’t leave any weaknesses for others to exploit, and at the same time, we’ll have a reliable informant embedded within the exile group. Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds?”
He Huaiyuan frowned in contemplation for a moment before his expression shifted to one of sudden realization.
“Sir Qi, your wisdom is truly remarkable. I am in awe.”
For decades, the young emperor had neglected court affairs, leaving all important decrees in the hands of his chancellor—his uncle, He Huaiyuan.
The moment He Huaiyuan’s decree to exile both branches of the Qin Royal Manor was issued, the imperial edict swiftly arrived at the residence, which was still under the tight siege of the imperial guards.
Sheng Dehai, who had been stomping around and cursing Sheng Yichen for falsely accusing his elders, was utterly stunned upon hearing the cold, ruthless imperial decree.
In mere seconds, his grimy face cycled through multiple expressions—shock, disbelief, then grievance, and finally, a furious, unwilling roar:
“Impossible! Those things were obviously planted in my courtyard to frame me!”
“How could the Grand Chancellor convict me?! I demand to see him! I demand to see His Majesty!”
Covered in filth, Sheng Dehai charged toward the manor gates, only to be kicked back inside by the guards at the entrance.
“The imperial edict is crystal clear—this was a decision made jointly by the Grand Chancellor and the Three Judicial Offices. How could it be unjust? Stay put! You are a convicted criminal now. You have no right to meet the Grand Chancellor!”
“Argh—!”
Sheng Dehai was sent flying several meters, landing hard on his back, a searing pain spreading across his spine.
Realizing reason wouldn’t work, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration. A cunning glint flickered in his eyes as he scrambled to his feet and dashed toward the exit, yelling desperately:
“Move aside! I must see the Chancellor! I have urgent information to report!”
“I know an earth-shattering secret about the main branch of the Qin Royal Manor! Let me through immediately! I must see the Chancellor!”