The first to be dragged down with Qiu Yun was Duke Wei. As political tides shifted in the court, Mingxi could only watch from afar.
Falsely claiming military merits was a serious crime, but Duke Wei was determined to protect Qiu Yun. Mingxi didn’t know why, but there was clearly something more to the story.
The question was—how would Duke Wei protect himself?
The war in Qinan was still ongoing, but Fengcheng Marquis’s request for reinforcements had been completely sidelined amid the court’s turmoil.
The Empress and Crown Prince had thrown everything into disarray, hoping to use the situation to reestablish the Eastern Palace’s authority.
Among the four imperial consorts, only Consort Shu remained neutral. The other three were simply watching and not taking any action. As for Jin Wang, Yu Wang, and Qi Wang, they all chose to remain on the sidelines.
Only Kang Wang was worried about Duke Wei’s predicament because of his connection to Fengcheng Marquis. However, among the imperial sons, Kang Wang had the least presence. In the Emperor’s eyes, he wasn’t an important figure, so even if he wanted to help, he had no way to intervene.
With no other options, Kang Wang went to see Duan Wang late at night.
“Fourth Brother, I really have no choice. Please, I beg you to help me,” Kang Wang’s eyes were red, his body trembling slightly.
The study door was shut tight.
Xiao Muchen was not one for casual conversation, and with his usual stern expression, he appeared even more imposing than usual.
He looked at Kang Wang and said, “Sit down first.”
Kang Wang was too anxious to sit, but in front of his fourth brother, he didn’t dare disobey. He half-perched on the chair, his eyes fixed on Xiao Muchen, waiting for an answer.
Xiao Muchen met his gaze and sighed. “Eighth Brother, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but the evidence is irrefutable. There’s nothing I can do.”
Hearing this, disappointment flickered in Kang Wang’s eyes. He lowered his head, but he didn’t blame his brother. He knew that if Fourth Brother could help, he would.
Seeing his brother’s crestfallen expression, Xiao Muchen frowned slightly and asked, “Who sent you? Duke Wei?”
Kang Wang stiffened and shook his head hurriedly. “No, no! I haven’t even seen Duke Wei. He wouldn’t ask me to do something like this.”
Xiao Muchen’s eyes sharpened. “Then did Fengcheng Marquis’s household send you a message?”
Kang Wang: …
He wanted to drop to his knees!
Xiao Muchen immediately continued, “Since you’ve come to me for help, you should tell me the truth. Otherwise, how can I determine whether I can do anything? if you keep hiding things, even an immortal wouldn’t be able to help you.”
Kang Wang broke into a cold sweat at his brother’s words and quickly said, “Fourth Brother, I wasn’t trying to hide anything—I just didn’t know how to explain it.”
“Just tell me the truth!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll talk, I’ll talk… Let me think where to start…” Kang Wang wiped the sweat from his forehead with a trembling hand. His fourth brother’s gaze was terrifying.
Xiao Muchen withdrew his piercing gaze and waited patiently.
Kang Wang finally steadied his thoughts and spoke in a low voice. “Fourth Brother, it was Miss Zheng who sent me the message. She said Fengcheng Marquis sent a letter home, saying that the situation in Qinan is dire. The court has neither sent reinforcements nor provided grain and warhorses. They can barely hold on.”
“If Duke Wei falls, who will speak for Fengcheng Marquis in court? Miss Zheng also said that Xiao Lin was injured when he led the charge in the last battle. His old wounds hadn’t even healed when the war resumed…”
Kang Wang hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and added, “For some reason, the entire army knows his identity now. There are rumors everywhere that he only joined the campaign to gain military merit and return to the capital for a promotion.
“Not wanting to be accused of such things, Xiao Lin went back to the battlefield despite his injuries. But that battle ended in a crushing defeat. When they carried him back, he was unconscious… No one knows his current condition.”
Xiao Muchen’s eyes darkened, and his lips pressed into a thin line. He looked at Kang Wang and asked, “What else?”
Kang Wang listened to his fourth brother’s voice, cold as ice shards, and didn’t even dare to wipe his sweat. He quickly said, “Miss Zheng also doesn’t know how Xiao Lin is doing now. Fengcheng Marquis has not sent any further letters.”
Xiao Muchen’s heart sank. if something happened to Xiao Lin… it would be difficult to explain to Ning Qin Wang.
He looked at Kang Wang. “Come with me to Ning Qin Wang’s residence.”
Kang Wang was stunned. “Fourth Brother, now?”
It was already the middle of the night…
Xiao Muchen shot him a glance, and Kang Wang immediately followed.
Whatever Fourth Brother said was law. He had no great abilities, but he knew how to follow orders.
The two changed into plain clothes, and with Qi He’s help, they avoided the city patrols and quietly knocked on Ning Qin Wang’s mansion gate.
Ning Qin Wang was roused from sleep and didn’t look pleased. When he saw Duan Wang and Kang Wang and heard what Xiao Muchen had to say, his face darkened in the lamplight, filled with solemnity and restrained fury.
“Who leaked Lin Er’s identity?” Ning Qin Wang asked, looking at Kang Wang.
Kang Wang’s legs nearly gave out before his uncle. He quickly shook his head. “Fengcheng Marquis’s letter didn’t say.”
Xiao Muchen stepped slightly forward, half shielding Kang Wang, and looked at Ning Qin Wang. “Royal uncle, I believe you already have an answer in your heart, don’t you?”
Ning Qin Wang sneered. Who else could it be? The ones who most wanted to see him fall were the Empress and Crown Prince.
Since he refused to align himself with the Eastern Palace, they naturally wanted to eliminate him as an enemy. Lin Er had simply been caught in the crossfire, used to make an example of him.
Good. Very good!
Ning Qin Wang looked at Xiao Muchen. “What do you intend to do?”
Xiao Muchen said calmly, “It’s simple—protect Duke Wei. If he is safe, Fengcheng Marquis’s position will be stable. As long as Fengcheng Marquis remains, Xiao Lin will be unharmed.”
Ning Qin Wang asked, “And how do you plan to protect him?”
Hearing this, Xiao Muchen knew Ning Qin Wang had agreed to cooperate. He took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it over casually. “Borrowing a knife to kill.”
Ning Qin Wang: …
He gave Xiao Muchen a long, deep look before accepting the scroll and opening it. His expression changed instantly.
He strode toward the lamp, flipping through the pages. His face shifted multiple times. When he finished reading, he turned to Xiao Muchen. “Is this evidence real?”
“Personally given by Huang Shao. What do you think, Royal uncle?”
Ning Qin Wang was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Xiao Muchen to bring Huang Shao onto his side.
This nephew of his had spent years keeping a low profile, but he turned out to be quite capable.
“You do realize that if the matter of the Imperial Horse Bureau is exposed, the consequences will be unpredictable,” Ning Qin Wang said. “The Emperor is currently protecting the Crown Prince. Moving against him won’t be easy.”
Shaking a mountain was easier than shaking the Crown Prince.
“Everything depends on effort,” Xiao Muchen said. “If we can’t bring them down this time, there will always be a next time. Strike after strike—no matter how tall a mountain the Eastern Palace may be, it will eventually collapse.”
He met Ning Qin Wang’s gaze. “Royal uncle, if you back down now, Xiao Lin’s life will truly be lost in Qinan.”
At the mention of his son, the last trace of hesitation in Ning Qin Wang’s eyes vanished.
His son’s life was at stake. The Empress and Crown Prince were the culprits. How could he let them go unpunished?
