The next day.
Jiang Xiaobai had gotten up and eaten breakfast, and was just about to leave when he saw Zhang Xinnian walk in from outside.
"My lord!"
Zhang Xinnian looked at Jiang Xiaobai and said respectfully, "The Marquis ordered me to stay by your side and protect you today!"
"Hmm?"
Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "All right."
He had been attacked in the street yesterday, though the blade hadn't struck him.
But... Jiang Xiaobai had no desire to experience that blade energy bearing down on him a second time.
With Zhang Xinnian accompanying him now, he could at least feel a little more at ease.
"Where's my father?" Jiang Xiaobai asked.
"Oh, the Marquis left for court early this morning."
Zhang Xinnian answered.
"That early?"
Jiang Xiaobai looked surprised. Then he shook his head and said, "Go get a carriage ready."
"We're going to the Chancellor's Residence!"
"Yes!"
Zhang Xinnian nodded respectfully, turned, and went outside.
Before long, the carriage was ready.
Jiang Xiaobai took Zhang Xinnian with him, and they headed toward the Chancellor's Residence.
Meanwhile, the officials had gathered in Golden Chime Hall.
But the atmosphere at court was stranger than usual.
For right in the center of the hall sat a coffin.
Pitch-black from end to end, the coffin lay across the hall, impossible to miss.
Quite a few officials were hunching their shoulders and whispering among themselves.
"Good heavens, what is Marquis Jiang planning today?"
"Exactly. Bringing a coffin to court is utterly improper. How inauspicious!"
"Who knows? He didn't come yesterday, and today he turns up with a coffin. What sort of scene is he planning to make?"
Many officials stole glances toward the military officers.
Jiang Jingcheng stood at their head, his face cold and grim, without saying a word.
The