Overawing the Officials (6000)

Xu Qi'an?!

The name echoed in the minds of the courtiers, causing their expressions to change slightly as they recalled many unpleasant memories.

Blocking the Meridian Gate invites ridicule; blocking the Meridian Gate kills the Duke; beheading the late Emperor.

Watching him jump around and swagger around, there was nothing that could be done.

This man was so arrogant and domineering because Wei Yuan had protected him in the past. Later, Wei Yuan died, and many people in the court were waiting for Emperor Yuanjing to settle scores with him.

I'm just waiting for his entire family to be executed.

A commotion suddenly arose. The officials looked at each other, whispering questions to one another. Some shook their heads, indicating that they had not received any relevant information.

Standing at the end of the line, Xu Xinnian heard mostly comments like, "Didn't he leave Beijing?", "When did he come back?", and "Why did that damned dog come back?"

The faces of the Dali Temple Minister and other party leaders darkened.

Zhang Xingying turned his head in astonishment, looking at Liu Hong. Several former members of the Wei Party did the same.

Xu Qi'an is back?

They hadn't received a single word.

That guy's back in the capital, that's good. At this moment, the former Wei Party members felt incredibly at ease.

Emperor Yongxing raised the corner of his mouth and gestured to the eunuchs to remain silent, deliberately not interrupting the clamor of the officials.

"A bunch of old foxes, the ones who will deal with you are here." Emperor Yongxing felt refreshed, as if all the pent-up frustration of the past few days had been swept away.

After the commotion in the hall subsided, Emperor Yongxing slowly spoke, saying:

"As far as I know, Xu Yinluo had already left the capital to travel the world. Why has he returned?"

Liu Hong shouted:

"Xu Yinluo traveled the world and witnessed the hardships of the people's lives. He felt compassion in his heart and often recalled Duke Wei's teachings, which made him burst into tears. So he stopped traveling the world."

"I wish to Nightwatchers duties of the night watchmen from Duke Wei and restore order to the court."

The nobles and officials all paled and cried out in alarm:

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"How can Xu Qi'an, a mere martial artist, be in charge of the Nightwatchers?"

"This young man is unruly and arrogant. When he was working in the government office, he dared to break into the palace. If he were to take charge of the Nightwatchers, there would be no peace in the court or among the people."

On the spot, more than half of the officials in the hall expressed their opposition, and their emotions were far more intense than if they had been forced to donate.

Among the nobles, almost all voted against it.

This shows how unpopular that Xu-surname warrior was.

Of course, there were also those among the officials who agreed, such as former Wei party members and some Wang party members.

The latter's feelings were much more complicated. Xu Qi'an was Wei Yuan's confidant and undoubtedly belonged to Wei's faction. In the past, Wang's faction would have risked their lives to stop Xu Qi'an from taking charge of the Nightwatchers.

But now

Everyone knows that Xu Erlang is the future son-in-law of Chief Minister Wang.

With this relationship, this arrogant and domineering brute could seemingly become an ally once again.

When that bastard Xu Qi'an returned, the Minister of Ministry of Justice's expression was one of mixed emotions.

He had mixed feelings of love and hate towards the brute surnamed Xu. He loved him because the man was extremely useful, but he hated him because the scoundrel had written poems cursing him and had repeatedly ruined his plans in the past.

They're old enemies.

But it must be admitted that right now, only this scoundrel can keep the entire court in check.

"Smack!"

The eunuch cracked his whip, striking the gleaming ground with a crisp sound.

Emperor Yongxing glanced at his ministers and said calmly:

"The Nightwatchers are responsible for supervising the officials and protecting the palace and the royal family. It is up to me to decide who leads the Nightwatchers."

"When did it become your turn, my esteemed subjects, to overstep your bounds?"

He had barely finished speaking when he saw the Duke of Dingguo step out from the ranks of the nobles and say in a deep voice:

Your Majesty, please reconsider.

The Duke of Dingguo was about fifty years old. He wore an eight-beam crown, a red silk robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a brocade sash with clouds and phoenixes in four colors.

Despite being over fifty years old, his eyes were bright and spirited, and his Qi and Blood showed no signs of aging, clearly indicating that he possessed considerable cultivation.

The Duke of Dingguo's voice was full of vigor:

"How can Your Majesty appoint a Nightwatchers?"

Upon hearing someone touch upon this taboo topic, the courtiers in the hall fell silent.

The Duke of Dingguo continued:

"The father is the head of the family, and the late emperor is, after all, Your Majesty's father. Your Majesty's appointment of Xu Qi'an to be in charge of the night Nightwatchers will likely be recorded in history a hundred years from now, which will probably not be good for Your Majesty's reputation."

"Dissent is bound to arise from both the government and the public."

He put it very tactfully, meaning that appointing someone who killed your father to a high-ranking position would sound terrible if word got out. It would be recorded in history books, and you would be criticized and condemned by future generations.

Emperor Yongxing valued his reputation above all else.

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Dingguo's words are reasonable; I urge you to reconsider."

"This matter... alas, it is indeed inappropriate, Your Majesty."

The courtiers echoed their agreement.

Just as everyone was talking at once and their emotions were running high, Emperor Yongxing said calmly:

"Xu Yinluo entered the palace this morning. Guards, please invite him to the hall."

The protests suddenly ceased, and the hall fell silent; you could hear a pin drop.

You've already invited everyone into the palace, why didn't you say so earlier? The officials stared blankly at Emperor Yongxing, their expressions seemingly saying:

Are you messing with us?

No one spoke.

The Duke of Dingguo was stuck there, caught in a dilemma.

Xu Xinnian, standing at the entrance of the hall, covered his mouth with his hand to keep himself from laughing out loud.

The officials were vehemently opposed, clamoring that he was a regicide, but upon hearing that their elder brother had entered the palace, they immediately fell silent.

It's like one side cursing from behind a wall, only to have the other side bring a ladder and climb over the wall, leaving the other side cowering on the spot.

In the suffocating silence, the officials in the hall heard footsteps crossing the high threshold.

Everyone turned to look, and saw a figure in a magnificent blue robe stride in, exuding composure and gentleness. For a moment, the crowd almost thought that the former Grand Master of Blue had been resurrected.

In the silence, footsteps echoed unhurriedly as they approached the throne and walked to the side of the Duke of Dingguo.

Clatter!

Xu Qi'an stopped and turned to look at the Duke of Dingguo, saying:

"I have heard of the execution of a traitor, but I have not heard of the murder of a ruler."

What does the Duke of Dingguo think?

The Duke of Dingguo's face burned with embarrassment and shame, but he forced a grunt and said:

"Xu Qi'an, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, his knees suddenly buckled, and he collapsed to his knees.

Xu Qi'an scoffed, "A mere mortal like you is not worthy to speak to me."

He waved his hand, sending the Duke of Dingguo flying and knocking him unconscious on the spot.

A dignified Duke was subjected to such humiliation in the palace. Immediately, members of the imperial family, unable to contain their anger, shouted:

"Xu Qi'an, how dare you commit violence within the Golden Palace!"

The angry shout was extremely loud, and the officials outside the hall heard it clearly. They all raised their heads and looked into the hall.

"Xu Qi'an actually made a move inside the Golden Palace?"

"Absurd! The Golden Palace is where His Majesty and the officials discuss matters; it is the core of the dynasty. Xu Yinluo has no sense of propriety whatsoever."

"This scoundrel is getting more and more audacious; who will be able to control him in the future?"

The officials outside the hall began to whisper among themselves. Some civil officials who admired Xu Qi'an also felt that Xu Yinluo was too impulsive and had disgraced the scholars.

At that moment, they heard Xu Yinluo's maniacal laughter coming from inside the hall:

"That day I stormed the Golden Palace with a knife and killed Yuan Jing, why didn't you blame me for committing violence in front of the palace?"

"Yuan Jing colluded with the Witch God Cult, attempting to overthrow the legacy left by our ancestors. I, Xu, beheaded him, yet in your eyes, I have become a regicide?"

"I defeated the allied forces of Yan and Kang at Yuyang Pass and beheaded the tyrannical Emperor Yuan Jing on the outskirts of the capital, thus protecting the Great Feng dynasty from the erosion of the Witch God Cult. Was it all so that you bunch of good-for-nothings could suck the people's blood and sweat?"

"A mere duke dares to speak ill of me in the palace. Doesn't he even realize that he can stand here and act so arrogantly? Whose credit is that?"

The hall was completely silent.

Officials on both sides of the imperial steps and in the square looked at each other in bewilderment.

Someone muttered, "What's so special about beating a duke? They even beheaded two at the execution ground."

"That's right. Xu Yinluo has made tremendous contributions to the country, no less than the Duke Wei of Wei back then. How can we allow a mere Duke to slander and criticize him?"

"With refugees rebelling in various places and the world in turmoil, only with a third-rank military officer in charge can the nation remain stable. If Your Majesty and the other officials still have any sense, they should understand the right choice."

Civil officials who admired Xu Qi'an spoke up one after another, while those who were dissatisfied with him remained silent.

Inside the hall, Xu Qi'an stood with his hands behind his back, his sharp gaze sweeping over the officials, nobles, and members of the imperial family, and he sneered:

"I risked my life to protect the Great Feng Dynasty, not to support a bunch of useless people like you."

"Whether you agree or disagree today, I will take control of the Nightwatchers's office. Those who are stubborn and unyielding, don't blame me for being impolite."

The officials in the hall had ashen faces, gritting their teeth in anger, yet they were helpless.

A man's name is like a tree's shadow; this scoundrel killed a duke and beheaded an emperor. When he goes mad, he doesn't even recognize his own family.

To expect him to be bound by the rules of officialdom or the laws of the Great Feng is simply wishful thinking.

If this person were to take charge of the Nightwatchers, the entire officialdom would be at his mercy. Thinking of this, many people in the hall had already considered resigning.

There's no point in navigating this kind of officialdom. It's a terrible thing for someone who doesn't follow the rules to control the bureaucracy.

Xu Qi'an changed the subject and said:

"If you are willing to wholeheartedly assist His Majesty and diligently serve the people, I, Xu, will naturally not make things difficult for you. Otherwise, the fate of Duke Cao and Duke Huguo yesterday will be your fate tomorrow."

The hall was quiet; no one refuted it, no one responded.

Silence is also a form of attitude.

The nobles and officials looked unwilling, but perhaps Xu Qi'an's last words had some effect, and their emotions were temporarily stable.

One person can subdue all officials; in the current Great Feng, besides the Supervisor, only Xu Qi'an could achieve this. Seeing this, Emperor Yongxing chuckled and tried to lighten the mood:

"With Minister Xu in charge of the Nightwatchers's office, I am at ease. I will trouble Minister Xu to assist me in the future."

"Dismiss the court."

He rose with a smile and left the Golden Palace with his personal eunuch.

After the court assembly ended, the civil and military officials walked silently in the square. Liu Hong and Chief Minister Wang stood on the steps of the Golden Palace, looking down at the officials, who all hung their heads dejectedly, as if they had suffered a defeat.

Xu Qi'an came out of the hall and nodded to the two of them.

The Prime Minister nodded and asked, "How is the collection of dragon energy going?"

Xu Qi'an sighed, "The task is arduous and the road ahead is long."

The chief minister remained silent for a moment, then bowed deeply and turned to leave.

"Lord Liu, shall we find a place to have a drink?"

Xu Qi'an said with a smile, "I happen to have some questions for Lord Liu."

Liu Hong also laughed, rejecting Xu Qi'an's suggestion:

"Drinking is one thing, but if I get impeached, I'll lose a month's salary."

"Nightwatchers watchman's office. We'll have tea instead of wine and have a chat."

Haoqi Tower, tea room on the seventh floor.

Xu Qi'an sat behind the table, raised his glass with Zhang Xingying and Liu Hong, and joked:

"Congratulations on your promotion, Lord Zhang! Tonight we'll be listening to music at the brothel; it's your treat."

Liu Hong joked, "Given Xu Yinluo's status, he should naturally choose the Imperial Academy of Music- run entertainment district) for drinking and carousing, not the brothel."

Xu Qi'an shook his head. "Before Fuxiang died, I promised her that I would never go to the Imperial Academy of Music again."

Liu Hong and Zhang Xingying exchanged a glance and sighed.

They weren't lamenting the Fuxiang beauty and tragic fate of a woman; they were lamenting the vicissitudes of life and the impermanence of things.

Zhang Xingying was particularly moved, as he had once gone to Yunzhou to investigate a case as the governor.

At that time, Xu Qi'an was just a lowly clerk, at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, on his way to break through to the Spirit Refining Realm.

In just one year, Duke Wei died, Emperor Yuanjing died, and the little gong boy from back then has now transcended the ordinary and become a truly great figure.

"There's something I'd like to trouble you with, Lord Liu."

Xu Qi'an put down his teacup, his tone solemn:

"You know I'm collecting dragon energy, which is scattered throughout the Central Plains. Trying to gather it all in a short time is like finding a needle in a haystack. Originally, it would have been the easiest and most effective way for the government to handle it."

"But with the disasters so severe in various places, the government is unlikely to be able to do a good job of intelligence gathering, and it is easy for hostile forces to take advantage of the situation. I need a more covert and effective intelligence organization to help me."

Liu Hong understood, "You want to Nightwatchers for the night watchman?"

Seeing Xu Qi'an nod, Liu Hong shook his head with a solemn expression:

"I did not inherit the Nightwatchers's secret technique."

Xu Qi'an was stunned for a moment. "What?"

Liu Hong explained:

"After I took over the Nightwatchers's office, I went to the archives to look for files recording the layout of secret agents in various places, but I found that they had already disappeared."

"The clerk in charge of guarding the archives told me that Duke Wei had already taken it before he went on his campaign."

Xu Qi'an frowned. "Duke Wei, have you taken away the files of those spies?"

Liu Hong nodded. "I originally thought he would entrust the Nightwatchers's spy to you, but now it seems that Duke Wei has other plans."

Xu Qi'an tapped his fingers lightly on the table and slowly said, "To whom do you two think Duke Wei entrusted it?"

Liu Hong and Zhang Xingying exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Xu Qi'an was somewhat disappointed. He frowned and thought for a long time before saying:

"I will be leaving the capital tomorrow. I will trouble Lord Liu to continue to take care of the affairs of the Nightwatchers's office."

"And don't forget to write a memorial to Emperor Yongxing, so he doesn't need to worry that I, a military man, will use the emperor to command the world."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xingying and Liu Hong both shook their heads and laughed.

As things stand, it's impossible for His Majesty to actually let Xu Qi'an take charge of the Nightwatchers's office.

In the art of ruling, the most fundamental principle is "balance." Xu Qi'an can suppress all the civil and military officials, but who can suppress Xu Qi'an?

Emperor Yongxing would never allow such an unchecked figure to hold real power, otherwise he would never sleep soundly.

In this matter, Xu Qi'an played the role of a mere tool.

The main point is that his current focus is not on the court or the capital.

"As expected, there will be a small assembly before lunch, at which time the donation matter can be finalized."

"That's a good thing."

Xu Qi'an said.

This is a good thing, so he's willing to be a tool.

After chatting for a few minutes, Xu Qi'an got up to say goodbye. He walked to the door of the tea room, stopped, and glanced back at the tea room, whose furnishings remained unchanged.

He suddenly remembered last winter, when he had just joined the Nightwatchers and had just gotten on Wei Yuan's good side.

Every time I come here to see Wei Yuan, I feel very uneasy.

"The face is gone, I know not where; the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze. Let's go find Brother Chun, Song Tingfeng, and Zhu Guangxiao for a few drinks."

The news that Xu Yinluo had brutally beaten the Duke of Dingguo and angrily rebuked the other officials in the Golden Palace, which had just ended, spread like wildfire throughout the officialdom of the capital.

More than a month has passed since Emperor Yuanjing was beheaded.

Xu Yinluo has kept a very low profile during this period, never appearing in public, and there is much speculation about him in Beijing.

According to popular belief, Xu Yinluo was ostracized by the imperial court for killing a tyrannical emperor and was forced to wander the martial world.

Some say that he was critically wounded in that earth-shattering battle and then went into seclusion to recuperate.

Not to mention the common people, even in official circles, many low-ranking officials in Beijing were unaware of Xu Yinluo's whereabouts.

Now that he has reappeared, he has done something that has shocked the court and the public.

"Xu Yinluo has finally come out. As I have said, he is the conscience of the Great Feng. If you gentlemen do not donate, someone will force you to do so."

"The severe cold weather has caused widespread suffering, and people are living in misery. Xu Yinluo could no longer sit idly by."

"As long as Xu Yinluo is there, there is still hope for the Great Feng."

"Xu Yinluo has finally been reinstated to his official position; I am extremely excited."

Once the news spread, the loyal and righteous people who supported the donation were greatly encouraged. They no longer needed to worry about the attitude of their colleagues or fear offending the public, and dared to openly express their stance.

Sure enough, before lunch, news spread from the cabinet that His Majesty had decided to call on all officials to donate in three days, and none of them objected.

Jingxiu Palace.

As lunchtime approached, Consort Chen sat in the warm indoor space, frequently glancing towards the doorway.

Why hasn't His Majesty arrived yet?

The elegant and charming imperial concubine glanced at her daughter to the side and said, "I wonder if Xu Qi'an's intervention will be effective."

Lin'an blurted out instinctively, "Of course it works, everyone's afraid of him."

Suddenly, she straightened her pretty face, feigning indifference. "His affairs are none of my business. I've already severed ties with him."

Consort Chen scrutinized her for a moment, then looked away with some curiosity, continuing to gaze at the doorway.

The news of this morning's court assembly had already spread, and naturally could not be kept from Consort Chen.

Upon learning that Xu Qi'an had stepped forward to help, Consort Chen was both surprised and delighted. She knew very well that Xu Qi'an was the only person who could help Emperor Yongxing right now.

Ultimately, his willingness to help was mostly for the sake of Lin'an. Consort Chen withdrew her gaze and turned to look at her daughter, her eyes revealing a complex emotion.

Emperor Yongxing appeared in the courtyard, strode across the yard, and entered the house.

Consort Chen was already waiting at the door, and her first words upon meeting him were an eager inquiry:

"How?"

Emperor Yongxing knew what she meant and smiled, "Three days from now, I will personally call on all officials to donate money and send official reports to all prefectures to encourage officials to donate. At the same time, I will also call on local gentry to donate money and grain."

Consort Chen felt a great weight lifted from her heart, and a bright smile appeared on her face.

"Your Majesty must be hungry. The food is ready, and Mother Consort will have the servants bring it over now."

Holding Emperor Yongxing's hand, the beautiful woman sat down at the table, her face beaming with smiles.

"Your Majesty can finally rest easy for a while, and my mother is also happy. This is all thanks to Xu Qi'an. Although my mother doesn't like him, she still has to thank him."

Lin'an's round and bright oval face then revealed a sweet smile.

Emperor Yongxing was in a very good mood and joked:

"I also owe a debt of gratitude to Lin'an. Without Lin'an, I would be in dire straits right now, and I would be a pathetic emperor."

"It's none of my business." Lin An immediately stopped smiling and imitated Huai Qing's cold and indifferent demeanor.

Emperor Yongxing was both amused and bewildered, and asked, "What's wrong with Your Highness Lin'an?"

"It's nothing. I just have nothing to do with that Xu Yinluo anymore. From now on, please don't misunderstand, Emperor, and don't think that I have any misunderstandings with him." Lin'an maintained a cold expression.

Believe it or not, her cold and ruthless demeanor instantly transformed a charming and passionate woman into a cool and sexy mature woman.

Seeing that her daughter was in a bad mood, Consort Chen quickly said, "Alright, let's eat first."

I secretly decided to ask her quietly after dinner.

Dexinyuan.

The study was elegantly furnished, adorned with calligraphy and paintings, and decorated with porcelain and jade plates.

Huaiqing sat behind the desk, listened to the chief guard's report, and nodded slightly:

"With his involvement, there will be no further problems with the donation."

The head guard said somewhat excitedly, "His Majesty has entrusted the Nightwatchers's Office to Xu Yinluo. Your Highness, you should associate with Xu Yinluo more often. Given your relationship with him, the Nightwatchers will be yours sooner or later."

Upon hearing this, Huaiqing frowned slightly and corrected him in a cold tone:

"We have different principles and cannot work together."

Having said that, seemingly unwilling to say another word about himself, he opened the books on his left, pulled out a list, and gave the instructions:

"Send invitations to the officials on the list on my behalf, and do it discreetly."

These are the officials she selected after observing this incident.

Xu Qi'an, who should have been the center of attention, was now leading a mare along the official road outside the capital.

A plain-looking princess sat on horseback, her body swaying gently with the movement of her mount.

After being banished to the cold palace for many days, Mu Nanzhi finally saw the light of day again.

"It's so uncomfortable. There's something in front of me that makes me feel uneasy —Vast Righteous Qi."

The little white fox in her arms said sweetly.

Oh, Shirahime has seen the light of day again.

"Nan Zhi."

Mu Nanzhi clasped her hands together, her tone neither joyful nor sorrowful:

"Benefactor Xu, monks do not speak of their names, and Daoists do not speak of their lifespans. This humble monk has already entered the Buddhist order and should no longer be addressed by his former name."

Xu Qi'an corrected him, "You should refer to yourself as a poor nun."

"Mind your own business!" Mu Nanzhi almost lost her composure, took a deep breath, and said calmly:

"Please feel free to do as you please."

She looked like this after she came out of the pagoda.

She would casually put her hands together in prayer and chant a Buddhist mantra to indicate that she had become a nun and had severed all ties with the scumbag who had cheated on her with her wife's best friend.

"Nanzhi, it's a rare trip back to the capital, let's buy some more storybooks to take with us, so you can flip through them when you're bored on the journey. The storybooks in the capital are definitely the best," Xu Qi'an suggested.

Mu Nanzhi chanted a Buddhist prayer. "This humble nun has no such worldly desires."

She learned quickly and changed how she referred to herself.

"There are no worldly desires."

Bai Ji echoed this sentiment.

What sins have I committed? The fishpond has exploded, and every single fish seems determined to sever all ties with me. Oh, Imperial Advisor, don't blame me for how I treated you the other day, for making you pose in so many shameful ways. It's all retribution. Right, I need to slip out of the capital before tomorrow, or my life will be in grave danger!

After walking for a while, Clear Cloud Mountain came into view.

He came to the Cloud Deer Academy to find Dean Zhao Shou and ask him the truth about why Wei Yuan was willing to die to seal the Witch God.

I'd also like to ask for a few sheets of paper recording the Confucian School Law Technique of "Law Follows Speech law".

PS: Updated a little late, but it's quite long.