Chapter 499: Choice

Chapter 499: Chapter 499: Choice

Yang Lin was initially stunned, then immediately reacted: "You mean Ma Xuanlin accepted that petition?"

"Yes, Your Highness, Ma Xuanlin accepted the petitions from more than ten people in the street."

This time Yang Lin was fully awake. He stood up from his chair and paced quickly across the room. He knew exactly what it meant for Ma Xuanlin to accept a petition against the Xuanqing Guard.

Things had really taken a turn, and become much more complicated. Originally, Yang Lin hadn’t thought much of this adviser, but now that’s lessened—after all, the man’s predictions were spot on. He decided to keep him, at least to hear what else he had to say.

"What do you think of this matter?"

"In reply to Your Highness. I believe this remains a follow-up to the incident where Miss Qin was imprisoned in Fengri City, and I still think someone is manipulating these events from behind the scenes.

But being able to persuade Ma Xuanlin to be the spearhead must mean either the mastermind is extremely influential, or they have found an appropriate leverage point so that some big figure above would step forward for them."

Yang Lin nodded. Ma Xuanlin’s standing at court was naturally very high—being in charge of one of the Six Ministries, he was especially key among the civil servant group. To get such a heavyweight to jump out as the spearhead, one can only imagine the amount of energy required to push him.

Moreover, Ma Xuanlin was known in court and public as a mainstay of the civil official faction, and the head of the civil officials was Left Minister Ye Lansheng. Ma Xuanlin was often used by Ye Lansheng as his vanguard—the first general in Ye Lansheng’s hand, so to speak.

So, Ma Xuanlin suddenly becoming the spearhead—does that mean Ye Lansheng is supporting him from behind?

At this, Yang Lin felt a chill in his heart, because he was the first to be implicated in this case. Now that the situation had changed, he definitely couldn’t escape it; how to respond was crucial for him.

"And the purpose? Would they stage such a grand maneuver just for a mere Hundred Households of the Xuanqing Guard?"

"Your Highness, Shen Hao is no longer a Hundred Households Officer. He was recently promoted ahead of schedule to Deputy Thousand Households—the youngest and fastest rising Deputy within the Xuanqing Guard. To say he’s the red-hot favorite within the Xuanqing Guard right now is no exaggeration. So to go after Shen Hao is no longer simply about targeting an individual."

"Are you saying these people are aiming at the Xuanqing Guard itself?! Don’t these civil officials ever learn? Last time, Pang Ban slapped them so hard their molars fell out, and now they still dare provoke the tiger?"

"Your Highness, times have changed. Haven’t you noticed that recently the civil officials’ voices in the Temple Hall have gotten much weaker?" As Yang Lin’s adviser, it’s fundamental to keep track of every shift at court, with countless informants from the Imperial Palace and ministers who’d already quietly declared allegiance.

Yang Lin nodded to indicate he understood. Indeed, lately the civil officials’ voices at court had become much quieter than before. Previously, at a Great Court Assembly, they did seventy percent of the talking, but at the last assembly, it was the military who spoke more.

"The southern front is tense now, and the Military Series’ status is rising. Naturally their voices will drown out the civil officials’. But does that relate to this matter?"

"It does, Your Highness. The civil officials need to repress the military at court—even with a clear intent to pursue ’peace’. But though the military’s influence has waned, Your Majesty himself leans towards ’war’. With Your Majesty and the military combining forces, the civil officials are growing weak, losing their current status and authority.

As for Pang Ban of the Xuanqing Guard, he has unequivocally pledged loyalty to Your Majesty—a diehard supporter who naturally backs the ’war’ stance. And the Xuanqing Guard previously gave the civil officials a harsh lesson, so to call them a thorn in the civil officials’ side is no exaggeration.

Therefore, striking at the Xuanqing Guard is a way to weaken Your Majesty’s power—effectively leaving him without a strong enough hand in the ’war versus peace’ debate."

"Bang!" At these words, Yang Lin slammed his palm down on the table, making the teacup on it topple and his expression thunderous: "How dare they! Isn’t this tantamount to forcing the emperor’s hand?!"

The adviser really wanted to say, "Do you really think this great empire wholly belongs to the Yang Family?" But such words could not be spoken aloud.

This vast empire was indeed carved out by the Yang Family—no one denied they deserved the throne. But every aspect of the empire was built over generations, by commoners and nobles alike. The empire belongs to the Yangs, but not just to them. That’s a fundamental truth among the upper echelons—a prince ought to know it.

Perhaps Yang Lin knew the truth, but refused to acknowledge it.

"Your Highness. What’s clear now is that someone is using the incident of ’petitioning by blocking the carriage’ as an entry point, taking what was once just a matter between the Qin Family, Your Highness, and the Fengri City Xuanqing Guard and elevating it to a legal affair. And it’s certain the top echelons of the civil servant group are communicating closely about it. Whether you like it or not, Your Highness, at this point you are already caught up in their scheme.

Next, the civil servant group will surely target the Fengri City Xuanqing Guard, and then the entire Xuanqing Guard system, aiming to weaken Your Majesty’s power by attacking the Xuanqing Guard. Your choices in this period are especially important.

If you choose to save face by standing up for the Qin Family, you will inevitably clash head-on with the Fengri City Xuanqing Guard—effectively taking the side of the civil servants. If you choose to step back, to swallow your anger and even suffer loss of face and credibility, then you’ll naturally be standing with Your Majesty."

That was about all he could say; the matter had been made clear, but as for Yang Lin’s final decision, the adviser could not control it—he could only offer insight and analysis according to Yang Lin’s intentions.

Yang Lin paced the room, brow deeply furrowed. He understood his adviser, but what should he choose? Preserve his own face, and stand with the civil officials? Or swallow his pride, be called ’cowardly’, but stand with his own imperial father?

...

Elsewhere, in the rear garden pavilion by the pond at the Qin Mansion, Qin Yurou met once more with her younger brother Qin Xiuyuan.

"Sis, you’re really something! The Empress sent a pair of jade bracelets to Xiangyu today—there’s even an inscription on them. Put together, they spell ’Tranquility’. That means Xiangyu and the Fifth Prince’s marriage is as good as settled!"

"Don’t get too pleased. Tell Xiangyu to stay obedient at home. The bracelets are the Empress’s statement, but they don’t mean she’s free to show herself in public."

"I know, sis. I won’t let Xiangyu set half a foot beyond the Moon Gate until the wedding. Heh, all thanks to your help this time..."

Qin Yurou waved him off, interrupting: "This is only the beginning. Deal with the people you hired as soon as possible—don’t leave any loose ends."

"Don’t worry, sis. I had all those wagging tongues who spread rumors sent out of the city. They won’t come back for at least two or three years..."

"What? You sent them away?!" Qin Yurou’s previously composed face suddenly stiffened.

"Uh, yeah, didn’t you say to get rid of those gossip-mongers? I did what you said."

Qin Yurou opened her mouth several times, finally taking a deep breath to suppress her rage, then said as calmly as she could: "When I said ’dispose of them,’ I meant they need to die! Only the dead can keep a secret! If there’s the slightest leak, you, me, and the whole Qin Family will be dragged down! Are you clear this time?"