The moment he took a sip of the tea, he sensed something was amiss.
It was just ordinary black tea, even with a slightly sweet taste, without a trace of bloodiness. He questioned in confusion:
“This tea doesn't have any bloodiness at all.
Your Highness, this isn't the Chang'an black tea!”
Princess Taiping chuckled:
“The Emperor bestowed it upon me, how can it be fake?
This is the true Chang'an black tea.
The one made with the bride's blood and Underworld Grass was a counterfeit, using my name to deceive everyone.
You actually believed it?
I'm so heartbroken!”
Lu Ling Feng suddenly realized, then quickly retreated and knelt down, clasping his fist with one hand, saying:
“Your Highness, Lu Ling Feng truly believed the rumors, please punish me!”
The Princess waved her hand:
“I heard you were locked up in the Jin Wu Prison, you made a great contribution but had to endure prison again, truly pitiful.
Get up, I want to properly reward General Lu today!”
“Yes!”
Wei Feng Hua, standing beside her, acknowledged the order.
…
Within the Imperial Palace –
Li Dan was listening to Zheng Qing recount the entire incident.
He frequently burst into laughter, increasingly feeling that Zheng Qing was an extraordinary talent!
“Previously, I always thought Yuan Lai's work would be fine, but there's no way around it, I'm sure you understand the current situation in the court!
If I don't take some action, I won't be able to sleep day or night!”
“At least for now, Your Majesty will be able to sleep soundly for a while.”
“Oh?”
Li Dan was surprised, wanting to ask something.
But before he could speak, the eunuch Feng Han rushed in.
He glanced at Zheng Qing, but Li Dan said:
“It's fine, Zheng Qing is not an outsider, speak.”
Feng Han recounted the matter:
“Just now, there was a message from the Jin Wu Prison saying that the Crown Prince and the Princess respectively summoned Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng.”
Li Dan's hand holding the roster immediately paused.
“Summoned them?
But I heard that Lu Ling Feng shouldn't be closer to the Crown Prince, and Su Wu Ming shouldn't be closer to the Princess? Why is it the opposite?”
Feng Han apologetically said:
“Returning to Your Majesty, I also don't know.”
“Zheng Qing, what do you think?” Li Dan looked at Zheng Qing.
Zheng Qing slowly said:
“The Crown Prince is a smart man.
He wants to use this to win over Su Wu Ming, after all, everyone in the court knows that Lu Ling Feng is close to the Crown Prince.
If he uses this opportunity to summon Lu Ling Feng, it would be undeniable that he is cultivating his own faction!
It will definitely spark public discussion, as this kind of thing cannot be done openly.
But if he uses this opportunity to get closer to Su Wu Ming, it's sending a message to the outside world, that the Chang'an County belongs to Su Wu Ming, this disciple of Di Gong, and he's now standing with the Crown Prince!”
Li Dan frowned: “This isn't a good sign.”
Zheng Qing smiled softly.
“Your Majesty doesn't need to worry, the Crown Prince intentionally distances himself, while the Princess deliberately tries to win him over, neither is a wise choice at this moment.”
“Why does Zheng Qing say so?”
Li Dan was somewhat baffled, for the first time feeling that beyond the court officials, even these seemingly insignificant figures were beyond his control.
This feeling of not having power in his hands was not pleasant.
Zheng Qing explained:
“Based on my understanding of Su Wu Ming, he currently doesn't belong to the Princess, nor does he belong to the Crown Prince's faction.”
Previously, when Wu Ze Tian was the Empress, Di Ren Jie was the Prime Minister, although he held great power, he also often disagreed with Wu Ze Tian!
And it was at that position that they realized how terrifying the true court struggles were!
As someone who has experienced this firsthand, Su Wu Ming won't repeat the same mistakes!
“Why are you so sure, Zheng Qing?” Li Dan was curious.
“Su Wu Ming, as the Chang'an County Magistrate, although it was the Princess's intention, he didn't go to pay his respects to the Princess, which proves his stance.”
“But he's not mine either.”
Zheng Qing bowed:
“Earlier Your Majesty asked me what I wanted? I beg Your Majesty to issue an order, allowing me to act with Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng for the next period, I can guarantee that,
in time, both Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng will be loyal to Your Majesty!
And at that time, you will be able to rest assured!”
“Good, then as Zheng Qing says!
Furthermore, I grant you the authority to execute without trial those below the first rank!”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zheng Qing felt a mix of emotions in his heart. Actually, the authority to execute without trial given by the Emperor wasn't very useful.
But if he were to go to the counties below, it could be effective.
After all, it could be used to intimidate people, couldn't it?
And he believed that as long as Li Dan didn't become completely foolish, then the list of officials he gave to the latter would have some effect!
At least it could delay the struggles within the court.
And if he goes to the counties below, he wouldn't be going entirely for Su Wu Ming and Lu Ling Feng.
The top officials and second-in-command of those prefectures were also resources!
…
Within the Jin Wu Prison –
Lu Ling Feng murmured:
“The Chang'an black tea from the Princess's Mansion wasn't made by Yuan Lai!
I blamed the Princess wrongly!”
But Su Wu Ming shook his head:
“The East Palace's golden goblet is beautiful and luxurious, but not meant for entertaining guests!”
Lu Ling Feng suddenly turned around, taking two steps forward, looking at Su Wu Ming sitting in another cell, and asked:
“Did the Crown Prince invite you to drink?”
Su Wu Ming looked up at the sky:
“No, so Su Wu Ming is now hungry!”
Lu Ling Feng didn't believe his words, and asked:
“What did the Crown Prince tell you?
Did he ask about me?”
Su Wu Ming said absentmindedly:
“The Crown Prince said a lot, but he didn't mention the Cavalry Captain.”
Lu Ling Feng pondered, he didn't know which part of the chain went wrong, and couldn't figure it out.
“The Wei Commandant from the Princess's Mansion is here!”
There was a shout from the jailers outside.
Wei Feng Hua held a hand edict, looking very proud as he walked into the cell block, saying in a powerful voice:
“The Princess's hand edict, the Jin Wu Guard Cavalry Captain Lu Ling Feng broke the black tea case, assisted in killing the criminals, what crime did he commit?
Release him immediately from the Jin Wu Prison, praise him for his merits!”
But when Wei Feng Hua extended the hand edict forward, Lu Ling Feng didn't take it, but pondered instead.
Wei Feng Hua reminded him:
“Cavalry Captain, you haven't thanked her yet?”
Only then did Lu Ling Feng take it.
“Wei Commandant, this subordinate has something he doesn't understand, the Jin Wu Prison is under the jurisdiction of the Jin Wu Guard,
the Princess's hand edict…”
“What?”
Wei Feng Hua asked back: “Are you saying… that the Princess doesn't have jurisdiction over the Jin Wu Guard?”
“This subordinate doesn't mean that, it's just that, Wei Commandant.
The Jin Wu Guard has its own rules.”
Wei Feng Hua sneered, his face filled with mockery:
“不愧是 the Fan Yang Lu clan, what a big airs!
Wei is just a lowly Commandant, I dare not comment on what you said, but I must report it to the Princess word for word!
This is my duty, I'm leaving.”
Lu Ling Feng watched Wei Feng Hua's departing figure, his expression still proud.
…
The fifth chapter is delivered!
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