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Chapter 141 Yuan Buyi Assassinated

Chapter 1 The Calm Before the Storm

The next day,

Jiang Chen left Qing Wan Chamber feeling refreshed and headed to the Hall of Diligence to handle court affairs.

By this time, after a night, the imperial decree to recall court officials had spread to various places.

With the return of these high-ranking local officials, the originally calm imperial court suddenly stirred up waves.

Even though it wasn't a court assembly day, the outside of the Hall of Diligence was packed with Beijing officials seeking an audience.

Jiang Chen had anticipated this scene and had already instructed Feng Jin not to let anyone in first, wanting to take this opportunity to suppress the officials' arrogance.

It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky, nearing noon, that he selectively received some ministers.

As for the matter of suddenly recalling officials to the capital to report on their duties, he casually made up some excuses to perfunctorily explain.

Last night's Huai River Poetry Society.

Nostalgic poems, "Shui Diao Ge Tou," "Que Qiao Xian," and other peerless verses, spread like wildfire through the streets, shocking the Great Wei literary world!

Many scholars and literati believed that Jiang Yan was the reincarnation of the Star Lord of Literature, definitely not an ordinary person!

Inside the Hall of Diligence.

Chancellor Pei knelt on the ground, excitedly reporting the grand occasion of the Huai River Poetry Society to Jiang Chen, his longing overflowing in his words.

He praised 'Jiang Yan' as if he were a celestial being, unparalleled on earth, a rare poetry immortal and literary saint.

Even with Jiang Chen's thick skin, he couldn't help but blush upon hearing these flattering words.

"Your Majesty, this Jiang Yan is a peerless genius of Great Wei, and what's even rarer is that he doesn't flaunt his talent, but instead has his heart set on the imperial court, advising a group of scholars to serve the country!"

"In this old minister's opinion, such a talent deserves Your Majesty to make an exception and recruit him into office!" the Chancellor stated fervently.

Jiang Chen could hear his emphasis on Jiang Yan.

That relentless attitude made him feel a little helpless.

"Ahem, esteemed Minister Pei, there's no rush on this matter, we can chat about it slowly later."

Jiang Chen comforted him while signaling the palace servants to bring a chair for Chancellor Pei to sit and talk, lest the old man get too excited and something unexpected happen.

"I do intend to recruit talent to fill the Six Ministries, but I think we can forget about this Jiang Yan."

Chancellor Pei frowned and immediately questioned, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?"

"The imperial court is currently short of manpower, and you also intend to widely recruit talent, so why abandon Jiang Yan?"

"Take a look at these poems, the brilliance of their literary talent can be described as earth-shattering, such talent cannot be abandoned!"

Jiang Chen had a headache from being lectured, but the current situation wasn't suitable for him to reveal his identity.

After thinking it over, he could only use a delaying tactic to temporarily gloss over the matter.

"Esteemed Minister, I've taken your words to heart, so how about this, the matter of recruiting Jiang Yan will be left to you, how does that sound?"

Chancellor Pei's expression immediately softened, and he nodded decisively.

Jiang Chen then said, "In addition, I also want to heavily employ Zhang Zifang of the Jixia Academy!"

"Also, gather statistics on the other talents from the Four Great Academies and submit them, I have arrangements for them."

Chancellor Pei bowed and said, "This old minister obeys the decree and will definitely handle this matter well for Your Majesty!"

Jiang Chen felt relieved to see him express himself in this way.

Although this old man usually had a laissez-faire attitude, trying to smooth things over, his ability was still very strong.

After all, he was a key minister who had served two emperors, and his methods were unmatched by many ministers in the court.

Without much more conversation, Chancellor Pei took his orders and left, determined to handle the task entrusted to him by the emperor well.

This proactive attitude pleased Jiang Chen greatly, and he even specially sent Feng Jin, the chief eunuch of the inner palace, to see him off to the palace gates.

After the man left, an urgent report arrived from Xinyang City.

A secret letter was delivered to the Hall of Diligence by the Imperial Guards, written personally by Xu Changqing.

"Your Majesty, Xie Jin and his subordinates have all submitted completely. No conflict occurred during the process, and this humble servant did not punish them according to your instructions."

"In addition, people from the Mei family secretly visited Xinyang City, after which the incident of falsely conveying imperial decrees occurred."

"This subject has traced the matter to the City Lord's Mansion and has found evidence. I will return to the imperial capital soon."

After reading it, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Jiang Chen's lips, his eyes full of understanding.

As he expected, this so-called mutiny was indeed the work of the Mei family!

"This group of rebellious subjects, their胆子 (dǎnzi - courage) is really not small!"

"This time, I will definitely uproot you all and exterminate you completely!"

"Jing Yue." Jiang Chen's voice was filled with a thick killing intent.

"Your Majesty, your subordinate is here."

"You are to leave the palace immediately and find Meng Qi of the Fifth Military Command, and tell him to keep a close watch on the Mei family."

"Also, those noble ministers who are on good terms with the Mei family should also be monitored. Any sign of unusual activity, and their homes are to be searched immediately!"

"Yes!"

Jing Yue's cold and pretty face was stained with a murderous aura, and she quickly retreated.

Jiang Chen sat back at his imperial desk, his face沉凝 (chénníng - grave): "Someone, summon the Minister of War, and order him to enter the palace immediately."

...

In the evening, as curfew approached.

The Minister of War hurriedly left the Hall of Diligence.

He did not take the main road of Ying Tian Gate, but secretly left from a side corner of the palace.

All the way, he kept his head lowered, acting cautiously, showing no sign of his high-ranking official status.

It wasn't until he boarded the carriage that the Minister of War relaxed and murmured with a solemn expression, "These are troubled times, I only hope that I can get through this calamity safely!"

Inside the palace.

The Imperial Guards reported: "Your Majesty, Lord Yuan has arrived safely in the distant suburbs of the imperial capital and is expected to reach the city gates in another quarter of an hour."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen immediately stopped writing, stood up, stretched his shoulders, and said loudly, "Good, I know. Go and inform the officials to welcome esteemed Minister Yuan into the city with me."

As he spoke, Jiang Chen raised his foot to leave.

But before he could take a few steps, another Imperial Guard rushed in, flustered, "Yo, Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

"Assassins ambushed in the distant suburbs, taking advantage of the chaos to attack Lord Yuan's convoy. The Imperial Guards and the city gate guards are currently engaged in a fierce battle with the assassins, the situation is unclear..."

"And, Lord Yuan has also been seriously injured!"

Jiang Chen's face instantly turned ice-cold, and the killing intent emanating from his body almost materialized.

"This group of rebellious subjects truly does not put me in their eyes!"

"In broad daylight, they dare to openly assassinate an imperial envoy... Mei Wen Shi, is this your counterattack?!"

The angrier Jiang Chen became, the colder his aura became, making the surrounding attendants胆寒 (dǎn hán - terrified). Even the heroic Imperial Guards lowered their heads, fearing to offend the emperor.

Only Feng Jin, who had always served before the emperor, withstood the pressure and whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

"The fact that the Mei family is doing such a thing only shows that they have reached the end of their rope and have no other recourse, does it not?"

"Please be patient and wait a little longer. As long as those high-ranking local officials enter the capital, we will be completely without scruples and can make a move against the Mei family!"

Jiang Chen took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed his anger: "You're right."

"Very well, I will tolerate them for a few more days, and when the time comes, we'll settle the old scores and the new!"

After speaking, Jiang Chen returned to his imperial desk and pointed at the Imperial Guard who had brought the news, saying, "You, go to the Imperial Hospital and send the best imperial physicians to esteemed Minister Yuan's side."

"Remember, if esteemed Minister Yuan's life is in danger, all of you, and those guards, will not need to return to report for duty!"

The Imperial Guard's burly body trembled, and he immediately obeyed the order and left.