Chapter 719 - Good Riddance!
Ji Li knew well that if he couldn't kill Jing Rong now, he would end up in big trouble later! His future actions in the imperial court would surely be severely constrained. However, there was nothing else that he could do. Qin Shiyu had the imperial edict and to refuse would be equivalent to rebelling against the edict.
Qin Shiyu said to him seriously, "War Secretary Ji, the Emperor has already granted Prince Rong permission to enter the capital. Please have your people retreat to the sides so that they don’t obstruct him."
Ji Li bit down hard on his teeth, veins popped out, and questioned, "Lord Qin, is this really the Emperor's edict?"
"What? Is War Secretary Ji accusing me of falsifying the edict?"
"I dare not."
"How could an edict from the Emperor be false? If War Secretary Ji does not give way immediately, it will be an act of defiance."
Ugh! This was a crime that he could not afford to shoulder. After a long moment, he bent down to pick up his sword which had been hit by an arrow and grasped it tightly, looking at Jing Rong with an inexplicable fear in his eyes.
Jing Rong stepped over the corpses lying on the ground and walked toward him. His black eyes burned with a frigid fire as he said solemnly, "War Secretary Ji, this prince will not forget what happened today. Remember, whatever happens next, know that this was your own choice." He has officially declared war!
As he spoke, Jing Rong hurled his bloodstained longsword onto the floor. He flung it so hard that he seemed to be trying to shatter the hard pebbles on the ground into smithereens.
The two opponents faced each other
Ji Li remained stubborn. "This lowly official was following the Emperor’s orders. His Majesty had openly declared in front of all the court officials that you were forbidden from returning to the capital. As the Left Secretary of the Ministry of War, this lowly official has a responsibility for obstructing Your Highness. If I had injured Your Highness, it was merely because I had no other alternative.”
"The so-called duty is to put this prince to death?"
"Hmph!"
Jing Rong leaned forward, tilted his head, and whispered in his ear, "Has War Secretary Ji ever thought about who would be the first to lose their military power if Prince Yi were to ascend to the throne?" Idiot, Ji Huan and you have so much military power in your hands, of course you would be the first to go!
Ji Li's lips trembled, "..."
"Good riddance!" Jing Rong said. Then he retreated two steps, putting some distance between the two of them.
Ji Li's face stiffened and his gaze flickered around, as if he had only just realised the deeper implications of those words. Slowly, he raised his hand and flicked his fingers slightly. "Let them go." His voice sounded weak and defeated.
As a result, the soldiers had to sheath their swords and retreat. They dragged the bloody corpses aside to clear the road for the carriages to pass.
Qin Shiyu handed the imperial edict to Jing Rong, "Prince Rong, the imperial edict is here. Please enter the palace immediately and don’t keep His Majesty waiting." He exchanged a significant glance with Jing Rong.
Jing Rong understood and nodded lightly. He took the suspicious edict from him. "This prince receives the edict." Holding the imperial edict, he looked at Ji Li again to see a look of despair on his face. You deserve it!
Next, Jing Rong turned to walk towards Wen Xian. He stopped by his shoulder and turned his head slightly, "Thank you very much."
Wen Xian said, "I was only following orders." Orders from Ji Yunshu!
Jing Rong understood. He did not say anything else and invited Qin Shiyu, who had trouble with his legs, into his carriage.
Tang Si was still furious. She flung the blood-stained whip in her hand hard against the ground. "You bastards, this lady will beat you every time I see you." She stared at Ji Li furiously, "Especially you, today I did not fight with you. If there is an opportunity next time, I will show you the might of my whip!"
Come on, stop bragging! Mo Ruo dragged her away. "Cut the crap and get in the carriage."
"I haven't said enough."
"Shut up." He threw her into the carriage. Then, Mo Ruo looked at Wen Xian’s bloodied clothes and said, "Young Master Wen, please get into the carriage as well."
Wen Xian's face was expressionless. "No..."
Before he could finish saying ‘...need’, Mo Ruo interrupted him. "You look pale. Your body is frail to begin with, so if you don't want to die on the journey, quickly get in the carriage."
"I... "
"For a grown man, you sure like to take your sweet time."
Wen Xian didn’t know what to say. After hesitating for a while, he could only get in the carriage.
Thus, the carriages rolled merrily past Ji Li's people and headed towards the capital.
Ji Li could only watch them as they left. There was nothing he could do.
A soldier at his side asked, "War Secretary Ji, what do we do now?"
Do nothing!
The soldier continued to ask, "How should we report this to Prince Yi?"
Ji Li’s expression changed. He looked at the troops marching off, shaking his head. He said, "I don't know."
Inside the carriage, on the way back to the capital.
After Mo Ru pulled Wen Xian into the carriage, he stuffed a pill into his hand. "Take it, it's good for you."
"Hm?" Wen Xian looked at that black pill on his palm for a long while without putting it into his mouth. It won't be poison, right? After all, that was something Mo Ruo would do.
Mo Ruo probably recognized his concern, and said, "Don't worry, it's not any poison, it's a life-saving elixir. When we were in Yufu, Teacher Ji wanted me to treat your illness but I never had the opportunity or time to give you a proper examination. When we get to the capital, I'll give you a proper checkup."
With that assurance, Wen Xian put the pill into his mouth and swallowed it. After a while, he said, "Many thanks."
Mo Ruo said, "You're welcome. Thanks for your help just now."
"If it weren't for Teacher Ji, I wouldn't have come back."
"Whatever you say, you did help us anyway." Doesn't matter!
At this moment, Tang Si reached out and patted Wen Xian. With a polite smile on her face, she said, "We really have to thank you for just now. If it wasn't for your help, I would have been in dire straits."
Wen Xian remained frosty and didn't even look at her. He did not say anything.
"You're an interesting one. You refuse to speak, just as if you were mute." Tang Si was puzzled.
Pfft. Hearing that, Mo Ruo almost spat out blood in frustration. This woman really never thinks before she speaks!
Wen Xian felt as if someone given him a harsh slap. However, she was a woman and he never liked to quibble with women, so he decided to let it go after thinking about it.
Tang Si didn't seem like she was giving up any time soon. She looked him up and down consideringly. Finally, her eyes fell on the flute at his waist.
"Let me have a look at it." As she spoke, she reached her hand out.
Wen Xian shielded the flute by twisting away from her, causing her hand to miss.
The next moment, Mo Ruo glared at the "crazy" Tang Si, apologized to Wen Xian, "Please forgive her, Young Master Wen, she didn't take her medicine today."
"It doesn't matter." Still so cold and calm.
Tang Si retorted, "You're the one who didn't take their medicine, I'm not sick, why should I take any medicine?"
"Wait until we get to the capital, I'll prescribe you some." Poison medicine! To make you mute!
Tang Si stared at him, and after a moment, she also settled down and stopped moving. Calm returned to the carriage soon.
In the other carriage.
After the carriage had travelled some distance and Jing Rong was sure that Ji Li and the others did not follow them, he opened the imperial edict.
What imperial edict?! It clearly was completely blank and did not even have a single drop of ink on it.