117: Declare war

"Unbelievable! How can The Emperor allow the Imperial Son-in-Law to insult refined culture in such a manner?"

"Utterly improper! Right under The Emperor's nose, in the capital itself, the Imperial Son-in-Law and newly appointed Marquis Yongding has publicly beaten and shot Disciples of The Emperor!"

"The Pacification Bureau was already overbearing. Now that this Imperial Son-in-Law is serving there, doesn't it just further fuel their wicked arrogance?"

In the Hanlin Academy, many civil officials were beating their chests and stamping their feet, clamoring to submit a joint petition to impeach Mo Yingqi. Currently, the entire capital was in an uproar. Mo Yingqi had first killed someone at the Imperial Academy, then stormed a guest house and used spiked clubs to beat several candidates until their flesh was mangled and torn open.

One of them, who was physically weak and timid, died on the way to the clinic due to his injuries and excessive terror. This meant that before the retake of the exam had even begun, Mo Yingqi had already killed eleven candidates, and the rest were likely unable to participate in this Special Imperial Examination anymore.

The Hanlin Academy was full of old pedants who loved to preach about the rites and laws of the Sages at every opportunity.

Furthermore, everyone knew that the Hanlin Academy and the Censorate were practically thick as thieves. Since Luo Nantian ascended the throne, many matters had been instigated by the Hanlin Academy and the Censorate working together.

Now that Mo Yingqi was causing such a scene, how could they possibly let it slide? The Righteous Officials and the Pacification Bureau had long been at odds, not to mention that over the past year, Mo Yingqi had caused no small amount of trouble for the Righteous Officials.

"Let the Hanlin Academy make their fuss."

Luo Yongan set her chess piece aside upon hearing the news. "Let's stop playing for now, Yongning. Calculating the time, Yingqi should be returning to the Estate soon."

"Your Highness, the Hanlin Academy holds an extremely high status in the hearts of scholars throughout the world!" Ying Hong couldn't help but remind them. "And they have always been in league with the Censorate and Grand Chancellor Zhou..."

"Oh, and so what?" Luo Yongan tilted her head as she tidied the chess pieces, looking at her with a face full of confusion. "Auntie, you don't actually think that if Yingqi didn't kill or beat anyone, they would just let matters rest, do you?"

"Well, that may be true, but in court tomorrow, I'm afraid..."

"Don't worry, Auntie. If something were really going to happen, why wait until tomorrow's court session?" Luo Yongning smilingly placed her white pieces into the box one by one. "Don't mind it. We support Yingqi unconditionally in whatever he does... Oh, wait, there is one exception."

If he dared to see another woman behind their backs, then there would be no unconditional support. Mo Yingqi would certainly be fine, but that woman... Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning could guarantee she would regret ever being born into this world.

"What Yingqi did might have been a bit unseemly, but in terms of both reason and logic, he did nothing wrong." Luo Yongan finished packing her chess pieces and closed the lid. "Those Righteous Officials claim to have the integrity of scholars, but in truth, their meager integrity is softer than anyone's."

"Back when Granduncle was entrusted by the late Emperor to handle the cases of the Righteous Officials, he said that you shouldn't try to reason with them. They look like they're being reasonable, but in fact, these are the people who spout the most nonsense using the classics of the Sages. You have to slap them across the face to make them remember the pain; only then will they know they were wrong."

"Besides, Yingqi has already killed people, so why care about anything else? However, Auntie has a point. Yongning, pack up; come down the mountain with me."

With a snap, Luo Yongan placed the box on the stone table and then revealed a faint smile. "As the saying goes, a wife follows her husband. Since everyone thinks our husband has caused trouble, as his wives, we naturally can't just stay here drinking tea and playing chess, can we?"

"Your Highness, the Imperial Son-in-Law will be back soon," Ying Hong asked curiously. "Is it really necessary for the two of you to leave the Estate and head over there now?"

"Yes, it's very necessary," Luo Yongning gave a mysterious smile. "Because, you see, Yingqi didn't come back at all; he went somewhere else instead."

Ying Hong was somewhat startled, but she quickly realized something. She nodded and then spoke: "In that case, this Servant will prepare the carriage immediately. Please wait a moment, Your Highnesses."

In her heart, Ying Hong secretly broke into a cold sweat for Mo Yingqi. No wonder the Imperial Son-in-Law's behavior was so erratic today; it didn't seem like something the usual Mo Yingqi would do at all.

Having followed Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning for all these years, Ying Hong believed she had some understanding of Mo Yingqi's character. He was ruthless and calculating, yes, but such behavior... it definitely wasn't his style. It seemed much more like the methods of these Two Highnesses.

"It seems that over these past few days, the power of 'Love Follows' has finally taken effect."

Ying Hong smiled bitterly to herself. This Gu was far too unique; perhaps the only people in the world today who could refine 'Love Follows' were Nangong Wumeng and the two Luo sisters.

Just as its name suggested, 'Love Follows' consisted of a pair of Yin and Yang Gu that lived in symbiosis. The Yang Gu corresponded to the male, while the Yin Gu corresponded to the female. Regardless of gender, the person casting the Gu must first ingest the Gu corresponding to their own gender as a catalyst, and then, using themselves as a medium, plant the corresponding gender's Gu into the other person's body.

This Gu was extremely rare because all Gu are inherently harmful; no matter what kind of Gu insect it is, it cannot escape the word 'poison.' However, 'Love Follows' was different. Not only was this Gu harmless, but it would also cause the physical capabilities of both the caster and the recipient to be enhanced to a certain degree.

As for how much they were enhanced, that depended entirely on the constitution of both parties. However, the most unique aspect of this Gu was that both the caster and the recipient could only have each other as partners for the rest of their lives. Once they engaged in marital relations with someone else, the Gu poison in their bodies would activate, leading to an immediate and violent death.

The most terrifying part was that once one party died, the other would inevitably die as well, bleeding from all seven orifices.

It could be said that for Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning, this 'Love Follows' was like a bomb that could explode at any time. For them, there was almost no positive benefit; instead, because of this Gu, it was as if they had gained an extra burden in Mo Yingqi.

But they did it anyway. Most miraculously, just as the name implied, the Gu would gradually affect the minds of both parties, even achieving the strange effect of telepathy.

Therefore, Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning likely knew exactly what Mo Yingqi was thinking at this moment. Furthermore, this Gu had no distance limitations. Ying Hong even suspected whether this was actually some immortal's magic or a creation that didn't belong to this world.

Otherwise, there was really no way to explain how this Gu could have such a miraculous effect.

Not only that, as mentioned just now, this Gu would affect each other's minds, but the party with the stronger mental power would take the dominant position. Over time, the other party's personality would also change.

So when Ying Hong thought of this Gu, Mo Yingqi's current changes seemed to become a matter of course. After all, she never believed that Mo Yingqi could best the sisters in this regard.

One was probably terrifying enough, but there were actually two such obsessed, madly-in-love women—and they were sisters, and they had fallen in love with the same man!

"Tsk, I really don't understand what these Two Highnesses are doing now," Ying Hong couldn't help but sigh. "I really don't know if this is good or bad, making the Imperial Son-in-Law become like them... Could it be that in the future, the family of three will compete to see who is crazier?"

At this moment, the Hanlin Academy, which had just been filled with diverse opinions and a group of officials clamoring for a joint petition to impeach Mo Yingqi, was as silent as the grave.

The Flying Fish Guards, dressed in black flying fish robes, had all drawn their xiuchun sabers and were staring like tigers at these officials who didn't even dare to breathe loudly. Meanwhile, Mo Yingqi sat in the courtyard on a chair that had just been moved over, drinking tea while pointing at the several candidates who had been dragged there and were now beaten into a mangled mess.

"Everyone, don't panic, and don't be afraid." Mo Yingqi set down his teacup. "I only heard that you all wanted to petition against me, so I brought some people over. It just so happens I heard that among these few, there are students of some of you in the Hanlin Academy."

After Mo Yingqi finished speaking, he suddenly smashed the teacup he had just set down onto the ground. While sneering, he pointed at the trembling crowd before him: "Truly, famous teachers produce fine Disciples. I suppose in your daily lives, you are just like those women in the marketplaces, spreading rumors and gossip—today the Zhang family took a concubine, tomorrow the Wang family's wife is having an affair?"

"There's no need to submit a petition; I'm already here. If you have anything to say, feel free to tell me. Don't worry, you haven't violated any imperial systems, nor have you violated the laws of the Daxing Dynasty. However..."

Mo Yingqi paused intentionally, a smile on his face but his gaze coldly scanning the crowd: "As the saying goes, to raise without teaching is the father's fault. If the Disciples are poorly educated, the teachers cannot escape blame either. I know you all are people of high character and integrity, so naturally, I won't use the same methods on you that I used on them."

"But don't feel wronged by this guilt by association. To recklessly discuss the Legitimate Princess—if I, as the Imperial Son-in-Law, didn't do something, you all would really think that I, the son of some merchant's daughter, am an easy target!"

The beaten candidates were left in the Hanlin Academy, while their teachers—whether they were actual teachers or those who had paid money to have their names listed under them—were all subjected to fifty slaps in the face by the men Mo Yingqi had sent.

"Good, good, very good."

In his study, Zhou Chutian suddenly tossed his brush aside. Stroking his beard, he narrowed his eyes at the green bamboo he had just painted. "I originally thought this task would be handled by Luo Yongfu and Luo Yongze. I didn't expect it would be him."

"Esteemed Teacher, now is not the time to be concerned with that." Zhao Jiguang's expression was not nearly as pleasant. "Mo Yingqi's actions have left those candidates furious but afraid to speak out. Now he has gone to the Hanlin Academy and slapped several officials. Such arrogance and overbearing behavior—Esteemed Teacher, this is the perfect opportunity to impeach this newly appointed Marquis!"

"Naturally. Otherwise, why would I have put in so much effort?" Zhou Chutian still maintained a calm expression. "I'm just curious; these methods are so extreme and ruthless, they don't seem to match Mo Yingqi's temperament. They seem more like..."

Zhou Chutian didn't continue, but Zhao Jiguang could guess most of it after hearing that.

Indeed, if one were to put it that way, Mo Yingqi's current behavior was more like something the sisters Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning would do.

"Esteemed Teacher, do you mean the two Legitimate Princesses are pushing from behind, advising the Imperial Son-in-Law?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chutian nodded with a hint of doubt, but soon shook his head again. "In any case, the result is much the same as I imagined. Although it's not entirely satisfactory, reaching this step is already quite good."

"Jiguang, send word to the Censorate. Tomorrow, even if they have to tear the roof off the palace, they must impeach Mo Yingqi. Since the Luo family has pushed this new Imperial Son-in-Law forward, we must naturally use the situation to our advantage. Even if Luo Yongfu and Luo Yongze want to hide, I won't let them."

"Also, tell our people below to continue pressuring The Emperor. Currently, among the Six Ministries, except for the Ministry of War, the other five have a large backlog of unprocessed official business. The borders need military funds, and the floods in the two rivers are frequent, requiring disaster relief silver and a large amount of supplies from the court. All of this must be handled by our people."

"It doesn't matter that we lost the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region; that was bound to happen sooner or later. The Emperor won't allow the two wealthiest provinces in the country to be held by our people. Since that's the case, if he wants them, give them to him. The Emperor won't be able to mobilize so many replacements for the other provinces in a short time. Tell them to act according to plan!"

Zhao Jiguang gave his verbal consent, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Just to constrain The Emperor and achieve his own goals, Zhou Chutian no longer cared at all about the operation of the country, the officials' governance of the people, or the trauma brought by disasters and border conflicts.

He didn't know if this was good or bad. If it weren't for the fact that he was currently in a position where he could neither retreat nor advance, he would really want to leave Zhou Chutian's side.

As the saying goes, when the hare dies, the fox grieves. News of Zhang Jiawen had long reached the Pacification Bureau; how could he, as the Pacification Commissioner, be unaware? A perfectly fine man was said to be acting as if he were insane, unable to speak a single coherent or clear sentence.

If even Zhang Jiawen ended up like that, what about himself, who had no blood relation to Grand Chancellor Zhou?

"Master, someone has sent a letter to the door."

While Zhao Jiguang was lost in thought, the Servant's words interrupted his musings. Zhou Chutian frowned, took the envelope handed over by the Servant, and immediately tore it open.

The letter didn't seem long, but after Zhou Chutian read it, his expression changed slightly, and then he suddenly laughed. "Good, very good. These Two Highnesses have finally stepped to the forefront, have they?"

Zhou Chutian slammed the letter onto the table, then said with a sinister smile: "I already advised the late Emperor that a ruler should be open and upright. Even if there are matters that cannot be disclosed, he shouldn't rely so heavily on these lower-class types like Partridge Sky! Do the Legitimate Princesses of the Daxing Dynasty really think that with the Shen Family and Partridge Sky behind them, they can shake me, a veteran of two reigns?"

Zhao Jiguang didn't respond but stole a glance at the letter. It was indeed not a very long letter, containing only one sentence:

"Grand Chancellor, don't worry yourself. Our husband naturally sides with us. If the Grand Chancellor continues like this, then we sisters will have no choice but to protect our husband."

(I worked overtime yesterday, so I took a day off. Sorry about that, everyone.)