3: This is a very important matter...

The current Emperor had the military support of the Shen Family externally, and internally, Grand Secretary Ning followed the Late Emperor's decree to override all objections. The Late Emperor had never established a Crown Prince, precisely to prevent internal strife.

The Crown Prince is the next Emperor, but also a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in everyone's eyes. Countless people stare at that Dragon Throne, and establishing an Heir early would only invite endless trouble.

There was no choice; the Late Emperor himself had been established as the Crown Prince early and had gone through those kinds of days. His past experiences made him exceptionally cautious regarding his successor.

But his caution also stirred ambitions in his children; as long as a Crown Prince was not established, they all had a chance.

Now, the Rebel Princes have all been executed, but a centipede dies but never falls—those who dared to vie for the throne naturally had some capability. However, those who dared to cause trouble must naturally bear the consequences of being exterminated later, with their entire families implicated.

“No matter what, we must protect the Prince's last bloodline!”

The middle-aged man wearing a single garment whispered instructions to the young man opposite him: “You must send the Heir out of Jingzhong. Don't worry, someone will meet you...”

The middle-aged man's voice suddenly stopped. He looked around in panic, then signaled for the young man to lean closer. Just as he was about to whisper something, the door was slowly pushed open.

“Lord Wang, good evening.”

Mo Yingqi held his blade in his left hand, his handsome face bearing a faint, almost imperceptible smile in the moonlight: “Visiting late at night is truly a disturbance, so I didn't bother having your servants announce me. This subordinate took the liberty of entering myself.”

The moment he saw Mo Yingqi, Lord Wang's heart sank halfway. He forced himself not to show fear and lowered his voice, saying: “Chief Mo, even the Flying Fish Guard has no right to trespass into my residence late at night, right?”

“Oh, am I that famous?” Mo Yingqi pointed to himself. “I didn't expect a busy official like yourself to even know of a minor Captain like me.”

“Heh, Chief Mo, why bother playing dumb?” Lord Wang couldn't help but sneer. “Your moniker, 'Smiling Yaksha,' is known to everyone in Jingzhong now; even three-year-olds dare not cry upon hearing it. I know your methods, Chief Mo, but no matter what, you shouldn't trespass into my home so rudely!”

“Why ask the obvious, my lord?” Mo Yingqi slowly lifted his leg and walked in. “If you hand over the Rebel Prince's son sooner, you can ensure the safety of your residence, and this subordinate can return to report back sooner...”

As he spoke, Mo Yingqi raised his right hand and waved it. A Flying Fish Guard entered, pushing a young girl dressed in white with his left hand, his xiuchun saber resting against her neck with his right.

“Daughter!” Lord Wang's heart instantly leaped into his throat, yet even so, he gritted his teeth firmly. “Chief Mo, what are you doing?”

“Lord Wang has been in officialdom for so many years after all; when he plays dumb, there truly isn't a single flaw...”

Mo Yingqi walked up to the young girl with a beaming smile, leaning slightly closer to her. The girl was trembling all over. No matter how stunning the man before her was, in her eyes, he looked like a grinning evil spirit!

“I must say, Lord Wang's daughter is quite attractive. Say, what would happen if she were sent to the Bureau of Music and Dance?” Mo Yingqi turned to look at the sweating Lord Wang. “Why go through this, Lord Wang? If for nothing else, then for your daughter. I would truly be unable to bear seeing such an innocent girl sent to the Bureau of Music and Dance, wouldn't you agree?”

“Mo Yingqi!” Lord Wang suddenly roared. “What exactly do you want? If you have a warrant, just show it! Why torment my daughter? She's only 14!”

“My lord, surely you don't think you can still send the culprit away?” Mo Yingqi silently pulled out a black Profound Iron Token. “Commander Qianhu personally gave this subordinate this token, allowing me to temporarily act as Centurion. Your residence is already surrounded. This subordinate is giving you a chance. Otherwise, if you truly enter the Imperial Prison, your entire family will likely face exile, or be assigned to the Bureau of Music and Dance... My lord, if you are so uncooperative, this subordinate will certainly face difficulties!”

“If this subordinate felt slightly displeased, and used a Clerk's document to extract your beloved daughter and send her directly to the brothels and theaters... Do you think that would be appropriate?”

Lord Wang's body instantly became extremely rigid. If he were truly sent to the Imperial Prison and convicted, then Mo Yingqi... truly had the power to dispose of his daughter in such a way!

“You know what this subordinate wants. As long as you cooperate obediently, given your status as a Righteous Official, this subordinate won't make things difficult for you.” Mo Yingqi seemed to lose patience, grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her toward Lord Wang. “Lord Wang, you know the consequences of this matter better than I do, don't you?”

As he spoke, Mo Yingqi released the girl, lightly tapping the desktop with his right hand, and slowly uttered five words: “This Matter is Serious...”

Lord Wang instantly collapsed onto his chair. The young man looked at Mo Yingqi, his gaze suddenly turning cold. Mo Yingqi was almost completely turned away from him, appearing totally defenseless. If he killed this Captain, the Flying Fish Guard would be leaderless, and perhaps he could take the Heir out amidst the chaos?

“Brother behind me, if I were you, I wouldn't act rashly right now.” Mo Yingqi said without turning his head. “Not only can you not kill me, but even if you did, would you truly leave Lord Wang no way out?”

“Enough, step down...” Lord Wang waved his hand. “Chief Mo, can you truly... guarantee my family's safety?”

“It's not this subordinate who guarantees your safety, but you who guarantees your own.” Mo Yingqi pointed to the young girl beside him, whose face was deathly pale from fright. “You say, sacrificing your beautiful daughter for the sake of the Rebel Prince's son, who has long been decapitated... it's not worth it.”

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the Flying Fish Guard brought out a boy of about seven or eight years old, tossed him directly onto a carriage, while Mo Yingqi watched the scene without any emotional stirring.

He knew the boy's fate. The Emperor was benevolent but deeply understood the principle of cutting weeds and eliminating the roots. Some people could be spared, but others... had to die.

“It went so smoothly. I thought they might resist,” Tang Jingzhong walked over. “It seems they weren't that loyal after all.”

“That's just human nature. They hold onto hope until they are truly investigated. When trouble lands on their own heads, and their weaknesses are used to threaten them, how many people can truly remain loyal?” Mo Yingqi wasn't surprised at all. “They only care about their so-called reputation. They can tell outsiders that the Pacification Bureau coerced and lured them. These Righteous Officials... talk a good game, but integrity for scholars isn't something everyone possesses.”

“Indeed...” Tang Jingzhong didn't refute him, as he wouldn't have joined the Pacification Bureau if he hadn't been disappointed by the Righteous Officials. “But you've been too conspicuous this past year, leaving no room for maneuver. Aren't you afraid of the Zhang Family coming after you?”

“I wish they would come after me.” Mo Yingqi maintained his smile, but his eyes suddenly turned cold. “Now, he is a High Official Governing a Region, and his Father-in-Law is in the Grand Secretariat, holding a lofty position—even Grand Secretary Ning is beneath him. If I want revenge... I can only climb up step by step. The Pacification Bureau is the only place his dear Father-in-Law cannot touch, and it is what officials like them fear the most...”

“I just want him to know that the debt between him and my mother hasn't been settled yet!”