Chapter 92

Qi Yue and the others soon arrived outside the Capital. In case the Grand Prince had been prepared, they passed the inspection at the city gate dressed as footmen making deliveries into the city.

The ordinary inspection made Qi Yue frown. There was no trouble, but the soldiers stationed at the city gates look very different from the old days. Qi Yue felt a little incredulous at first glance.

In the past, the soldiers at the gates only have the duty of checking the entry into the city. Apart from the armor, they have almost worn away the temperament belonging to the military. The seriousness and fierceness were just pretended to scare the outsiders who came to the Capital for the first time.

However, the appearance presented in front of Qi Yue now is very different. These city guards not only have eagle-like eyes but also have a much more serious attitude in carrying out their tasks. The city gates, which were in chaos in the past, are now in order. The clogged and noisy situation has been swept away.

Qi Yue, who had expected the Capital to be a mess with Emperor Hongming locked away and the Grand Prince in power, was surprised when he looked up into the city. The city was still bustling, but the formerly arrogant gentry were much more restrained.

Because Qing Yun was not used to the situation of entrenched families, he had already started to break up these forces. Those families were worried about their own situation, so how would they dare to cause trouble in the Capital as usual?

When he was about to be searched by the officials, Qi Yue suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves coming from behind him and turned his head to look over.

When the soldiers on the city wall saw the scene in the distance, they immediately shouted aloud: "The Imperial Guard is returning to the city, stand at attention against the wall!"

The men running on horseback on the official road gradually appeared in front of people's eyes. They had shiny armor and good weapons. An intimidating force came from them, especially the leader who had a firm gaze and had an air of power of a dragon and a tiger.

When they reached the city gates, the whole team stopped neatly with a low cry from the leader and entered the gates slowly. These soldiers obviously just returned from training, with the smell of sweat mixed with blood on their bodies.

Although the line was long, all of them were serious from the beginning to the end, and none of them carried the color of relaxation on their faces.

This aura...is the Imperial Guard?

Looked at the mark on the armor of this team, Qi Yue and other people can not help but frown, especially Qi Yue. A strange feeling gradually rose in his heart. He had not returned to the Capital for only one year, so it is difficult to believe that the Imperial Guard of the Capital has transformed into such an exemplary model.

Qi Yue himself is a general, so of course, he can see the strength of this team. Although the bloody and fierce aura is not enough, they have already shown the appearance of tigers and wolves. What is even more remarkable is that these Imperial troops have an advantage that Qi Yue has seen in every army, even in the Northern Army under his own command, and that is discipline.

The military discipline is strict, but the army regulated to such a degree is extremely rare. Qi Yue even noticed that from beginning to end, whether it was the cavalry in front or the infantry in the rear, the posture of the gun in their hands and even the size of their stride are finely measured, without any difference.

This fine control of their own bodies, as well as the unity and cooperation of the entire team, may seem insignificant, but it is absolutely necessary to win in an actual battle.

Qi Yue's eyes could not help but flash a trace of love for talent. If they go through the refinement of many real battles, this team of men and horses will become unstoppable weapons of war!

I wonder who the current leader of the Imperial Guard is that he can train such a team?

Qi Yue knew that these people had definitely undergone the most rigorous training. There were two necessary elements to support this training: the will of the soldiers, and the other was the absolute command of the leader.

The lack of one of these two can not train such disciplined forces.

But to ensure the absolute rule of the leader, it is necessary to make every soldier's heart have complete trust in the leader and even fanatical worship.

Is the one in front the one who leads? Qi Yue secretly observed the person leading the group, focusing on scanning the eyes of the commander.

No, no, this person does not have such a talent. Although each of these soldiers has even the same serious expression on their faces, they look at the Imperial City in the distance with a vaguely fanatical gaze.

The person who trained this army is definitely a member of the Imperial family. Could it be the Grand Prince?

There were waves of doubts in Qi Yue's heart. He had only met the eldest prince in the early years when the Empress was still alive and only vaguely felt that he was an intelligent child. Later, when the Empress passed away, Qi Yue had already gone to the border. Occasionally, when he returned to the Capital, he only heard that the eldest prince was disabled and that he had become gloomy. Still, it was never mentioned that the eldest prince had this talent for leading soldiers.

The Imperial Guard passed through the city gates in an orderly and quick manner, heading towards the Imperial City. Although they passed through the bustling market, they did not cause any trouble to the people. The surrounding vendors seem to have become accustomed to this. Except for the occasional look of awe and pride at the Imperial Guard, there is no sign of panic. It is clear that the Imperial Guard's training out of the city has been the norm in the Capital.

Watching the Imperial Guard slowly walk away and then looking at the market that resumed bustling, Qi Yue's eyes flashed with a heavy concentration. He thought about the three teams of men he brought with him and compared them to the Imperial Guard he saw today. He frowned and murmured: "A mistake."

Qi Yue has always predicted things like a god in the military without fail. This was the first time he underestimated the enemy.

The three teams of the Nothern Army brought by Qi Yue are far from enough to deal with the current Imperial Guard. However, they have already arrived at the Capital today, so their plans still have to be carried out.

Several people passed through the city gate officials, into the Capital.

Previously, just a glance from afar, the prosperity and orderliness presented in the city had given Qi Yue a deep impression. Still, the further he went in, the more surprised he became. Great Yan has been prosperous for more than a hundred years. Since the year when he went to the border, Qi Yue found that this seemingly flourishing empire has already begun to decline. Many serious problems are hidden under the surface of prosperity. If it breaks out, it will definitely bring Great Yan a disaster.

Emperor Hongming also perceived this problem. Although he was diligent in political affairs, he still failed to reverse this decline.

But today, when he returned to the Capital, Qi Yue found that some of the rotten and corrupt conditions in this prosperous city had been stopped, and some vague vitality had emerged.

The First Prince seized the throne, the Emperor was imprisoned, and Court Elder Yang Hui retired to his hometown. It is reasonable to say that the first to be affected by such turbulent times is the Capital, so why is the atmosphere in the Capital so calm, so orderly?

The more Qi Yue went inside the Capital, the more he frowned. The fact that the Capital can present this appearance means that the current administrators have been accepted by the people and are even held in high esteem.

This is a direct indication that if war broke out at this time, not to mention how the two armies would engage, the people of the Capital alone would fight to the death to protect their homes where they live in peace.

All the way to the inn where they settled, Qi Yue did not see a wanted notice about the Third Prince in the Capital. The Grand Prince simply did not set out to deal with the Third Prince, at least on the surface.

Qi Yue's eyes deepened. He thought this was just an ordinary dispute for the throne but did not expect the situation to be so complicated.

The Emperor is seriously ill, the Eldest Prince is in charge, and also made some merits. He did not directly tear faces with the Third Prince to compete for the throne, making it difficult to find fault.

Moreover, the reputation of the First Prince has already established itself in the Capital, which is absolutely unfavorable to the Third Prince.

Putting the information he saw together carefully, Qi Yue's brow has wrinkled into a dead knot, and his eyes were dark and heavy. Fortunately, he did not recklessly bring his people to attack the city directly. Otherwise, even if the Third Prince had the holy decree in hand, he would have been branded as a rebel.

This Grand Prince is definitely someone who is exceptionally strategic. But thinking of the news he has received over the years about the situation in the Capital, Qi Yue's eyes flickered.

If the Eldest Prince has such a talent, he should have already shone brightly to attract the attention of Emperor Hongming and definitely would not have waited until now. Now, his style of action has changed so much. He should have the guidance of his advisors around him.

After two days of Qi Yue's observation in the Capital, his men also contacted the secret informants he had planted in the Capital in the early years.

"General, my subordinates have gotten the news that the Grand Prince has gone out of the palace to the Qing Yang Building in disguise today. I think...this is a good opportunity." The military commander reported the news he got to Qi Yue.

Qi Yue pondered for a moment and soon hardened his heart. His only involvement with the Great Yan Empire is Emperor Hongming. Although the people were happy during the First Prince was in power, his purpose in returning to the Capital was to save Emperor Hongming. If Emperor Hongming had an accident, he would support the Third Prince to ascend to the throne.

So, no matter what, this Grand Prince cannot stay.

"Go, go to Qing Yang Building."

Qing Yun, dressed in white, held a folding fan in his hand and walked towards the Qingyang Building. He shuttled through the crowd, his noble aura was hidden in his eyebrows, and he was not displeased by the touch of ordinary people around him.

On the contrary, the Eunuch Chen Bing, who followed him with a fake beard, was anxious and sweating, blocking the crowd around Qing Yun. He also supported him from time to time, afraid that the frail prince would fall down: "Your...Gongzi, you can slow down." [T/N: son of nobility // son of an official]

Qing Yun took the folding fan and pushed Chen Bing's face, which was covered with a beard, a little farther away.

It was not only Chen Bing who was nervous. Wei Lin behind Qing Yun was also full of panic, afraid that Qing Yun might be knocked over: "Gongzi, Duke Chen...cough, is right, your body is already weak. Now that you are walking, you should naturally be careful."

The First Prince has been in power for more than two months, and many ministers have succumbed to his schemes. Now, the First Prince has become the backbone of the entire court and is a precious porcelain doll in the eyes of those officials who do not care about the choice of the Crown Prince and are only dedicated to the people, so how can he be harmed?

When the Grand Prince gave the medicine to Wei Lin, he has fully submitted to Qing Yun and helped him remove most of Yang Hui's power in the court. At this time, Wei Lin's wife has taken the prescription given by Qing Yun, and her health has greatly improved. After learning that the medicine was given to her by the Grand Prince, she used it to sarcastically criticize Wei Lin's initial thoughts.

The reputation of the Grand Prince Yan Sa in the Capital is now not only spreading by word of mouth and is also highly praised. Wei Lin's wife has become the Grand Prince's number one brainwashed fan. Because he rectified many corrupt officials, the ordinary people who were affected by the dispute between the families have expressed satisfaction with him.

In contrast, the previous fame of the Third Prince has slowly faded away. After all, what the people can remember are the rulers who really made them feel good.

In fact, after Wei Lin witnessed Qing Yun's talent and means, he had already decided that even if the Eldest Prince was physically disabled and could not leave the wheelchair for life, he should still be pushed to the throne. After all, the founding Emperor of Great Yan also had a disability.

But today, the Grand Prince gave Wei Lin a big surprise. He did not expect that the Grand Prince's body had recovered. As long as he could walk, there would be no more room left to criticize him as the Crown Prince.

"You can call me Xiang Feng. We are on a private visit today, so we must not reveal our identity." Although Qing Yun said so, people who had never seen his real face would not recognize his identity as the Grand Prince.

After all, everyone in the Capital knows that the Eldest Prince is weak in health and can not walk. However, he is diligent in political affairs and is admired for his strength and determination with his disability.

Thinking of this, Qing Yun could not help but smile. He was out today to relax. Being held in the palace all day dealing with affairs has made him quite tired.

What makes Qing Yun a bit anxious is that, usually in other worlds, he met the man quickly, but now Qing Yun has been in this world for more than two months, but he has not yet seen the one who could be the man.

He hopes to see him today outside the palace. Qing Yun's mouth showed a slight, pleasant curve.

They soon arrived at the destination of the trip. Qing Yun tilted his head and looked at the Qing Yang Building. The corners of his mouth curled up into a playful smile: "If I remember correctly, the owner of this building should be Yang Hui's most promising pupil, right?"

Wei Lin hesitated for a moment and advised Qing Yun: "Xiang Feng, the scholars of this Qing Yang Building have always been bold and have no restrictions on political affairs in Great Yan...why not go elsewhere?"

"It doesn't matter. This Qing Yang Building is the most famous in the whole Capital. How can I miss it?" Qing Yun shook his fan and stepped into the Qing Yang Building, walking towards the private room upstairs.

As he turned to step on the stairs, an extremely tall man with an exquisite temperament brushed against him, and Qing Yun's hairband even swept across the man's cheek.

Feeling a gentle brush on his cheek, Qi Yue turned his head but only saw a thin but upright figure, like a green bamboo.

The cheeks that were swept by the youth's hairband burned for a while, and the heat weirdly burned into Qi Yue's heart, making Qi Yue unable to move his gaze that followed the youth.

Looking at Qi Yue in a daze, the military officer beside him immediately came over and asked, "General, what's wrong? Have you found the Grand Prince?"

Qi Yue, who was interrupted in his thoughts, frowned, but when he looked at the remaining two people on the stairs, his eyes immediately turned sharp. If he was right, the one with the youth was clearly Court Elder Wei Lin, while the one next to him was obviously a eunuch.

Qi Yue has already searched for information. Wei Lin has long been subjected to the Grand Prince. In that case, was the youth also the Grand Prince's man?

"I saw Wei Lin." Qi Yue withdrew his eyes and talked to the military commander.

"But there is no one seen in a wheelchair or physically challenged?" The military commander was puzzled, but then he said to himself, "Perhaps we are late. The grand prince is physically disabled. I am afraid that he has been waiting in the private room a long time ago."

"There is indeed this possibility." Qi Yue's gaze swept over the upstairs private room with concentration.

"Then we...," the military commander gestured towards Qi Yue.

But at this moment, Qi Yue's mind was filled with the back of the white-clothed young man just now. His heart was somehow as unsettled, so he just shook his head and said, "Let's have a look at the situation first and find out which private room the Grand Prince is in."