You Drove Me Out with Your Hypocrisy and now Crying When I Come to Take It All? Chapter 128 : Chapter 128

Chapter 128: Escort Cheng Yu to the Great Qian Capital, and Simply Send Soone Else to Take Over the Jinyiwei!

Over the past few days, earth-shaking news had spread.

The entirety of Great Qian was plunged into shock and heated discussion.

“Have you heard? Sothing huge happened in Jiangnan! Prince Qing’s Remnants have appeared again, and all of Jiannan Circuit has fallen completely into chaos!”

“I heard it too from a relative who fled here. Most of the Jianghu forces in all of Jiannan Circuit were wiped out in massacres! Even those who barely survived had to Register by Na like slaves!”

Those hearing it for the first ti were utterly stunned.

“Massacring the Jianghu? Registering them by na? Have those rebel descendants of Prince Qing gone mad?”

What answered them was sothing even more explosive.

“Prince Qing’s Remnants didn’t do this. It was the Jinyiwei! The entire Thousand-Household Office has been raiding and confiscating property everywhere. Blood is flowing like rivers!”

“The Jinyiwei?! How is that possible?!”

They simply could not accept a situation in which the court’s Imperial Hounds had battered the Jianghu martial artists until they were left in tatters.

And yet, all of it suddenly felt strangely familiar.

The last ti sothing like this had happened, it had also been in Jiangnan.

Could it possibly be...

“Cheng Yu, the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Commander of Jiannan Circuit!”

“He forcibly killed multiple Jianghu martial artists, personally slew Zuo Hong, the Chief Escort of the Yueshan Escort Agency who was at the Late Seventh Rank, and even clashed head-on with a descendant of Prince Qing whose Hard-Body Training had reached the Seventh Rank!”

Cheng Yu!

That terrifying na rang in the ears of the people of Great Qian once more.

Even more frightening was the fact that he still seed to be ranked on the Human Ranking. At such an age, he could already kill a martial artist at the Late Seventh Rank.

If he were given ti to grow, what then?

Could it be that a true dragon among n had erged from Great Qian’s Jinyiwei?

In the Golden Throne Hall of the imperial palace in the Great Qian Capital, the appearance of such a heaven-sent genius within the Jinyiwei did not seem to make the court all that happy or excited.

On the contrary, the overwhelming majority stared in shock with wide-open eyes.

One official even knelt on the ground and pounded the luxurious floor with loud thuds as he cried out to the Great Qian Emperor.

“Your Majesty! What the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Office has done this ti has utterly offended the Jianghu martial artists! If the Nine Great Sects were to send out all their Grandmasters, what would we do then?!”

Great Qian Emperor Xiao Wuji looked at the minister wailing before him, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

If he had not known that the man belonged to the Moderate Faction and specialized in alarmist exaggeration, Xiao Wuji, who remained in the palace year-round, might truly have been frightened.

But now, he was already accustod to these people inflating everything tenfold.

If the Nine Great Sects could truly send all their Grandmasters?

That basically ant they could not scrape together even one!

Helpless, he shook his head and frowned as he looked toward Lu Zhi, the Jinyiwei commander standing to one side with a saber in hand.

“What does Beloved Minister Lu think?”

Lu Zhi bowed in salute.

“If the Grandmasters of the Nine Great Sects truly co, this humble subject will carry out his duty with my father, even at the cost of our lives!”

Xiao Wuji nodded in satisfaction and turned to the ministers of the court.

“If Minister Li is truly so worried, why not have Old Commander Lu go protect your Li Residence first?”

Did they hear that?

If that day really ca, then the Grandmasters could die together with them!

The crying minister abruptly choked off his voice.

A Grandmaster going to his house?

Why did that sort of “protection” sound so terrifying?

His tears and snot clogged together at once, and he imdiately began coughing so violently that he looked half-dead.

At once, the entire court began whispering among themselves. So were shocked, while others mocked him.

Xiao Wuji put on a worried expression as he looked at the violently coughing minister and hurriedly ordered soone to take him away.

Inside, however, he felt incomparably refreshed.

It was far too satisfying!

It swept away both Great Qian’s long-suppressed frustration in the face of the arrogant Jianghu and his own frustration toward these surrender-minded ministers.

In the Great Qian Emperor’s heart, he had never once called the officials who advocated leniency toward the Jianghu the Moderate Faction.

He called them the Qi Faction, the Surrender Faction!

What kind of people drew Great Qian’s salary while constantly thinking of glorifying the Jianghu’s power?

“Ahem!”

Elder Grand Secretary Qi Han spoke up, stopping the ministers who had been whispering all this ti.

“Your Majesty! Though the Jiannan Circuit Thousand-Household Office had just cause, acting to exterminate the rebel faction, they were still far too bold and reckless. Their thods were excessively violent, and their selfish hatred of the Jianghu is obvious for all to see. This is by no ans the conduct of loyal and virtuous subjects!”

The mont Elder Grand Secretary Qi took the lead, the mbers of the Moderate Faction knew that the ti for a formal impeachnt had co.

They all began chiming in one after another.

“Cheng Yu, the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Commander of Jiannan Circuit, has ignored the court’s admonitions, grown arrogant through imperial favor, and acted in utter lawlessness, dragging Your Majesty and the court into the Jianghu’s hatred! His intentions are truly sinister!”

“Jianghu forces all across Great Qian are opposing this matter and demanding an explanation. As a result, acts of retaliation against the court have begun appearing frequently!”

“Great Qian is no longer in its age of greatest prosperity. If this leads to a great disaster, then this man will beco Great Qian’s eternal criminal minister!”

“This man’s disloyal heart is plain for all to see. This subject impeaches Cheng Yu and asks Your Majesty to judge wisely!”

Their words attacked Cheng Yu to the utmost.

They wished they could paint him as a heinous criminal who had plunged Great Qian into an enormous crisis.

A man like Cheng Yu, utterly uncontrollable and prone to carrying out sweeping raids, confiscations, and slaughter against the Jianghu at the slightest provocation, was practically their natural political enemy.

If they did not destroy him, they would never sleep or eat in peace!

“Mm.”

Xiao Wuji nodded. Although what the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei had done felt imnsely satisfying, he could not simply refuse to give face to the current Elder Grand Secretary.

Cheng Yu had, after all, been too headstrong and self-willed, and to a certain extent, he had affected Great Qian’s long-term interests.

“Then Elder Grand Secretary Qi, how do you believe Cheng Yu should be dealt with?”

Qi Han bowed deeply, a vicious gleam flashing in his eyes.

“This old minister believes that such a fierce and violent man must be stripped of his office, escorted to the Great Qian Capital, and thrown into the Imperial Prison to prevent further trouble. Only afterward should his cris be examined.”

The ministers of the Moderate Faction all responded in one voice.

“This subject agrees!”

Their voices filled more than half the Golden Throne Hall.

It was practically the sa as proclaiming Cheng Yu’s future: stripped of office, charged with cris, and left awaiting judgnt!

Because no one dared oppose a voice of that magnitude.

But at that very mont, an aged yet powerful voice rang out.

“This old man disagrees!”

Zhao Yi stepped forward without the slightest restraint.

Qi Han and the others clenched their teeth in fury.

That troubleso old man had been driven away, yet he still had the nerve to co back!

Xiao Wuji had not expected forr Grand Chancellor Zhao Yi to speak at a mont like this.

“What insight does Beloved Minister Zhao have?”

Zhao Yi glared furiously at the mbers of the Moderate Faction like an enraged tiger.

“Thousand-Household Commander Cheng accepted the imperial order to investigate the trail of Prince Qing’s Remnants and completed that duty within a month. He then battled Prince Qing’s Remnants and their accomplices and rendered great rit.”

“If even this is to be treated as a cri, then in this old man’s opinion, those who hold office yet possess none of the integrity of a Great Qian minister deserve punishnt far more than a loyal subject like Thousand-Household Commander Cheng!”

“Therefore, Cheng Yu not only should not be punished, he should be rewarded! Otherwise, with what face are we to face the soldiers and officers who risk their lives and go to their deaths for Great Qian?”

The mont those words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent.

Xiao Wuji’s eyes widened as well.

Cheng Yu had been killing rebels for Great Qian. If even that was to be punished, then how were the entire Jinyiwei and the soldiers of the Four Armies who defended Great Qian supposed to see themselves?

What morale would they still have?

Forr Grand Chancellor Zhao Yi’s words were indeed as sharp as ever.

But at that mont, Qi Han spoke calmly.

“What is so difficult about that? Split the matter in two. Reward the Jinyiwei for their life-risking rit, and condemn Cheng Yu for his reckless conduct. That will suffice.”

Zhao Yi frowned.

“Easy words. The threat posed by Prince Qing’s Remnants still remains. Everything now rests on Cheng Yu’s prestige among the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei. How can you sever the matter so lightly?”

Qi Han sneered.

“Even simpler. Is the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei not already extrely strong? How can His Majesty’s personal troops belong to one man alone? Escort Cheng Yu to the capital, and send another person to take over his position.”

Remove Cheng Yu from his post as Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Commander, escort him to the Great Qian Capital for prosecution, then send soone else to take over the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei forces.

The thod proposed by Elder Grand Secretary Qi Han made the ministers of the court draw in a sharp breath.

Cheng Yu had indeed been far too willful, and offending the Jianghu was certainly a fault.

But at the end of the day, he had been acting for Great Qian and for the Emperor.

Training the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei and finding a way to deal with Prince Qing’s Remnants were both rits that could not be denied.

If Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s proposal were followed, and soone were temporarily appointed to take over his duties as Thousand-Household Commander until the matter of Prince Qing’s Remnants was resolved, then more than half of Cheng Yu’s rit would be stripped away.

If he were prosecuted after that, his situation would be far worse than it was now.

The others of the Moderate Faction hurriedly voiced their support.

They even began recomnding candidates to replace Cheng Yu.

For a powerful Jinyiwei of similar age, the rit of driving back Prince Qing’s Remnants was a reward no one could refuse.

Xiao Wuji frowned. He had not expected Qi Han and the others to find Cheng Yu so intolerable.

His original plan had only been to question Cheng Yu, then allow him to continue dealing with Prince Qing’s Remnants while making ands through rit. When the ti ca, rits and faults could offset one another, and Cheng Yu could gradually be transferred back to the Great Qian Capital.

But if he carried out the plan of Qi Han and the others now, then the capable talent who had finally erged under his rule would end up completely alienated from him, the Emperor.

“Elder Grand Secretary Qi, rits and faults should each be judged on their own. I believe Thousand-Household Commander Cheng is wholeheartedly loyal. Treating him like this seems sowhat inappropriate, does it not?”

“And Prince Qing’s Remnants are watching like tigers from the side. Replacing a general in the midst of battle must be done with great caution.”

The Jinyiwei were the Emperor’s personal troops, the most orthodox and unquestionably loyal subordinates under the Great Qian Emperor’s banner.

Cheng Yu was so extraordinarily gifted and so unafraid of powerful enemies.

If Xiao Wuji could not even protect soone like him, then his days on the throne might as well be numbered. He would deserve to be bullied by these ministers who fed off Great Qian while betraying it.

What no one expected was that even after the Great Qian Emperor had spoken like this, Elder Grand Secretary Qi still gave him no face at all.

“Your Majesty is too lenient!”

“Cheng Yu appears loyal and devoted, and everything he does appears to be for Great Qian, but who can know what intentions lie beneath?”

“In Jiannan Circuit, he cares for his subordinates so well that not a single Jinyiwei does not give him his heart. He distributes grain and land to buy the people’s loyalty, and his standing there is such that one call from him would bring a hundred responses. If he harbors treacherous ambitions, then how is he any different from Prince Qing’s Remnants?”

“Your Majesty, matters like this must be guarded against. Deeds must be judged, not hearts!”

The mont those words ca out, the ministers were once again greatly alard.

Elder Grand Secretary Qi was being far too ruthless. He was trying to place yet another enormous accusation on soone’s head.

The Great Qian Emperor frowned.

The reason he was inclined to shield Cheng Yu was precisely because he believed Cheng Yu to be loyal and public-minded.

But if matters were viewed from Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s angle, then as the ruler of a nation, he had no choice but to consider more.

His inclination to protect Cheng Yu imdiately weakened considerably.

Seeing this, Qi Han stroked his beard and revealed an arrogant, self-satisfied smile.

This Great Qian court still had to listen to him, the Elder Grand Secretary!

But at that mont, a furious roar exploded through the hall.

“Old dog Qi, and you dare say that? Has Great Qian not already lost enough benefits and face through your hands?!”

Zhao Yi stood there with blazing eyes and righteous bearing, one finger stabbing straight toward Qi Han.

“In Great Qian’s thousand-year history, how many humiliating agreents that sold out the nation’s rights and honor have you brought about, Elder Grand Secretary Qi? Calling you the most worthless traitorous minister in all ages would still not be too much!”

“You, an old bastard like this, dare talk about others harboring treacherous ambitions? In my view, no one is more treacherous than you are!”

The most worthless traitorous minister in all ages!

That title left the ministers dumbfounded.

They all stared wide-eyed at Elder Grand Secretary Qi, then at the court historians writing furiously with their brushes.

Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s reputation for this lifeti was finished!

“Zhao, you old bastard! You... what did you say?!”

Qi Han’s eyes widened as he trembled with rage.

He turned and dropped to his knees before Xiao Wuji with a heavy thud.

What he had done—bearing infamy in order to preserve the agreents that protected Great Qian—had actually been described as proof of disloyalty.

“Your Majesty, everything this old minister has done was for Great Qian! How can such slander be tolerated!”

Zhao Yi sneered at once.

“Slander my ass! Just tell us whether you did it or not! Wasn’t it you who said deeds should be judged, not hearts?”

Pfft!

Li Xin could not help laughing, and the others also struggled to suppress their amusent.

Elder Grand Secretary Qi had boxed himself into a dead end from both sides!

Either he could no longer accuse Cheng Yu of harboring treacherous ambitions, or Elder Grand Secretary Qi himself was even more guilty of them.

“Elder Grand Secretary Qi, please rise! I know your sacrifices.”

Xiao Wuji forcibly suppressed his laughter and motioned for others to help Qi Han up.

He no longer said anything about Cheng Yu.

But Qi Han refused to rise and kept his head pressed to the floor.

“This old minister knows that his sins are grave and that he is unfit to continue in state affairs. I ask Your Majesty to permit to resign and return ho to spend my old age!”

“How can that be allowed!”

Xiao Wuji went pale with alarm. The man was clearly forcing his hand!

He hurriedly rose and walked down, personally helping Qi Han up while urging him to stay.

“Elder Grand Secretary Qi is a pillar and foundation of Great Qian. How could the affairs of the state possibly do without you?”

“The matter of Jiannan Circuit shall be handled as the Elder Grand Secretary proposed!”

Only then did Qi Han kneel in thanks and rise.

The other ministers exchanged glances. Even with Lord Zhao’s return, Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s position still carried imnse weight.

Now that things had reached this point, no one else, however lacking in self-awareness, dared say anything more.

They began discussing the details of how to handle Cheng Yu and Jiannan Circuit.

Li Xin blinked as he looked at Zhao Yi and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Teacher, Young Master Yu truly is a heaven-sent genius!”

Zhao Yi smiled as he stroked his white beard.

His eldest grandson naturally had to be such a peerless genius!

He was not the least bit displeased by the result of the court debate.

Threatening retirent like that was sothing that old man surnad Qi could use only a limited number of tis. Every ti he used it, it lost more of its force.

This ti, the gains were already considerable enough.

As for those who wanted to make things difficult for his eldest grandson, he naturally would not sit back and allow it.

“Give that thing to Yu’er and let him do as he sees fit. The n sent to prosecute him and replace him will never make it to Jiannan Circuit!”

Li Xin smiled knowingly.

“Yes!”

Were those people not close to the Jianghu?

Then let the “Jianghu” turn on them for once.

Just as they themselves had done twenty years ago!

The next day, on a small road seven hundred li outside the Great Qian Capital, several riders were rushing south.

At their head was none other than Wang Wu, a Jinyiwei Commandant at the Early Eighth Rank.

“This trip to assu control in Jiannan Circuit must not fail. We are carrying out Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s orders. When the ti cos, we are to swiftly capture Cheng Yu and seize control!”

“Yes!”

The people beside him imdiately began flattering him again.

“I heard the Jiannan Circuit Jinyiwei has confiscated wealth from countless households and is now strong in troops and rich in resources. This is truly a trendous prize!”

“And once Prince Qing’s Remnants are wiped out, Lord Wang’s next promotion will be just around the corner!”

Wang Wu sneered smugly at once.

It was only thanks to Cheng Yu taking all the glory outside that he could now reap such an enormous reward!

But at that mont, the sky suddenly turned scorching hot.

As the group looked up in confusion, a blazing crimson Fangtian Halberd ca crashing down from above, followed by a huge and solid Qilin Phantom lunging in for the kill.

“Run!”

They had no ti to dodge or defend before the blow struck them heavily.

Aside from Wang Wu, whose strength was great enough that he was rely injured, the rest died on the spot.

Wang Wu’s eyes bulged with rage.

A Qilin Phantom!

Why would soone from the Army-Breaking Sect be ambushing him?

“I am one of Elder Grand Secretary Qi’s n! I bear no grudge against you, Hero, so why attack ?!”

The burly man let out a cold laugh.

“All Imperial Hounds deserve to die!”

In the next instant, he charged straight at Wang Wu.

Wang Wu had no choice but to fight.

But he was far inferior in strength. He was quickly defeated, and before dying with eyes that would not close, all he could do was secretly leave behind a coded mark.

Once Wang Wu was dead, the giant figure’s body changed.

The Fangtian Halberd turned into a chilling Xiuchun Saber.

His face transford into Ai Peng’s appearance.

“Lord Li’s Dao of Concealnt and Transformation is truly astonishing!”

Li Xin’s figure also appeared out of thin air at one side.

The aura from just now, and even the Qilin Phantom itself, had all been his handiwork!