521: What is the real motive behind Chapter 521?

A few days later, the imperial decree from the capital arrived at Prince Zhao's Mansion.

Prince Zhaokang of the East Sea, the eldest son of Prince Zhao, would inherit the title.

Along with a dozen or so decrees issued simultaneously, the conservative faction led by Han Yu, the inspector general of Qi Province, all received rewards and titles.

Han Yu himself was even conferred the title of "Count of Loyalty and Righteousness"!

In contrast, those officials who supported the Prince of Zhenbei were either demoted or directly stripped of their practical power.

Although the commoners of the Eastern border felt chilled to the heart, things had already reached this point, and there was nothing they could do.

Originally, some people had hoped that the Prince of Zhenbei would be enraged and simply decide to go all the way, leading his army south.

As it turned out, the Zhenbei Army remained unusually quiet, and Zhao Caiwei led the remaining navy back to Qizhou in silence.

Inside the Imperial Palace in the capital.

Crown Prince Li Chenghao was very pleased upon hearing this news.

That night, he visited the Peacock Palace again to boast about his "brilliant wisdom and divine martial prowess" to Consort De Yalan.

"I knew that Lin Xiao would never dare to rashly deploy troops to the Eastern border. The prestige he enjoys today relies on his status as a loyal subject of Dagan."

"If he were to forcibly seize military power in the Eastern border without my permission, he would be a traitorous rebel!"

"I insist on having Prince Zhaokang of the East Sea succeed the throne, and I insist on grandly rewarding those Eastern border subjects who are loyal to me!"

Li Chenghao laughed loudly. "My beloved consort, you have no idea. In court today, the way the civil and military officials looked at me was completely different."

"I am the legitimate Son of Heaven of Dagan. They may fear the Prince of Zhenbei, but I do not!"

Yalan wore a look of adoration. "Your Majesty is truly a man of great talent and strategy. Prince Zhaokang of the East Sea and those Eastern border officials rely on Your Majesty's support to stabilize the Eastern border."

"In this way, the Eastern border will be firmly under Your Majesty's control. In the future, it will be much easier to reclaim the Eastern Sea Army."

"The one who knows me best is my beloved consort!"

Li Chenghao laughed smugly. "How laughable are those pedantic ministers who actually asked me to think twice?"

"This golden opportunity to win over people's hearts is fleeting. How could I listen to them?"

"I must provide timely assistance when Prince Zhao's Mansion needs me most to truly win over their hearts."

Yalan sneered inwardly. Win over hearts?

It was just that group of corrupt officials in the Eastern border who had taken bribes from the Japanese pirates and were afraid of being liquidated by the Prince of Zhenbei, so they refused to welcome the Zhenbei Army to the death.

Just look at how pathetic the Eastern Sea Army was when fighting the Ghost Shark Army.

Even Prince of Donghai could not stop the corruption of the Eastern border bureaucracy and the infiltration of the Japanese pirates. You, a foolish emperor, deserve their loyalty?

Yalan still maintained a gentle smile on her face. "Your Majesty, this concubine toasts you..."

Li Chenghao took a sip of wine happily, and his mind began to wander toward carnal desires again.

"Beloved consort... I feel like you've lost weight recently. Come quickly, let me examine you..."

"Yes, Your Majesty..."

Before long, a young eunuch with a glowing face entered the Peacock Palace.

Consort De, not bothered to deal with the already delirious Li Chenghao, went to the side hall.

A palace maid was already waiting there.

"How is the investigation going?" Consort De asked.

"Princess, there is no news of Prince of Donghai, and even Feng Yue has disappeared. The heads of the main branches of Qinhuai Pavilion were all killed by Xiao Yixiao of Yanyu Pavilion."

Consort De was startled. "What did you say!? Even Qinhuai Pavilion was destroyed by Yanyu Pavilion?"

The palace maid nodded. "I only found out just before I came. It turns out that the flower boat burned on the river before was filled with people from Qinhuai Pavilion who all died."

"Useless! They are all useless!"

Consort De said through gritted teeth, "In vain, I sent the weapons of the Xuanji Sect over there. Why did he insist on going to suppress the Japanese pirates!?"

"If only he had been willing to keep a low profile and swallow his pride for a while, he could have dealt a direct blow to the Zhenbei Army!"

"Now, the weapons are exposed, the mission failed, and the Eastern border is lost!"

As she thought about it, Consort De suddenly shuddered!

"No! If even Feng Yue and Qinhuai Pavilion have met with disaster, your identity at the Great Eastern Sea Casino is likely exposed."

The palace maid's face turned pale with fear. "Princess, then... what should we do? My identity won't be discovered, will it?"

Consort De quickly calmed down, walked to the window, pondered for a moment, and shook her head.

"It's fine. Don't go back to the Great Eastern Sea for now. Lay low for a while. When the Heavenly God comes to find me, there will be a way..."

But the palace maid had a dejected look. "Princess, the Sect Leader is no longer here. Now the Eastern Sea Army cannot be relied upon, and King Wu of Baiyue is just a fence-sitter, not worth much. It looks like more than half of the country is about to be swallowed by the Prince of Zhenbei. Should we perhaps... sooner rather than later..."

"Shut up!"

Consort De's face turned cold. "So what if Crown Prince Xiao Shian is dead!? For the sake of this empire, I married into the capital when I was young, enduring humiliation and suffering so much. And now you want me to stop!?"

"Then what exactly have I been aiming for during most of my life?! Could it be that it's all just a joke?!"

The palace maid's body trembled, and she was as quiet as a cicada in winter.

"Don't worry. With the magical treasure bestowed upon me by the Heavenly God, if it really comes down to it... I will follow that man Lin's example and capture the leader to catch the bandits!"

"As long as Lin Xiao dies, everything will return to its starting point..."

A thick killing intent flowed from Consort De's eyes.

The next day.

Morning court.

Li Chenghao's eyes were a bit dark, and his legs were somewhat weak.

He was just about to adjourn the court early to go down and drink some tonic when he suddenly saw a long-lost figure!?

"Chancellor Yang!?"

Li Chenghao said in surprise, "You've come to court today?"

The old man standing below was precisely Yang Gengzhong, who had been "claiming illness" for a long time due to his dissatisfaction with the hasty coronation.

Yang Gengzhong said with a solemn face, "Your Majesty, although my old bones have not yet fully recovered, regarding urgent matters of the Dagan national foundation, even if I have to risk my old life, I must come to the hall to present a memorial."

"What matter is Chancellor Yang referring to?" Li Chenghao had a bad premonition.

He saw Yang Gengzhong suddenly wave his hand, and two guards carried a basket of account books into the hall from outside.

The ministers whispered among themselves, obviously none of them knowing what this Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was up to.

"Chancellor Yang, what is all this?" Li Chenghao was puzzled.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, what I have brought is evidence of the former Prince of Donghai, Zhao Wu filth, and officials from various prefectures in the Eastern border communicating with Japanese pirates, accepting bribes, and oppressing the people of the Eastern border!"

As Yang Gengzhong spoke with a powerful voice, the entire place was suddenly in an uproar!

Li Chenghao's face turned green. He had only just stabilized the Eastern border. If this incited public anger, wouldn't his previous rewards and titles be like gilding a bunch of traitors!?

Then wouldn't he, the emperor, become the biggest joke!?

"Chancellor Yang, may I ask where these account books were obtained?"

Minister Liu Zongfu walked out with a look of suspicion and said, "Chancellor Yang hasn't left his house; it's impossible for him to have gone to the Eastern border to raid the Japanese pirates' nest, right?"

Li Chenghao was overjoyed. It had to be his capable subordinate, Liu Zongfu!

"Indeed, what Lord Liu says is correct. Chancellor Yang, with so many account books, if their origin is unknown, they absolutely cannot be trusted."

"Your Majesty, I indeed did not go to the Eastern border. The one who handed these account books to me..."

Yang Gengzhong looked at Li Chenghao with a playful glint in his eyes and said, "...is the inspector general of Qi Province, Your Majesty's newly appointed Count of Loyalty and Righteousness, Han Yu!"