In the Imperial Study, the Grand Secretary, the Second Grand Secretary, and the Ministers of the Six Ministries were all present. The atmosphere was peculiar.
On the desk sat a head preserved in lime. It looked lifelike yet eerie and terrifying, sending shivers down one's spine.
The Emperor stared at it for a long while, his expression incredibly complex. "Is this the head of Prince Yijier?"
"It is," Rong Jing replied with a slight bow, offering no further explanation.
The Emperor waved his hand, and the head eunuch carried the head away. Only then did everyone secretly breathe a sigh of relief, casting sidelong glances at the Dingyuan Marquis, who stood in the corner.
The Dingyuan Marquis was far from calm inwardly, but he maintained a composed facade.
The Emperor picked up the case records and flipped through them page by page. When he reached a certain line, his pupils dilated sharply. After a long silence, he passed the records to the senior officials.
As they took turns reading, they were secretly alarmed. Now that imperial princes were being dragged into this, the trouble surrounding the Ning family was spiraling out of control. They truly wondered how this would end.
The Emperor watched their faces closely. Unfortunately, they were all "thousand-year-old foxes," showing no signs of guilt or fear.
"She says the military tally isn't in her hands?"
The military tally was also called a Tiger Tally. It was used to deploy troops and was a vital token of authority; in battle, soldiers followed the Tiger Tally rather than the individual.
Thus, if it were lost or stolen, the consequences would be catastrophic.
It just so happened that the Ning Family Army's military tally had vanished along with the fall of the Ning family, leaving the entire court unable to sleep or eat in peace.
"Yes."
The Emperor tossed the records onto the desk and massaged his brow. "My dear ministers, what do you have to say?"
the ministers looked at one another until the Grand Secretary stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Ning Zhiwei is a woman; it is impossible for her to have had contact with the military tally. More importantly, it would be useless to her. Who would obey the command of a woman?"
"Your Majesty need not worry. This military tally is both important and unimportant," the Minister of War said, though he was equally anxious and had already ordered a covert, fine-tooth search.
"The military tally is used to deploy troops, but a common person holding it wouldn't be able to move the Ning Family Army. Only a member of the Ning family could."
Whether one recognized the tally or the person depended on the circumstances. For two hundred years, the Ning Family Army had only been under the command of the Ning family. Only the Nings possessed that kind of rallying power.
The problem was that the adult males of the Ning family had all perished on the battlefield. There were only two underage boys left, the eldest being only five years old. It would take over a decade for him to grow up.
Whether he could grow up safely was another matter entirely. Even if he did, ten years was enough time for the world to change completely.
As for the men missing on the battlefield, if they hadn't appeared by now, there was almost no chance they were still alive.
This had created a power vacuum.
One hundred thousand soldiers of the Ning Family Army were guarding the Northwest. Who wouldn't want to seize such a choice piece of meat?
The Second Grand Secretary bowed and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the Ning Family Army is currently leaderless. We must appoint a commander-in-chief as soon as possible to stabilize the troops and reclaim the lost territory."
The Emperor took a sip of fragrant tea, his face becoming blurred through the rising steam.
"My dear ministers, do you have any candidates to recommend?"
Everyone immediately began to compete eagerly. "I recommend General Ma Meng. He served under Old General Ning for many years and is a fierce warrior, a rare and valiant general."
This was the royalist faction.
"I recommend General Han Qu. His use of troops is god-like, reminiscent of Old General Ning in his youth." This was the Eldest Prince's faction.
"I recommend Old General Jiang. He loves his soldiers like his own children and holds great prestige among the troops." This was the Crown Prince's faction.
To seize territory and the elite fighting force of the Ning Family Army, they exerted every ounce of strength. The shouting nearly turned into a brawl, and they completely lost the poise expected of high-ranking officials.
The Emperor watched the scene with interest, his mind racing.
After an unknown amount of time, the Emperor looked at the darkening sky and said indifferently, "Everyone is dismissed. Dingyuan Marquis, stay behind."
As the senior officials withdrew, they each gave the Dingyuan Marquis a meaningful look. The Marquis felt a drum beating in his chest, filled with trepidation.
As his mind wandered, a cold voice sounded from above. "She didn't acknowledge you?"
Thinking of that girl who appeared dignified but possessed a truly malicious temperament, the Dingyuan Marquis felt a surge of anger. "She treats me like a stranger."
He could choose not to want that daughter, but she could not be unfilial; she could not refuse to recognize him.
She had actually dared to deliberately scare him. She was unworthy of being a daughter.
The Emperor gave him a fleeting glance. Ning Zhiwei looked more like the former Marchioness of Dingyuan, and her temperament was similar as well—both were fierce and stubborn, the type who would rather be a shattered piece of jade than an intact tile.
"You are blood relatives, after all. Coax her more. There are no overnight grudges between father and daughter."
The Dingyuan Marquis's heart stirred. "Your Majesty is right."
The Emperor’s fingers tapped on the desk. Tap, tap, tap. The sound made the Dingyuan Marquis feel increasingly flustered.
"I am giving you a task: find that military tally within one month."
The Dingyuan Marquis suddenly understood. The Emperor still suspected the military tally was in Ning Zhiwei's hands.
For a moment, he couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.
"I… am afraid it may be difficult to…"
He would rather stay safe and stay out of this murky water.
The Emperor raised his hand, cutting him off. "Let Jingshu enter the palace to accompany the Imperial Consort. The Imperial Consort misses her dearly."
Lin Jingshu, the Dingyuan Marquis's most beloved daughter, was as beautiful as a flower. She was the number one beauty in the capital, brimming with talent; matchmakers had nearly worn down her doorstep.
The Dingyuan Marquis's estate placed great hopes on her, wishing for her to ascend to the position of Empress and lead the family to the pinnacle of power.
Thinking of the expectations for his daughter, the Dingyuan Marquis felt a surge of heat in his heart. "Yes, I will certainly do my utmost."
He valued his reputation, but he could send his most prized daughter first.
He believed that Jingshu was both willing to share her father's burdens and capable of doing so.
With Jingshu's methods, a few minor tricks would be enough to handle that wretched girl.
A little girl raised at the border had limited knowledge and vision; how could she be a match for a noble lady meticulously cultivated by a Marquis's estate?
Furthermore, those who are sentimental are best moved by emotion.
The sun was scorching like fire, and the cicadas chirped incessantly, making people irritable.
Outside the General's Mansion, the Jinyiwei stood under the blazing sun, their faces flushed with heat. They frequently raised their hands to wipe the sweat from their brows.
This damnable weather was too hot. When would it end?
A carriage slowly approached. It was made of the most precious Phoebe zhennan wood, its body inlaid with magnificent gems. The window curtains were made of tribute snow-satin, embroidered with exquisite gold-thread patterns. Hanging in the most prominent spot was the emblem of the Dingyuan Marquis's estate, shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
The Jinyiwei blocked the carriage. "By imperial decree, no one is allowed to enter or leave without a summons."
The curtain was lifted, and a peerless beauty appeared before everyone. An intricate palace dress made her look noble and dignified. A gold phoenix-head hairpin with ruby droplets was tucked into her ink-black hair. Her skin was like congealed cream, several shades whiter than snow, and her red lips were more vivid than cherries. Her eyes sparkled, captivating the soul.
The Jinyiwei gasped, their eyes fixed on her.
A maid flashed a smile. "This is the Eldest Miss of the Dingyuan Marquis's estate. She has come to visit the Ning family. Please, gentlemen, make way."
A Jinyiwei officer asked in a trembling voice, "Is this Miss Lin Jingshu, who wrote the famous lines: 'The plum blossom must yield to the snow for its three-tenths whiteness, yet the snow loses to the plum blossom for its fragrance'?" (Note 1)