TNIBFT -Chapter 162 Are You Disappointed?

The majestic and domineering voice frightened Lin Huarong so much that cold sweat poured down his back.

He lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to lift his head, instinctively begging for mercy.
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger!”

He could no longer remember how many years it had been since he had been this cautious and fearful. During the five years Qin Fengyi had been unconscious, he and the Left Prime Minister had controlled the court, standing above all others save one. He had long forgotten what it felt like to kneel.

Yet the fear of Qin Fengyi, etched deep in his bones, left his mind unable to react in time.

“All the past emperors of Great Zhou have taken the unification of the realm as their mission. Every ruler has devoted themselves wholeheartedly, and every loyal minister has given their utmost efforts. That is how Great Zhou has come to what it is today. I believe you are someone with ambition, my minister…”

Qin Fengyi spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

She intended to use these words to awaken Lin Huarong—to give him one more chance.

Lying on the ground, Lin Huarong’s eyes darted about, beads of cold sweat dripping onto the stone floor.

He was filled with unease, unable to grasp the meaning behind the Empress’s words.

But then he thought—no matter how unparalleled Qin Fengyi’s strength once was, wasn’t she now just a cripple sitting in a wheelchair, unable to move freely?

Like a canary kept in a gilded cage within the deep palace—without trusted aides, without capable subordinates—what kind of ruler could she be? Nothing more than a deaf and blind invalid.

As for himself—

He had countless protégés, controlled the lifelines of multiple departments within the court. With just a little maneuvering, he could have censors submit impeachment memorials in droves, and have his followers run about for him. This time, the Left Prime Minister had openly challenged him—if he didn’t suppress the Left Prime Minister’s influence, the officials of Great Zhou would surely begin to side with the latter.

Thinking of this, Lin Huarong took a deep breath, slowly straightened his back, and looked Qin Fengyi directly in the eyes.

Their gazes met.

Qin Fengyi narrowed her phoenix eyes, a playful expression appearing on her face.

A faint smile curled on Lin Huarong’s crafty, seasoned face. “Your Majesty, there are many things you are unaware of after being unconscious for five years. Perhaps this old minister can explain them to you?”

“I have labored for Great Zhou for over twenty years. The officials I have cultivated are spread across the entire realm—even among the palace guards and maids, many have benefited from my favor. I have been diligent all my life, serving Great Zhou and Your Majesty with utmost loyalty, even to the point of death. The Left Prime Minister, however, harbors ill intentions—he controls the imperial guards and kills court officials at will. Your Majesty, if you continue to indulge him, I fear it will chill the hearts of many veteran ministers!”

“Is that so?”

A faint smile that wasn’t quite a smile appeared on Qin Fengyi’s face. Lin Huarong froze—he suddenly found her unreadable.

Then, under his watchful gaze, Qin Fengyi placed her dragon-embroidered boot firmly on the ground.

Lin Huarong’s pupils shrank, his expression turning to shock as he stared at her.

A cold smile hung on Qin Fengyi’s face as she slowly stood up.

Step by step, she walked toward him.

Lin Huarong was completely stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at her legs in disbelief. “Y-you… your legs!”

“Are you disappointed?”

Qin Fengyi’s voice was icy and sharp.

Lin Huarong’s mind went blank. Terrified, he threw himself back onto the ground, his whole body trembling. “I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty!”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

“What is there that you wouldn’t dare?” Qin Fengyi roared in fury, kicking him hard in the shoulder.

With a loud bang, Lin Huarong was sent flying several meters, crashing into the white jade flower bed behind him. His withered, bark-like face twisted in agony, his graying beard stained with blood.

His face flushed red as his entire body trembled, struggling to move.

At this moment, several of Lin Huarong’s disciples—who had rushed over upon hearing the news to seek an audience—had just arrived at the imperial garden, only to witness the scene before them.

A group of people were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, silent and unmoving.

Among them, someone forced himself to speak: “Your Majesty, even if the Right Chancellor has no great achievements, he has at least worked hard. If Your Majesty can beat or kill at will like this, wouldn’t that make you a tyrant?”

The moment those words fell—

A deathly silence spread across the surroundings.

Qin Fengyi waved her jade-like hand and sat back down in her wheelchair. She slowly lifted her head, glanced at Xiao Gaozi beside her, and said indifferently, “Who said that?”

“Drag him away. Exterminate his three clans!”

“Yes!”

Xiao Gaozi lowered his head and accepted the order.

The ministers kneeling on the ground all showed terrified expressions. Not a single one dared to speak anymore, each of them trembling, afraid Qin Fengyi might notice them.

“A tyrant?” Qin Fengyi sneered. “At sixteen, I followed the army into battle, risking my life time and again. The Great Zhou’s empire was built with the blood of soldiers under my command. With just a silver spear in my hand, I earned the people’s recognition as their ruler!”

“My life, Qin Fengyi’s life—is it something you can point fingers at?”

“And you lot—helping a tyrant do evil, coercing your sovereign. I doubt any of you are good officials.”

After speaking, she turned to the armored guards on both sides and ordered, “Drag them all away. Investigate each and every one thoroughly. Until the investigation is complete, not a single one is to be released!”

“Yes!”

The guards clasped their fists and carried out the command.

The ministers on the ground cried out in panic:
“Your Majesty, spare us!”
“Spare us, Your Majesty!”
“Prime Minister, save me!”

Lin Ronghua lay on the ground, watching the fate of his disciples. His mind raced—When had the palace guards been replaced?

And now that Qin Fengyi was slaughtering his faction, how would she restrain the Left Chancellor’s side?

Qin Fengyi was definitely not a reckless person!

“Also, the Right Chancellor—Xiao Gaozi, send him back. He’s old; there’s no need for him to trouble himself with state affairs anymore. Didn’t we promote a batch of young men from the army? They should already be waiting in the Hall of Diligent Governance.”

As soon as Qin Fengyi finished speaking—

Lin Ronghua was completely stunned.

This was all Qin Fengyi’s scheme? Even the internal struggle between him and the Left Chancellor was her design?

Let them fight each other, pretend to be ill to lower their guard, then swiftly summon her trusted forces back to the capital, secretly replace the imperial guards, and find an excuse to place him under house arrest?

The more Lin Ronghua thought about it, the colder the sweat on his back became. By the time the eunuchs helped him up, his body was stiff and his mind blank.

A cold north wind swept past.

The imperial garden returned to its usual quiet. Xiao Gaozi pushed the wheelchair behind Qin Fengyi.

Beneath the white winter plum blossoms, Qin Fengyi stood in her bright imperial robes, wrapping her graceful figure. The young empress gazed at the blossoms on the withered branches, lost in thought.

Suddenly, she turned her head. The jewels on her crown shimmered, accentuating her cold, beautiful face, making her appear even more noble and peerless.

“Are the preparations ready?” she asked.

Xiao Gaozi lowered his head. “Your Majesty, since Lord Shangguan has already found the young prince, he may already be on his way back. If you go now, in case—”

Qin Fengyi frowned slightly and raised her chin, looking into the distant sky. “There has been an avalanche in Sifang City. Disasters keep occurring, and Shangguan acts impulsively. If the people of Great Liang discover the prince’s identity, it could stir up further trouble. I’ve already closed the net here—now no one can stop me from seeing my child.”

“Left—” Xiao Gaozi began, but Qin Fengyi raised her hand to interrupt him.

She had waited long enough.

And Ye Tian—she would go see him in person.