Chapter 53

Shangjing, the capital of the Chu Kingdom.

It was a fine season of spring warmth and blooming flowers. In previous years, this time would naturally be spent with family and friends, traversing the bustling city, strolling amidst the bamboo groves, listening to the pleasant bird songs, and breathing in the fresh natural air. They would wander by the misty lakeside, at the ferry of longing, where the fog concealed the bamboo, and the peach blossoms were gently recited. Talented scholars and beautiful ladies would exchange glances, and golden boys and jade girls would play and frolic, all presenting a scene of a peaceful and prosperous era.

The iron horses and golden spears of the border, the bloodshed and battles, seemed far away from here. In the capital, under the feet of the world, they naturally enjoyed the leisurely life brought by the peaceful era. They could not imagine the cruelty that occurred in distant places.

But this year, everything has changed. The flowers are still as beautiful, the willows still as green, but there are no more smiles on people's faces. The entire western border army was annihilated, and tens of thousands of Qin troops surged into Anyang County. As the urgent report from Anyang County galloped into the capital, the entire city immediately fell silent.

Is another national war about to break out? The older generation still remembers the painful memories of the entire nation fighting for the country's fate in those years. Decades have passed, and what they thought they had forgotten has been brought up again. The memories make the present seem pale. Once a major war breaks out, everything they once had will become as insubstantial as smoke, vanishing in an instant.

Sixty thousand troops were completely annihilated, and not a single commander survived. For over a hundred years, the Chu people have never suffered such a devastating defeat. Everyone's eyes turned to the magnificent and splendid imperial palace in the eastern part of Shangjing, where the person who decides the fate of the Chu Kingdom resides.

Yang Yihuo walked on the imperial road, even though the country had just suffered a major defeat and the court was in chaos, he still walked with his head held high, hands behind his back, and a dignified air. As the Left Chancellor of the Chu Kingdom, the first person under the emperor, he must maintain this demeanor to give the impression of being fully prepared.

It's just a defeat on the border! He said lightly during the morning meeting of the ministers, it won't bring the sky down. But the surface calm could deceive others, but it couldn't dispel his own doubts. This defeat was too strange.

The change in the western border army's expedition plan was entirely due to the mole in the Ministry of War being uncovered. The second prince led all the actions, from capturing the mole, to interrogating and formulating the plan, until the last moment, he, the Left Chancellor responsible for the country's operations, was informed. It was precisely because of the secrecy and reliability of the plan, as well as its high success rate, that he supported this action.

But the current result is completely opposite to what was hoped for. It seems that from the beginning, it was a huge trap. The Qin people dug a big hole, and the Chu people jumped into it without hesitation.

Is it really like that? Yang Yihuo was puzzled. To exchange the annihilation of the western border army for the capture of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of War, in the short term, it is indeed a great victory for the Qin Kingdom. But in the long term, it is hard to say. Especially when the Qin people, after annihilating the western border army and opening the western gate of the Chu Kingdom, remained in Anyang County, seemingly content with plundering Anyang County without any other demands, not even touching Anyang City, which is even more confusing.

Yang Yihuo sighed, rubbed his temples, and then looked around alertly, not wanting anyone to see his dejected state. It seems that the Qin people have no intention of a major war, which made him feel relieved. Compared to the defeat on the border, the chaos in the court made him even more uneasy.

The conflict between the Crown Prince and the second prince reached its peak after the defeat on the border. Everyone knew that the western border army was the second prince's force, and Zuo Lixing was a staunch supporter of the second prince. Now, the western border army is gone. It is said that on the day the news arrived, the second prince was so angry that he spat blood and slapped the Crown Prince in the emperor's bedroom. Two noble princes of the royal family actually fought in front of the emperor.

Yang Yihuo was not present at the scene, but according to the information he later obtained, the second prince suspected that the Crown Prince had betrayed the western border army. This made Yang Yihuo feel somewhat incredulous, intuitively feeling that it was completely impossible. All the plans were controlled by the second prince, and even he, the Left Chancellor, only learned at the last moment, let alone the Crown Prince. The second prince would certainly try every means to keep it a secret from the Crown Prince. From a time perspective, even if the Crown Prince knew about it, it would be impossible for him to do such a heinous act.

After all, the Qin Kingdom mobilizing the Thunder Army to reach the Luoying Mountains is not something that can be done in a short time. The second prince must have lost his mind with anger. Losing Zuo Lixing, a grandmaster, and the sixty thousand troops of the western border army, is a fatal blow to him.

The emperor's health is getting worse. The Crown Prince is cautious, and as long as he does not make a mistake, the emperor cannot find a reason to replace him. How could he ruin his own future? Replacing the Crown Prince is a major event that shakes the foundation of the country. From Yang Yihuo's perspective, he actually does not hope for a replacement. The second prince is sharp and aggressive, while the Crown Prince is gentle and refined. Comparatively, he prefers the Crown Prince. Of course, as the current Left Chancellor, the first person under the emperor, he must maintain a neutral stance, otherwise, the emperor will not be happy, and his position as Left Chancellor will be at an end.

The emperor's bedroom was in sight. Yang Yihuo's straight posture became hunched, and the smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression as he walked step by step towards the bedroom.

"Sir!" At the door of the bedroom, Yang Yihuo greeted the chief eunuch Qin Yi, who was waiting at the door.

"The Left Chancellor has arrived!" Qin Yi bowed, "Please wait a moment, Your Majesty is speaking with Commander An."

Yang Yihuo nodded, "Is the emperor's health better?"

Qin Yi's face showed a pained expression: "The emperor's health was already poor, and with this incident, how could it get better? He has been bedridden for several days, but fortunately, his spirits are better today, so he summoned the Left Chancellor to the palace."

"Is the emperor eating well?"

"In the morning, he drank a bowl of rice porridge, and just now he had a small bowl of rice and some vegetables," Qin Yi whispered, "Commander An just came in, and no one knows what he said, but the emperor became extremely angry, even throwing his favorite teacup."

Yang Yihuo was slightly startled. An Ruhai is the commander of the internal guards, the only minister who can see the emperor without reporting, and he ranks higher than himself in the emperor's trust. What did this commander, who controls the internal guards and the security of the capital, say that made the emperor so angry?

He slightly leaned towards Qin Yi, and without a word, a silver ticket was already in Qin Yi's hand: "Sir, did you hear anything?"

Qin Yi naturally put the silver ticket away, his hand retracting, and the ticket disappeared as if he had practiced this action thousands of times. Of course, as the most favored chief eunuch by the emperor, he almost does this every day, but it is rare to receive one from the Left Chancellor. The current Left Chancellor does not need to curry favor with him.

After receiving the silver ticket, Qin Yi's face showed more smiles, and he lowered his voice: "It seems to be related to the two princes."

Yang Yihuo's heart skipped a beat. Matters related to the two princes must be the current major defeat. For him, he would rather the defeat was due to a mistake in Zuo Lixing's command than any other reason. Especially if there is a problem with the two princes, it could be a matter of life and death at this critical moment.

"Thank you, sir."

"Please be careful, Chancellor Yang." Qin Yi bowed his head and retreated to the door.

The door creaked open, and a tall and robust figure appeared before Yang Yihuo. It was the commander of the internal guards, An Ruhai. Seeing Yang Yihuo, he nodded, "Chancellor Yang, the emperor has summoned you to enter."

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