The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 25 Turbulence

Everyone says Zhu Shuang is cruel and tyrannical, and Li Jinglong has certainly witnessed it firsthand!

Before I could even say anything, he was already preparing to kill someone, right in front of me.

Li Jinglong looked at Zhu Shuang with a gloomy expression, constantly wondering what Zhu Shuang's intentions were.

Was it simply a matter of silencing him? No, if Zhu Shuang wanted to silence him, he could have easily dealt with the steward quietly, so why choose this moment?

It's nothing more than giving yourself a warning; not only that, after killing someone, you can also conveniently pour dirty water on yourself!

Li Jinglong sneered inwardly, "Since you want to play, then I'll play along!"

"Wait!" Li Jinglong waved his hand to stop him.

"What? Jiujiang thinks he shouldn't have been killed?" Zhu Shuang looked at Li Jinglong with a sinister gaze.

"Corruption and embezzlement require trial and judgment according to the law. Your Highness's direct handling of this matter may damage your reputation!" Li Jinglong said, his gaze fixed on Li Jinglong without fear.

"Heh!" Zhu Shuang sneered, saying contemptuously, "Li Jiujiang is a servant of my Prince's mansion. I have the right to deal with him as I see fit!"

Li Jinglong cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Wang Fu is involved in disrupting the capital and should be handed over to this imperial envoy for questioning and brought back to the capital. If he is guilty, he will be punished according to the law; if he is innocent, he will be released without charge. Your Highness, are you not afraid of His Majesty's wrath for such behavior? Or perhaps, Your Highness intends to use this as an excuse to kill him and silence him?"

"What a sharp tongue!" Zhu Shuang sneered, but remained unmoved. "Men, drag Wang Fu away!" After saying that, he looked at Li Jinglong with a provocative expression.

Li Jinglong cursed inwardly for being so shameless. Enraged, he strode up to Zhu Shuang, pulled out a gold medal from his sleeve, and showed it to him.

"You..." Zhu Shuang saw Li Jinglong reveal the gold medal, her eyes widened, and she looked at Li Jinglong with a face full of anger.

Zhu Shuang now understood why Li Jinglong was able to make Huang Bin bow down in Beiping.

"What? Your Highness, have you forgotten the rules after seeing His Majesty's golden token?" Li Jinglong said sarcastically.

"Hmph!" Zhu Shuang cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Your Excellency the Imperial Envoy." After saying that, he glared fiercely at Li Jinglong and turned his head to the side.

"Zheng Zheng, take Wang Fu away!" Li Jinglong ordered Zheng Zheng beside him.

Just as Li Jinglong and Zheng Zheng were about to leave with Wang Fu, Zhu Shuang suddenly took two steps forward and threatened, "Li Jiujiang, you'd better think this through. If you take him away today, you're slapping me in the face. Can you bear the consequences?"

Li Jinglong smiled, inwardly looking down on Zhu Shuang. Threatening the imperial envoy in front of Old Zhu's golden token—he really didn't know if Zhu Shuang was arrogant or stupid.

Didn't you see Zheng Zheng, the Imperial Guard, by your side? Back in Nanjing, Old Zhu didn't miss a single word the two of them said.

"Your Highness, I would also like to offer a word of advice: as a prince, you should abide by the law and not act recklessly!" Li Jinglong reprimanded him without any politeness.

"Li Jiujiang, I will never forgive you in the future!" Zhu Shuang roared, pointing at Li Jinglong and uttering these harsh words.

Li Jinglong glanced at Zhu Shuang, too lazy to pay her any attention, and left the Qin Prince's residence with his men.

After leaving the Prince's Mansion, Li Jinglong and his party returned to the post station and instructed Zhu Neng to be on high alert. After all, they were still in Xi'an, and if Zhu Shuang went crazy, they would be the ones to suffer.

After giving Zhu Neng his instructions, Li Jinglong called Li Er to his side and told him to inform everyone to prepare for the journey the next day.

After leaving Xi'an, Li Jinglong would send men to stand guard and keep watch whenever he had a break. He did not dare to relax even after leaving Shaanxi province.

Fortunately, Zhu Shuang did not make any moves, and Li Jinglong and the others were able to relax after entering Henan.

But then, disaster struck.

When Li Jinglong and his entourage rested at the post station in Shanzhou, Henan, the men sent by the King of Qin sneaked up under the cover of night. They were discovered by the guards on night watch, and after failing to capture the men, they tried to leave.

Li Jinglong was awakened by the sounds of fighting in the courtyard and immediately took the goose-feather saber from beside him.

At that moment, Li Er appeared at the door of Li Jinglong's room and reported through the room: "My lord, several thieves have broken into the post station. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the brothers from the Prince of Yan's mansion are apprehending them!"

Li Jinglong immediately got up, opened the door, and came into the courtyard with Li Er.

At this moment, apart from one who was still fighting Zheng Zheng, the rest of the men in black had either been killed or had already jumped over the wall and escaped.

Zheng Zheng unleashed several consecutive slashes, and while the man in black was dodging, he kicked him in the chest. The man used the force to get close to the wall, then leaped over it and escaped.

"No need to pursue!" Li Jinglong called out to Zheng Zheng. "The situation outside the post station is unclear. Just guard the post station!"

The bodies of the men in black were cleaned up, and Zhu Neng was also taking stock of his own losses. Fortunately, apart from a few wounded, there were no major casualties.

Upon seeing this, Li Jinglong immediately ordered, "Li Er, take my token and find two physicians to treat the brothers' wounds!"

"Yes, my lord!" Li Er then walked out of the post station.

"My lord, should we inform the prefectural government to investigate the origins of the thieves?" Zhu Neng stepped forward and asked.

Li Jinglong waved his hand, "No need!"

Li Jinglong knew perfectly well who the visitor was; apart from Zhu Shuang, no one else had such audacity.

Moreover, without capturing any witnesses alive, there is no evidence to indict Zhu Shuang.

"Strengthen security. We'll depart as scheduled tomorrow!" Li Jinglong ordered expressionlessly.

The next day, Li Jinglong and his men continued their journey. Meanwhile, at the Qin Prince's Mansion in Xi'an, Zhu Shuang was furious upon learning of the failed assassination attempt.

Two days later, Li Jinglong and his party arrived in Kaifeng smoothly. After changing boats in Kaifeng, the group went directly south to Xuzhou, and from there followed the Grand Canal all the way back to Nanjing.

As for Zheng Ci and Li Gui, Li Jinglong sent them letters instructing them to finish dealing with matters in Beiping and then head south along the Grand Canal to return to Nanjing.

After nearly a month of wandering and leaving, Li Jinglong finally returned to the Duke's mansion after Li Er had arranged for the guards from the Prince of Yan's residence who had accompanied him. After settling in, he sat quietly in his study, contemplating how to write a memorial to the throne.

"My lord, are you resting?" Li Yuan asked cautiously from outside the study.

Li Jinglong had no choice but to put down his calligraphy brush: "Come in!"

After Li Yuan entered, he saw the memorial on Li Jinglong's desk and frowned slightly: "My lord, are you going to submit a memorial?"

Li Yuan already knew about what happened on Li Jinglong's way back from Xi'an from Li Er. Although he was equally annoyed by the arrogance and ruthlessness of the Prince of Qin, he was an old steward who had been working for Li Wenzhong for many years and had his own opinions on some matters in the court.

"Not bad!" Li Jinglong nodded. He still wanted to impeach Zhu Shuang.

"My lord! The Prince of Qin is cruel and acts recklessly in his fiefdom. Do you think His Majesty doesn't know this? But why is it that even now, the Prince of Qin is still living peacefully in his fiefdom, and His Majesty has only issued one decree to reprimand him?"

Li Yuan explained in detail, "My lord, the Emperor doesn't touch the Prince of Qin because he needs him. As for the Northwest, His Majesty isn't entirely at ease with either the Marquis of Changxing or the Marquis of Xingyang!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong shook his head. This time in Shaanxi, the conflict between him and Zhu Shuang had become a deadlock, with no possibility of being resolved.

"Uncle Yuan, there is no possibility of reconciliation between me and the Prince of Qin. Even if His Majesty does not punish him, I will still submit a memorial. This is my stance that I must make clear!" Li Jinglong looked at Li Yuan with a firm gaze.

"Sigh!" Li Yuan sighed, thinking to himself that his young master was just like his father, even in terms of temperament.

Li Jinglong reassured him, "Don't worry, Uncle Yuan! I know what I'm doing."

After Li Yuan left, Li Jinglong picked up a pen, rested his chin on the pen, thought for a while, and then began to write.

Your subject Li Jinglong submits a memorial impeaching the King of Qin for illegal acts:

Your Majesty ordered me to inspect the northern border to ensure the smooth operation of the imperial envoy's business. However, during my inspection of Shaanxi, Prince Qin, Shuang, obstructed, intimidated, and threatened the imperial envoy...

After writing nearly a thousand words, Li Jinglong put down his brush, glanced at the memorial again, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.