Lin Qingge, feeling like a clown, went directly from Changshou Palace to the Imperial Study.
Besides Feng Qingchen and Hua Jinrong, Murong Bai was also there.
"Oh, everyone's here.
Which elder brother can help explain what's happening outside the city?"
"You are too kind, my lord.
Simply put, the Fengtian Camp has rebelled and surrendered to the Fourth Prince."
"So, after waiting for reinforcements for so long, we are still only two thousand Imperial Guards, while the enemy's forces have doubled?"
"Not doubled, the Fengtian Camp only brought five thousand troops."
"Only your sister!
Aren't you the self-proclaimed number one intelligence chief?
How could you not even know about the Fengtian Camp's secret collusion with the Fourth Prince, such an important matter!"
The one complaining furiously was not Lin Qingge, but Feng Qingchen, who had turned into a firecracker since receiving the news.
"Bai Er, should you show this to Feng Si? I'm worried he'll hurt someone if he continues like this."
Murong Bai picked up his teacup and took a sip before saying slowly,
"It's nothing. Anyway, if he's going to hurt anyone, it will only be you.
My lord, you don't need to worry so much. Since Madam is so capable, why not just have her kill or knock out the Fourth Prince and tie him up?"
"While that's true, at this particular juncture, such an action could be counterproductive.
With such a large army assembled outside the capital, they possess almost all the advantages of time and location. Therefore, even if one Fourth Prince falls, another, and then a third, will emerge.
Moreover, they will use the excuse of the Emperor's brutality in harming his siblings, becoming even more unrestrained."
This was also why Lin Qingge had asked Leng Ningyue to deal with Xu Qing but not the Fourth Prince.
After all, success meant becoming the Emperor above all others.
As for life and death, they should have already disregarded it the moment they followed the Fourth Prince in rebellion.
At this moment, Hua Jinrong pouted aggrievedly and said,
"My lord, the Fengtian Camp's defection was indeed beyond my expectations.
From what I know, the ancestor of the person in charge of the Fengtian Camp has some connections with the previous dynasty.
Although this person is capable of leading troops, to avoid suspicion, he is extremely cautious and rarely interacts with other officials, let alone the Fourth Prince.
Unexpectedly, I was mistaken in my judgment."
"Previous dynasty?"
Lin Qingge repeated the words softly, as if some important information flashed through her mind.
But before she could ponder further, a guard reported that the Fourth Prince was outside the city gate with his troops, clamoring for the new Emperor to come and see him.
"Tsk, does he think he's the late Emperor, daring to demand that His Majesty move to see him?"
"Since you say so, Rong San, how about you go meet the Fourth Prince on behalf of Lin Da?
Calculating the time, it should be almost time for the medicine to take effect."
"Medicine effect? What medicine effect?"
Murong Bai did not answer Hua Jinrong's question, but impatiently waved him away.
Suspecting a trap but having no evidence, Hua Jinrong, under the pressure of the new Emperor's stern gaze, and after failing to invite his lord to accompany him, could only leave dejectedly by himself.
Half an hour later, Hua Jinrong ran back, covering his mouth and nose.
"My lord, did you and Bai Er conspire to set up this scheme to trick me? Ugh~~"
Facing Hua Jinrong, who rarely smiled, looked pale, and kept retching, Lin Qingge couldn't help but laugh heartily.
"Looking at you, Master Hua, it seems Murong the Coroner's potent laxative has taken effect, hasn't it?"
What Lin Qingge had given to Lu Huaiying and Wu Suowei was Murong Bai's signature potent laxative, which had proven effective multiple times.
To let the entire army of ten thousand experience the power of this laxative, she had contributed all her stock.
However, because the stream outside the capital was connected to the city through underground riverbeds, and the Fourth Prince had too many men, with three or four kitchens alone.
Lu Huaiying and Wu Suowei squatted for a full day and night to find the best poisoning location besides the water source.
But before they could act, the people from the Fengtian Camp arrived.
So, the two of them, not wanting to do things by halves, brought along the dose for the Fengtian Camp.
The Fengtian Camp men had traveled for two days and would definitely need to drink water and eat.
After a brief rest, they were eagerly brought out by the Fourth Prince to intimidate the new Emperor.
Thus, when Hua Jinrong arrived at the city wall on behalf of the new Emperor, he was greeted by an overwhelming stench and the sound of 'pitter-patter' explosions.
The Fourth Prince, who had been arrogantly challenging them earlier, was already foaming at the mouth and in a daze from the smell.
Even when the Fourth Prince was lifted off his horse, his white armor, worn for show, was covered in vomit, and there was a suspicious brown viscous substance at his rear.
After Hua Jinrong finished recounting his experience excitedly, he realized that everyone had already retreated outside.
"Your Majesty, I took this trip for you.
Bai Er, that medicine was made by you, how dare you hide from me?
And Feng Si, with our friendship, you don't care if I'm alright, yet you're smiling so lewdly.
My lord, you must uphold justice for me.
They are all bullying me."
Hua Jinrong, transformed into a whiny child, was about to pounce on his lord's shoulder to cry his heart out.
The next moment, he was startled by his夫人 (Madam) who suddenly appeared beside his lord, causing him to stop his forward momentum abruptly.
Leaving the still reeking Hua Jinrong behind, everyone moved to the side hall of the Imperial Study to continue their previous discussion.
"Murong the Coroner's laxative can only delay things for two days. If there is no turning point after two days, we will have to replace the laxative with a potent poison that burns through the intestines."
This was the method Lin Qingge least wanted to use; the cost was too great, and the thought alone was suffocating.
The new Emperor, who understood this equally well, unfolded the note in his hand and read it. His originally tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed slightly.
"I have just received news from General Xiao. He is leading the Xiao family army on their way to the capital, and they should arrive in about half a day."
"General Xiao's words, we should not worry about him defecting anymore, right?"
"Of course.
If he truly had such intentions, the Great Xia Kingdom would have changed hands long ago."
Ignoring the new Emperor's dark as a pot bottom expression, Lin Qingge and Murong Bai exchanged words, and Feng Qingchen, who had been staring at Lin Qingge for a long time, couldn't help but praise,
"General Xiao is indeed formidable, but Lord Lin is no less so.
You truly live up to the praise from Bai Er and Rong San.
Lord Lin, without shedding a single drop of blood or a single soldier, managed to delay the Fourth Prince's forces outside the city for a full three days. This Prime Minister, on behalf of the twenty million citizens of the capital, thanks Lord Lin."
With that, Feng Qingchen bowed deeply.
"Prime Minister Feng, you are too kind. As the Prefect of Shuntian, I have merely done my duty.
Of course, if Prime Minister Feng insists on showing his appreciation, I am not such a rigid person."
Lin Qingge rubbed her thumb and index finger together, her hint being very obvious.
However, Feng Qingchen seriously suggested to the new Emperor,
"Your Majesty, given Lord Lin's righteousness, I believe it would be more appropriate to dismiss a certain incapable prince and appoint Lord Lin as the Prime Minister instead."