Qin Dynasty: Ying Zheng is my brother, I am the Bad Commander

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Are you saying the military pay wasn't stolen by Jade Tiger? Are you saying Jade Tiger got all that gold from Ying Chen?

He couldn't answer, because that would implicate Ying Chen. And the reason why Ying Chen had a large amount of gold in Xinzheng to lend to Emerald Tiger was simple: it was the military pay of 100,000 taels of gold.

He has to choose between Ying Chen and Emerald Tiger.

Ji Wuye took a deep breath. He knew that he had to sacrifice the pawn to save the king.

"Your Majesty, you are wise." Ji Wuye knelt on one knee, his voice heavy. "I truly knew nothing of what Jade Tiger had done. I always thought he was just a law-abiding merchant, but I never imagined he would be so audacious! If what the Ninth Prince said is true, Jade Tiger is indeed the culprit who stole military funds and inflated grain prices. I will not tolerate this. I implore Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict to arrest Jade Tiger and punish him severely!"

Ji Wuye gritted his teeth and spoke each word with a sharp, agonizing tone. Every word seemed to drip with blood. Giving up the Jade Tiger was tantamount to cutting off half of his source of income; the loss was undeniably devastating.

Han Fei looked at Ji Wuye kneeling on the ground, a faint smile playing on his lips. He knew he had won.

When King Han An looked at Ji Wuye, who had his head bowed, his anger subsided slightly, but his fear deepened.

He knew he couldn't push Ji Wuye too far. Since Ji Wuye had yielded and handed over the Jade Tiger, he had achieved half of his goal of regaining military power.

"Very well! Since the General is so righteous, I will trust you this once," King Han An said coldly, then swept his majestic gaze across the entire room.

"By my decree! Immediately seal off Emerald Manor, arrest the culprit Emerald Tiger, throw him into death row, and hand him over to Minister of Justice Han Fei for rigorous interrogation. We must recover the 100,000 taels of military pay! All assets, shops, and granaries under Emerald Tiger's name must be confiscated and put into public use. The resulting grain must be immediately released into the market at a fair price to stabilize grain prices in Xinzheng!"

"Furthermore, although General Ji Wuye acted out of a desire to protect me last night, he acted without authorization by mobilizing troops and closing the city gates, causing panic. He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment! From this day forward, the troop deployment tally for the Xinzheng city defense forces will be temporarily entrusted to Prime Minister Zhang Kaidi for safekeeping. Without my decree, no one is allowed to mobilize a single soldier!"

King Han An's decree was issued, and the decision was final.

Overjoyed, Zhang Kai immediately knelt down and cried out, "Your Majesty is wise! This old minister will certainly do his utmost to assist Your Majesty!"

Han Fei bowed slightly and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Ji Wuye knelt on the ground, his hands digging into the bluestone slabs so hard that blood seeped from his fingernails. He kept his head down, and no one could see his twisted and ferocious face.

"Your subject... accepts the decree and expresses gratitude." Ji Wuye's voice was hoarse, like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing together.

As Han Fei stepped out of the tall and majestic palace gates of the Han King's Palace, the sun had already risen fully. The golden sunlight shone on the white jade steps, somewhat dazzling, but Han Fei felt that the sun was exceptionally bright today, and even the slightly chilly breeze of Xinzheng City felt incredibly pleasant on his face.

He stretched out a big yawn, and the solemn and dignified expression he had maintained in the court was completely gone, replaced by his signature smile, which carried a hint of laziness and cynicism.

Won.

And he won even more impressively than he had anticipated.

Recalling Ji Wuye's face in the court just now, so full of pent-up frustration that it seemed to be bleeding, yet he had no choice but to bow his head and admit his guilt, Han Fei felt as comfortable as if he had drunk the finest orchid wine from Zilan Pavilion.

Although King An of Han ultimately handed over the military troop deployment tally of Xinzheng City to Chancellor Zhang Kaidi instead of to him, Han Fei was not disappointed at all. On the contrary, he felt that this was the most perfect arrangement under the current circumstances.

Han Fei was an extremely intelligent man; he understood his father, King An, all too well. King An was inherently suspicious and was most adept at the art of checks and balances in imperial politics.

If Han Fei acts too aggressively today, not only taking away Ji Wuye's money but also seizing military power, then King Han An's suspicion of him will immediately surpass his fear of Ji Wuye. A prince who holds great power in both criminal justice and the capital's military poses a far too great threat to the royal authority.

Therefore, giving military power to Zhang Kaidi is the best outcome.

Han Fei saw through Zhang Kaidi very well. This old prime minister, who had served five generations of Han kings, although he had the arrogance of the leader of the civil official group, as well as the selfishness and ambition to suppress dissidents and consolidate his own power, all his behavioral guidelines were firmly confined to the two words "rules" and "etiquette".

Zhang Kaidi cares about his reputation, the continuation of his family line, and his legitimate position in the Korean court.

Such a person, even if he holds a knife, will only use it for self-defense or to kill people according to the rules. He would never be like Ji Wuye, who would overturn the table at the slightest disagreement, or even dare to secretly mobilize troops to blockade the capital in the middle of the night.

Zhang Kaidi's ambition is controllable. He will only use military power to check Ji Wuye, and will never use it to threaten the royal authority, much less to wreak havoc on the people.

"Ji Wuye, Ji Wuye, you've lost the money bag that is Jade Tiger, and you've also lost the command of the city's defense forces in Xinzheng. Let's see how long you, the black owl that has been lurking in the skies above Han, can remain so arrogant."

Han Fei chuckled, climbed onto the carriage, and instructed the driver, "To Zilan Pavilion."

The carriage traveled smoothly along the flat cobblestone road, the sound of its wheels seeming like a cheerful melody to Han Fei. He couldn't wait to return to Zilan Pavilion and share this hard-won victory with Zi Nu and the others.

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of Zilan Pavilion.

During the day, Zilan Pavilion exudes a unique and tranquil elegance. Han Fei navigated the corridors with practiced ease and went straight to their private chamber on the top floor.

Pushing open the carved wooden door, a faint fragrance of orchids wafts out.

Inside the room, Zi Nu was kneeling quietly in front of the table.

Today she wore a deep purple fitted long dress that accentuated her graceful curves. Her cascading purple hair was casually tied up, with a few strands falling beside her fair cheeks, adding a touch of languid charm.

Hearing the door open, Zi Nu slightly raised her head, her eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, falling on Han Fei. Seeing the undisguised smile on Han Fei's face, the corners of Zi Nu's lips also curved into a faint smile.

"Judging from the Ninth Prince's smug look, today's morning court session must have been quite a spectacle." Zi Nu's voice was soft and melodious, with a unique allure. She stretched out her slender fingers, picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, and pushed a cup of freshly warmed wine to the opposite seat.

Han Fei strode over, sat down opposite Zi Nu, picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Fine wine! But compared to this wine, the situation in the court today is even more intoxicating."

Han Fei put down his wine cup, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and began to tell Zi Nu everything that had happened in the court.

After hearing this, Zi Nu's next sentence left Han Fei speechless.