CHAPTER 506: IN THE 461ST CHAPTER, HAVING AN ELDER IS LIKE HAVING A TREASURE IN THE FAMILY

"Marquis, this is a letter from the Capital City!"

Just as he entered the mansion, Wu Hai approached with a letter in hand.

"From the Capital City!"

Yang Zhenshan took the letter and began to read.

The letter was sent by Wu Zheng and contained details of some major events that had occurred recently at court.

After a quick glance at the content, Yang Zhenshan’s expression immediately turned solemn. He walked quickly into his study, sat at his desk, and read carefully.

Recently, numerous incidents had occurred in the Capital City. Firstly, Nansheng, commanding the Imperial Guard Department, had been arresting people within the city for spreading malicious rumors.

Anyone within the Capital City who dared to claim ’the new Emperor is without virtue, bringing chaos to the world’ would be arrested by the Imperial Guard Department.

In less than ten days, the Imperial Guard Department had arrested over a thousand people, among whom were several Imperial College students and court officials.

As a result, the court was in turmoil, with many ministers submitting petitions to impeach Nansheng.

But these were just minor issues. The real trouble came when the Imperial Guard Department tried to apprehend a student from the Imperial College, and Yi Lishen, instructor of the Imperial College, was seized for obstructing them and imprisoned by the Secret Martial Guard Station Command.

If it had stopped there, it wouldn’t have been much of an issue. As long as the Imperial Guard Department and the Secret Martial Guards released the prisoners, the officials at court might have done nothing more than criticize a bit.

However, Yi Lishen died in the custody of the Secret Martial Guard Station Command.

Counting the days, it was about seven days ago when Yi Lishen’s body was carried out of the prison, the students of the Imperial College finally erupted in protest. Hundreds knelt in front of the Imperial City’s Noon Gate, loudly crying for His Majesty to uphold justice while their wails rang out.

This was only the beginning. Before the city’s military guards could disperse the students, a group of Imperial College officials arrived upon receiving the news.

Afterward, numerous court officials and scholars joined the protest, crying and remonstrating at the gates.

Who was Yi Lishen?

He was not just a secondary fourth-rank instructor of the Imperial College, but also a renowned scholar with a longstanding reputation. Most importantly, he had been in charge of the Imperial College for thirty years.

Since the sixth year of Emperor Chengping’s reign until now, Yi Lishen had been the instructor of the Imperial College. Emperor Chengping had attempted to promote him several times, but he refused each time, citing lack of practical experience.

Having led the Imperial College for thirty years, his students were spread all over the world.

Yet, he died mysteriously in the prison of the garrison commander.

The impact of his death was self-evident.

To appease the angry students and scholars, Emperor Yanping had no choice but to sacrifice the recently appointed Secret Martial Guard Commander Ma Rong and the garrison commander.

Seeing this, Yang Zhenshan’s expression grew even more grave.

Was Ma Rong dead just like that?

Although Ma Rong was an eunuch, don’t forget that he was a man of Chen Zhongshu.

And how did Yi Lishen die?

Although Yi Lishen was old and conditions in the prison were extremely harsh, he should not have died just a few days after being imprisoned!

Yang Zhenshan narrowed his eyes; he seemed to detect a hint of conspiracy.

How did Yi Lishen die?

How did Ma Rong become a scapegoat?

Moreover, it was clearly the Imperial Guard Department that started this, no, it should be said that Nansheng initiated it!

Why was Wang Zhongzhi dismissed?

Why was the Imperial Guard Department split from the Secret Martial Guards?

Yang Zhenshan’s expression grew increasingly grim.

The Secret Martial Guards might be facing a significant problem!

Without the Imperial Guard Department, the Secret Martial Guards would lose their surveillance over the Imperial City.

The dismissal of Wang Zhongzhi was not too influential by itself, but now with Ma Rong being made the scapegoat, it’s likely that there is panic within the Secret Martial Guard.

If no one manages to stabilize the situation, the Secret Martial Guards might be headed for a major disaster!

"Why would Your Majesty target the Secret Martial Guards?" Yang Zhenshan couldn’t figure it out.

The Secret Martial Guards were both the Emperor’s eyes and ears and the Emperor’s dagger.

During Emperor Chengping’s reign, the Secret Martial Guards monitored the whole country, and covertly did many things!

For Emperor Yanping to target the Secret Martial Guards was akin to cutting off his own arm.

Yang Zhenshan couldn’t understand.

Storing the letter away, Yang Zhenshan pondered in his study for a long time.

But in the end, he gave up because he truly couldn’t fathom Emperor Yanping’s thoughts.

Moreover, being far away in Chongshan Pass, he had little involvement in the events occurring at court or within the Imperial City.

If he couldn’t understand, then he would have to let it go.

However, he still wrote a letter to Wu Zheng, asking him to pay more attention to the Secret Martial Guards.

Yet the turn of events was far from as simple as Yang Zhenshan had thought.

In the dark night with strong winds, on the south bank of the Ru River in Shanhe Province, two groups of people were battling on the riverbank.

The movements of both parties were swift, each strike aimed to take lives, and amidst the clash of blades, spurts of warm blood sprayed and stained the area. In a short period of time, corpses littered the riverbank.

Under the pitch-black night, Wei Cen, grasping a short-blade, stood protectively in front of Lv Hua, who was carrying someone on his back.

Lv Hua appeared exceedingly disheveled at that moment, as he looked out over the dark river surface. His handsome face, once calm and collected, now bore a scar running from his brow across the bridge of his nose down to his right eyelid.

Torn flesh and blood coated his face; if not for a careful look, one would hardly recognize him as the distinguished garrison commander of the Northern Station.

Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in Lv Hua’s eyes, "The boat’s here!"

"Lord Commander, you first!" Wei Cen said with a stern expression.

"Stop the nonsense, save as many as we can!"

Lv Hua scolded coldly and then leapt up, soaring like a bird across the river surface.

Just then, Wei Cen suddenly shouted, "Lord Commander, be careful!"

A whistling sound of something cutting through the air resounded, and Wei Cen leapt high into the air, rising more than three zhang. A thwack was heard as an arrow pierced through his shoulder.