CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 455: YES-MEN IN THE COURT, REBELS BEHIND THE SCENES

"Chang Kuan?!" Yan Wanqing was stunned, "When did this happen?"

"Not long ago, I happened to see and saved him. His life is no longer in danger, but his martial arts are probably ruined. He’ll struggle even with normal life," Yan Li’an said, unable to bear thinking about Chang Kuan’s tragic state.

Upon hearing this, Yan Wanqing’s expression instantly turned icy, the murderous intent she had calmed by reciting Buddhist scriptures all day crazily surged out.

"Do you know who was responsible?"

"Yes, the nephew of the newly appointed Minister of Public Works," answered Yan Li’an.

"For what reason did he attack?" Yan Wanqing’s anger grew colder.

"That nephew was forcibly taking a girl from the people. Chang Kuan, who was patrolling, spotted him, leading to a confrontation. Unexpectedly, the nephew had a master with him who disabled Chang Kuan. Luckily, I was passing by; otherwise, he would be gone," Yan Li’an remembered the scene, his expression betraying a flicker of murderous intent.

That guard clearly intended to kill.

One second later, and Chang Kuan would have been gone.

"What about the guard?" Yan Wanqing knew that since her brother knew Chang Kuan was his man, he would definitely take action.

Sure enough, Yan Li’an curled his thin lips, "Disabled, but it’s a pity that currently I hold no official position and cannot touch that nephew, letting that beast escape." In the Capital City, there are many rules; otherwise, based on his way, that guard would have been beaten to death before being carried back.

Attacking his sister’s man, isn’t this courting death?

Yan Wanqing’s expression eased slightly, "Brother, take me out of the palace; I want to see Chang Kuan’s injuries." Chang Kuan is her man, and she must seek justice for him!

A mere nephew of the Minister of Public Works, forcibly taking a girl in the street, and beating the city guard to death’s door—if this matter is not settled, it will likely be insufficient to stabilize the people’s hearts!

Nor will it stifle her, Yan Wanqing’s, intent to kill!

"The situation is special right now, you leaving the palace will be criticized," Yan Li’an knew that Yan Wanqing had always been avoiding suspicion, and it was almost time for the Empress Enthronement Ceremony. If she left the palace at this time, the situation could worsen.

Yan Li’an insisted she not leave the palace.

Yan Wanqing had no choice but to give up.

"Send Hongzhao to arrest that person." Although her brother holds no position, Hongzhao is different, being a female general personally appointed by the Crown Prince. If she arrests him, no one would dare to object.

After thinking it over, Yan Li’an voiced his thoughts, "This matter is clearly aimed at you. If Hongzhao goes, it means you are intervening in this. Since that man is the nephew of the Minister of Public Works and the Minister is recommended by Grand Tutor Qin, if things escalate, you will directly confront Grand Tutor Qin. This is exactly what all those schemers want to see... Have you really thought this through?"

The Yan family, none of them are fools.

Each one of them is very clever.

Yan Wanqing’s expression was cold, with turbulent waves lurking in her peach blossom eyes.

"Chang Kuan is a brother who has followed me through life and death on the battlefield. Now he lies on his bed, his martial arts gone, unable to care for himself. If I do nothing, how am I still worthy of him, and their calling me General Yan!"

"Let Hongzhao take my token," Yan Wanqing directly removed the empress’s token from her waist and handed it to her brother, Yan Li’an: "Obstruct it and kill without mercy!"

"Yan Wanqing!" Yan Li’an thought she had gone mad, so many schemes not used, yet she chose to confront this head-on.

Yet Yan Wanqing was extremely calm, overly so.

"Whatever they want to see, I will give them exactly that! Even the late Emperor couldn’t do anything to me. If we cannot resolve Chang Kuan’s issue, none of these instigators will escape unharmed!"

Yan Li’an knew his sister’s temperament.

She had always been decisive and was the most stubborn.

Once determined, she never changed her mind.

Previously, when she had lost her memory, she alone upheld the entire Yan Family, turning a desperate situation around, saving both the Yan and Sun families, yet she herself was burdened with eternal infamy.

"But... you will get hurt like this."

Yan Wanqing remained expressionless, "Those are just the words of irrelevant people; they can’t hurt me at all."

After sending off her elder brother, she walked directly outside.

Xiao Pingfeng was likely accompanying Chu Qi in the Capital City’s training field.

Cong Ge, having finished delivering the scriptures, looked at the empty courtyard, "Huh, where is the young lady?"

Yan Wanqing headed straight back to her sleeping quarters, and waited until deep into the night before Hong Wu finally brought news that the nephew of the Minister of Public Works had been captured by Yan Hongzhao and was now detained in Dali Temple.

Once he was in Dali Temple, Yan Wanqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Qun was her man.

Now that this beast was inside, those outside would not be able to extricate him by any special means.

Hong Wu paused for a moment, "...Miss Five was also injured."

"How dare they!" Yan Wanqing’s pupils dilated as she fiercely slammed the table, "Hongzhao is highly skilled in martial arts, who could possibly hurt her?" How dare they?

Even holding her token, these people still dared to resist!

It was simply preposterous.

"Easy, easy, calm down," the Crown Prince, who had been awakened from a doze by the racket, quickly came over to soothe her.

He looked toward Hong Wu, "What happened exactly? How was Hongzhao injured?"

Hong Wu then explained the afternoon’s events to the Crown Prince.

This was not good.

The other half of his sleepiness instantly evaporated in anger.

"These assholes, I’ll kill them myself!" He stood up and headed for the door; everyone immediately tried to stop him, but to their surprise, Yan Wanqing also rose, "Let’s go, get an explanation from Chang Kuan!"

Everyone was shocked.

Why was the Crown Princess Consort not persuading but instead joining in the recklessness?

There was no way a few of them could stop these two masters.

All they saw was the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess Consort heading to the house of the Minister of Public Works late at night.

The Minister of Public Works, Liu Pingzhi, was already at his wit’s end because of his nephew’s matters. No sooner had he laid down to rest than he heard the servants say the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort had arrived, scaring him so much he tumbled out of bed, his clothes askew, and hurried out of the yard.

"This subordinate greets the Crown Prince, greets the Crown Princess Consort!"

"Good for you, Liu Pingzhi, to dare let your servants attack my General Rujin," the Crown Prince kicked him hard in the shoulder, toppling him directly to the ground.

Liu Pingzhi was genuinely terrified, "I am guilty, truly unaware of the true situation, which led to this conflict; it was all a misunderstanding. Moreover, wasn’t my nephew promptly arrested and taken to Dali Temple?"

How could this be grounds for a complaint?

Women are indeed melodramatic—thinking that becoming a general would change things.

A little incident, and they take it straight to the Crown Prince.

Looking at the person next to the Crown Prince, with a cold expression, it was clear they wanted justice for their sister.

Everyone was right; without removing this disaster, the Xiao Family might soon bear the Yan surname.

"I ask you, Chang Kuan, on my behalf, patrols the Capital City, and your nephew dares to abduct a common girl and still has the gall to almost beat someone to death. Now, when General Rujin arrests him, you even dare to stop her. Liu Pingzhi, you are meek and compliant in the court, I would never have thought you could be this rebellious behind the scenes!"