Chapter 549 29: The Great Change in the Datong Marquisate

Shangning City.

This city, itself built upon ruins, now had another quarter of its districts reduced to rubble. Most families in the city were now draped in the white of mourning.

Funeral dirges had played for ten days and ten nights, yet they could not see off all who had died in the coup. The sounds of wailing tore away the city's veneer of prosperity, revealing its cruel reality.

「The Prime Minister's Mansion.」

Carriages choked the main street in front of the gate, but no one could get an audience with the Chancellor. Yet, no one was willing to leave.

"The Crown Prince has arrived!"

A powerful, resonant voice boomed from the main gate. A squad of Dragon Guards arrived first at the entrance. Seeing them, the mansion guards immediately notified the resident Chief Historian. By the time the Crown Prince reached the entrance, the central doors had been thrown wide open.

The Crown Prince had come on horseback. His warhorse stepped directly onto the stairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion's front gate. As he was about to enter, a mansion guard cupped his fist and reminded him, "Your Highness, this is the Prime Minister's Mansion!"

"I know!"

The Crown Prince snapped a reply. With a flick of his whip, he dismounted, tossing the whip to a nearby Dragon Guard. He took two steps toward the mansion gate and straightened his clothes. As he did, his martial aura seamlessly shifted, replaced by the refined air of a scholar.

Before entering the mansion, he turned his head and ordered the Dragon Guards, "Disperse those people in the street. Don't they know what's going on? What are they doing here causing trouble!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

By the time the Dragon Guard replied, the Crown Prince had already strode into the Prime Minister's Mansion with a steady Eight-direction Step.

The mansion's resident Chief Historian had been waiting for some time before the spirit screen. Upon seeing the Crown Prince enter, he cupped his fist and bowed. "Greetings, Your Highness. May you be well."

"Dispense with the pleasantries. Take me to see the Chancellor!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The Chief Historian glanced at the crowd queuing outside for an audience before respectfully gesturing for the Crown Prince to enter. He then led him into the mansion.

The main courtyard behind the spirit screen was bustling. Over a dozen messenger-officials were waiting for documents in the courtyard alone. They had special corridors for exiting the mansion unimpeded. Outside the main administrative hall, officials from the Grand Commandant's Mansion and the Grand Sacrificial Office were also waiting.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

"No need for formalities..."

The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively, his expression cold and unapproachable. It was his usual way of deflecting unnecessary sycophancy and saving time.

He followed the Chief Historian into the administrative hall, which was even more crowded with busy officials. Most didn't even notice his arrival, and he couldn't be bothered to call them on it. He silently followed the Chief Historian into the Chancellor's private office.

But the place was empty.

"Where is the Chancellor?"

The Crown Prince's expression darkened.

The Chief Historian bowed properly and said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. The Chancellor and the National Preceptor are at the Dragon Guard garrison discussing important matters."

"Why don't you straighten your tongue and say that again? I just came from the Dragon Guard garrison!"

The Crown Prince plopped down in the Chancellor's seat, suppressing his anger. He glanced at the open doors and asked again, "Where exactly is the Chancellor?"

"With the National Preceptor at the Dragon Guard garrison!"

The Chief Historian repeated his previous answer, still bowing with perfect decorum.

The Crown Prince maintained his composure, staring at the Chief Historian for several breaths before asking, "Does the Datong Marquisate have a second Dragon Guard?"

The Chief Historian lowered his head and cupped his fist. "The Chancellor said that he will not be coming back. If there is a second Dragon Guard, Your Highness will know soon enough."

"..."

Ever since the Dragon Guard's founding, rumors had circulated throughout the Datong Imperial Court and among the populace about an Outer Court and an Inner Court. It was said that the Dragon Guard seen in public was merely the Outer Court. The true Inner Court was controlled by the Chancellor alone. He had used this force to link the north and south, bringing Shanwu Road, Beiyuan Road, and Zhen Shan Pass under his influence.

Even the Duke would occasionally ask the Chancellor during court sessions if the Dragon Guard had an Inner Court. The Chancellor would always just laugh it off.

"Heh heh!"

The Crown Prince suddenly let out a soft laugh. "Regardless of whether the Dragon Guard has an Inner and Outer Court, the Inner Court will soon disappear."

The Chief Historian then bowed and said, "Your Highness should not be laughing like that."

"..."

"You're an interesting one..."

Instead of getting angry, the Crown Prince stood up and sized up the Chief Historian before him. "If the Chancellor doesn't come back, why don't you come to my Heir's Mansion?"

The Chief Historian merely cupped his fist and bowed.

The Crown Prince laughed loudly again, this time not a sneer, but a hearty laugh. Then he left without a backward glance.

...

「Northwest of Shangning City.」

Because Shangning City was built on ruins, Zhang Xinghuai had been preparing for the same thing to happen again since its founding. Thus, he had secretly established a military stronghold to the northwest.

It was publicly claimed to be a secondary camp for the Dragon Guard, but in reality, it was one of his strongholds for holding secret meetings with cultivators from various sects. As for the Dragon Guard's Inner Court discussed by the Imperial Court and the common people, it never existed at all.

Three days ago, while Zhang Xinghuai was busy dealing with the aftermath of the coup instigated by Snowfield Buddhism, he suddenly received a message from Le Xin of the True Yang Sect. He was stunned on the spot. After a night of careful consideration, he secretly brought Monk Mingkong here.

"I thought you would sink into depression over this, or perhaps vent your frustrations for a moment like Ma Zuo Taoist, then return to dust."

In an earthen building with rammed-earth walls, Monk Mingkong leisurely brewed tea, occasionally glancing at Zhang Xinghuai, who was rapidly processing documents beside him.

Zhang Xinghuai looked up and glanced at Monk Mingkong, replying, "Ma Zuo was an idiot. I just didn't expect the fanatical faction to be that stupid. How did you people manage to fight them for centuries? If it were me, I'd consider it a loss if I couldn't handle them within ten years!"

Monk Mingkong just smiled without offering any explanation.

After brewing a pot of tea, he poured a cup for Zhang Xinghuai and asked, "Is the Duke's health alright?"

"Don't worry. I've checked on him myself. He'll have no problem holding on until the capital is moved to Anqing."

"You can forget about moving the capital. It's impossible to get it done within a month. You'd best not entertain any thoughts of defying a True Monarch. It would be laughable!"

"Do I look like an idiot to you?"

Zhang Xinghuai finished the last document and called out, "Someone!"

A Seventh-Grade Civil Servant entered. Just as he was about to bow, Zhang Xinghuai stood up and said, "Spare the formalities. Get these documents sent out at once. After that, you can return to the Prime Minister's Mansion and wait there."

Hearing this, the civil servant clearly wanted to say something, but in the end, he just gave a deep bow, stepped forward to gather the documents from the desk, and quickly exited.

"You'd better not do anything rash. If you do, they will definitely send your martial uncle to apprehend you. That would put your martial uncle in a difficult position!" Ming Kong warned with great seriousness.

"Aren't you guys going to do anything for me?" Zhang Xinghuai asked in a joking tone.

"Listen to your own words—'you guys.' You don't even admit to being a member of the Jimin Association, and you expect us to save you?"

"Haha!"

Zhang Xinghuai laughed heartily and sat down across from Mingkong. He picked up the teacup prepared for him and said, "A month is enough time. Establishing the capital in Anqing is a settled matter. What we need to do is help Snowfield Buddhism quell its internal strife—quell it completely!"

"Which side do you plan to help?"

"The Central Transmission Sect. The self they cultivate is the True Buddha!"

"What True Buddha? You just like them because they're easy to control, don't you?"