Chapter 24 Leaving

However, Yan Chen was still too happy too early.

On the sixth day of February, Yan Qing submitted a report stating that the military supplies required by the Qilin Guards, including soldiers' pay, armor, horses and weapons, required a total of 200,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue.

This report was quickly rejected by the Minister of Household Affairs on the grounds that the treasury was empty and it was inappropriate for the eldest princess to open her mouth at this time.

Since the Qilin Guards do not go to the battlefield, they do not need to provide sophisticated war horses, armor and weapons. They only need to pay military salaries on a monthly basis. The military salary for the eight thousand Qilin Guards is not much, and Her Royal Highness the Princess can pay it out of her own pocket.

They all knew whether the treasury was empty or not, but Zhezi's rejection was obviously the emperor's intention, and the Minister of Hubu was just following the order.

The emperor was already afraid of the Qilin Guards and hated Yan Qing. How could he satisfy her ambition and give the Qilin Guards such sophisticated equipment?

However, Yan Qing didn't want to know who meant this. He just said lightly after handing the rejected certificate to his hand: "The legitimate son of the Minister of the Ministry of Finance has a good appearance, outstanding character, both knowledge and pride. I respect him very much." I’m very interested. Let’s take him back to the house and become a slave.”

"yes."

Shen Mo gave an order, and the Qilin Guards rushed towards Shangshu Ji's Mansion like a thunderbolt. Like a bandit raid, they were blocked by the Ji family's servants and guards, as well as Mrs. Ji's cries and fights, and killed the only legitimate son of Shangshu Hubu. Ji Chiyu was kidnapped and taken into the eldest princess's mansion.

This incident soon caused an uproar in the imperial city.

Ji Lin'an, the Minister of Household Affairs, was shocked and angry: "This is simply unreasonable! Is the eldest princess a bandit or a robber?"

Just because she was not given the 200,000 taels of silver she asked for, she actually kidnapped the dignified son of the Shangshu Mansion and made him a slave?

absurd!

Absolutely ridiculous!

If everyone behaves in such a domineering manner, how can there be any rules and regulations in this world?

The Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue mobilized troops and led people to the eldest princess's mansion to ask for someone, but they saw Qilin guards guarding the gate. Each of them had a sword on his waist, and his figure was stern and tall. They were blocked there like a door god.

"I want to see the eldest princess." He said angrily, "If she doesn't see me, don't blame me for going to the palace to impeach her!"

After being exiled by the late emperor and the empress dowager for ten years, I thought that the eldest princess would keep a low profile and keep a low profile when she returned to the imperial city. I didn't expect that she would be so rebellious and do some deviant things.

Taking the sons of two imperial officials into the house as slaves one after another is simply the most outrageous thing in the world!

Shen Mo's face was stern: "Ji Shangshu, please excuse me."

As the Secretary of the Household Department in charge of the Yong Dynasty's treasury, Ji Lin'an did not say that he had power in both the government and the public, but he was also an official who was flattered and fawned over by many people. When had such a thing happened to him?

His face turned livid with anger, he threw up his sleeves and got on the sedan: "Enter the palace!"

Shen Mo watched Ji Linan leave expressionlessly, then turned and entered the house.

Yan Qing was reading a piece of information in the study at this time.

Shen Mo knocked on the door and walked in. After respectfully reporting the matter, he heard Yan Qing calmly order: "Select five hundred Qilin guards. After dark tonight and before the city gate closes, send Hu Yunfei and Ji Chiyu to Zhuque." city."

"Yes." Shen Mo nodded, "Does His Highness have any plans to return to Suzaku City in the near future?"

"No." Yan Qing threw the information into the incense burner, stood up and walked to the window, looking at the evening sky. His voice was calm and unruffled, "Weiyu has been plotted against me. I need to go to Chu State."

"Then Mr. Wen..."

"No need to tell him."

"Yes." Shen Mo obeyed any arrangement she made unconditionally, "I will bring someone to escort His Highness."

"No need." Yan Qing refused, "I have other tasks for you."

Shen Mo nodded respectfully: "Yes."

So after dark that night, five hundred Qilin Guards escorted a carriage out of the imperial city. When they were interrogated, they directly took out the Qilin Guard tokens, and when the city defenders said that it did not comply with the release rules, they forcibly broke out of the city. .

The speed was so fast that the defenders had no time to stop them.

Although the Qilin Guards are the cavalry under the command of the eldest princess, they have no right to enter or leave the imperial city without authorization, otherwise they may be regarded as having evil intentions.

So the commander of the imperial city garrison decided to report the matter to the emperor. However, unfortunately, the time chosen by Yan Qing was stuck at a critical point.

Dayong's curfew rule has always been that the city gates close half an hour earlier than the palace gates. It was time to close the city gates less than a moment after the Qilin Guards left the city.

The Lord Commander rode his horse and galloped towards the palace. An accident happened on the way, which delayed him for a while. When he arrived outside the palace gate, it happened to be the time to drop the keys of the palace, and the news could not be sent in.

In desperation, he had to change his mind and went to the Prince Regent's Palace instead. He knelt down outside the gate of the Palace and said, "I am the commander of the Imperial City Guards in Jianghuai. I have something urgent to ask to see the Prince Regent!"

The door of the Prince Regent's Palace was closed tightly. Jiang Huai shouted three times before footsteps finally sounded faintly. Then someone opened the side door of the Palace and stuck his head out to look at Jiang Huai who was kneeling outside: "Who is it?"

"I am the commander of Jianghuai of the imperial city garrison. I have something urgent to ask to see the regent! Please inform me."

"Just a moment."

The side door was closed, and the visitor hurried to report to the Regent. Not long after, the visitor came back and opened the side door again: "The Regent lets you in."

"Thank you." Jiang Huai hurriedly stepped up the stone steps in front of the door, stepped into the threshold of the palace, and was led by the visitor to see the regent Yan Cang.

At this time, Yan Cang was sitting in the study, listening to the report from his subordinates: "No one answered the call at the eldest princess's residence. They said that the eldest princess has left the imperial city."

Yan Cang sat on the chair behind the desk and remained silent after hearing the words.

He sent someone to deliver a note to the Princess's Mansion half an hour ago, but learned that Yan Qing had already left the capital. The Princess's Mansion was deserted, and all the Qilin Guards were taken away, leaving only some maids and servants to guard the house and do routine cleaning work.

"Please give your instructions, Your Majesty." The trusted subordinate stood respectfully aside, waiting for instructions.

There was a sound of footsteps outside, and the housekeeper quickly led Jiang Huai in.

Jiang Huai entered the study and knelt on one knee: "I am Jiang Huai, I pay my respects to the Regent."

"What's the matter?"

"About an hour ago, the Qilin Guards broke through the city gate and escaped. I and others were unable to stop them. I wanted to report to the emperor in the palace, but the palace gate was already locked. I was afraid of delaying important matters, so I had to report to the Regent first and ask the Regent to make a decision."

Yan Cang raised his eyes slightly: "How many Qilin Guards broke out?"

"About five hundred."

Yan Cang was silent, his indifferent and noble eyebrows were calm, and after a long time, he hummed with an ambiguous meaning, "You go back, I will go to the Princess's Mansion to check the situation first."

"Yes."