Chapter 16: This Is the Imperial Garden—Do You Intend to Set It Ablaze?

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The Hall of Heavenly Reverence.

In the court chamber, Hu Weiyong and a group of civil officials knelt on the floor, earnestly recounting Qin Feng’s crimes to the aged Zhu.

“Your Majesty, Qin Feng, as the Crown Prince’s tutor, neglects his duty to properly educate the Crown Prince and instead leads the Crown Prince’s guards to break into the imperial treasury. How can such a man who blatantly defies the law be tolerated? To tolerate him would be to betray Heaven’s justice!”

“Your Majesty, Qin Feng assaulted the son of a court official—an unforgivable crime! I humbly request Your Majesty to punish him severely to prevent him from growing arrogant within the palace.”

“Your Majesty, Qin Feng secretly fled the palace with the imperial princes, breaking palace protocol. Please impose appropriate punishment!”

The ministers spoke frankly, laying bare Qin Feng’s countless misdeeds, effectively placing the old Zhu in an extremely difficult position.

All the ministers knew Qin Feng was the newly favored minister of old Zhu. This impeachment was a test—to see how old Zhu would respond to Qin Feng’s transgressions.

Old Zhu asked coldly, “Then how do you propose I deal with Qin Feng?”

Hu Weiyong hurriedly stepped forward, grinding his teeth, “For such heinous crimes, according to the laws of the Ming, he should receive one hundred lashes, be stripped of his office, and be banished from the imperial city.”

Old Zhu chuckled inwardly: “Banished from the imperial city, huh? Hu Weiyong shows no respect for me at all!”

One must understand that Qin Feng was personally promoted by old Zhu as the Crown Prince’s tutor. With so many accusing him, it was like slapping old Zhu’s own face.

Old Zhu snorted, “I think the punishment you suggest is too mild. To you, such a vile criminal should be beheaded outside the Meridian Gate to satisfy your wishes, should he not?”

Hu Weiyong trembled at once, immediately kneeling and speaking with fervor, “Your Majesty, I only wish to seek justice for my son who was grievously injured. My son is bedridden. I only ask that Qin Feng receive the punishment he deserves. Please, Your Majesty, stand up for me and my son!”

Old Zhu rubbed his temples, sighing helplessly, “Minister Hu, I already gave you my answer yesterday. This matter was my oversight. Do you expect me to go apologize personally at your son’s bedside?”

Hu Weiyong trembled all over, “I dare not! But Qin Feng must be held responsible. I only hope Your Majesty punishes him accordingly and does not chill the hearts of us old ministers!”

Hearing this, old Zhu’s fury exploded, “Are you threatening me?”

Zhu Biao stepped forward quickly, “Minister Hu, this matter has nothing to do with Qin Feng. It was I who led the palace guards to the treasury on official business and was obstructed by your son, which led to a clash with my troops.”

“If you don’t believe me, you may inquire in the city. If you insist on assigning blame, then blame me!”

“I shall go personally to your residence to apologize to your son.”

Hearing Zhu Biao’s words, Hu Weiyong nearly fainted in fear.

It was clear now that old Zhu and Zhu Biao intended to protect Qin Feng at all costs.

What sort of enchantment did that scoundrel Qin Feng cast over the Zhu father and son to earn such shelter?

“I dare not! It is all because of that treacherous Qin Feng, he—”

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Old Zhu roared, “Hu Weiyong! Do you intend to persist with this? Do you really want my son to come apologize at your residence?”

Hu Weiyong was so frightened he kowtowed repeatedly, “I dare not! I dare not!”

“Why do you dare not? You have time to investigate Qin Feng, but why no time to help me with the river affairs?”

“I gave you three days. Have you discovered the cause of the Yellow River’s great breach? Is it the fault of the river governor’s incompetence, or corruption?”

“Qin Feng is actively arranging relief supplies for the victims in Huai West on my behalf. And you? What have you done? You neglect state affairs and instead focus all day on impeaching Qin Feng. What is your true intention?”

Old Zhu slammed the impeachment memorials onto the ground with great force.

The civil officials knelt in fright, not daring to utter a sound.

Just a moment ago, they were boldly accusing Qin Feng before old Zhu, but when the topic shifted to the rivers, silence fell like a shroud.

“Qin Feng is handling important matters for me now. If anyone dares to question him again, I shall not forgive them!”

“Song Lian! Do you have a report to make?”

Song Lian shivered, hastily withdrawing the impeachment memorial in his hand.

“I... I have no report to make.” With that, he wiped the cold sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

Qin Feng was now the emperor’s most favored minister. Who would dare bring trouble upon himself by provoking this?

After hearing old Zhu’s words, Hu Weiyong’s heart filled with both resentment and fear.

The emperor and the Crown Prince were protecting Qin Feng at every turn, leaving him unable to swallow this bitter pill.

Since openly questioning Qin Feng was futile, he could only seek to undermine him in secret.

Hu Weiyong’s gaze in the court grew colder and darker, his face taking on a menacing shadow...

...

The Shanglin Imperial Garden.

When the three thousand infantry led by Qin Feng arrived at the gates of the Shanglin Garden, the few hundred palace guards stationed there looked utterly terrified.

The stewards are utterly incompetent!

How could they send mere guards to face armored soldiers?

The thousand-house commander, Zhou Huang, dismounted his horse and said coldly, “Why aren’t you calling your steward out to welcome the Crown Prince’s tutor?”

The guards hastily sheathed their weapons and knelt.

Within the government office, Song Qing, holding his official hat, hurried out.

“Your humble servant Song Qing, steward of Shanglin Garden, pays respects to the Crown Prince’s tutor. I wasn’t expecting your arrival and apologize for the lack of proper welcome.”

Qin Feng, mounted on his horse, looked at Song Qing with disdain, “You’re the one in charge here?”

“Your humble servant manages all affairs within Shanglin Garden—”

Before Song Qing could finish, Qin Feng waved his hand to the infantry behind him and then shouted loudly, “Everyone, set fire and burn the forest!”

“???”

Everyone present was dumbfounded!

This was a royal garden, and he intended to set it ablaze?

Song Qing thought he must have misheard, eyes wide, waving his sleeves as he protested loudly, “Crown Prince’s tutor, you must not burn it! The royal garden represents the dignity of the imperial family. Do you... do you still have any regard for His Majesty and the royal clan?”

Seeing Song Qing collapse to the ground throwing a tantrum, Qin Feng drew out the imperial edict and gave him a disdainful look.

“By the emperor’s order, from now on I have full authority over Shanglin Garden. You, steward of Shanglin Garden, may go home to raise your children.”

Song Qing was stunned to silence when he saw the imperial edict in Qin Feng’s hand.

The emperor actually ordered the burning of his own garden? What kind of logic was this?

Qin Feng ignored Song Qing, while the expressionless Zhou Huang said, “Commander Zhou, send men to set fire to the western side of Shanglin Garden. I want not a single tree or blade of grass left standing within three days. Do you understand?”

Soldiers only obey orders.

No one dared to question Qin Feng’s command.

Zhou Huang cupped his hands, “Commander Biao receives the order! Everyone else, grab your torches and follow me!”

The three thousand infantry split into east and west deployments.

The entire five hundred thousand mu of the royal garden was engulfed by roaring flames at Qin Feng’s command.

The fire spread like a long serpent, turning the sky a fiery red.

The newly built royal garden was destroyed in an instant.

Song Qing, watching the ever-growing blaze, nearly fainted and cried out urgently, “Hurry, report to His Majesty! Hurry and report to His Majesty!”