“Esteemed elders, why do you look so troubled?” Jiang Wen asked, somewhat puzzled, seeing their distressed expressions.
Since it was the Nanqi royal family who sent a letter to Taicang seeking help and alliance, why would the elders of the Ming royal family look so troubled?
“Young Lord, you are unaware,” an old man said with a wry smile. “The current Nanqi is no longer ruled by Emperor Rui. Several months ago, Li Xuan's clan took advantage of the weakened state of our four major clans and mobilized troops into the royal capital. They imprisoned Emperor Rui and seized control of the Nanqi throne under the pretense of assisting in governance. Our four clans are now merely nominal.”
“Li Xuan's clan imprisoned Emperor Rui? Why didn't anyone resist?” Jiang Wen couldn't help but ask.
“During the Three Qi War, the elite warriors of our four royal clans were almost entirely wiped out. Li Xuan's clan is powerful, and even if we united, we would hardly be a match for them. The Nanqi people's rule is that the strong become the ruler. Previously, our four royal clans could still suppress Li Xuan's clan, but now we are powerless to resist.”
After the old man finished speaking, the hall was filled with sighs. As he explained the current situation to Jiang Wen in detail, Jiang Wen finally understood how complex the internal affairs of the Nanqi people were.
Li Xuan's clan usurped the throne, and although the various clans of Nanqi were dissatisfied, they could only swallow their anger. The four major clans have now become subjects, at the mercy of Li Xuan's clan.
And the first thing the head of the Li Xuan clan did upon ascending the throne was to announce the abolition of the royal clans' joint deliberation of state affairs. In the future, the establishment of a ruler would no longer require the consent of the four clans, but instead, a decree of abdication from the monarch.
Although the four clans were greatly dissatisfied, they were powerless against the stronger force and could only endure for the time being, secretly accumulating strength to overthrow the rule of the Li Xuan clan in the future.
However, now that the Li Xuan clan had gained power, they would not allow the four clans to live comfortably. Various orders were issued, targeting the four clans both openly and secretly. Not only were the rights of the four clans divided, but various collateral branches of the clans were also enfeoffed, causing constant internal strife and disunity among the four clans. Even the Ming royal family, having lost its clan leader, was divided and separated by Li Xuan's clan through various enfeoffments. The once vast clan now had only a hundred or so people remaining.
Good tactics, indeed, Jiang Wen praised in his heart. This enfeoffment system was indeed a good way to deal with the four major clans. Once the collateral branches gained power, they would inevitably compete for more rights. By then, the four major clans would be too busy with their own affairs to disrupt the politics of the Nanqi people.
Moreover, now that the four major clans were in decline, Li Xuan's clan would certainly not allow them to recover. In the future, there would probably be more methods, and the days of the direct descendants of the four major clans would be even more difficult.
“So, this alliance cannot be formed?” Jiang Wen asked.
“It's not that it can't be done. The Nanqi are currently being plundered by foreign tribes on all sides. Their living space is quite precarious. If the Young Lord comes with the words of the Taicang kings, it can indeed persuade the head of the Li Xuan clan. It's just that the Young Lord's identity is special, and we are afraid that the Young Lord will suffer.” The elders sighed.
“Don't worry, I have an agreement with the Taicang kings, and the Li Xuan clan will not do anything to me,” Jiang Wen said with a smile. Since the Li Xuan clan could use such methods as enfeoffment, they would probably not disrupt major events because of him. Now that the Nanqi people are weak, they certainly need the protection of Taicang. As an envoy of Taicang, the other party would not dare to move him rashly.
Moreover, even if the Li Xuan clan intended to move him, he would not be afraid at all.
Seeing that Jiang Wen was determined, the elders could only listen to him. Now, the direct descendants of the Ming royal family had all been lost in that great war, and only Jiang Wen had returned. He could be considered the future hope of the Ming royal family.
Amidst the hospitality of the Ming royal family, Jiang Wen entered the house to rest. Although the beds of today were much simpler than those of later generations, with no fine bedding or plush carpets, only straw-padded beds covered with animal hide blankets.
Lying on it was quite comfortable, much better than the hard wooden bed in Taicang. After all, in Taicang, he and Jiang Wenji had slept on earthen pits for a long time. Later, when Tianyuan City developed, they changed to wooden couches.
After all, looking at Xue's appearance, she could be considered a good candidate for a princess.
Xiuqi, who was beside her, was sometimes happy and sometimes sad. Finally, after hearing Jiang Wen's words, he finally showed a smile. Xue, on the other hand, was somewhat emotional and fell asleep after eating something.
The next day, Jiang Wen got up and went to the Imperial Palace. Compared to the strongholds of the various clans, the Imperial Palace was grand and majestic, like a mountain range, and the buildings of the Imperial Palace could be seen from afar.
Only upon entering could one feel the prosperity of the Nanqi people. It was hard to imagine how the Nanqi people of this era built such a large complex of buildings.
Walking into the Imperial Palace was like entering a sea of forests. The palaces stretched endlessly, and the ground was paved with flat stone slabs. At a glance, it was grand and majestic.
Guards of the Imperial Palace were everywhere, and after learning of Jiang Wen's identity, they respectfully let him pass.
Jiang Wen easily met the current true ruler of Nanqi, the head of the Li Xuan clan—Li Chang.
Li Chang was a burly man with a blue beard. His features were upright and strong, and his eyes seemed to glare like a tiger. Just looking at him made people feel frightened and involuntarily lower their heads.
He knelt before the desk, holding a bamboo scroll in his hand. Hearing Jiang Wen's footsteps, he raised his head to look at him.
“You are Ming Wen?” Li Chang asked in a deep voice.
“That's right,” Jiang Wen nodded. His current identity was the Young Lord of the Ming royal family, surnamed Ming, named Wen. The only direct descendant of the Ming royal family.
“I have already heard about your affairs, and I also know about the matter between Emperor Rui and Taicang,” Li Chang said slowly. He put down the bamboo scroll in his hand and stood up, pacing down.
Footsteps echoed in the empty hall. Several bronze incense burners burned incense wood, warming the hall.
Li Chang walked to Jiang Wen, his eyes meeting his. The two looked at each other, with no trace of timidity in their eyes. The atmosphere in the hall was dull and oppressive. The people waiting could feel something and all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
After a long time, Li Chang suddenly smiled. He reached out and patted Jiang Wen's shoulder, laughing, “Good! As expected of a descendant of the Ming royal family, much stronger than those wastes. Since you are an envoy of Taicang, I should treat you with the etiquette of an envoy. Go and tell them to prepare a banquet in the back garden.”
Just as Jiang Wen was about to say something after hearing these words, he heard a burst of laughter from outside the hall. An old man with a long beard slowly walked into the palace.
The old man looked at the two people in the palace, his gaze falling on Jiang Wen. After a moment of愣, he cupped his hands and said with a smile, “I happened to be passing by this place and saw the purple aura rising in the east, indicating nobility beyond words. I came to see the future emperor of Nanqi.”
“Who are you? How dare you break into my Nanqi Imperial Palace?” Li Chang scolded sternly. “Someone, seize this man for me.”
A group of warriors poured into the palace, all holding weapons and facing the old man.
The old man was not flustered, tidying his sleeves and bowing to Li Chang again: “I am a cultivator from the Taishen Palace. Now, passing by this place, I came to see the future emperor.”
Taishen Palace? Cultivator? Jiang Wen looked at the old man, feeling surprised.
