Chapter 368
There was a total of two hundred such ministers and officials. One among them was Liu Jin Yu’s father. He wondered if he should doubt Kang Xi. “When his son can leave a woman pregnant and try to kill her, then he could do anything,” he mumbled and made a circle before his name.
“I will start with Kang Xi,” he decided and then put the brush down. However, searching for the past of a man more than twice his age was difficult for Xiaoming. He had to check on his personal servants who would have served Kang Xi for a long time.
Sun Fuguo came in and informed Xiaoming that Qiu Mu was there to see him. “Let him in,” Xiaoming said and folded the paper. He put it inside the drawer and waited for Qiu Mu to come in.
Qiu Mu bowed his head as he greeted Xiaoming and settled on the floor chair across from Xiaoming.
“Why did Brother Mu come at this hour to see me?” Xiaoming queried and found out that Qiu Mu looked troubled.
“Crown Prince, there is a problem in the Eastern Province,” Qiu Mu said. “General Hei has reported this to our father already. We got the message from the General of the Eastern border.”
“What is the problem about?” Xiaoming questioned.
“Our commander is found dead. His head was found hanging in the main market of Qijiang Province. Fear has spread among the local residents,” Qiu Mu stated. He was going to tell more when Sun Fuguo walked in.
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“Pardon me, Your Royal Highness, for intruding in the conversation. His Majesty has given the orders to all the princes to gather at the private hall,” Sun Fuguo informed them. Xiaoming and Qiu Mu looked at each other before getting up. They left to see the King.
Xiaoming found out that General Hei, the three Commanders, and the princes were in the private chamber except for Lóng Wei. He took his seat and looked at his father, who asked about Lóng Wei.
“Father, why did you call us so suddenly?” Tianjie asked.
“Let Lóng Wei come. Then, I will tell you all everything,” Qiu Zedong said.
They all waited for Lóng Wei, who appeared after ten minutes. As soon as he entered, Tianjie reprimanded him for being late.
“I was sleeping,” Lóng Wei said and sat on the broad chair.
“It is no more the time to sleep. Our Commander of Qijiang Province is found dead. His body was recovered from the middle of the market of Qijiang Province. This is the first time such an incident has been reported,” Qiu Zedong pronounced.
Tianjie, Zhang Xi, and Lóng Wei were shocked to learn about it.
“General Hei, what message did you get apart from this?” Xiaoming asked.
“The enemies seem to have been from the famous highlands in the east. Other than that, no information has been recovered,” Hei Chengxi replied.
“Why?” Lóng Wei asked. “Why is there so much delay in gathering the information?”
Qiu Mu told Lóng Wei that it was not crossed over the eastern highlands where the temperature is harsher than the plains.
“Isn’t that an excuse?” Lóng Wei chuckled. “Do we have to wait for more such deaths under the pretext of harsh weather? When those enemies can infiltrate our borders, then why can’t we? Or the army there slacked off!” Lóng Wei did not refrain from being harsh.
Qiu Mu clenched his fists when Qiu Zedong told Lóng Wei to stay quiet. “I have not called you here to belittle others,” he proclaimed with a stern tone and told them that he had decided to send three princes there.
“Because Xiaoming is the Crown Prince, he must go and put a halt to all these. Hei Chengxi and Qiu Mu will not leave the capital as one General is required for the capital safety too. One Commander will follow the princes, which will be decided later,” Qiu Zedong affirmed.
“I am out of this,” Lóng Wei raised his hand and Qiu Mu got the opportunity to humiliate him.
Lóng Wei was not bothered by his remarks. “I am still young to all these things. So, I will definitely not go. It will be a loss if I follow them,” Lóng Wei affirmed. He could not go to a place, where nothing was known. It would be risky and he could not let anything happen to himself.
“Why? Are you not the Dragon’s son? At other times, you would brag about yourself. Now, what happened? How could the Dragon son become a little mouse?” Tianjie taunted Lóng Wei.
“Will you two stop arguing with each other?” Qiu Zedong raised his voice. Tianjie looked away while Lóng Wei looked towards the door. He was least interested in all this when he heard something from the King’s mouth, which was not expected of him.
“Prince Tianjie and Prince Lóng Wei will accompany Crown Prince Xiaoming to Qijiang,” Qiu Zedong pronounced. Mingquan thought he would be told to go but he was not.
“Father, I do not want to go,” Lóng Wei said. “Why are you sending me away again?” he complained.
“Again?!” Qiu Zedong furrowed his brows together. “It is the first time when I am sending the Sixth Prince on such a mission. For the past month, he showed us his remarkable qualities. You have two elder brothers to guide you well. Just help them and also the army deployed there. It is the time when you should learn to tackle all such things in the future,” Qiu Zedong stated.
“Then, allow me to take Li Hua with me. I will not go if Father refuses me to take Li Hua with me,” Lóng Wei demanded to fulfill his request.
“Brother Lóng Wei, it will be risky to take her with us,” Xiaoming advised him not to be foolish.
“She may become the weakness if she accompanies you. She is safer here,” Qiu Zedong stated. “Now, do not whine like a child. After the Crown Prince’s marriage, you will depart for Qijiang with them. This is my final decision,” Qiu Zedong affirmed. He told them that they would follow the plan that Hei Chengxi would told them.
After a few more discussions, Qiu Zedong left, followed by the General and the Commanders while the princes stayed behind.
Mingquan told Lóng Wei not to worry about Li Hua. This was an unexpected situation for him. If he would leave, then his mind would be filled with Li Hua’s thoughts only. He would definitely not be able to work.