Mingde Courtyard!
This courtyard is Xia Qian's residence, filled with bright spring light and beautiful flowers.
This courtyard has a history of 400 years, and every generation of family heads has resided in it.
Therefore, Mingde Courtyard is full of traces of time.
"Second Brother!"
As soon as Xia Chen arrived, he saw a young man walking out of the courtyard, handsome and around 20 years old.
"Chen'er!"
The young man's name is Xia Xuan, Xia Qian's second son. Xia Xuan is now also in the Dragon Martial Guard of the Imperial Army, and through his own efforts, he has been promoted to the rank of Commandant in just a few years!
He is considered one of the leading figures among the younger generation in the Imperial Army today.
Xia Xuan nodded at Xia Chen, and his mind couldn't help but recall the words his father, Xia Qian, had just said to him. His gaze towards Xia Chen couldn't help but change.
This was the first time their Imperial Army had snatched credit from the Lantern Bearers, and the key figure was his third brother, standing right in front of him.
"You go in first, Father is waiting for you!"
The two did not exchange many pleasantries. Xia Xuan nodded and turned to leave.
Xia Chen wasn't too surprised. Xia Xuan's personality had always been this lukewarm since childhood, but there wasn't much malice. He used to frequent this courtyard when he was little, and he had a fairly good relationship with the two brothers, Xia Xuan.
It was only after he grew up and moved to the side courtyard by himself that their relationship became somewhat distant.
"Chen'er!"
Xia Chen walked straight into the courtyard and saw Xia Qian sitting in the courtyard, seemingly waiting specifically for him.
After Xia Chen performed a bow, he didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly. The maidservant beside him poured tea for Xia Chen and then retreated far away.
Xia Chen picked up the pastries on the table and began to eat them. They were quite delicious, he had to admit.
They were perfect for breakfast.
He was actually quite familiar with this courtyard; every plant, every tree, every maidservant, he even recognized them all.
Before he was 12, he spent most of his time in this courtyard.
It was only later, when he grew up and gained self-esteem, that he voluntarily moved out of Mingde Courtyard. Except for holidays, he usually stayed in his own small courtyard.
Xia Qian looked at Xia Chen, who was eating, his gaze distant, and then he slowly spoke.
"The military defense map incident, you planned it!"
There were no outsiders here, so Xia Qian spoke very directly.
He received news shortly before dawn today and only then learned that a major event had occurred in the palace last night.
"Sort of, but I shared the credit and let Li Wenzhong take the lead!"
Xia Chen swallowed a pastry in one bite, took a sip of tea, and replied calmly.
"You did very well in this matter. You are still just a Commandant, after all, and new to officialdom. Being too dazzling is not good!"
Xia Qian nodded upon hearing this, and his gaze towards Xia Chen showed a hint of approval.
"Do you know what happened last night?"
Xia Qian changed the subject and said seriously.
"After General Li entered the palace overnight, I returned and didn't bother with the subsequent matters!"
Xia Chen shook his head. He couldn't get involved in the later matters, so there was no need to bother.
"Lu Li has fallen!"
Xia Qian's calm words, however, contained an information bomb.
Lu Li had been in charge of the Lantern Bearers for 26 years and was personally promoted by Emperor Wen back then. He was a true King of Darkness!
He controlled all the dark activities of Great Wu!
But now, such a figure has actually fallen. It is imaginable that the officialdom of Great Wu will definitely experience an earthquake, and during the reshuffle, a large number of so-called important figures in the eyes of ordinary people will be suppressed!
"Because of the military defense map?"
"Sort of. The theft of the military defense map was classified as Lu Li's dereliction of duty, and this time, he also targeted the wrong person. Having made two major mistakes in a row, he was directly relieved of his Commander position in the palace last night."
Xia Qian sighed. He wasn't in high spirits, seemingly having thought of something.
Xia Chen fell silent. To be honest, he hadn't expected that he would directly cause the fall of Lu Li, the Commander of the Lantern Bearers, a big shot whose power in the entire Great Wu officialdom could rank among the top five.
"This matter should just be the fuse. He has been in charge of the Lantern Bearers for 26 years, he is Xia Chen's blade, and he has done too many unspeakable things for Xia Chen, thus offending too many people. This time he fell, seemingly due to his work mistakes, but in fact, all parties wanted to stab him, didn't they!"
Xia Chen looked around, took a sip of tea, and then said calmly.
Xia Qian's gaze changed, becoming sharp. The entire process lasted for two or three breaths, and then he shouted loudly.
"Silence! Watch your words!"
Although he was scolding, his eyes gleamed, and his gaze towards Xia Chen completely changed.
He hadn't expected that Xia Chen, who had stayed in the mansion since childhood and had no contact with the outside world, would analyze the court situation so incisively, seeing through the phenomenon to the essence.
Although there are many Prodigies in the Xia family now, there are very few who possess such political acumen, apart from his third brother.
Even his two sons are not very sensitive to politics.
And Xia Chen actually has such foresight.
Does Heaven really open another door when it closes one window?
Thinking of this, Xia Qian's gaze towards Xia Chen softened.
The Xia family has never lacked Prodigies and strategists, but rather lacks talents with such strategic vision and political sensitivity.
If there is no such wise man in the clan, the more brilliant and prosperous it is, the closer it is to decline!
"Perhaps letting Chen'er join the army was the wrong choice. I should have really let Chen'er study back then and follow the path of a scholar. That way, my third brother could also be a little more relaxed and help share some of the pressure. Alas, second brother!"
Xia Qian sighed in his heart. He had originally planned to let Xia Chen study with his third brother, Xia Han, but he was stopped by a letter from his second brother, Xia Yuan. If he had known, he wouldn't have listened to his second brother back then.
Xia Qian felt a bit of regret.
Xia Chen didn't know that his words had made Xia Qian think so much.
He looked at the somewhat distracted Xia Qian and continued to probe.
"Our Your Majesty is extremely intelligent, but also extremely selfish. For so many years in power, he has constantly provoked the Civil Official Group and our Wu Xun Group to fight, balancing the court.
Not only that, but he also used Lu Li and Princess Pingyang to regain some power, putting Lu Li and Princess Pingyang in the open.
And he himself hides behind the scenes, sitting high in the Nine Heavens, looking down on us. Lu Li has been stained with blood all these years, but which major event wasn't directed by him from behind?
He took all the benefits, but Lu Li bore all the blame. Our Your Majesty's art of emperorship is truly superb!"
Xia Chen had roughly understood the court situation these days and felt that the current Your Majesty was very much like Emperor Jiajing from his world.
Both are selfish, but extremely talented, and their control over power during their more than 50 years in power can be called unparalleled!
"Any other thoughts!"
To Xia Chen's surprise, Xia Qian showed no expression after hearing his disrespectful words and instead continued to press him.