met free Page 194
Page 194
Red Dust: 11000 points (cumulative 6 points)
排名：权势3、财富2、武力2、风流1、文艺1
Jing Ni had already reached the peak of the ninth rank at the beginning of the year, becoming one of the strongest people below the Grandmaster level in the world.
Xi Ren and Qing Wen broke through to the mid-stage of the ninth rank, and the other four sword slaves broke through to the ninth rank one after another. The six sword slaves working together were enough to withstand anyone below the Grandmaster level!
Lin Wan'er is currently in Jiangnan, finishing up her account review, and is very safe under the protection of the Six Sword Slaves.
Wang Qinian has also broken through to the mid-stage of the ninth rank. Xing Yusen, Fan Wujiu, and Teng Zijing are all working hard to cultivate and are expected to break through to the mid-stage of the ninth rank this year as well.
Because the secret manuals they practice are all perfectly suited to their talents, and they also have expert sparring partners and grandmasters to guide them, their progress is extremely rapid.
Currently, Li Chang'an has thirteen ninth-rank officials under his command, including Zhao Gao and Han Xin!
Therefore, Li Chang'an did not use his worldly points anymore, because with his current strength, it was only a matter of time before he reached the top of this world.
In the current situation, there is no need to summon any more characters, and practicing the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) is sufficient in terms of martial arts.
This is also why Li Chang'an gradually became arrogant, because he was not afraid of Emperor Qing turning against him at all.
Next, we need to consider going to the south of the Yangtze River.
Emperor Qing has already sent Fan Xian south, and the Supervisory Council has launched a major crackdown on the Ming family's smuggling activities, with the aim of completely bringing down the Ming family.
If Fan Xian's mission goes smoothly, the Imperial Treasury will have to be handed over to Fan Xian from Lin Wan'er, which is something Li Chang'an doesn't want to see.
Lin Wan'er is currently in charge of the Imperial Treasury, and she is even less willing to hand it over to her enemy Fan Xian. Li Chang'an will also help Lin Wan'er bring down the Ming family.
If it was Lin Wan'er who brought down the Ming family, and Emperor Qing wanted to hand over the Imperial Treasury to Fan Xian, then he would have to find another way.
The Ming family is equivalent to the council of the Junshan Society, so Li Chang'an can use the pretext of eliminating the core organization of the Junshan Society to go south of the Yangtze River to continue the investigation.
The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and the Qin family have already been severely reprimanded by Emperor Qing. Any further transactions involving power and wealth through the Junshan Society would be considered treason.
However, the core organization of the Junshan Society still exists, and Emperor Qing has never been at ease with it.
Therefore, the Ming family was involved in smuggling into the imperial treasury and was the core of the Jianghu organization that the emperor distrusted the most, so their deaths were inevitable.
When Li Chang'an received the news and entered the palace again, it was already night.
When Li Chang'an entered the imperial study, Emperor Qing's first words were, "Chang'an, you must save some face for the Crown Prince."
"Your Majesty, a person's dignity is earned by themselves; no one asks others to give it to them."
"When you were the crown prince, you were so powerful and influential. Who dared to disrespect you!"
Li Chang'an plopped down opposite Emperor Qing, acting as if he were a complete stranger.
Emperor Qing snorted coldly, "You're young and arrogant, haven't you experienced enough hardships?"
"How's the investigation into the Junshan Society going?"
A few days ago, Li Chang'an reported the information about the Junshan Meeting obtained from Northern Qi to Emperor Qing.
"Some recent developments suggest that Chang Kun, the Admiral of the Jiaozhou Navy, is very likely a member of the Junshan Society."
"He made a deal with the Ming family matriarch, who was also a member of the Junshan Society, to help the Ming family with smuggling."
Upon hearing that the commander of one of the four major naval forces was also a member of the Junshan Society and was even helping the Ming family with smuggling, Emperor Qing became uneasy.
"Chang Kun?"
"What does the Ming family's smuggling in Dongyi City have to do with the Jiaozhou Navy?"
Li Chang'an replied, "According to the latest intelligence, the Ming family has more sophisticated and ruthless methods for smuggling into Dongyi City."
"They kept a group of pirates numbering several hundred in the waters under the jurisdiction of the Jiaozhou Navy."
“When the Ming family’s merchant ships pass through Jiaozhou, pirates will steal 30% of the goods, which can then be sold to Dongyi City at a low price.”
"Later, His Majesty executed the entire Cui family, and the Ming family became afraid. So they asked Chang Kun to send out the navy to wipe out all the pirates they had been raising."
Upon hearing this, the usually composed Emperor Qing was enraged. "The Jiaozhou Navy? That's the imperial navy!"
"The Ming family, a mere family, actually managed to mobilize their navy to silence him!"
The killing of hundreds of people was nothing in Emperor Qing's eyes; what was most terrifying was that the naval admiral disregarded the law and abused his power for personal gain.
"Chang'an, you must investigate this matter personally. Those members of the Junshan Society who openly violate the laws of the country must be dealt with accordingly!"
"It's time for the Junshan Gathering to disappear."
Li Chang'an knew very well that the head steward of Junshan Society was the accountant of the Ming family.
In other words, the council of Junshan Club, this high-end club, is located in the Ming family's residence.
The matriarch of the Ming family is the chairperson, and the finances of the Junshan Association are all handled by the Ming family.
However, Emperor Qing has already sent Fan Xian from the Surveillance Bureau to investigate the Ming family. If he then sends Li Chang'an to investigate the Junshan Society, it would be strange if the two groups didn't fight.
Li Chang'an wanted to help Lin Wan'er take down the Ming family before Fan Xian, and since Emperor Qing was going to give him a hand, that would be perfect.
"Your Majesty, we must not act rashly against Chang Kun and the Ming family."
Emperor Qing said directly, "I grant you the right to act first and report later. Do not hesitate. Completely eliminate the core organization of the Junshan Society."
Li Chang'an accepted the order without hesitation, taking on the task of racing against time with Fan Xian.
Emperor Qing wanted to create a conflict between Li Chang'an and Fan Xian, hoping to test Fan Xian's true strength.
But in fact, Fan Xian's trump card, Barrett, has already been bought up by Li Chang'an.
Li Chang'an wanted to destroy the core organization of Junshan Society, and Li Yunrui could not sit idly by.
Therefore, this trip to Jiangnan may still encounter obstacles from grandmasters.
Ye Liuyun has long been worshipped by the Junshan Society, and it is highly likely that Li Yunrui will invite him out of the mountains.
It's a good opportunity to bring Fan Ruoruo and Jingni along, and let Ruoruo practice Barrett with Ye Liuyun.
Chapter 138 Xia Qifei feigns returning to Fan Xian! Ming Qingda kills his own mother! (23)
Guangxin Palace.
Li Chengze's downfall left Li Yunrui heartbroken and devastated, yet he remained calm and composed.
Sure enough, as long as he handed over control of the imperial treasury, his brother the emperor wouldn't kill him.
Li Chang'an, with his sharp edge, was destined to be Li Yunrui's enemy.
Because Li Chang'an disliked Li Yunrui since childhood, the two were like strangers.
If Li Chang'an had the opportunity to rise to power, he would never allow himself to be manipulated by Li Yunrui.
As time passed, Li Yunrui often thought of the disdain and disgust in Li Chang'an's eyes when he was ten years old.
Perhaps if Li Chang'an had worn more clothes that year, he wouldn't have been so disgusted, and the outcome might have been different; there might have been a pleasant surprise.
Looking at Li Chengqian sitting opposite him, Li Yunrui spoke without any restraint.
"Your Majesty, Prince Yong, and I are all of the finest appearance."
"Even the best Fan Xian in your generation is much worse. It's true that each generation is worse than the last."
Li Chengqian touched his face, which was gradually swelling down, and revealed a confident smile. "I'm not so bad, am I?"
Li Yunrui rolled her eyes. "You're the worst looking person of your generation."
Regardless of whether the Crown Prince was embarrassed or not, she continued talking to herself.
"The second son has already fallen, but I still want Fan Xian to die."
The Crown Prince was extremely troubled by Li Yunrui's attitude.
He managed to persuade the Empress not to kill Fan Xian, but he clearly couldn't persuade Li Yunrui.
"Aunt, His Majesty sent someone to say that Prince Yong is also going to Jiangnan to investigate the Ming family under the pretext of investigating the core organization of the Junshan Society."
"Isn't this a blatant reminder that I should support Fan Xian and Prince Yong in their battle of wits to buy time?"
"How could I kill Fan Xian at this time?"
Li Yunrui fiddled with his fingers and said nonchalantly, "Then you should help him."
After you help him, I'll kill him on his way back to the capital. Isn't that giving you enough face?
Li Chengqian discovered that he could persuade the Empress, but he couldn't persuade Li Yunrui at all.
Ultimately, the Empress was thinking of him, but Li Yunrui always put himself first.
"Aunt, you're not going to protect the Ming family?"
Li Yunrui sneered, "Do you think we can still protect it now? I'll be lucky if I can even manage to preserve the foundation of the Junshan Society."
"I will contact Ye Liuyun and ask him to step in at the crucial moment. We cannot let the chief steward of Junshan Society fall into the hands of Li Chang'an or Fan Xian."
The head steward of the Junshan Society is the accountant of the Ming family.
It can be said that Li Chang'an's suppression of the Junshan Society and Fan Xian's investigation of the smuggling of the Imperial Treasury were both driven by a determination to obtain this person.
Therefore, Li Yunrui had no choice but to ask a Grandmaster for help.
The docks outside Kyoto Castle.
Fan Xian boarded the large ship, ready to set sail.