The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law-Chapter 1024 - 1019 Admonitions

"How are we to entice him?" Gu Youyou’s gaze was frosty as she stared at You Jiang.

So Jin Ziyuan has disappeared, their Madam? That would refer to Madam Ru, right?

Put that way, with Madam Ru having betrayed her husband in the name of justice, extinguishing her kin, there must be a lot of exaggeration involved.

If Madam Ru’s story is exaggerated, then Prince five...

You Jiang interrupted her train of thought.

"The situation does not require Miss Gu’s concern, just stay in the mountains as a guest, and I will handle the rest."

Gu Youyou took a deep breath and remained silent.

Gu Youyou was kidnapped, and over at Jin Zijin’s end, they were already at odds with Prince Xining, incompatible as fire and water.

The news had yet to reach Jin Zijin’s ears, You Jiang’s men did not keep their promise; after taking her and Searcy away, they forcefully detained the others. The corpses and the scene of the fight were cleanly dealt with by them, with not a trace left behind, which meant the incident had not yet spread. novelbuddy.cσ๓

The spreading of rumors had been traced back to Prince five’s head, on top of the evidence that Jin Zijin had collected over the years, which was irrefutable.

At this moment, he was in the Emperor’s Imperial Study.

"Now, if we issue a decree and invite Prince five to the palace, then seize him in one fell swoop, it’s the best opportunity."

The Emperor looked indifferently at Jin Zijin; he was seated while Jin Zijin stood, so to look at him, he had to lift his head.

"With his command over a 150,000 strong army, if it were possible to capture him, we would not have had to wait until now."

"Is it his army of 150,000 that you are hesitant about?" Jin Zijin’s expression was calm, but his eyes were like the blade of a sword, poised to unsheathe.

The Emperor took a deep breath, gradually relaxed, and said, "Indeed, what concerns me has never been his army of 150,000."

"Then what are you waiting for? This is the best opportunity. He plans visits, spreads rumors, sowing discord among the people, and I have concrete evidence in my hands. If you let him go today, there will come a day when he will turn against you; removing this cancer cannot wait."

"But the State Preceptor is not dead, and he could emerge at any moment," the Emperor said a little excitedly, standing up to look Jin Zijin in the eye.

"If he never returns, will you just keep fearing to act against Xining? You’ve always feared Yu Jizi, thus you remain controlled by others. In my opinion, the correct move is to take advantage of his absence and eradicate Jin Mocong’s influence. You always lose due to indecision."

A silence fell in the Imperial Study; the Emperor looked at Jin Zijin for a long time without speaking.

They stood facing each other, less than ten steps apart, neither speaking nor making a move.

Eunuch Wan led a Palace Maiden to serve tea, approaching the door of the Imperial Study, but sensing the tense atmosphere, he backed out, gesturing at the Palace Maiden holding the tea.

"Go back, come again later."

The Emperor and the Crown Prince had matters to discuss. It seemed there were important issues, and he sent everyone else away.

After the quiet settled in the room, the Emperor’s voice was heard once again.

His voice was not loud, even somewhat faint.

"What do you propose we do?"

Jin Zijin said, "First, issue a decree for him to come to the capital. He’s not foolish, he surely won’t come, and you can use his defiance as a pretext to march against him."

"But who will lead the fight? Dongzhou, Lingnan, Beimo, none are certain to follow orders."

Jin Zijin scoffed, "Those are the ailments left by your years of balancing power. However, if you don’t make this move, Jin Mocong will; if we wait for him to act, you will be put in a reactive position. Like this recent natural and man-made disaster, the rumors have proliferated against you. You might not be so lucky next time."