Looking at the street full of people kneeling and pleading for him to stay, Shang Jingchuan felt his heart surge with emotion, and his eyes filled with tears.
He suddenly realized, after reading the sage books for so many years, that it was not until this moment that he truly understood what public sentiment meant.
But he did not know that at this moment, at a corner not far from this street, a black carriage was parked.
The person in the carriage also witnessed this scene and couldn’t help but feel emotional.
"The will of the people is clear; just for this reason, the Imperial Brother should not have removed him from his position."
Yan Peng, who was driving the carriage, did not speak. In fact, he was also deeply moved.
Previously, he had always believed that the brilliant achievements of the Capital Prefecture were due entirely to Zhao Ya’s efforts alone.
Shang Jingchuan was nothing more than a mascot displayed in public.
But now this scene told Yan Peng that Shang Jingchuan also held great merit, otherwise why would the masses plead for him to stay?
"Let’s go, to the palace." Yan Xizhao lowered the curtain and said calmly.
"Yes!"
The black carriage traversed the city and arrived in front of the palace gates.
The guards at the gate originally wanted to stop it but hurriedly stepped aside to respectfully welcome it after seeing the mark on the carriage.
The carriage drove straight into the inner court, and only then did Yan Xizhao get off.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The eunuchs and palace maids knelt and addressed her as Your Highness.
Yan Xizhao was not only a disciple of Washing Sword Manor but also a daughter of the Great Yan royal family, the sister of the current Emperor, and held a very noble status.
"Where is the Imperial Brother now?" Yan Xizhao asked.
A Chief Eunuch hurriedly replied, "To report to Your Highness, His Majesty is currently in Rongxi Palace."
"Rongxi Palace?" Yan Xizhao frowned.
She had visited the palace more than once and had never heard of a place called Rongxi Palace.
"Yes, it was recently established by His Majesty for Noble Consort Rong, so Your Highness might not have heard of it."
"Take me there."
"Yes."
Rongxi Palace was within the inner court, originally the Empress’s chamber, but ever since Feng Rong entered the palace, the Empress had fallen out of favor, and even her chamber was bestowed upon Feng Rong by Yan Tingshan and renamed Rongxi Palace.
Upon reaching Rongxi Palace, a Junior Eunuch went inside to announce her arrival.
This took a long time, and Yan Xizhao patiently waited at the entrance, until finally, the Junior Eunuch returned, panting.
"Your Highness, His Majesty invites you in."
Yan Xizhao stepped into Rongxi Palace, crossed two corridors, and finally saw Yan Tingshan.
He was dressed in casual clothes, half-lying on an Arhat Bed resting, and upon seeing Yan Xizhao enter, he struggled to sit up, a slight smile appearing on his face.
"Sister, what brings you here?"
Seeing Yan Tingshan, Yan Xizhao felt a sudden jolt in her heart.
Because at this moment, Yan Tingshan’s face was pale, his lips were devoid of color, his eye sockets were sunken, and his eyes lacked spirit, all resembling a person excessively indulged and physically drained.
In an instant, her eyes brightened with suspicion, and she turned to look at Feng Rong beside him.
Feng Rong, already anxious and uneasy, instantly paled with fear and hurriedly hid behind Yan Tingshan, not daring to lift her head.
Yan Xizhao frowned, a hint of doubt flashing in her heart.
Because she noticed Feng Rong’s Qi Blood was sluggish, clearly indicating she was just an ordinary person.
Could it be she guessed wrong?
Just then, Yan Tingshan also sensed something was amiss and quickly held Feng Rong’s hand to comfort her, then somewhat displeasedly said to Yan Xizhao.
"Sister, what are you doing?"
Yan Xizhao bowed her head, "Imperial Brother, I’m sorry, I was momentarily curious and did not control my aura, I might have startled Lady Imperial Consort, truly my apologies."
"Alright, alright, be careful in the future. Rong’Er is of weak constitution and can’t withstand the aura of a martial artist like you."
Yan Tingshan did not dwell on this matter and changed the topic, "Sister, since you came to see your brother today, is there something on your mind?"
"There is indeed something. Today I happened to pass by the Capital Prefecture and found a large number of citizens gathered there, and upon inquiry, I learned they were there for the Capital Prefect Shang Jingchuan."
Yan Xizhao recounted the scene she saw today in detail, then said to Yan Tingshan.
"Imperial Brother, though this is a matter of the court, and I should not speak out of turn, but with Shang Jingchuan’s high public support, forcefully removing him from office could easily cause unnecessary trouble, so I think maybe he should be allowed to remain in his position?"
Yan Tingshan also listened with a frown, "Is there really such a thing? Shang Jingchuan has only been the Capital Prefect for two months, how could he have such high prestige?"
"This matter is absolutely true, I heard from the citizens that it is because Shang Jingchuan quelled many gangs in the Yan Capital City as soon as he took office, making the streets exceptionally peaceful, which is why they hold him in such high regard."
As she spoke, Yan Xizhao’s gaze continued to shift around Feng Rong, who was hiding behind Yan Tingshan, growing more puzzled.
Because no matter how she looked, this Feng Rong seemed like just an ordinary person.
But judging by Yan Tingshan’s state, it clearly signaled excessive depletion of his Yuan.
Could this really be within the capabilities of an ordinary woman?
Or is it because Yan Tingshan himself lacked restraint, repeatedly exhausting himself?
Feng Rong dared not lift her head to meet her gaze, continuously dodging Yan Xizhao’s eyes and feeling increasingly fearful inside.
Though it was the inner court of the palace, if Yan Xizhao decided to take action, there were indeed few who could stop her.
Fortunately.
At this moment Yan Tingshan spoke, "If that’s the case, then I underestimated it before. But now that my decree is issued, appointing him as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, what should be done? Do I need to take back my decree?"