Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

However, the day the dust settles is also the day new suspicions begin to grow.

Qi Jinyu's prestige soared due to the great victory in the northern frontier and the downfall of the second prince. He remained in the capital to "assist in handling the aftermath of the peace negotiations," appearing to enjoy boundless honor, but in reality, he was walking on thin ice.

The emperor's fear of him grew stronger day by day.

At first, out of consideration for his military achievements, they only resorted to petty tricks, such as sending beauties to his residence under the guise of "spreading the family line," but in reality, they wanted to plant spies around him.

Later, the emperor stopped pretending altogether and began to praise the young fifth prince frequently in court assemblies, and then tried to find various ways to force Qi Jinyu to return his military power.

But whenever the court officials mentioned establishing a crown prince, the emperor would pretend not to hear.

Qi Jinyu clearly felt that staying in the capital was like a tiger imprisoned in a golden cage; though its claws and teeth were sharp, it was confined to a small space.

Meanwhile, the northern frontier, where his foundation and Su Ziyu resided, was being gradually infiltrated and spied upon.

The emperor recently even "casually" inquired about the emerging wool and soap business in the northern frontier, praising it as "beneficial to the country and the people," and then sighed that "merchant affairs must eventually be brought under official control to prevent chaos."

Qi Jinyu realized she couldn't wait any longer.

He knew full well that sitting idly by and waiting for death would only lead to being discarded after the birds are all gone. What he wanted was not to surrender, but to have real control.

The struggle for power begins in silence.

Qi Jinyu's first step was not to directly target military power, but rather to win people's hearts and minds and gain information.

During his year in the capital, he quietly befriended, appeased, and even absorbed a group of neutral officials who were anxious after the fall of the Second Prince, as well as some marginal figures from the Second Prince's faction.

These people may not be truly loyal, but at least in the event of a potential conflict between him and the emperor, they will choose to observe or remain silent.

Meanwhile, Qin Wujiu and others secretly cultivated channels to firmly grasp information about some low-ranking generals and eunuchs who were not very popular in the capital region and even within the palace.

The second step is the economic lifeline.

Through extremely secretive channels, he instructed Su Zi to transfer the profits from some of the industries in the northern frontier to several seemingly insignificant businesses in the capital, which were actually involved in canal transport and warehousing in the capital region, using various aliases and multiple transfers.

The money isn't given directly to officials, but rather used to influence "middlemen" who can influence lower-level officials in key positions. This subtle approach can, at crucial moments, cause certain processes to either "just happen" to fail or "exceptionally" run smoothly.

The third step is the crucial reliance on military force.

The emperor kept a close watch on the three major military camps around the capital, making it difficult for Qi Jinyu to intervene directly. However, based on his experience in defending the northern border, he suggested to the emperor that "the defenses of the post stations and passes around the capital be reorganized to ensure complete security."

The suggestion was reasonable, and although the emperor had doubts, he could not refuse it.

Using this method, Qi Jinyu placed a group of his absolutely loyal and skilled veterans from the northern frontier, under the guise of "instructors" and "inspectors," into these seemingly inconspicuous but crucial nodes that could effectively control the passage should any changes occur.

The opportunity finally arrived at the deepest point of winter.

The emperor was old and frail. A cold left him bedridden. Although he was not in critical condition, his energy was much lower than before. The affairs of state were temporarily managed by the cabinet and several senior officials.

The emperor's suspicions deepened, and he frequently replaced even the imperial physicians and his personal eunuchs. Undercurrents were stirring in the court and among the people, and the maternal relatives of several young princes began to make some unsettling moves.

Qi Jinyu knew that this was the emperor's weakest and most sensitive moment, but it was also the opportunity to lay the groundwork and close the net.

That night, heavy snow blanketed the city.

Qi Jinyu was urgently summoned to the palace. The Hall of Mental Cultivation was filled with the smell of medicine. The emperor leaned against the couch, his face dark, but his eyes were as sharp as ever, staring intently at him.

"My lord," the emperor's voice was hoarse and low, "recently, some officials in the court have jointly submitted a memorial, saying that some generals in the Northern Frontier Army are privately trading contraband with the remaining Xiongnu tribes... and there are even signs that you are condoning it. What do you say?"

This is a warning, but also a trap. Admitting it or not, both are mistakes.

Qi Jinyu knelt down, his expression calm and composed: "Father, you are wise. The soldiers of the Northern Frontier fought bloody battles to achieve the peace we enjoy today. A few bad apples may not be spared, but I request that you thoroughly investigate and punish them severely, no matter who is involved, to uphold military discipline."

He pronounced the words "requesting imperial decree" clearly, his posture respectful and flawless.

The emperor stared at him for a long time, seemingly scrutinizing every subtle change beneath his calm expression, before finally waving his hand wearily: "You...go and investigate. Make sure...give me a clear and transparent explanation."

"Your subject obeys the decree." Qi Jinyu kowtowed and withdrew from the hall.

Stepping out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the cold wind whipped snowflakes against his face. Qi Jinyu looked up at the dark, starless sky, his eyes filled with an icy resolve.

The emperor's gaze just now told him that the so-called "thorough investigation" was only the beginning, and there would be more open and covert attacks until his wings were completely clipped.

There was no turning back for him.

For the next two weeks, Kyoto appeared calm on the surface, but beneath the surface, a turbulent undercurrent was brewing.

Qi Jinyu naturally did not return to the northern frontier. Instead, under the pretext of "investigating the case by imperial decree," he swiftly and decisively dealt with the ministers who had jointly submitted the petition. His actions were swift, ruthless, and accurate, and the evidence was "conclusive," leaving no room for criticism.

With the downfall of those ministers, their memorials were naturally dismissed as false accusations, and no one dared to mention the matter of the Northern Frontier Army colluding with the Xiongnu anymore.

Meanwhile, the people he had placed in key positions began to prove their effectiveness.

Several secret reports about other princes' maternal relatives "colluding with the Imperial Guards" and "discussing the succession without authorization" were delivered to the ailing emperor's desk at just the right time.

An "accidental" fire at a granary in the capital region exposed management loopholes and implicated a string of officials, many of whom had close ties with a powerful eunuch in the palace…

When the emperor received these messages on his sickbed, he was both shocked and furious. However, due to his poor health, he was hampered in his actions and felt that no one around him could be trusted, and that the whole world seemed to be against him.

He became increasingly reliant on a small number of close attendants, among whom some had already been secretly controlled or influenced by Qi Jinyu.

Finally, on a very ordinary morning, several cabinet ministers "jointly" pleaded, on the grounds that "Your Majesty is unwell and should rest and recuperate" and "the country cannot be without a leader for a day," and respectfully requested that the emperor temporarily entrust the power of daily political decisions to Prince Xuan, Qi Jinyu, and that the emperor only need to grasp the final decree.

The reasons given were high-sounding, and the attitude was extremely respectful, but behind them lay a subtle consensus and pressure formed by various forces under Qi Jinyu's year-long planning.

The emperor lay on his dragon bed, looking at the familiar faces before him, and for the first time felt a true sense of isolation and coldness.

He coughed violently, his gaze fixed on Qi Jinyu, who stood respectfully before the crowd with his eyes lowered.

This son, now fully grown, had unknowingly woven a web in which the son could not escape during his illness.

"You... are doing very well..." the emperor squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

Finally, amidst heavy breathing and the subtle consoling glances of his trusted eunuch, he nodded with extreme reluctance and helplessness.