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Inside the city of Tokyo, the Fanlou restaurant was bustling and noisy. Shen Congxing, there, drank cup after cup of wine, soon becoming intoxicated, his heart filled with surging sorrow. He truly didn't want to view his marriage as merely a cold political alliance. Deep down, remembering his deceased wife's kindness, he wanted to remarry the Zou family girl as his first wife! But reality stood like an invisible wall, firmly blocking his thoughts.

Gu Tingye sat to the side, watching Shen Congxing's dejected state, and quickly tried to persuade him, "Brother Shen, the situation we are in now is no longer as simple as it was in Yuzhou. You are now the future brother-in-law of the emperor, and you must consider the bigger picture in your actions and words." He frowned slightly, his eyes full of worry, "If Xiao Zoushi could be sensible and polite, I would naturally have nothing to say. But unfortunately, she has an arrogant and domineering nature. If things continue like this, I really don't want to see you repeat my mistakes and follow in my footsteps."

Although Shen Congxing was already quite drunk, he was still somewhat lucid. Recalling Zhang's straightforward personality, he couldn't help but say to Gu Tingye, "Brother Gu, you must treat Minglan well. She lives with such clarity and understanding, which is truly rare in this complicated world."

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingye was slightly taken aback, a bitter smile appearing on his face. He knew perfectly well that Minglan was insightful, but for some reason, when it came to matters of the heart, she seemed like an innocent three-year-old child, leaving him both loving and helpless, often caught in confusion and entanglement. Thinking this, he could only sigh inwardly, realizing he was also deceiving himself.

On this day, sunlight streamed through the streets and alleys of Tokyo, creating a bustling scene. Outside the city gates, a procession, having traveled a long way, was slowly making its way into the city. Leading the procession was none other than Marshal Jin, who stood tall and straight, riding a magnificent horse, his gaze steady as he looked ahead.

At this moment, the entrance to the Jin residence was bustling with activity, people coming and going, servants bustling in and out, preparing to welcome their master's return. Hua Lan stood at the entrance, craning her neck in anticipation, her expression a mixture of expectation and worry. The weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted a little.

Previously, Hua Lan had been deeply worried, fearing that General Jin wouldn't be able to return in time. The recent situation at court only exacerbated her anxiety. Sheng Hong had specifically mentioned to her that many ministers were impeaching General Jin for his actions in Yanzhou Prefecture. They accused him of opening the official granaries without authorization to provide relief to displaced people, suppressing local militias, and even detaining government officials without a joint trial by the three judicial departments—all considered serious acts of usurpation. This news weighed heavily on Hua Lan's heart like a boulder.

At that time, Hua Lan was deeply conflicted. On one hand, she genuinely didn't want Jin Shuai to return to Beijing so soon. She secretly thought that perhaps with time, the impeachments against him would gradually fade and cease to be a thorny problem. On the other hand, she desperately longed for Jin Shuai to return as soon as possible. Because she was about to give birth, at this crucial moment, she wholeheartedly hoped that Jin Shuai could be by her side, giving her enough security. This tangled feeling was like a knotted tangle in her heart, making her restless.

As everyone eagerly awaited, Jin Shuai's convoy slowly approached from afar. The wheels rolled, raising a light dust, and as they drew closer, the familiar figures became increasingly clear. Finally, the carriage came to a smooth stop, and Jin Shuai gracefully alighted from it.

Looking at her husband, whom she had longed for day and night, Hua Lan's pent-up emotions finally overflowed. Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she instinctively tried to rush forward. However, she stumbled due to her excitement, and Cai Zan, quick-witted and agile, immediately reached out to support her. Seeing this, Jin Shuai smiled gently and strode quickly to Hua Lan's side, gently embracing her. His voice was low and full of deep affection as he whispered, "My wife, I'm back."

"Yes, good, it's good that you're back." Hua Lan's eyes were slightly red, and her voice was a little choked up as she responded, as if all her worries and longings had been comforted in these simple words.

Jin Shuai loosened his grip on Hua Lan slightly, then took her hand and waved to Shu Lan, Tian Xiang, Yue Ru, and Yan Ran, who were not far away. With a warm smile on his face, he said, "My ladies, I'm back."

Hearing General Jin's call, the women gracefully approached. General Jin gave each of them a heartfelt embrace, as if to soothe the longing of their separation. Afterwards, they all entered the mansion together. Along the way, the women chattered like joyful birds, recounting all sorts of gossip and anecdotes that had occurred during General Jin's absence from the capital. General Jin listened with great interest, occasionally interjecting with a few words and laughing along with them. As for the matter of the impeachment against General Jin in court, the women seemed to tacitly agree to avoid discussing it, wanting only to fill their reunion with warmth and joy.

News of the Duke's return spread like wildfire throughout Tokyo, reaching the palace in the blink of an eye. Simultaneously, the residences of numerous powerful figures in Tokyo also received the news. These nobles, always keen on court intrigue, were secretly eager to witness a dramatic spectacle surrounding the impeachment proceedings, curious to see how the young duke would resolve the current crisis.

However, within the Duke of Liang's residence, a completely different scene unfolded. A pall of gloom hung over the study. It turned out that the Duke of Liang's eldest son, Liang Dong, was implicated in a series of events in Yanzhou Prefecture. After the incident, Liang Dong confessed to his father, the Duke, who was furious but couldn't bear to see his son die. Therefore, this impeachment was meticulously orchestrated by the Duke in secret. His eagerness to launch the impeachment before Marshal Jin's return was a calculated move to gain a preemptive advantage and control public opinion. He intended to portray Marshal Jin as arrogant and domineering, thereby influencing the Emperor's judgment.

Coincidentally, the Emperor had just appointed a Crown Prince. For the newly appointed Crown Prince, a suitable event was needed to establish his authority and image. The Liang State Duke's mansion saw this as an opportunity, attempting to use the Crown Prince to achieve their ulterior motives and solidify the charge of General Jin's usurpation. However, they hadn't expected the Emperor to remain firm in the face of so many impeachments from his ministers, saying they would wait for General Jin's return before proceeding. This made the Liang State Duke uneasy.

Inside the quiet study of the Duke of Liang's mansion, the atmosphere was oppressively suffocating. The Duke of Liang and his son, Liang Dong, sat facing each other, staring at each other with expressions of helplessness and anxiety. They felt as if they were sitting on a hot plate, completely at a loss for what to do.

Previously, in an effort to completely bring down Marshal Jin, Duke Liang had gone to great lengths to contact several senior officials in the court, hoping to unite them in impeaching Marshal Jin. However, things took an unexpected turn; the senior officials completely ignored his proposal.

Duke Liang may never have truly considered that these veteran officials, who had spent their entire lives navigating the treacherous waters of court, were all shrewd, worldly-wise, and calculating. Take the Yanzhou Prefecture incident, for example. While Commander Jin's actions certainly constituted overstepping his bounds, upon closer examination, didn't this mean the charitable granary case was already a foregone conclusion? Someone dared to smuggle relief grain—a heinous crime. Duke Liang's abrupt approach to discuss impeaching Zhi Yongjue was, in the eyes of these veteran officials, tantamount to admitting his own involvement in the matter.

Furthermore, the so-called crime of usurpation, though seemingly serious, could be easily dismissed if the Emperor casually remarked, "I had him do it." Wouldn't all the blame vanish instantly? These veteran officials knew perfectly well that the Duke of Liang's visit was undoubtedly an attempt to drag them down, to ruin their lifelong reputations and tarnish their honors in their later years. Moreover, they were well aware that Marshal Jin was no ordinary man; he could even outmaneuver a prince, so why would he fear these so-called "old fogies"? Therefore, they naturally wouldn't fall for the Duke of Liang's trick so easily.

“Father,” Liang Dong frowned, and after thinking for a moment, suggested, “Why don’t we have Liu Lang’s wife go to the Jin residence to talk to the eldest daughter-in-law? Maybe that can ease the tense situation.”

Upon hearing this, Duke Liang glared at Liang Dong and rebuked him angrily, "Utterly foolish! We have no idea how many charges against us Lord Zhiyong are in our possession. Sending someone over at this critical juncture is no different from walking into a trap. What if Liu Qi takes all the blame to protect himself? Wouldn't that expose us? But if he can take all the blame, we might still have a glimmer of hope and be safe for the time being."

Upon hearing his father's words, Liang Dong immediately realized his oversight and quickly nodded in agreement, asking anxiously, "Father is absolutely right; I hadn't considered things thoroughly. So, in Father's opinion, what should we do now?"

Duke Liang pondered for a moment, a sinister glint in his eyes, and slowly said, "It seems that uniting with those old ministers is no longer feasible. Since that's the case, we can only make a fuss about Lord Zhiyong's overstepping of his authority. You immediately spread the word that Lord Zhiyong dared to overstep his authority in Yanzhou Prefecture, and that if this continues, he might even dare to rebel one day. Make sure this news spreads like wildfire throughout the capital, creating public pressure on Lord Zhiyong."

While the Duke of Liang and his son were secretly plotting in their study, General Jin was currently in the old master's study. Upon hearing of the impeachment proceedings against him in court, he remained calm, a slight smirk playing on his lips, and said nonchalantly, "They're nothing but a bunch of clowns jumping around. Your Majesty need not worry about it; the Emperor is perfectly aware of the situation."

The old man frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, and slowly said, "It's not that I'm worried the Emperor will misunderstand you. It's just that the Emperor has just appointed a Crown Prince, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Crown Prince will definitely inherit the throne. Currently, there are already people in the court who openly support the Crown Prince, forming a new force. I'm just afraid they will use the Crown Prince's power to put pressure on you. After all, a new emperor brings a new court, and as the Emperor's trusted advisors, we can easily become their targets."

Upon hearing this, Jin Shuai remained calm and composed, saying, "Your Excellency, you need not worry about this. Tomorrow morning at court, you should submit your resignation and then proceed to Dengzhou. You may not know this, but before my departure, the Emperor intended to bestow upon me the title of King of Goryeo, with Dengzhou and Goryeo as my fiefdom. The Emperor's intention in doing this was twofold: firstly, to use my strength to curb the power of the Liao Kingdom; and secondly, if I were to guard the outer perimeter, I could ensure the peace of the Song Dynasty. However, the Emperor does not want me to leave so soon and wishes for me to stay in the capital, Tokyo, for a few more years."

The old man nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and sighed deeply, "Alas! His Majesty's health is deteriorating, and his complexion is getting worse every day. It seems that His Majesty has already begun to make arrangements for what will happen after his death."

In the elegantly furnished study of the Crown Prince's residence, candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows on the walls. Crown Prince Zhao Zongshi sat upright at his desk, his expression solemn. His gaze fell upon Gu Tingye standing below him, and he slowly asked, "Second Prince, tell me, how much do you really know about Lord Zhiyong?"

Gu Tingye quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his posture upright, and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, I have very little interaction with Lord Zhiyong. I have only heard about him from my wife's family. But based on what I have heard, he truly lives up to his name and is fully worthy of the title 'wise and brave'."

Zhao Ying, standing to the side, nodded slightly, a shrewd glint in her eyes, and said with a hint of negotiation in her tone, "Second Brother, Father is currently in need of capable men, and you are related to Zhi Yongjue. Could you go and talk to him to see if you can be of use to Father?"

Gu Tingye looked troubled, feeling quite helpless, but could only reply, "Your Highness, I am willing to try my best. However, Your Highness, please do not have too high expectations for my trip. After all, Lord Zhiyong is a trusted advisor of the Emperor, with a firm stance, and I am afraid he will not be easily swayed."

Zhao Zongshi sighed softly, a thoughtful look flashing across his face, and slowly said, "Let's give it a try! After all, my foundation in the court is still shallow. If I can get the help of Zhi Yongjue, with his high prestige in the army, it will be like adding wings to a tiger for me. But if this doesn't work out, we must not make an enemy of him. After all, the Emperor is still in power, and we must be cautious in everything we do."

Marshal Jin had returned to the capital, but did not immediately go to the palace to meet the emperor. This news instantly stirred up ripples of gossip among the powerful and influential, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Those ministers familiar with Marshal Jin, however, were unsurprised by this. In their view, Marshal Jin's actions were in line with his usual practices, or perhaps he had ulterior motives; they could simply watch the show.

However, for those powerful ministers who had previously impeached Marshal Jin, this was undoubtedly a golden opportunity. They were secretly delighted, feeling that Lord Zhiyong had practically handed them leverage. So, these men invited each other to a rather secluded restaurant in the capital. In the restaurant's private rooms, candlelight flickered as they sat together, their expressions somber, secretly plotting how to use this incident to unleash a new storm of impeachments against Marshal Jin.