Prince Yis residence.

After the eunuch who delivered the edict left, Jing Yi grinned from ear to ear as he held onto the imperial edict. He had achieved his aim.

Dou Quan praised, Congratulations, Your Highness. Youre now one step closer to completing your grand plan. [1]

However, Jing Yi narrowed his eyes at him, lightly lifted a corner of his lips, and put on a besotted expression, Dont say nonsense here. This prince sincerely wants to marry that Miss Ji.

Ha! There arent any outsiders around, what are you pretending for? Dou Quan played along and bowed, Yes, congratulations, Your Highness for taking a beautiful woman as a wife.

These words were pleasing to the ear indeed. Jing Yi instructed, Immediately deliver this prince's betrothal gifts to the Generals mansion. The gifts must all be precious and rare.

Dou Quan received his order and left. Jing Yi also intended to go into his quarters to continue plotting for his grand plan.

A flurry of powerful footsteps approached with an ominous air. He turned towards the sound and saw Ji Li approaching with a serious expression.

Jing Yi exchanged a look with Dou Quan beside him. Dou Quan nodded and retreated.

War Secretary Ji, why are you here? The Emperors edict should have also been sent to your residence, right? Shouldnt you be celebrating at home now?

Celebrate my ass! It would already be great if Ji Li didnt kill someone. He approached swiftly, expression fierce as he spoke, Your Highness, why dont you get right to the point. Direct and straightforward!

Oh? This prince does not understand what you mean?

Pretending ignorance and acting innocent? Ji Li replied, The matter of bestowing marriage is an order from the Emperor, as his subjects we can only follow. However this subject is here today to clarify a certain matter with Your Highness. His face was expressionless, not showing a single hint of what his true feelings were.

Fury? Dissatisfaction? Jing Yi looked at him and scoffed, I am all ears.

Ji Li got straight to the point. Since this subject has dared to step forward rashly, I naturally do not fear offending Your Highness. Ill be direct with these matters; Your Highness plans to marry Muqing as your Consort and lawful wife. On the surface, it appears to be an occasion for celebration, but Your Highnesss intentions are naturally clear to those in the know; you merely wish to garner the support of us brothers for your faction, to manipulate the military authority that we hold.

Your Highness is gaining power now, loyalties within the imperial court have always fallen where the wind blows, and this subject should logically follow suit; however, ever since the incident where the First Prince surrounded the Imperial Palace, we two brothers no longer participate in the war between the court factions. Who will now receive the mantle of Crown Prince and the honor of inheriting the throne? This subject cares nothing for such things. If Your Highness thought that by marrying Muqing, you would be able to control us two brothers, I must persuade Your Highness to disabuse yourself of such a notion.

What a bold and stark statement! There has never been a subject who has dared to say such words to a prince in the whole of history, but War Secretary Ji dares! As Secretary of the Ministry of War, Ji Li controlled the entire Ministry of War and was responsible for the safety of the Imperial Palace. With a single stroke of his brush, thousands of soldiers would obey his command. Ji Huan too was personally conferred General by the Emperor and similarly held military power.

Jing Yi was also very clear that Ji Li was an extremely intelligent person. He took two steps forward and told Ji Li, This prince is truly flabbergasted at War Secretary Jis words. For now, lets just pretend that what you said was all true, that this prince intended to marry your sister to obtain the power that you two brothers hold.

The power that Your Highness holds in court today is already unparalleled by any other. The only other possible contender, Prince Rong, has also been banished to Yufu; the position of heir apparent is already all but guaranteed for you. This subject has already said that I will never again participate in the struggle between court factions ever since the death of the First Prince; naturally I will not obstruct Your Highnesss way - why would you take the unnecessary step of trying to rope in this subject?

Just in case! Jing Yi said, As long as Prince Rong is still around, and before this prince is seated on the Imperial throne, there remains the possibility that something will change. Theres nothing wrong with being prepared! If you two brothers could serve the First Prince back then, why not give this prince a hand now? Whatever the First Prince offered you, I can also offer you the same thing as well.

Please forgive this subject for not being able to serve you.

Then that is no longer up to War Secretary Ji to choose.

What do you mean?

Has War Secretary Ji never questioned why Miss Ji would fall ill and leave the palace on the day of the Crown Princes Consort Selection? Have you never wondered why she would be so anxious to marry this prince?

Eh? Ji Li had no idea. He had asked, but Ji Muqing was completely unwilling to reveal the truth. However, since Jing Yi asked this question, there must be some unspeakable secret hidden within. He looked at Jing Yis wide grin, then narrowed his eyes and waited for the answer.

Jing Yi furrowed his brows, This prince initially wanted to be a nice person and help Miss Ji, as well as your entire Ji family.

...

Does War Secretary Ji know why the initial summons for Miss Ji to enter the palace was not delivered to your residence? That was in no way a mistake of the Imperial Clan Bureau; instead, it was the doing of the Imperial Clan Bureaus Vice-Director, Gao Bingze. He pitied Miss Ji and deliberately did not wish for her to enter the palace to participate in the Crown Princes Consort Selection. Thus, he deliberately removed her name from the list. Even more unexpectedly, right during those days of the Selection in the palace, Vice-Director Gao and Miss Ji actually

Ahem! He didnt say it directly.

Nonetheless, Ji Li heard it loud and clear.

Jing Yi continued, If this matter were made known to the Emperor, the consequences would not be as simple as commanding Miss Ji to die; your entire Ji family would be implicated, possibly even all nine branches of the family would be sentenced to death! [2]This prince couldnt bear to let that happen so I suppressed the news. Since Miss Ji had already been forced to such a state, I simply thought Id think of a way to save her life, by letting her exit the palace on excuse of illness. However, once a woman has lost her chastity, she is seen as a disgrace and brings humiliation to her family. This prince also saw that Miss Ji is attractive and charming, and so took pity on her and asked my Mother to request that Imperial Father bestow marriage on us. This would both protect Miss Ji and also satisfy this princes admiration towards her.

Dammit, how shameless can you be?! You would even dare to plaster such fervent self-praise onto your face!

However, Ji Li retorted, Impossible! He didnt believe it. His sister may not be the most sweet-tempered or virtuous person, but how could she have done something like this? Moreover, Ji Muqing had been taught the behaviors and manners of a Crown Prince Consort from young; she should be clear what should or should not be done.

Jing Yi continued earnestly, Every word this prince said has been true; theres not a single falsehood. If War Secretary Ji still does not believe me, you can always look at your sisters wrist to see if the cinnabar chastity mark still exists.

Ji Lis face twisted into an ugly grimace, his parched lips couldnt formulate a single reply.

Although Miss Ji is no longer chaste, this prince sincerely likes her and does not care about these trivialities. For her, this prince didnt even hesitate to kill Vice-Director Gao in order to prevent more people from knowing about this matter. If War Secretary Ji had not come forward now, this prince would have kept this secret forever.

Ah! So Then the Imperial Clan Bureaus Vice-Director Gao died because of this incident? Ji Li realised.

Thats right. Jing Yi said, For the sake of Miss Ji, this prince didnt hesitate to kill. Only dead men tell no tales. This prince is set to marry Miss Ji as my Consort and lawfully wedded wife. In future, if this prince has the honor of ascending to the throne, she will be Mother of the Country. Tell me, who does this benefit the most?

With how you described it, of course it would benefit the Ji family the most!

[1] Ed. Note: tHe MaStErPlAn! Jing Yi: Want to become Emperor? Simple, grab a MasterCard today and be the Emperor at everywhere you shop!

[2] 9 branches execution is one of the most severe punishments. See theIG link to find out who exactly gets killed.