无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

In the turbulent Imperial Court, murder was not the scariest thing.

What was frightening was murder without boundaries.

Only an extraordinary person would be capable of matricide.

Ask yourself, if someone could even poison their own birth mother, what boundaries do they have? They could disregard all previous relationships with anyone around them.

Such a person was not only terrifying, but also unworthy of partnership in great endeavors.

Jiang Mubai, unshakable as a mountain, said calmly, “Then our Jiang Family should think ahead and prepare an escape route.”

“Seventh Sister said the same thing, suggesting that either you or I should take a step back, or both of us should resign from our positions.” Jiang Ruobai smiled and said, “What do you think, General Jiang? Can you bear to let go of your power over a million troops?”

Jiang Mubai snorted, “I am willing to let go; the problem is that when Prime Minister Jiang needs me, I might be powerless, and that will leave Prime Minister Jiang in a hurry.”

“Haha.” Jiang Ruobai laughed out loud, “But if I resign, who will provide the supplies and food for the soldiers when General Jiang is fighting on the battlefield?”

Jiang Mubai remained silent.

One of them held a position in the Imperial Court, the other at the border.

One strategized behind the scenes of the Imperial Court, the other fought in the borderland.

Prime Minister Jiang’s authority required General Jiang’s military power for deterrence, while General Jiang’s logistics needed Prime Minister Jiang’s support in the Imperial Court.

The brothers depended on each other.

Jiang Ruobai sighed, “It is easier said than done to step back.”

“Maybe, by the time that day comes,” Jiang Mubai said leisurely, “you and I will be able to enjoy our twilight years in peace.”

He didn’t specify which day.

But both brothers knew well.

Naturally, it was the day when Jiang Seventh Daughter reached the pinnacle of power.

The brothers looked at each other and smiled. They raised their wine glasses in unison, “Here’s to that day! Cheers!”

The glasses clinked together with a crisp and pleasant sound.

They drained the glasses in one go.

“Big brother, let me continue to investigate Mu Jian. I have more access to information in the Imperial Court.”

After finishing the wine, Jiang Ruobai made a suggestion, “Your territory is at the border. Coming here this time, if you get involved in too many court matters, it may arouse His Majesty’s suspicions.”

Jiang Mubai nodded, “I know you have some secret forces in your hands. In addition to Mu Jian, we also need to guard against the Crown Prince. He is clearly targeting our Jiang Family by holding Seventh Miss captive. Even if he is not the mastermind behind the killing of the Imperial Concubine, he is already on guard against the Jiang Family.”

Jiang Ruobai nodded silently, “Big brother, do you think the Crown Prince has any reason to kill the Imperial Concubine?”

“He does.”

The always blunt General Jiang had the same thought as Jiang Ning this time. He pondered, “We both saw the condition His Majesty was in after the Imperial Concubine’s death.”

“True, His Majesty seems to be getting worse mentally.”

“When His Majesty passes away earlier, isn’t that the time for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne?” Jiang Mubai said with a low chuckle, “The Crown Prince is not as harmless as he appears.”

“That would be fine, but the problem is that if it wasn’t the Crown Prince, then we don’t know which dark force within the court could operate at this level.”

A powerful enemy was not scary; it was the unseen enemy lurking in the dark who was daunting.

…

East Palace.

Jiang Ning also investigated some of Mu Jian’s background and learned that he was a relative from Li Hongyuan’s maternal family. Although Li Hongyuan’s maternal family was also an official family, it was not a prestigious one.

Mu Jian did not have a very good background either, as his parents had passed away long ago.

With no family left, Mu Jian had nothing to worry about.