Chapter 2: Court Meeting, Shen Zhong's Scheming

A few days later, Ye Qi and his party arrived in Northern Qi.

The young emperor of Northern Qi, Zhan Doudou, and the saintly lady of Northern Qi, Haitang Duoduo, came to greet them personally.

But when Ye Qi looked at Haitang Duoduo, her eyes were always avoiding him and a blush appeared on her cheeks.

Wasn’t it said that she was pregnant? Why is her belly so flat?

Maybe it wasn’t noticeable in the past few months, Ye Qi thought.

Ye Qi walked forward and wanted to hug Haitang Duoduo, after all, they had had physical contact before.

But Haitang Duoduo dodged it.

Haitang Duoduo glanced at Ye Qi unhappily and whispered, "There are so many people watching us, don't do anything out of line."

Out of line? What's out of line?
Ye Qi immediately thought that this was a feudal society, not to mention that she was a saint.

Such actions with women are still too advanced in this era.

However, Ye Qi still came forward and asked in a low voice: "Are you pregnant?"

Upon hearing this, Haitang Duoduo slapped Ye Qi with her palm, but was caught by Ye Qi.

"What nonsense!?"

Haitang Duoduo was angry, but also surprised at Ye Qi's strength.

She is a ninth-grade upper-level warrior. To be able to catch my palm so easily, she must also be a ninth-grade warrior.

Ye Qi took out the letter from the little emperor and showed it to Haitang Duoduo.

When Haitang Duoduo saw the letter saying that she was pregnant, she looked at the little emperor Zhan Doudou with a puzzled look on her face.

The little emperor coughed a few times and said awkwardly, "I said this because you wanted General Ye Qi to come back sooner, didn't you?"

The Begonia Duoduo sighed, unable to express her pain.

Ye Qi finally understood that Haitang Duoduo was not pregnant at all, and it was the little emperor who wrote the letter to deceive him.

As for the purpose, it is to make a trip back to Northern Qi.

After not seeing her for two years, Zhan Doudou has grown more delicate and her breasts have the outline of a normal woman, but not very obvious.

At this time, Shen Zhong, the commander of the Jinyiwei Zhenfu Division, came over.

"The Queen Mother has ordered that you all go to the court to discuss matters."

After saying this, Shen Zhong glanced at Ye Qi intentionally or unintentionally.

There was disdain in his expression.

Ye Qi sneered. This Shen Zhong still thought he was the little Karami who was manipulated by others two years ago.

"I know, it's really annoying!"

The little emperor shook his sleeves and led everyone towards the palace.

At this time, Shen Zhong said again: "The Queen Mother has ordered that Ye Qi's 1,000 cavalrymen are not allowed to enter Shangjing City, so as to avoid suspicion of rebellion."

Ye Qi was really speechless by this guy: "If Northern Qi is successfully rebelled by these 1,000 cavalrymen, then you, the Jinyiwei Zhenfusi, will be a waste."

Shen Zhong suppressed his anger: "A thousand cavalrymen cannot successfully rebel in front of my Jinyiwei, but this is the Queen Mother's order, do you want to disobey it?"

Ye Qi laughed: "Master Shen Zhong is really good at joking. All cavalrymen listen to my order. Set up camp outside the city. Do not enter the capital without my order!"

"Roar!"

A unified shout shook the heaven and earth.

Everyone was frightened by this sound.

The murderous aura and oppressive feeling emanating from these one thousand cavalrymen frightened some officials so much that their legs went limp.

Shen Zhong's heart trembled unconsciously, and he thought, could it be that the rumors about Ye Qi are true?

An hour later.

Inside the Imperial Palace of Shangjing of Northern Qi.

"Announce that General Ye Qi, the Northern Expeditionary General, and General Wang Jian, the Guards, enter the palace!"

Ye Qi, wearing armor, entered the hall with Wang Jian one after the other. Inside the hall, all the civil and military officials were standing.

Upon learning that Ye Qi had returned to Beijing, no official asked for leave today.

"Your Majesty, I, Ye Qi, pay my respects to you!"

"Please stand up quickly!" the little emperor said quickly before Ye Qi saluted.

All the civil and military officials were bewildered.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ye Qi stood in the hall and looked around.

All the civil and military officials lowered their heads and dared not look at each other.

Faintly, Ye Qi also detected the auras of several masters, but they were all eighth-grade and not to be feared.

In Northern Qi, the only person who could make Ye Qi worry was Grandmaster Ku He, who was also Haitang Duoduo’s master.

Ye Qi did not feel Ku He's breath.

There was a curtain behind the little emperor, and the empress dowager was sitting behind the curtain and listening.

Although she was just attending the meeting, the Empress Dowager was basically in charge of the overall situation.

The Queen Mother asked, "I heard that you have conquered all the Northern Hu and Northern Man tribes, and that the territory of our Northern Qi has expanded northward to the foot of the Great Snow Mountain. Is that true?"

Ye Qi said: "That's absolutely not a lie!"

At this time, Shen Zhong started to stir up trouble again: "Reporting to the Queen Mother, the northern territory is vast. It is almost impossible to completely conquer it within two years. I suspect that General Ye Qi is lying about military intelligence."

"Is this true?!" The Queen Mother's voice was a little low.

This Shen Zhong has been causing trouble ever since Ye Qi came to this world.

When he first arrived in Northern Qi, he was almost caught by the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Shen Zhong always suspected that Ye Qi was a spy from another country.

Ye Qi said: "All the land in the northern border has been conquered by me. Every ten miles to the north, there is a battle flag of the Northern Qi. If Master Shen Zhong doesn't believe it, you can go to the northern border to check."

After these words were spoken, those who were skeptical shut their mouths.

The little emperor said, "Some people actually doubt the authenticity of General Ye Qi's military exploits. A few months ago, I sent the Saint to check the battle situation. Everything General Ye said is true. If you make such a boring joke again, I will be unhappy!"

The little emperor's words made the empress dowager feel a little embarrassed.

It created a scene of confrontation with the Queen Mother.

However, Shen Zhong remained calm and said, "I still have one thing that I don't understand. When General Ye left, he only brought 100 people with him, but I heard that the army was expanded to during the war. But when he came back this time, I only saw cavalrymen. Could it be that General Ye lied about the number of troops!?"

All the civil and military officials looked at Ye Qi.

Ye Qi shook his head helplessly: "Master Shen Zhong's focus is indeed a bit strange. I recruited those 2 soldiers during the war. Now that the Northern War is over, I dismissed them. Master Shen Zhong, don't you want to think about it? Can you supply food and grass for soldiers?"

Shen Zhong was so angry that he said nothing.

Ye Qi continued, "There is one more thing I would like to ask Master Shen Zhong. So far, have you delivered the food and fodder you promised to provide to my Northern Expedition Army?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

"What!? Could it be that General Ye has been fighting outside for the past two years and there is no food supply from Northern Qi!"

"Master Ye has been working too hard!"

"Commander Shen, what's going on? Didn't you agree to supply food and fodder to the Northern Expedition Army?"

Civil and military officials were talking about this for a while.

The little emperor asked angrily, "Master Shen Zhong, General Ye is fighting outside, but you are not supplying him with food and grass. Tell me what is going on!?"

Shen Zhong immediately knelt on the ground upon seeing this: "I am guilty. General Ye has only asked me for food and grass once in the past two years. I was delayed that time because I had something important to do."

Ye Qi was amused. "Master Shen Zhong is really good at talking nonsense. The food and grass have been delayed for two years. Don't you know the importance of food and grass when fighting outside? Your Majesty, please punish Master Shen Zhong for deducting food and grass!"

"I agree. The python pattern on the official uniform can be removed!" said the little emperor.

"Your Majesty!" Shen Zhong was stunned.

(End of this chapter)