This was not stinginess but great favor and honor.

Capturing an assassin from the Inner Mansion Realm is a deed whose importance could be either magnified or minimized. Jiang Wang actually failed to stop Cui Zhu, and Cui Zhu, in fact, never had the chance to get close to Emperor Qi.

However, Jiang Wang’s immediate interception of Cui Zhu and his decisive actions to isolate the noise and minimize the impact of the assassination attempt undeniably earned him a lot of credit.

Emperor Qi decided to record this meritorious deed and to express his expectations toward Jiang Wuhua.

Once Jiang Wuhua could achieve a great victory at the Yellow River Gathering, coupled with this achievement, it was highly possible for him to leap over certain boundaries that were ordinarily difficult to cross—he had only been in Qi for two years and was naturally not regarded as reliable as Zhongxuan Sheng or Li Longchuan, who were from aristocratic families, and it was difficult for him to gain an equal level of trust. Thus, some thresholds were invisibly present and hard to cross.

Yet there were exceptions—didn’t you see, back when Emperor Wu of Qi restored the country, how many previously unknown surnames rose to prominence? Some who followed Emperor Wu of Qi to Qi Country and, due to their contributions to the restoration, became the distinguished nobles of Qi.

Jiang Wang retracted his Killing Life Nails still patrolling in the air, sheathed his sword, and saluted with folded hands, "This humble official simply did what was within his duty and dares not take credit for it." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He was a Grade-4 official of Qi Country; truth be told, capturing criminals was indeed his job.

Emperor of Da Qi said, "Jiang Qing, you did well. I have not misjudged you."

His mention of not having misjudged him naturally referred to the previous incident at Donghua Pavilion when he conferred the purple robe.

Without waiting for Jiang Wang to reply and pledge his loyalty, he suddenly asked, "Do you know why this rogue, knowing it impossible, still attempted to assassinate me today?"

Jiang Wang carefully replied, "This servant... does not know."

Of course, he understood that the Emperor’s question was not just directed at him.

At the same time, he indeed did not know the answer.

"Do any of the court officials know?" The Emperor of Da Qi then turned his gaze to those nobles and high-ranking officials.

Atop the platform, the civil and military officials looked at one another. Faced with such a dangerously loaded question, no one dared to speak first.

But the Emperor himself provided the answer.

He scoffed coldly, "They seek to imitate an old incident of Emperor Huaidi of Qing Country!"

The nobles and high officials seemed petrified, not even daring to look up.

Jiang Wang even heard someone draw in a sharp breath. Such was the weight of Emperor Qi’s words.

But he did not understand...

What old incident of Emperor Huaidi of Qing Country?

Since his transcendence, he had hardly found enough time for cultivation, let alone to read the histories. Before transcendence, he indeed read some books, but his knowledge was not yet sufficient to remember the histories of all countries in the world by heart.

The Emperor of Da Qi obviously noticed Jiang Wang’s confusion and said in an indifferent voice, "Crown Prince, as you are the heir to the throne, explain it to Jiang Qing."

Such a level of instruction, of course, would not be difficult for the Crown Prince, but speaking out at this moment was indeed a risky affair.

Nevertheless, Jiang Wuhua managed to maintain his composure, rose with proper etiquette, and only then said, "During the era of Emperor Huaidi of Qing, there was a member of the imperial clan, Ying Zhang, who hesitated over rebellion. In June of that year, a court official attacked Emperor Huaidi disguised, on the Imperial Way. From then on, everyone knew the instability of the court, and that Emperor Huaidi had lost the people’s hearts. As a result, Ying Zhang raised an army, killed Emperor Huaidi in the palace at Xianyang, and ascended to the throne the same year as Emperor Xuan of Qin... Today’s royal family of Qin stems from this lineage."

Jiang Wang felt shocked at heart.

The Emperor of Da Qi rose to his feet, standing in front of the Dragon Throne, looking down upon all his subjects, and asked not so sternly—

"Who harbors such intentions?"

Thump!

Jiang Wuhua fell to his knees, his forehead touching the ground.

From the Cinnabar Steps to the high platform, including all the princes and princesses, civil and military officials, noble relatives, and even the commoners present.

Everyone, all knelt down!