Imperial authority, aristocratic families, and the Marquis Mansion—these three powers form a balance of power. The imperial authority is constrained by the aristocratic families, while the aristocratic families are in turn constrained by the Marquis Mansion. Only under this delicate equilibrium has Yanyang experienced decades of peace.
Yet beneath the surface, undercurrents swirl relentlessly.
"What if the royal family joins hands with the aristocratic families?" Xie Jue inquired.
"Impossible!" Marquis Zhenbei laughed. "Unless he's gone mad."
"Alright." Xie Jue said flatly. Thirty thousand Northern Iron Cavalry entered the city to garrison, and he dispatched his own Shadow Guards to monitor Gaoping and Guli, unwilling to waste more words with his father.
If the Crown Prince was willing to collude with the Beiman, could he truly lack ambitions to turn his blade against the Marquis Mansion?
