After getting a rough idea of the time, Yan Bingyun closed the window and sat back in his chair. He took out a beautifully embroidered pouch from his clothes and took out a few melon seeds from inside. He brought them to his lips and carefully chewed them. He appeared very bored. Only when his gaze landed on the pouch did he become warm and affectionate. This pouch had been embroidered by Lady Shen.
Sir Yan junior had been particularly idle these past few days. He no longer needed to oversee Council affairs, nor did he need to monitor court officials with the sensitivity of the First Bureau staff. Other than the daily affairs of the Fourth Bureau, he did not have much to do.
In the wilderness between Yanjing and Cangzhou, after Shang Shanhu had suffered a great loss at Yan Xiaoyi's hands, he had calmed down. Although the Northern Qi people had submitted a letter of reprimand, the accidental injury investigation was still ongoing. There were no unusual movements in Shangjing, and Dongyi was also very quiet.
These were the things the Fourth Bureau had to manage. Before the Emperor left the capital, the Fourth Bureau had already released enough fake news to ensure the silence of both sides. Yan Bingyun believed that given the Overwatch Council's power, even if the Northern Qi royal family and Sigu Jian knew of the Emperor's tour, they would not be able to react in a short amount of time.
Furthermore, he had no choice but to be relaxed. Even without these errands, the Jingdou center of the Qinian Unit was still under Yan Bingyun's control. Logically speaking, for something as important as the Emperor's tour, he should have notified Fan Xian ahead of time. However, what he did not understand was that once Director Chen returned to the capital, he suppressed this idea and firmly suppressed it.
This was the question that had puzzled Fan Xian in Danzhou. Yan Bingyun still did not know that Commissioner Fan had already met up with the royal entourage. He was still faintly at a loss.
At the same time, he was nervous.
Jingdou appeared calm. With the Imperial Army, the Jingdou garrison, and Director Chen emanating a dark and terrifying aura, nothing major could happen. If something major was going to happen, it should be at the Emperor's side, far away from Jingdou.
Yan Bingyun smiled bitterly as he stood at the window and looked at Tianhe Avenue below and the Royal Palace not far away. His position was not high, but his role was complicated. He was the third most important person in the Overwatch Council and Fan Xian's trusted aide. However, his father had another identity. Most importantly, he was one of the young people the Emperor had personally summoned into the Palace. After a long night of conversation, he had another identity.
No wonder Headmaster Chen suppressed him the moment he returned to the capital. Presumably, the Headmaster also had some opinions about him.
As for why Director Chen did not allow him to inform Fan Xian, Yan Bingyun, relying on his unique information from three places, vaguely guessed a sliver of the truth. He began to fear this truth. Even if Director Chen died by the Emperor's side, would something big happen? That was why he wanted to go with the flow and get Fan Xian as far away from the royal entourage as possible!
However, the Director was so loyal to the Emperor. No matter how much he loved Fan Xian, how could he place Fan Xian's safety above the Emperor's life and death?
Ding dong, ding dong, the copper bell rang. The most special homecoming signal in the Jingdou yamens rang out. Countless hurried officials walked out of the Overwatch Council's square building. They were not busy spreading evil water. They were in a hurry to go home. Special agents were also public servants, and the people in the Overwatch Council were all civil servants. They were no different from ordinary people.
Yan Bingyun didn't have much to pack. He walked straight out of the building and sat in his family's carriage. Hurrying back to the Viscount's manor, he didn't go to chat with Sister Shen. Instead, he went directly to his father's study and asked, "Is there any news from the Qin family?"
Yan Ruohai glanced at his son and shook his head. "You're in charge of the Fourth Bureau in the Council. Is there any movement from Xiao Mountain?"
Xiao Mountain's location was special. It happened to be at the entrance of Dongshan Road. This place was in the northeast of the Qing Kingdom and not far from Dongyi. Because no one dared to pass through the dense primordial forest between Danzhou and Dongyi, the transportation between the two places mainly relied on the sea or circled around Xiao Mountain.
Originally, there was not much power on Dongshan Road that could threaten the royal entourage. However, Xiao Mountain just happened to be on the road from Dongshan Road back to the capital. The most important problem was that the Yan father and son both knew that the old Qin Master's secret trusted soldiers had been trained in that mountain. The group that had attacked Fan Xian outside Jingdou at the end of the year had been moved over from Xiao Mountain by the Qin family without the court's knowledge.
"Xiao Mountain has been quiet. Ever since that incident, the Council has been keeping a close eye on it with great attention. If there is any strange movement, it cannot be hidden from us." Yan Bingyun relaxed slightly and sat down.
Yan Ruohai smiled slightly and said, "What we know is what the Director knows and what the Emperor knows. Since the Emperor dares to take 2,000 Imperial Soldiers to Dong Mountain to worship heaven, it is either because he doesn't think much of the people in Xiao Mountain or because he believes in the old Qin Master's loyalty. "
"Loyalty?" Yan Bingyun sighed. "Secretly assassinating important officials of the imperial court is considered loyalty?"
"There are many levels of loyalty. Perhaps the Emperor has already doubted the old Master's loyalty after what happened last time. In reality, there is always a difference between an official and the Emperor himself."
Yan Ruohai paused and then asked seriously, "I have already retired and shouldn't ask, but I am still curious. Are there any problems in Dingzhou?"
Yan Bingyun shook his head. "At the beginning of the year, they beheaded 600 Hu people. They should have returned to the capital to report their success, but it is clear that Ye Zhong is also worried about the Palace suspecting him, so he left the group in Dingzhou and did not return to the capital when the Emperor was not present."
He gently clenched the fist in his sleeve, wanting to speak but then hesitating.
Yan Ruohai glanced at his son curiously and said, "You're not usually like this. If you have something to say, then say it."
A faint suspicion rose to Yan Bingyun's frosty face. "I don't know if the Emperor's safety can be confirmed."
"What danger is there?" Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. "The Qing Kingdom has seven Roads of elite soldiers. The three Roads you suspect cannot get close to Dong Mountain. They are all under the Council's watch."
"What about Yan Xiaoyi?" Yan Bingyun stared coldly into his father's eyes. It was as if he wanted to see something else in them.
Yan Ruohai very naturally turned his head and avoided his son's gaze. "What about Governor Yan?"
"There was a problem with the Cangzhou victory!" Yan Bingyun lowered his voice. "I said that there was a problem with the Cangzhou victory! The secret agents searching for military contributions have already reported back. Although the heads were disguised, there are some problems … "
"You are the head of the Fourth Bureau and have taken over my job. You should know that although killing people and stealing military contributions is a major crime, it has never been completely eradicated, particularly when it comes to these border generals. They require the court's additional rewards to balance out the misery of the cold border," Yan Ruohai said coldly. "Besides, even if Yan Xiaoyi lied about his military contributions, what does it have to do with the Emperor on Dong Mountain? Don't forget, Northern Qi's letter has already arrived. Would the Northern Qi people act with Governor Yan? "
"That's what I'm afraid of," Yan Bingyun said coldly. Yan Bingyun coldly said, "If it was just killing people and stealing military contributions, then that's fine. If this matter has something to do with Northern Qi, then I'm afraid it won't be so simple."
Yan Ruohai slowly stood up and stared into his son's eyes. Enunciating each word, he said, "Do you know what you are saying? Do you think that just because the Director and the Commissioner let you temporarily take charge of Council affairs, you are the most remarkable person in the world? That you can see through all the tricks in the world? Even if Governor Yan and the Northern Qi people are acting, what problem is there? "
"What problem?" Yan Bingyun looked at his father. A fire of anger burned in his chest. He angrily said, "5,000 people died in the Northern expedition army! Is this a great victory? 8,000 beheaded, I'm afraid more than half of it is fake! Did those 5,000 people die or not? If they didn't die, then where did the 5,000 people who disappeared without a trace go? "
He pointed at the table and the nonexistent map of the Qing Kingdom's borders. He angrily said, "Father, although the Northern expedition camp is between Cangzhou and Yanjing, if we draw a straight line, it is less than 500 li from Dong Mountain! If these 5,000 people, who should have died, suddenly appear at the foot of Dong Mountain, what do we do? "
Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said in a cold voice, "Idiot! Although it is not far from Cangzhou to Dongshan Road, one has to go around Xiao Mountain. No one knows how many provinces they have to pass through. The distance is also more than a thousand li. Do you think 5,000 people can go so deep into the country without a sound? "
"What if they don't go around?" Yan Bingyun did not yield an inch in front of his father. He spoke of all the confusion that had lingered in his heart these days. "If Dongyi opened its gates and allowed those 5,000 dead people to pass through the vassal states, then what?"
What to do two in a row did not make Yan Ruohai nervous. He looked at his son and smiled coldly. "Idiot! Even if those 5,000 people had truly become death soldiers as you say, even if Sigu Jian was as stupid as you to open the country's gates and not be afraid of the Qing army … have you thought about it? From Dongyi to Dong Mountain, one has to pass through Danzhou. No one can climb the high mountains and precipitous cliffs to the north of Danzhou! "
This was the truth. It was a truth that had been proven by maps, human eyes, and manpower. The primitive forests and mountain peaks to the north of Danzhou were not something mortals could climb, much less an army of 5,000 people.
"No one has been able to climb over before, but that doesn't mean that no one will ever be able to." Yan Bingyun thought of the geography and environment. His imposing manner weakened slightly, but he still did not give up. Straightforwardly, he said, "Besides, who knows if there are any secret passages in those mountains?"
"Secret passages? Do you think this is a novel published by Danbo Bookstore? "Yan Ruohai laughed coldly and prepared to walk out of the study.
Seeing his father's completely unconcerned expression, Yan Bingyun finally couldn't resist. He slammed his palm onto the table with a loud bang and said angrily, "I don't know if what I'm worried about is a novel. I only know that what the Overwatch Council is doing right now is a joke. Regardless of whether or not this will happen, since there is already a point of suspicion, I will report it according to the Council's procedures. Why has the Director suppressed this matter?"
Hearing these words, Yan Ruohai's body shook. He slowly turned around and looked at his son with a complicated gaze.
Yan Bingyun thought that his father had finally been convinced by him. A wave of relief rose in his heart.
Unexpectedly, Yan Ruohai shook his sleeve and left the study. Summoning his trusted guards, he coldly said, "The young master is not feeling well. Have him stay in the manor to rest. Don't let him take a step out."
The guards accepted the order in a low voice.
After Yan Bingyun paused, a chill seeped into his heart. Staring at his father's back, he suddenly thought of the conversation he had with his father a long time ago. For a moment, he couldn't speak.
That day, he asked his father, "If … and I'm saying if, you had to choose between the Palace and the Council, what would you choose?"
At the time, Yan Ruohai had looked at him with an amused gaze and sighed. "Silly child, naturally, I would choose the Council. If the old Director did not have this confidence in me, why would he say so much to you?"
…
…
Yan Bingyun took a step towards the door and was stopped by a guard who was highly skilled in martial arts. He did not put up any unnecessary struggle. He only sighed and asked his father, "Where are you going?"
Yan Ruohai turned around and looked at his son with a smile. "Since you're sick, I have to go to the Council to ask for leave for you."
Yan Bingyun didn't say anything more. He was loyal to the Emperor and the court. He had already done what he needed to do. After all, he was an official of the Overwatch Council. As his father's son, he could not do more.
— — —
"The Ye family is indeed too quiet. Ye Zhong is indeed too obedient. Offering a prisoner … such a good opportunity to enter the capital, yet he just let it go."
Sitting in the wheelchair, Chen Pingping shook his head and said, "Of course, he is also afraid that the Palace will be wary of him and something will go wrong ahead of time. However, the Second Prince must be muttering in his heart. He thinks that the Crown Prince is about to be deposed. If the Crown Prince acts blindly at this time, the Second Prince, with the support of the Ye family, will certainly be able to hold the fort alone. He is probably hoping for his father-in-law to return soon."
"Right now, everyone wants to act. No one has the ability or courage to be the first to act." The old man smiled slightly as he pushed the wheelchair over from the black cloth. "If you want to destroy yourself, you must make yourself crazy. The Eldest Princess is crazy enough."
Yan Ruohai smiled and understood Director Chen's meaning. "But, you are in the capital. Even if she has thoughts, she will have to wait for news from there."
Chen Pingping smiled slightly and said, "Our mighty Emperor will certainly give the Eldest Princess a pleasant surprise. As for the news she is waiting for, she may never get it."
"But, what about Yan Xiaoyi's 5,000 elite soldiers?" Yan Ruohai furrowed his brows. "I still don't understand this. Even if he risked his life to save these 5,000 soldiers into the country, how would he transport them to the foot of Dong Mountain?"
"Yan Xiaoyi's actions in the Cangzhou victory were done very well. Who would have thought that Yan Bingyun would still be able to see through it," Chen Pingping said with praise. "This child is truly not bad."
Yan Ruohai forced a smile and said, "Usually, he pretends to be as cold as ice. When something big really happens, he still feels uneasy."
"He is not you or me. He doesn't know the Emperor's plans." Chen Pingping sighed. "It is normal for him to be suspicious of you and me."
"After the matter, how will we explain it to the Palace?"
"The Emperor didn't want to beat the grass and startle the snake. Of course, the Council cannot react to Yan Xiaoyi's actions ahead of time …" Chen Pingping coughed and thought to himself that whether or not there would be an incident was the problem that needed to be considered.
After Yan Ruohai left, the old cripple in the wheelchair pushed the wheelchair back to the window out of habit. Looking outside through the black cloth, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. He thought that there was indeed a secret path from the vassal states of Dongyi through the mountains and through Danzhou to Dong Mountain. He knew about it, and the Emperor also knew about it. However, looking at it now, the Eldest Princess also knew about it.
Even if 5,000 people went, they would only be able to surround the entire mountain peak. At most, they would be able to control the transmission of information from the sacrificial ceremony. The only important thing in this entire matter was probably on that mountain peak.
Chen Pingping used his withered right hand to scratch his grizzled hair. He thought to himself that he had missed something. Fan Xian had run to the summit. He could only hope that he would be lucky and not lose his life for no reason in that earth-shattering incident.
The Emperor had prepared a large surprise for the Eldest Princess and Ye Liuyun. Was the Eldest Princess not going to prepare a surprise for the Emperor?
Chen Pingping tilted his head and leaned weakly against the wheelchair. He felt the taste of life slowly leave his body. However, he became excited because of the images that appeared in his mind. It was as if he had once again found some of the elements that had made him excited and fascinated in the past.
The agitation in his mind caused him to cough. Although it was an incomparably satisfying cough, it also caused waves of pain in his chest. He subconsciously pressed the secret bell on the desk, only to discover that the person who opened the door was not Fei Jie.
Only now did he remember that Fei Jie had already followed his wishes and left the troublesome Qing Kingdom. At this time, he should already be in Quanzhou, preparing to live the life that the old poison had long yearned for overseas.
"I'm coughing a little. Find some medicine to take." Chen Pingping smiled slightly at his subordinate who had just entered. If he could live another two years, then he would live another two years.
The subordinate was overwhelmed by the favor and left with the order.
… …
Just as the Emperor on the summit had guessed, as long as the Eldest Princess Li Yunrui did not die physically, she would always be able to find hidden power in Jingdou. At this moment, she was under house arrest in the side courtyard of the royal family. The people of the Overwatch Council were responsible for monitoring the outside, but her life was still maintained at a very luxurious standard.
What was even more unexpected was that the Xinyang strategist, Yuan Hongdao, who had fled Jingdou for many months, had appeared in the side courtyard and sat in front of the Eldest Princess. No one knew how the Eldest Princess had done it.
"Even a blind person can see what the Emperor is thinking. However, I don't know exactly where his confidence comes from."
Li Yunrui's appearance was still beautiful, and her eyes were still charming and full of emotion. However, a truly attentive person could see that there was a slight change in her state of mind. Underneath the full emotion was a coldness carved deep in her heart.
…
…
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
