At noon, Scholar He placed a hand on his forehead to block the blinding sun. Ignoring the blinding sweat flowing down his face, he quickly left the quiet Royal Palace. He did not enter the small corner room of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. Instead, he boarded the sedan chair and came to the yamen of the Imperial Censorate. Once he entered the yamen, he realized that his official robes had long been soaked in sweat. Dazed, he walked woodenly into the hall and sat alone for a long time before he came to his senses.
Previously, His Majesty had summoned him to the Imperial Study. With just a few simple words, He Zongwei knew that the secret plan he had set up had all fallen into His Majesty's eyes. His Majesty knew what he was investigating, but was too lazy to ask, too lazy to care, and only looked at him coldly.
Thinking of this, Scholar He's entire body trembled with fear. After all, his investigation had been somewhat improper. Given the Emperor's intelligent eyes, since he already knew of this matter, how could he not see it? What surprised him was that the Emperor did not harshly reprimand him. He only tiredly gave a few instructions before chasing him out.
He Zongwei sank into deep thought in the cool Imperial Censorate yamen. Why was the Emperor not angry? Had the internal court and Ministry of Justice actually found something in Dazhou? Was it that Tiger Guard Gao Da or Wang Qinian, who was definitely not dead, who had given himself away? Dazhou was not far from Jingdou, but it took time to send information back and forth. He Zongwei had no other way. He could only wait excitedly and nervously in Jingdou for the report. Until now, he still did not know that his search for Gao Da in Dazhou was in line with the will of heaven. It would block the returning Director Chen outside the city. At the same time, it would give Chen Pingping an opportunity to act.
This was also the Emperor's opportunity to act.
Not only did He Zongwei not know the inside story of what was happening in Dazhou, Hu the Scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs and the Qing officials of the six ministries and three temples also did not guess that the Qing Kingdom was in a state of turmoil. They only smelled something strange. No one connected this smell to the retired Director Chen.
Even the most intelligent person would not think that problems would occur between the Emperor and Chen Pingping. Furthermore, the officials did not even think in this direction.
Even the officials of the Overwatch Council had never doubted the old ancestor's loyalty to the Qing Kingdom and the Emperor. Be loyal to the Emperor and do everything for the Qing Kingdom. This was the education all the officials and secret agents of the Overwatch Council had received when they first entered the academy. During these decades, with Chen Pingping at the head, all of the black-clothed officials had worked endlessly for this goal, for the strength of the Qing Kingdom, and for the Emperor's safety. Who would have thought that the Overwatch Council would become one of the Emperor's targets?
It was precisely because no one had thought of this that there were people who were sensitive enough to probe in that direction. As the most powerful intelligence network and secret service organization in the world, many signs of the strange activity in Jingdou had fallen into the eyes of the officials of the Overwatch Council. In particular, the increase in the level of defense of the Imperial Army, the sudden movement of the Jingdou Garrison, and even Scholar He's sudden entry into the Palace and dejectedly leaving the Palace had all fallen into different eyes. Through different channels, they were all sent back to the square, black-gray building.
Other than the Fifth Bureau, where the Black Knights were, all of the leading figures of the eight bureaus were in the black-gray building of the Overwatch Council. The sun had just moved to the west when the intelligence reports had been gathered to the Second Bureau. After being sorted out by different intelligence officials, they were then placed on the desk of the head of the Second Bureau.
The head of the Second Bureau was a middle-aged man. He was one of the few old officials of the eight bureaus who had stayed behind. Ever since Fan Xian became the Commissioner of the Overwatch Council and gradually began to take over the power of the Overwatch Council, in order to make his takeover smoother, Chen Pingping began to persuade the old officials of the eight bureaus to leave. These old officials had single-handedly built this Council with Director Chen, so they did not have any conflict with the son of the young lady of the Ye family. Thus, they left naturally and happily.
Mu Tie took over the First Bureau. Fan Xian's brother disciple, who used poison, took over the Third Bureau. Yan Bingyun took over the Fourth Bureau. The Commander of the Black Knights had become the silver-masked Jing Ge. The bald head of the Seventh Bureau had left a long time ago. The head of the Eighth Bureau was someone Fan Xian had picked from the Qinian Unit.
Only the Second Bureau, because of the importance of intelligence reports, was still managed by the old head. He sincerely and dutifully trained his deputy. Once the deputy was able to take over the entire Qing Kingdom's intelligence system, he would have this person close to Director Fan take over.
The Overwatch Council and Imperial Censorate had been fighting lawsuits. Director Fan junior did not like Scholar He, so He Zongwei had always been the focus of the Overwatch Council's secret surveillance. Although the Emperor had always been opposed to this kind of surveillance, the court could not keep an eye on the Overwatch Council using the power in their hands to do other things. The middle-aged head of the Second Bureau furrowed his brows as he looked at the file in his hand. He didn't know what the Emperor had said to He Zongwei for his expression to become so ugly.
As for the changes in the Imperial Army and the departure of the Jingdou Garrison, they were also sensitive intelligence reports. The head of the Second Bureau furrowed his brows and thought for a long time. He still could not understand what power there was around Jingdou that the court needed to deal with so carefully. In particular, the Overwatch Council had not participated in this matter from the beginning. The Palace had not even given a word. This was truly very different from before.
He picked up the file on the table and coughed. He walked out the door and up the stairs to the quiet secret room. He knocked on the door twice and pushed it open to enter.
A young official dressed in white, completely at odds with the sinister atmosphere of the Overwatch Council, was sitting behind the large table and looking intently at something.
The head of the Second Bureau smiled slightly. He looked at Yan Bingyun and sighed in his heart. He then walked forward and placed the file in his hands on the table.
The old Director had already retired. Sir Fan junior had finally become the true Director. It was clear that Sir Yan junior would not only manage the affairs of the Fourth Bureau. He would probably take over Fan Xian's position as the new Commissioner of the Overwatch Council. During these years, Chen Pingping had been recuperating. Fan Xian also did not have the patience to manage the details. Thus, all of the Overwatch Council's affairs had always been shouldered by Yan Bingyun alone. Thus, when Yan Bingyun became the Commissioner in charge of the Council's miscellaneous matters, the officials of the Overwatch Council were all used to it and would not have any objections.
For the old officials of the Overwatch Council, although Sir Fan junior was a startling talent and because of the young lady of the Ye family and Director Chen's relationship, they were all loyal to Fan Xian and had great respect for him. However, there was always a distance to this respect. In comparison, Sir Yan junior, who had grown up in the Overwatch Council and paid a great price for the Council in Northern Qi, was, without question, closer.
"Uncle Liu, what is it that requires you to personally deliver it?" Yan Bingyun smiled warmly, completely without the frosty feeling he had in front of Fan Xian. Standing, he invited the head of the Second Bureau to sit. He then casually flipped open the files.
"The movements of the Imperial Army and Jingdou Garrison only need to be reported to the internal court and Bureau of Military Affairs. It doesn't matter if we don't know about it." The head of the Second Bureau looked at Yan Bingyun worriedly. "But, this does not conform to convention. Such a major matter, there must be a purpose. However, the Overwatch Council still does not know what has happened …"
Yan Bingyun had already flipped through the intelligence reports. The curve of his lips remained steady. Smiling slightly, he said, "It has not been peaceful in Dongyi recently. There are many aces in those places. Furthermore, the jianghu people are murderous. Perhaps the Palace is worried that, like the Hanging Temple that year, a few more killers have snuck in. It is not a big deal for the Imperial Army to raise the level of defense."
"It is the Jingdou Garrison." Yan Bingyun shook his head. "In a moment, send a message to the Bureau of Military Affairs to ask."
"The Bureau of Military Affairs can ignore us," the head of the Second Bureau furrowed his brows and said. The head of the Second Bureau furrowed his brows and said, "Furthermore, the problem now is that Shi Fei personally led the troops away. It must have been an edict from the Palace."
He suddenly thought of something. He remembered that Director Chen's carriages had not left Jingdou for long. Immediately, he smiled self-mockingly and shook his head.
"What is it?" Yan Bingyun's gaze was deep as he glanced at him unintentionally.
"Nothing." The head of the Second Bureau shook his head and smiled. "I'm really getting old. Sometimes, it's easy for my mind to run wild."
He would never have thought that the Palace would act against the old Director he respected the most. Thus, he unconsciously put an end to his earlier speculations. Just like Gong Dian and Ye Zhong's confusion and General Shi Fei's unease and fear, no one could have thought of this.
Yan Bingyun slowly lowered his head and said, "The Council's surveillance of the military has never been a public matter. It is best not to send a message to the Bureau of Military Affairs. What is the usual method? "
"We cannot interfere with the military. Usually, we draft up an intelligence report and send it to the Palace for the Emperor to look over." The head of the Second Bureau was silent for a moment and then said, "Of course, we have to react faster to unusual movements like today."
"Alright." Yan Bingyun's head remained lowered. "Immediately put this intelligence report into a report and send it through the secret tunnel to the royal study."
"Yes." The head of the Second Bureau unconsciously acknowledged like a subordinate. He suddenly felt that Yan Bingyun's reaction was strange. He did not raise his head and appeared rude. He was now an official of the same rank as him. He had not truly taken up the position of Commissioner, yet … He shook his head again. He had watched Yan Bingyun grow up and knew he was not like this. He just thought there was something wrong with the Yan manor, so he didn't think more about it. Picking up the file, he left.
The opportunity for the Overwatch Council to react at the first instant was lost just like that. In front of the Qing Kingdom's powerful state apparatus, if the Overwatch Council, as a secret agency, did not have any reaction, it might be the best reaction for this country, this court, or even this square black and gray building.
The room returned to its unchanging silence for countless years. Yan Bingyun slowly raised his head. If there was someone beside him, they would certainly see the increasing struggle and pain in Sir Yan junior's eyes.
Yan Bingyun's hands were clenched tightly under the table and did not loosen for a long time. His thin lips were pressed together tightly, so tightly that there was almost no blood left. He slowly stood up and walked to the side of the window. Lifting the black curtain, he gazed out. With a glance, he saw a corner of the bright yellow Royal Palace glistening under the clear autumn sunlight.
He thought of the first time he entered the Overwatch Council, the old man in the wheelchair had met him in this room. The black cloth on the window seemed to have never been taken down. It was as if the old man was used to the darkness and never saw the sunlight again.
Later, the old man left this room and returned to Chen Garden. Fan Xian did not like staying in the Overwatch Council's serious and sinister courtyard every day, so the person who stayed in this room the longest was Yan Bingyun himself.
In the past, the heads of the eight bureaus would report matters to the two sides of this long table. Now, there was no one on either side of the long table. In the past, there would always be a wheelchair at the end of the long table. Behind the wheelchair was a patch of shadow.
Now, the wheelchair was long gone. Yan Bingyun slowly pulled down the black curtain in his hand and let out a long sigh. The confusion, struggle, and pain in his eyes gradually disappeared. Since he was the second owner of this room, he had to inherit the previous owner's temperament and will. Since he had made up his mind, he could not hesitate.
Yan Bingyun was one of the seven young officials the Qing Emperor had summoned into the Palace when he was injecting new blood into the court. These seven young officials were the new people the Qing Emperor had prepared for the future of the Qing Kingdom. Other than Qin Heng, who had died in the rebellion, the other six had already begun to shine in the Qing court.
Of the six, the one who had climbed the fastest was He Zongwei. At such a young age, he was already a traveling scholar of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. He also held the position of Imperial Censor of the Left. Yan Bingyun and Cheng Jialin, one of Fan Xian's four disciples, were, without question, grouped into Fan Xian's faction.
However, no one knew how much effort and intimidation the Qing Kingdom's mighty Emperor had put into the Overwatch Council's Sir Yan junior during that night's conversation.
In the Emperor's eyes, the most important of the so-called seven gentlemen were He Zongwei and Yan Bingyun.
Yan Bingyun slowly sat down and spread his palms flat on the table. Gently, he ran his hands over the Overwatch Council's complicated documents and intelligence reports. Then, he gently rang a bell and summoned in his direct subordinates, as well as the members of the Qinian Unit he could use. In a quiet voice, he gave out order after order.
These orders did not appear to have any connection to each other and did not draw much attention. However, the reinforcement to Dongyi and the exchange with Deng Zi Yue in Xiliang Road would take up most of the Overwatch Council's attention during these dozen days.
In total, four orders easily emptied most of the Jingdou Overwatch Council's power and began to move them to various places in the Qing Kingdom. These movements were not unusual, so they did not draw anyone's attention. However, with this, it would be difficult for the Overwatch Council to gather a powerful killing force in Jingdou again.
There were not many people who could do this. Even if Fan Xian did it himself, he probably would not have done it as quickly as Yan Bingyun. In the end, Fan Xian was not someone who could handle detailed matters. He understood the Overwatch Council very well, but he still did not understand it as thoroughly as Yan Bingyun. For such a large Overwatch Council to be able to create such a result by only moving a few points, Sir Yan junior's planning skills were still as powerful as ever.
The only thing that could not be moved was the First Bureau of the Overwatch Council. The First Bureau was responsible for overseeing the governance of Jingdou's officials. Furthermore, the First Bureau had been personally managed by Fan Xian. Although Mu Tie had become the head of the First Bureau, the officials of the First Bureau still felt that their direct superior was the Director. Although Yan Bingyun had Fan Xian's orders, he could not use overly bizarre orders to move them out of Jingdou.
After Yan Bingyun finished all of this, he took a deep breath. It was as if everything he had just done had almost suffocated him.
"Everything is for the Qing Kingdom." Yan Bingyun slowly closed his eyes. He couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with his father a long time ago. The corners of his smooth eyes twitched involuntarily. "Or is it all for the Overwatch Council?"
…
…
When Eunuch Yao left the royal study and came to the foot of the palace walls to announce the imperial edict to Ye Zhong and Gong Dian, not many people in the Royal Palace knew of this matter. When Ye Zhong and Gong Dian knelt on the ground and forcefully suppressed the shock and unease in their hearts to receive the edict, Eunuch Yao handed over the Emperor's letter and said expressionlessly, "General Shi Fei is waiting for the edict."
Ye Zhong stood up and accepted the Emperor's letter. It was as if he had accepted Dong Mountain. It was so heavy that he could barely raise his arm. He was one of the few remaining ninth-level aces in the Qing Kingdom. Faced with this letter, he still felt that he could not bear the burden.
Fortunately, the person who truly needed this letter was Shi Fei, an important official sent by the military from Yanjing. Because he had not been in Jingdou for a long time, he had been sent by the Emperor on such a dangerous mission. As the Head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Ye Zhong couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow for Shi Fei. At the same time, a chill rose in his heart.
The Emperor had sent the military from Yanjing to handle this matter and not the Dingzhou army. Other than the fact that Shi Fei was leading the Jingdou Garrison, it had to be said that Ye Zhong had lived in Jingdou for a long time. The Emperor was not at ease with his relationship with Chen Pingping.
Ye Zhong understood this, but his expression did not change at all.
Eunuch Yao left the Imperial Army camp empty-handed. With his body hunched, he slowly walked deeper into the Palace. Like Ye Zhong, many complicated emotions rose and fell in this head eunuch's heart. After serving in the Palace for a long time, he was used to the conversation between the Emperor and old Director Chen that was completely different from that between ruler and official. He knew that in the Emperor's heart, old Director Chen was not just a normal official.
Thinking of the Emperor's angry scene in the royal study, the smile on Eunuch Yao's face involuntarily became bitter. In his opinion, if the Emperor truly wanted to punish old Director Chen, then wouldn't it have been more convenient for the Emperor to take action in Jingdou when the old Director had entered the Palace to bid farewell? Why did he have to wait until old Director Chen had already left the capital and was on his way home before taking action?
The matter was in Dazhou. The Tiger Guard who had escaped before the battle was in Dazhou. The Ministry of Justice aces that Scholar He had sent were in Dazhou. The aces that the internal court had sent to help the Imperial Censorate were also in Dazhou.
Eunuch Yao understood the Emperor's intentions better than anyone. It looked like the Emperor was still watching. Eunuch Yao knew that if old Director Chen truly wanted to escape, unless the Emperor personally led troops to chase after him, no one would be able to stop that strange old creature.
He walked to Taiji Palace and leaned against the side of a pillar, enjoying a rare moment of peace. The eunuchs and serving girls who passed him bowed respectfully and slightly fearfully and then silently left. Eunuch Yao closed his eyes and enjoyed the early autumn afternoon sunlight. He sighed to himself and said to himself, "Old Director, since you've left, don't come back. The Emperor also doesn't want you to come back."
After the cold-blooded and heartless Qing Emperor had secretly investigated for a long time, he still went against his nature and gave Chen Pingping a chance, a chance to defend himself, and a chance to leave. Before Chen Pingping left, he did not defend himself. Now, outside Dazhou, he had run into Tiger Guard Gao Da, who was wanted by the court. It all depended on whether or not he was willing to leave.
If Chen Pingping was willing to leave, perhaps this matter would be over. If he was not willing to leave, then he would have to return to Jingdou.
This was not the Qing Emperor's affection for Chen Pingping. It was probably more of an interrogation, questioning, and quiet questioning of Chen Pingping's heart.
The Qing Emperor and Chen Pingping had known and accompanied each other for decades. He could accept anyone betraying him because a paranoid Emperor never trusted anyone in the world. However, he could not accept Chen Pingping betraying him. He didn't even believe any of the truths he had discovered.
When a person lived in this world, they were always afraid of being alone, particularly the person sitting on the throne. Perhaps the Qing Emperor himself did not realize that Chen Pingping, this seemingly lonely old cripple, was the only source of warmth in his cold heart that could prove he was a living person.
Thus, the Emperor was angry and worried. Until the end, he still looked at himself and Chen Pingping's heart with a glimmer of uncertainty.
Those closely involved could not see clearly. Perhaps the only person who could see all of this clearly was the head eunuch leaning against a pillar in Taiji Palace and basking in the sun.
Eunuch Hong liked to bask in the sun. Eunuch Yao also liked to bask in the sun. Eunuch Hou, who had died to Fan Xian's hand, also liked to bask in the sun. It was probably because these abnormal people hid too many secrets in their hearts. Their eyes were more sinister than anyone else's, allowing them to know too much about the Emperor's joys, anger, sorrow, and joy. However, they could not say it or think about it. Thus, they could only allow the sun to shine endlessly on their bodies to prevent the secrets in their bodies from becoming moldy and the icy emotions from frostbite them.
Eunuch Yao closed his eyes and slowly breathed. He was not a powerful warrior like Hong Siyang. He also did not have the noble spirit to sacrifice himself for the Qing Kingdom's unification of the world. He was just a cautious and careful person. All of his goals were to ensure that he could live on safely. Thus, other than fear, he had no other thoughts regarding the matter between the Emperor and old Director Chen.
"The sun is truly quite good today," Eunuch Dai said with a smile as he walked out from the side of the hall and leaned against him.
Eunuch Yao smiled and glanced at his old companion. The two of them had entered the Palace together. However, Eunuch Dai's days in the Palace had not been as peaceful as his. Eunuch Dai had first been in Lady Shu's Palace and had been deeply favored by the Emperor. The important matters of passing edicts to officials' manors were all given to him to do. Later, he lost power in one day and did miserably in the Palace. It was not until Sir Fan junior's help and his outstanding performance during the Palace rebellion that he once again made a name for himself in the Palace.
All of the eunuchs and serving girls in the Palace were afraid of Eunuch Yao. After all, he was the head eunuch closest to the Emperor. However, Eunuch Dai did not have the fear that most people had. After all, he was an old acquaintance. Furthermore, Eunuch Dai's power was not small. Behind him was Sir Fan junior.
Eunuch Yao did not reply. He only moved to the side and gave him half of the corridor pillar's position.
Eunuch Dai glanced at him. He wanted to say something but then stopped. Instead, he sighed and said, "When we first entered the Palace, we were lazy and sunbathing here. In the end, we were beaten 50 times by Eunuch Hong. Do you still remember?"
Of course, Eunuch Yao remembered. Among the young eunuchs at the time, the young Marquis had already died. He sighed. He knew what Old Dai wanted to ask. Presumably, he had also sensed the strangeness in the Royal Palace today. However, this matter was too big. In the entire world, probably only five people knew about it. Furthermore, Eunuch Dai and Sir Fan junior had a good relationship, so this matter had to be hidden from him.
Eunuch Yao smiled and narrowed his eyes as he glanced at the sun to his left. "Of the companions of the past, in the end, some died and some scattered. How many of them are like you and I who still remember the friendship of being beaten together?"
"We are still alive. As long as we are alive, that is good." Eunuch Dai shook his head.
Eunuch Yao suddenly raised his head and gazed toward the end of the long corridor. He saw a young eunuch slowly walking over with his back hunched. He narrowed his eyes and said, "Hong Zhu has been following you recently. How is he?"
"This child probably suffered a great shock three years ago. He's become more and more taciturn." Eunuch Dai clearly liked the clever and taciturn young eunuch. He sighed and said, "Back then, he was also a popular person in the Eastern Palace. Who would have thought that he would end up like this?"
"Back then, he also served in the royal study. Being taciturn is also a good thing, "Eunuch Yao said calmly." Back then, you also talked too much. "
Eunuch Dai smiled self-mockingly and didn't say anything more.
…
…
Two days later, in a mountain on the outskirts of Dazhou, the Jingdou Garrison, which had just rested for less than a day, received an urgent secret report from the Bureau of Military Affairs in Jingdou. Shi Fei accepted the secret letter and destroyed the wax at the mouth of the letter. He read the contents of the letter word by word. His pupils constricted slightly and then returned to normal. He was not silent for long before he handed the letter to the soldier beside him.
"Take this letter well. You are not allowed to show yourself tomorrow! If I die, give this letter to Sir Fan junior. " Thousands of Jingdou Garrison riders were waiting in the valley. General Shi Fei only brought the soldiers beside him to stand under the setting sun and watch the activity in Dazhou not far ahead.
The soldier was slightly shocked. He thought that the Yanjing army had never had any connection to Sir Fan junior or even the Overwatch Council. Why was this letter so important?
Shi Fei laughed coldly and didn't explain anything. He looked at his subordinates at the bottom of the valley. He had no confidence in his heart. Even he didn't know whether or not there were spies planted by the Overwatch Council among the Jingdou Garrison soldiers.
Although the court had clearly decreed that the Overwatch Council's regulations strictly forbade the Overwatch Council from infiltrating the military, what kind of person was General Shi Fei? He did not believe this at all.
Even a major figure like the old Qin Master had fallen to the hands of an Overwatch Council spy. Shi Fei did not think he was more powerful than Qin Ye.
He took a deep breath and said, "Slow down and move closer in the direction of Dazhou."
He was afraid that he would fail and die. He was even more afraid that once he died, the Emperor, in order to appease Sir Fan junior's emotions, would put the crime of killing Director Chen on him. Thus, he handed the Emperor's letter to his soldier. If he failed this time, then this letter had to be delivered to Fan Xian's hands.
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