Chapter 432 - 269: General A Little Cold Plum Is Coming
Chapter 432: Chapter 269: General A Little Cold Plum Is Coming
Chen Yi, of course, was unaware that someone was spying on him from the shadows.
After all, with his current cultivation and mastery over the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism, the slightest disturbance within a five-li radius could hardly escape his notice.
He ambled along.
Returning to Spring Lotus Garden, he shed his black clothes, removed the disguise from his face, and changed into a light robe.
Only then did he let out a long breath.
’The plot against the Ji State Trading Company is mostly complete. If everything goes smoothly, they’ll soon be backed into a corner.’
’At that point, whether they choose to take a desperate risk or simply give up and lie low... it’s hard to say for now.’
Of course.
Chen Yi would rather the Ji State Trading Company act more frantically, more arrogantly.
Only then would he get to see more of the dirty dealings hidden beneath the surface of Shu State.
Besides, if the people from the Ji State Trading Company chose to just swallow this loss, it would affect his subsequent plans.
Fortunately...
Fortunately, Lin Huai’an was dead.
A smile touched Chen Yi’s lips, likely at the thought of the chagrined looks on certain people’s faces when they learned they had been outmaneuvered.
He looked out the window at the night sky, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
The Great Wei Dynasty has held power for over two hundred years. The Noble Families and Clans have formed factions for their own selfish interests, creating a truly tangled web of relationships.
It’s not just in the Imperial Court or the Jianghu; it even reaches down to the common folk in the markets.
There’s a saying that goes, "Taken from the people, used for the people."
But for those Noble Families that have stood for hundreds, even thousands of years, their creed is "Taken from the people, used for ourselves."
Which one of them isn’t sucking the blood of the common people?
Just like that Ji State Trading Company. Behind them, there’s no doubt a group of the rich and powerful.
’Since you’ve come, you should at least leave something behind.’
Chen Yi murmured softly, then rose to close the window before turning back and sitting cross-legged on his bed.
Originally, those dirty dealings had nothing to do with him.
But as the saying goes, the tree may want peace, but the wind will not cease.
With the Xiao Family besieged on all sides, how could he, their son-in-law, possibly stay out of it?
First, there was the "Fledgling" identity given to him by the White Tiger Guard. Then came one scheme after another targeting the Xiao Family.
Every single one of them disrupted his peaceful life.
It couldn’t be helped.
’I hope Shu State can find some peace after this.’
’I’ve had my eye on that "A Little Cold Plum" for a long time.’
...
「It was now nearly one in the morning.」
But Elder Master Xiao was still awake.
And not just him.
Xiao Shen, Xiao Xuanshuo, and the others were also gathered in the Qingjing Residence.
Each wore a grave expression, all of them looking at the Elder Master at the head of the room.
"Eldest Brother, weren’t Liu Hong’s words today a bit biased?"
Xiao Shen, his usual amiability gone, rested his hands on the arms of his chair and grumbled in a displeased tone:
"As the Governor of Shu State, how can he side with outsiders?"
The Elder Master seemed not to have heard, his gaze lowered to the Jade Ring on his thumb.
Xiao Shen was about to say more, but he saw Xiao Xuanshuo across from him shake his head, so he could only sit there and fume in silence.
Seeing this, Xiao Xuanshuo glanced at the Elder Master and sighed inwardly.
It was no wonder even a good-natured man like Xiao Shen was angry.
Liu Hong had come to persuade them to "remain calm," which was tantamount to asking them to give up a chance to improve the Xiao Family’s situation.
One had to understand that although the Xiao Family, as Marquis Wu, controlled the Dingyuan Army, they could not mobilize it at will.
The Tiger Talismans of the Great Wei’s Vermilion Bird Guard, the Commander-in-Chief of Shu State, and the Xiao Family all had to be brought together before the army could be deployed.
Unless the Xiao Family was planning a rebellion, not a single soldier from the Three Towns would move.
This was especially true for matters like "the Poshisu Country’s Peacock King Banner violating the border."
Therefore, Liu Hong had come today to persuade the Elder Master to be patient and wait for definitive news from the Ancient Tea-Horse Road before reporting to the Imperial Court.
His reasoning was grand enough—to avoid "disturbing the Holy Emperor" over a minor stir.
After a moment of silence.
The Elder Master’s drooping eyelids lifted slightly. He glanced at the sky outside and said in an even tone:
"It’s late. All of you go back and rest. It seems no news has come from the Capital Commandery today."
"Eldest Brother..."
Before Xiao Shen could persuade him further, the Elder Master waved his hand. "Third Brother, I know what you mean."
"But... Liu Hong has a point."
"Right now, we’ve only heard some news from the Wan Family’s merchant caravan. We haven’t yet seen any sign of King Landu and his forces advancing east to violate our border."
"To petition the Holy Emperor and deploy the Dingyuan Army at this time would indeed be premature."
The Elder Master’s words were as placid as an old well, yet they were also resolute.
This caused Xiao Shen, who had wanted to say more, to give up completely. He rose and left without another word.
Xiao Xuanshuo and the others exchanged glances, then also bowed in salute.
"Father, you should also rest early."
"My Lord..."
In a short while, the Qingjing Residence lived up to its name and fell completely silent.
In truth, what kept him so quiet at this moment were Liu Hong’s last few words before he left.
"Marquis, the Xiao Family has lain dormant for five years. Anyone with eyes can see it, and they are all wary."
"If you rush to mobilize the Dingyuan Army now, you’ll inevitably give those with ill intentions an opportunity to attack the Xiao Family."
"You can’t be hasty."
Although Elder Master Xiao knew Liu Hong’s persuasion stemmed from his own selfish motives, his words had indeed hit home.
He had endured for so many years.
’Why be hasty now?’
Moreover, King Landu’s Peacock King Banner was still lingering on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, showing no signs of advancing east.
If it was later confirmed that those horse bandits weren’t coming, his petition to the Imperial Court now to request the Tiger Talisman would become a joke.
It would be a classic case of lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
As Elder Master Xiao thought about these things, his cloudy eyes gazed at the moonlight outside the hall, and he let out a long sigh.
’The Capital Commandery probably thinks the same way.’
’Li Fu and Zhu Hao... those two are even more composed than I expected.’
Just then, Xiao Jing appeared in a flash. "My Lord."