Chapter 473 - 287: Is Their Weight Sufficient?
Chapter 473: Chapter 287: Is Their Weight Sufficient?
"A report, my lord. Lord General requests your presence."
Lou Yuxue raised a single eyebrow and replied, "One moment. I’ll be right there."
But the person outside hesitated. "Forgive me, my lord, but Lord General wishes to invite Lord Simurgh Phoenix to discuss an urgent matter."
"..."
Lou Yuxue’s expression flickered for an instant before she sat back down.
Although Cui Qingwu found the situation amusing, the thought of the General didn’t exactly please her either.
Still, after a moment’s thought, she rose and headed for the door.
"’It seems I’m the one who’ll have to report these matters to Lord General, then.’"
Lou Yuxue couldn’t resist reminding her, "Especially the business with Liu Hong."
Cui Qingwu glanced back at her. "Is there anything else?"
The words had barely left her mouth when she turned to Chen Yi, a suggestive look on her face.
"Oh... and then there’s the matter of ’Lord Dragon Spear’?"
"I never thought Lord Simurgh Phoenix would be so ruthless. ’Lord Dragon Spear’ just did you a great service, yet you’re already thinking of selling him out?"
Lou Yuxue remained unfazed. She snorted, "This was agreed upon between me and Lord General."
"So... you’re more concerned about ’Lord Dragon Spear’?"
"You!?"
"Haha..."
Seeing her flustered, Cui Qingwu laughed, turned, and walked out of the meditation room, leaving with the person who had summoned her.
Once the meditation room fell completely silent, Chen Yi glanced at Lou Yuxue, whose chest was rising and falling unevenly, and said with a smile, "Well then, I’ll be on my way."
"Wait."
"Hm?"
Meeting Chen Yi’s gaze, Lou Yuxue stammered, "That Du Cang... his cultivation is high. You... you be careful."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Lord Lady Tiger."
"But shouldn’t this be a joint operation between the White Tiger Guard and me?"
"Or are you saying you have no intention of getting involved at all?"
Lou Yuxue’s face flushed red, and she turned her head away. "My cultivation is too low. If anyone from our side makes a move, it will be Lord General."
"Him? That works."
Despite what he said, Chen Yi never actually expected the White Tiger Guard to truly join forces with him against Du Cang.
’If you’re going to put on a show, you have to see it through.’
’Either way, he’d have to face off against Du Cang eventually.’
After a few more words of idle chat, Chen Yi rose and took his leave.
The meditation room fell completely silent once more.
Lou Yuxue stared wordlessly at the oil lamp on the table, seemingly oblivious to Chen Yi’s departure.
Her thoughts were a jumble.
’She had been the one to propose the ambush on Du Cang, but now that the time was near, she was starting to worry.’
’I hope his Martial Arts are strong enough.’
’Du Cang... he’s no easy target...’
Chen Yi didn’t need Lou Yuxue’s reminder; he knew full well that Du Cang was a powerful adversary.
A ruthless man capable of becoming King Landu’s right hand and training the Jackal Army wouldn’t just sit back and wait to be killed.
’He’d probably have to go and sweep the burial site he’d chosen for Du Cang ahead of time.’
At this thought, Chen Yi gave a wry smile. ’Five days... I hope he can last that long.’
’Originally, he was confident that Du Cang would choose to remain in Shu State after learning of his presence.’
’But because those clever-for-nothing idiots from the Ji State Trading Company had given the grain to Cui Qingwu ahead of schedule, he had to alter his plans.’
’Forget it. I’ll spare Lv Jiunan for now. He might be useful later.’
Chen Yi glanced at the dark clouds gathering in the night sky, then darted off toward the residence on Chuansi Street.
’Alright, first, I’ll deal with Asutai!’
...
「About a quarter of an hour later.」
Cui Qingwu arrived at the West Market by carriage. As was her custom, she instructed Huan’er to wait for her outside the Yunqing Building.
She then proceeded alone to the tailor shop.
Just as he had when meeting Lou Yuxue, the General was standing at the entrance to welcome her.
After exchanging greetings, the two entered a meditation room deep within the tailor shop.
Cui Qingwu sat calmly on a stool and, in a level voice, recounted the events that had taken place at the Spring Rain Building.
"’Dragon Spear’ Liu Wu has agreed to the White Tiger Guard’s request. We hope to lure Du Cang to the Chishui Riverbank in five days."
The General was unsurprised by this news. He nodded with a smile. "It seems your relationship with Lady Tiger has thawed a bit lately."
Cui Qingwu’s expression remained neutral. "You jest, my lord. Lady Tiger and I are both White Tiger Guard Silver Banner Officers. How could we possibly be at odds?"
The General gave a choked laugh and didn’t press the matter.
’How could he deny such "camaraderie between colleagues"?’
Cui Qingwu continued, "Second, Liu Hong came to the Bright Moon Building in disguise today."
The General looked at her, slightly surprised. "Liu Hong? He went to the Bright Moon Building himself? Why?"
"He wanted to hire the Bright Moon Building to find the ’Barbarian Prince,’ Asutai."
"Him... Because of King Landu?"
Cui Qingwu affirmed with a hum. "Lady Tiger guessed as much. She said you previously mentioned that Liu Hong harbors treacherous intentions and is in contact with King Landu."
The General nodded slightly. "And?"
"Also... I was wondering why you summoned me tonight, my lord?"
Hearing this, the General paused. Realizing she had nothing more to report, he lowered his head in thought.
After a moment, he asked out of the blue, "Do you want the Governor or the Commander-in-Chief?"
Cui Qingwu froze, clearly not expecting such an ambiguous question.
’The Governor... that must mean Liu Hong, right?’
’But the Commander-in-Chief... who is he referring to?’
’Li Fu or Zhu Hao?’
’But why is the General asking about them? And why is he making her choose?’
Cui Qingwu pushed down her confusion and asked, "I don’t understand what you mean, my lord."
The General fixed his eyes on her, a smile spreading across his face. "Do you remember the question I asked you last time?"
"I do. You asked me my purpose for coming to Shu State."
"If you intend to rehash old topics, my lord, then I must take my leave."
"No rush, no rush."
The General waved his hand dismissively. "Your reason for being here isn’t that hard to guess, actually."
Cui Qingwu’s brow furrowed instinctively, a hint of anger showing on her face.
"What do you mean by that, my lord?"
"Are you warning me?"
The General shook his head with a smile, no longer beating around the bush. He said bluntly, "What if I told you that my goal is the same as yours?"
Hearing this, Cui Qingwu almost let her surprise show, but she maintained her composure and said impassively:
"I don’t know what you’re talking about, my lord."
Seeing her unwillingness to talk, the General didn’t press her further, instead returning to his earlier question.
"Right now in Shu State, the Old Marquis is holed up in the Xiao Family estate, Xiao Jinghong is lying low at the Wu Mountain Mutual Market, and Lord Tang of the Inspectorate Office is also keeping his head down."
"Besides them, among the handful of courtiers for whom our White Tiger Guard holds incriminating evidence, are Liu Hong and Commander-in-Chief Zhu Hao."
"Is the weight of these two men sufficient?"
When Cui Qingwu heard this, a flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes.
’She hadn’t expected the General to actually know her purpose for coming to Shu State.’
’Although she never intended to hide it, she had never mentioned it to anyone, either.’
’Even her deal with Gray Wolf Xiao Dongchen had been conducted in secret.’
’The General... how did he find out?’
’And another thing, why did he say their goals were the ’same’?’
’Could it be that he...’
’No, could it be that the White Tiger Guard also wants Brother Yunfan to be promoted and rise in rank?’
Cui Qingwu’s mind was filled with doubt, but seeing the General’s all-knowing expression, she gave her answer first:
"Commander-in-Chief Zhu Hao."
’If she were to find out the White Tiger Guard was plotting against Chen Yunfan, she wouldn’t just pretend she knew nothing.’
The General, who had naturally guessed some of what was on Cui Qingwu’s mind, nodded with a smile.
"Just as I thought."
"He’s currently stationed in the Governor’s Office. If he were to gain the Holy Emperor’s favor by collecting evidence of his superior’s crimes, I’m afraid it would be detrimental to his future career."
Seeing him so openly speak Chen Yunfan’s name, Cui Qingwu’s expression turned cold as she asked:
"I wonder if you could clarify, my lord, why the White Tiger Guard wants to help... him?"
The General knew she would ask, but he simply shook his head and murmured an apology.
"You know the rules of the White Tiger Guard. Even I cannot disclose certain top-secret matters."
"What I can tell you is this: he is also held in high regard by the Pavilion Master."
"The Lord... Pavilion Master?"
Cui Qingwu’s expression was a whirlwind of emotions—doubt, surprise, and a faint trace of panic.
Ever since joining the White Tiger Guard, she had heard countless tales of the Lord Pavilion Master’s ruthless and decisive methods.
Whatever he set out to do, he accomplished.
Whoever he wanted to kill, none could escape.
No one who dared to defy him or stand in his way ever met a good end.
"He, why..."
The General raised a hand, cutting her off. "I would advise you not to probe any further."
"The Lord Pavilion Master is not me. He will not abandon a long-standing plan simply because of your relationship with that young gentleman."
He paused, a slight smile touching his lips. "But you needn’t worry. The Lord Pavilion Master will not harm the young gentleman."
Cui Qingwu glanced at him, then lowered her head slightly.
After a long moment, she held out her hand. "Let me have it."
"What?"
"Zhu Hao."
’Regardless of how the General knew, or what his true objective was, she planned to get her hands on the evidence against Zhu Hao first.’
’At least until she could ascertain the Lord Pavilion Master’s true intentions, she needed to help Chen Yunfan’s career skyrocket.’
’Only then would she and Chen Yunfan have any chance of dealing with the troubles that lay ahead!’