Chapter 483: Impacts
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
In Wuyang Earl’s Mansion, Zhou Bao, leaning on a chair, looked at Jiang Xiao standing before him and said with a smiling face, “Let’s stay out of this matter. It has nothing to do with us. As the saying goes, mortals suffer when immortals fight. Just leave it alone!”
“But Your Excellency, the sudden attack on Mingyi School has caused panic in the world. It’s also affecting our business!”
“What’s the impact? Is there anyone who dares to threaten our Anyuan Store now?” Zhou Bao smiled. He did not think that there was anyone in the world who dared to pick a fight with him unless that person had a death wish.
“No, there isn’t!” Jiang Xiao hurriedly answered, “But we are doing business. The whole world is in chaos, and it has affected the supply of goods and transportation. As a result, the cost has increased greatly!”
“I can do nothing about it. The chaos is a matter of the world. I can’t be bothered really. What, do you expect me to settle the problem?” Zhou Bao stared at Jiang Xiao, “Don’t you think it’s an opportunity? You’ve always said the northwest side is barren. Now that the world is going chaotic, everyone else is jittery. It will be a good opportunity for us to increase the population. Ask Anyuan Store to publicize Wuyang Region. Then the northwest region will soon become more prosperous. Isn’t this good?”
“Yes, Your Excellency is right. We have started doing it already. And we’ve really recruited a lot of talent these days. Your Excellency, would you like to meet them?”
“No, it’s up to you to make these arrangements!” Zhou Bao shook his head, glancing at Jiang Xiao who looked slightly disappointed, and sighed, “Alas, don’t you know that I’m also in the midst of the storm. There are more people keeping an eye on me than on Mingyi School, I’m afraid to act carelessly now!”
“You mean there are people who want to create trouble for Your Excellency?” What Zhou Bao said surprised Jiang Xiao. Now that the development of Wuyang Region was getting bigger and bigger, their lives, family possessions and future were tied to Zhou Bao. Whatever happened to Zhou Bao would affect them directly too.
“You look so worried. No one is going to tangle with me. It’s just that I’ve caused a few problems at sea, and somebody is trying to get back at me. Don’t worry about that. I can handle it. Go back!” Zhou Bao waved Jiang Xiao out. Jiang Xiao had good abilities and was a very suitable agent, but only on the secular level. He could not help Zhou Bao at Zhou Bao’s level. Besides, Zhou Bao did not want them to be exposed to the upper cla.s.ses of the Seven-deity Regions.
As a result of the actions of the Divine Wind Palace, there were now some conflicts between the biggest sects in the Four Eastern Regions. The two sides were on the verge of a fight. Actually, Zhou Bao knew that a fight would occur sooner or later. That was why he was afraid to act carelessly. After all, he was really powerful and his Yin and Yang Heavenly Sword was enough to kill a Genuine Immortal at the Venerable Realm. In the eyes of these sects, he was, so to speak, equivalent to a Genuine Immortal at Venerable Realm, who was unruly and had no clear intentions. No one in these sects would like to see him go into action.
Of course, that didn’t mean other people would want him to be pa.s.sive either.
At least the Immortal Palace had hoped that Zhou Bao would do something. Although it was not necessary for him to reveal his ident.i.ty as a member of the Immortal Palace, it was good to show where his loyalties lay. All in all, it was now made known to the upper cla.s.ses of the Four Eastern Regions that there was an expert in the Central Mainland Region, who was not on the Golden Book of Fate but who was able to kill the Venerable. He was such a wild card!
“I received a letter from my father!”
No sooner had he returned to the inner courtyard when he saw Yan Yunfei, his heavily pregnant wife, looking at him with a worried look on her face.
Zhou Bao frowned slightly, took the letter, and gave Yan Yunfei a comforting pat and said consolingly, “Yunfei, I told you, just ignore the mess outside. I’ll handle it. As for your father, heehee, he is the First Sage-Emperor of the Jin. What could possibly happen to him?”
When Zhou Bao mentioned the First Sage-Emperor of the Jin, there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
“Zhou Bao, I’m serious!” Yan Yunfei shot Zhou Bao an angry glance. “About the sudden attack on Mingyi School, do you know who the culprit is?”
“I know, of course, but it’s none of my business!” Zhou Bao laughed helplessly.
“You know about it? Who was it and why did he do it?”
“Mortals suffer when immortals fight. Mingyi School is nothing but a hapless p.a.w.n to bear the wrath of immortals. It is not a big deal!” Zhou Bao shook his head.
“But—!”
“I know that the Jin is closely linked with Mingyi School, and have to rely on their power in many cases at court. But now this power is no longer dependable, it has collapsed. Your father has to reconsider the power at court!”
“Is there really no room for negotiation?”
“Yunfei!” Looking at Yan Yunfei’s eager expression, Zhou Bao sighed helplessly and sat down beside her. “You know, this is no longer a contest between secular forces, but a conflict between the most elite sects of the Four Eastern Regions. Mingyi School is only a small branch of Divine Wind Palace, so it’s normal for them to bear the brunt of it. As for your father, he is too involved with Divine Wind Palace, and he has too many things on his mind. If you really want him to stay well, try to persuade him to abdicate!”
“To abdicate?” Yan Yunfei screamed, looking at Zhou Bao in disbelief. “How could that ever happen? Father is in the prime of his life, and has eliminated a great enemy, the Northern Yuan. It’s only now that he gets to do something big. How could he abdicate?”
“So as I’ve said, I can’t do anything about this matter!” Zhou Bao shook his head helplessly. “Your father is one of those crazy people who is always insistent in putting forth his own ideas. He thinks of himself as the greatest person in the whole world. How is it even possible for him to abdicate quietly?”
“Then how should he do it?”
“How to do it? Rebel, get rid of all the “evil” ministers! Don’t you have a brother who is the Crown Prince? Ask him to rebel, using this as an excuse to clean up those around the emperor.” Zhou Bao said indifferently, “There should be some important officials around him. Ask the Crown Prince to accuse those that he doesn’t like of treason and set his troops to wipe them out!”
“How can that work? You shouldn’t regard it as a mere trifle!” Yan Yunfei said coldly after hearing what Zhou Bao said, resisting the urge to ground him to death with her foot.
“A mere trifle? Heehee, I’m telling you, in my eyes, the Jin is a trifling matter, and in the eyes of others, it’s the same. Now there are two forces in the Central Mainland Region that are closely related to Divine Wind Palace. One is Mingyi School, and the other is your Jin. Divine Wind Palace has already aroused public anger this time, and it is natural for someone to have to suffer the wrath of these elite sects. It’s not enough to have Mingyi School alone, but it will be enough if the Jin is included. This is the best way to save your Jin. Although your father is my father-in-law, I need a reason to plead his cause, right?”
“A reason?”
“Yeah, as long as your father abdicates, I can save the Jin. I still have the face. But if your father is standing there like a stone in a pit, the whole Jin will reek of Divine Wind Palace. Thus, it’s not easy for me to convince others!”
“Is there really no way? You know my father, if you ask him to abdicate, you’re killing him. He….”
“Which one do you want to save, the Jin or your father?” Zhou Bao asked. His fingers were tapping lightly on the table, and the sound irritated Yan Yunfei.
“I don’t know. I just don’t want my father to worry too much, and don’t want his life’s work to go up in smoke as well!” Yan Yunfei said hesitantly.
“His life’s work?” A wry smile appeared on Zhou Bao’s lips. “I neither understand nor approve of his shoddy Emperor’s Intention anyway, but I know that the only way to save his life’s work is to get him to step down. By any means, as long as he abdicates, I can find a way to save the Jin. If he doesn’t abdicate, I can only save the Yan Family, not the Jin. Just tell him and let him choose!” At this point, Zhou Bao’s tone became firm. Now it was not a question of whether it could be saved or not. If he was really not afraid of losing face, both could be saved. However, he did not really like Yan Yuntian, so there was no need to lose face for him. And it was only for the sake of Yan Yunfei that he was willing to help him.
Zhou Bao’s expression and tone made Yan Yunfei understand that as Zhou Bao had said, there was no room for negotiation. She could only sigh and keep quiet.
“Yunfei, don’t be frustrated. All will be fine. When your father abdicates, I can bring him here. If he still wants to be emperor, I’ll put Wuyang Region in his charge. After he has managed it, he can build up a strong army again and go back to the restoration!” Zhou Bao could not help laughing as he pictured this.
“What are you talking about? This is a total mess!” Yan Yunfei, though in a bad mood, was amused by Zhou Bao’s words. She tapped him a few times.
Laughing together with Yan Yunfei, Zhou Bao said, “Yunfei, don’t think too much. You’re only two months away from having a baby. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. As for your family, I can a.s.sure you that neither your father nor anyone else will be in danger!”
“Okay!” Hearing Zhou Bao’s promise, Yan Yunfei nodded and did not ask any more questions.