Chapter 287.2: Half Wielding Power, Leaving
Opening the letter, Li Hong Yuan carefully looked over page by page, his speed very quick. After he finished reading, he even laughed, “My Qi Yuan dynasty really has crouching tigers and hidden dragons, talented people coming forth in large numbers.” He conveniently had all the letters handed to Yu Zhong Qing.
Yu Zhong Qing slightly blanked, probably not expecting that Li Hong Yuan would hand it over to him to read, but he didn’t question either, accepting it and looking it over. The portion in front, although extremely shocking, it was unlikely to make him change his face, but when he read to a certain page in the back, Yu Zhong Qing’s eyes surged with intense hatred and killing intent, seemingly as if wanting to have the paper burned through. His two hands, because of this, were shaking, the veins on the back of his hand violently bulging. In the next moment, he suddenly let go of the letters in hand, turning to leave, his hand grasping the blade handle……………
Without needing Li Hong Yuan to issue a command, An Yi went forward to stop him, yet Yu Zhong Qing unhesitantly drew his sword. An Yi was also caught off guard. If not for possessing strong awareness of danger as a shadow guard, his body moving quicker than his mind, rapidly turning, that blade would’ve landed on him. How can this be good? The other guards immediately went forward to a.s.sist, but because An Yi knew all the contents in the letter, knowing the reason why Yu Zhong Qing was this abnormal, he reminded the others to not injure him.
In these people’s eyes, the implied meaning in not injuring was just not breaking the bones, not losing any arms or legs. The rest, who cares what your reason was, violently beat up first then talk.
Yu Zhong Qing’s skill was out of the ordinary, but would Li Hong Yuan’s bodyguards be lacking? Moreover, An Yi, who simultaneously held two positions, knew quite a few quick and efficient killing methods, and at the same time, his techniques in beating someone until their bones ached also weren’t in the minority. Thus, Yu Zhong Qing who’d gotten his sword seized just met with tragedy, very quickly getting beat onto the ground.
Li Hong Yuan idly watched from the side, all the way until Yu Zhong Qing was pressed to kneel before him, “Calmed down yet?”
Yu Zhong Qing had his head lowered, not saying a single word, and towards the pain on his body, it was as if not feeling.
“Regarding your family’s matter, the information previously gathered didn’t have the slightest connection with this Inspector General Su at all. This time can also be considered a random coincidence. The other little lackeys, once this a.s.signment concludes, this prince will look for an opportunity to let you settle on your own. Whether it’s killing or releasing, all based on your own decision. But, you should know, this Su old dog temporarily can’t be touched. Pull one hair and the whole body moves[1]. Right now, we are considered to be in the dark, and the other party in the light. Slaughtering this big fish will make it very difficult to grab the tails of the other fishes behind him.” Li Hong Yuan was surprisingly patient.
Yu Zhong Qing continued remaining silent for moment, then struggled to get free. The two guards pressing him released him. “It was this subject that was impetuous, asking w.a.n.gye to please forgive.”
“Just forget about it this time, but if there’s a next time, it won’t be this simple. Once this matter is over with, this prince will have him handed over to you to take care of.”
“Many thanks w.a.n.gye.”
“Go down and have the injuries treated.”
“Yes.”
Li Hong Yuan stared at the letters on the table that had gotten picked up by Eunuch Mu. Speaking of which, coming early wasn’t as good as coming opportunely. These information were also like so. Just, right now, he needed to make some more arrangements.
Jing Wan came over after changing, and seeing those letters, curiously picked up to read. After reading, her complexion similarly was not too good, “These people right now really can’t be underestimated at all. Qi Yuan dynasty is also like a sieve, having leaks everywhere. Speaking of which, the great majority of Qi Yuan’s land is all fertile, and the natural resources abundant, precisely the fatty piece of meat in many people’s eyes, all wanting to firmly take a few bites. However, to say something unpleasant, Qi Yuan’s national power, starting from the previous emperor, has been declining, and his Majesty……………”
“Wan Wan doesn’t need to look at me. You can say whatever you want about him, no need to worry about me. In reality, I know even more than you, and he definitely is even more unbearable than you think, and even more…….useless.” Li Hong Yuan really wasn’t belittling his old man. Just take his past life for example, if his old man truly was more impressive, his abilities a little stronger, Qi Yuan wouldn’t have nearly been lost because of his sons internally fighting for the throne.
All say Le Cheng Emperor although didn’t have too great of ambitions, not good at attacking, but more than enough capable of guarding the city[2]. But in reality, was this really the case? In Li Hong Yuan’s eyes, this wasn’t the case. If what Le Cheng Emperor inherited was a rich and powerful Qi Yuan, then perhaps it can still withstand his squandering. But just as Wan Wan said, what ended up in his hand was a declining Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan was declining, yet the other countries were directly meeting it head-on. As such, it appeared to be holding on at present, yet in reality, not advancing was equal to retreating. If he can still sit on the throne for another ten years, then he will one hundred percent become the ruler of a fallen country.
However, it was clear, with Li Hong Yuan present, even if Le Cheng Emperor has that long of a life, he still won’t be able to sit on the throne for that long. Hollowing out his power, letting him be a puppet emperor all wasn’t impossible.
Of course, for Li Hong Yuan to care about Qi Yuan this much, it was still because of Jing Wan. If there wasn’t Jing Wan, and he’d already lived through a lifetime like his previous life, nine times out of ten he would not care, even sitting to the side, idly watching the play. In any case, even if the capital gets seized, he would still be able to escape unscathed. The vast heaven and earth was free for him to roam. And if one day he gets bored, he’ll just come out and be that ‘previous dynasty rebel’, giving those countries that toppled Qi Yuan, or divided up Qi Yuan, some trouble.
Just, the trouble caused by the living Enma wasn’t something ordinary people can endure.
“However, how come I feel these things have a bit of problem.” Jing Wan lightly furrowed her brows.
“Oh? What do you mean?” Li Hong Yuan slightly turned his head to look at Jing Wan, asking rather interestedly.
Jing Wan thought for a moment, organizing her speech, “Don’t know if it’s because my comprehension is different, but I keep feeling that some things seemingly don’t add up too well, just like as if missing a link. Although just looking at the current contents, piecing it together isn’t at all jarring, but more or less feel a bit forced.” Soon after, Jing Wan just pointed out the place that made her have this kind of doubt.
“Wan Wan is very keen. However, the ones that can be hooked onto the second link may not necessarily just be the first and third link. The first link can’t be missing, but the ones after it, the ones hooked onto the second link, either forced, or either directly, can be the fourth, fifth, or even seventh, eighth, ninth link.”
“Ah Yuan’s meaning is that what’s missing in between perhaps isn’t just one link, but possibly several links?”
“Wan Wan is bright.”
Their conversation nevertheless made An Yi break out in cold sweat a little. Because the time spent was long, and moreover involved places thousands of miles away, and not just one place, he also repeatedly demanded to not let by any doubtful point or clue. The compiled information, he himself also looked over, and feeling that there were no problems, he finally presented it up, yet in the end, even w.a.n.gfei all saw the problem at a glance, let alone master. For master to have not pointed it out first thing, not even showing the slightest abnormality, just thinking about it made one tremble a little.
Moreover, this time, the efficiency itself was already very low, to even have this kind of slip-up appearing, practically unforgivable.
An Yi immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Jing Wan blanked, then soon after, said with a smile, “Since a slip-up has appeared, then just do everything you can to remedy. Give you a bit of my personal suggestion, sort through again from beginning to end, don’t be influenced by the original information, else it’ll easily create the sense of the first impression being the strongest and very possibly end up being misled, or overlooking something.”
An Yi secretly swept Li Hong Yuan a glance, not seeing him have any objection, his expression also not having any changes, so he just worked up the courage to open his mouth, “Many thanks for w.a.n.gfei’s directions, this subordinate will let someone reinvestigate right away.”
Jing Wan nodded, “You all handling matters, should have your own set of rules, reward and punishment distinct. What to do now, you should understand.”
“Yes, this subordinate understands.”
“Then why don’t you withdraw.”
An Yi retreated out.
Jing Wan turned back, and when meeting Li Hong Yuan’s vaguely smiling face, she instead boldly lifted her chin, “What, did I do something or say something wrong?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong.” Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan pulled over, letting her sit on his lap, pinching her chin, “Wan Wan is also quite skill at ‘retreating by advancing’.”
“What and what, don’t know what you’re saying.” Jing Wan lightly let out a hmph.
“Don’t know? Don’t worry, this husband will pull apart and breakdown for you little by little, you will surely be able to understand. You let An Yi go receive the punishment on his own. Isn’t that worrying that this prince will punish severely? Originally it was directly pleading for leniency, but now learned to take a roundabout route. Say, are you becoming increasingly soft, or what?”
“What…………”
“w.a.n.gye, w.a.n.gfei, it’s time to go.”
[1] Meaning a slight change will affect everything else.
[2] Another way of saying he was preserving the accomplishments of previous generations.
T/N: I just wanna say how useless must have Le Cheng Emperor’s brothers been if someone as mediocre as him became the Emperor, maybe Kang Qinw.a.n.g really did inherit his IQ. I guess LHY wasn’t wrong when he said his brothers would have had a chance at becoming the Emperor if they were born at a different time.