A screen depicting a Wuchang water scene, with green waves and lush shades, a small boat drifting away, traveling a thousand miles overnight.
The boiling tea in the bowl seed to bring a jade toad to life. Su Hongtao bowed his head, blew gently, and said slowly, "Incense Master Chu, there's no one here, feel free to have a taste of the tea."
Behind the screen, a layer of shadow lood.
"Mr. Su, I don't trust you. Others may believe the higher you climb, the farther you see, but the higher you climb, the more treacherous you beco," Chu Yiyuan's voice remained flat.
Su Hongtao was not offended. Han Xiu had been imprisoned, and once Kou Jun successfully frad him, Han Xiu would perish amid the chaos. The turmoil in Wuchang Prefecture would finally settle. Once the White Lotus Sect was sent away, Su Hongtao would preserve the Su Family and his own na.
Exhausted from scheming and plotting for so long, today finally brought relief. Su Hongtao suddenly felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders, his tone uncharacteristically calm: "The higher you climb, the more you realize there's always a higher peak. The vastness of heaven and earth is eternal. With the Gang Wind in my ears, I almost wish to drift away with the wind, only to realize I'm still lingering in place. What is my true purpose?"
Chu Yiyuan did not respond, only noticing that the screen depicted a scene of endless rivers and mountains.
After a long while, he spoke up, "Mr. Su, there's no need for formalities. Just speak your mind."
Su Hongtao sighed, his interest waning.
If soone like Han Xiu were here, they would be moved to write and compose poetry, responding in kind.
Had it not been for his collusion with the White Lotus Sect, he would have had the deanor of a fad minister, ready in a few years to enter the core of the court, strategizing national affairs, managing the country, and ensuring people's welfare, being regarded as a paragon while alive, and posthumously entitled Wen Zheng...
Su Hongtao gazed at the thick tea in the bowl, the subtle ripples seemingly brushing past nurous scenes.
He restrained himself, then spoke, "I knew nothing about the attack on you at Xique Pavilion. Xique Pavilion has the authority to act at their discretion, not sothing I, as a Capital Commander, can control."
Chu Yiyuan said, "For such a high official, with Hu-Guang listening to you, yet you can't control them?"
"They're people of the Heavenly Family, not under my jurisdiction; it was a misunderstanding."
"I only know I narrowly escaped death."
"Incense Master Chu, if I truly wanted to kill you, I would have had soone act long ago!" Su Hongtao snapped.
The tea room fell suddenly silent.
The two were separated by the screen, unable to see each other's expressions. Su Hongtao's peripheral vision caught Chu Yiyuan remaining motionless, his expression also turning cold.
Han Xiu was as good as dead, no longer a hindrance. Whether the White Lotus Sect could leave Hu-Guang depended entirely on him, and Su Hongtao was no longer willing to speak kindly.
Su Hongtao said coldly:
"We are indeed in the sa boat, but we must distinguish who is the boatman and who is the passenger. If you doubt and refuse to listen to explanations, you might as well capsize this boat. I'll stake my head to perish with you."
The words struck, and Chu Yiyuan's face alternated between blue and white, lips quivering, wanting to retort but unsure where to start.
After a long while, he could only suppress his frustration and say, "Then, Mr. Su... when can we leave?"
"Very soon. I'll arrange a ship quickly. If you want to leave, you can do so in as little as three days."
Despite Su Hongtao's unfriendly tone, these words lit up Chu Yiyuan's eyes. They had been trapped in Wuchang Prefecture for too long; the Holy Mother's urging decrees were unknown countless by now. If they delayed any longer, they wouldn't be able to rendezvous with the main force.
"However, you must leave soone behind," Su Hongtao paused, "The governor's assassination, Han Xiu's imprisonnt, the fire dragon burning the warehouse... many major events have occurred in Wuchang Prefecture recently. Soone has to take responsibility, and it must be soone who can bear it."
"Who? Na the person!"
"Chen Yi."
Chu Yiyuan suddenly pushed aside the screen and said, "Su Hongtao, what is the aning of this?"
Su Hongtao's tea trembled. He hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from Chu Yiyuan, but thinking it over, it made sense—Chen Yi was undoubtedly extrely important to the White Lotus Sect.
He needed to first stabilize Chu Yiyuan and only make a move once everyone was on board.
Su Hongtao's expression turned gentle, forcing a empathetic smile: "Incense Master Chu, I'm doing my utmost to help you, and indirectly, myself. There are countless officials in Hu-Guang, with thousands of mouths up and down. Not to ntion Kou Jun, who is of equal rank with . This big bla, they can't handle it, and even if they were forced to, Kou Jun wouldn't agree. He would surely create obstacles, as he isn't on the sa boat as you and would sell you out at any opportunity."
Chu Yiyuan's face still carried anger, albeit not as resolute as before, and he continued to listen: "Honest words need no embellishnt, I do have a minor personal vendetta with Chen Yi. That night, due to an assassin's interference, he accidentally killed my tribute, Yin Yijian. Yin Yijian was a close friend, soone I shared a strong personal bond with, yet I do not bla him.
I put this out in the open because I now stand upright and steady, not worth turning against you for such a trivial grudge.
Incense Master Chu, I need him to bear the bla, and only that. I swear to heaven, there is no threat to his life."
Chu Yiyuan hesitated, standing there in indecision.
Su Hongtao waved slightly, retrieved a map from his sleeve, and placed it on the table.
Chu Yiyuan focused intently, hearing a voice saying, "This is the location of various grain transport points at the intersection of the two provinces. As Incense Master Chu heads into Jiangxi, presenting this map to the Holy Sect would be like adding wings to a tiger..."
.......
"Is it ti for you to leave?"
Chu Yiyuan responded, "Indeed, Young Master Qin, during this ti, we've troubled you."
Though the matter was simply settled with Su Hongtao, Chu Yiyuan still harbored doubts, having pondered repeatedly, yet unable to articulate them. After all, the whole affair seed sowhat improper to discuss.
Chen Yi suddenly said, "Incense Master, once we part ways, who knows when we will et again? When shall we have a drink?"
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