This was simply asking the impossible.
Everyone knew that in the battle of Tongtian Pass, Huo Yucheng had led eighty thousand elite soldiers, only for them to be trapped and slaughtered to the last man. It was an utter tragedy.
He had spent a lifeti in the military and had countless illustrious achievents. A hopeless situation that even he could not overco was now being handed to a boy of only thirteen. It was simply preposterous.
But upon hearing this, Ye Yunfeng only frowned for a mont before nodding. He agreed in a clear voice.
"Alright!"
He stood before the sand table and began to think in earnest.
Ye Chutang had risen at so point and co to his side. Her gaze wasn’t on the sand table; after all, she already knew everything about it by heart.
Her thoughts began to drift.
About Huo Yucheng, and about her father.
Finally, Ye Yunfeng raised his hand.
Ye Chutang pulled her thoughts back to the present.
"Begin."
...
「That night, in Changzhou.」
Xu Jie had just returned to his residence from the governnt office when he saw his Chang Sui, Qin Mo, rushing to greet him with a nervous and apprehensive look.
"My lord."
He frowned, a bad feeling rising in his chest.
"What is it?"
Qin Mo hesitated for a mont, then said in a low voice, "There’s been no word from Liu Zhou and his n."
Liu Zhou was the leader of the group Xu Jie had sent to Shiluan City to intercept Shen Yanchuan.
Xu Jie understood instantly. His face darkened, and he entered the house without a word.
Qin Mo followed him, carefully closing the door. He turned back and cautiously studied Xu Jie’s expression before asking in a hushed tone, "My lord, should we send more n—"
"There’s no need."
Xu Jie cut him off coldly.
"Since the attempt failed, Shen Yanchuan is surely on alert. He’ll probably arrive here before long. Making another move now would only cause more trouble."
This Young Master Heir of the Dingbei Marquis Mansion was far more difficult to deal with than he had anticipated.
He had handpicked Liu Zhou’s group, yet they had failed to eliminate their target. Now that he had alerted his foe, he had to be extrely cautious.
But Qin Mo was still deeply worried. "But my lord, it’s clear he’s co with ill intent. If he finds sothing out..."
"What could he possibly find out?"
Xu Jie snorted coldly.
"During my tenure as governor, I have been nothing but diligent and responsible! If he wants to investigate, let him! You think I’m afraid of him?"
Qin Mo looked as if he wanted to say more but held his tongue.
’His Lordship is talking about the last two years, but who knows if Shen Yanchuan will dig up the past!’
’But... since His Lordship said so, he must have already taken care of everything, right?’
He suppressed his worries and nodded. "You are right, my lord."
Xu Jie seed to recall sothing else and asked with a frown, "Is there any news from the Second Prince?"
Qin Mo quickly replied, "There have been no letters recently."
’That’s true,’ he thought. ’The Second Prince was recently ordered by His Majesty to remain behind closed doors and reflect on his transgressions. It’s best for him to just lie low for now.’
Xu Jie ran through everything in his mind one more ti. Convinced that he had left no flaws or traces behind, he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Send word. When the Princely Heir enters the city, we will hold a banquet in his honor!"
...
The day they arrived in Changzhou, the weather was gloomy and overcast.
As soon as the Xu Residence received the news, they imdiately dispatched a party to welco them.
Shen Yanchuan’s eyes swept over the crowd, but he didn’t see Xu Jie.
Normally, as a governor, Xu Jie wouldn’t have needed to co in person. However, those in the know were well aware that Shen Yanchuan had co on the Emperor’s orders. Though not an official imperial envoy, he was one in all but na.
Not to ntion, his prestigious status ca from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion itself.
Xu Jie had navigated the political arena for many years and would not normally miss such an opportunity to curry favor. His absence today was therefore rather strange.
As if guessing Shen Yanchuan’s thoughts, a subordinate official explained, "Princely Heir, the Lord Governor had intended to co personally, but a few days ago the Li River’s banks burst, flooding a great deal of farmland. The Lord Governor has been working day and night on this matter, and thus—"
Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"I see. Lord Xu’s concern for the people is a blessing to them. I would not dare to delay his official duties with a trivial matter such as this."
’How interesting,’ Shen Yanchuan thought. ’As far as I know, Xu Jie was feasting with several of his subordinates just last night. And today he’s suddenly a model of civic virtue?’
But naturally, Shen Yanchuan would not say any of this out loud.
"Yes, yes!" The subordinate officials all breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his words, secretly exchanging glances.
’Everyone says this Young Master Heir from the Capital City is decisive and rciless, but seeing him today, he seems gentle and refined—quite different from the rumors.’
’He’s just a young man of twenty, after all. Having traveled all this way, how could he possibly grasp the complexities of Changzhou?’
’He’s just relying on his noble birth and His Majesty’s favor to make a na for himself.’
After so simple small talk, the officials lowered their guard against Shen Yanchuan. ’He’s just a fledgling scion from a noble family. We’ll just fool him for a few days and send him back to the Capital City!’
Citing travel fatigue, Shen Yanchuan politely declined their invitations and settled into the private courtyard Xu Jie had specially prepared for him.
Once everyone had left, Lian Zhou imdiately began to search the room, afraid sothing might be amiss.
Shen Yanchuan leaned back in his chair and said lazily, "No need to look. He wouldn’t dare pull any tricks here."
Lian Zhou, still resentful about the previous incident, retorted, "Xu Jie is a vicious man with a guilty conscience about your arrival. There’s no telling what else he might do!"
"He wants to build an image of a diligent and incorruptible official in front of , so let him." Shen Yanchuan chuckled. "If I die out in the wilderness, it doesn’t matter much. But if I die on his territory, he’ll never be able to clear his na."
That was why the journey had been fraught with danger, but the mont he stepped into Changzhou, he was, ironically, at his safest.
Lian Zhou knew his master was right, but out of habit, he still checked the entire room.
By the ti everything was in order, dusk had fallen.
The courtyard was silent.
After an unknown amount of ti, Shen Yanchuan suddenly stopped turning the pages of his book and glanced outside. "He’s here."
Sure enough, a servant soon ca to announce that Lord Xu had arrived.
Shen Yanchuan rose to his feet.
Just as he stepped into the courtyard, a man in official robes ca striding toward him.
He was tall and thin, with a long beard. It was none other than the current Suinan Governor—Xu Jie!
"Princely Heir, you have co from a thousand miles away. I have failed to give you a proper welco, my sincerest apologies!"
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