Chapter 1625: Respective Abacuses

The Yao King shook his head: "Look at him confronting Qing Yang; this person is clearly bold and daring." "He Xiao relied on your power to gain the upper hand over the Regent." Qiu Long said sternly, "He relied on the Yao Nation's name to make his chamber of commerce famous in Flash Gold. Over the past few months, the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce has indeed blossomed everywhere in the Flash Gold Plain and developed rapidly."

It was rare for the old palace servant not to grasp the Yao King's intention, and the latter looked at him: "Look, he might have come for Qing Yang, which is why he has lingered in Heavenly Water City for so long. Is there some private feud between them?"

Ah, this? The old palace servant was startled. His master meant... he immediately realized: "Yes, yes! That's why he doesn't fear confronting Regent Qing Yang everywhere; it turns out he came for this, hating her to death! My master has true insight; the old slave's mind is suddenly enlightened."

If the master says so, then it must be so.

"Correct." The Yao King stroked his beard and smiled, "Since He Xiao has such evil thoughts, you should send someone to keep a close watch on him; don't let him mess around."

"Yes." Qiu Long knew very well that this old master sometimes liked to say the opposite of what he meant.

The Yao King added: "Also, issue a wanted order for Cao Wendao. As long as he is in Heavenly Water City, I want to see the person alive or the corpse dead."

According to Yang Chi's oral account, a portrait can be drawn.

Finally, no longer continuing that terrifying topic, Qiu Long hurriedly agreed.

"Just one Cao Wendao has involved so many secrets!" The Yao King's gaze was sinister. "Qing Yang must have more unspeakable dealings that are detrimental to my Yao Nation!"

"Investigate! Investigate everyone who has been in contact with Qing Yang over the past three months! What they said to Qing Yang, what they did, I want to know it all!"

The room finally warmed up, and the Yao King sat down again, exhaling heavily:

"Beijia, hehe!"

Youhu Small Abode.

The east turned fish-belly white, and Qing Yang looked out the window for the fourth time.

That old tree was quiet, with no visitors landing on it.

There was no news from demon birds, nor was there any magical transmission; since the battle at Tao Creek, Cao Wendao had disappeared like a clay ox into the sea, with no news to this day.

As time went on, the probability of him being alive became increasingly slim.

Afterwards, the sky brightened.

Qing Yang stood up and actually felt a little tired.

Heart-tired.

Clearly, she had a big plan in her hands, and everything else should be prioritized, but first Bai Ziqi arrived suddenly, then Cao Wendao stirred up trouble, all focusing on creating side issues.

How many associations could one Cao Wendao cause the Yao King to have, how many details could he fill in? None of them were beneficial to her.

Yet she had no way to tell the Yao King, don't be so damn imaginative, none of those were done by me.

Because the Yao King didn't believe her at all!

She had even less way to prove her innocence.

These two months, she changed her previous style and began to keep a low profile, finally making the Yao King relax his vigilance and stop paying too much attention to her; now it was good, Cao Wendao and his demon puppets were exposed, and that old thing, the Yao King, was probably angry and hateful toward her again, and would definitely use all his strength to watch her.

These two months of forbearance were all in vain! If the Yao King didn't hesitate to offend Beijia to deal with her, would he still give her a chance to execute the plan?

Qing Yang pondered for a long time, walked out of the house, and took a deep breath facing the east.

Yuan Xuan immediately stepped forward: "Palace Master."

"Tell Bai Tan to start the first step of the plan." Qing Yang instructed him, "Be very careful when transmitting news. From today on, there will be countless eyes of the Yao King around us."

"Yes!"

"By the way, have you sent someone to inquire about Wei Yishan?"

Yuan Xuan replied: "Already sent, there should be news back by tomorrow night at the latest."

"He Xiao's strength needs to be re-evaluated." Qing Yang pondered, "He Xiao himself was blocked by me at the time, yet his subordinates could still make Cao Wendao's situation dire. It can be seen that the power around him is also hidden and not as thin as it looks on the surface."

"Excellent." She said slowly, "He Xiao looks more like the Great Emperor of Nine Nether. But I want to know, why hasn't he left yet?"

Perhaps He Xiao already knew that the current situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable to him, and the days the Yao King could protect him were numbered. People would seek advantages and avoid disadvantages; why hadn't he left Heavenly Water City? What was he waiting for? She had previously deduced that He Xiao's purpose in coming to the Yao Nation might be similar to her own. Then he would likely be able to smell the undercurrents surging in Heavenly Water City; once such an undercurrent erupted, it would almost grind the weak into powder.

Of course, He Xiao might not think he was weak. If he really was the Great Emperor of Nine Nether, was he planning to stay and stir up the tide?

"In the last few days, pay attention to He Xiao's movements."

Yuan Xuan agreed, then asked: "What if he slips away quietly?"

The Palace Master's focus was all on the upcoming big event; would she be distracted to deal with He Xiao? "Bai Ziqi will deal with him." Qing Yang's eyes flashed, "Isn't Bai Ziqi's mission in coming to Flash Gold to find the Great Emperor of Nine Nether? They are a natural pair."

A pair of opponents.

"The He Xiao of the past would pat his butt and leave after committing a crime; the world is so big, he could go anywhere; now, he can run from the Flash Gold Plain, but can he run from the Yangshan Archipelago?" Qing Yang said leisurely, "This person has a foundation, like a tree with roots; once it's stuck in, it's not easy to move."

So as long as Bai Ziqi finds out that He Xiao is the Great Emperor of Nine Nether, he won't be afraid of him running.

As far as Qing Yang knew, the Yangshan Archipelago was thriving, and the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce was blossoming everywhere in the Flash Gold Plain; He Xiao would definitely be reluctant to abandon all this and flee for his life.

As for herself, she only needed to concentrate on completing the task entrusted by the Emperor.

Yuan Xuan whispered: "The Yao King has not summoned you into the palace."

He had previously reported to the Palace Master that Zhao Song had left Yongquan Shanzhuang and entered the palace overnight.

The sky was already bright; logically speaking, the Yao King should have heard the news.

"He thinks he knows the truth and is now pondering how to deal with me." Qing Yang sneered, "Ignorant old thing, about to be used as a gun again."

Causing her to have to adjust her plan quickly.

But it didn't matter; whether the Yao King hated her or not didn't matter in the end.

"Besides, what's the use of him finding me? Whatever he wants to ask, I know; whatever I will say, he also knows." Qing Yang said leisurely, "I just went out for a walk last night and said two words to He Xiao, neither taking action nor hurting anyone; what does he have to question?"

She asked Yuan Xuan again: "What about the north?"

"No new transmissions."

"At this time, no news is good news." Qing Yang broke off a long icicle from under the eaves and squeezed it lightly, "The basics that should be arranged are all arranged; unless it's a big matter, don't contact them later."

Yuan Xuan knew very well who "they" were.

With a *pop*, the icicle shattered into several pieces in Qing Yang's hand. She waved her hand, shaking off the water droplets from her fingertips.

A few days later, the empire the Yao King thought was stable would be like this icicle!

After dawn, He Lingchuan entered the palace.

After seeing the Yao King, he bowed and called "My King," his face expressionless throughout.

The Yao King asked him a sentence, and he answered a sentence, neither more nor less.

Qiu Long gave him several winks, but he pretended not to see them.

The story of last night, of course, had to start from Cao Wendao's disguise and visit to He Lingchuan a few days ago. Before an assassin takes action, they have to scout the terrain and understand the target's environment; let alone Cao Wendao, even small thieves stealing chickens and dogs would do this.

Zhao Song and the palace guards stationed at Yongquan Shanzhuang could prove that Cao Wendao had indeed entered the villa and chatted and ate with He Lingchuan.

As a victim, He Lingchuan naturally had the power to know nothing. He was not a suspect and did not need to prove a motive for murder.

The Yao King summoned him into the palace just to ask about some details and compare them with the intelligence Zhao Song had mastered; finally, finding no discrepancies, he comforted him with a few kind words.

Seeing that he didn't mention Qing Yang at all, He Lingchuan coughed lightly and said: "My King, the project of expanding the capital to the east is already on the right track; Lord You and the Fourth Prince can fully take over, so I can resign and leave."

The Yao King was startled and displeased: "The expansion of Heavenly Water to the east hasn't reached four months, and you want to be a hands-off manager? He Xiao, that's not what you promised me at the beginning."

When he said this, there was also a shallow sadness in his heart. Among the thousands of civil and military officials in the Yao Court, he couldn't find a usable talent to replace He Xiao!

If there were one or two who could share the worries for the monarch, why would he be so passive?

He Xiao had been in the limelight in Heavenly Water City for the past few months, and even the Heavenly Palace's envoy Bai Ziqi had spoken up to ask for a salary for him, although the monthly salary approved by the Yao King was a mere 500 taels.

Yao Court officials also rushed to curry favor with He Xiao, and the latter didn't know how many benefits he had obtained. Just from what the Yao King knew, the number of commercial orders for the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce had suddenly increased by more than 2,500.

A foreign merchant had only been in Heavenly Water City for half a year, and his business was doing so well? Wasn't it because the power the Yao King gave him could be cashed in? Conversely, He Xiao had made a fortune in Heavenly Water City, and now that the work wasn't finished, he wanted to leave after waving his sleeves? He Lingchuan looked helpless: "I also hope to have a beginning and an end, but someone is determined to take my life; staying in Heavenly Water City is really uneasy. It was heaven-defying luck that I discovered one Cao Wendao; if there is another, and another, I might follow in Boss Situ He's footsteps."

The Yao King had indeed sent nine hundred elites to protect him, but didn't Boss Situ He have personal guards by his side at the time? He still couldn't escape Cao Wendao's sneak attack.

"On the Flash Gold Plain, there is no place safer than Heavenly Water City." The Yao King said proudly, "If you can't escape assassination here, you won't even have bones left if you go elsewhere."

He Lingchuan smiled bitterly.

The Yao King slowed his tone and added: "Put your heart back in your stomach. I will add security for you, ensuring you are safe and sound in Heavenly Water City!"

He Lingchuan had to thank him, because the Yao King had a subtext he hadn't spoken: Don't be ignorant, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.

He was a favorite in front of the Yao King; usually, Qiu Long would send him to the gate of the Jade Spring Palace, but this time he accompanied him for three hundred feet, until outside the Chunhua Gate.

"The weather is cold and the road is slippery, Lord Qiu, please stop." He Lingchuan said politely, as if reaching out to support the old palace servant, his sleeves blocking, privately passing a small box.

Qiu Long was very familiar with this set of actions, and he took it calmly, feeling a slight coolness in his hand. ===== CHAPTER 1626 =====