Chapter 60: A Calculation Every Ten Years (1)

Seeing that the matter had taken a 180-degree turn without any warning, everyone was strange, but from such a distance, no one knew the content of the secret letter, which made the Chu King suddenly vent his anger on Helian Yiren. Su Ling lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then whispered a few words to an attendant behind him. The man bowed slightly and quietly retreated while people's eyes were focused on the stage. Su Ling looked up and suddenly found that Wanqi Boyan opposite him had left his seat at some point.

The ceremony ended. Su Ling socialized with everyone and left Le Yao Palace alone. Subordinates had long been waiting outside with secret reports. He ordered the attendants to drive the carriage back to the post house, but when they approached the river, they transferred to another carriage with curtains on all four sides. Lifting the curtain to board the carriage, he bowed: "Master."

In the carriage, Zi Hao was closing his eyes to rest. Under the dim light, the snow-white clothes were silent and indifferent, making his face look slightly pale. Earlier on Jian Fang Terrace, he forcibly confronted the two masters Huang Fei and King Ji Cang with a jade flute, not only severely frustrating the two, but also deepening King Ji Cang's fear of the Chu Guo. Although there was the spiritual power of the obsidian to protect him, the backlash of the Nine Nether Mysterious Penetration could not be underestimated.

"Have you found out clearly?"

A short sentence was accompanied by several low coughs. Su Ling was about to take out the secret report he had just received, but his hand stopped in his sleeve, and he said instead: "It's all found out. The letter in the Chu King's hand is not a secret agreement between Huang Fei and King Ji Cang, but a handwritten letter from Helian Yiren to Tai Zi Yu. The content is basically consistent with the information from Wei Yuan at that time. Using Ye Xuanshang's life in exchange for the return of the Chu Second Young Master Han Hui to the country, it can be seen that the news from Wei Yuan is still reliable."

"According to my speculation, these two letters must have been tampered with by Huang Fei. Today's event seems sudden, but I am afraid it was premeditated by Huang Fei. Before, he promoted the death of Helian Qi, provided Tai Zi Yu's route into Chu, and high-profile supported Ye Xuanshang, constantly forcing Helian Yiren to the point of being unable to bear it. At the same time, he deliberately exposed flaws to him, letting him think he could topple himself, but he had already set a trap in advance. Today, he used the momentum of the Xuan King to add fuel to the fire, causing Helian Yiren to make trouble on the spot, and he was calculated by him. The Chu King has always been wary of Young Master Han Hui, and Huang Fei knows this, so he started with this matter. After that, he must have made arrangements to fall into the trap. If there is no accident, Helian Yiren will probably not be able to keep his official position this time. Once the internal affairs of Chu fall into Huang Fei's hands, a huge change will inevitably occur between Xuan and Chu."

"However, there are still some places in this matter that are not very clear. First, how did Huang Fei let Helian Yiren get the so-called secret letter, who did he borrow, or what happened, and which force does this person belong to? Second, who helped Huang Fei steal the beam and change the pillar, betrayed Helian Yiren, and what are the benefits? Third, Ye Xuanshang and Huang Fei cooperate tacitly. Will their cooperation exceed our control in the future? Fourth, and the most important point, is the Xuan King King Ji Cang. Is he completely unaware, or is he cooperating with Huang Fei like Ye Xuanshang? And is the secret letter mentioned by Helian Yiren fabricated out of thin air, or is it indeed true? If King Ji Cang has been acting with Huang Fei from beginning to end, then Huang Fei's current cooperation with us is very worth discussing. I have ordered the dark lines everywhere to start investigating these doubts immediately, and I think I can infer some clues."

Although Su Ling usually gives people the impression of being elegant and talented, he rarely talks so freely in front of others. Even when discussing matters with Zi Hao, he is mostly cautious. Today, I don't know why, he not only detailed the intelligence, but also analyzed the ins and outs, inferred the causes and consequences, and was so rigorous that he didn't even let go of a trace of detail or a possible accident, and had already made arrangements to deal with it before this. After finishing speaking, he repeated the secret letter in his sleeve word for word, inferring from it that Tai Zi Yu and Helian Yiren might not have extra transactions at present. After thinking about it and finding no omissions, he stopped. Zi Hao had been closing his eyes and listening quietly, and when he was halfway through, he looked up at him.

This watertight analysis had already made the most effective judgment and handling of all the information currently available, which really saved him a lot of effort. With Su Ling in the Imperial Capital in the future, it is finally reassuring. He smiled and asked again: "What about Wanqi Boyan?"

Su Ling had always been concerned about Wanqi Boyan's strange behavior at the ceremony: "He left the seat halfway and never came back. I have ordered people to pay attention, and I think there will be news later."

In the dense forest and floating fog, a short whistle sounded from outside the forest, and there was an immediate response in the dense fog. Several people rode horses from the west of the forest, and after a while, several people galloped from the east. The rapid sound of horse hooves sank into the thick fallen leaves and disappeared instantly without a sound.

These people were originally dressed in various costumes, but after entering the forest, they threw off their outer robes, revealing tight night clothes and uniquely shaped sabers inside, and knelt down on one knee to a man standing with his hands behind his back: "Prince!"

The man in front looked very luxurious, and the broad palms behind him showed extraordinary strength. The gun bag on his back emphasized his burly figure. Even though he couldn't see any expression in the thick fog, he could feel an inexplicable murderous aura emanating from him.

Not many, not few, exactly twenty men in black gathered. The man scanned: "Are you all ready?"

The person in front replied: "The Xuan King is going to the Chu Palace for a banquet tonight. He will probably leave the palace at the hour of Xu. It is most appropriate to do it at Guangling Bridge in the east of the city."

"Good!" The man turned around. It was Prince Wanqi Boyan of the Rouran tribe: "Don't make any mistakes. The rise and fall of our Rouran tribe depends on this!"

"Willing to follow the Prince through fire and water!"

The person in front looked up and said: "Prince, do you want to wait for Elder Wu Li?"

Wanqi Boyan waved his hand and took the reins: "No need." At this moment, he heard the sound of horse hooves, and a whistle came from outside the forest in the north. The dark whistle in the forest responded, and then someone shouted: "Prince, wait!"

Everyone turned their heads, only to see a fast horse galloping into the forest. Before they could see the color of the horse in the thick fog, an old man in brown clothes with white hair and beard and a thin figure flew down and arrived in front of them. Except for Wanqi Boyan, the Rouran tribe dead soldiers around all bowed and saluted. This person held a black wood staff, and his hair hoop had gold patterns and pendants. He was one of the two elders of the Rouran tribe second only to the patriarch, Guhun Wuli, and was a pivotal advisor beside Prince Boyan.

Guhun Wuli looked at the black-clad dead soldiers ready to go around, stepped forward to salute Prince Boyan, and asked: "Why did the Prince suddenly summon our tribe's dead soldiers?"

Wanqi Boyan said in a deep voice: "Before I left, I discussed with the Elder to take advantage of King Ji Cang's reduced defense to kill him in the Chu Guo. If King Ji Cang dies, the Xuan Kingdom will inevitably be in chaos. This is a great opportunity for the Rouran tribe to restore the country. Did the Elder forget?"

Elder Wuli had long expected this and said anxiously: "Prince, don't be reckless. Although King Ji Cang is in another country and his guards are not as good as usual, how easy is it to kill him? Did the Prince forget the Battle of Chifeng Mountain?"

Chifeng Mountain! Hearing these three words, a flash of light flashed in Wanqi Boyan's eyes.

In the Battle of Chifeng Mountain in the twelfth year of Emperor Xiang, King Ji Cang used the Seizing Color zither to break the Rouran iron cavalry. Wanqi Boyan's Flame Spear also lost to the Blood Luan sword, and he was forced to swear that as long as the Blood Luan sword was in the world, the Flame Spear would be locked in the bag forever and never see the light of day. Rouran has been submissive to the Xuan Kingdom for nearly ten years, paying tribute every year, and the people are slaves, which is not as good as being attached to the royal family in the past. Wanqi Boyan has high aspirations and is unwilling to be controlled by others, but King Ji Cang has great talents and strategies, and the Xuan Kingdom is also strong. Rouran has never had a chance to turn over. It is reasonable to take risks.

Wanqi Boyan suddenly raised his eyes: "Originally one of the Nine Tribes, but now the whole tribe is a slave. Not only is my Flame Spear humiliated, but my father died nearly ten years ago, and there is no place to offer incense to his spirit tablet, and even the new king cannot be established. How long does the Elder want our Rouran to live under others?"

"Prince!" Guhun Wuli stopped him, "If you don't endure small things, you will mess up big plans. This is not a foolproof plan! If you are not careful, our Rouran will be doomed!"

Wanqi Boyan clearly thought about it carefully, and said word by word: "It is not impossible to win in danger. Has the Elder thought that once Xuan and Chu form an alliance, Rouran will truly be doomed!"

Guhun Wuli said: "Huang Fei and King Ji Cang may not be able to reach an agreement. At the ceremony today, there was clearly an expert helping the Chu Guo to deal with King Ji Cang. Why doesn't the Prince wait and see?"

Wanqi Boyan frowned: "I don't think so. It is not known which force the person playing the flute at the ceremony belongs to..." Before the words were finished, he suddenly tilted his head to listen, and felt a faint and clear flute sound coming from the forest. The fog was swirling, and a two-shaft carriage appeared in front of them from nowhere, and the flute sound drifted faintly from the carriage.

The elegant carriage stopped quietly in front of everyone. No one found when it appeared, and no one could see who was in the carriage. Even the driver was hidden behind the thin curtains, only vaguely feeling that it was a man with a handsome outline.

The wind blew, and the exquisite hanging bells on the corners of the carriage rang, like the clear and elegant flute sound, which was extremely pleasant.

Wanqi Boyan suddenly realized. The carriage appeared in front of them, and the dark whistle set outside the forest had no reaction. He shouted sharply: "Who is coming!"

He used his true energy for this shout, which was like a thunder on the ground, shaking people's lungs. Everyone in the Rouran tribe was like a dream, and their whole bodies shook. And the flute sound was like being blown by a strong wind, lingering and scattering, and finally silent.

A low cough came from the carriage, and a man's clear and hoarse voice sounded slowly: "Prince Boyan wants to assassinate the Xuan King, but only picked these vulnerable people? Even my jade flute cannot be heard. I am afraid there will be no return, and there will be no life."

Everyone in the Rouran tribe changed color. Wanqi Boyan and Guhun Wuli looked at each other, and they all thought of the flute sound that destroyed the Seizing Color zither out of thin air at the ceremony, and they couldn't help but be awe-struck. After a long while, Guhun Wuli opened his mouth: "What does Your Excellency intend to do?"

The person in the carriage seemed to smile and said: "The Rouran tribe doesn't weigh their own weight. Is King Ji Cang's life so easy to take?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 61 =====