Chapter 263

"Not just Lu Ziyue and Fang Zuqian, all five major merchant guilds in Chang'an that were involved in smuggling have been completely wiped out, without a single one spared!"

Xi Boluo, who had just received the news, stepped back half a pace and added cautiously.

"When did this happen?"

Dugu Zhao grabbed the teacup on the table and gulped down a large mouthful, barely calming his heart before asking.

"Around the Hour of the Ox last night..." Xi Boluo replied.

(Hour of the Ox: 1:00 AM – 3:00 AM)

"How is this possible?!"

Dugu Zhang, standing to the side, was stunned and found it hard to believe: "Even if Lu Ziyue is a fool and a waste, it's impossible for him to be taken down by the Mingjing Si along with the others without making a single sound?!"

Dugu Zhang had once worked with Chen Yan to solve a case and had seen his brilliance with his own eyes...

But there were five of them, guild masters belonging to various factions, all with guards—how could there not be even a slight commotion?

Yet, several hours had passed, and it wasn't until dawn that they discovered the entire operation had occurred without a single whisper of wind or grass...

Even if that guy is brilliant, he isn't a god, is he?

"It is said that Xu Zhixiang invited the other four to gather at a villa he owns in the outskirts of Chang'an..."

Xi Boluo phrased his words carefully and said truthfully: "In the end, they were all rounded up by Chen Yan!"

"If only Xu Zhixiang had been spared, it could barely be explained..."

Dugu Zhao frowned deeply, rubbed his forehead, and said gravely: "But the fact that all five were captured by Chen Yan suggests a major problem!"

Why would they be invited to gather?

Was there any authorization from Houmochen Yi behind this?

Moreover, Chen Yan acted so covertly; these messages seem as if they were deliberately leaked...

What kind of goal is he trying to achieve?

A series of puzzles lingered in Dugu Zhao's heart...

"Father, should we launch a counterattack against Chen Yan for this?" Dugu Zhang raised his head, his eyes burning, and asked for instructions in a low voice.

The merchant guilds are of great importance and concern the financial revenue of the Duke of Wei's mansion...

Furthermore, this concerns their reputation; they cannot simply swallow this breath!

"No!"

Dugu Zhao thought for a moment before vetoing it.

After a pause, he continued: "Since Yuwen Hu dared to let Chen Yan make this move, he must have made full preparations..."

"The most urgent task now is to sever ties with Lu Ziyue!"

Having clashed so many times, Dugu Zhao knew the style of this blade and the man wielding it very well...

Either don't do it, or do it thoroughly.

He would never leave things half-finished.

Moreover, Dugu Zhao speculated that the brat had likely already prepared a public opinion offensive!

Therefore, the optimal solution right now is to cut losses in time...

"The Old Master is absolutely right!"

Xi Boluo agreed: "We must not give Chen Yan the opportunity to use the mouths of the common people to pin the label of smuggling onto the Duke's mansion."

Clearly, as a strategist, Xi Boluo also saw that point...

If they didn't cut ties decisively, they would be dragged into the water by Chen Yan, falling into the condemnation of the clans and commoners, severely damaging their prestige.

The key was that there was a trap within a trap; if they retaliated immediately, they would be confirming that the smuggling Lu Ziyue and the Duke's mansion were one and the same...

"Are we just going to sit back and watch Chen Yan climb over our heads and swallow such a huge loss?" Dugu Zhang gritted his teeth.

He looked filled with indignation.

Dealing with it this way was truly too stifling...

Not only did they lose the merchant guilds, but they also had to swallow their anger!

Dugu Zhao looked at his son, who was filled with unwillingness, shook his head slightly, and said in a low voice: "Zhang, you are still too impatient..."

"Temporary gains and losses are not important!"

"The game of chess between two sides requires a steady mind, moving step by step!"

Even when the Han Founding Emperor was beaten until he fled in terror, he never lost his composure like this...

His son had decent talent, but his determination and patience were too poor; he couldn't sit still at the slightest setback and needed more tempering!

Liang State Duke Mansion.

"Delin, are you certain that Xu Zhixiang invited those four, and in the end, they were all captured by Chen Yan?!"

Houmochen Yi, who had just woken up, heard the report from his strategist Zheng Delin, and his sleepiness vanished instantly as he sought confirmation again.

"Yes!"

Zheng Delin nodded and said in a low voice: "The location was Xu's villa in the outskirts of Chang'an..."

"What on earth is that bastard Xu Zhixiang doing!"

Houmochen Yi frowned tightly and cursed: "And why would he do such a thing!"

This Liang State Duke chose Xu Zhixiang to be his white glove for smuggling and money-laundering for two reasons: first, he was capable...

Second, he was loyal and reported everything, big or small, for instructions...

He never acted on his own!

Yet this time, he didn't even ask for instructions, and didn't even make a sound.

Zheng Delin phrased his words carefully and said with worry: "Old Master, Xu Zhixiang's actions make it very easy for others to suspect that you and the Mingjing Si Mirror Master are working together on a scheme..."

"Now, all suspicion is pointed at you!"

Given the current situation, how could it be described as anything other than passive?

It looks exactly like sacrificing one Xu Zhixiang to drag down the other four major merchant guilds, offering a 'letter of allegiance' to the Grand Chancellor...

"Bastard!"

Houmochen Yi slammed his fist onto the desk and cursed: "Am I crazy to work with Chen Yan?"

"No benefits, yet I lose a path for accumulating wealth and get covered in filth?"

The more Houmochen Yi spoke, the angrier he became.

Benefits? There were no benefits!

Negatives? There were a whole bunch of negatives!

It was a true loss of both people and wealth, losing the wife and the soldiers...

The problem was, he, Houmochen Yi, just wanted to quietly accumulate wealth; who did he offend to deserve this?!

"Old Master, now is not the time for complaining..." Zheng Delin reminded him.

"Hoo~"

"Hoo~"

"Hoo~"

After a few deep breaths, Houmochen Yi managed to suppress his emotions. After regaining his composure, he asked: "Delin, what do you think should be done now?"

Zheng Delin thought for a moment and gave what he considered the optimal solution: "Sever the arm to save the body; cut off the connection between the Duke's mansion and Xu Zhixiang!"

"Then wait and see what happens..."

"I always have a feeling that the Mingjing Si Mirror Master's moves haven't finished yet!"

Clearly, this strategist for the Liang State Duke held the same view as Dugu Zhao...

If they retaliated immediately, they would fall into the trap.

It was better to observe his subsequent actions before deciding on the next step.

"Fine, we shall act according to your words!"

Houmochen Yi chose to trust his strategist: "It's just that this breath is a bit hard to swallow..."

Approaching noon.

Mingjing Si.

The sun was warm, but it was filtered by the layers of locust tree leaves overhead into fine, dappled spots of light that fell lazily onto Chen Yan.

He leaned back in a bamboo lounge chair, his grey robes draped loosely, one hand tucked behind his head, the other hanging casually on the armrest, his fingertips resting on half a cup of unfinished cold tea. The rim of the cup was condensed with a thin layer of moisture, shining with a moist luster in the warm light.

"Big Brother, why did you come to duty so early today?" Li Tan walked over from outside and asked upon noticing the leisurely Chen Yan.

"It's not that I came early, it's that you brat got up too late..."

Chen Yan continued to stare at the locust leaves and hummed: "I wonder who took away a pair of sisters from the Shi mansion last night?"

"Hahaha!"

Li Tan, having been exposed, scratched his head and sighed with a smile: "Beauty makes one sink into depravity!"

Immediately, he followed Chen Yan's gaze and asked with some confusion: "Big Brother, what are you worrying about?"

"Why are you in the mood to count leaves?"

"No!"

Chen Yan smiled calmly and said quietly: "I am waiting..."

"Waiting?"

Li Tan was puzzled: "Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for someone!"

"Aha?"

Just as the two were having their nonsensical conversation, You Xian walked over quickly from outside, stopped by Chen Yan's lounge chair, and said in a low voice: "Mirror Master, Prince Yan Yuwen Lun has surrounded our Mingjing Si with troops!"