Chapter 341: Deputy Envoy Dou Is Definitely Reliable!

Hm?

Someone from the Mingjing Office?

Who could that be?

Yang Qin and the others exchanged glances, the astonishment in their eyes wrapped in deep confusion, each silently speculating about the newcomer's identity.

The three simultaneously held their breath; in the reception hall only the occasional soft crack of sparks from the charcoal brazier remained.

Three gazes converged at the doorway, like three fully drawn bows, full of astonishment and curiosity.

A hand with distinct knuckles lifted the cotton curtain; cold wind carrying snowflakes swirled into the hall, and the candle flame shivered sharply.

His shadow was cast onto the Blue Bricks floor, stretched thin and long.

The newcomer wore a suit of Xuanse Jinshen, the fabric a tightly woven dark‑patterned brocade that, under the charcoal light, glimmered with a cold, hard sheen; the collar and cuffs were embroidered with silver thread, depicting a half‑concealed serpent‑tail totem.

Upon entering the hall, he halted, gave a slight nod to Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian, then clasped his fists in a salute to Yang Qin and the others: "I have seen you, General Yang!"

"I have seen you, General Yan!"

"I have seen you, Lord Gao!"

Gao Bing stared at the face, his finger twirling his short beard suddenly halted, as if something had seized it, and he jerked his hand back sharply.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, a flash of bewilderment crossed his eyes, then was drowned by a wave of astonishment; his voice trembled: "Y... how could it be you...?!"

At those words, Yang Qin and Yan Zhi Tui were both taken aback.

Yan Zhi Tui squinted, examining the man; from the dark pattern of the Xuanse Jinshen he saw a jade pendant at the waist, and he stared at the face for a while, his brows furrowing tighter: "Brother Gao, do you know this person?!"

This General Yan, looking back and forth, felt the man before him was a complete stranger, never having seen him in Chang'an...

Gao Bing inhaled deeply, steadied his racing heart, then said the newcomer's identity in one sentence: "He is Deputy Envoy Dou Yi of the Vermilion Bird, Mingjing Office!"

"Vermilion Bird Deputy Envoy?!" Yang Qin and Yan Zhi Tui were both startled.

The Deputy Chief Mirror Officer of the Vermilion Bird Guard—a rank that is neither particularly high nor low...

He is a core figure of the Mingjing Office, able to access critical secrets!

"Indeed, I am Dou!" Dou Yi straightened, gave a slight nod, confirming his identity.

Dugu Zhao tapped the table with his fingertips; the fur of his purple sable coat quivered lightly with the motion. His gaze swept the stagnant air of the hall, finally settling on Dou Yi, his tone calm yet unmistakably weighty: "The defensive map for the Laji Festival was brought by Deputy Envoy Dou!"

Yang Qin's brows twisted like a deep gorge, the black hair at his temples quivered slightly with the movement.

His eyes circled Dou Yi twice, then turned to Dugu Zhao, his voice as heavy as sinking lead: "Brother Dugu..."

He stopped short of speaking, raised his hand to press the jade sash at his waist, his fingertips tracing its pattern; his Adam's apple bobbed for a moment before he continued: "I have a sentence I'm not sure whether to say or not..."

Dugu Zhao halted his motion upon hearing that, lifted his eyes toward Yang Qin, a hint of caution added to his composure: "You and I have been brothers for years; is there anything you cannot speak of?"

Speak!

He said so, flicking his sleeve lightly; the cuff of his purple sable coat traced a shallow arc in the air.

Indicating he should speak frankly.

Yang Qin walked slowly to Dugu Zhao's side; the hem of his robe brushed the edge of the charcoal brazier, raising a wisp of faint blue smoke.

He deliberately turned his body, presenting half his shoulder to Yan Zhi Tui, Dou Yi and the others; his right hand was folded inside his sleeve, fingertips unintentionally resting on Dugu Zhao's elbow.

It was a habit cultivated in the army years ago: when speaking up close, one always subtly signals a warning.

"Brother, are you certain Dou Yi is trustworthy?" he whispered, his breath mingling with the heat from the brazier and blowing into Dugu Zhao's ear, the black hair at his temples nearly brushing the fur of the other's purple sable coat, "What if he's feigning surrender, bringing false information…"

Obviously, Yang Qin's greatest worry was that this Vermilion Bird Deputy Envoy Dou Yi might be a pretended defector!

If one were to trust him lightly, the consequences would be unimaginable…

Dugu Zhao raised his hand and gave Yang Qin's shoulder a heavy pat; the swing of the purple sable coat's sleeve stirred a gust that fanned the sparks in the brazier into a crackling sound.

He suddenly raised his voice, the sound cutting through the stagnant air of the hall with undeniable force: "Ah Qin, you're overthinking…"

His gaze swept the assembled people, finally landing on Dou Yi, his eyes firm as a rock: "Deputy Envoy Dou is certainly reliable!"

The final four words struck the ground with resonance, causing the tea cups on the table to tremble lightly.

He deliberately raised his voice to a high pitch, as if to ensure everyone heard his decisive verdict.

Hm?

Yang Qin's posture wavered from the pat, and he stepped back to his original spot.

Just as he sat down, he instinctively lifted the cold tea from the table to his lips, then halted; his gaze passed through the swirling tea steam toward Dou Yi, his brows still twisted into an unrelenting deep furrow.

Earlier, Dugu Zhao's words were resolute as a pillar, yet the doubt in his eyes remained untouched.

Like a few fine needles lodged in his heart, the more he thought, the more uneasy he became.

Dugu Zhao suddenly lifted his eyes toward Dou Yi; the collar of his purple sable coat rose lightly with the motion, a smile in his eyes holding a nuance few could grasp: "Because in the plan to assassinate Chen Yan successfully…"

He paused, his gaze sweeping the still‑skeptical faces, then continued: "Deputy Envoy Dou played a crucial role!"

Hahaha!

Having said that, he burst into loud laughter, his eyes showing unabashed admiration for Dou Yi.

Yang Qin's worried expression—how could Dugu Zhao not have considered that?

However, Dou Yi had already contacted him and Zhao Qian, and had accepted a Letter of Allegiance…

Using Chen Yan's life, he demonstrated his resolve to surrender!

Otherwise, he could not have brought it here…

Yang Qin narrowed his eyes; the brows that had risen in shock were now twisted into a knot as he stared at Dou Yi, his Adam's apple bobbing for a while before he managed to force out a stone‑heavy sentence: "But why would he do this?"

Those words were a soul‑piercing question.

How does Chen Yan treat his subordinates?

That is evident to all!

This Deputy Envoy, just one step away from the Chief Mirror Officer, has no motive to rebel!

Dou Yi clenched his fist hard, his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line, his knuckles whitening from the strain, nearly embedding into his palm.

He felt suppressed fury rolling in his throat, his voice squeezed out of his teeth, burning hot: "General Yang should know that the Duke of Liang placed his legitimate son into the Bright Mirror Office, right?"

"What kind of thing is Hou Mo Chen Xiao, and does he even merit riding side by side with me?"

"He repeatedly uses his power to press others! Boasting that the position of Mirror Master must be his!"

"The Mirror Master and the Chief Overseer, however, turn a blind eye!"

He paused, cold light flashing in his eyes, and continued: "Then it's better to abandon darkness for light!"

"To fight for one's own future!"

His chest heaved violently, the crimson in his right eye spreading toward the corner, that half‑face twisted from extreme anger.

Having said that, he bowed and clasped his fists to Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian.

Since the Bright Mirror Office is unjust, and Chen Yan and You Xian were unkind and biased in listening and believing first, don't blame me Dou Yi for turning and backstabbing!

All this is the cause they themselves sowed......

"From this, there is a lot of discord between Dou Yi and Hou Mo Chen Xiao....."

Yang Qin heard this, seemed thoughtful, and calculated in his heart: "And big brother Dugu probably gave the position of Chief Overseer of the Bright Mirror Office to him!"

If it's because of this change of affiliation, then everything makes sense.....

"A Qin, rest assured, A Yi is trustworthy!"

Dugu Zhao pressed his hand and said in a deep voice.

"Back to the main point!"

Zhao Qian cleared his throat, spread the defense map fully, gestured for everyone to come over, and began: "Now that we have the defense map, the crucial question at hand....."

"Which part of the Laba Festival should we dispatch Yuwen Hu on his route!"

"What are your thoughts?"

Speaking, his fingertips traced the paper, and the dense red dots and black lines instantly became clear.

Yang Qin leaned forward to examine, his fingertips sliding along a winding ink line on the map, the astonishment in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a solemn admiration: "I must say, the defense map crafted by Chen Yan is truly meticulous......"

"Almost no blind spots!"

"If we act rashly, the chance of failure is at least ninety‑nine percent......"

Yang Qin did not exaggerate, nor did he inflate others' morale; indeed this defense map covered virtually every aspect, no detail left out.

Yan Zhi Tui tapped his finger heavily on the defense map, the candlelight flashing a spark in his eyes: "I think, not only must we kill Yuwen Hu, but after his death we must be able to instantly control the whole situation and the young emperor!"

Killing is not the goal.

After removing Yuwen Hu, how to seize power is the top priority!

The young emperor must be the primary target of control.

Though he is a puppet, he is a key Political Symbol!

With his endorsement, everything becomes legitimate.....

"A Tui is speaking reasonably!"

Zhao Qian nodded, fully agreeing, his gaze wandering over the defense map, seeing the line of the exit route, and said in a deep voice: "Thus, the road from the city to the altar can be completely eliminated!"

"Then the optimal location is the only one left......"

Why must it be eliminated?

Because if Yuwen Hu dies on the road or within the city, there is no suitable moment to seize control.

Dugu Zhao's fingertip landed on the spot with the most red marks, and he blurted out: "The place of the sacrifice!"

"This spot is both the weakest in protection and the most unexpected!" Yan Zhi Tui clapped his hands, agreeing, "We can set a trap here....."

"Once Yuwen Hu falls into the trap and perishes, the two veteran Pillars of State can step forward, using their prestige to preside over the whole situation!"

A faint yet piercing Dark Hawk, like ice shards tempered with Poison, hidden in the wrinkles at the corner of his eye.

There is no more suitable assassination spot than this.

Let Yuwen Hu die under everyone's eyes, the two veteran Pillars of State step out to turn the tide; everything then falls perfectly into place!

"The trap isn't working....."

Yang Qin thought briefly, shook his head, and said in a deep voice: "It's hard to guarantee absolute safety!"

"Moreover, even if we infiltrate beforehand, without enough time, it's difficult to set up a precise trap......"

The idea of setting a trap is nice, but the margin for error is low.

After all, the tighter the trap, the more time it requires.....

But they have none!

While the two were arguing, Gao Bing suddenly spoke up: "I have a method that might work!"

"Speak quickly!" Yan and Yang exchanged a glance and urged.

"If the trap won't work, how about letting Yuwen Hu climb onto the incense‑filled great cauldron, explode it directly and take his life?" Gao Bing didn't hold back, his fingertip pointing at the sacrificial spot, retorted.

"Good idea; in the Former Jin there are records of alchemy furnaces exploding....." Dugu Zhao heard this, thought for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "But how could we achieve that?"

"That explosion is too accidental....."

The method is good, but hard to implement; what will they use to replicate it?

"Indeed!" Zhao Qian, Yang Qin and others nodded.

Gao Bing twirled his beard and smiled; the wrinkles at the corner of his eye held a hint of mystery as he said meaningfully: "My son A Jiong, a few days ago, while wandering the Heishi, happened to buy some powder that explodes on contact with fire!"