Chapter 1292: Great Consideration

"Looks like the Imperial Court is causing trouble!" Liang Xue and her clone were assisting Ye Liuyun with analysis inside the Space World.

The clone immediately contacted Zhuge Feiyu and Xia Tianqiong to solicit their opinions.

"The Imperial Family's approach clearly shows they neither want to fall out with you nor wish to slow your escape, so that the Underworld God can catch up to you!" Zhuge Feiyu analyzed.

Xia Tianqiong was also rather disappointed at the Imperial Family's kicking someone when they're down. After all, Ye Liuyun is the Imperial Family's Prince Consort, and on the battlefield he has earned many merits.

However, she knew that a princess who marries out is like water poured out. The Imperial Family always considers only interests and never mixes personal feelings. So she could not take a stance on the Imperial Family's actions.

She could only offer Ye Liuyun a suggestion: "You board a warship, poison it covertly, and then just pass through! If the Imperial Court isn't truly suppressing bandits, there shouldn't be many Imperial Court garrisons in that area!"

"Fine! Since the Imperial Family wants to meddle, let's make a move then!"

Ye Liuyun cannot take a detour. That detour would cost him more than twenty days.

Ye Liuyun glanced at the Leader and said, "I'm too lazy to detour. How about I stay aboard your warship and leave the moment the blockade lifts? What do you think?"

"Of course! Prince would be gracious enough to grant us a warship; we could not ask for more!"

The Leader, upon hearing that, seemed a bit flattered and startled. He immediately boarded the warship himself and invited Ye Liuyun aboard.

"What's your name?" Ye Liuyun asked casually.

"Wang An!" the Leader replied immediately.

"Sorry to bother you, Wang An!" Ye Liuyun said politely.

"Not at all, we're still not happy enough! Prince Ye, I heard you were at the Southern Battlefield before; how did you suddenly end up in the Outer Region?"

Wang An truly seemed unaware of the reason.

"I have some important matters to attend to!" Ye Liuyun said without further explanation. Wang An naturally didn't press further.

He merely summoned his subordinates, arranged wine and dishes to entertain Ye Liuyun, and called a few Vice Generals to keep company.

"The conditions aboard the warship are limited, I'm sorry to inconvenience the Prince!" Wang An felt his hospitality was insufficient.

"No need for politeness. I often eat on the warship with the soldiers. Has your warship been patrolling this area continuously?" Ye Liuyun also invited them to sit together, chatted casually, and probed for information.

Wang An and the others, seeing Ye Liuyun so easygoing, relaxed and gradually became less restrained.

"Indeed! We are the standing troops in this area. We only received the Imperial Court's order yesterday and went out to patrol!" Wang An replied.

However, Ye Liuyun noticed a slight change in his complexion, as if some words were left unsaid.

"What's wrong? You're on official business; what can't you say?" Ye Liuyun pressed.

"Hehe, it's not that I can't say, I just worry you'd misunderstand!" Wang An said apologetically.

"No problem! We're all comrades; there's no misunderstanding. Even if there is one, it's not your fault—it must be the orders from up there that are flawed!" Ye Liuyun defended him.

Sure enough, after Ye Liuyun's remark, Wang An said, "When the higher-ups issued the order, they specifically told me to watch an airship. I didn't expect it to be your carriage! I didn't know beforehand and couldn't disobey the order…"

It seemed Wang An truly respected Ye Liuyun, his words carrying explanation and apology.

Ye Liuyun nodded, "No problem! Perhaps the Imperial Family knew I was coming and only wanted you to keep an eye out!"

Ye Liuyun now also confirmed that Wang An and his men were indeed unaware, merely carrying out orders. Moreover, none of them had ever reported to the Imperial Court about intercepting Ye Liuyun.

This put him in a dilemma as well.

I should act; Wang An and his men are completely innocent! Moreover, I have some goodwill toward these people; they're simple, honest men. If I don't act, I'll have to take a twenty‑day detour.

"Alas! You're only following orders!" Ye Liuyun sighed.

"Yes, yes! Thank you, Prince Ye, for your understanding!" Wang An and the others nodded repeatedly. They were very grateful that Ye Liuyun could understand them.

In the past, when carrying out orders, they often faced powerful forces that made things difficult for them; it was hard to deal with. Sometimes they took losses and were beaten, yet could only endure.

So meeting a gentle Prince like Ye Liuyun was a surprise to them. They all praised Ye Liuyun as a Prince who has led troops and fought battles, understanding the soldiers' hardships.

"How many soldiers are on this warship?" Ye Liuyun asked Wang An and the others while eating and chatting.

"There are over three thousand! However, most have never seen battle, so their combat power naturally can't compare with the Prince's army," the Leader said modestly.

"You're too modest! When I boarded the warship, I saw that your subordinates' discipline and appearance were all quite good, showing you manage the troops well!" Ye Liuyun praised.

"If this person were under Qin Peng, they might have achieved something," Ye Liuyun thought, feeling a bit regretful.

Wang An and the others were chatting with Ye Liuyun, listening as he recounted battlefield events. Suddenly they all felt a vague mental haze.

They realized something was wrong, but immediately one after another collapsed on the spot.

Ye Liuyun hurriedly took out several pills and forced them into their mouths.

Then he released the clone, had it don the Invisibility Cloak, and slip into the warship to poison it.

The other soldiers weren't as fortunate as those few Leaders.

The clone released a deadly toxin that didn't target the Soul but directly assaulted the Physical Body.

Soon, one by one the soldiers were poisoned and fell. Their bodies were corroded by the toxin, emitting painful wails.

After a moment, the entire warship fell silent.

The clone removed the Invisibility Cloak and walked in.

"All done!" the clone told Ye Liuyun.

In both of their eyes there was a hint of helplessness.

Although they didn't want to act against these innocent people, there was no choice; after all, they were the Imperial Court's knives.

The one wielding the knife is at fault; discarding the knife is understandable.

In the perpetual struggles of great powers, the unlucky ones are always the low‑level folk!

Fortunately, Ye Liuyun restrained himself when dealing with those Leaders and gave them healing‑detox pills, so the harm to them should be minimal.

"Let's go!"

Ye Liuyun recalled the clone back into the Space World, exited the warship, released the Flying Shuttle, and continued on his way.

After traveling a further stretch, he indeed found no Imperial Court warships suppressing bandits.

It seems the Imperial Court deliberately delayed Ye Liuyun's speed, hoping to have the Underworld God eliminate him.