Chapter 534

"What are you two doing, not saying a word?" Chen Wuji looked toward Qin Feng and Li Run.

He wanted to hear a different answer from the two of them, but Qin Feng straightforwardly said: "What the two sirs said is completely correct, so I have nothing more to add."

Li Run then said: "Our Li family's deceased Old Master is very much like Yang Jinglve—appearing desireless and pursuitless, but actually more ambitious than anyone. However, I am speaking of my family's deceased Old Master; I am poor at judging people, so I cannot see through Yang Jinglve."

Chen Wuji suddenly did not want to speak.

Is his ability to judge people really this poor?

Everyone thought so, yet he misjudged—where did the problem arise?

Realizing his problem, Chen Wuji immediately reviewed all his interactions with Yang Yu.

In this brief association, something must have influenced his view.

After a while, he vaguely found the reason.

It was empathy.

Yang Yu is someone very skilled at guiding emotions and empathizing with others.

When chatting with him, the atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed; he can skillfully guide emotions, draw the two closer, making people unconsciously want to open up and say more to him.

Realizing this, Chen Wuji suddenly awakened.

This is a label found on those who run gray-market businesses, buying and selling this and that, or certain merchants or conglomerates' so-called founders; because of this label plus that set of rhetoric, they can fool others into willingly becoming suckers, emptying their savings to buy their products or courses.

Moreover, he initially admired Yang Yu quite a bit, so his misjudgment is not surprising.

However, by this logic, Yang Yu's scheming is not that deep—yet many people saw through his background after just a few meetings.

"No matter what kind of person Yang Jinglve is, or what he will become in the future, for now we are still allies; we can start preparing what needs to be done," Chen Wuji ordered in a low voice.

"However, when formulating the plan, be sure to leave enough of a retreat, just in case. As for the San Guan Jun mine, you decide among yourselves who is responsible, how to mine, how to transport—discuss it privately; I won't say more."

"Here!"

Qin Feng and Li Run returned, and Chen Wuji's meeting content evolved from detailed discussion of each step to just outlining an outline, instantly saving half the effort.

After everyone had a cup of tea, the meeting ended and everyone went about their own business.

Qin Feng and the others moved to the front hall, continuing to discuss the mining of the San Guan Jun mine and the details of dealing with the Qing County cult, while Chen Wuji leisurely opened a military treatise.

The burden that had weighed on his shoulders for over a month was finally lifted halfway; thereafter he seemed able to visit the camp more often and join the training.

He had not communicated feelings with the soldiers for a while.

The newly enlisted soldiers probably don't even know what their lord looks like, which is unacceptable.

Qin Zhanhong appeared at the doorway, still holding a heavy package.

"Don't tell me this is another rare gadget you've tinkered with?" Chen Wuji asked askance.

Such a large package, if it were all gadgets, would be somewhat shocking.

"Imperial Edict!" Qin Zhanhong walked in and slammed the package onto Chen Wuji's desk.

"What is this?"

"Imperial Edict!"

Chen Wuji stared at the black-wrapped bundle, his eyes nearly crossing, "This whole pile… Imperial Edict? Or is it wrapped in black cloth?"

"It is indeed a bit rushed, but it is truly an Imperial Edict!" Qin Zhanhong said, "This garment is said to be what His Majesty usually wears; the knots on it are tied by His Majesty himself, just to conceal the matter."

"Nearly ninety percent of the people around His Majesty are others' spies; to avoid alerting them, these Imperial Edicts are sent out of the palace under the pretext of being book copies."

Chen Wuji's mouth twitched, "Does His Majesty the Emperor's life really go like this?"

"It's not that miserable; he still enjoys fine clothes and food, with three thousand beauties in the harem—it's just that his power is somewhat restricted. The things those officials disapprove of, His Majesty can hardly do ninety-nine percent of the time." Qin Zhanhong casually said, "Now the only thing His Majesty can fully decide on seems to be eating, drinking, entertainment, and some minor matters."

"I chatted briefly with the envoy who brought the Imperial Edict; His Majesty now seems unable to even control the Imperial City Department, whereas before I came to Yunan he wasn't like this."

Such an edict transmission made Chen Wuji inevitably recall the sash edict.

However, compared to this, Emperor Xian of Han seems even more miserable.

The present emperor at least can send out such a large bundle of Imperial Edicts, whereas Emperor Xian of Han couldn't even manage a sash edict—he died in droves, and even his favorite consort was done in by Cao the boss.

"What a novel way to transmit an edict!" Chen Wuji could hardly keep from laughing.

Something so lofty has actually turned into a package.

He untied the knot personally tied by His Majesty, opened His Majesty's old garment, and then saw another bundle—"It's wrapped in three layers inside and three outside."

"Although the method of transmitting the edict is somewhat unique, safety must still be ensured; if it were lost, it would be a major incident." Qin Zhanhong's recently more perky butt lightly shifted, and he sat on Chen Wuji's desk, pressing that round, firm shape instantly into a flat, flat peach.

Chen Wuji went through some trouble and finally opened the package personally wrapped by His Majesty.

Inside there were quite a few things—just the Imperial Edicts numbered over ten, plus various sizes of Yin Shu, and a lacquer-sealed document tube.

Chen Wuji stared at the pile before him, and after a long while he still hadn't come to his senses, "I feel like I'm dealing in wholesale—are you sure this is the Emperor's edict?"

"Indeed!" Qin Zhanhong looked at the contents of the package, also somewhat dazed, "But with so many Imperial Edicts, I find it hard to believe—His Majesty the Emperor seems to have lost his mind."

"Let's look first." Chen Wuji picked up one of the Imperial Edicts, opened it, and couldn't help but utter a soft "eh?"—"Blank?"

"Perhaps His Majesty wants you to fill in the name and office yourself."

"If I fill in the position of chancellor, do you think those officials in the court would recognize it?" Chen Wuji asked teasingly.

Qin Zhanhong chuckled, "His Majesty would probably acknowledge it, but those officials in the court would surely beat your husband to death, then subject him to five-horse dismemberment, implicating the nine clans."

"Truly brutal." Chen Wuji shook his head, then opened several more Imperial Edicts in succession—all blank—just as he thought they were all blank, he opened one with a different binding method, and finally saw the content inside.