Chapter 124: The Fox's Tail

The Prince's Mansion.

Liu Fu received permission to enter the backyard and caught a glimpse of Yan Wang sitting in a pavilion fishing, looking quite leisurely.

He now seriously suspected that Yan Wang's faked death was just to slack off for a few days.

Shaking his head, he stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, Yuan Li has arrived."

"Yuan Li? He certainly came quickly." The corners of Zhao Xu's mouth turned up.

Liu Fu's expression was gloomy, "Your Highness, do you think he was the one behind this assassination?"

"Hard to say, it's possible," Zhao Xu said. "The assassin must be most eager to confirm right now whether this Prince is truly dead."

Liu Fu nodded. Within the territory of Yanzhou, aside from the Zhang Family, the Yuan Family was likely the one that hated Yan Wang the most.

Naturally, the possibility was high, but even so, one could not make baseless accusations without evidence.

"This subordinate will go and test him to see what Yuan Li intends to do."

Zhao Xu kept his eyes on the fishing float and nodded slightly in agreement.

After leaving the Prince's Mansion, he headed straight for Nanmen.

Chang Wei was already at the city gate.

Noticing his arrival, Chang Wei secretly gave him a look.

"Chang Wei, what are you doing here? Prefect Yuan is looking for me; why are you trying to curry favor?" Before Liu Fu even reached Yuan Li, his words arrived first.

Chang Wei said angrily, "What right does a mere tutor have to control Yancheng? I advise you not to look for trouble."

"You are truly bold. I am the tutor; all matters, large and small, in Yan Commandery should pass through my hands."

"..."

The two began to argue, one word after another.

Yuan Li had already dismounted and was sitting on a chair in the gate tunnel to rest.

Seeing the two arguing until their faces were red, he felt secretly delighted.

These two were Yan Wang's right-hand men. When Yan Wang was alive, although they argued, their relationship was still harmonious.

Now that they were this angry, it seemed Yan Wang was truly dead.

That was why the two were busy fighting for control over Yancheng.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen." Seeing that their argument showed no signs of stopping, Yuan Li stood up and came before them.

"Yan Wang has met with misfortune; it is truly a tragedy. Now is not the time for bickering," Yuan Li said with a smile. Then, he suddenly changed his tone and said sternly, "Furthermore, this official holds the position of Prefect of Yanzhou. With Yan Wang dead, Yan Commandery should be under my temporary control."

Liu Fu and Chang Wei, who were in the middle of arguing, suddenly went quiet.

They thought about it, looking thoughtful, as if they had just realized something.

"Prefect Yuan's words are absolutely correct. Lord Prefect is the master of Yanzhou," Liu Fu said, cupping his hands.

Chang Wei cupped his hands and said, "That's right, that's right."

Seeing the two being so respectful toward him, Yuan Li was even more delighted.

During this period, Yan Commandery had slipped out of his control entirely because Yan Wang was here holding the fort.

Now that Yan Wang was dead and they had lost their backing, it was only natural for them to consider their own futures; such behavior was normal.

At the same time, his last lingering doubt about whether Yan Wang had faked his death vanished.

With his hands behind his back, a look of disdain appeared in his eyes.

To him, Chang Wei and this Liu Fu were still of some use for the time being. Once he took over all of Yan Wang's assets, he would get rid of them.

Putting away the look of disdain,

he said to Liu Fu, "As the saying goes, those who understand the times are heroes. My son-in-law, Zhang Kang, is reportedly still being held in the prison..."

"Ah, this subordinate will immediately order for him to be released." Liu Fu understood and signaled to an official beside him, who turned and left.

Seeing Liu Fu so compliant, Yuan Li nodded slightly.

He walked past Liu Fu.

Passing through the gate tunnel and entering Yancheng, he continued, "Also, I want to seal all the industries of the Prince's Mansion and take them under my supervision."

Then, he said to Chang Wei, "General Chang, are you willing to serve my Yuan Family?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Wei wished he could immediately draw his blade and kill Yuan Li.

This thief was truly greedy; he wanted to swallow every single thing of Yan Wang's.

He was about to lash out, but suddenly seeing Liu Fu shake his head slightly, he had to suppress the anger in his heart and said obsequiously, "To be able to serve Prefect Yuan is naturally excellent."

Yuan Li was overjoyed; he had not expected things to go so smoothly.

He thought to himself: Yan Wang, oh Yan Wang, no matter how capable you were, isn't everything you have now mine?

Liu Fu had been watching Yuan Li's expression the whole time and noticed Yuan Li getting a bit carried away.

He said, seemingly unintentionally, "The people who assassinated Yan Wang this time were truly ruthless. Three people from different directions pushed a vehicle capable of exploding toward Yan Wang together; it must have been meticulously planned."

At that moment, Yuan Li's mind was entirely filled with Zhao Xu's assets.

Hearing this, he blurted out subconsciously, "It wasn't four people..."

Having said this, he suddenly realized he had let something slip and changed his words, "Yes, it is a grievance that Yan Wang died."

Liu Fu and Chang Wei exchanged a glance, a trace of hatred flashing in their eyes.

This old fox; he had only tested him once and he had already shown his tail.

This assassination was indeed related to Yuan Li.

Having made up his mind, Liu Fu suddenly puffed out his chest and said to Yuan Li, "That is not the case. His Highness Yan Wang is perfectly fine and is currently waiting for Lord Prefect at the Prince's Mansion."

Chang Wei put away the fake smile on his face and placed his hand on his waist sword.

Yuan Li was stunned for a long while before he finally came to his senses, "You... you... what did you say?"

"His Highness Yan Wang is perfectly fine; I don't know whose rumor that was." Liu Fu was all smiles, and seeing Yuan Li's look of extreme disappointment, he felt very satisfied.

However, just as he said, the Prince's Mansion did not announce to the outside world that Yan Wang had died.

They only put on a crying act, and then everyone assumed that something had happened to Yan Wang.

Chang Wei sneered, "Prefect Yuan brought so many troops here; had you already calculated that His Highness was assassinated and killed?"

Seeing that Chang Wei's attitude had also changed drastically, Yuan Li suddenly realized he had been played.

"You are courting death!" Yuan Li was furious; who did they think they were, daring to humiliate him like this?

Immediately, he drew the sword from his waist and brandished it in his hand.

Chang Wei was completely unafraid and also drew his sword, "Are you the only one, Yuan Li, who can kill? I am not even afraid of the Northern Di, so why would I fear you and these shrimp soldiers and crab generals of the Yuan Family!"

As soon as Chang Wei spoke, the generals under Yuan Li's command were enraged, and blades were drawn from their sheaths instantly.

"Kill!" The soldiers of the Prince's Personal Army simultaneously aimed their Weapon at the Yuan Family generals.

"Rumble..." At this moment, a large number of soldiers moved on the city wall, and the crossbowmen aimed their Pulley Crossbow at the Yuan Family army below.

Yuan Li was horrified.

Having just experienced the war against the Northern Di, the Wangfu Army soldiers seemed to carry a murderous aura all over their bodies.

Yuan Li believed that if he made a move, these soldiers would definitely hack him to death with their blades without the slightest hesitation.

"Good, very good, as expected of Yan Wang." Yuan Li's smile carried deep hatred.

Things having reached this point, he no longer needed to hide or cover up.

Looking at Liu Fu, he said, "Take a message to Yan Wang for me: it is easy to be arrogant for a moment, but difficult to be arrogant for a lifetime. On the land of Yanzhou, he had better keep his tail tucked; my Fanyang Yuan Family has been passed down in Yanzhou for a hundred years, and we are not so easy to deal with."

Having said this, he turned and left.

Mounting his horse, he led his army toward the south, leaving behind a trail of dust.

Liu Fu sighed, "I just toppled a small one, never expected to provoke a big one."

Chang Wei snorted, "It was only a matter of time. Zhang Kang is nothing but a dog of the Yuan Family; having beaten the dog, the master will eventually come. When that time comes, at worst, we will just have a fight."