Chapter 142: This Is a Grand Game of Chess

Hu Xi'er's beauty was naturally of the kind that could topple cities and states.

The spiritual aura about her, untainted by the secular world, made everyone who looked at her unable to bear the thought of desecrating it. Today, she had even learned from Zheng Yue Ru and donned white men's attire, which immediately made her look imposing and heroic; yet, that otherworldly, mischievous temperament of hers still couldn't help but leak out, leaving Liu Zheng not only stunned but also unable to hold back a laugh.

"What are you laughing at!"

Seeing Liu Zheng's expression, Hu Xi'er was instantly displeased; her face flushed, and she shot him a glare.

Liu Zheng hurriedly apologized with a smile: "Nothing, nothing at all. It's just that I didn't expect Miss Hu to come in person. It truly leaves Zheng feeling flattered and overwhelmed!"

Zheng Yue Ru and Jiang Xuan, standing to the side, both held back their laughter.

Hu Xi'er said triumphantly: "That's right. Father saw that you were trapped in a predicament and in danger at any moment, so he sent me to offer you some ideas."

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile and cupped his hands: "How will Miss Hu instruct me?"

He then hurriedly stepped aside to let Hu Xi'er sit down. Hu Xi'er put on an act of sipping tea, then, imitating the manner of Qingyang Shuo, with wisdom shining in her clear eyes, she said indifferently: "Father said it like this: 'Zheng, Baiya Prefecture is in chaos, the Zhongyuan is watching, heroes are gathered, and every tree and shrub looks like an enemy soldier. You must never lightly trust one person, nor can you miscalculate a single one! Though this game of chess is difficult, it is not fatal. Zheng, do you understand?'"

The three of them held back their laughter.

This Hu Xi'er was deliberately taking advantage of Liu Zheng. Because everyone knew that although Qingyang Shuo was a monster of talent, he and Liu Zheng considered each other soulmates and had never held himself above Liu Zheng as an elder. Hu Xi'er's repeated use of "Zheng" sounded extremely comical.

Liu Zheng was also originally smiling bitterly again and again.

Who would have thought that upon hearing the end, the playfulness on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a look of gravity, and he finally blurted out: "What?"

Qingyang Shuo's words woke him as if from a dream, and his back instantly turned cold.

Life is like a game of chess!

He didn't know how many times Qingyang Shuo had told him this sentence. But when he was deep in the midst of the conflict, he had failed to keep his ears and eyes clear, and he was truly ashamed.

Liu Zheng's reaction startled even Hu Xi'er, and she and the other two looked at him in surprise.

Liu Zheng first fell into deep thought, then immediately laughed out loud: "The Master is truly a high-level expert!"

"This game of chess, yes, this game of chess!"

Ignoring the three people's stunned expressions, he casually took out paper and a brush, spread them out before him, and wanted to draw out this current trapped game of chess bit by bit.

Baiya Prefecture, the Baiya Army, the horse farm, Wei Shao, Yang Ke, Du Biao, as well as the Crown Prince, the Third Prince, and that Imperial Envoy Grand Eunuch Zhou who were currently on their way, Zheng Yuxing, as well as the representatives of the various Feudatory Kings coming to the meeting, and the heroes of the Jianghu...

Then, using the brush, he connected them one by one, and gradually, a complex web of relationships appeared.

Liu Zheng stared wide-eyed, suddenly feeling his scalp tingle, and the brush in his hand dropped.

The Imperial Palace of the Longyan Dynasty.

Yangxin Hall.

This was the place where successive emperors had lived since the founding of the Longyan Dynasty. The three characters "Yangxin Hall" came from Mencius's "There is no better way to nourish the heart than to reduce desires." In order to improve lighting, this Yangxin Hall was the first palace to be fitted with Glass. The Emperor's throne was set in the center of the main room, with a plaque inscribed by the current Emperor Xie Tianyao with the words "Zhongzheng Renhe" hanging above it. Inside the "East Warm Pavilion" on the east side of the main room, a throne was set up, facing west.

The West Warm Pavilion on the west side of the main room was divided into several rooms, including a small room where the Emperor read memorials and held secret talks with ministers, called "Qinzheng Qinxian," as well as the Sanxi Hall where the Emperor studied, the Small Buddha Hall, and Meiwu, which were places specifically for the Emperor to offer incense to Buddha and rest.

The rear hall of Yangxin Hall was the Emperor's sleeping quarters, consisting of five rooms in total; the east and west side rooms were bedrooms, each equipped with a bed, and the Emperor could live in either as he pleased. On both sides of the rear hall were five side rooms each; the five eastern rooms were for the Empress to live in, and the five western rooms were for the Imperial Concubines and others to live in.

At this moment.

The old Emperor was sitting in Meiwu, looking with great interest at the Glass that had just been replaced in this Yangxin Hall, which was overflowing with flowing light.

That Crystal Glass refracted the sunlight into a colorful, dazzling display, making this old man, whom people thought was on the verge of death, burst into hearty laughter: "Is this the Glass from Liangzhou? How strange, how wonderful!"

However, at this moment, there were no old eunuchs, or Empresses or concubines to answer his question.

This made the entire Yangxin Hall feel a bit empty.

The old Emperor didn't mind, and continued to chuckle: "This slave Zhou is not here, and there isn't even anyone to banter with me. You, why are you so different from that old slave... you won't even say a single word more to me?"

"Please conduct yourself with dignity, Emperor!"

A black shadow appeared behind the screen.

The old Emperor was stunned, then immediately laughed out loud, and in the end, tears even came out from his laughter: "Dignity? In this world, I'm afraid you are the only one who dares to tell me to conduct myself with dignity!"

This masked black shadow was the Secret Guard leader who had appeared before!

He was the head of the Secret Guards who served the old Emperor Xie Tianyao heart and soul!

The old Emperor looked over with a smile: "That slave surnamed Zhou, although greedy for money, always knew how to scratch my itch when he spoke. As for you, I have always been at ease with your work, but you are always stern and humorless. Hahahaha! Of those guys from back then, only we are left, aren't we? The others... if it weren't for back then..."

"Please conduct yourself with dignity, Emperor!"

The Secret Guard continued coldly.

A sharp glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes: "You wanted me to give that kid from Liangzhou the position of Prefect, so I gave it to him. What else do you want?"

The Secret Guard lowered his head and remained silent.

The Emperor laughed out loud: "This kid is indeed capable of stirring up trouble... One should have a son like Prefect Liu! I envy him greatly!"

"This is a transaction!"

The Secret Guard said coldly.

The Emperor slammed his desk and said angrily: "The whole world is mine. By what right do you make a transaction with me?"

"By what right!"

When the Emperor was angry, his majesty was imposing.

This iron-blooded Emperor, who had personally slaughtered more than a dozen of his own brothers back then, was never a pushover.

The Secret Guard remained silent.

The old Emperor's tense face broke into a laugh again: "A transaction, good, a transaction... That kid privately manufactured Refined Salt, such a crime punishable by the extermination of the nine clans, and you want to talk to me about a transaction?"

"We don't have to talk!"

The Secret Guard finally raised his head.

The two of them stared at each other like this.

The atmosphere instantly became cold and eerie.

I don't know how much time passed before the old Emperor Xie Tianyao finally looked weary and waved his hand: "I am old... Of course, even when I was young, you were the only one who dared to speak to me in such a tone. Let's talk then, let's make the transaction!"

"Go..."

"Take this imperial decree."

"Consider this matter as helping Me one more time."

The Secret Guard accepted the order and left.

"You say..."

The old Emperor suddenly asked in a weak voice: "You say, can a Crown Prince and a Third Prince defeat that brat?"

The Secret Guard stopped in their tracks and slowly turned their head.

This sentence contained too much information.

A hidden murderous intent flickered in the old Emperor's eyes.

Was he speaking of this struggle in Baiya Prefecture, or was he speaking of the succession of this world?

"Heaven protects Longyan; a mere Liu Zheng is not worth mentioning."

The Secret Guard said indifferently.

Only then did the old Emperor wave his hand and close his eyes to rest.

"Young Master, what is it?"

Jiang Xuan asked hurriedly.

Liu Zheng looked at the intricate web of relationships before him, couldn't help but rub his temples, and smiled bitterly: "The gentleman's words were not false; I thought too simply of this Baiya Prefecture! I originally thought I was just coming to help the Baiya Army with their defense, but now it seems..."

The few of them looked puzzled.

Hu Xi'er also did not understand.

In reality, she had only come to deliver a message and did not know the deeper implications of Qingyang Shuo.

Liu Zheng pointed at the web of relationships and said: "Look, the Baiya Taishoufu, this seems to be the simplest line, let's set it aside for now... The Baiya Army is currently under the line of Zheng Yuxing and the Prince of Lu. Yet, within the Baiya Army, it is divided into two ideologies: one is the 'submission' faction of the Great Leader Wei Shao, and the other is the pugilistic faction of Yang Ke. I believe these two factions can lead to even more webs of relationships..."

"Zheng Yuxing is the Third Prince."

"The Taishoufu, in order to control Baiya at this time, will certainly seek help from the Liangzhou Prefecture, which will naturally lead to a connection with the Crown Prince!"

"Furthermore, there are the representatives of the Feudatory Kings who are about to attend the meeting, and heroes from all walks of life..."

Liu Zheng's lines moved back and forth, eventually circling into two rings.

Inside these two rings.

Were written: "Profit" and "Power"!

The other three looked at each other, still not understanding.

Liu Zheng took a deep breath: "This game of chess is the Baiya Army trying to take a shortcut! Everyone is thinking about fighting for maximized profit!"

"But, when, and under what circumstances, can profit be maximized?"

Liu Zheng's eyes flickered.

Jiang Xuan's expression changed: "Refined Salt?"

Liu Zheng smiled: "Mere Refined Salt has enough profit, but it is not enough to subvert power."

Zheng Yue Ru probed: "The horse ranch?"

Liu Zheng nodded: "Getting closer."

Hu Xi'er was getting anxious: "Oh, why are you being so mysterious? Hurry up and say it!"

Liu Zheng laughed: "Things are getting more and more interesting; if I say it so early, what would be the point?"

Hu Xi'er gritted her teeth in anger.

Liu Zheng straightened his expression: "Jiang Xuan!"

"This subordinate is here!"

"How is your Dark Night Squad?"

Jiang Xuan vowed: "The hundred men who came this time are all elites who can stand against a hundred!"

Liu Zheng smiled with satisfaction: "Good, this trip to Baiya will depend on you all."

He picked up a pen and scribbled a few names on the paper.

"These are the people you need to investigate. Remember, you must investigate every detail; even if a few piglets were born at home or which relatives they visited, investigate everything for me!"

"Jiang Xuan, victory or defeat rests entirely on you!"

Liu Zheng gave his instructions very solemnly.

Jiang Xuan took a deep breath: "Young Master, rest assured, the Dark Night Squad will certainly not fail the expectations!"

Zheng Yue Ru and Hu Xi'er rolled their eyes.

This Liu Zheng always acted so mysteriously whenever he stirred up trouble; it was truly annoying.

Since Liu Zheng wouldn't say, Zheng Yue Ru had no choice but to roll her eyes at him and smile: "Brother Liu, I have already printed many more flyers and trademarks for our Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce, and besides weapons, many other goods have been shipped here. This time?"

Liu Zheng was stunned, then overjoyed: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go distribute the flyers together!"

The two women immediately burst into laughter.

No matter how shrewd Liu Zheng became or how high his official rank grew, he remained as enthusiastic as ever about making money.

【Author's Note】

Discharged from the hospital, updates will resume soon.