Chapter 304

First Volume, Chapter 304: The Noble of Machinations

The Lady of Qiyang Commandery knew her father's weight in the Chang Princess's heart, and quickly spoke to soothe her: "Mother, don't take that witch seriously—she's only bold enough to bully in the Hou Gong because she has a bit of beauty and the Emperor's favor. Vile people are punished by Heaven; just wait and see."

The Chang Princess's expression softened slightly as she sighed: "It's not as simple as you say. There are countless women in Heaven who turn heads with their charm—if beauty alone granted power, even the Hou Gong couldn't hold her. The Imperial Consort says nothing, but when she speaks, every word stabs me in the heart, her gaze venomous."

"That Qin Cheng Clan woman, through cunning and schemes, was made a First-Rank Noble Lady within days of arriving in Jingdu—yet look where she is now? Reduced to a common peasant by the Imperial Consort. If not for her ill fortune and the DaxiangPrinceDeath, her status today would have risen further—perhaps even the Empress couldn't touch her."

"The Lin Family dominates Jiangnan, controlling commerce, military power, and salt administration—all in one hand. They're the foremost Powerful Clan of Shedynasty. In Jingdu, Lin Taibao holds court; in the Hou Gong, their Imperial Consort rules unchallenged. Such power makes even the Emperor wary. You think he keeps me here out of pity for this Widow? No—he keeps me to counterbalance the Imperial Consort…"

The Lady of Qiyang Commandery well knew the Imperial Consort's power—otherwise, with her temper, she'd never have avoided her edge and stayed silent.

But seeing the Chang Princess suffer the Imperial Consort's humiliation, she still felt resentment, and added: "Lin Taibao sent men to ambush the Imperial Summons messengers, causing Qi Meng's Military Death. That hatred—Qin Feng will never let it go."

Qin Feng…

A glint of cunning flashed in the Chang Princess's eyes.

That boy is a Troublemaker—anyone who touches him ends up with bloody hands.

Not just Qi Meng's death—even if Qin Cheng Clan was banished back to Ancestral Land, this feud will inevitably bring Qin Feng and the Lin Family into direct conflict.

The Chang Princess's gloomy mood lifted instantly. She and the Liang Emperor were siblings, bound by blood, sharing tastes and habits—she especially loved watching dogs tear each other apart.

At that moment, a sharp cry came from beside the Western Flower Hall.

"Whose beast is blocking my view?!"

The Chang Princess froze—the Imperial Consort hadn't left yet.

…

Qin Feng was now deeply troubled.

A flood of problems crashed upon him all at once.

Though Sun Feng had confessed fully—proof was undeniable that Lin Taibao ordered him to ambush the messengers—it still wasn't enough to touch Lin Taibao.

The moment Sun Feng was thrown out of Tianji Camp, he was seized by Dali Temple—and before even reaching Prison, he was silenced en route.

Dali Temple, the Liang Emperor's voice, publicly claimed Sun Feng committed suicide out of guilt.

Clearly, the Liang Emperor's fear of Lin Taibao ran deep…

As long as Lin Taibao didn't directly threaten the Imperial Throne, even if he tore Heaven apart, the Liang Emperor would merely turn a blind eye.

With external threats and internal unrest, the Liang Emperor would never break with the Lin Family at this deadline—he could only endure.

In Beixi County, as the primary battleground in the early stage of the National War, its already thin population fled en masse to avoid combat. Once home to tens of thousands, Beixi County now struggles to muster ten thousand souls—it's nearly a dead land.

Rebuilding Beixi County would require a sum beyond reckoning.

Just now, Liu Hongyan found Qin Feng and raised an urgent issue.

The Tianji Camp's accounts were empty.

Only three ten thousand taels of silver remained.

For the first time since Qin Feng began managing his enterprises, he faced financial crisis—if Tianji Camp's funds ran dry, all his plans would halt completely.

Without Tianji Camp's support, Beixi County would become meat on the Di's lips—its destruction was only a matter of time.

Yet…

The most troubling issue for Qin Feng was communication.

Beixi County was too far from Jingdu—messages relied entirely on messengers galloping hard. To go fast, they had to be lightly equipped, making their safety precarious. If war reignited in Beixi County and someone repeated this ambush tactic, even if Qin Feng expanded every Yizhan tenfold, the root problem would remain unsolved.

At that moment, soldier Xu Chang reported outside: "Young Master, Dragon Tiger Army Grand Commander Zhao Yuxiong is here."

Qin Feng's eyes suddenly lit up.

Not because of Zhao Yuxiong—but because of Xu Chang himself.

This boy was ex-Black Guard, openly planted by the Liang Emperor as a spy beside him, watching every move.

Xu Chang's presence made Qin Feng think of the mysterious Black Guard Office.

The Black Guard Office's intelligence network was so formidable, even Qin Feng feared and marveled at it—under their efforts, every blade of grass and movement in Shedynasty lay bare beneath the Liang Emperor's gaze.

Even Di's spy networks had been severely crushed by the Black Guard Office.

If Qin Feng had his own spy network like the Black Guard Office, wouldn't he finally control Beixi County's situation tightly?

Indeed—he must continue developing Tianji Camp!

Qin Feng ignored Zhao Yuxiong and called Xu Chang inside, smiling: "What level are you in the Black Guard Office?"

Xu Chang hadn't expected Qin Feng to suddenly ask this.

A flicker of surprise vanished instantly—he was, after all, a spy, quick to adapt: "Your Excellency, I'm merely a covert guard—hardly even a Black Guard."

Qin Feng rose, hands behind his back, circled Xu Chang once, then suddenly slapped his buttocks—his palm landed squarely on a square, angular object.

No need to guess—it was a small notebook, recording every detail of Tianji Camp to report faithfully to the Black Guard Office.

Xu Chang had thick skin; even though Qin Feng had exposed him, he feigned ignorance, nervously saying: "Young Master, you don't… have a fondness for men, do you?"

Your dad's dragon!

I'm a straight man!

Qin Feng smirked, teasing: "How about a deal? Tell me the Black Guard's rank system, and from now on, you can come and go freely in Tianji Camp—I won't set any guards against you. Otherwise, I'll station someone to watch you day and night—you won't be able to write a single note."

Xu Chang scratched his head, still pretending: "Young Master, you're joking—I'm just a covert guard. How could I know anything about the Black Guard Office?"

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes: "Really don't know?"

Xu Chang nodded firmly, utterly serious: "Kill me—I still won't know."

Damn, no wonder he's a Black Guard spy—mouth is ironclad.

Qin Feng knew he'd never pry open Xu Chang's lips—he gave up, waved him off, and told him to bring Zhao Yuxiong in.

Qin Feng hurried back to the Shushu, resolved: he would immediately establish his own spy organization.