Chapter 662: First Volume_Chapter 662: Bait

First Volume_Chapter 662: Bait

Now the entire Jingdu's attention is focused on Qin Feng.

At this critical juncture, if Qin Feng were to press with full force, that would actually be normal.

But instead...

This fellow Qin Feng actually went against the grain, truly impossible to fathom.

To avoid being trapped by Qin Feng, Lü Li sent Chen Si to Mingyue Zhai again and again to probe the situation.

At the same time, the Imperial Palace was not peaceful either.

Li Yong, who was standing by the Lotus Pond feeding the fish, curled up the corner of his mouth and muttered to himself.

"Interesting, truly too interesting."

"Worthy of being Qin Feng, always able to catch people off guard."

"This time, even I, this palace's master, guessed Qin Feng's move wrong."

"No wonder the Empress and the Eldest Princess are so wary of Qin Feng, sending people to remind and lay groundwork time and again to deal with this man."

Xiao Zhuozi silently guarded behind.

His eyes could not help but show a flash of surprise.

"Your Highness, even you cannot grasp Qin Feng's pattern?"

"Is this man's scheming really that deep?"

Li Yong was quite composed; even after misjudging the situation, he still kept laughing.

Appearing calm and unhurried.

Watching the koi fish appearing and disappearing in the water, his eyes were filled with thick anticipation.

"After all, he is the one who, together with me, brought down Second Brother. How could he not be deep?"

"Looking across the entire Shedynasty, those whose strength surpasses Qin Feng's are nothing more than the Central Plains Imperial Party and the Southern Frontier Noble Clans."

"That Jiangnan Lin Family is already a spent force; although it will struggle a few times in its death throes, it is no longer worth worrying about."

"But whether it is the Central Plains Imperial Party or the Southern Frontier Noble Clans, their boldness cannot be compared to Qin Feng's at all."

"So, whether his scheming is deep or not is secondary."

"What Qin Feng is most formidable at, and most dangerous about, is that he can do what others cannot, and dare what others do not dare."

"Killing the Northern Di Envoy Group's military officers, publicly humiliating the Northern Di Pillar State—and that was the most radical and craziest Hawkish Faction."

"He simply relied on high-pressure tactics to subdue Lü Li. Even I, this palace's master, am completely and utterly impressed."

"Hehehe, once this kind of person gets ruthless, even my Li Imperial Clan is far from comparable."

Xiao Zhuozi knew well that Li Yong's evaluation of Qin Feng had always been high.

But he had not expected it to already be this high.

For a moment, he could not help but feel secretly worried.

If in the future His Highness inherits the Imperial Throne, whether he can keep Qin Feng in check is still an unknown.

"Your Highness..."

Xiao Zhuozi mustered his courage and asked a tentative question.

"Aren't you worried about the future?"

Li Yong had long anticipated Xiao Zhuozi would ask this; he grabbed a handful of Rice Grains from the bowl and scattered them into the water.

Casually saying: "Afraid? Why should I be afraid?"

"Now is not yet the time for me to be afraid."

"No matter how anxious I, this palace's master, am, I must wait until the State Peace Talks end."

"The chess game between Father Emperor and Qin Feng is not yet finished."

"Even if Qin Feng wants to show killing intent, it is aimed at Father Emperor; what does it have to do with me, an onlooker outside the game?"

Saying this, Li Yong's voice gradually deepened.

Sincere and earnest.

"I am a Prince, naturally I cannot keep Qin Feng in check."

"But in the future, with the identity of a Monarch backing him, wanting to keep Qin Feng in check will no longer be the same method as now."

"The Emperor and the Prince, though connected by blood and differing by only one character, are worlds apart!"

Hearing Li Yong's words.

Xiao Zhuozi's worries vanished in an instant.

His eyes were full of fervor, feeling that for the future Monarch of Shedynasty, who else but Li Yong?

If Li Yong does not inherit the Imperial Throne, there is simply no justice!

Li Yong was not anxious.

Having been suppressed by Second Brother Li Qian for so many years, hadn't he endured it slowly?

This bit of time made no difference.

Li Yong scattered another handful of Rice Grains into the water, watching the koi fish surface to scramble for food, and could not help but sneer.

"Deep? So what if he's deep, scatter a little Bait and he surfaces."

At night, Jingdu City became exceptionally quiet.

Qin Feng guarded the Back Courtyard, watching the craftsmen finish crafting all the Brewing Equipment, his heart's excitement already beyond restraint.

If it were not for the earthen stove not yet dried.

Qin Feng would have already started brewing.

He reached out and touched the damp stove — at this rate, it wouldn't dry even after another three to five days.

"Light it up, bake it dry!"

At the command, the craftsmen stuffed firewood into the stove and lit it.

Under the roaring blaze, the stove dried at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Earliest by dawn, latest by noon tomorrow, they could fire up the stove to steam the grain.

Just as Qin Feng was quietly looking forward to it—

Qin Xiaofu came running over.

"Young Master, there's a guest outside requesting an audience."

A guest?

Qin Feng raised a brow, couldn't help but laugh: "It wouldn't be Chen Si again, would it?"

"That big brother of mine — it's hard on him, being pushed by Lü Li to keep coming to me. He must be embarrassed beyond words himself."

Qin Xiaofu grinned mischievously.

"Young Master, Chen Si did come, but that was already half a Envoy ago."

"I told him Young Master was busy brewing wine and couldn't see guests, so I sent him away."

Qin Feng, hands clasped behind his back, nodded, feeling that this fellow Qin Xiaofu was getting cleverer by the day.

If he were to swap in a different servant now, he really wouldn't be used to it.

"If it's not Chen Si, then who?"

"Someone from the palace? Someone from the Grand Tutor? Or has that old boy Lü Li come in person?"

At this deadline, the guests Qin Feng could think of were only these few, coming and going.

Qin Xiaofu, however, shook his head repeatedly.

"None of them."

"The visitor calls himself Young Master's business partner, and says he once saved your life."

At these words, Qin Feng's eyes couldn't help but light up.

"Quickly, invite him in!"

Seeing Qin Feng's reaction so strong, Qin Xiaofu couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"Young Master, you've already guessed the other's identity just like that?"

Qin Feng clicked his tongue and said peevishly: "Someone who both has business dealings with me and once saved me — besides someone from Gaoshan Country, who else could it be?"

Back then, if Gaoshan Country hadn't sent people to rescue him, Qin Feng would have long died within the Northern Di territory.

Business cooperation, plus the life-saving grace, plus the shared strategic relationship of containing the Northern Di—

This was simply an all-weather strategic partnership.

Under Qin Feng's intensely expectant gaze, a young man under twenty, burly in build, dressed in white clothes, led by Qin Xiaofu, arrived at the Back Courtyard.

This person looked quite unfamiliar.

Before Qin Feng could speak, the other had already cupped his fists in salute, appearing extremely well-mannered.

"Son of the King of Gaoshan Kingdom, Eldest Prince of Gaoshan Kingdom, Han Yuming, pays his respects to Young Master Qin."

What?!

A prince?

Qin Feng was stunned for a moment, never expecting Gaoshan Country to actually send such a heavyweight figure, trekking across mountains and rivers all the way to the Liang Capital.

Qin Feng hurriedly cupped his fists in return: "So it is His Highness the Crown Prince — forgive me for the poor welcome."

Han Yuming had heard the great name of Qin Feng like thunder, but had never once seen the man himself.

Now seeing him in person, he hadn't expected that the legendary young overlord who had defeated the Northern Di would be so easygoing and courteous.

He couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

"Young Master Qin speaks too gravely. Our Gaoshan Country has no Crown Prince — I am not the Crown Prince."