She's Not Stupid

suspended animation

Upon hearing his father's words, Xu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly, a multitude of thoughts flashing through his mind.

Even now, although most of the sect leaders still consider him a spoiled brat, there are still quite a few people who know his true status in the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion.

Given the current situation, before his cultivation level is sufficient to protect himself, faking his death to disappear from their sight and going behind the scenes is a good option.

But the problem is,

Can this be kept secret?

The group of five who ambushed and assassinated him in Huizhou had three dead, but two still managed to escape alive.

If those two were to reveal this, their scheme would be exposed.

Moreover, the serious consequences of being caught red-handed.

Xu Changtian is clearly not dead, yet your Prime Minister's Mansion has announced to the world that he has passed away. What is the meaning of this?

The leaders of all parties are not idiots.

Once the entire story is exposed to the higher-ups of the various powers, both the elaborate assassination attempt and the Prime Minister's Estate's deliberate concealment undoubtedly point to one thing: Xu Changtian, who was originally a playboy, is actually an extremely important figure to the Prime Minister's Mansion's Mansion.

Xu Yuan's secret identity, which was originally confined to a very small circle, will now be spread throughout the world.

Thinking to himself, Xu Yuan looked at Xu Yinhe's calm face across the stone table and subconsciously wanted to ask a question, but when the words were about to come out, he suddenly realized that his question was stupid.

What he could think of, how could his father not have thought of?

He did this because the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion dared not speak out.

Before dying, the mortal who held Lou Ji Mortal Shedding erased all evidence related to the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion. If this information were revealed now, wouldn't it be tantamount to announcing to the world that they were responsible for the assassination?

Xu Yuan let out a soft breath and then asked in a low voice:

"Father, are you planning to use my faked death to make a fuss?"

Xu Yinhe picked up the teapot in front of him, poured himself a cup, and said in a calm and unhurried voice:

"A lot has happened while you were unconscious. Our Prime Minister's Mansion's residence needs some simple cleanup, and we also need a fabricated charge to send some of the fence-sitters the sects have planted in the court to their deaths."

The azure sky stretches to the horizon, and the warm sunlight falls like a waterfall.

Xu Yuan glanced at the koi carp bubbling on the surface of the pond outside the pavilion and frowned slightly.

The father's words were brief, but they contained a great deal of information.

The situation within the Great Yan territory is now significantly more tense than it was before he fell into a coma, and launching a major purge within the Prime Minister's Mansion at this time is clearly not a wise decision.

However, Xu Yuan did not have much objection to this.

after all,

In the various timelines of Cangyuan, the Prime Minister's Estate almost held the advantage of being able to overwhelm the enemy, yet it inexplicably collapsed.

This matter involves external factors related to the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion, but similarly, there must also be some internal problems within the Prime Minister's Mansion's residence.

Due to memories of a past life,

Xu Yuan could ascertain the loyalty of top-tier bosses like Lou Ji and Zong Qingsheng to the Prime Minister's Mansion's Mansion, but he couldn't ascertain the loyalty of those at the next lower level, or those core figures of the Prime Minister's Mansion who had never appeared in Cangyuan.

The father's mention of this matter at this time suggests he has made some discoveries.

Just as he was thinking this, Xu Yinhe's calm voice came from the other side:

"I thought you, Changtian, would advise your father."

"."

Xu Yuan looked up and met that sharp, hawk-like gaze.

A slight chill ran through him, Xu Yuan then smiled faintly:

"However, Father, you must have your reasons for doing this."

Xu Yinhe's calm yet sharp gaze remained fixed on Xu Yuan's eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Changtian, don't you have anything to say about this?"

After a moment of silence, Xu Yuan sighed and said softly:

"Father, it is unwise to carry out internal purges at this time, but if we do not do it now, it will be too late when the situation becomes completely chaotic later."

Xu Yinhe took a sip of the fragrant tea in the porcelain cup, his voice tinged with laughter:

"Changtian, when did you learn those smooth-talking, conciliatory phrases from the court officials?"

Xu Yuan smacked his lips, and seeing that he couldn't escape, he simply spread his hands and casually said:

"I don't know your men well, so what can I say about this?"

"Although the old folks in the Prime Minister's Mansion have followed you their whole lives, it doesn't mean they'll always be the same as they were at the beginning."

"Before, you and they were both barefoot and carefree, but now that you've achieved success, even if you go further, it won't matter to them."

"Changtian, be careful what you say," Xu Yinhe interrupted Xu Yuan.

"Didn't you tell me to say that?" Xu Yuan chuckled, then glanced at the quiet courtyard around him. "Besides, there's no one else here."

Xu Yinhe stared at Xu Yuan helplessly for a few moments, then shook his head and said in a low voice:

"There are indeed no outsiders, but if your elder brother and maternal uncle hear these words, it could cause some unnecessary trouble."

"Changtian,

Even if the speaker doesn't mean anything by it, some things, once started, will take root in the heart.

"."

Xu Yuan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.

This was something he had overlooked, or perhaps he hadn't fully adapted to his current role.

In this second center of power within the Great Yan Dynasty, if you say something, even a joke, your subordinates might take it seriously and start making preparations to implement it.

If you keep making these kinds of jokes, you might wake up one day to find a bunch of your subordinates blocking your door with an Imperial Dragon Robe, forcing you to put it on.

Nodding, Xu Yuan brought the topic back to itself and said in a low voice:

"In short, people change. No matter how firm one's ideals were back then, decades have passed and they will inevitably change to some extent."

"It's not surprising that people would have different thoughts when they could have simply taken a step back and enjoyed wealth and glory."

"Cleansing out this group of people may cause temporary localized pain, but it will be of great benefit to the future."

As he spoke,

Xu Yuan changed the subject, his voice tinged with surprise:

"But Father, you said there are still people from sects in the imperial court?"

This was more surprising to Xu Yuan than his father's plan to carry out a major purge.

The old man spoke softly, but the meaning behind his words was profound.

The emperor in the Golden Throne Hall and the old man in front of me are two burly men who have controlled the court for many years. The important officials have long been purged, leaving only the royalists and the Prime Minister's Mansion's faction.

The current saying that there are people from sects in the imperial court means that there are traitors from sects within the Prime Minister's Mansion and the Imperial Faction.

Xu Yinhe's response to Xu Yuan's question was perfectly reasonable:

"Changtian, do not underestimate the people of the world, and even less so the sects. The reason they are currently in a passive and constrained position is simply because their internal interests are not yet unified."

"There may be members of their ranks within the Black Scale Army, the Institute of Investigation, and even Lou Ji's Black Scale Guard."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan let out a soft sigh.

No matter how well Lou Ji's older sister did her intelligence work, she couldn't avoid this problem.

This is a fundamental problem caused by the rapid expansion of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

The Prime Minister's Estate has grown into the behemoth it is today over the decades means that it will inevitably absorb a large number of fresh talents from outside.

Just as Lou Ji could casually scatter a handful of seeds across the land decades ago, allowing them to grow on their own and become subordinates of the Black Scale Guard, sects and even the royal family could do the same to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Looking at his father's calm and composed expression, Xu Yuan understood.

This old man basically laid everything bare for him.

He was telling him that the Prime Minister's Estate's mansion was not as glamorous as it seemed on the surface.

Although there is room for error, taking a wrong step can still come at a great cost.

After a moment's hesitation, Xu Yuan suddenly asked:

"Father, since those people are lurking in the court, why would they suddenly appear at this time? And why do you need a reason to suppress them?"

Xu Yinhe smiled slightly and replied softly:

"Because the State Preceptor has arrived in the capital."

The State Preceptor Enters the Capital

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's thoughts raced, and he instantly understood why those traitors hidden within the Emperor and Chancellor factions in the court would suddenly turn against him at this moment.

The sect needs to make its voice heard in the imperial court regarding matters concerning the Northern Border.

It's a bit of a gimmick, and it's full of red tape, but it's necessary.

Since the rites and music have not yet collapsed, everything must be done according to the rules.

Within the Great Yan Dynasty, the absolute righteousness originated from the imperial court.

If these voices were not heard in the imperial court, the sects would always be in a completely passive position regarding matters in the Northern Border due to the greater good.

Thinking to himself, Xu Yuan looked at his father across from him and murmured:

"Father, the State Preceptor has entered the capital at this time."

"He also brought his apprentice," Xu Yinhe interrupted his murmur.

"." Xu Yuan.

Hmm. Who was the State Preceptor's disciple again?

Xu Yuan licked his lips and tentatively asked:

"Ran Qingmo is here too?"

"Right."

Xu Yinhe smiled, but his gaze towards Xu Yuan was somewhat complicated.

"Moreover, she is currently inside the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan's eyes glazed over, and he felt his brain go blank.

It wasn't that he was overly surprised to see Big Ice Block Big Ice Block the Prime Minister's Mansion, but rather that he didn't understand why she would stay Prime Minister's Estate.

Now that the State Preceptor has entered the capital, many important officials in the court have defected from the original two factions of the Emperor and the Chancellor to their own faction.

Now, this old man has to deal with those sects in the court, while the Grand State Preceptor's disciple Big Ice Block, remains in their Prime Minister's Mansion.

What does this mean?

Xu Yinhe looked at the three boys' reactions with considerable satisfaction.

He was pleased with the initial look of confusion, rather than delight, in the other person's eyes.

This shows that he is not someone whose rational judgment is swayed by emotions.

"If you have any questions, you can ask your father directly."

"."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He was afraid that his father would give him a look at that moment and let him figure it out himself.

Fortunately, none of the high-ranking officials in the Prime Minister's Mansion, including his father, had the habit of treating him, the Crown Prince, as a riddle.

"Given the current situation, why would Ran Qingmo be inside my Prime Minister's Mansion?"

Xu Yinhe explained directly:

"Because I reached a cooperation agreement with Ran Jianli targeting the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion, and one of the conditions was to guarantee the safety of his disciple, Ran Qingmo."

Targeting the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion.

Xu Yuan subconsciously pictured the face of the bullied saintess, and then felt a headache coming on.

What's so special about that?

Should we team up with the first wife to give the second wife a good beating?

A fleeting thought of amusement crossed Xu Yuan's mind, but he quickly returned to the main topic.

Xu Yuan wasn't surprised that his father would target the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion.

Having been assassinated and turned into a monster, this father naturally wouldn't swallow his anger.

"But... we shouldn't have any evidence."

"As your father, I'm simply giving them a taste of their own medicine. I don't need any evidence, just a list provided by Ran Jianli."

"And what about this list?" Xu Yuan's voice was low, tinged with uncertainty.

"Don't worry, there's no such saintess."

"." Xu Yuan.

After a brief silence, Xu Yuan sighed softly and asked in a low voice:

"I am fairly aware of this matter, but Father, what exactly happened in the Northern Border during the month I was unconscious?"

Xu Yinhe did not answer the question immediately, but only said:

"The situation in the Northern Border is rather complicated and cannot be explained in a short time. If you are curious, you can go to the study and look at the memorials and internal reports from the past month."

Speaking of this,

Xu Yinhe paused for a moment, looking at the barely perceptible worry in the eyes of the three men in front of him, and sighed:

"You don't need to worry. Even if something happens to you, Wu Yuan won't be in any danger."

Hearing this additional comment, Xu Yuan gave an awkward smile.

He felt that his father had completely seen through him.

"Well"

Xu Yinhe sighed softly, adjusted his black dragon robe, slowly stood up, and asked with a casual smile:

"Changtian, since Ran Jianli's disciple is in the manor, do you want to go see her? She has been waiting for you in the manor for more than a month?"

"."

Upon hearing this question, the image of the Big Ice Block wearing Veil Hat flashed in Xu Yuan's mind, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. He was about to nod in agreement, but he swallowed the words back.

Xu Yuan asked in a low voice:

"Father just said he wanted to announce to the world the news of my death?"

"Um."

"Father, since you're cooperating with the State Preceptor, does he know the specifics of my situation?"

"I don't know."

"."

After a few moments of silence, Xu Yuan said softly:

"In that case, let's just not meet up."

Xu Yinhe in the pavilion, a gentle breeze ruffling his black robe, and gave Xu Yuan a deep look:

"Changtian, you don't trust that girl surnamed Ran?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, his eyes filled with helplessness.

"No, I believe her. If I told her that my existence needed to be kept secret, she wouldn't have told her master."

"Then why don't you see me?" Xu Yinhe asked.

Silence followed.

Xu Yuan looked up at the vast blue sky and murmured softly:

"Although Ran Qingmo doesn't seem very smart, she's actually not stupid."

"If we tell her about this, it will put her in a difficult position."

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