I Want to Profit From This

Chen Ye did not jump to conclusions.

He pressed his palms slowly against the table, his fingers tapping out a rhythmic, dull thud.

A moment later, he looked up, his gaze landing on Su Guang's face as he asked, "What news have you managed to dig up on your end?"

Su Guang's expression was grave as he said in a low voice, "Two pieces of news. First, Liu Zhao has added several new personal bodyguards to his retinue, among whom are more than a few Dragon Elephant martial artists. Second, the Liu Family previously purchased a carriage crafted from Zhenyue Heavy Wood at the Shuntong Transport Agency and gifted it to the Cui Family. When Third Miss Cui heads to Xiangguo Temple, she will likely be riding in that very carriage."

Chen Ye raised an eyebrow, his memory of the Shuntong Transport Agency stirred.

He remembered that carriage; it had left a deep impression on him.

It was during his first escort job at the Shuntong Transport Agency, when Shen Chongsan had personally led him to deliver it.

The entire frame was built from Zhenyue Heavy Wood, making it incredibly heavy and excessively sturdy.

Once the carriage doors were shut, it was nearly impossible to break in from either the inside or the outside.

The Liu Family Steward had even specifically tested its durability when he inspected the vehicle.

"Are you certain Third Miss Cui will definitely take that carriage?"

"It is my speculation," Su Guang said. "Since the Liu Family went to the trouble of gifting it, they will surely find a way to ensure Third Miss Cui uses it. The Cui Family is not an impenetrable fortress; there are always ways to pull strings in the shadows."

Once Su Guang finished speaking about the carriage, Chen Ye lined up the clues in his mind and pondered them carefully.

A dozen desperate outlaws from out of town, Liu Zhao making an unprecedented trip to offer incense on the same day as Third Miss Cui, and that specially crafted carriage.

Everything was far too coincidental.

The private room fell silent for a while.

Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi were sensible enough not to disturb Chen Ye.

The clamor from the main street outside the restaurant squeezed through the door cracks, making the room feel even more stifling.

"The Liu Family isn't looking to make contact with Third Miss Cui at Xiangguo Temple; they intend to strike on the road."

Chen Ye's voice was soft, but his train of thought was exceptionally clear.

Su Guang looked at him with skepticism. "You mean the Liu Family wants to harm Third Miss Cui while she's on her way to offer incense? Have they gone mad? Wouldn't that be the same as tearing their relationship with the Cui Family apart?"

Zuo Dongxi also frowned, questioning, "The key is, what benefit would the Liu Family gain from offending the Cui Family?"

Chen Ye said calmly, "Don't forget, the Liu Family's target is Third Miss Cui. If Liu Zhao wants to win her favor, he needs a catalyst. In the Capital City, the Liu Family has no way to make a move. This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so they must create a scene on the road to manufacture a suitable opening for the two of them."

He reorganized his thoughts and continued, "First, those outlaws wouldn't gather in the Capital City for no reason. If they were just hired by the Liu Family for protection, there would be no need to hide in inns and pay with gold bars."

"Second, if this were a robbery or a plot to cause chaos at Xiangguo Temple, they should have kept it as secret as possible. Instead, these outlaws are throwing money around in gambling dens without restraint, which looks more like they are deliberately leaving traces of being foreign bandits. Add in Liu Zhao's trip to Xiangguo Temple on the same day, and the motives behind them aren't hard to deduce."

Zuo Dongxi interrupted, "Then what exactly are they trying to do?"

"As for the specifics, there are too few clues to be certain. But if I were Liu Zhao, this is how I would do it."

"Hire a group of outlaws to create danger on the road, then happen to pass by at the right moment to save her and win Third Miss Cui's favor." Chen Ye's gaze sharpened. "Once it's done, the marriage alliance will follow naturally. Even if the marriage doesn't happen, the Cui Family will owe the Liu Family a favor. The Liu Family stands to gain regardless."

"To ensure there are no future troubles, they will simply slaughter all those outlaws during the 'accident.' It's killing three birds with one stone."

Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang exchanged a look.

When Su Guang looked at Chen Ye again, his eyes were filled with disbelief.

In the Feng Family dungeon, he only knew that Chen Ye had used the teacup in his hand to ferret out the real culprit, but he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

Now, he had.

He never imagined that Chen Ye could deduce so much from such limited information.

Zuo Dongxi recovered faster than Su Guang.

He had already experienced Chen Ye's brilliance in the dungeon.

Though he was still shocked, he managed to keep his composure.

He grinned. "Brother Chen, how exactly is your brain wired? I couldn't have thought of all that even if I tried. But then again, if you didn't have this mind, Brother Su and I would have died in the Feng Family dungeon long ago."

Su Guang didn't waste any more words; he picked up the wine pot, filled Chen Ye's cup, and asked, "Brother Chen, what do you want to do next?"

"No rush," Chen Ye said calmly. "I still need to confirm two things. First, have those outlaws scouted the area, and which route did they choose?"

"Second, how strong are the guards Liu Zhao is taking to Xiangguo Temple, and has he secretly mobilized any other men?"

"If they are scouting the mountain road the Cui Family is taking to the temple, and he has secretly mobilized men, then it's almost certainly as I said. The Liu Family is likely staging a play of their own making."

Zuo Dongxi thought for a moment and asked, "If we confirm all this, what do you plan to do, brother? Tell the Cui Family directly?"

Chen Ye shook his head. "No. Telling the Cui Family now won't gain us any benefits; instead, it will ruin the Liu Family's scheme for nothing, creating enemies and doing more harm than good."

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "I want to provide help in the hour of need and profit from the chaos. I will use this opportunity to save Third Miss Cui and secure a stepping stone into the Cui Family's inner circle."

Having said that, Chen Ye raised his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang. "If this matter turns out as I expect, then a massive fortune lies before us. I wonder if you two are willing to take this gamble with me?"

Su Guang did not hesitate. He raised his cup and said, "I said it before: you saved my life, and I can never repay that debt. Whatever you tell me to do, Brother Chen, I will do."

Zuo Dongxi hesitated for a moment, then raised his cup as well. "I trust you. Let's do it!"

The three of them raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

For the next two days, Chen Ye practiced his martial arts in silence, waiting patiently for news.

On the third day, Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang returned with a reply.

"Brother Chen, everything went exactly as you predicted; that band of desperadoes is indeed scouting the mountain path at Xiangguo Temple."

Su Qing also nodded and said, "I discovered that Liu Zhao has secretly mobilized a group of Liu Family private soldiers with considerable strength and stationed them outside the city. Their base is also on the road from the Capital City to Xiangguo Temple."

Chen Ye smiled faintly, a flash of light crossing his eyes as he said, "Gentlemen, since that is the case, to be presented with an opportunity and not take it is to invite disaster! Our fortune is about to arrive!"

Zuo Dongxi said with some hesitation, "Brother Chen, we have already verified that Third Miss Cui brought a Dragon Elephant expert with her on this trip, and the rest of her guards are no slouches either. The same goes for the Liu Family side. And then there are those desperadoes... how are we supposed to get involved? Although my Patrol Horse Gang has many brothers, most of them are ordinary people. Once we clash with those groups, it would be no different from throwing our lives away."

"That is why, before that happens, we must make full preparations to ensure nothing goes wrong," Chen Ye said with calm confidence.

Zuo Dongxi asked curiously, "What kind of preparations?"