"Has this Tang Yan been hiding in the Imperial Palace all along?" Qin Shi asked.
"Yes. At least during this time, we haven't seen this so-called Lord Tang. I'll step up surveillance on my end. The moment we see Tang Yan, or anyone resembling Lord Tang, we'll strike." The Left Chancellor smiled and said:
"But this method isn't very efficient. If Tang Yan keeps hiding inside the Imperial Palace, who knows how many years and months we'll have to wait?"
"Does the Left Chancellor have a clever plan?" Qin Shi caught the undertone in his words.
"Elder Qin, your strength towers to the heavens. Surely no one in the Imperial Palace could stop you. I can give you a map of the palace grounds. You could find a time to sneak inside and seize an opportunity to kill Tang Yan!"
With that, the Left Chancellor took out a map and spread it across the table.
The two men looked closely and felt a slight shock. The map was so detailed that even several privies were clearly marked.
"No one could be living in the front halls, and the central area isn't somewhere an outsider could stay. Of the eastern and western sides, the west has Brightheart Lake and is close to the Heavenly Soldier Pavilion. Tang Yan should be staying around there.
"There are seven courtyards in the west, though not all are occupied. Once inside, you can check them one by one.
"This courtyard is equally distant from the Imperial Guards, the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and the Imperial Pill Pavilion. It lies at the heart of the three major institutions. Tang Yan is very likely staying here," the Left Chancellor analyzed point by point.
Qin Shi gave the Left Chancellor a surprised look and said admiringly, "Your planning is