" Vice Minister Wang, you've kept us waiting!"
The group of generals and dukes immediately changed their demeanor to a gentle one, completely different from their previous complaints. Even the crown prince couldn't help but curse these old guys inwardly for being cunning. It seems that no matter how high a civil or military official rises to a position, most of them are scheming and ruthless.
"I was delayed by some matters and am a day late. I apologize for keeping you all waiting." Wang Ye remained as humble as ever.
After wading Wang Ye ashore, everyone quickly inquired about the situation inside.
"The letter sent by General Xu Ming is genuine. It seems that the people in the mist haven't altered its contents for the time being," Wang Ye honestly stated. "Furthermore, aside from the living corpses at the bottom of the river, I haven't seen anyone else on the river. The person behind this mist formation is very well hidden."
Duke of Qin nodded upon hearing this. " Vice Minister Wang, how many men do you think we should send to Nanming Prefecture to provide support?"
Wang Ye: "Currently, the garrison in Nanming Prefecture is less than 8,000. Although Mu Hongqing discovered the pattern of the magic array and temporarily stabilized the situation, we are better at maintaining the status quo than launching an attack. Even if no new zombies come ashore from the river, we cannot allow those free-range zombies to continue to ravage the countryside. There are many counties and districts surrounding Nanming Prefecture with a population of over ten million. If we let them run rampant, they will breed a huge zombie horde. We must formulate a rescue plan as soon as possible."
"What you say is true, Shaoqing." Duke of Qin nodded upon hearing this. "Although Vice Minister Wang was born into a civil service family, he has a thorough understanding of the overall strategic situation and is truly a promising young man."
"You flatter me, Your Excellency."
"What about Liuzhou?" Duke of Qin asked, changing the subject.
Wang Ye's expression remained unchanged as he solemnly stated, "The situation in Liuzhou is rather unique. Although its military strength is weak, His Majesty made prior arrangements, so the defenses are not weak, and the situation has been stabilized for the time being. Furthermore, thanks to Prefect Chen Qing's swift response in calling for the rural population to enter the city early on, most of the people from the surrounding counties have already entered Liuzhou City and been resettled. They do indeed need some assistance now, but the situation there is quite complex, so..." Wang Ye narrowed his eyes and said, "I suggest that General Hong Lie lead the team to support Liuzhou."
" Hong Lie?" The Duke of Qin gave Wang Ye a deep look, and the other dukes around him also had strange expressions.
As expected, the emperor had other plans in Liuzhou. He probably already knew about the Azure Dragon Inheritance. Sending Hong Lie, a royalist, to Liuzhou was clearly to prevent the influence of the Duke of Qin from getting involved.
It seems that even after Liu Yu's death, this disciple of Liu Yu remains loyal to the Xiao Household emperors.
The Crown Prince, unable to contain himself any longer, said softly, " Wang Ye, the situation in Liuzhou is complicated, and with the emergence of the Azure Dragon Inheritance, if possible, I would like Fei Jun to make a trip to Liuzhou."
"Absolutely not!" Duke of Qin and Wang Ye both shook their heads in opposition.
The crown prince's face grew increasingly grim. "Why?"
"When Fei Jun left the capital, the Princess repeatedly warned him not to take any risks. I made that promise, and if anything happens, I will not be able to face the Princess."
"Your Excellency is right," Wang Ye added. "The person behind this mist formation is still unknown. The appearance of the Azure Dragon Inheritance is already enough to cause turmoil. If Fei Jun also goes there, with the two great inheritances of the Four Spirits gathered together, it will likely add even more complications!"
The crown prince took a breath, but ultimately did not insist. Instead, he lowered his voice and said, " Lord Wang, please come with me. I have some questions for you."
Wang Ye frowned, looking at the Crown Prince's expression. He immediately had a guess in his mind: Did the Crown Prince find out?
That shouldn't be the case; the emperor shouldn't have told the crown prince about the bloodline so early.
As the Crown Prince walked a short distance away, he gestured to Fei Jun Fei Jun, who nodded and waved his hand, creating a fiery barrier that enveloped the three of them. Fei Jun focused on maintaining the barrier, while the Crown Prince made no attempt to be discreet, directly asking, " Vice Minister Wang, I ask you, is there any member of my royal blood in Liuzhou?"
These sudden words made Fei Jun, who was controlling the barrier, tremble all over and almost lose his composure.
What does this mean? Does His Majesty have an illegitimate child in Liuzhou?
So you found out?
Wang Ye's eyes lit up. Who told the Crown Prince? What was their motive? Did they want to muddy the waters even further?
Seeing the Crown Prince's gloomy face, Wang Ye shook his head inwardly. With such impatience, it was no wonder that the Emperor eventually considered changing the heir apparent.
"Yes"
"There really is one?" The Crown Prince's eyes flashed with barely concealed murderous intent. "And they still need to hide all the way to Liuzhou? Could it be..."
Such caution—could it be that he inherited the Golden Crow Bloodline?
"As Your Highness thinks." Wang Ye found the Crown Prince's anxious appearance amusing and simply stated, "He has indeed inherited the bloodline, and it is absolutely pure!"
boom!!
The Golden Crow's flames exploded, startling everyone outside. What had the crown prince gone to ask Wang Ye about? Why was he acting so erratically?
Duke of Qin and the others seemed to be deep in thought; Liuzhou was probably more than just a place with the Azure Dragon Inheritance.
Fei Jun, who was controlling the barrier, frowned deeply. "Your Highness, please calm down!"
She then gave Wang Ye a reproachful look. Was this guy deliberately feeding the fire?
He had witnessed firsthand how narrow-minded this crown prince was since childhood. There wasn't a single brother in the harem who could inherit his bloodline. Although this was related to the difficulty in passing on the Golden Crow Bloodline, there were also many cases caused by His Highness the crown prince.
Those half-siblings who had excelled in their childhood were often persecuted by the Crown Prince. He remembered three princes and princesses who accidentally drowned.
Because he also inherited the Golden Crow Bloodline, his mother, in order to avoid suspicion, had him embark on the path of a sorcerer at a young age. This is how he developed a fairly good cousin relationship with the narrow-minded crown prince.
Unexpectedly, after the Empress's death, His Majesty, who had always protected the Crown Prince, so quickly developed other intentions.
However, he also guessed what had happened. His Highness the Crown Prince had his essence stolen by the Thousand-Faced Fox. Although it hadn't been publicly announced, the Crown Prince went to the Imperial Physician every few days. Who wouldn't have some suspicions? He was almost certain that there was a serious problem with the Crown Prince's succession.
Now his mother has repeatedly warned him to be careful of the Crown Prince and avoid suspicion, because if none of His Majesty's newborn children inherit the Golden Crow Bloodline, he, as a child of a maternal relative, is very likely to be involved in the struggle for the throne.
This is not just needless worry. Families based on bloodline don't place much importance on surnames. I have the blood of the Xiao Household, and the purity of the Golden Crow blood is not low. If the Crown Prince is unable to Human Dao, I risk being adopted out.
I never expected that His Majesty had a backup plan in Liuzhou.
Now things are really messed up. His cousin is already so suspicious of him, and now that he knows a true pure-blooded member of the Xiao Household has appeared in Liuzhou, it would be a miracle if he could keep his composure!
Sure enough, the next moment the Crown Prince said coldly, "Which side does Vice Minister Wang intend to take?"
"What does Your Highness wish me to do?" Wang Ye chuckled. "His Majesty has gone to great lengths to protect this new bloodline, with Lord Ziyue personally guarding him. Even if I were willing to serve His Highness the Crown Prince, I simply don't have the ability."
"Father sent Lord Ziyue to Liuzhou?" The Crown Prince's face grew increasingly grim. "Just to protect that wicked beast?"
The First Sorcerer, Ziyue, has always been mysterious; even he had never seen her before. He never expected that the court's top sorcerer would be sent out for a bastard child!
What a wonderful father he is!
Beast?
Wang Ye chuckled inwardly, "The beast you're talking about seems to be your offspring."
"If Your Highness has nothing else, I will take my leave." Wang Ye smiled, bowed, and took his leave, but that smile was extremely irritating to the Crown Prince.
" Vice Minister Wang!" the Crown Prince warned coldly, "I advise you not to stand in the wrong place."
Wang Ye was speechless. The emperor of the Xiao Household family Hei Wu, and the empress was also a wise woman. How could she have raised such a fool as her son?
He was quite curious. Even if this guy knew what was going on, what kind of trouble could he possibly cause? And what was the person secretly passing on the message thinking?
After exiting the barrier, Wang Ye went straight to Shen Yinian, the Ministry of War: "My lord, I am about to travel to Nanyang, and there are some matters I need to consult with you privately."
These words surprised the Duke of Qin and the others present. They could let bygones be bygones regarding the Liuzhou incident, so why did they need to discuss the Nanyang trip separately? Did the Emperor have some plans for Nanyang?
Shen Yinian was taken aback. He didn't recall His Majesty having any secret mission specifically related to the Shen Family.
But he didn't say much. After arriving on the other side with Wang Ye, he activated the barrier.
" Vice Minister Wang, stop beating around the bush and speak quickly."
"Your Excellency, it's not that I'm intentionally keeping you in suspense, but this matter is too closely related to the Shen Family, and I reckon Your Excellency doesn't intend for outsiders to know about it."
"Oh?" Shen Yinian frowned. "What is it?"
"Second Master Shen Family, something's happened!"
Even the usually composed Shen Yinian nearly lost his composure upon hearing this, staring wide-eyed at Wang Ye: "What did you say?"
"It was said by Prefect Chen Qing of Liuzhou, and with Murong Yunji, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen Family, as a witness, it should be true. Shen Yiyun, the second master of the Shen Family, was murdered half a month ago!"
"This..." Shen Yinian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the overwhelming emotions within him, and calmly asked, "Do you know who the murderer is?"
"I don't know." Wang Ye shook his head. "According to Senior Murong Yunji, the place where Second Master Shen was murdered was only two streets away from her, yet she didn't even respond to a cry for help!"
"Two streets?" Shen Yinian exclaimed incredulously, "That's impossible!"
Two streets were no different from being right under his sister-in-law's nose. In this world, it was impossible for anyone to kill Shen Family under Murong Yunji's nose, let alone Shen Yiyun, one of the strongest members of the Shen Family!
Everyone says he is a genius that the Shen Family has only seen once in a century, but when his second brother became famous, he was still in his mother's womb. Even his eldest brother, who was most valued by their father, was very polite to his second brother. The reason why the clan leader in charge now is the Laowu is simply because his second brother didn't want to be in charge.
"But that is indeed the case," Wang Ye said. "Second Master died of poison, and besides Lord Ziyue, everyone else in the sorcerer group His Majesty sent to Liuzhou also suffered attacks, including Lord Hei Yun, who also died of poison!"
"Poison?" Shen Yinian's eyelids twitched.
"Is Ninth Master Shen Family a sorcerer of insects and also a sorcerer of poisons?" Wang Ye asked in a low voice.
"Is Laojiu also in Liuzhou?"
Wang Ye nodded and recounted some of the situation of the Laojiu of the Shen Family, leaving Shen Yinian speechless for a long time.
Unexpectedly, this catastrophe has also affected the Shen Family. Now that his second brother and Laojiu are in trouble, he is really worried. He also doesn't know how his Laowu and the others are doing.
"You brought me here alone, there's more to it than just this, isn't there?" Shen Yinian asked after calming down.
Wang Ye nodded and whispered, "May I ask, Your Excellency, is the Shen Family patriarch researching the Dragon Transformation Technique?"
Upon hearing this, a murderous intent surged in Shen Yinian's eyes!
"Your Excellency, please calm down," Wang Ye sighed. "You can't possibly kill a junior in front of so many people, can you?"
Shen Yinian suppressed his murderous intent and said in a low, cold voice, "Where did you hear that from?"
The Dragon Transformation Technique is known to very few even within the Shen Family; it is the secret to the Shen Family patriarch's longevity of a thousand years!
"I learned this from the prefect of Liuzhou." Without hesitation, Wang Ye sold Chen Qing.
" Chen Qing?" Shen Yinian's eyes were unreadable as he murmured, "He truly is an anomaly!"
"Let's set aside whether it's an anomaly or not for now, but I think his guess makes some sense." He then leaned close to Shen Yinian's ear and carefully explained Chen Qing's deduction.
"Who is this young man? How does he know so much about the Dragon Transformation Technique?" Shen Yinian's eyes were filled with a strange look. Even he himself had limited knowledge of his father's Dragon Transformation Technique. Where did this young man in his twenties get so much secret knowledge from?
But if what he said is true, it is indeed possible, my second brother.
"I understand." Shen Yinian took out a jade talisman and handed it over. "Take this jade talisman to Nanyang. The Shen Family will treat you as if you were me, and they will surely grant your request. Whatever you want to investigate, Laowu will fully cooperate. Regarding what that kid surnamed Chen said, you can investigate, but don't jump to conclusions. Also, if you investigate this matter, be careful; don't trust anyone except Laowu!"