With the rainy season approaching, Zhou Yun'an was reviewing the final step of his plan in the most remote inn in Peizhou.
On the table were not only water conservancy engineering maps, but also a layout map of Peizhou City, with several red circles marking the lowest-lying neighborhoods—where the poorest people lived.
Zhou Yun'an nodded, his finger tracing a thin line on the map: "Here, the flood discharge channel in the west of the city, make sure it's blocked by an 'accident'."
"It's all taken care of. We conscripted laborers in the name of the prefect, ostensibly to reinforce the dikes, but in reality, we brought in gravel to fill the flood discharge channel."
"Very good." Zhou Yun'an rolled up the blueprints. "'Medicinal powder,' is it ready?"
Xiao Cheng's expression changed slightly: "Master, are we really going to use that? What if it gets out of control..."
"Just what I wanted." A glint of madness flashed in Zhou Yun'an's eyes. "If the flood doesn't kill them... the plague will."
Just then, a bolt of lightning struck outside the window.
Thunder rumbled, as if the heavens themselves were issuing a warning of the impending disaster.
Zhou Yun'an gazed at the dark sky, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Look, even the heavens are on our side."
The sweltering heat before the downpour enveloped Peizhou City, while a conspiracy more terrifying than the storm had quietly opened its bloody maw.
---
"Master, it's past midnight and there's still no news..." Xiao Cheng stood in the shadows, his voice filled with unease.
Zhou Yun'an's fingers paused, his expression gleaming coldly in the candlelight: "What's the rush?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard.
Zhou Yun'an raised an eyebrow slightly.
A scout, soaking wet, stumbled in, kneeling on the ground and trembling uncontrollably: "Master...Master, something terrible has happened! Peizhou Dam...dam..."
"Explain yourself!" Xiao Cheng grabbed the spy by the collar.
"The dam didn't collapse!" The scout's face turned ashen. "Lu Jingze and his men discovered the problem beforehand and secretly began repairs. Although the floodwaters were high, the dam remained completely intact! Now the people of Peizhou are praising Prince Jing and Liu Mingyuan..."
"Impossible!" Zhou Yun'an stood up abruptly, overturning the tea set on the table and shattering the fine celadon cup.
He grabbed the spy by the neck, his voice chillingly cold: "Where's Jinsha? I set up these hidden dangers, and they discovered them all?"
The scout, his face turning purple from being choked, managed to squeeze out a few words: "I...I don't know...they seem...to have been on guard..."
Zhou Yun'an tightened his grip and then suddenly loosened it, causing the scout to collapse to the ground, coughing violently.
Three months of hard work, a meticulously planned trap, all for naught!
"Master..." Xiao Cheng approached cautiously, "Perhaps that scoundrel Liu Mingyuan has noticed something?"
Zhou Yun'an suddenly raised his hand, and Xiao Cheng immediately fell silent.
The courtyard was deathly silent, with only the jarring sound of dripping water from the water clock.
"No, it wasn't Liu Mingyuan." Zhou Yun'an's voice was surprisingly calm, as if his earlier outburst of anger had never occurred. "Although he is skilled in water conservancy, he doesn't have that kind of cunning."
He slowly turned around, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "It's Wang Xiuxiu."
These three words were squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a deep-seated hatred and a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
Xiao Cheng was taken aback: "That woman? What does she know about water conservancy projects?"
"She doesn't understand water conservancy, but she understands people's hearts." Zhou Yun'an took out a silver bell from his sleeve, and this time, with a gentle shake, it emitted an eerie buzzing sound. "Remember the Yuezhou grain case? The same method—first discover clues, then follow the trail, and finally eliminate the root cause."
He sneered, "Lu Jingze didn't marry a canary, he married a fox."
Xiao Cheng gripped the hilt of his sword tightly: "I'll go kill that woman right now!"
"Foolish!" Zhou Yun'an shouted sharply, "They're on high alert right now. Going there is just suicide."
He paced to the table, his fingers tracing the broken shards of porcelain, blood dripping from his fingertips without his noticing. "Since they want to be saviors... then I'll let them taste the bitterness of falling from grace."
"Start with Liu Mingyuan. He will definitely be a guest of honor at the victory banquet held by the Peizhou government three days later."
He looked up at Xiao Cheng, his eyes flashing with a crazed light. "Isn't Wang Xiuxiu supposed to be able to predict the future? I'll see if she can save him!"
Xiao Cheng knelt on one knee: "Your subordinate will make the arrangements immediately!"
"Wait." Zhou Yun'an took out a jade box from a hidden compartment. "This contains 'scorpion tail venom.' Find a way to mix it into Liu Mingyuan's belongings."
At this moment, a cruel smile curled at the corners of Zhou Yun'an's lips. "I want him to accomplish great things for me!"
Xiao Cheng took the jade box, then hesitated, "What about Wang Xiuxiu..."
"If Liu Mingyuan gets into trouble, I'll handle it myself." He looked towards Peizhou City, its brightly lit city walls shining like pearls in the night. "This time... I'll personally strangle her clever neck."
A gust of wind blew open the window, causing the candlelight to flicker violently and casting Zhou Yun'an's shadow on the wall, twisted like a demon.
Faint cheers could be heard in the distance—the people of Peizhou were celebrating their escape from the flood.
Zhou Yun'an slowly closed the window, shutting out the laughter and chatter.
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