The afterglow of the setting sun reflected on the lake, as if painting the lake surface with a layer of gold.
The shadow of the Fish-Viewing Pavilion was stretched very long.
Zhao Cheng glanced at Zhao Huan's drawn-out expression and said with a forced smile, "If you don't like it, just say so. Why are you making such a face..."
Zhao Huan tapped on the table, and Zhao Cheng quickly poured the wine.
"Don't you realize how many people are watching you right now?" Zhao Huan picked up his wine glass and frowned. "You've been involved in the Lingshan Iron Mine project; won't you be discovered soon?"
Seeing Zhao Huan speak up, Zhao Cheng took the opportunity to ask, "But I'm very curious, how did you handle those iron mines? Such a large mine, if you want to turn it into weapons and sell it, how big of a sales network would you need? Now, the area around Lingshan is my business, such a large weapons sales network can't be kept from me."
“But if you’re not selling them…” Zhao Cheng’s expression turned serious, and he said meaningfully, “Why are you hoarding so many weapons?”
Zhao Huan snorted coldly and said, "You're too arrogant! With Mr. Lian handling the planning, why couldn't we hide it from you? Do you think you're the only one who knows how to do business?"
Zhao Cheng suddenly asked, "How many people are there on Mount Ling?"
Zhao Huan leaned back and said in a deep voice, "You never intended to take over the Lingshan Iron Mine, did you?"
"Can't we, father and son, have an open and honest talk?" Zhao Cheng leaned back and said, "I've investigated Deng Yanjiao's matter thoroughly. She didn't return to the Jiangyang Prefectural Governor's Mansion at all. Deng Fugui must have been following your instructions to conceal his daughter's disappearance."
"Father, what are you hiding?"
"Where is Deng Yanjiao? Is she dead?"
Zhao Huan took a deep breath, remained silent, and gazed at the golden lake surface.
A group of fish seemed to gather in one place to compete for food, but they immediately dispersed after touching each other, creating ripples on the lake surface.
"father!"
Zhao Cheng said earnestly, "I'm already twenty-two years old. At my age, you've already become a veteran on the battlefield! Besides, I'm about to become a father of three. Don't hide things from me; let me share the burden with you!"
"Or are you saying you don't even trust your own son?"
Zhao Huan seemed to be persuaded, his expression relaxed a bit, and he sighed, "Actually, I didn't hide it from you. You know about what happened at Lingshan. I did all this just to hide those thousand old brothers at Lingshan."
Zhao Cheng asked, "Even in order to hide them, they're willing to kill innocent people indiscriminately?"
Zhao Huan firmly stated, "Those who discovered them are not innocent."
"So Deng Yanjiao was killed by He Zhi?"
"yes."
"How will you explain this to Deng Fugui?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
Zhao Huan's decisive answer left Zhao Cheng feeling deflated, like a punctured balloon.
"Father, how many people are you hiding in Lingshan?"
"I already said, a thousand people."
"Do you think I'd still believe that? Mr. Lian told me there were only five hundred people!"
Zhao Cheng drank a cup of wine alone and said, "Although the court only gave you a quota of three hundred soldiers, let alone the Prime Minister's mansion, even some earl's and marquis's mansions can privately keep a thousand or so people. If they are found out, it is not a serious crime. Does a thousand people really need you to be so careful?"
"Acheng, there really are only a thousand people."
Zhao Huan stood up, put his hands behind his back, looked at the setting sun, and said, "What I'm worried about is that these thousand men are special. They are all Dragon Spear Guards who have retired from the battlefield. In Yuan Xiu's eyes, it's not because the Dragon Spear Guards are formidable in combat, but because the Dragon Spear Guards only have one master, and that is me, Zhao Huan."
“This is something Yuan Xiu absolutely cannot tolerate.”
"Three hundred soldiers are the bottom line he gave me. If the matter at Lingshan is exposed, it will definitely be a fight to the death."
Zhao Huan turned around, walked to Zhao Cheng's side, and said seriously, "The current situation in the court has undergone subtle changes. Yuan Xiu is becoming more and more wary of the Left Prime Minister's residence. We have finally been able to catch our breath, so we must not draw Yuan Xiu's attention back now, do you understand?"
Zhao Cheng looked up and said, "Father, I only have one question for you: are you telling the truth?"
Zhao Huan placed his hand on Zhao Cheng's shoulder and said earnestly, "It's all the truth. You are my eldest son, and everything I have in the future will be yours. As for what your younger brothers will get, that's for you to decide. I have no reason to lie to you."
"You say your father doesn't believe you? How could that be? But you have to believe your father first!"
"Okay, I believe you."
Zhao Cheng got up and walked towards the outside of the Fish-Viewing Pavilion.
Zhao Huan asked doubtfully, "Aren't you going to drink anymore?"
Zhao Cheng turned around and smiled, "As the eldest son, I have to listen to my father and hurry up and get Xiao Nuo's belly to show signs of pregnancy."
"That's great." Zhao Huan returned to his seat and continued drinking, saying, "Go ahead, good luck."
Seeing Zhao Cheng leave without looking back, Zhao Huan suppressed her smile, picked up a piece of fish and threw it into the lake. The fish gathered around again, seemingly unconcerned about what they were eating.
It was getting dark.
The nights in March are still chilly.
Zhao Cheng did not go home, but went to Yiwen Society overnight.
Yuan Fei led Zhao Cheng into his office.
Zhao Cheng stood in the room with his hands behind his back, looking around. He noticed that the office was very well hidden, with windows, but they were concealed dark windows.
Zhao Cheng paced back and forth a few steps with his head down, as if pondering what he was going to say next. After a long while, he said, "I'm assigning you a task: to keep an eye on someone from morning till night, without letting your guard down for a moment. I need to know all his whereabouts, where he went, and who he met. You must report everything to me in detail."
Yuan Fei said, "Okay, I'll select three people from the Flying Team to take turns keeping an eye on things."
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "You must personally keep an eye on this person."
Since the establishment of the Yiwen Flying Team, Yuan Fei no longer needs to personally handle many tasks of monitoring people. As the second-in-command and de facto leader of the Yiwen Society, Yuan Fei needs to take time to control the overall situation, which is also a way to train the members of the Yiwen Flying Team.
Seeing Zhao Cheng's sudden caution, Yuan Fei was quite puzzled.
He asked, "Who is this person who deserves such attention from our master?"
Zhao Cheng said, enunciating each word clearly, "My father, Zhao Huan."
Yuan Fei was stunned, his mouth agape, and he stammered, "What...what's going on?"
Zhao Cheng said, "You don't need to ask in detail. Just tell me exactly where he goes every day. Be careful of Yang Taozhi and He Zhi, and don't let them find out."
Yuan Fei swallowed hard and said, "I understand!"
"Get a good rest tonight, recharge your energy, and keep a close watch on me."
"yes!"
Zhao Cheng turned around, his gaze gradually deepening, thinking to himself, "Old man, why bother with my acting skills?"
"I don't believe you! I don't believe you at all! You're a wicked old man!"
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