Su Rong pulled out a list from her sleeve, one that the Nanchu King had given her earlier. It contained the names of his secret agents planted in various places.
The Nanchu King and Zhou Gu had been going on the run and evading assassination attempts due to Nangong Family’s powerful influence, leaving no opportunity for these agents to be used. Hence, he handed the list to Su Rong before parting ways.
Looking over the list now, Su Rong mused, "These people should come in handy now."
Zhou Gu leaned in, "What is this?"
"A list that my father gave me." Su Rong showed him.
It was a lengthy list comprising of about a hundred and eighty people.
Zhou Gu made a comment, "My father-in-law is not exactly a complete incompetence."
Although he had privately raised an army of fifty thousand and had this roster list, when compared to the Nangong family and Ye Xiang Residence, he as Nanchu King still seemed relatively weak and useless.
Su Rong made a comment, "That’s to say, long-lasting love is indeed misleading. If he had not encountered my mother, his life wouldn’t have been ruined."
Xie Yuan huffed coldly, "It is his incompetence, not your mother’s fault."
Su Rong raised her head to look at Xie Yuan, and said objectively, "Uncle Xie, my mother played a significant part in this. If not for her insistence on being with him, he would not have been so blinded by love then."
"That was his own willing choice." Xie Yuan retorted.
Su Rong sighed, "That is true. However, he saved Dawei, gave up his life because of my mother, and didn’t even get a chance to see her before she died. He’s already suffered enough for this."
Xie Yuan was not pleased, "After all, he is your biological father, yet you are siding with him. So heartless."
Feeling an internal twinge at his words, Su Rong instantly handed the list to Zhou Gu and turned to grasp Xie Yuan’s arm, "Uncle Xie, your words are hurtful. I have been obedient to my father. He accepted my decision when I said I didn’t want to change my surname. But in front of you, I am afraid of being punished if I disobey. When I compare who I am closer with, isn’t it clear? Why are you angry with him? If you say just one word to him that you’ve been teaching me for years, accompanying my mother when she was alive and when she died, he would kneel down and cry bitterly. You and he are not even comparable."
Xie Yuan, unable to hold back his laughter, pushed her away, "Go away, you’ve gotten used to cajoling. I didn’t teach you that."
Zhou Gu on the side watched in awe, and remarked, "Self-taught skills, isn’t it?"
"What’s your business in this?" Xie Yuan glared at Zhou Gu, "Take proper care of her."
Zhou Gu coughed lightly, wanting to say that it should be her controlling him, not the other way around. She was the one he had desperately won over, after all.
"Let me see the list." Xie Yuan stretched out his hand.
Zhou Gu immediately handed the list to Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan took it, glanced over it and opined, "These agents are placed in every province and county, and they hold noteworthy positions. People’s worth lies on their capabilities, not quantity. He is not entirely useless." Handing back the list to Su Rong, he instructed, "Send people to contact these individuals immediately, spread the news of the Nangong Family’s defeat and retreat from Nanchu, clear your reputation first, then stabilize the situation in the provinces and counties, and expedite the food and military pay supplies."
Su Rong nodded, "Uncle Xie, are you suggesting that Yuan Zhao will surely attack?"
"If you were Yuan Zhao, would you attack or not?" Xie Yuan countered.
"I would" Su Rong answered without hesitation, "Take advantage of one’s illness to take his life, such a heaven-sent opportunity, if not now, then when? Shall I wait for Nanchu to become prosperous, and then he attacks? If that were the case, Dawei and I would have already joined forces and defeated him."
"Exactly, you would not hesitate to attack, would the Crown Prince of Dawei, Yuan Zhao, be so foolish as to not attack?" Xie Yuan said, "Unless, Dawei becomes chaotic, then he might not attack."
"It’s almost negligible." Zhou Gu said, "The Dawei Emperor places significant importance on Crown Prince Yuan Zhao, unlike the Emperor of Dawei."
"Yes, Yuan Zhao is fortunate to be born in Dawei." Su Rong stood up, "I’ll send people to make contact and arrange things now."
Last night, Ye Guixue, Zhou Gu, Zhang Yun, and others were only speculating whether Dawei would attack. But today, Xie Yuan was almost eight tenths certain that Crown Prince Yuan Zhao would not easily let things go.
Therefore, Su Rong couldn’t afford any delay. Once she stepped out of the tent, she immediately summoned Fen Ling, gave him the list, and ordered him to dispatch people to contact these respective agents in various provinces and counties as per Xie Yuan’s instructions, stabilize the situation, and expedite the supplies for the army.
Taking the list, Fen Ling was startled, "Sister, is it that urgent?"
"It is urgent indeed." Su Rong responded, "If I were Yuan Zhao, would I attack Nanchu? While I’m not yet stable, wouldn’t it be the perfect time for him to strike me?"
"He should attack." Fen Ling hastily nodded, "I’ll send people right away."
Before he could leave, Ye Guixue was approaching from not far away and seeing that Fen Ling and Su Rong seemed to be discussing something, he immediately inquired, "What happened? Is there a problem?"
Su Rong conveyed Xie Yuan’s words and also mentioned the list that the Nanchu King gave her, as well her instructions for Fen Ling to make arrangements.
After hearing everything, Ye Guixue said, "The Ye Family has some influence in various places that could be helpful. In the past, the Nangong Family was powerful and the Ye Family was hindered and lost quite a bit in managing their own affairs. Now that the Nangong Family has retreated, there is no one to oppress the Ye Family, allowing us to quickly integrate and be more active."
Looking at Su Rong, he continued, "If the princess trusts the Ye Xiang Residence and is not afraid of it becoming dominant, feel free to delegate this task to me. I can handle it all together, making things smoother and quicker in preparing the supplies."
"If I was afraid of the Ye Xiang Residence becoming dominant, I wouldn’t have saved you." Su Rong looked at him, "I trust the Ye Xiang Residence. Moreover, at this time, we naturally need to deal with Dawei’s invasion first. In the future, I still need to join forces with Yan Huisheng to swallow Dawei. I need Ye Xiang Residence’s assistance. You are my future Auxiliary Minister. As long as the Ye Xiang Residence does not betray me, the larger it gets, the better, and I can accommodate it."
Ye Guixue nodded, "The Princess’ trust is Ye Xiang Residence’s fortune. Guixue will certainly not fail to live up to it."
Su Rong smiled, "However, don’t be too proud of the Ye Xiang Residence. You should know that I have a lot of capable people working for me. Whoever is capable, I will support them. In future Nanchu, it will not be like the Nanchu under my father, a complete mess. Perhaps it will be a flourishing and competitive place. It’s still unclear whether the Ye Xiang Residence can hold the top position."
Ye Guixue smiled slightly and responded, "The princess is right. Guixue will keep this in mind and will never become conceited because the Nangong Family is no more."
Su Rong was pleased with Ye Guixue’s straightforwardness. She nodded, smiled at him and said: "Alright, Lord Ye, there is plenty of time in the future. May the Ye Xiang Residence and Nanchu thrive forever."
Ye Guixue paused.
Fen Ling tugged Ye Guixue’s sleeve and said, "Come, Lord Ye, let’s go and discuss further."
Ye Guixue was being dragged away by Fen Ling and raised his brow, "Lord Ye?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
