As dusk approached, although it wasn't far from the city, it was time to head back, as the city gates would close soon.
"Lord Wang, today's visit was truly a rare treat. When I have time in the future, I will certainly invite you to come here again to continue this enjoyment." With that, Mr. Li put away his fishing rod, packed up his belongings, and prepared to leave.
“It is my wish, but I dare not ask. To be able to get to know Mr. Li and appreciate the beauty of the mountains and rivers together is truly a great pleasure in life.” Wang Youzhi also put away his fish basket.
After they left, Li Xi and his deputy Shen Congyun jumped down from the tree.
After squatting in the tree for several hours, he was so unsteady on his feet that he cursed, "Damn it, this Lord Wang is really something. It's been three hours and he hasn't caught a single fish. He can really sit still."
Li Xi chuckled: "He's not trying to fish; he's obviously exchanging information with someone else."
"What? When did they say that? I wasn't asleep either. How come I didn't hear anything?" Shen Congyun was very confused.
Li Xi: "Observation is not just about seeing with your eyes, but also about listening with your heart and feeling with your heart."
You see, although they appear to be fishing and chatting, Lord Wang's gaze occasionally sweeps over Mr. Li's fishing rod and falls on the distant mountains or lake, a deliberate attempt to distract himself.
Mr. Li would nod slightly or sigh softly when Lord Wang mentioned certain topics; these subtle actions were signs that they were conveying information in a silent exchange.
Furthermore, their choice to meet here is unusual in itself. It's far from the city's hustle and bustle, yet not too remote, ensuring both privacy for their conversation and ease of departure at any time.
Upon hearing this, Shen Congyun suddenly realized and slapped his forehead: "So that's how it is. I was so careless. What important thing are they talking about?"
"They must be discussing the Crown Prince. You go with Lord Wang. I'll go see who Mr. Li is." Li Xi instructed his deputy and then left.
Mr. Li's carriage headed down another road, and Li Xi followed silently behind, maintaining a safe distance as they drove slowly.
······
As the moon rose above the treetops, Li Xi and his deputy Shen Congyun returned to the government office to assemble, while the rest of the staff had been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing the two return, they all stood up.
In the dead of night, the staff in the yamen integrated and analyzed the intelligence they had gathered over the past few days.
I don't know how long it took before I finally finished organizing it.
"Alright, everyone has worked hard these past few days. Go back and relax for a couple of days." Li Xi finished organizing the intelligence and planned to hand it over to the emperor tomorrow.
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.
Exhausted, Li Xi returned to the mansion.
Everyone else was already asleep, so she quickly showered and crawled into bed as well.
Everything was as usual. The people around her seemed to trust her completely, and even the emperor spoke highly of her.
Did her adoptive father lie to her? If she really was a pawn he sent to the emperor's side...
Did she also feel a strange sense of belonging and responsibility?
Li Xi tossed and turned, her mind racing with thoughts.
Whenever she thought of this, she would get a splitting headache and fall into a deep sleep.
In her dream, her adoptive father took her in and carefully taught her martial arts every day.
It seems there was a happy time, but why is she completely unmoved?
In a private residence in Kyoto, the leader of the Red Lotus Cult rarely appeared before his followers.
"Master, the royal festival is approaching in half a month, and the capital city is under heavy guard. Should we postpone our actions?" A protector dressed in a black robe and wearing a silver mask entered the study in a low voice, his tone tinged with caution.
Inside the study, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the faintly visible figure of the Red Lotus Sect leader.
He was sitting under a huge red lotus totem, toying with a string of ancient prayer beads in his hand, his expression serene.
"Hmph, a royal festival," the cult leader chuckled, his voice deep and resonant, "is precisely when they are most relaxed. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place. How can our long-planned scheme be hindered by a mere festival?"
Upon hearing this, the protector's eyes flashed with surprise, then he respectfully lowered his head: "The sect leader is wise, but... the emperor is surrounded by many experts, and the imperial guards are heavily protecting him. How can we achieve our goal without alerting anyone?"
The cult leader slowly stood up and walked to the window.
Moonlight streamed through the paper window, illuminating his sharply defined profile, making him appear exceptionally mysterious and enigmatic.
“We have our own methods.” He turned around, his eyes blazing. “This time, we will not only accomplish that great task, but also let the Crimson Lotus Flame shine the brightest in the night sky of Kyoto, so that the world will know that the power of the Crimson Lotus Cult is not to be underestimated.”
Although the protector had his doubts, he could only obey the order in the face of the leader's unquestionable aura: "Yes, leader. Your subordinate will do his utmost to cooperate with you in completing this operation."
The cult leader nodded, then fell into deep thought.
After everyone left, a young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe walked in.
"Father, the emperor did not depose the crown prince. Will this affect our plans?" The young man asked with some worry.
The cult leader slowly raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as the night sky.
He gently shook his head, his voice low and powerful: "The fact that the crown prince has not been deposed is merely a temporary disturbance in the court. The true change of power is never determined by a single edict. We have been planning for a long time and have a deep foundation. How can his decision in a day or two shake us?"
"Your son has learned a lot." The young man bowed.
The cult leader looked at his handsome son with great joy.
The Jiang family has a worthy successor; the emperor's useless sons are no match for them.
"Go back and behave well, and I will eliminate all those who stand in your way," the cult leader said confidently.
"Yes, I take my leave. Father, you should also rest early." The young man returned to the mansion under the cover of his guards.
The Crown Prince is now disliked by the Emperor.
The King of Liang was just a pawn in his game, nothing more than a good-for-nothing.
The Ming king is mediocre and now enjoys a leisurely life in his fiefdom.
Although Prince An was talented, he had a physical disability.
The other princes are all too young and have not yet achieved great things. At present, only Prince Jing may be the emperor's favorite.
He has been working on this move for a long time, and now he has added another powerful general.
Although the descendants of that ancient clan had been given a soul-destroying drug by the divine physician and had also been infected with a Gu poison.
Now, he's probably tormented by those true and false memories at night, making it hard for him to sleep. With double insurance, Li Xi will definitely not escape his grasp.
Unexpectedly, even the heavens were on his side. He who controls the ancient clan controls the world, and their Jiang dynasty will surely be able to reclaim the land.
Thinking of this, the cult leader was filled with energy. "Someone, let the Ten Protectors in!"
Just as the leader of the Red Lotus Cult had predicted, Li Xi was tormented by nightmares almost every night, unable to distinguish between reality and dreams.
What happened seems unreal now.
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