Bianliang City, Wenhui Tower.

This is a relatively well-known inn in Bianliang City. Although it is not as luxurious as Fuxiang Inn, it is quiet and elegant.

Qin Siyuan knew that Ning Yi preferred quietness and did not like to move, so after meeting him when he returned home, he arranged for him to stay here.

As the night grew darker, Ning Yi sat at his desk, holding the Void Jade Pendant and chatting with a senior time traveler he had just met.

Hearing that he had chosen the path of cultivating immortals, and that he was using the most gentle and long-lasting wood-based skills, the senior in the alliance group called 'Beautiful Female Ghost' immediately pulled him into a small group called 'Cultivating Immortals Alliance'.

Although there are relatively few people in the group, the atmosphere is harmonious and everyone speaks nicely. Ning Yi said he likes it very much.

Not long after, the door of the room was pushed open. Ning Yi put down the Void Jade Plate in his hand and looked at Ye Zixun with a smile.

"You're back?"

"Um."

Ye Zixun nodded, picked up a bright red fruit from the table, sat opposite Ning Yi, ate it, glanced at him and said, "Have you met Prime Minister Qin today?"

"I have met him." Ning Yi nodded. "Just like the plot in the book, Mr. Qin asked me to deal with Liangshanpo."

Ye Zi asked, "Are you going to go?"

Ning Yi said without hesitation: "Of course, this group of people will take revenge if I kill their people. I don't want to see the plot of the Su family compound being massacred in the original plot, so I naturally have to kill them first."

Instead of guarding against thieves all day long, it is better to kill the thieves in one fell swoop!

Ye Zixun nodded, agreeing with Ning Yi's attitude.

After a moment of silence, Ye Zixun said, "Aren't you going to ask me about Zhou Lai?"

Ning Yi glanced at him and chuckled, "Okay, how is he?"

Ye Zixun twitched his lips and said helplessly: "I let him go."

Ning Yi nodded: "Oh."

Ye Zixun frowned and said, "Aren't you surprised?"

Ning Yi laughed when he heard this: "Third brother, don't blame me for saying harsh words. You are a soft-hearted person. If King Qin Zhou Lai is really just controlled by the desire for power, it would be fine, but he is ambitious and it doesn't seem to be fake."

"You are easily persuaded by his words, so it's normal."

Ye Zixun was full of black lines on his head: "Since you knew everything, why didn't you say it during the day, and acted so determined... Going to the palace to force the emperor to abolish his position as King of Qin, this kind of crazy idea was also yours, right?"

Ning Yi glanced at him and said leisurely: "It's because it was too chaotic that it didn't happen..."

"You... you little bastard!"

Ye Zixun couldn't help but glare at him.

Ning Yi smiled and said, "King Qin Zhoulai is indeed an outstanding person. I talked with Prime Minister Qin this afternoon. When he mentioned King Qin, he praised him highly. He even expressed regret that King Qin was not the crown prince..."

"From this point of view, Zhou's statement that Prime Minister Qin stood on his side was indeed true."

"A hero..." Ye Zixun rolled his eyes. "You are a hero, he is also a hero, so am I not one? Don't underestimate your third brother. I was also a level 7 agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Ning Yi glanced at him and said, "Now you know why you are only a level 7 agent, instead of replacing Nick Fury and becoming the king of SHIELD agents, right?"

“…”

Ye Zixun was speechless for a moment, and after a while of being depressed, he asked curiously: "But seriously, that guy assassinated... no, tested you, do you really not want to deal with him?"

Ning Yi spread his hands: "It would be a lie to say that I don't care at all, but... Zhou Lai is not a good people's leader, but he is a very suitable emperor for the Wu Dynasty. With him around, Old Qin would not die unjustly like in the original novel, and I would not necessarily commit regicide and rebel."

"In a way, he is a compromise choice, but one that fits the historical trend very well."

"Of course, if he goes against the grain and truly becomes the power beast on the throne, I might make a decision like in the book, but now, I want to see first..."

At this point, Ning Yi paused and sighed, "I have seen my own future. The rise of the Chinese Army was heroic, but it was too heroic. The names of those who died on the charge for their ideals made me feel heartbroken."

"They deserve to live more than anyone else, but driven by me, they continue to fall into the trap, like moths to a flame..."

Speaking of this, Ning Yi's eyes were as calm as water, but there was a deep sadness hidden beneath the water.

Ye Zixun said silently: "I remember that the original text mentioned that if it happened again, you would still do the same thing."

Ning Yi thought about it carefully and nodded: "If there is no alliance, yes."

Ning Yi paused, looked at Ye Zixun and said seriously: "Third brother, I know why you stayed with me. It's not because you want to take all the mission rewards, but because you like the character of Ning Yi and the story of the son-in-law."

"You are a fan of the narrator's book, so between me and Zhou Lai, you subconsciously prefer me. This is human nature. However, I am not the Ning Yi you know after all."

"You don't have to think of me as him. I am myself, Ning Yi from the Time Travelers Alliance, your little brother."

Ye Zixun looked at him silently, and suddenly sighed: "You have been holding back these words for a long time, right?"

Ning Yi smiled and picked up a fruit, nodded and said, "It's been a long time, but I only found the opportunity today."

Ye Zixun curled his lips: "Okay, let's do this... You go to Shandong in a few days, and I will go with you."

Ning Yi was stunned for a moment, and asked in surprise: "What about Zhou Lai?"

Ye Zixun shook his head and said casually: "This guy's situation is a bit complicated. I am not at a high enough level to handle it, so I asked the alliance to find a big boss who can handle it. Tomorrow morning, he will come to Bianliang..."

Ning Yi blinked and asked curiously: "Which boss?"

Ye Zixun smiled and said, "You will know in seven days...Oh, yes, during these seven days, he asked us not to meet with Zhou Lai."

Ning Yi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "No problem."

…

…

The next morning, Zhou woke up from his sleep.

Sitting on the bed, looking at his bandaged right hand, Zhou Lai looked dazed, as if what happened yesterday was just a dream.

...He was almost there, just almost, and that powerful swordsman would have destroyed everything for him.

Fortunately, the worst situation did not happen. He is still the King of Qin and still has a place for him in the Wu Dynasty.

No matter what, he has already witnessed Ye Zixun's strength. Since there is a rift between the two sides and they cannot get rid of each other, they can only try their best to mend the rift.

Zhou Zi believed that he was still confident about this.

He knew Ning Yi's political inclinations and was willing to behave in the way they wanted to see, until... he obtained the qualification that Ning Yi mentioned.

Thinking of this, Zhou Lai's face became more resolute. He stood up and called the maids, and bathed and changed his clothes with their help.

After tidying up his clothes, Zhou Lai looked at his personal guard who was avoiding his gaze and had an ashamed look on his face.

"Okay, let's just let what happened yesterday go!"

"...Prepare the car and go to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion!"

Soon, the carriage was ready, and Zhou Lai sat in the carriage with a frown on his face, as if he was thinking about something.

Opposite him, a middle-aged man in Taoist robes sat there, like a ghost, watching his every move coldly.

Facing the Taoist's gaze, Zhou Lai and even all the guards around him seemed to not see him. They ignored the Taoist and continued to do what they were supposed to do.

Just like that, the Taoist priest followed Zhou Lai closely like a non-existent ghost, watching him adjust his mood in the empty carriage, put on a smile and walked into the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, and then chatted and laughed with the Right Prime Minister Qin Siyuan and the great Confucian scholars and staff in Qin Siyuan's mansion.

After leaving the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, Zhou Lai returned to the carriage, pulled down the curtain, and showed a disappointed and irritated expression in private.

The Taoist knew that this was because he had not met Ning Yi, nor had he found out where Ning Yi lived from Prime Minister Qin.

But soon, Zhou Lai adjusted his mood and ordered the coachman to take him into the palace to meet Emperor Zhou Zhe.

After a false show of fatherly love and filial piety, Zhou Lai came to the Ministry of Works in a carriage and checked the progress of the drawings he had handed over to the craftsmen a few days ago. During the whole process, Zhou Lai was serious, but also clear about rewards and punishments, and was not stingy.

These craftsmen under his command were indeed treated better and had a higher status.

The Taoist priest silently observed Zhou Lai's every move without saying a word and without interfering in any way.

Just like that, seven days passed in a flash.

Another morning, the Taoist stood at the gate of the Prince of Qin's mansion, glanced at the Prince of Qin who had just walked into the carriage, and then turned around and left silently, just as if he had come to the Prince of Qin silently at the beginning, without causing any twists and turns.

…

…

Outside the city of Bianliang, a line of carriages and horses stopped beside a mound outside the city.

Ning Yi and Ye Zixun stood beside the carriage, in front of them were Monk Jueming, Yao Zunian, Cheng Zhouhai and others who came to see them off.

After everyone in the prime minister's residence left, a carriage drove over and Qin Siyuan got out. He went to the side and said a few words to Ning Yi.

After Qin Siyuan left, Ning Yi had a dagger inlaid with gold and jade on his waist.

This is Qin Siyuan's personal sword, symbolizing the supreme command authority of the Secret Investigation Department.

With this thing in hand, all the Secret Investigation Department branches in the world, including Shandong, must obey his orders.

After bidding farewell to everyone in the Prime Minister's Mansion, Ning Yi was about to leave, but Ye Zixun stopped him with a smile.

The next second, a figure in a Taoist robe appeared out of thin air and walked down from the small mound.

Ning Yi was slightly startled, but Ye Zixun greeted him with a smile.

“Brother Wang!”

"Brother Ye."

The Taoist smiled coldly, and immediately turned to look at Ning Yi: "Li Heng, we finally meet. My name is Wang Chuyi, and I am also in the small group of the Immortal Cultivation Alliance. This can be considered as a meeting between netizens..."

"It turns out to be Master Yuyang!"

Ning Yi suddenly realized: "The big boss that Third Brother invited... is you?"

Wang Chuyi smiled slightly, then turned to look at Ye Zixun and said softly, "I have already come to a conclusion about what you asked me to do."

"King Qin Zhoulai, he can become emperor... but he is not suitable to join the alliance!"