Huo Shan felt that if he were to get involved with the Qianji Sect and General Li, who was highly influential in the Southern Chen Kingdom, it would be bad for everyone.
Therefore, to the outside world, Huo Shan remained Huo Shan, and he only communicated with Xu Ningyou through the secret method of the Qianji Sect.
With Xu Ningyou bedridden and Li Ting's position as Crown Prince's tutor rendered meaningless, Xu Ningyou sent Huo Shan a final letter, urging him to be wary of Zhao Yunwan and to make plans as soon as possible should anything happen to the Li family.
[Alas, I never expected that Zhao Yunwan would still find out about Huo Shan. It turns out he was my own uncle. My uncle was just a merchant; how could he possibly stand against imperial power? Zhao Yunwan sold off his wealth, and he was forced into "seclusion and disappeared without a trace." Even my cousins died at Zhao Yunwan's hands.]
When Xu Ningyou heard this, she realized that her only younger brother, whom she had finally managed to find, had become a victim in the struggle for imperial power, just like the Li family.
I was so angry!
"Leng Feng, is this all the information we found this time?" Xu Ningyou pointed to the booklets on the table.
The booklet details how Zhao Yunwan colluded with the four major sects of the martial arts world, using martial arts figures to create momentum for Xiao Ding among the common people.
Zhao Yunwan obtained the money she needed to win people's hearts from two wealthy merchants in Jiangnan.
The emperor granted them a special favor, making both wealthy merchants imperial merchants. Zhao Yunwan used her power to provide them with numerous favors, thereby obtaining 50% of the profits.
In addition, several hidden forces from the Great Yue Kingdom are active in the Southern Chen Kingdom and have close ties with Zhao Yunwan.
More than half of the officials in the imperial court were controlled by Zhao Yunwan using opium.
"Cold Wind, what about Zhao Yunwan's contact with the border general?"
“Miss, I was just about to say something. There’s another force that’s very strange, and I can’t be sure if it’s Zhao Yunwan’s doing.” Leng Feng hesitated.
"Tell me what you have to say!" After calming down, Xu Ningyou listened carefully to Leng Feng's words.
"Zhao Yunchen of the Northwest guards the border, yet maintains close ties with the Great Liang."
"In a valley bordering the northwest and Daliang, we found a siege weapon forging workshop. Near the valley, there is an unregistered iron mine."
"Husband, you've been in the Northwest for many years, have you discovered any iron ore?" Xu Ningyou turned to ask Li Ting.
"No. It seems that the discovery of this iron ore mine was deliberately concealed from the beginning. Who knows how many factions were planted within the army defending the northwest border?" Li Ting sighed.
"Furthermore, Zhao Yunchen seems to disagree with Zhao Yunwan. Zhao Yunwan is unaware of this siege operation!"
"Oh? That's interesting."
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