Chapter 26 Infiltrating the Inside? No, it's Digging Your Own Grave!
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the relationship between Yun Zhan and Yan Linye skyrocketed. Yan Linye was almost completely unguarded with him, and that complete trust made Yun Zhan feel both elated and incredibly guilty.
"System, see that? That's charisma!" Yun Zhan looked at the steaming, exquisite pastries that Yan Linye had just sent over and proudly boasted to himself, "His feelings for me now are absolutely true love... uh, absolute trust!"
[Target's trust level has reached a new high. Warning: Trust level is usually directly proportional to the anger level after being betrayed in the future. The host's skull artwork production process may be accelerated as a result.] System Xiao Qi always manages to pour ice water on things at their sweetest moments.
"What a disappointment!" Yun Zhan pouted, picked up a pastry and stuffed it into his mouth. The sweet taste made him temporarily ignore the system's alarmist warning.
That day, Yan Linye suddenly said to Yun Zhan, "There's an important meeting tonight, why don't you come along?"
Yun Zhan's heart skipped a beat. An important meeting? They wanted him to attend? This meant... they were completely treating him like one of their own?
He suppressed his excitement (and a slight, inexplicable guilt) and nodded, trying to appear calm: "Okay."
That evening, Yun Zhan followed Yan Linye into the study. Several people were already sitting inside, all of them Yan Linye's core team—General Chen Feng, who had previously admired him immensely, the shrewd old strategist, and several other familiar confidants.
Upon seeing Yun Zhan enter, the group all greeted him with friendly, even respectful, smiles.
"Young Master Yun has arrived!"
"Please have a seat!"
Chen Feng raised his voice even louder, saying, "With Young Master Yun here, our matter is even more secure! Your curved plows and waterwheels have laid a solid foundation for us!"
Yun Zhan was a little embarrassed by their praise, but secretly he was very pleased. See? He, Yun Zhan, relied on his skills to make a living; he could succeed anywhere! He had finally infiltrated the enemy's core! This was the perfect opportunity to gather intelligence, find a way to escape, or even launch a counter-assassination!
"System! Record this! This is important intelligence!" he whispered to the system.
[Meeting minutes are now enabled.] The system operates strictly by procedure.
Yan Linye sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling on Yun Zhan, his eyes gentle yet firm. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm sure you all already have a guess as to why I've gathered you all here today."
The atmosphere in the study instantly became heavy and solemn.
Yun Zhan sat up straight, perking up his ears. Was it to discuss the next steps in the plan to improve people's livelihoods? Or to deal with the remaining bandits in the west?
Yan Linye said in a deep voice, "In today's world, the Great Yin Dynasty is corrupt, and the people are suffering. Emperor Chu Yin is licentious and tyrannical, having usurped the throne and is unworthy of his position! I, Yan Linye, as a descendant of the former imperial family of the Chen Kingdom, have been ordained by Heaven and have the will of the people to raise an army—"
He paused, then his voice, firm and resonant, like the clash of metal and stone, resonated deeply:
"Radiate glory to the Great Chen Dynasty, overthrow the tyrannical Yin!"
Yun Zhan's smile froze instantly, and his mind went blank, as if he had been struck by lightning and burned to a crisp!
To... to raise an army?
The light covers the Great Chen?
Overthrow the tyrannical Yin?!
"Bao Yin... isn't that the very body he's currently occupying?!" "Chu Yin... isn't that him?!"
Although he was well-versed in history and knew that Yan Linye would overthrow him, and that the courtesan was delivering a city defense map, hearing the mobilization order for rebellion spoken by Yan Linye was still too shocking!
So all this hard work he's put into infrastructure development and improving people's lives these past few days has been laying a solid economic and popular foundation for Yan Linye's rebellion?! He's practically handing a shovel to his future gravedigger!
"System! Did you hear that?! They're rebelling! Rebelling against me!" Yun Zhan screamed in his mind, feeling like his CPU was about to burn out.
[Information recorded: Hostile forces have officially launched a plan to overthrow the host's current regime using armed force. The host's previous actions have been judged as 'seriously aiding the enemy,' and points are being tallied...] The system began to kick him while he was down.
"Reckoning my ass! Is this the time to calculate scores?!" Yun Zhan was on the verge of tears. "What am I doing? The emperor himself is personally instructing the rebels on how to overthrow him faster and better?! This plot is too melodramatic!"
He sat there, trying to maintain a composed expression (though perhaps a little distorted), while his mind was racing. He watched as the surrounding crowd, filled with fervor, expressed their support.
"Your Highness is wise! We should have rebelled long ago!"
"Your subordinate is willing to follow Your Highness to the death and bring glory to the Great Chen Dynasty!"
"With the new farming tools and irrigation systems brought by Young Master Yun, we won't have to worry about food supplies or the people's morale!"
Yun Zhan: "..." Thank you! Thank you so much for acknowledging my "contribution" so highly!
He felt like a husky that had infiltrated a wolf pack, originally just wanting to mooch some food, but ended up becoming the pack's strategic advisor, helping them plan how to wipe out his den!
Yan Linye seemed to notice Yun Zhan's silence, turned to look at him, and asked with gentle eyes, "Yun Zhan, what do you think?"
How do I feel? I feel like I want to die! Yun Zhan roared inwardly.
He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said dryly, "Uh...it's fine...Your Highness...you're very farsighted..."
Yan Linye assumed he was stunned by the major event, smiled reassuringly, and gently squeezed his hand under the table: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
His palms were warm and dry, carrying a reassuring strength. Under normal circumstances, Yun Zhan would have been completely aroused. But at this moment, this warmth made him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles, his heart sinking into a deep chill.
You're here? That's exactly why I'm scared! You're the one who's going to chop my head off, bro!
The meeting then proceeded to discuss troop deployment, supply procurement, and advance routes, among other things. Yun Zhan remained completely absorbed, mechanically nodding, his mind preoccupied with only one thought:
Oh no, we're really on a pirate ship now! And it's the one he personally reinforced the deck of and installed the motor on!
He was previously torn between fleeing and staying to enjoy the pleasures of life, but now he doesn't have to worry about it anymore! If he doesn't run now, he'll really be waiting to be "wiped out" by the rebel forces that "he" himself has helped!
This isn't infiltrating the enemy; it's digging its own grave, and it's as if it's afraid of not digging deep enough or fast enough!
After the meeting, Yun Zhan followed Yan Linye out of the study in a daze. Seeing that he looked unwell, Yan Linye asked with concern, "Are you tired? Go back and get some rest."
Looking at Yan Linye's handsome and sincere face, Yun Zhan felt a tightness in his chest.
On one hand, there is the deepening affection and the intoxicating tenderness.
On one side are the bloody, impending rebellion and the skull warning.
This multiple-choice question instantly escalated from hard mode to hell mode!
He returned to his room, collapsed onto the bed, stared at the ceiling, and felt that his life was nothing short of an absurd drama.
"System," he called out weakly, "give me some advice. Should I run away tonight, or... stay and continue to 'aid the enemy' in hopes of getting 'leniency for confessing'?"
[Based on the risk-reward model, the success rate of fleeing overnight is less than 15%, and being caught may result in prematurely entering the 'skull-making' stage. Staying to continue playing the role... the host can choose for themselves. This system only provides data analysis and does not offer emotional advice.]
Yun Zhan covered his eyes in despair. He couldn't take it anymore!
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