Chapter 157 Tigress, conspiracy!
Who is the other person?
Judging from her figure, she should be a woman, but she is different from the previously identified hidden guards Cui Qingwu and Huan'er.
Could it be the hidden guard who was hiding in the brothel alley before?
That is, the person who helped Ge Laosan escape from the Marquis's mansion.
That's certainly possible.
Thinking this, Chen Yi lowered his body slightly and held his breath to avoid being noticed.
The next moment, Ge Laosan stepped forward and knocked on the door, calling out in a hoarse voice, "Shopkeeper, I've come to pick up a piece of clothing."
"We're closed. Come back tomorrow."
"I have something important to attend to tomorrow and urgently need a more formal outfit. I hope you can..."
The sound was secondary; as they were talking, there was a knock on the door.
Ding, ding, ding ding.
Two long and two short beeps sounded twice in a very regular pattern.
On this night of torrential rain, the sound could be heard clearly for dozens of meters.
Chen Yi heard it clearly, but he was more concerned about the identity of the slightly thin man beside Ge Laosan.
Talk for a moment.
The tailor shop door opened, and Ge Laosan and his companion went inside.
Accompanied by a slightly disgruntled voice from inside the door, the other slender woman said:
"Please forgive me, shop owner, for disturbing you."
The sound was crisp and melodious, with a touch of etherealness, like that of a lark.
It sounds really good.
Chen Yi was certain that he had never heard this voice before, so the other party had obviously never appeared in front of him.
Soon, the three exchanged a few pleasantries, and the tailor shop owner said to wait a moment before closing the door again.
The voice inside suddenly dropped by more than half.
All that could be heard was a faint, intermittent sound, like the buzzing of mosquitoes.
"Your subordinate... Lady Tiger..."
A tigress?
It's her.
The "she-tiger" that Xiao Dongchen and Ge Laosan had previously discussed.
Chen Yi frowned slightly.
He had initially thought that the "tigress" would be Cui Qingwu, but now it seems that it is someone else entirely.
However, upon closer examination, his previous guesses were indeed untenable.
It's obvious.
Ge Laosan and Xiao Dongchen had been hiding in Shuzhou for many years, and so had the "she-tiger."
Cui Qingwu and Huan'er only recently arrived in Shuzhou.
Moreover, they still bore the mark of the Cui family of Qinghe all the way here, so their route must have been clear and unambiguous.
Perhaps it wasn't Xiao Dongchen who contacted Cui Qingwu at Fengchun Tower that day.
It's possible...it's possible that Cui Qingwu took the initiative to meet with Xiao Dongchen.
Thinking about all this, Chen Yi carefully moved his position, getting a little closer to the tailor shop.
He vaguely heard Ge Laosan's voice: "I don't understand, why did you contact Gray Wolf?"
"That madman actually plans to burn down the summer grain in the three towns, and I'm having a headache over this."
"Because Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jinghong have already noticed the abnormality in Shu Prefecture, building the border market is a precautionary measure."
The tigress's voice was much softer than Ge Laosan's.
However, the characteristics of her voice were even clearer to Chen Yi's ears.
"In addition, the Liu family's recent actions have heightened the Xiao family's vigilance."
"If we cannot take advantage of this opportunity to cause chaos within the Xiao family, and wait until the trade market is established and the morale of the Xiao family and the Dingyuan Army is stabilized, then the entire Shu Prefecture will inevitably become a stagnant pool again."
"At that time, it will be extremely difficult for you and me to complete the Pavilion Master's plan."
Ge Laosan paused slightly, then mumbled incoherently, "But I always feel that Gray Wolf is too selfish."
The tigress said, "Having selfish desires is not a bad thing. As long as his goals are the same as ours, we can let him be."
"So, you agree with the plan to burn the summer grain?"
“It’s not just us. Others have already found Black Tooth and offered 30,000 taels of gold to burn down the three towns.”
"Black Tooth? Thirty thousand taels?"
"This...this...success through those evil and heretical sects?"
Upon hearing this, not only was Ge Laosan surprised, but a hint of astonishment also flashed in Chen Yi's eyes.
During the day, Liu Lang said it would be over ten thousand taels, but unexpectedly it turned out to be thirty thousand taels.
This money is enough to support ten thousand ordinary people for a year.
Even if one were to maintain a private army, one could still support 5,000 elite troops for a year.
There probably aren't many people in Shu Prefecture who can come up with that much money, right?
At this moment, Ge Laosan asked, "Who on earth did this? Why would someone so reckless as to come after Black Tooth?"
“Once Black Fang’s side leaks the news, the Xiao family will soon find out, and we won’t be able to accomplish anything.”
The tigress replied, "I don't know either, not even Black Fang knows."
"But I heard him say that the person was quite ruthless and his strength was at least above the middle third rank."
Ge Laosan: "Heh, in Shuzhou, which one of those who dare to covet the Xiao family isn't ruthless?"
"But this is a difficult situation. Although Black Fang is trustworthy, the evil and heretical people he has found are another matter."
The tigress nodded. "Think carefully about whether you want to help the gray wolf."
"He approached you because he clearly had his eye on your elite officers hidden within the military."
“If you decide to help him, regardless of success or failure, all your Iron Banner officers will die.”
Upon hearing this, Ge Laosan muttered a few curses.
After a moment of silence, his voice was finally heard: "Help!"
"But I'm worried that Black Fang's side will leak the news. Do you have any ideas?"
“Simple. Have your men go and take on this deal. With 30,000 taels of gold in hand, things will be more advantageous for both of us going forward.”
"...No wonder you contacted me first; it turns out it was for that ill-gotten gain."
"Success or failure?"
"Alright! Now that you've spoken, I'll take this risk for you, the tigress, even if it means risking my life for the gray wolf!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi's expression turned slightly strange.
Would the Hidden Guards ever lack money?
This is utterly ridiculous. Shouldn't the imperial court be paying them to carry out their duties?
The imperial court should not treat the Hidden Guards the same way it treated the Dingyuan Army.
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi couldn't help but become even more curious about the tigress's identity and mission.
Just then, he heard the tigress ask, "How are things going on your end? I heard that the fledglings have been making quite a commotion these past few days."
Ge Laosan paused for a moment, then said with a hint of self-satisfaction, "Everything is under control."
"He originally didn't want to go to Guiyun Academy, but I used a little trick to make him obediently comply."
"Look at the commotion he's causing at Guiyun Academy now, and you'll know he's still a fledgling and will never be able to live a peaceful life."
"Yeah?"
"certainly……"
Chen Yi secretly curled his lip, gaining a certain understanding of Ge Laosan's shamelessness.
This guy did absolutely nothing, yet he's taking all the credit for himself.
"That's good. Tomorrow, I will pass on several matters to Lord Jinqi and the Pavilion Master. Once they reply, we can proceed according to the plan."
"good."
The sound paused for a moment.
Just as Chen Yi thought the group was about to leave the tailor shop, he heard Ge Laosan ask:
"You should already know that Luanfeng has come to Shuzhou, right?"
"Yes, I've heard about it."
"I thought she came on her own, but I didn't expect that she had obtained the White Tiger Token from the Pavilion Master."
"When Gray Wolf saw the White Tiger Token in her hand earlier, his legs almost gave way and he knelt down on the ground."
The tigress asked, slightly surprised, "She took the initiative to reveal the White Tiger Token?"
Ge Laosan lowered his voice and said, "That's what Gray Wolf said. In order to make him obey orders, Luanfeng specifically promised him a favor."
"They were framing the Xiao family for Liu Jing's death."
The tigress: "Oh? No wonder Shu Prefecture has been so unsettled lately; it turns out there's such a hidden story behind it."
Ge Laosan: "It's a pity she failed. Someone stabbed her in the back during the process, and it seems that they knew about our identities as hidden guards."
"When I first heard about it, I thought it would be that girl from the mountain tribe, but it turned out to be a man. Judging from the situation, he doesn't seem to be from the Xiao family. Do you think he could be a spy from the Vaishsa Kingdom or a barbarian tribe?"
The tigress paused for a moment, then said, "No matter who it is, we must not be careless. We will report this matter back to the cabinet tomorrow."
"I think it's a good idea."
"However, I'm more curious about Luanfeng's purpose in coming to Shuzhou. Did the Pavilion Master give her any special instructions?"
"Ask less of what you shouldn't ask; knowing too much is not good for either of us."
"Oh, and what about your end..."
Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask!
As the sound stopped, there was no sound from inside the tailor shop.
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. Judging from this, the tigress's task seemed to be more important.
Even Ge Laosan can't be asked casually?
And the phoenix they just mentioned.
If I'm not mistaken, that should be Cui Qingwu's code name in the Hidden Guard.
White Tiger Token...
Chen Yi silently noted these things down, then quietly stepped back, concealing his aura and waiting for what would happen next.
Not long after, he heard several voices coming from the tailor shop. Then the door opened, and Ge Laosan and the tigress came out wearing straw hats and raincoats.
After a brief pause, the two of them headed off in opposite directions.
[Witness the secret guards plotting a major event. Reward: Musical score "Free and Easy Wandering", +35 Fortune.]
[Comment: The person arrived, their voice was heard, but no spectacle was witnessed. With nothing accomplished, their achievements will ultimately be limited.]
Chen Yi glanced at it, his eye twitching slightly.
Sheet music?
Ge Laosan, the tailor shop owner, and the three women, including the female tiger, it seems that only the female tiger is skilled in this art.
Based on what Liu Lang saw at Chunyu Tower last night, it's not hard to deduce that the tigress must be hiding in the brothel alley.
This made him even more certain of his previous guess—it was indeed the tigress who helped Ge Laosan move out of the Marquis's mansion.
Seeing that there was no sound around, Chen Yi quietly jumped off the roof and headed towards the Xiao residence from behind the tailor shop.
He had a very fruitful night.
The identities of all the hidden guards and silver flag officers in Shu Prefecture have been basically figured out.
Gray Wolf, Xiao Dongchen.
Hawk, Ge Laosan.
A tigress, a woman with a very pleasant voice.
Luanfeng, Cui Qingwu.
As for their tasks, based on the information we have so far, they should all be different.
Or rather, the ultimate goal should be the same, only the division of labor is different.
Ultimately, they wanted to throw Shu Prefecture into chaos.
"Knowing too much is definitely not a good thing."
"Because there are many more questions we don't know."
For example, why would the hidden guards or the imperial court do this? What benefits would the chaos in Shu Province bring to the Great Wei Dynasty?
Or was his previous guess wrong, and the Hidden Guards were not from the imperial court?
And who was the person who spent 30,000 taels of gold to contact Black Tooth?
As Chen Yi pondered these thoughts, he failed to notice several figures appearing not far ahead.
The leader was dressed in a short, bright red outfit, with a long knife hanging at his waist.
The moment the man saw him, he asked, "It's so late, where are you going in the rain?"
Um?
Fang Hongxiu?
Chen Yi raised his head slightly, his eyes peering through the edge of his straw hat, and saw the four judicial officers in front of him. He was speechless for a moment.
It was almost midnight, yet she was still wandering around outside.
"Lord Centurion, what do you think?"
Fang Hongxiu was slightly taken aback, realizing that the hoarse, deep voice was very familiar. After realizing what it was, she immediately drew the long sword from her waist:
"It's you!?"
(End of this chapter)
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