Inside the military tent, the physician was brewing medicine for Tang Shen. Upon seeing the three men enter, he immediately rose and saluted.

Wang Zhen approached the bed and took a steady look. Tang Shen was dressed in a white inner garment, his clothes from the shoulder down had been cut open, exposing his smooth arm. Near the elbow, a thick layer of medicine had been applied, without any bandage tied around it. There was no fresh bleeding, but upon closer inspection, traces of dried pus could be seen.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Wang Zhen’s heart tightened as he asked, “Is the wound infected with an abscess?”

The physician replied, “There’s some infection.”

Wang Zhen followed up, “Is it serious?”

“The wound itself is small, so the abscess isn’t too severe. However, as daren knows, abscesses have always been difficult to treat, and I cannot guarantee a full recovery. For now, Tang daren’s health seems to be holding on, and if he wakes up tonight, he should be fine. He’ll need some time to recuperate afterward, but the scar on his arm cannot be removed.”

Yu Chaosheng stepped forward and asked, “Since the wound is only on his arm, why is he still unconscious?”

The physician hesitated, “This…”

Only Yu Chaosheng believed Tang Shen had been injured just this morning. The physician had already been instructed by Li Jingde not to reveal Tang Shen’s true condition. Yu Chaosheng’s sudden question left the physician momentarily at a loss for words.

Li Jingde was also caught off guard and was about to explain, “Tang Shen isn’t unconscious, just asleep,” when Wang Zhen calmly said, “Yu daren may not know that although Tang daren’s injury appears minor, the wound became infected, leading to an abscess. Abscesses cause weakness, persistent high fever, and thus unconsciousness.”

Yu Chaosheng glanced at Tang Shen, who was sweating profusely, and remarked, “Tang daren is surely blessed and will recover without issue.”

Since Yu Chaosheng was not particularly familiar with Tang Shen, he didn’t stay long and soon returned to the city.

As Tang Shen’s senior brother, it was only natural and proper for Wang Zhen to stay and take care of him. After Li Jingde left to handle military affairs, only Wang Zhen and the physician remained in the tent. The physician gently fanned the fire while brewing the medicine.

Wang Zhen said, “You may leave. I’ll take over.”

The physician was stunned. “Daren, this…”

“What precautions should I take?”

Though the physician did not recognize Wang Zhen, he had noticed how even Li Jingde seemed somewhat deferential to him earlier. Since Wang Zhen had given the order, the physician dared not object. After all, brewing medicine wasn’t particularly difficult, and the patient wouldn’t wake up anytime soon. He replied, “It requires slow simmering over a low flame for about four hours.”

After bowing, the physician prepared to leave but was stopped by Wang Zhen. “The scar on his arm—can it truly not be removed?”

The physician wasn’t sure how much Wang Zhen knew, so he hesitated before vaguely answering, “If there had been no abscess, there might have been ways to remove the scar. But with the infection being somewhat severe, even with the best scar-removal ointment, it’s unlikely to fade completely.”

“Good. Let it remain, so that I may see it every day and remember this lesson, never to forget.”

The physician didn’t quite understand Wang Zhen’s meaning and asked in confusion, “Daren?”

“It’s nothing. You may go.”

“Yes, daren.” The physician bowed and left.

In the now silent tent, only the sound of bubbling medicine could be heard. Wang Zhen checked the medicine to ensure everything was in order before walking over to the bedside and sitting down. His gaze lingered on Tang Shen’s pale face for a moment before moving to his wounded arm.

A slender, elegant hand gently touched Tang Shen’s cheek.

Wang Zhen’s hands were exceedingly beautiful—his fingers long and delicate, his knuckles well-defined. Whether playing the qin or writing, his hands always moved with a graceful fluidity, as if painting a picture. His hands were slightly pale, but compared to Tang Shen’s sickly pallor, they looked far healthier. Even Tang Shen’s lips were pale, and though his fever had subsided somewhat, his forehead was still warm. Fortunately, the small wound meant that the overall severity wasn’t too great.

Wang Zhen’s hand lingered on Tang Shen’s cheek for a long moment before sliding down slowly to rest on his chapped lips.

Too dry.

Due to the high fever and lack of water, Tang Shen’s lips had become cracked and parched.

Wang Zhen fetched a cup of water and dipped his fingers into it, carefully moistening Tang Shen’s lips. The water brought a slight flush back to them, but once it dried, the color faded again. Wang Zhen patiently continued the process several times until Tang Shen’s lips finally regained some softness and a hint of pink.

Setting the cup down, Wang Zhen sat quietly by the bed, gazing at Tang Shen without a word. No one knew how long had passed before a long sigh broke the silence in the tent.

“I gave you a chance to leave. But little junior brother, it was you who failed to take care of yourself.”

“There won’t be a next time.”

By nightfall, Tang Shen’s condition had indeed improved, and his fever had subsided, though he remained unconscious.

Wang Zhen left the tent and summoned the soldier who had escorted Tang Shen back to Youzhou. Initially, the soldier tried to feign ignorance, insisting that Tang Shen had only been injured that morning while hunting with Li Jingde. But Wang Zhen immediately asked, “How is the situation in Xijing Prefecture?”

The soldier was stunned.

“Speak.”

“…Yes, daren.”

The soldier truthfully recounted everything he knew, though his low rank meant he lacked many crucial details.

Wang Zhen listened carefully, narrowing his eyes. “Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin went to Xijing Prefecture?”

“Yes. It was because an assassin suddenly attacked Yelü Qin that the city was locked down, preventing Tang daren from returning.”

“An assassin targeted Yelü Qin…” Wang Zhen repeated, mulling over the information. A faint smile curled his lips, carrying a trace of inscrutability. He returned to the tent, used Li Jingde’s stationery to write a letter, and handed it to the soldier. “Return to Xijing Prefecture immediately and deliver this letter to Qiao Jiu. He’ll know what to do.”

Hearing Qiao Jiu’s name, the soldier’s confidence in Wang Zhen increased. “Understood!”

After attending to the matter of Xijing, Wang Zhen returned to the tent. As he looked up, his eyes met Tang Shen’s.

Tang Shen was propping himself up with his arm, about to get out of bed. Seeing Wang Zhen, he froze, his voice hoarse and filled with shock. “Senior Brother?”

Wang Zhen, ever perceptive, quickly approached and poured a cup of water. “Thirsty?”

“Yes.”

Tang Shen took the cup and drank two large gulps, finally feeling a bit better. Just as he was about to ask why Wang Zhen was there, he noticed the way Wang Zhen lowered his eyes, his gaze dark and tinged with displeasure. Tang Shen’s heart sank. He didn’t know what he had done to anger Wang Zifeng, but it was clear from his expression that Wang Zhen wasn’t pleased.

“Senior Brother… are you angry?”

“Yes.”

“At what?”

“Why did you get hurt?”

Wang Zhen had already heard the soldier’s account of Tang Shen’s injury, but he asked nonetheless. Tang Shen felt aggrieved—it wasn’t like he had expected Yelü Qin to be attacked, Zhao Fu to suddenly send him to Youzhou, or the lockdown of Xijing Prefecture to prevent his return!

Feeling wronged, Tang Shen recounted the entire incident in detail.

Wang Zhen poured him another cup of water and asked, “After saying so much, are you thirsty?”

Tang Shen: “…” Weren’t you the one asking all the questions?

Wang Zhen: “Oh you… don’t make me worry like this again.”

Tang Shen was holding the cup with both hands, sipping the water in small gulps. Hearing this, he instinctively looked up at Wang Zhen. Their eyes met—Tang Shen sitting on the bed, gazing straight into Wang Zhen’s deep eyes. Within them, he saw a mix of worry and affection. He had never seen Wang Zhen express his emotions so openly before. His senior brother had always been a serene figure, unbothered by worldly matters, always composed and elegant, as though nothing could ever stir him.

But with just that glance, it was as if Wang Zifeng came alive.

More vivid, more… captivating, making it difficult for others to look away.

Tang Shen felt something deep within his chest tremble violently. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized he didn’t know what to say at this moment.

Quickly averting his gaze, Tang Shen muttered, “I didn’t want to get injured either, but there was nothing I could do. No one in this world wants to get hurt…”

“There won’t be a next time.”

Tang Shen didn’t catch it clearly. “What?”

Wang Zifeng smiled. “Nothing.”

Tang Shen stared at him, perplexed. After a moment, he said, “I feel like today’s senior brother is different from usual.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Usually, you seem like an immortal, and I often wonder what you’re thinking. Most of the time, I can’t figure it out. But today, though I still can’t tell what’s on your mind, it feels like you’ve made some sort of decision. You seem very resolute.”

Initially, Wang Zifeng had wanted to tease Tang Shen, but hearing this, he froze for a moment.

“You think… I’ve made a decision?”

“Haven’t you?”

Wang Zifeng showed a strange expression. He paced two steps inside the tent, then suddenly turned back and, with a light-hearted smile, said, “Yes, you’re right. I’ve made a decision—a very important one.”

Tang Shen asked curiously, “What decision?”

Wang Zifeng replied, “Not long ago, I received a painting from our teacher. The painting is breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that it stirs the soul. I love it deeply. However, this painting may not feel the same about me, and we don’t walk the same path. I was greatly conflicted, pondering night after night whether I should claim the painting as my own, whether I should disregard its will and decide its fate for the rest of its life.”

Tang Shen chuckled softly, exposing him, “A painting isn’t a person. How could it have preferences? If you’re going to use a metaphor, Senior Brother, you should find a better one.”

Wang Zifeng raised an eyebrow. “Taking the chance to poke fun at me?”

Tang Shen finally caught on. “You deliberately gave me an opening so I could tease you! So, what did you decide about the painting? Are you going to keep it?”

“He’s mine now.”

Tang Shen didn’t quite understand. “What?”

Wang Zifeng gazed at him steadily, a leisurely smile playing at his lips. “I said, he’s already mine.”

Tang Shen: “?”

What on earth is Wang Zifeng talking about?

Wang Zifeng was still as cryptic as ever. When Tang Shen pressed for clarification, he refused to elaborate further, only saying, “The time hasn’t come for everything to be revealed.” Tang Shen could only grumble inwardly, knowing he couldn’t not accept his senior brother’s eccentric ways.

Once Tang Shen’s condition improved, they began discussing matters concerning Xijing.

Tang Shen knew far more than the soldier had. After he shared his information, many of Wang Zifeng’s speculations were confirmed, aligning perfectly with his deductions.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen said, “The assassination attempt on Yelü Qin is likely staged, a ploy between him and Yelü Shege. The assassin didn’t even harm him, yet he stabbed himself. Over the past few days, I’ve thought a lot about it, and I suspect that Yelü Qin’s self-inflicted wound was a performance to put pressure on Xijing Prefecture and capture the so-called assassin. As for the assassin’s identity… it might be connected to other royal princes. Who do you think it could be, Senior Brother?”

Wang Zifeng responded with a question, “Who do you think it is?”

Tang Shen thought for a moment and answered, “The third prince of Liao, Yelü Han!”

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The night Yelü Qin was ambushed, a masked assassin seized a secret letter and fled westward. Lu Shen witnessed everything. Strangely, it wasn’t Yelü Qin who recalled the assassin’s appearance but Lu Shen.

Lu Shen had his own methods of tracking people. Following the route west from Yelücomm’s residence, he ruled out inns, as the Liao soldiers had already searched all of them without finding the assassin. He also excluded ordinary residences—this was Xijin Prefecture, under the control of southern officials and especially Yelü Qin. The assassin would never dare meet with others, as doing so would expose his whereabouts.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Soon, Lu Shen identified dozens of abandoned houses needing inspection. Meanwhile, Qiao Jiu, bearing gifts, personally visited Xiao Lü to apologize, claiming that his son had fallen ill again from a lingering cold and could not meet the Second Prince.

Xiao Lü, growing impatient, restrained his temper and said, “Qiao Jiu, it was you who insisted on leaving Xijin quickly. I went through so much trouble to arrange this meeting with the prince, and now you put me in this position!”

A shrewd man, Qiao Jiu sensed something unusual in Xiao Lü’s words. Why did Xiao Lü seem particularly eager for Tang Shen to meet the prince? Could he have already discovered Tang Shen’s identity?

Probably not. If Xiao Lü truly knew, he wouldn’t wait for Tang Shen to meet Yelü Shege; he would capture Tang Shen immediately and offer him to curry favor.

Feigning distress, Qiao Jiu wailed, “Mr. Xiao, I’m truly suffering! My household is filled with the sick, both old and young. My son genuinely cannot get out of bed. If he meets the Second Prince in this condition, he might spread the illness. How about I go with you to explain in person?”

Having no other options, Xiao Lü brought Qiao Jiu to see Yelü Shege. Upon hearing of the illness, Yelü Shege was a little surprised at first but then sneered coldly, “How convenient. His illness has saved his life. If he can’t even leave his bed, then he can’t leave the city. Naturally there’s no need for Xiao Lü to bring him.”

Dismissed and offended, Xiao Lü stormed out without another glance at Qiao Jiu, who chased after him with repeated apologies. Xiao Lü ignored him entirely. 

Once Xiao Lü departed, Qiao Jiu’s fawning expression vanished. He thought grimly, “Now it’s clear—I can’t let Xiao Lü live. Offending him like this will make it impossible for me to succeed in Xijin if he remains.”

Meanwhile, Tang Shen pretended to be bedridden, planning to wait for Lu Shen to locate the assassin before leaving. Unexpectedly, a secret letter from Su Wenyun arrived in the city. Although Xijin was under strict lockdown, the letter had managed to enter, while Tang Shen remained trapped inside. The letter contained a coded poem, which, after deciphering, caused Tang Shen’s heart to tighten: An envoy from Shengjing has arrived!

Someone from Shengjing had come!

Tang Shen couldn’t gauge the severity of the situation but dared not take it lightly. The mission to gather intelligence in Liao was a closely guarded secret, known to few. Even Wang Zhen had deduced it without being explicitly informed. There was no telling whether the envoy from Shengjing might jeopardize the mission.

Gripping the letter tightly, Tang Shen spent the afternoon in deep contemplation. As night fell, he burned the letter and summoned Qiao Jiu. “By tomorrow at the latest, I must leave the city. Do you have a plan?”

Qiao Jiu asked cautiously, “Daren must leave?”

“Yes, I have to.”

After a moment’s thought, Qiao Jiu nodded. “I do. Please leave it to me.”

At dawn the next day, a scrawny servant pushed a slop cart toward the western gate. Upon reaching the gate, he was stopped by guards. The servant, putting on a pitiful expression, pleaded, “Daren, have mercy. Our tavern hasn’t been able to dispose of waste for days. If this continues, the stench will drive everyone out.”

Before the guards could respond, the foul smell assaulted their noses, causing them to gag. One guard waved his hand in disgust, “What is this stench? Don’t you know the city is under lockdown?”

“I’m just a servant from the West Sparrow Tavern, here to dispose of kitchen waste,” the servant explained, almost tearfully.

The guards hesitated. Completely sealing the city was impractical—without allowing waste disposal, the city would become unlivable in days. Holding his breath, one guard approached the cart and lifted two lids. The putrid smell intensified, making him retch. He ordered his companion to check the other two barrels, and the servant also cooperated by hurriedly lifting one lid himself.

“Enough, enough,” the other guard muttered, pinching his nose. “Go ahead.”

The young servant was overjoyed and quickly knelt to bow to the two guards, helping lift the cart and preparing to leave.

At that moment, one of the guards said, “Those two barrels still haven’t been checked.”

“What could be in them? They stink so badly, could they be hiding someone?”

Just as the guard was about to say something else, his companion, irritated, drew his sword and casually stabbed it into the remaining two large barrels. “Is this better? Ugh, it stinks even more now. The slop’s leaking out, and my sword’s covered in it! Damn it, hurry up and go, don’t delay us.”

In the past, the city guards often casually used their swords to poke through the goods they were inspecting. This time, the guard, dazed by the smell, unconsciously drew his sword and stabbed, completely forgetting this was a cart of slop. After doing so, he immediately regretted his action.

The young servant stared in shock, his eyes wide open. The guard’s swift movement had been so quick he didn’t even have time to react. However, this time, he couldn’t not leave even if he didn’t want to. The two guards directly kicked him out of the city gate to prevent the contents of the barrels from spilling onto the ground.

Once out of sight, he quickly moved to a deserted area and opened a hidden compartment in one of the barrels. Tang Shen, soaked in foul liquid, emerged, gasping for air.

“Are you all right, daren?” the servant asked anxiously.

Tang Shen, drenched and reeking, could only manage to stagger away and retch violently by the roadside.

The mechanism within the barrel had been hastily constructed and leaked badly. Tang Shen’s body and hair were covered in the foul-smelling, dirty water. The fact that he had managed to endure this far was a testament to his incredible willpower.

The servant accompanying him out of the city was a trusted subordinate of Lu Shen. He handed Tang Shen a water pouch, but Tang Shen couldn’t drink it. He vomited for a long time, only stopping when his stomach was completely empty.

The servant asked, “Daren, earlier the guard stabbed the barrel twice. Are you injured?”

Tang Shen wiped the acidic water from his mouth and raised his arm. “I’ve only been scraped a little, but the wounds aren’t deep. It’s nothing serious. The barrel I was in was half filled with foul water. When stabbing it, he probably didn’t notice anything unusual. Don’t waste time. We must hurry back to Youzhou City.”

The servant carefully examined the wound on Tang Shen’s arm, which was indeed shallow, and the blood had dried up during their time leaving the city.

They were in a hurry, so they didn’t pay much attention to their surroundings. Soon, they found a small town, changed clothes, bought a horse, and set off for Youzhou City.

Though it had taken Tang Shen six days to reach Xijin, the return journey, driven by urgency, took only two.

By the time they neared Youzhou, Tang Shen was pale and feverish. He clutched his arm and coughed weakly. “I was careless. The wound must have become infected.”

Alarmed, the soldier quickly dismounted to check Tang Shen’s wound. He saw that although the wound wasn’t deep, it had turned pale and was oozing pus. When he touched Tang Shen’s skin, it was scalding hot. The soldier exclaimed, “This is bad, the wound needs to be treated immediately. Daren, please bear with the pain.” With that, the soldier drew a dagger, lit a fire with a fire striker, and placed the dagger in the flames to heat it.

Once the dagger was glowing red, he said again to Tang Shen, “Daren, please bear with it.”

Tang Shen gasped for breath and gently nodded. The next moment, the red-hot dagger was pressed against his arm. Tang Shen’s face twisted in agony, the excruciating pain radiating from the wound and spreading throughout his body. His muscles spasmed uncontrollably around the injury, as if his whole body was reacting to the pain.

He eventually succumbed to unconsciousness.

When he woke up again, they were almost at the gates of Youzhou City. The soldier didn’t think much of it and was about to directly enter the city. “Your wound must be treated quickly, we need to get you to a doctor. I only did a simple treatment, it’s not enough.”

At this moment, Tang Shen was burning with fever, his body scalding hot. He grabbed the soldier’s arm and shakily pulled out a token from his sleeve. “We cannot enter the city like this. Go to the Youzhou military camp and find General Li. Tell him about this, and deliver a message for me… The favor owed in Shengjing, the general can repay it.”

The vast grasslands were bathed in the glow of a low-hanging moon, the stars scattered like scattered children.

A small soldier holding the Western Expedition General’s token from Li Jingde galloped under the night sky toward the Youzhou military camp. The sky was about to brighten when the soldier still had not returned. But by dawn, two horse-drawn carriages slowly made their way into Youzhou City.

After the two carriages entered the city, one went to the Youzhou government office, and the other went to the Silver Pull Division.

The carriage that went to the government office only stayed for an hour before heading to the Silver Pull Division.

By the time the sky brightened, Yu Chaosheng, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, got out of the carriage. He looked up and saw the three-character plaque of “Silver Pull Division” hanging above the gate. Inside the building, a crowd of officials had already gathered and started working.

An official came out to greet Yu Chaosheng and led him through two courtyards to the back of the Silver Pull Division.

Outside the door, Yu Chaosheng said, “Lower official, Yu Chaosheng, here to pay respects to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.”

The door creaked open, and Wang Zhen, dressed in a crispy pressed dark red official robe, smiled and said, “Yu daren just went to the Youzhou government office, and now you’re here at the Silver Pull Division?”

Yu Chaosheng replied, “I was ordered to oversee the Silver Pull Division’s affairs, so I must not delay.”

Wang Zhen smiled leisurely and said, “Then come in.”

After a brief exchange, Yu Chaosheng asked, “The officials of the Silver Pull Division are all diligent. Before I entered, they had already started working. However, I did not see Tang daren. He came to Youzhou a month ago to oversee the Silver Pull Division affairs. I need to discuss things with him, but why is he not here? Do you know where he is?”

Wang Zhen did not immediately respond. He smiled lightly and began preparing tea.

Although Yu Chaosheng wasn’t from an aristocratic family, his family was still well-known and affluent in the local area. Seeing Wang Zhen start making tea, Yu Chaosheng had no choice but to stay silent and observe Wang Zhen’s method, appreciating his skill. He was puzzled and wondered if Wang Zhen had sent Tang Shen on an errand, which was why he was unwilling to tell him his whereabouts.

However, Wang Zhen’s demeanor was calm and elegant, like the moonlight reflected on water.

Even though Yu Chaosheng was puzzled, he couldn’t help but admit that watching Wang Zhen’s tea-making technique was truly pleasing.

By now, the two had idled a good part of an hour in the room. Yu Chaosheng had finished his tea and was about to ask again when an official came into the room and saluted, saying, “This morning, General Li and Tang daren went hunting outside the city. They have not returned yet. I have already gone to inform them.”

Wang Zhen’s gaze shifted. He thought to himself, my junior brother is quite clever, he’s returned just in time and even thought to find Li Jingde for help.

Wang Zhen nodded and said, “No hurry. Yu daren, would you like another cup of tea?”

Yu Chaosheng had already drunk a belly full of tea, and though he wanted to leave, he dared not without Wang Zhen’s signal. Officially, he had been sent by the emperor to oversee the Silver Pull Division’s affairs, but everyone knew the Silver Pull Division was Wang Zifeng’s domain. In Youzhou, it was better to be humble and not offend Wang Zifeng.

Another hour passed, and then the soldier sent by Li Jingde arrived, as if he had timed it perfectly.

Yu Chaosheng asked, “Have Tang daren and General Li returned?”

The soldier replied, “During the hunt, Tang daren was accidentally struck by a stray arrow and is now receiving treatment at the Youzhou military camp.”

Wang Zhen furrowed his brows, but then he thought this was a delaying tactic by Tang Shen. He pretended to be surprised and asked, “Struck by a stray arrow? How serious is the injury? Is it life-threatening?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Chaosheng glanced at Wang Zhen. He thought, Wang Zifeng doesn’t seem to be in much of a panic. Could it be that these two senior and junior brothers don’t get along and their feelings are not as good as they appear?

The soldier, following Li Jingde’s instructions, answered honestly, “Tang daren lost consciousness and hasn’t woken up. General Li has already called for two military doctors. When I left, the doctors had already applied the best hemostatic powder.”

Wang Zhen’s eyes flickered, as if he had sensed something. He subtly tightened his grip on his teacup, then asked, “He’s at the Youzhou military camp?”

The soldier and Yu Chaosheng were both surprised and looked at Wang Zhen strangely. The soldier had already said that Tang Shen was being treated at the military camp—had Wang Zhen not heard?

The soldier obediently confirmed, “Yes, Tang daren is at the military camp.”

Wang Zhen’s hand trembled slightly, and the teacup slipped from his grip, spilling tea across the table. The room fell silent. Yu Chaosheng silently observed Wang Zhen. Wang Zifeng’s calm, elegant face showed no emotion, but he remained silent, as though he had forgotten how to speak.

After a long while, Wang Zhen exhaled, then said quietly, “Yu daren, would you like to visit the military camp and see how Tang daren’s injury is?”

Since Wang Zhen wanted to visit his junior brother, Yu Chaosheng naturally agreed to go along. “Of course.”

The next moment, Wang Zhen stood up, then paused, as if realizing his movement had been too abrupt. He nodded to Yu Chaosheng, then turned to the soldier, saying, “You go ahead and tell General Li. We will be there shortly.”

Soon, Wang Zhen and Yu Chaosheng got into a carriage and headed toward the Youzhou military camp.

Yu Chaosheng secretly observed Wang Zhen, who appeared composed and had his eyes closed, resting without speaking. After a while, Yu Chaosheng withdrew his gaze, unsure whether Wang Zhen was concerned about Tang Jingze’s injury or not. If he was worried, why did he not seem particularly concerned when he first learned of the injury? But if he wasn’t worried, it didn’t seem that way either.

“Wang daren?”

Wang Zhen opened his eyes and looked at Yu Chaosheng.

Yu Chaosheng met his gaze and was suddenly shocked. He quickly lowered his gaze and said lowly, “Nothing, it seems we are almost there.”

The carriage stopped outside the Youzhou military camp. The two of them got out and walked inside. Soon, Li Jingde emerged from a tent.

Yu Chaosheng saluted and said, “This lower official greets General Li.”

Li Jingde looked at Wang Zhen, who seemed calm, and asked, “Strange, Wang Zifeng, you don’t seem worried at all about your junior brother. Why aren’t you concerned?”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Wang Zhen asked, “How is his injury?”

Li Jingde had originally intended to say, “It’s extremely serious, he’s near death,” but he stopped after the first three words. Wang Zhen’s gaze was extremely frightening. Li Jingde quickly changed his words, “It’s not good, but it’s not that bad either.”

Wang Zhen closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. When he opened his eyes again, he said, “Let’s go in.”

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Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the chill of the night seeped through the air.

As the commander of the Liao State’s palace garrison, Yelü Qin held the rank of a third-rank official. His assassination attempt in his own manor caused immediate alarm throughout Xijin Prefecture. Left Minister Xiao Zhen personally led troops to Yelü Qin’s residence to hunt down the assassin and ensure the safety of the Second Prince, Yelü Shege.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

In an instant, chaos engulfed Xijin Prefecture. The once tranquil night was shattered, with lights blazing everywhere as soldiers scoured the city.

Amid the confusion, Lu Shen seized the opportunity to slip away. Not daring to linger for fear of being discovered, he skillfully evaded the patrolling guards and returned to the small courtyard on the eastern side of the city, where Tang Shen had been waiting for him anxiously all night.

As soon as they met, Tang Shen asked, “What’s happening in the city? Does it have anything to do with Yelü Shege?”

Lu Shen, still shaken, replied, “It’s not related to Yelü Shege, but it concerns Yelü Qin. Daren, Yelü Qin was attacked—right under my nose! A masked assassin broke into his study and stole a letter. But… there’s something odd about it…”

Seeing Lu Shen’s hesitation, Tang Shen pressed, “What’s odd?”

With a confused expression, Lu Shen explained, “The moment Yelü Qin took out the letter, the assassin barged in, clearly having waited long enough to know exactly what he was after. Yelü Qin shouted for help, and the assassin couldn’t kill him in time, so he grabbed the letter and fled. But after the assassin escaped, Yelü Qin did something strange—he pulled out a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed himself!”

Tang Shen was stunned. 

Yelü Qin… stabbed himself?

The incident seemed utterly surreal.

Even Lu Shen found it hard to believe. For someone like Yelü Qin, who was a cultured civil official, to cold-bloodedly stab himself and even break his own shoulder bone—it was beyond comprehension.

Tang Shen pondered the situation carefully, quickly running through several possibilities in his mind. But no matter how much he analyzed it, the reasoning seemed incomplete. He asked, “Tell me everything Yelü Qin and Yelü Shege did and said after the banquet at Xiao Manor.”

Lu Shen recounted every detail.

After listening intently, Tang Shen mulled it over before suddenly lifting his head. “You mentioned that Yelü Shege told Yelü Qin to rest early, as they would be inspecting the military camp together tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, I remember it clearly. I wouldn’t mistake something like that,” Lu Shen confirmed.

Tang Shen took a sharp breath. “This matter likely involves Yelü Shege as well!”

Lu Shen was shocked. “Do you mean the assassin was sent by Yelü Shege?”

“I didn’t say that,” Tang Shen clarified. “We still don’t know whose side Yelü Qin is really on, nor what role Yelü Shege is playing in this. But one thing is certain—he is definitely involved.” After a pause, Tang Shen’s expression darkened. “This doesn’t bode well. We might not be able to leave the city tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, at Yelü Qin’s residence, Left Chancellor Yelü Han had arrived. By then, Yelü Qin had regained consciousness. Though not gravely injured, his age and significant blood loss had caused him to faint earlier. By his bedside stood Yelü Shege, now dressed in full attire, his face solemn.

Yelü Qin attempted to rise and pay his respects, but Yelü Shege stopped him with a gentle push. “There’s no need for formalities. You’re injured—rest.”

Yelü Han addressed both men, “Your Highness, Commander, this matter is grave. I’ve already ordered the city to be sealed off to prevent the assassin from escaping. This brazen villain dared to infiltrate the Palace Commander’s residence and commit such a crime. Rest assured, Your Highness, I will apprehend the culprit. Commander, did you catch a glimpse of the assassin’s face?”

Yelü Qin, still weak, replied, “He was masked. I couldn’t see his face clearly. However, he appeared to be young, strong, and skilled in martial arts.”

This information was vague and unhelpful.

Yelü Han turned to Yelü Shege, “Your Highness, please rest assured, this official will capture the assassin.” 

Yelü Shege radiated a chilling anger. With a furrowed brow, he said, “To dare break into the Commander’s residence and commit such audacity! Today, they attacked one of our highest officials—tomorrow, it could be me! Seal off the city, hunt down the assassin, and ensure he is captured with evidence in hand.”

Yelü Han’s expression changed subtly upon hearing the phrase “evidence in hand.”

Did this mean the assassin had stolen something?

He cast a thoughtful glance at Yelü Shege, saluted with a fist over his chest, and declared, “I shall not fail!”

Xijin was now a cauldron of turmoil, with tensions reaching a boiling point.

Meanwhile, in a deserted courtyard on the city’s western edge, the masked assassin stumbled inside, panting heavily. He hastily pulled out the stolen letter from his sleeve and unfolded it. Upon reading its contents, his eyes widened in shock. “Such a major matter—I must report this to daren immediately!”

However, he soon realized that the entire city was under lockdown. Not even a fly could leave unnoticed. Panic set in as he pondered how to deliver the message without getting caught.

Back at Yelü Qin’s residence, after drinking his medicine, Yelü Qin dismissed the servants.

Once the door creaked shut and they were alone, Yelü Qin made a move to rise, but Yelü Shege unfolded his fan with a snap, looking every bit the elegant nobleman. He smiled gently, though there was an eerie chill behind his expression. Using the fan, he pressed Yelü Qin back onto the bed, preventing him from getting up.

“Is the wound serious?” Yelü Shege asked, his voice calm.

Yelü Qin replied honestly, “It’s not too bad. I stabbed myself, so I avoided any critical areas.”

Yelü Shege’s eyes flashed with surprise. “The assassin didn’t manage to injure you?”

Anyone else might have found Yelü Shege’s words chilling.

He had known about the assassination attempt but still sent Yelü Qin as bait. Now, he was even complaining that the assassin hadn’t done his job properly. Yet Yelü Qin, far from being angered, admired Yelü Shege’s cold calculation and unyielding cunning.

“The fake intelligence report has been ‘delivered’ to the assassin,” Yelü Qin said. “If he manages to escape the city, it’ll serve as bait to mislead them. If he’s captured, the report becomes useless.”

Yelü Shege, who had personally crafted the fake report, smirked coldly. His handwriting was well-known throughout the Liao State, ensuring the false document’s authenticity would not be questioned.

“Then I truly hope,” Yelü Shege said, “that the assassin both delivers the letter and gets caught—it’ll serve as perfect evidence.”

The assassin likely never imagined that the letter he had worked so hard to steal was actually a fake!

Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin were setting a trap for him. They were so cunning that they had even written a false confidential letter to mislead their enemies, all while keeping a backup plan for themselves. However, they never expected that this letter would even leave Xijing Prefecture. What they truly wanted was to capture the assassin and point their swords at the person behind him. As for the fake letter, they would leave it to fate.

The next morning, Tang Shen changed into his clothes and, filled with hope, took a carriage intending to leave the city. Before reaching the city gates, however, the carriage was stopped by the guards.

“Who is in the carriage?”

Lu Shen, disguised as the coachman, jumped down and said, “Daren, we are merchants here to do business in Xijing Prefecture. Something happened at home, and we are in a hurry to return.” As he spoke, he slipped money into the guard’s hand.

The guard heard Lu Shen speaking in the language of the Liao State and immediately replied, “A Song person?”

Tang Shen’s heart sank inside the carriage.

Lu Shen quickly smiled and said, “Yes, yes, I’m from the Song Dynasty.”

The guard casually accepted the money but then kicked Lu Shen back and disdainfully said, “Go, go, go, don’t you know the city is sealed? Liao people can’t leave, and you, a Song person, think you can? You’d better go back now, and I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything.”

Lu Shen: “You…!”

Tang Shen lifted the curtain of the carriage and said, “What the officer says is correct, old Lu, let’s go.”

They had no choice but to turn back.

Back at the small courtyard, Tang Shen called for Qiao Jiu and said gravely, “I must return to Youzhou. Ten days ago, Su Wenyun sent a letter from Youzhou saying that someone had noticed my movements, and he can no longer cover for me. The city of Youzhou may not be united, and there may be spies from Liao State among them. I can’t stay any longer; I must return to Youzhou.”

Qiao Jiu thought carefully for a moment and said, “I have a good relationship with Xiao Lü. Daren, should I go ask him for help?”

Tang Shen replied, “That’s not a bad idea.”

Immediately, Qiao Jiu went to find Xiao Lü, claiming that his mother was gravely ill and that he wanted to send his son back to the Song Dynasty to care for her.

Xiao Lü’ had been so busy flattering Yelü Shege recently that he had completely forgotten about Qiao Jiu and his son, Qiao Jing. Upon hearing the request, he suddenly remembered Tang Shen, with his refined and scholarly demeanor.

Xiao Zhen had told Xiao Lü to stop thinking about sending “gifts” to Yelü Shege, but Xiao Lü had failed to win Yelü Shege’s favor in the past days. Now, feeling desperate, when Qiao Jiu came to him, he remembered this idea.

It was no secret among the high-ranking officials of the Liao State that Yelü Shege favored men, especially handsome, cultured Song scholars. Xiao Lü had heard this from Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister. Ordinary beautiful boys couldn’t please Yelü Shege; only men with grace and elegance could catch his eye.

Xiao Lü recalled Tang Shen’s appearance and demeanor, thinking that he would definitely attract Yelü Shege’s favor.

Xiao Lü’s eyes lit up, and he said, “Brother Qiao, don’t worry, I won’t forget about your matter. However, Xijing Prefecture is currently sealed, so it’s difficult. Here’s the plan: you go back and wait while I think of something.”

Qiao Jiu was unaware of Yelü Shege’s preference for male lovers, and he also didn’t know that Xiao Lü had set his sights on Tang Shen. He gave Xiao Lü a gift and returned to the small courtyard with hopes for a solution. Once he left, Xiao Lü went to Yelü Qin’s residence and visited Yelü Shege.

Yelü Shege didn’t immediately remember who Xiao Lü was, but it was his servant who reminded him. Then, Yelü Shege recognized him.

A smile of interest appeared on Yelü Shege’s face. “Why has this Xiao Lü come to see me?”

He called Xiao Lü in, who first showered him with flattering words, then explained the reason for his visit: “I have a friend, a Song merchant from Jiangnan, whose mother suddenly fell seriously ill. He wants to send his son back to the Song Dynasty to care for her. Your Highness, I have no choice but to come and ask for your help. I can guarantee, with my name, that this merchant and his son are trustworthy. I’ve met his son before—he is a cultured and refined scholar. Now that he wants to leave the city, I came to see you…”

Upon hearing this, Yelü Shege narrowed his dark eyes and fixed them coldly on Xiao Lü. After a long while, Yelü Shege smiled and opened his folding fan. “A scholar from the Song Dynasty? Mr. Xiao, has other motives it seems. But it doesn’t matter; this is a small matter for me. Bring him before me. It’s just leaving the city; a hand-written order will do.”

Xiao Lü was overjoyed and quickly agreed, not sensing the murderous intent in Yelü Shege’s words.

That very night, Xiao Lü sent someone to the small courtyard to inform Qiao Jiu that the next day, he would take Tang Shen to meet the Second Prince. He had asked the Second Prince to help Tang Shen leave the city.

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiu immediately realized something was wrong.

When Tang Shen found out, his face darkened. He didn’t think of the possibility of being presented as a gift. Instead, he thought, “Yelü Shege lives at Yelü Qin’s residence and stays with Yelü Qin. I cannot go tomorrow.” After thinking for a long time, Tang Shen coldly smiled and called for Lu Shen. “There are two ways to leave the city. First, we sneak out; second, Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin want to catch the assassin, right? Then we’ll help them capture him.”

Lu Shen replied, “I personally saw the assassin head west, and even Yelü Qin doesn’t know about it.”

Tang Shen nodded. “I’ll leave this matter to you.” Then, he turned to Qiao Jiu and said, “We’ve put in so much effort to establish a foothold in Xijin Prefecture and gain an advantage, so we can’t abandon it now. This time, it was my oversight; I was seen by Xiao Lü. He is the only one in the entire Xijin Prefecture who knows what I look like. Once Lu Shen captures the assassin, Qiao Jiu, this is your chance. What you need to do is find a way to tie this incident to you and make sure you catch Yelü Qin’s attention. Apart from that…”

His voice trailed off as Tang Shen lifted his gaze to the moon in the sky.

Suddenly, he felt a pang of longing for Wang Zhen.

If Wang Zhen were here, how would he feel hearing what Tang Shen was about to say? What would he think of him?

The next moment, Tang Shen spoke calmly, “Kill Xiao Lü.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

AN: To be honest, Xiao Tang Lang is now truly an official.

By the way, the reason why the Liao State’s storyline has been progressing slowly—has anyone noticed?—is that the pace is slow because this time, Xiao Tang Lang is the mastermind and the planner. In the previous schemes, he was always a bystander; even when he participated, he wasn’t the one making the moves. This time, he’s the one making the plans, so there are a lot of details that didn’t need to be written before (after all, those making the moves weren’t our protagonist), but now we have to include them.

But don’t worry, this chapter is almost over, and soon Su Wenyun will take over.

What will Su daren do? Guess! Of course, old Su isn’t the protagonist, so we won’t be writing so much in detail about him.

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Xiao Lü’s manor was located in the southern part of Xijin Prefecture. By the time Qiao Jiu’s carriage arrived, the entrance of the Xiao Manor was bustling with traffic, and the place was already packed with guests. Nearly all of Xijin Prefecture’s high-ranking officials and nobles were in attendance. Compared to them, Qiao Jiu, an unknown tea merchant from Song, was insignificant. Even Xiao Lü had to bow and scrape before these powerful officials, offering constant smiles and pleasantries.

Xiao Lü stood at the main entrance, personally welcoming each guest.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Qiao Jiu walked up, carrying a gift. Seeing that he had come alone, Xiao Lü instinctively glanced behind him, noticing only a servant following Qiao Jiu.

Xiao Lü’s eyes flickered briefly, but he maintained his composure. He asked, “Brother Qiao, why didn’t you bring your son along? The last time you visited my residence, I noticed you were still recovering, so I made sure to send you an extra invitation this time.”

Qiao Jiu replied, “Mr. Xiao, you may not know this, but my son isn’t feeling well. Otherwise, how could I not bring him to witness such a grand occasion?”

Xiao Lü said no more and instructed his servants to escort Qiao Jiu inside.

Qiao Jiu behaved like a country bumpkin overwhelmed by the grandeur of the event. He didn’t dare offend any of the high-ranking Liao officials present and quietly retreated to a corner. Although he wanted to engage in conversation with some officials, he lacked the courage, appearing uneasy and out of place.

By the time the moon was high in the sky, most of the seats in the banquet hall were occupied, except for the two main seats at the head of the hall, which remained empty.

Xiao Lü’s powerful backer, Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister of State Affairs in Xijin Prefecture, had also arrived but remained at the entrance with Xiao Lü, anxiously waiting. The guests continued to chat and flatter each other, frequently casting expectant glances toward the entrance, as if anticipating someone’s arrival.

After another hour, a carriage approached from the street corner. Upon seeing the carriage, both Xiao Zhen and Xiao Lü lit up with joy. They didn’t wait for the carriage to reach the gate but eagerly rushed forward to greet it.

In Liao, there was a crude custom of serving as a human stepping stool.

Xiao Zhen respectfully lifted the curtain of the carriage himself, while Xiao Lü immediately knelt on the ground without a word, placing his arms on the ground and raising his hips high, presenting himself as a human stepping stool.

Xiao Zhen loudly announced, “Welcome, Your Highness, the Second Prince!”

Hearing the title “Second Prince,” all the previously indifferent officials inside the Xiao Manor instantly left their seats and gathered at the entrance. Qiao Jiu, shocked by what he had heard, followed the crowd outside. He watched as the curtain was lifted, revealing a stern-faced middle-aged man who stepped out first. However, he did not step on Xiao Lü; instead, he used a wooden step to alight from the carriage.

Behind him, a young man in luxurious robes emerged. With a delicate and handsome face, his narrow eyes gleamed coldly, and there was a hint of ruthless determination in his gaze. Holding a folding fan commonly used by scholars from Song, he struck an elegant and refined pose. Yet Qiao Jiu, seasoned by years of experience in jianghu, immediately recognized that this youth’s outward grace was merely a façade.

The young man stepped directly onto Xiao Lü’s back and descended from the carriage.

Outside the Xiao Manor, the officials of Xijin Prefecture collectively bowed to Yelü Shege.

Yelü Shege smiled faintly and said, “I encountered some matters on the way, hence my delay. I hope the esteemed officials will not take offense.”

For a brief moment, Qiao Jiu felt as though he were looking at a Song Dynasty scholar. However, he quickly snapped back to reality. Yelü Shege might wear a veneer of scholarly refinement, but it was merely a disguise to fool the Liao people; he was nothing like a true Song official.

Yelü Shege led the way into the manor, and the rest of the officials followed closely behind him.

Once everyone had entered, Xiao Lü, who had been lying on the ground, finally got up and hurried after them.

Although Xiao Lü was ostensibly the host of the banquet, held at his own residence, he was more like a servant serving dishes. Throughout the event, the only voices heard were those praising Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin. Even Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister of State Affairs, occasionally chimed in with compliments.

Yelü Shege proved to be a prince of unusual demeanor, showing no airs despite his royal status.

Qiao Jiu didn’t know if other princes of Liao behaved similarly, but during this banquet, Yelü Shege listened attentively to anyone who spoke, even Xiao Lü, a mere merchant. By the end, the Liao officials were all looking at Yelü Shege with admiration and respect. Even Qiao Jiu had to admit that Yelü Shege was the most affable and approachable Liao noble he had ever encountered.

Whether his behavior was genuine or an act, Yelü Shege was undoubtedly an oddball in the Liao court.

As the banquet concluded, Qiao Jiu had intended to chat with Xiao Lü and perhaps secure an introduction to Yelü Shege. Failing that, an introduction to Yelü Qin, who had accompanied Yelü Shege, would have sufficed. However, Xiao Lü was too preoccupied to entertain him, leaving Qiao Jiu with no choice but to depart in disappointment.

Upon returning to the residence, he immediately reported the matter to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen was taken aback. “Yelü Shege, the second prince of Liao? Why would he come to Xijin Prefecture?”

Tang Shen initially thought the important figure mentioned by Xiao Lü was Yelü Qin. He never imagined it would actually be Yelü Shege!

Among the four sons of the Liao Emperor, the eldest prince, Yelü Zhan, held the title of firstborn. The third prince, Yelü Han, had noble lineage, and the youngest prince, Yelü Longzhen, was deeply cherished as the Liao Emperor’s late-born son. However, the emperor placed his greatest trust in the second prince, Yelü Shege.

The two most likely candidates for the throne were Yelü Han and Yelü Shege. Yet why would Yelü Shege, accompanied by Yelü Qin, travel such a great distance from Shangjing to Xijin Prefecture?

Tang Shen frowned in deep thought and called for Lu Shen without delay. He got straight to the point: “If I task you with monitoring Yelü Qin and Yelü Shege’s movements without being discovered, can you manage it?”

Having been investigating the Liao royal court’s affairs recently, Lu Shen immediately understood who the two figures were. He pondered for a moment before replying, “Although I wasn’t aware Yelü Shege had also arrived in Xijin Prefecture, I’ve been keeping track of Yelü Qin. He hasn’t brought many guards and is traveling light. His security detail isn’t formidable, or I wouldn’t have been able to track him so easily. While the prince may have hidden bodyguards, Yelü Qin himself doesn’t. If I focus on following him with caution, there should be no issue.”

Tang Shen instructed, “Since both Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin are currently at Xiao Lü’s manor, wait until they leave and then follow Yelü Qin.”

“Yes, daren!”

The unexpected appearance of Yelü Qin forced Tang Shen to increase his vigilance. He had already packed his belongings, planning to leave for Youzhou the following morning.

Meanwhile, at Xiao Lü’s manor, after the other officials departed, Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin remained.

Knowing that Yelü Shege admired Han culture and was well-versed in calligraphy and painting, Xiao Lü had specially acquired a collection of renowned artworks for the prince’s enjoyment. Seeing so many masterpieces, Yelü Shege appeared slightly surprised. He glanced at Xiao Lü with a faint smile and said, “Mr. Xiao, you seem to have quite the collection.”

Xiao Lü dared not accept such praise and quickly responded, “I heard that Your Highness appreciates calligraphy and paintings, so I gathered these works especially for you. Please feel free to take any you like.”

“A gentleman doesn’t covet another’s treasure. How could I take what you cherish?”

“These pieces are beyond my appreciation. They can only find their true worth in Your Highness’s possession.”

Yelü Shege didn’t argue further and quietly began to admire the artworks, tacitly allowing Xiao Lü to accompany him. Overjoyed but restrained, Xiao Lü followed closely, not daring to disturb him.

In the adjacent room, Yelü Qin wore a cold expression while speaking with Xiao Zhen, one of Xijin Prefecture’s highest-ranking officials. Despite his usual authority, Xiao Zhen acted meekly, fearful of offending Yelü Qin with a single wrong word.

After discussing recent events in Xijin Prefecture, Yelü Qin glanced at the time and rose to leave. Just then, Xiao Zhen hesitated, as if recalling something. He finally gathered his courage and said, “Daren, did you notice the Song merchant at tonight’s banquet?”

Yelü Qin thought for a moment before responding, “The one seated at the far end?”

“Yes, that’s him.” Xiao Zhen gave Yelü Qin a knowing look and continued, “That Song merchant deals in tea and conducts significant business. He’s seeking collaboration with this lower official. Besides that… he has a son, handsome and refined, with the delicate scholarly demeanor typical of Song intellectuals. This lower official was thinking…”

“Crash!”

A teacup shattered on the floor, barely missing Xiao Zhen’s head. Startled, he stood frozen, too frightened to breathe.

Yelü Qin sneered, “Do you think you have the right to involve yourself in matters concerning His Highness? The prince despises sycophants and those who offer flattery and gifts. Haven’t you heard what happened to the last Song man someone tried to present to him? He was cut in half by the prince’s sword on the spot, and blood flowed everywhere!”

Trembling, Xiao Zhen stammered, “I-I wouldn’t dare… I wouldn’t dare…”

“You’d better not. Don’t bring it up again!” Yelü Qin warned sternly before striding away.

“Yes.”

Xiao Zhen and Xiao Lü escorted Yelü Shege and Yelü Qin to the gates. Before leaving, Yelü Shege selected a few paintings and complimented Xiao Lü, “Tonight’s banquet was splendid. Thank you for your effort.” His tone was gentle and his attitude amiable.

Xiao Lü, overwhelmed with gratitude, bowed deeply. “I am honored to serve Your Highness in any way.”

Yelü Shege smiled faintly, said nothing further, and departed in his carriage.

Once they were out of sight, Xiao Zhen furiously slapped Xiao Lü across the face. “You fool! How dare you suggest giving ‘gifts’ to the prince! Do you think someone of His Highness’s status lacks anything? One more misstep like that, and I won’t spare you!”

Though seething with resentment after being struck, Xiao Lü was primarily filled with exhilaration. Tonight’s events marked the beginning of his rise to prominence.

In the darkness, a shadowy figure flitted after Yelü Shege’s carriage, unnoticed by all.

Inside the carriage, Yelü Shege rested with his eyes closed, while Yelü Qin remained silent. He hadn’t mentioned Xiao Zhen’s inappropriate suggestion to avoid provoking Yelü Shege’s ire.

Upon arriving at Yelü Qin’s residence, the two disembarked. Yelü Qin personally escorted Yelü Shege to his room. As he was leaving, Yelü Shege called after him with a smile. “Yelü Qin, be sure to rest early tonight. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to inspect the Xijin Prefecture military camp.”

Yelü Qin gave him a long look before bowing deeply. “Understood, Your Highness.”

Meanwhile, Lu Shen followed Yelü Qin to his study.

Instead of retiring for the night, Yelü Qin opened a secret compartment and carefully stashed away a letter. Just as he was about to extinguish the lamp, a figure smashed through the window, blade gleaming, and charged at him with a furious shout.

“Assassin! There’s an assassin!”

Caught off guard, Yelü Qin narrowly dodged the attack. Guards rushed toward the commotion as the assassin smashed open the secret compartment, grabbed the letter, and fled. The study descended into chaos as Lu Shen watched in stunned silence from outside. He was just wondering whether to leave as well, lest he be captured and ruin Tang Shen’s plans.

But moments later, Yelü Qin clenched his jaw and, to Lu Shen’s astonishment, stabbed himself in the shoulder with a dagger. Blood gushed from the wound.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Guards burst into the room, followed shortly by Yelü Shege, who arrived in only an inner robe with a cloak thrown over it.

“Yelü Qin!” Yelü Shege exclaimed in shock.

Clutching his bleeding shoulder, Yelü Qin gasped, “Your Highness… an… assassin…” Before he could finish, he collapsed, unconscious.

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Unlike the Song Dynasty, the Liao State was a nomadic nation organized around a tribal system. The Liao State was composed of numerous tribes, with many Liao people being pastoral nomads who rarely lived in the capitals. Over a century ago, the founding emperor of Liao established the Liao State, set up five capitals, and adopted Confucian culture from the Han people, emphasizing the values of “Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Kin, and Teacher.” However, the wild nature ingrained in the Liao people proved difficult to change, resulting in a somewhat hybrid system that still yielded some success.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

The Liao court was divided into two factions: Northern officials and Southern officials.

Northern officials were primarily noblemen from large tribes, holding rigidly hierarchical positions. In contrast, Southern officials were often from smaller tribes, including many Han people, responsible for dealings with the Song Dynasty. They had little in common with Northern officials, leading to constant friction.

Tang Shen instructed Lu Shen to investigate the Southern officials. In just half a month, Lu Shen completed the task and reported his findings. As expected, the tension between Northern and Southern officials was a fundamental and unavoidable conflict within the Liao court. Additionally, even among the Northern officials, unity was far from absolute.

Lu Shen explained, “Daren, you should know that most Northern officials come from large, prominent tribes with high status. Sometimes even the Liao Emperor must defer to them. However, some ancient tribes disdain becoming officials, creating considerable friction with the Northern officials.”

Tang Shen was surprised. “Is that so?”

Lu Shen nodded. “Indeed. These tribes are powerful but tend to be conservative and avoid outside contact. Moreover, the two largest tribes in Liao are tied to the royal family—one being the Liao Emperor’s clan and the other the Liao Empress’s. Even if other tribes harbor grievances, they dare not voice them openly.”

He continued, “And like daren said, many Southern officials have aligned themselves with different princes. The Liao Emperor has four sons. The third prince, born to a noble consort from a large tribe, is mainly supported by Northern officials. The mothers of the other three princes come from less prominent backgrounds. Since Empress Xiao has no children, the struggle among the princes for the throne has intensified in recent years. Most Southern officials support the second prince, Yelü Shege.”

“Yelü Shege?”

“Yes. It is said that the second prince, Yelü Shege, is the most intelligent among the princes. Although his mother was merely a princess from a minor tribe, he enjoys great favor from the Liao Emperor. The Liao people greatly admire the culture of our Song Dynasty and study Confucian classics, though truth be told, most of them, like myself, understand little of it and can barely read. However, this second prince is different—he is highly talented. It’s said he has thoroughly studied the Four Books and Five Classics, excels in poetry and literature, and is equally skilled in archery and hunting. Because of this, he is deeply favored by the Liao Emperor.”

Tang Shen pondered for a moment and said, “Last year, when the Liao envoy visited Shengjing, I gathered some information and heard about the second prince. Despite his remarkable talents, Minister Meng from the Ministry of Rites did not have a favorable impression of him.”

“You are correct, daren. Yelü Shege is known to be ruthless. But then again, which of the Liao princes isn’t? They are raised in a nomadic culture where strength is revered. If they behaved like our Song gentlemen, they would only invite disdain.”

Lu Shen shifted back to the main topic. “Many Southern officials support Yelü Shege, including the Left Chancellor of Xijing (modern-day Beijing), who is part of the second prince’s faction.” He then detailed all the information he had gathered.

After Lu Shen left, Tang Shen deliberated for a long time. There was no doubt that they had already aligned themselves with Xiao Lü. And if there were no surprises, Xiao Lü was likely backed by one of the Southern officials.

Though Southern officials had less influence than Northern ones in the Liao court, this very fact made them more likely to cooperate with the Han. If they wanted to gather intelligence on Liao and place agents within its court, the best approach would be to win over someone from within.

Gently tapping his fingers on the table, Tang Shen closed his eyes in deep thought.

So… who should they target for defection, and how should they go about it?

Two days passed quickly. Xiao Lü sent an invitation for a banquet to Qiao Jiu, urging him to attend. Now residing in Xiao Lü’s residence in the eastern part of the city—a quiet, secluded place ideal for recovery—Qiao Jiu visited Tang Shen before leaving, seeking his advice on whether to bring him along.

In the past, Tang Shen might have attended in the guise of Qiao Jiu’s son. This time, however, he hesitated briefly before saying, “I won’t go. Qiao Jiu, pay close attention to the identities of everyone at the banquet, but don’t overstep your role. Remember, you are just a wealthy tea merchant from the Song Dynasty.”

Qiao Jiu responded quickly, “Understood, daren.”

That night, a strong wind swept through Xijing, carrying yellow sand that lashed against the poplar trees with a harsh rustling sound. Donning a felt hat popular in Liao and dressed in traditional Liao attire, Qiao Jiu brought several packets of top-grade Biluochun tea and braved the sandstorm to attend the banquet.

Upon arriving at Xiao Manor, Qiao Jiu did not see Xiao Lü immediately. A servant led him to the banquet hall, which had already been prepared with tables and chairs. Because of his low status, Qiao Jiu was seated at the farthest end of the right side. Feigning gratitude and excitement, he sat down, his expression full of awe and trepidation. He craned his neck briefly before quickly withdrawing, as though curious about the banquet but too nervous to look around.

Though no one paid him any attention, Qiao Jiu continued his act flawlessly to avoid any mistakes.

After about half an hour, Xiao Lü finally arrived, following closely behind a corpulent Liao official, whom he escorted to the head seat with a respectful smile. Once the official allowed the banquet to begin, Xiao Lü ordered, “Serve the food.” Plates of roasted lamb and beef were soon brought in.

From start to finish, Qiao Jiu had no opportunity to speak with Xiao Lü and awkwardly ate alone at the far end of the hall.

Two hours later, the banquet concluded. After seeing off the Liao official, Xiao Lü approached Qiao Jiu with an apologetic expression. “Brother Qiao, I was so busy earlier that I couldn’t attend to you. Please don’t hold it against me.” Saying this, he prepared to bow in apology, imitating the customs of the Song people.

Qiao Jiu quickly stopped him, raising both hands. “How could you say such a thing, Mr. Xiao? Just being invited to this banquet and meeting such important figures is a great honor for me! Truly, I have gained much insight tonight. To be honest, since coming to Xijing for business, I’ve done some research. That distinguished gentleman seated at the head earlier—was he perhaps Minister Xiao Zhen, Xiao daren?”

Xiao Lü smiled faintly, unable to conceal the pride in his expression. “Indeed, that was Xiao Zhen daren, the Left Minister of Xijing.”

Qiao Jiu widened his eyes in surprise. “It really is Xiao daren!”

Xiao Lü smiled and said, “I’m distantly related to Xiao daren, and I’ve often benefited from his care over the years.”

Qiao Jiu nodded continuously, understanding the hidden meaning behind Xiao Lü’s words. The two exchanged knowing smiles without further explanation.

Qiao Jiu hadn’t expected Xiao Lü’s powerful connection to be none other than Xiao Zhen, the Left Minister of Affairs in Xijin Prefecture!

In Xijin, the highest-ranking officials were the Left and Right Chancellors of the Prefecture. Directly beneath them were the Left and Right Ministers of State Affairs. It was no wonder that, after hearing about Qiao Jiu’s trouble with Yelü Qi and the confiscation of his tea shipment, Xiao Lü had remained calm and assured that he could resolve the issue—he had such a powerful backer!

Xiao Lü personally escorted Qiao Jiu out and handed him a box of medicine, saying it was excellent for external injuries.

As he saw Qiao Jiu off, Xiao Lü lowered his voice and confided, “Brother Qiao, I won’t hide it from you. In five days, an important figure will arrive in Xijin Prefecture. This is a major business opportunity. Thanks to Xiao daren’s connections, I managed to secure an invitation for this distinguished guest. Tea from Song has always been popular among the nobility here. When the time comes, don’t say I didn’t give you a heads-up.”

Qiao Jiu was astonished. “Mr. Xiao, you…”

Xiao Lü patted his hand and smiled. “Don’t worry, we’ll earn this profit together.”

Overjoyed, Qiao Jiu left Xiao Manor, his steps light with excitement.

However, after Qiao Jiu left, Xiao Lü’s smile gradually faded. He called for a servant. “Did Qiao Jiu come alone? No one else accompanied him?”

The servant shook his head. “He came alone.”

Xiao Lü frowned. “Alone, huh…”

His trusted accountant leaned in and whispered, “Though the distinguished guest is said to have a preference for men, he despises flattery. Originally, you planned to use Qiao Jiu’s handsome son to win favor, but since the distinguished guest has already agreed to come, it may no longer be necessary. Offending Qiao Jiu would hurt future business, and besides, if the guest doesn’t appreciate such a gesture, he may blame us.”

Xiao Lü nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. I heard that two years ago, an official tried to present the distinguished guest with a ‘gift’ and was harshly rebuked. The ‘gift’ was immediately cut in half, and the official was dismissed.”

The accountant said, “It’s better to let things take their course.”

Xiao Lü, now wary in his heart, agreed. “We can’t afford to guess at the thoughts of such a high-ranking figure.”

Meanwhile, Tang Shen was unaware that he, a dignified Hanlin scholar and a fourth-rank official of the Song dynasty, had nearly been turned into a “gift” for someone.

Even Zhao Fu wouldn’t dare “gift” a high-ranking official as a present for fear of being recorded in history and eternally disgraced. Yet here was a mere merchant of Liao daring to entertain such a thought!

Leaving that matter aside for now, after returning, Qiao Jiu relayed everything he had learned to Tang Shen.

Tang Shen was surprised. “I didn’t expect his backing to be the Left Minister of State Affairs. That’s quite a high-ranking position—powerful enough to shake the entire Xijin Prefecture. As for the distinguished guest arriving in five days…”

After some thought, Tang Shen said, “I won’t return to Youzhou just yet. With only you here in Xijin Prefecture, I’m concerned you might not handle this matter well. Once it’s over, I’ll head back.”

Qiao Jiu nodded. “I’ll follow your orders.”

Five days later, Xiao Lü sent another invitation to the residence. This time, he unexpectedly sent two invitations.

Qiao Jiu, puzzled, asked the servant delivering the invitation, “Why did Mr. Xiao send two invitations this time?”

The servant replied, “Mr. Xiao said that since you were recently injured and might be inconvenienced, you could bring someone to accompany you to the banquet.”

Qiao Jiu and the servant conversed in the Liao language, which Tang Shen didn’t understand. Once the servant left, Tang Shen inquired about it. Upon learning the reason, he frowned. “The second invitation is meant for me.”

Qiao Jiu was perplexed. “Mr. Xiao didn’t provide two invitations last time. Why now? Daren, will you accompany me to the banquet?”

It was an excellent opportunity, and Tang Shen hesitated.

After much consideration, he summoned Lu Shen in the afternoon. “Go find out who Xiao Lü is hosting tonight.”

Near dusk, Lu Shen hurried back and reported, “Daren, I couldn’t determine who Xiao Lü is hosting, but I did learn one thing: this morning, the commander of the palace garrison, Yelü Qin, arrived in Xijin Prefecture!”

Tang Shen was stunned. “Who?”

“Yelü Qin, the commander of the Liao palace garrison.”

Tang Shen suddenly chuckled and sighed. “What a small world!”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Half a year ago, Tang Shen had served as an envoy for Song and received a delegation from Liao. The highest-ranking official in that delegation was none other than Yelü Qin. Tang Shen hadn’t expected to encounter him again here in Xijin Prefecture.

“It looks like attending the banquet is out of the question.”

Tang Shen called for Qiao Jiu. “I’ll head back to Youzhou tomorrow. Be extremely cautious tonight. Yelü Qin is not like other Liao officials—he’s cunning and treacherous. You must stay on guard.”

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According to Tang Shen’s calculations, the letter he sent should have reached Wang Zhen just as he arrived in Xijin Prefecture.

While the letter could have reached its destination in four days with expedited delivery, Tang Shen deliberately chose a six-day delivery. This way, even if Wang Zhen read the letter, became furious, or decided to write a scolding reply, Tang Shen would be far enough away—beyond reach in Xijin Prefecture—and wouldn’t receive it.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

That’s right, Tang Shen wrote it intentionally in that manner.

He thought to himself, Why should Wang Zifeng be allowed to write “A mother worries for her child traveling afar,” while I cannot say, “I revere my senior brother as a father”?

Tang Shen pondered: Would Wang Zifeng be angry?

After careful consideration, he decided Wang Zhen likely wouldn’t be angry.

With his senior brother’s level of composure, even if there was any anger, it wouldn’t be shown outwardly but would be stored deep within. Perhaps Wang Zhen would bring it up when Tang Shen returned to Shengjing. However, that was a problem for the future, and Tang Shen didn’t dwell on it. Just the thought of teasing his senior brother gave him a sense of satisfaction.

Upon arriving in Xijin, Tang Shen refrained from openly handling business and delegated most tasks to Qiao Jiu.

Qiao Jiu, despite being one of Wang Zhen’s subordinates, had only met Wang Zhen a handful of times. Yet Wang Zhen’s decision to entrust Qiao Jiu with responsibilities spoke to his remarkable abilities. In just three days, Qiao Jiu had managed to establish connections with several Liao merchants interested in purchasing tea, making initial inroads into the commercial circles of Xijin Prefecture.

In Liao, ordinary civilians lacked family names; only nobles could grant them.

There were only two family names among the Liao aristocracy: Yelü and Xiao.

Late at night in the inn, Qiao Jiu spoke to Tang Shen in a hushed tone, “Daren, I’ve connected with three Liao merchants: one named Xiao Lü, another Yelü Qi, and the third hasn’t been granted a surname yet. You might not know, but the Yelü clan controls royal authority throughout the Liao State, holding high ranks and power. Meanwhile, the Xiao clan produces empresses, as every Liao empress must belong to the Xiao family. Across most of Liao, the Yelü clan wields significant power, but Xijin Prefecture is an exception. Due to its proximity to Song, many Han customs have taken root here, and the Southern official’s government office has been established in this region.”

Tang Shen nodded. “I’m aware of this.”

Qiao Jiu, realizing he might have overexplained, humbly apologized. “Forgive me, daren, for my presumption. Your insight and foresight are unparalleled—such trivial matters mustn’t escape your discerning eye.”

Tang Shen glanced at Qiao Jiu.

Normally, Tang Shen was the one offering flattery to others; rarely did someone flatter him in return. Though young, Tang Shen was already a fourth-rank official—a significant rank even in Shengjing. However, working in Qinzheng Hall, where the lowest-ranking officials were also fourth-rank, and dealing daily with figures like Zhao Fu, Wang Zhen, and Su Wenyun, he often felt like an insignificant minor official in comparison.

Receiving such flattery now gave Tang Shen a sense of novelty. He appreciated Qiao Jiu’s position—a merchant unable to attain scholarly recognition, striving to serve Tang Shen and Wang Zhen for the sake of his descendants’ future prospects.

Understanding Qiao Jiu’s intent, Tang Shen said kindly, “You’ve done well. The merchants you’ve contacted have the right backgrounds.”

Qiao Jiu, noting Tang Shen’s pleased expression, sighed in relief. “Daren, your plan to disguise us as tea merchants entering Liao was truly ingenious,” he said sincerely, though not merely as flattery. “Tea and porcelain from the Song dynasty are luxuries only the Liao nobility and officials can afford. If we’d posed as porcelain merchants, the logistics of transporting such goods would’ve been too complicated. Tea, however, is the ideal cover.”

This plan wasn’t Tang Shen’s alone; in fact, it had been Su Wenyun’s idea.

But there was no need to elaborate. After some thought, Tang Shen said, “Of the three merchants, avoid overly close contact with the one who hasn’t been granted a surname yet. Our goal isn’t to sell tea but to infiltrate Liao’s inner circles. The Yelü and Xiao clans…” Tang Shen paused in contemplation, then smiled slightly. “Your mention of the Southern and Northern officials has reminded me. The internal structure of Liao is far from the united front it appears to be! Here’s what you should do…”

Song merchants came to Liao to trade. No one in this world would refuse the chance to make money, and Liao merchants were no exception. However, this didn’t mean the proud Liao merchants respected someone like Qiao Jiu.

Even with extensive gifts and flattery, it would be impossible for Qiao Jiu to win over everyone.

However, the Liao State faced significant internal challenges of its own.

Tang Shen explained, “The Liao State’s greatest issue lies between the Northern and Southern officials. You mentioned that the Xijin Prefecture is under the influence of Southern officials. Start gradually distancing yourself from that merchant surnamed Yelü, and instead, cultivate ties with those surnamed Xiao. We should conduct business with Xiao-affiliated merchants.”

Qiao Jiu hesitated. “Daren, but wouldn’t this offend the others?”

“That’s precisely the point,” Tang Shen said. “Do you truly believe you can maintain good relations with both sides and gain benefits from everyone?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Qiao Jiu quickly replied.

Tang Shen continued, “Since they’ve been granted imperial surnames, it’s evident they have powerful backers. People like them do business not just for personal gain but also for those they represent. If you align yourself with the Xiao merchants, the Yelü merchants will inevitably resent you and may even sabotage our tea business. Since we’re in Liao territory, their interference would be as easy as turning a hand.”

Qiao Jiu, a savvy businessman, caught on quickly. “But the Xiao merchants wouldn’t sit idly by, would they?”

Tang Shen smirked. “Simply showering Xiao merchants with gifts won’t guarantee genuine friendship. If they see you willing to make sacrifices for collaboration—experiencing hardships alongside them—then they’ll truly regard you as a friend.”

With a sly smile, Qiao Jiu remarked, “I understand now. Tang daren, your foresight is unmatched; I could never hope to match it!”

Tang Shen chuckled lightly but thought to himself: Your flattery pales in comparison to mine!

As Qiao Jiu was a trusted subordinate of Wang Zhen, Tang Shen felt reassured leaving matters in his hands.

Later, Tang Shen summoned Lu Shen, who had been visibly gloomy in recent days.

A straightforward military man, Lu Shen struggled to hide his emotions. Seeing his expression, Tang Shen immediately guessed his thoughts. He asked, “Lu Shen, do you feel deceived? Before we left, I promised great deeds, yet since arriving, you’ve been confined to guarding goods at the inn. You must feel I’ve misled you.”

Lu Shen responded more respectfully than before. Bowing, he said, “This subordinate wouldn’t dare. I understand that though Tang daren has remained at the inn, every action of Qiao Jiu is at your command. I know you’re not idle.”

“But you are,” Tang Shen remarked.

Lu Shen did not reply, but his silence spoke volumes.

Tang Shen reassured him, “Do not worry. Today, I have a mission for you.”

Lu Shen’s eyes brightened. “Tang daren, please instruct me, and I will not fail you!”

“This task leaves no room for failure!” Tang Shen’s tone grew stern. He briefly outlined the instructions he had given Qiao Jiu before continuing, “The Liao State’s internal divisions are not limited to the Northern and Southern officials. The Liao Emperor is over fifty years old and carries injuries from years of battle. Among his four sons, the third prince is the most influential, supported by the Northern officials. Your task is to investigate which princes these Northern and Southern officials in Xijin Prefecture are aligned with.”

Lu Shen pondered for a moment and replied, “Tang daren, I will handle this matter thoroughly. However, not all Liao officials may support the princes, as the Liao Emperor is still alive.”

Tang Shen smiled. “How far is Xijin Prefecture from Shangjing (Upper Capital)?”

“More than a thousand miles,” Lu Shen replied.

“Given the Liao Emperor’s declining health, would he send his most trusted officials so far away? Everyone has their own ambitions. Moreover…” Tang Shen paused, his voice thoughtful. “In Shengjing I’ve discovered that even the Grand Preceptor, who holds a high position among the Northern officials, secretly supports the third prince, Yelü Han. If the Grand Preceptor has his own plans, why wouldn’t other officials?”

Enlightened, Lu Shen now looked at Tang Shen with newfound admiration. Though not eloquent with words and flattery, he sincerely said, “You are right, Tang daren. This subordinate will carry out this task at once!”

After Lu Shen departed, Tang Shen sipped his tea, his thoughts drifting.

“If my senior brother were here,” he mused aloud, “he’d probably say that the Liao officials’ disloyalty stems from the Liao Emperor himself.” A heavy sigh escaped him, as he felt a rare loneliness—a scholar yearning for a kindred spirit.

At just over fifty, the Liao Emperor was younger than Zhao Fu by a decade, yet his control over his court was far weaker.

The Liao Emperor, once a fearless and triumphant general, had become an injured and paranoid ruler. Though aware of his officials’ schemes, it was far too late to rein them in. The factions among the officials had grown entrenched, and any attempts to unify them would take more than a single reign.

Sometimes, even schemes require the right audience. Discussing court politics with someone like Lu Shen felt like playing a lute to a cow—utterly pointless.

Nonetheless, Lu Shen, though not the sharpest, was reliable. This was why Zhao Fu had entrusted him to Tang Shen in the first place.

Within ten days, news arrived from Qiao Jiu. The tea they brought from Youzhou had been seized by a group of Liao officials, clearly under the influence of the merchant Yelü Qi.

Qiao Jiu lodged a complaint, claiming his innocence. However, the Liao authorities, indifferent to the plight of a Song merchant, punished him with ten lashes and threw him out of the prefecture office.

At his age, the beating left Qiao Jiu bedridden with a high fever for ten days. By the time Xiao merchants heard about the incident, Qiao Jiu was just starting to recover.

Xiao merchants came to visit him, led by Xiao Lü himself. Upon seeing Qiao Jiu, Xiao Lü exclaimed in fluent Han Chinese, “Brother Qiao, what happened to you? How did you end up in such a state? What on earth did you do to deserve this?”

With a bitter smile, Qiao Jiu replied, “I am but a humble merchant. What could I have done? Mr. Xiao, surely you can guess the reason.”

Xiao Lü sighed, no longer feigning ignorance. “To think Yelü Qi would stoop so low. This is outrageous. Don’t worry; I’ve already reported this matter to daren.”

For the first time, Qiao Jiu heard Xiao Lü mention his “daren.” Though startled, he maintained a calm demeanor and expressed gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Xiao. I’m recovering well now. However, my seized goods are still in the prefecture office…”

“Do not worry,” Xiao Lü assured him. “I will handle it.”

At that moment, Tang Shen entered the room, dressed in fine silk, carrying a bowl of thick herbal medicine. Seeing him, Xiao Lü paused in surprise.

Qiao Jiu introduced him with a smile, “This is my son, Qiao Jing. He accompanied me to the Liao State to sell goods.”

Tang Shen cupped his hands in salute and said, “Greetings, Mr. Xiao.”

Xiao Lü’s gaze lingered on Tang Shen’s face for a moment before he calmly looked away. “Brother Qiao, in a few days, I’m hosting a banquet at my residence to entertain some merchants I frequently deal with. Would you like to attend? Ah, I just remembered—perhaps your health might not allow it?”

Qiao Jiu’s face lit up with delight. “Please don’t worry, Mr. Xiao. I’ll certainly be there.”

After exchanging a few more words, Xiao Lü left the inn. Before leaving, he mentioned that he had a small residence in the eastern part of Xijin Prefecture and offered it as lodging for Qiao Jiu’s group. Qiao Jiu politely declined at first, but Xiao Lü insisted, leaving him no choice but to accept his kind offer.

Once Xiao Lü had departed, Tang Shen frowned slightly. That evening, he called for Lu Shen. “You’ve inquired about this Liao merchant Xiao Lü before. Does he have a preference for men?”

Lu Shen looked utterly baffled, unsure why Tang Shen was suddenly asking such a question. Nonetheless, he answered honestly, “No, not at all. Xiao Lü has two concubines at home. Not only does he not prefer men, but he’s also notoriously indulgent with women. He once caused a major scandal by having a fierce quarrel with his wife over taking in more concubines.”

Lu Shen stared at Tang Shen, his expression plainly asking, Why are you even asking this, daren?

Tang Shen felt at a loss for words under Lu Shen’s gaze.

Perhaps he really was overthinking things. Originally, Tang Shen had met with Xiao Lü today only to assess the man’s character and intentions. However, Xiao Lü’s gaze had lingered on him several times, making Tang Shen suspicious. Coupled with Su Wenyun’s earlier remarks about the topic of sexual preferences, perhaps he had become overly sensitive.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Tang Shen thought to himself: In any case, it’s better for me to avoid appearing in person in the future.

Later, Tang Shen summoned Qiao Jiu. “I’ve been in Xijin Prefecture for half a month now—it’s about time for me to return to Youzhou. After you attend the banquet, I’ll leave. Don’t worry; once I’m gone, Su Wenyun will arrive, and you can work with him then.”

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