Embroidered Uniform Guard: I Can Plunder Talents-Chapter 80: If He Can’t Be Used by Me, Then He Has No Reason to Live
"Are you talking about his backer?"
Ye Liuyun didn’t believe for a second that Qi Yuanliang didn’t have someone powerful backing him.
Lv Lan started to recall and ponder, her footsteps slowing down considerably.
Ye Liuyun didn’t rush her, just quietly followed alongside, waiting for Lv Lan’s answer.
"I remember now, His Majesty investigated Qi Yuanliang before."
Yan Shuzhu was unwilling to remain a puppet emperor, so he secretly investigated the various powers within the Imperial City.
The position of the Southern Governor isn’t low, so naturally he was also investigated.
"According to His Majesty’s guess, this Southern Governor is most likely one of the Old Emperor’s people."
"The Old Emperor?"
Ye Liuyun raised his brows.
Yan Shuzhu’s father—the one currently in seclusion, trying to break through to Land Immortal?
But if he is the Old Emperor’s man, and the old man is in seclusion right now, shouldn’t he be keeping a low profile and waiting for his master to break through?
Tonight’s assignment.
It’s clear that Qi Yuanliang wants the Minister of Revenue dead—the Cyan Robe Association killer is just a cover, nothing more.
It doesn’t add up.
Ye Liuyun thought of someone—a person who wields immense power in the Great Qian Dynasty, yet whom he’d never had dealings with.
"If it’s just speculation, why not guess that Qi Yuanliang is the Prime Minister’s man!"
The premier among the civil officials, the current Prime Minister, a Grandmaster.
Ye Liuyun had heard these titles many times, but never had the opportunity to interact.
"Impossible!"
But as soon as Ye Liuyun raised this possibility, Lv Lan shook her head without hesitation.
She seemed sure there was no such chance.
"?"
So certain?
Seeing Ye Liuyun puzzled, Lv Lan began to explain.
"There are things you don’t know. It’s said that when Qi Yuanliang first became Southern Garrison Commander, he was a good official with nothing but devotion to the people. Back then, the Prime Minister’s son got drunk and rode his horse through the streets, knocking down many city folk."
"It was Qi Yuanliang who arrested the Prime Minister’s son; not only that, even when pressured by the Prime Minister himself, Qi Yuanliang still punished his son severely."
"Later, it was the Old Emperor who intervened to keep Qi Yuanliang in his post!"
That incident settled it.
No one would ever believe Qi Yuanliang was the Prime Minister’s man. If his backer was really the Prime Minister, how could he go after the old man’s own son?
"No one would ever believe it?"
Yet.
Just because everyone said Qi Yuanliang couldn’t possibly be the Prime Minister’s guy, Ye Liuyun became even more suspicious.
Others may be in the dark, but Ye Liuyun knew—Qi Yuanliang is a hell of an actor.
All of a sudden, things became much more interesting.
"What is it?"
Noticing Ye Liuyun’s odd expression, Lv Lan looked over curiously.
"Nothing, just thought of some very amusing things, that’s all."
Ye Liuyun chose not to explain further.
Qi Yuanliang’s reputation up until now was squeaky clean. Even if he accused Qi Yuanliang of being up to no good, nobody would really believe it.
Which is perfect.
Ye Liuyun was curious to see what Qi Yuanliang would do next.
...
"Sir!"
At the same time.
Nighttime, inside the courtyard of a mansion—Qi Yuanliang, whose face always wore an expression of benevolence, now looked utterly solemn.
He knelt on one knee, reverently facing the old man before him.
The elder sat in the courtyard, making move after move across the game board, playing against himself.
"The Minister of Revenue is dealt with, you may rest easy, my lord."
"..."
The reply Qi Yuanliang received was silence.
Only the light tapping of the chess pieces could be heard in the air. Qi Yuanliang didn’t dare to interrupt, just quietly knelt, waiting for a response.
Finally.
After the last piece was played, the old man slowly lifted his head.
"Indeed, power is the quickest thing to change a man. Too bad he didn’t realize—anything I can give him, I can take away just as easily." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
The seat of Minister of Revenue was mine to grant in the first place.
Yet the guy actually thought it was all due to his own talents, even dared to defy me.
Oh well—if he won’t learn to toe the line, then I’ll find someone who will.
"I hear there’s an Innate Martial Artist in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
As he spoke, the old man turned to look over.
An Innate Realm martial artist—though the old man didn’t think much of it, it wouldn’t hurt to see if he could reel him in.
"Yes, sir!"
Qi Yuanliang was always crafty and slippery around others, but in this moment he was all seriousness—his bearing meticulous, his manner grave.
"His name is Ye Liuyun. His gift in the Martial Arts is extraordinary, but rumor has it, he’s on the little emperor’s side."
"The little emperor?"
Upon hearing this, the old man let out a faint chuckle.
"No matter; it’s perfectly normal for young people to pick the wrong side. After they’ve been battered and bloodied enough, they’ll figure out which path is easiest."
By his tone, the old man clearly didn’t care about the little emperor at all.
"If he’s truly talented, pay special attention. If he won’t work for me, I see no reason he should go on living."
"Understood, sir!"
Qi Yuanliang answered instantly.
No need for further instruction; Qi Yuanliang knew exactly what to do.
The words spoken, the old man continued moving, once more placing his pieces on the game board.
...
"Achoo!"
Meanwhile, just as Ye Liuyun was about to enter the palace, he suddenly sneezed.
"Caught a chill?"
Lv Lan couldn’t help glancing his way.
"No. Someone must be thinking about me."
Ever since he’d gotten the Child of Destiny trait, Ye Liuyun now had an uncanny sixth sense whenever someone took an interest in him.
Just like now.
Who could it be? Without meaning to, his mind wandered to Qi Yuanliang ’putting on a show’ in front of him not long ago. Ye Liuyun simply smiled, not taking it too seriously.
"Come to think of it, I’ve never actually been inside the palace."
He looked up at the imperial palace before them and commented with a hint of wonder.
Having transmigrated for so long, he’d met the emperor himself, but this was his first time coming to the palace.
"If you wish, I can ask His Majesty to grant you a token for free entry."
With a token, getting in and out of the palace would be much easier.
"Wouldn’t mind that!"
Ye Liuyun didn’t refuse.
He followed behind Lv Lan, entering the palace together. There were plenty of guards stationed here, but upon seeing the token in Lv Lan’s hand, every single one let them pass without a fuss.
Ye Liuyun stayed quietly at Lv Lan’s side.
He did a quick mental tally—from entering the palace, Lv Lan had already taken the token out ten times at least.
It felt as if at every gate, there was a guard posted.
"Is palace security always this tight? Are assassins such a common occurrence here?"
...
