"It seems the matters over there have concluded,"
In a courtyard deep within the county yamen, Ji Yuan tiptoed and peeked, though heavy walls obscured his view of anything.
Yet, even without seeing, he could feel four presences vanish, while the auras of Qian Nishang and the old woman still shone like bright moons.
Clearly, the preceding battle had ended with the two of them achieving a great victory.
"Who exactly are you?"
As he mused, a voice suddenly sounded beside him.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan slowly turned around, his face filled with a smile as he looked at Li Wenqing and an elder beside him.
Indeed, a significant portion of his attention was focused on this second-realm cultivator. His palm, hidden within his sleeve, already clutched three copper coins, ready to unleash all their spiritual energy at any moment.
"Ah, I am merely a Taoist from a temple,"
Ji Yuan chuckled, then as if remembering something, immediately added, "And a registered Taoist of the Great Yu Dynasty."
Within the Great Yu Dynasty, once a Taoist was registered, they received a monthly stipend, even without official rank. While not substantial for cultivators, it was enough for ordinary folk to cover their expenses for half a month.
Facing the young Taoist blocking his path, Li Wenqing showed no sign of relief. This was not solely because the man had appeared here, but more so because he held a fruit as red as blood.
Though he had never seen it before, he was certain that what the other held was none other than the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit, capable of extending a mortal's lifespan by ten years!
"You have two choices now."
Sensing the other's gaze, Ji Yuan said with a smile, "The first is to take the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit now. Hand it over to the Prefect, and even if you return empty-handed, you will not be punished and will even receive a reward."
"As for the second, I can refine the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit for you to consume, extending your lifespan by fifteen years. However, the materials will be your responsibility."
This first choice meant he was to pretend he saw nothing that night, take the item, and depart for the prefectural city. As long as the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit was submitted, his mission, even if fruitless, would be considered meritorious and he would be absolved of blame.
As for the matters in Qianyu City, his deputy would naturally handle them, and he would merely need to sign the submitted memorials in the prefectural city.
However, by doing so, let alone profiting from the city's affairs, he would not even gain credit for the disaster relief, only a reward from the Prefect.
"If I choose the second option, what would I need to do?"
Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately asked.
Compared to the first choice, Li Wenqing naturally leaned towards the second. Even if it only granted five years of lifespan, fifteen years was worth his all.
For someone whose lifespan was dwindling, especially one who had held great power and enjoyed wealth and status, nothing was more important than survival.
"Cooperate."
His only answer was two words.
There were no lengthy explanations, no elaborate speeches like Qian Nishang's. From Ji Yuan's lips, only two words emerged.
He didn't need to say more. For an intelligent person like Li Wenqing, merely presenting tangible benefits and providing a general direction was enough for him to fill in the rest.
Indeed, after a moment of contemplation, Li Wenqing's eyes flashed. "You intend to keep all thirteen factions within this county town?"
Even with his high position in the Prefectural Governor's office, he couldn't help but be surprised. He hadn't expected this young Taoist to be playing such a grand game!
Yet, for some reason, he felt no surprise, but rather a sense of inevitability.
Upon realizing this, Li Wenqing's gaze towards the other became more solemn and serious.
"This is impossible. Do you know the severe consequences if all thirteen factions are kept here?"
After appraising him for a while, he shook his head.
Hearing this, Ji Yuan maintained his smile and calmly said, "Those are matters for you to worry about. I am merely stating the conditions."
"Besides, even if there are consequences, wouldn't you shift the blame entirely onto the Li family?"
Li Wenqing's pupils contracted. After a moment, a smile appeared. In this instant, he understood the true objective of the young Taoist before him.
Or rather… was this Qian Nishang's true objective?
It turned out that her attendance at the banquet tonight was not merely to break a deadlock, but to orchestrate a grand scheme and make some people pay a heavy price.
And now, at least at this moment, her plan had succeeded, and everything was proceeding smoothly.
Li Wenqing glanced towards the direction of the main hall. If his guess was correct, negotiations there were likely proceeding most enjoyably, and a mutually beneficial outcome would soon be reached.
But if he was a step too slow, forget about the two choices, even running now might not allow him to escape this county town!
"If I'm not mistaken, the discussions on the other side are likely about how to keep me here, frame the other four factions, sow discord, and then the remaining nine factions will reap the benefits, right?"
He chuckled, his face now filled with frost.
Having been in official circles for decades, he had seen more convoluted schemes than this. Sometimes, there were no discernible signs, yet powerful figures were investigated and their families ruined that very night.
Such a plan, not overly complex and discernible at a glance, was naturally not much to him.
But seeing it was one thing; being able to extricate himself and avoid calamity was the true skill.
This was already a semi-open conspiracy. It mattered not whether it was seen through or not; the ability to remain uninvolved was paramount.
However, whether it was him or the various factions on the other side, they likely couldn't refuse what was laid before them.
"But why do you think I would betray my own family?"
Li Wenqing's expression turned cold. The elder beside him stepped forward slightly, his spiritual power surging.
A sharp killing intent permeated the air between them.
However, Ji Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He had endured more bone-chilling killing intent than this and had survived.
Moreover, he could see that Li Wenqing was merely putting on a show, intending to intimidate him, a person from outside the prefectural city.
While Li Wenqing might appear unrelated to the Li family of Mingxin Xuan on the surface, he was in fact the illegitimate son of the Li family patriarch. They had secretly exchanged favors over the years, reaping considerable benefits.
However, the true powers within the prefectural city knew that Li Wenqing and his biological father had long harbored grudges. Their close cooperation was solely for mutual gain.
If an opportunity arose, both sides would mercilessly strike, unwilling to stop until the other was dead.
Though outsiders were unaware of the years of accumulated grievances, certain means could confirm that the animosity between them was genuine, not a manufactured trap for enemies.
It was true, irreconcilable hatred!
According to the intelligence provided by Qian Nishang, if Li Wenqing hadn't been incredibly lucky, his career soaring to the position of Chief Clerk in the Prefectural Governor's office, the Li family wouldn't have discovered his true identity. He might have already been killed by the Li family patriarch.
"Do you really want me to reveal your relationship with the Li family?"
He said softly with a half-smile, tossing the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit in his hand.
Upon receiving the fruit, one could feel its warm, smooth texture, like holding a piece of fine jade.
The rich vitality contained within it was so palpable that even Li Wenqing, a mere mortal, could feel it clearly. He couldn't help but want to take a bite immediately, to swallow the fruit to feel at ease.
"The reason you want to live a few more years is precisely so you can witness the decline of the Li family, isn't it?"
At this moment, Ji Yuan's voice drifted softly. "Your arrangements in the prefectural city, others may not know, but the Prefect certainly does, and the Qian family also happened to obtain some information."
Li Wenqing was initially stunned, then realized. He hadn't expected the fallen Qian family to have an informant by the Prefect's side.
It was true that major powers in the city had informants in the Prefectural Governor's office, but to achieve this right by the Prefect's side was unimaginably difficult.
Even the other two benefactors of Mingxin Xuan had never managed it.
"When can the elixir be refined?"
After a moment of thought, he let out a long sigh and tossed the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit back.
Although he had decided to enter the game, he felt no pressure. On the contrary, he felt a sense of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart.
"When this matter is concluded, and we return to the prefectural city, shall we travel together?"
Ji Yuan put away the Crimson Heart Vermilion Fruit and answered his question with an unrelated remark.
As his words fell, Li Wenqing nodded and turned to leave with the elder, his actions decisive and swift, clearly having made up his mind.
After their figures disappeared from the courtyard, Ji Yuan secretly let out a sigh of relief. Though a little weary, he maintained his composed demeanor and slowly departed.
Moments later, a shadow flickered and vanished from a dark corner within the courtyard, heading in the direction Li Wenqing had gone.
On the other side, outside the collapsed ruins of the main hall, the representatives of the nine factions wore grim expressions, as if they had just experienced something most unpleasant.
In contrast, Qian Nishang was radiant, her smile subtle yet full of the joy of her current state.
After a round of discussion, she had successfully turned the tables, drawing the nine factions into the scheme she had laid out. The roles had completely reversed.
Now, it was not she who feared them disrupting the current favorable situation, but rather these nine factions who had to worry whether she would go back on her word.
"Since everything has been said, the next steps are up to you."
Qian Nishang chuckled lightly and, with the old woman beside her, swaggered out of the county yamen.
Ahead of her, everyone who blocked her path instinctively moved aside, allowing her to leave.
The arrogance and swagger they had displayed earlier had now turned into deep worry, their minds seemingly elsewhere, clearly contemplating what Qian Nishang had just said.