Let them offer their loyalty!-Chapter 1434 - 619: Yanyan’s Provocative Plan! (7k Seeking Monthly Ticket)

"Because the 'Royalist Faction' was in charge of guarding the troops at the Seventh Sanctuary, they quickly established contact with those officers."

"So, Princess Xi took the opportunity to secretly form the 'Reformer Faction,' using a mutual aid system among officers as the guiding principle, and swiftly began recruiting mid- and high-ranking officers into the fold."

"If things had stopped there, maybe everything would still be under control."

"But… half a month ago, Yanyan joined Lin Xi's camp and became her adviser."

"She mainly did three things. The first: she changed the political platform of the 'Reform Association.'"

"She shifted the Association's slogan from 'mutual aid among officers' to 'weakening the aristocratic families and clans, and enhancing the political status and welfare of the military.'"

"With that, the Association's agenda went from being a hollow slogan to a real political action." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"The second thing is, she encouraged Lin Xi to use her position to siphon off some of the confiscated wealth and resources from the Han and Zhao families, and then, through the 'Reform Association,' quietly distributed it to the rank-and-file officers and soldiers to buy their loyalty."

"This move, combined with the fact that the Seventh Sanctuary had always prioritized civil over military and withheld funds from the army, caused the Association's influence to balloon rapidly."

"The third thing… she found the Association a patron."

"A patron?" When Qiu Tu heard Guan Xiao say this, he couldn't help but look at her.

Guan Xiao nodded, then said seriously, "Yanyan must've calculated exactly when you'd be away, Speaker."

"To ease the officers' concerns, she urged Princess Xi to act in your name, telling the officers that everything was done under your orders."

"And that you and the Four States are their solid backing."

"That way, these officers got tied in deeper and deeper. And the moment you left, they launched a coup right away."

"At that point, most officers were still unaware you had already left the Northwestern Region; they thought you were still supporting them, and were full of confidence."

"So when the dust settled, they realized they'd boarded a pirate ship."

As she finished, Guan Xiao's face was filled with resentment, then she cursed, "I can't believe I never saw how ambitious Yanyan really is."

She said, "I suspect… the reason Lin Xi was able to so easily agree to hand the leader's position over to you back then, that was all thanks to Yanyan's scheming."

"At the time, she must have planned to use your peaceful power transfer, fooling others in the 'Reform Association' into believing you and Lin Xi were tight, and supporting her moves in the Association." (Chapter 609)

After hearing Guan Xiao's analysis, Qiu Tu's gaze deepened.

To be honest, Yanyan's Loyalty isn't as high as Guan Xiao's, but it's not low either—a solid 88 points.

Though Loyalty isn't everything, and it changes over time.

Even so, Qiu Tu didn't believe Yanyan would do something to deliberately harm him as long as her Loyalty was at 88.

Besides, when Qiu Tu arranged for Yanyan to persuade Princess Xi, he'd already felt she was up to something big…

Now, it seems that only confirmed his suspicions.

'So… is Yanyan actually scheming against Princess Xi?'

'Having her set up an organization, then claiming I'm the patron—then indirectly…'

Thinking this, Qiu Tu snapped out of his daze, looked at Guan Xiao, and shook his head slightly, saying, "Things aren't that simple."

"Keep looking into the Seventh Sanctuary's movements."

But just as Qiu Tu finished speaking—

Outside, the door was knocked on with a "thump thump thump."

Only a few of Qiu Tu's closest people knew he hadn't left. The only ones who'd come here were Tang Feifei, Larilo, Guan Xiao, and Liu Fuping.

So, when they heard the knock, Qiu Tu and Guan Xiao exchanged a glance, then said directly, "Come in."

The next second, the door opened. Liu Fuping sashayed in with her curvy figure, eyes liquid like water.

Seeing Qiu Tu and Guan Xiao looking at her,

She spoke in a soft, seductive voice: "Sir, some new intel just came in."

Hearing this, Qiu Tu froze for a moment, then hurriedly waved her over, saying, "Bring it here."

Liu Fuping heard him and walked forward, handing the intel to Qiu Tu.

Though he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, as she passed him the intel, Qiu Tu clearly felt Liu Fuping's pinky gently graze his palm…

Just that simple touch sent a jolt through him, making his whole body feel numb and a little itchy.

He looked up at Liu Fuping.

Liu Fuping's eyes smiled, veiled in mist like she was longing for something, or maybe teasing for something.

This little demon…

Of all the women Qiu Tu had dealt with, Liu Fuping was the most seductive of them all. Sometimes he even wondered if she was born that way.

In this past year, Qiu Tu hadn't worked with her for long, but whenever they were in the same city, she'd always find some excuse to come see him.

Only when she was satisfied would she leave.

Qiu Tu had finally learned the meaning of the saying, "a woman in her thirties is like a wolf."

Sure enough, now that she had another chance to interact with him, this little wolf's ambitions were stirring again…

'Looks like… once I'm done with business, I'll have to call her over for a little fun.'

Thinking this, Qiu Tu gathered his thoughts and looked down to read the intel.

He skimmed it quickly, his expression changing from thoughtful to suddenly enlightened.

Noticing this, Guan Xiao asked curiously, "Speaker, what kind of intel is it?"

Hearing her, Qiu Tu handed the document to Guan Xiao.

Guan Xiao took the intel and read it carefully.

After a moment, she paused, then, as if not believing her eyes, read it all a second time.

After double-checking, Guan Xiao looked up at Qiu Tu, shocked, and said,

"What on earth are Lin Xi and Yan Yan up to?"