Chapter 212: Chapter 188: You Can’t Handle It

And once this matter had been allowed to brew for a while, it would be time for him to land the decisive blow.

’Big Brother, even though Father and a few of the family elders think highly of you, you’re lacking in both opportunity and ability. This Liu Family... you can’t handle it!’

Excitement flashed in Liu Wen’s eyes. He couldn’t help but look toward the Xiao Family estate as a vicious smile crept across his face.

’And the Xiao Family, Xiao Wan’er... as long as I get Xiao Wan’er, I can use her to get my hands on the Dingyuan Army.’

’When that time comes, haha, haha... who in all of Jing and Shu State would dare defy me?’

As if hearing Liu Wen’s laughter from a world away, Chen Yi weighed the stack of three hundred silver notes—each worth a thousand taels—in his hand and scoffed.

’That Liu Wen must be having sweet dreams right about now.’

’Well, I’ll let him be happy for a little while longer.’

Liu Lang, beside him, wasn’t thinking so deeply. His eyes were glued to the stack of silver notes, and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

Although he claimed not to care about money, having no major expenses besides his romantic dalliances, he couldn’t help but be tempted when he saw so many silver notes laid out before him.

"Boss, these silver notes..."

Chen Yi glanced at him, pulled out two notes, and handed them over. "Spend it wisely."

Fortunately, he had previously received ten thousand taels in silver notes from Liu Wen, so giving two thousand to Liu Lang now wouldn’t affect his plans.

Liu Lang accepted them with a smile and tucked them into his robes. "Thank you, Boss."

But after thanking him, seeing Chen Yi put the rest of the silver notes away, he couldn’t help but ask another question:

"Is this silver for expanding Hundred Herbs Hall?"

He was aware of the discussion between Wang Ji and Yan Sea earlier that day, and he couldn’t help but calculate how many Hundred Herbs Hall branches could be opened with three hundred thousand taels of silver.

But Chen Yi didn’t nod. Instead, he shook his head and said, "I have other, more important uses for it."

Expanding Hundred Herbs Hall certainly required a large sum of silver coins.

But there were plenty of ways to raise silver coins for business dealings. At worst, he could find a way through the Xiao Family and the other Noble Families in various regions that had already agreed to cooperate.

’But these three hundred thousand taels in silver notes are crucial to the success of my current plan. I can’t touch them.’

...

Not long after, Chen Yi sent Liu Lang to Spring Rain Building to find Black Tooth, while he himself headed straight for the tailor shop in the West Market.

The two went their separate ways on Kangning Street, one heading south and the other west.

Soon, Chen Yi arrived outside the West Market. He carefully avoided Fang Hongxiu and a few other Imprisonment Officers who still hadn’t given up, and made his way to the residence behind the tailor shop.

The task he had given Wang Ji that day was progressing—not slowly, but not quickly either.

Neither of the two storefronts for the meager tailor shop had been secured, but someone in the residence behind it couldn’t resist the high price and had handed the deed over to Wang Ji that very day.

That was the residence where Chen Yi now was.

It was just past nine in the evening.

Although the rain had lessened, the sky was still thick with dark clouds. The surrounding gloom provided him with some cover.

About half an hour passed. Chen Yi heard a knock on the door of the tailor shop and rose, moving without a sound.

Based on his earlier observations, the Cultivation of these few Hidden Guards was not particularly high.

Even among the Silver Banner Officers like Ge the Third and Lou Yuchun, only Lou Yuxue had a Cultivation that reached the Middle Three Grades Realm.

It was nearly impossible for them to detect his presence.

Chen Yi carefully approached the tailor shop and pressed his ear against the outer wall.

Faintly, he heard Lou Yuxue’s voice from inside. "A letter from the Pavilion Master?"

Then he heard Ge the Third say excitedly, "Quick, see what the letter says!"

"See for yourself."

After a rustling sound, the tailor shop fell silent for a long time.

Just as Chen Yi was growing puzzled, Ge the Third finally spoke. His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if his spirit had been shaken by seeing something he couldn’t accept.

"The Pavilion Master... he... he wants us to finish that business, and then find a way to implicate Gray Wolf? Why? Why would he do that?"

Lou Yuxue replied in a grave tone, "Do you even need to ask?"

"Clearly, the Pavilion Master is displeased with Gray Wolf for using his position for personal gain. He’s even willing to eliminate the second branch of the Xiao Family."

"However, I think this is a good thing for us."

"Take this time, for instance. Gray Wolf acted recklessly for his own benefit, and it affects all of us."

"Think about it. After this is done, you’ll lose more than half of the Iron Banner Officers you’ve planted in the Dingyuan Army."

"It’s the same for me."

"Black Tooth will have to flee Shu State, a new Elder will come from Bright Moon Building to take over, and even I will have to lie low for a time."

Hearing this, Ge the Third sighed. "I just didn’t expect the Pavilion Master to be so decisive."

"Gray Wolf’s identity is special. He’s not just the standard-bearer for the second branch of the Xiao Family, he’s also the Assistant Governor of the Governor’s Office. He could still be useful in the future..."

"Enough nonsense. It’s an order from the Pavilion Master. Do you dare disobey?"

"Of course I wouldn’t dare..."

Hearing this, Chen Yi’s aura remained concealed, but a ripple of surprise went through him.

He also hadn’t expected the Hidden Guard to be so resolute in abandoning Xiao Dongchen. It seemed they even intended to eliminate him along with the second branch.

But on second thought, Chen Yi felt that while the Hidden Guard’s actions were unexpected, they were also perfectly logical.

Just as Lou Yuxue had said when persuading Ge the Third, Xiao Dongchen and the second branch were too selfish, which would interfere with the Hidden Guard’s plans.

’In that case, the Hidden Guard’s objective now aligns with mine.’

’I wonder who that Pavilion Master is. To be able to issue such a calm order from thousands of miles away.’

’That level of intelligence and decisiveness alone is beyond that of an ordinary person.’

After a moment of silence, he heard Lou Yuxue huff, "Hurry up and look at the letter from the Golden Banner Officer. I have to get back to Spring Rain Building soon."

Ge the Third grunted in agreement and asked, "When do we make our move?"

"Tonight, Black Tooth is going to get the silver from that Financier. Once I confirm that the three hundred thousand taels in silver coins are in our coffers, I’ll start arranging the next steps."

"I estimate it will be in the next two days."

"It’s the same for your side. Wait for the weather to clear up in a couple of days, and I’ll notify you when to act."

After hearing Lou Yuxue’s words, Ge the Third said no more and began to read the second secret letter, enunciating each word carefully:

"Obtain one piece of the Fledgling’s calligraphy. Determine if his Calligraphy Dao has reached Perfection."

Lou Yuxue couldn’t help but ask, "Calligraphy Dao Perfection? Are you sure it wasn’t deciphered incorrectly?"

"See for yourself..."

Listening to their conversation, a strange look flashed in Chen Yi’s eyes.

’Calligraphy Dao Perfection?’

’How could the Hidden Guard know that my Calligraphy Dao broke through to the Perfection Realm?’

So far, he had only ever written for the Old Master and Sun Fu using his Perfect Calligraphy Dao.

Only three people knew about it.

He had even instructed Xiao Wuge not to reveal this matter.

Chen Yi recalled what he had heard Ge the Third say that morning and couldn’t help but wonder:

’Could there be a Hidden Guard concealed by the Old Master’s side?’

After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi couldn’t come up with any clues, but he was certain the person who leaked the secret of his Perfect Calligraphy Dao was connected to either the Old Master or Sun Fu.

However, after hearing about the secret letter from the Golden Banner Officer, he remembered something else.

—The piece of calligraphy he had lost earlier must have been taken by the Hidden Guard.

’How strange. Why do they care about my Calligraphy Dao?’

A moment later, Lou Yuxue and Ge the Third left the tailor shop one after the other.

[Witnessed the Hidden Guard receiving a secret letter. Reward: Zither Score "Guangyuan Tune," Opportunity +18.]

[Evaluation: Presence achieved, sound heard, scene unseen...]

Chen Yi skimmed past the lines of golden text and, after a moment’s thought, chose not to return to the Xiao Family. Instead, he quietly followed Lou Yuxue.

’Black Tooth is going to get silver from another Financier tonight. I might as well follow along and have a look.’

’I can meet up with Liu Lang on the way and ask about the situation.’

When Lou Yuxue walked into a secluded alley, Chen Yi was about to follow but suddenly froze, hiding in a corner to the side.

From the alley up ahead, a hoarse, deep voice called out:

"Lou Yuxue, where have you been?"