061

061

Zeng Chenhua placed the jade staff aside, moved forward, and got closer to Jiang Chaoyu.

Jiang Chaoyu, who was responding, became somewhat reserved upon seeing Zeng Chenhua's actions. She supported herself with her hands and leaned back, trying to avoid Zeng Chenhua's movements. "What are you doing?"

Seeing Jiang Chaoyu scrutinizing him now reminded him of their meeting in the attic. She had been full of wariness then, but now it seemed her attitude towards him had changed considerably.

"I'm so happy!" He pinched Jiang Chaoyu's cheek. Compared to the little girl who was so thin she was barely alive, she was finally much better now.

Jiang Chaoyu frowned, her brows furrowing with confusion. She didn't like to hide things, so she asked directly, "What's making you happy?"

Let Zeng Chenhua pinch her cheeks. After a while, he sat up straight and said casually, "It's nothing."

"!"

Hearing this answer, Jiang Chaoyu felt as if the food she was about to be fed had veered off course and run away. "Really nothing?"

Looking at Jiang Chaoyu's expectant expression, he gazed at her affectionately and said, "Just thinking that you are so much better than that little girl back then makes me so happy."

Hearing these words, Jiang Chaoyu's heart skipped a beat. She was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head, recalling how difficult that period had been. If it weren't for this superpower, she feared she would have soon become a lonely ghost in another world.

However, Jiang Chaoyu did not allow herself to dwell in sadness for too long. She always believed that people should be in control of their emotions rather than being controlled by them.

She raised her head, her eyes filled with self-approval, raised an eyebrow at Zeng Chenhua, and smiled, "Yeah, pretty impressive, right? I've transformed myself into who I am today!"

It's not about expecting approval, but about consistently acknowledging and accepting oneself. The words of others have no effect on Jiang Chaoyu; she only knows to do what she wants to do. If she were trapped by the opinions of others, she would lose herself.

"Amazing!" Zeng Chenhua couldn't think of any other way to describe Jiang Chaoyu. Jiang Chaoyu was like a wild grass that could grow tenaciously despite the wind and rain; no one could defeat her.

As night fell, some things that had been left behind began to stir.

No sooner had Jiang Chaoyu left than a "guest" arrived at the Jiang residence.

By the moonlight, Jiang Yunxin saw someone sitting in his courtyard, seemingly waiting for him, and began to drink tea at a leisurely pace.

He had not yet returned to the courtyard, so no candles were lit there.

However, just by looking at that figure, he knew which "guest" it was.

"What, it's only been a short time, and you're already in such a hurry?"

Jiang Yunxin slowly walked into the courtyard. With a wave of his hand, the servants around him withdrew. He looked at the figure. Although he drank tea at a leisurely pace, his breathing became disordered.

"I'm not reconciled."

The teacup slammed heavily onto the stone table, with such force that it seemed intent on smashing a hole through it.

Jiang Yunxin didn't care whether he was willing or not. She expressed her concern for his stone table, saying, "It's your business if you're not willing. This table was personally bestowed upon me by the Emperor. How will you compensate me if you break it?"

Xie Yunyin didn't care about any of that. Perhaps because he was a little drunk, he spoke without any restraint and became somewhat arrogant, "Your Majesty, ha. How long can he hold onto that position!"

Jiang Yunxin shook his head upon hearing this. This man, when he gets out of control, has no restraint at all. He comforted him, saying, "Fortunately, you said these words in my courtyard. If it had happened elsewhere, your head wouldn't have been enough to be chopped off."

Sitting opposite him, Jiang Yunxin initially thought the pot contained tea, but the aroma of wine that wafted out after the lid was opened attracted him. This wine tasted far better than the wine he had drunk in the military camp.

He had intended to say a few words of advice to Xie Yunyin, but he didn't expect to start drinking himself. Fortunately, he had learned how to remain composed after drinking while in the army, so even though he was a little flustered, he kept his mouth shut.

"You're too impatient. If you gain power, you'll surely get a beautiful woman too."

The two sat by the moonlight, but Xie Yunyin did not think so. Thinking of this, his emotions fluctuated. "How can you call it being anxious? My Xiaoyu must have been forced by him." As he spoke, tears inadvertently flowed down his cheeks. Fortunately, the clouds covered the moon, leaving only a corner to illuminate the earth, otherwise Jiang Yunxin would have been able to see Xie Yunyin's tear stains clearly.

Hearing Xie Yunyin's words, Jiang Yunxin found it somewhat amusing, "See, you're in a hurry again!"

"With power, what woman can't you find? Why hang yourself on one tree?" Jiang Yunxin thought Xie Yunyin had gone mad. A man who didn't want power, but women. What did it matter how many women he wanted with power? Even if they were other men's wives, so what? He had power!

"Then tell me, how do you gain power?"

Previously, they had been plotting cooperation with the neighboring Chu Kingdom. Over the years, Xie Yunyin had been selling intelligence, while Jiang Yunxin, ostensibly fighting the enemy, had actually released some important people back. They conspired to overthrow the current emperor and install Jiang Yunxin as emperor.

Seeing Xie Yunyin's pathetic state of being so obsessed with women, he promised Xie Yunyin that if he helped him ascend the throne, he would make Jiang Chaoyu his wife.

"Is it really true?" Xie Yunyin was only thinking about Jiang Chaoyu, and he was overjoyed to hear this. He put down his teacup and looked at Jiang Yunxin with anticipation.

Jiang Yunxin poured himself another glass of wine and toasted Xie Yunyin. "When have I ever lied?" This question to Xie Yunyin reminded him that in all the years of cooperation, Jiang Yunxin had never broken his promise or gone back on his word.

"I believe you, but what is your plan?" After saying this, she seemed to remember something and reminded Jiang Yunxin, "Let me remind you, the people who can stay in the capital are not to be trifled with. They are usually very good at faking illness, but the other day I found that my letter had been tampered with."

Hearing this, Jiang Yunxin became even more curious. "Before I tell you my plan, I'm even more curious about how you knew your letter had been moved?"

Xie Yunyin only sends letters to the Chu Kingdom, but once he sends one, he can never know if his letter has been tampered with. Unexpectedly, Xie Yunyin is able to investigate in reverse. It's a pity that he used his brain on women.

"Even if that person can replicate my envelope, it will carry phosphorus powder, and it will spontaneously combust as soon as it is opened. However, it will not burn the letter itself, but the marks on the letter. I told the messengers from Chu Kingdom about this method and told them not to be on guard. I did not expect that the letter I received recently would actually be tampered with."

Xie Yunyin felt he had made his point clear enough, and now he wanted to hear what Jiang Yunxin's plan was. "As for General Jiang's plan, I would like to know a thing or two."

After these experiences, Jiang Yunxin assumed that Xie Yunyin wanted to quickly take back Jiang Chaoyu, so he revealed his entire plan: "My plan is simple. It is nothing more than waiting for the right opportunity to attack foreign countries with the Chu people, working together with General Li, and then hiding the Chu people who are skilled in martial arts among the refugees. When the time is right, we will bring them into the capital and catch that old emperor off guard."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyin tapped his fingers lightly beside his teacup. He had never heard Jiang Yunxin mention this plan before. However, he had initially planned a direct assault, but unexpectedly, Jiang Yunxin had learned from his past mistakes and come up with a better method.

However, General Li is one of the two great generals of the Chu Kingdom. He and General Yan have always been at odds. If General Li helps Jiang Yunxin ascend the throne, then the credit will definitely go to General Yan, and he will surpass General Yan at that time.

"This is a good idea. If you need any help later, I'll be happy to lend a hand."

Xie Yunyin personally poured wine into Jiang Yunxin's teacup, raised his cup, stood up, and said solemnly, "In that case, I wish General Jiang's plan a smooth success. I hope to benefit from your influence!"

Seeing this, Jiang Yunxin also stood up, clinked glasses with Xie Yunyin, and said politely, "Not at all, I will need your help then, and I hope you will help me in the future."

"No problem, no problem."

All the words were swallowed back down his throat. One person appeared loyal, and the other appeared ambitious, but in reality, one was being completely manipulated by the other.

"It is late at night. General, you should rest well. I will take my leave now."

Xie Yunyin pretended to go back to his residence to rest, but actually went to a secret door and pressed the mechanism after checking that no one was around.

"The plan has been completely figured out. All we need to do is contact General Yan to coordinate an inside-outside operation, Boss." In fact, the third leader of the South City organization back then was not cooperating with Xie Yunyin. Xie Yunyin was the real second leader. The second leader who was given to Zeng Chenhua was just a scapegoat. Xie Yunyin had been building up his power outside all these years.

Xie Yunyin, as an internal and external spy, was truly watertight, and no one noticed anything amiss.

He laid out the entire plan, telling Xu Huanong every single detail.

In the battle outside the city, she suffered heavy losses, but fortunately, the foundation of the Crescent Moon Sect was damaged. Everyone inside was either dead or injured, leaving behind only insignificant rats.

"But you still pretend to be affectionate in front of Jiang Yunxin?" Xu Huanong knew Xie Yunyin's way; he often showed a different side to his enemies. She just didn't expect him to be affectionate.

Hearing Xu Huanong's words, Xie Yunyin was somewhat displeased and emphasized, "Boss, what you said is surprising. It's not that I'm boasting about my deep feelings; I truly love Jiang Chaoyu."

These words are fine to say to Jiang Yunxin and Jiang Chaoyu, but to pretend in front of me? I couldn't help but speak up and expose his "mask": "Alright, others might believe these words, but have you forgotten how many lies I've exposed?!"

Indeed, Xu Huanong was already adept at recognizing Xie Yunyin's readily available lies. A man who claimed to be deeply affectionate—who was he trying to fool? Xu Huanong couldn't help but roll her eyes and retort, "Don't say those things in front of me again. It makes me want to vomit."

Since Xu Huanong had already said that, Xie Yunyin had no choice but to stop, and then went on to talk about other things, "Boss, our letter to Chu Kingdom has been discovered."

Hearing this, Xu Huanong wasn't surprised at all; instead, she became more interested. Her eyes held a hint of amusement as she looked at Xie Yunyin, and she said slowly, "In that case, how about we use a trick to lure you into a trap?"

Xie Yunyin instantly understood Xu Huanong's meaning. It seemed that prying into secrets came at a price. "The Boss means, again..."

Seeing the excitement in Xie Yunyin's eyes, Xu Huanong added, "That's right, forge another one, lie in ambush, and capture them!"