Perhaps several things were already destined to happen. It seemed as though they were coincidences, but they also seemed to be inevitable.

It had been long determined that Shen Leng had to go down to the southern coastal region. He was a soldier than Zhuang Yong specially selected. Because Shen Leng went to the southern border, Mr. Shen decided to bring Master Cha to Mount Ting Tai. Since the three of them were not around, Ye Liuyun decided to go to Anyang.

He was able to find Uncle Chen, and he had even made a trip to the daoist temple where Mr. Shen forged the sword for Shen Leng. However, the three most important people were not around, even though he was Ye Liuyun, he would still have to go back without achieving anything.

Ye Liuyun stayed in Anyang for seven days before he returned to Changan city. At this moment, Shen Leng had already left Hesu. When Ye Liuyun hastened on with his journey through the night for seven days and seven nights in total, Shen Leng was about to leave Xidong.

Si Mao Zhai.

The emperor looked at Ye Liuyun who looked exhausted and haggard. He pointed to the pot of tea on the table. “Pour yourself something to drink.”

Ye Liuyun knelt there without moving an inch. “Your Majesty, I have let you down. I did not manage to get much information, because I did not see him. Hence, I cannot confirm whether or not the person who is affiliated with Zhuang Yong is in fact daoist Qing Song from Baita temple. I did not ask Zhuang Yong directly. It is the Navy’s crucial period, I am worried that if I were to ask Zhuang Yong, it might mess with their state of mind.”

The emperor leaned back. “Tell me everything you have discovered. Elaborate more.”

Ye Liuyun nodded. “Even though I don’t have solid evidence, I’m guessing that, that person should be daoist Qing Song. A few years ago, he used to frequent Anyang’s Yulin town to import some goods. He was in the silk business. Thereafter, he realized that the merchant who he did business with turned out to be a water bandit. Hence, he and his men were all killed by him. He brought his adopted son home. His name is Shen Leng.”

“Coincidentally, Shen Leng’s adoptive father, the leader of that group of water bandits, happened to be the biological father of this year’s double top scholar Meng Changan.”

The emperor still kept a calm and composed look on his face. “A rumor as such has been circulating for a long time. I asked the head of the academy before – he said that whatever the father did has nothing to do with the son. I also sent someone to investigate Meng Changan. When he was twelve years old, he returned home to visit his family. After that, he never left the academy. It should be the year that daoist Qing Song killed his entire family…Meng Changan must have found out that his biological father was a water bandit, and hence decided to sever ties with them. After that, he led a tough life in the academy. He even went to the dock to work as a coolie and refused to accept a single cent from his family.”

The emperor said a lot in one go. His attitude was evident. Based on Ye Liuyun’s understanding of His Majesty, naturally he knew what the emperor’s stance was.

“Indeed, Meng Changan is clean. I found out that Meng Changan went to the academy when he was six years old. He was entirely clueless about his family’s situation.”

The emperor gestured. “Let’s only talk about daoist Qing Song.”

Ye Liuyun lowered his head. “Yes…I found out that Meng Changan’s father, which is the water bandit Bai Litu, found Shen Leng on a snowy night sixteen years ago. Judging from the time frame…it is a huge possibility. However, there is something that I don’t understand – several years later, daoist Qing Song did not visit Yulin town at all. Not even once. Only until Shen Leng was ten years old, he gradually started to establish contact.”

The emperor frowned slightly. He was trying to mask the overwhelming emotions within him. “That child…is he still alive?”

Ye Liuyun hurriedly replied, “The timing is right, but everything else does not match. From what I found out from before, what I can confirm is that daoist Qing Song abandoned the baby…I also found that the assassins from that time…after being interrogated harshly, they spilled the details. They vaguely remembered that when they chased him to Anyang, he did not have a child with him anymore.”

The emperor slumped back in disappointment. Even though he knew that the child was missing a long time ago, the little glimmer of hope he had once more was crushed just like that.

Ye Liuyun continued, “However, the child that daoist Qing Song has by his side was more worthy of suspicion. Unfortunately…she’s a girl. When I went to Yulin town, I tried to get more information about Shen Leng’s background. Judging from all the evidence that we have now, perhaps daoist Qing Song did not pass through Yulin town. The nearest location where the group of assassins were killed was dozens of miles away from Yulin town. Judging from the escape route that daoist Qing Song took at that time, he was being intercepted there. After that, daoist Qing Song caught them off guard and returned to Yunxiao city. Ever since then, it was hard to track his whereabouts.”

The emperor was silent for a long while before he asked. “What about Zhuang Yong? Is he suspicious?”

“Previously, I investigated Zhuang Yong before. Sixteen years ago, on that night, Zhuang Yong did go to Baita temple. However, before he managed to finish playing a round of chess with daoist Qing Song, he hurriedly left. If he had something to do with that incident, he would not have left earlier…Zhuang Yong and daoist Qing Song were originally good friends. They often drank wine together and play chess.”

“One more thing – that year, when Zhuang Yong was making his way back from Baita temple, he was being intercepted by the men that Your Majesty sent out. He rushed back to Changan city to help Your Majesty get your belongings ready for the journey. Hence, there was no direct contact.”

Ye Liuyun looked at the emperor. “However, it seems like Zhuang Yong is also investigating what happened that year. I feel that if the person that he is in touch with is daoist Qing Song, Zhuang Yong must have intentionally allowed him to get closer.”

The emperor replied, “I have never once doubted Zhuang Yong’s loyalty. Otherwise, I would not have sent him to the Navy…”

He looked at the inside intelligence box. It was sent by his trusted aide in the Navy, who did not mention any Navy-related affairs. Instead, it mentioned Garrison B’s General Bai Shangnian.

“Head back first. There are a lot of things you need to handle that accumulated while you were gone over the last few days.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Ye Liuyun got up. He took a few steps back before he suddenly remembered something. “Shen Leng is Meng Changan’s so-called cousin…he has been demonstrating his extraordinary talent in the Navy. However, he seemed to be suppressed by someone.”

“Huh?”

The emperor lifted his head. “Did you forget what I said before?”

Ye Liuyun was taken aback. He fell to his knees with a loud thud. “I deserve to die.”

The emperor replied, “Repeat what I told you before.”

“Since I’m in the underworld, I should not talk about the affairs of the imperial court.”

“I know that I have put you in a difficult position. Later on, I will bring you back. Four borders and depositories, coupled with the Navy. Take your pick, I will agree to it.”

“I am willing to do anything and everything, as long as I get to help Your Majesty with your worries and difficulties.”

“Run along. Do you think I don’t know you well? You only have to remember one thing. I made you investigate Zhuang Yong, but I will never send anyone to investigate you.”

Ye Liuyun kowtowed a few times. His forehead was red, and so were his eyes. What His Majesty said had warmed his heart. He did not know how to respond.

After Ye Liuyun left, the emperor lifted his hand and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. He felt more and more gloomy.

“Bai Shangnian, Bai Xiu, the members of the Bai clan of Xiangning…what are you trying to do?”

The emperor put the inside intelligence box to one side. He turned around and looked at Great Ning’s territorial map that was hung on the wall. His gaze fell upon the Jiangnan division.

His gaze moved downwards from Jiangnan, to Hesu, to Xidong, to Hujian, and then to where the previous Nanyue Empire was at. He got up and started pacing in his study. After more than ten minutes, he suddenly stopped. “Somebody, send for the Great Scholar Mu Zhaotong…and also send for the academy head.”

Right now, it was in the middle of the night. For the emperor to send for the two most important elders in Changan city so urgently, he must have had a bad feeling that something major was about to happen. He did not dare to delay any further.

Two hours later, the two elders got to Si Mao Zhai. The emperor got someone to boil a pot of white fungus lotus seed soup and he also got them to prepare five plates of snacks. From the looks of it, it seemed as though he did not have the intention to sleep tonight.

“Do you know why I did not set up any division office in the Nanyue area all these years?” asked the emperor.

Mu Zhaotong looked at the academy head. The academy looked as though he was really hungry – he drank two bowls of soup before he scooped a third bowl for himself. It seemed as though he did not hear what the emperor said.

Mu Zhaotong cursed at him to himself and called him an old fox. He lowered his head and replied, “I am guessing that it is because you have not fully appeased the people there. If you rush to set up a government there, the local civil officials and military would have a huge conflict. In recent years, you have given a lot of authority to the military. By stationing the military there, it would intimidate the people more than the civil officials.

“You see through me clearly.”

The emperor continued, “If I set up a government immediately after I vanquished Nanyue Empire and sent someone over, he would be the regional general in the eyes of the common folks…whoever who is being sent there has to quickly produce results for me. However, civil officials specialized in appeasing the public and suppressing the unhappiness of the people. It will only cause them to not follow the rules. Hence, I passed it onto the military. Ever since this year, Nanyue area the news about rebellion in the Nanyue area has stopped. Nobody dared to act unbridledly. I used a few years’ time to teach those people what fear is. Right now, it’s time for me to teach them what gratitude is.”

The academy finished three bowls of lotus seed soup and said, “Your Majesty is right.”

The emperor glared at him and looked at Mu Zhaotong.

Mu Zhaotong quickly said, “Hence, the top priority is choosing an important figure to confer a favor as a government official.”

The emperor looked at the academy head. The academy head’s hand that was reaching out to the food halted for a moment. “The Great Scholar is right.”

The emperor glared at him once more.

“Do you have suitable candidates?”

Mu Zhaotong pondered in silence for a moment. “I recommend Bai Guinan, the division deputy of Jingji. This person is well-versed in both literary and martial arts. He is able to do great things.”

The emperor frowned slightly. “A member of Xiangning’s Bai clan.”

“Yes.”

Mu Zhaotong continued, “Bai Guinan has already been the division deputy for six years. He is already very familiar with the governmental affairs after helping out the Jingji government for so many years. He’s always had a good appraisal from the Ministry of Revenue. He is able to govern the division and lead military troops as well. He is a talent.”

The emperor nodded. “I know. Indeed, Bai Guinan is capable.”

He looked at the academy head once again.

The academy head mumbled with food in his mouth. “I feel that Your Majesty is right.”

The emperor frowned. The academy head looked at Mu Zhaotong and said, “I feel that Great Scholar is not right.”

The emperor’s mouth curled up slightly. “Oh? Why is that so?”

The academy head pondered for a bit before replying earnestly, “I feel that his name does not go well with Nanyue. His name is Bai Guinan, returning to the south is not great. (Note: Gui Nan means return to the south.)

Mu Zhaotong was taken aback. “Absurd!”

The emperor grunted. “What the academy head said…is not illogical.”

Mu Zhaotong’s face went slightly pale. He did not understand why the emperor was acting that way today. Based on capability and experience, Bai Guinan was without a doubt the best candidate to go to Nanyue.

The academy head took a sip of water and swallowed the food. He sat upright and said, “The in-charge of the southern border’s arsenal, Ye Kaitai, has been assisting the southern border’s Great General Shi Yuanxiong for several years. He is very familiar with the northern border. He is the most suitable candidate.”

The emperor did not wait for Mu Zhaotong to speak. He hurriedly asked, “The southern border’s arsenal is very important too. After Ye Kaitai leaves, who can replace him?”

“The deputy of the northern border’s arsenal Chen Gao can do it.”

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself: You old fella, you still have not forgotten about helping your precious Meng Changan deal with that problem of his. Chen Gao’s son, Chen Zishan, died because of Meng Changan. If Chen Gao were to get transferred over to the southern border, he would not be able to do anything to Meng Changan.

The academy head was not worried about the emperor seeing his intentions clearly. He had already reached out for the third snack.

The emperor looked at Mu Zhaotong. “What do you think?”

Mu Zhaotong suddenly became relaxed. It was uncertain what entered his mind. He extended his hand and picked up some food. “I feel that the academy head is right.”

If the academy head did not mention Ye Kaitai, Mu Zhaotong would not have reacted that way. Ye Kaitai…just like Zhuang Yong, he was one of the counselors of His Majesty in his prince’s mansion.

Hence, he would rather eat the snacks and forget about it.

Seeing as Mu Zhaotong had no reaction, the emperor asked the academic head once more, “Do you think that Ye Kaitai’s is capable enough to win over Nanyue?”

The academy head had a shameless look on his face. “Capable? I don’t know about that. But his name is great. Kaitai, Kaitai. How auspicious.”

Before waiting for a response from the emperor, Mu Zhaotong nodded. “The academy head is right.”

Mu Zhaotong laughed grimly to himself. Great name? It’s only a matter of time before Zhuang Yong’s Navy gets to the south. Ye Kaitai and Zhuang Yong were both His Majesty’s counselors. By then, it’s only normal for them to share a good rapport. The reason why he got me to come here is because he wants to make sure that less people will object to the idea of sending Ye Kaitai there, when he brings this up tomorrow in the imperial court. After all, he is someone that both His Majesty and the academy head recommended.

He felt that the snacks did not taste good. They were rather bitter.