The dim light illuminated Songg Yanxue’s slightly angered face.
’Come to think of it, the day he revealed his Celestial Fire True Intent was to get my attention. On the day of the send-off, he also deliberately lured me away. Since your Fate Grid is so powerful, you thrive wherever you go. I doubt I could kill you, and if I drove you away, you would just rise to power somewhere else. So I’ll keep you here in the Demon Hunting Bureau. Trapped in shallow waters, forbidden from training missions, forbidden from leaving. We’ll see what you can do then! As for that Li Qingxian, to have resolved two Deceits in a row, he is truly a man of exceptional talent. Once the Street Patrol Room is transferred to the Demon Hunting Bureau, he’s sure to become my right-hand man.’
Having finished her thoughts, Songg Yanxue said, "Attendant, relay my orders. For meritorious service rendered by the Demon Hunting Team, Ye Han is to be transferred to the position of Vice Room Leader of the Capital House. He is to be stationed at the Government Office to rest and recuperate. Without my command, he is forbidden from leaving the Demon Hunting Bureau!"
The Commander left and returned shortly after to report, "Disciplinary Officer, Ye Han left the Government Office early today."
"Where did he go?"
"I will investigate further."
A short while later, the Commander returned and reported, "He is with Wei Yong, the Disciplinary Officer of the Finance Department, attending a banquet on a pleasure boat hosted by Tang Enxuan, the Heir of Prince Yuann."
"The Heir of Prince Yuann? He’s nothing more than an Assistant General. You are dismissed."
"As you command."
After the Commander withdrew, the look in Songg Yanxue’s eyes grew even colder.
’Unrepentant. He’s only gotten worse. The ambition of a wolf!’
On the Grand Canal, pleasure boats drifted by, a scene of feasting and revelry.
Aboard a large, two-story pleasure boat, music and dancing filled the air.
Inside the main cabin, the man in the seat of honor waved his hand, and all the maids departed, leaving a trail of perfume in their wake.
Only five people remained in the cabin.
The man in the seat of honor wore a small, polished silver coronet and a brocade robe embroidered with fish patterns in silver thread. His face was fair, with a high, aquiline nose and deep-set eyes.
His eyes held a faint blue-green shimmer, a unique trait of the imperial Tang family, rumored to be a side effect of the Royal Family’s Inner Power techniques.
His eyelashes cast faint shadows along the rims of his sockets, making his gaze seem deep and adding a touch of sinister coldness.
"So, you’re telling me you not only failed to ruin Li Qingxian, but you also got two of my Eighth Grade subordinates killed?" The man in the seat of honor swirled a glass cup, the wine within as red as blood.
"Young Master, if this had been an ordinary Demon Hunting mission, even if I couldn’t ruin him, I could have at least made him suffer. But in Deceit Village, he’s a Fate Master, and his skills were a cut above. I was helpless," Ye Han said with a sigh, looking helplessly at Assistant General Tang Enxuan.
"I only care about results," Tang Enxuan said with a small smile.
A flicker of movement in Ye Han’s eyes. He sighed. "Li Qingxian is meticulous and utterly ruthless. I admit I am no match for him. As I see it, unless you personally intervene, Young Master, no one in the Capital City can touch him. Perhaps, after a little more time, once he is fully established, not even you, Young Master, will be able to..."
Tang Enxuan shot Ye Han a cold glare, then turned to Wei Yong.
"Lord Wei, what have you found on the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Wei Yong quickly bowed. "Your Highness, I’ve investigated it thoroughly. The distillery’s profits are split evenly between the Night Guard, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Inner Treasury Bureau, and Li Qingxian. The new spirit has already been successfully distilled. Some officials from the various Government Offices have tried it and given it excellent reviews. The flagship spirit, ’Ancient Well Ice,’ was only finalized yesterday and will require further refinement. I managed to obtain a cup. It is, as the rumors say, extremely potent, with a unique flavor. I saved half a cup for Your Highness to sample."
As he spoke, Wei Yong passed over a celadon wine flask.
The guard beside Tang Enxuan took the flask, poured half a cup, and then produced a purple-bronze Poison Testing Needle, a Magical Artifact intricately carved with a dragon. He submerged it in the wine. After three breaths, the man nodded and presented the cup.
Tang Enxuan took a sip and suddenly winced. "This stuff has a serious kick."
He took a few more small sips, then frowned. "It’s certainly potent, but it’s not all that different from other strong spirits."
Wei Yong smiled. "Your Highness may not be aware, but those other spirits are made with crude, time-consuming methods. This new spirit is different. It can be mass-produced at an extremely low cost. As for the flavor, it can be continuously adjusted to create a wide variety of spirits. Moreover, this is a new distillation, not an aged one. I’ve consulted with several master brewers and distillery owners. Most of them agree that if this spirit can truly be mass-produced, it will sweep across all of Daqi within a few years. Even those brutes in the north will love it."
"You’re from the Night Guard Finance Department. Can this spirit really generate a million taels a year?" Tang Enxuan asked.
"Not from this one location alone. But if they expand, why, it would be far more than a million!"
Tang Enxuan understood Wei Yong’s meaning, and his heart pounded with excitement.
Tang Enxuan sighed. "That Zhou Chunfeng is truly despicable. He placed that invitation on my royal father’s bedside, which earned me another ten strokes from my father. If I try to seize his shares now, I fear it will be difficult."
But Ye Han said, "Young Master, Zhou Chunfeng just so happens to be out of the Capital City. If not now, then when?"
"Zhou Chunfeng isn’t back?"
"On my way here, I heard men from the Black Lamp Department saying that Zhou Chunfeng is stationed in Beichen City for at least a month. This is heaven helping the Crown Prince!"
Wei Yong chuckled. "Li Qingxian’s only backer is Zhou Chunfeng. With Zhou Chunfeng away, won’t he be putty in Your Highness’s hands?"
Tang Enxuan shot a glance at Wei Yong. "This matter requires careful consideration. If we mess this up, I’m afraid Zhou Chunfeng would come to kill me himself. Don’t think for a moment that he’s some gentle soul. After his wife and daughter were murdered by the Demon Race, he cried for three days straight until his voice was gone. Then he went north to guard the river. He spent three whole years in the River Guard Army, slaughtering countless members of the Demon Race and earning the nickname ’Blood Scholar.’ If he dared to place a book on a pillow one day, he’ll dare to place a sword at a throat the next."
Ye Han glanced down at the white scar on the middle finger of his left hand and sighed. "Perhaps we should wait a few more days. Do a little more reconnoitering."
Tang Enxuan nodded. "Have our people investigate further. If the spirit is truly that exceptional, we’ll make our plans then."
Ye Han added, "Young Master, you’ve always admired my Qiankun Ring. Unfortunately, Li Qingxian forcibly took it from me, using the Deceitful Mother as a pretext. If you can reclaim the Qiankun Ring, everything inside—save for one Treasure Map—I will present to you with my own two hands."
"You really mean that?" Tang Enxuan’s eyes flashed.
"A gentleman’s word is his bond," Ye Han said.
Wei Yong glanced at Ye Han impassively, thinking, ’It’s only been a few days, but Ye Han’s cunning has grown. He used to be willing to act as the vanguard, but now he’s learned to stay behind the scenes and prod Tang Enxuan forward.’
Wei Yong glanced at Tang Enxuan. ’That Qiankun Ring is an Ancient Treasure, a truly priceless object that one million taels of silver couldn’t buy. If he gets it and gives it to his father, Prince Yuann, he’s sure to regain his position as Crown Prince. Even if Tang Enxuan were forged from iron and steel, he would surely be tempted by this.’
"Lord Wei, do you have a plan for this matter?"
A vein throbbed in Wei Yong’s temple. He gave a bitter smile. "I’m too old for this. I really can’t afford to provoke a Fate Master. You know how the court views me these days. When it comes to Li Qingxian, I am completely at a loss."
Wei Yong looked toward Ye Han.
Ye Han, however, was no longer his old self. He copied Wei Yong’s expression and gave a bitter smile. "I’ve provoked Li Qingxian several times now and have lost all my Treasures for it. What plan could I possibly have left?"
Tang Enxuan hadn’t expected both of them to back out. He smiled faintly. "Then we’ll wait. Attendants! Music, dancing, and more wine."