Jiapingguan Chronicle

Chapter 2755 Still Vigorous in Old Age 139.0
"..." Jin Miaomiao took a long time to calm down before letting out a long sigh and saying, "It's really a very elaborate game of chess. It sounds like that Yi's style of doing things, slowly plotting and luring the enemy into the trap."

“Yes.” Shen Cha nodded. “Especially chess, it’s too mentally taxing. Jia doesn’t really like it, and it’s not something he’s good at, right?” She looked at Xiao Fengqi. “What does Young Master Xiao think?”

"Well, it's true that it's what B did, but A is quite good at chess. However," Xiao Fengqi thought for a moment, then looked at Chu Han, "I haven't played with him much, so I'm not too sure."

“I’ve played against him twice, but it wasn’t his style of play, so it must be Yi.” Chu Han thought for a moment. “I had a drink with him that time, and he inadvertently revealed that Yi had done many things that he himself dared not do. He said that sending his youngest son to the Regent’s Palace was something he had always wanted to do, but he didn’t know how to do it. He gave up when he thought about the many troubles that would arise after sending him there. But unexpectedly, that person fulfilled his wish.”

“After all, Young Master Lan is their son.” Shen Cha thought for a moment, looked at Xiao Fengqi, and said, “Since it’s a setup, Aunt and Grandfather Qi shouldn’t have been unaware of it. Their cooperation shows a tacit understanding between them?”

"Probably. Perhaps they didn't notice at first, but they should have realized it after leaving the palace. However, the biggest beneficiary of this game is Young Master Lan, while the biggest victim is..."

"It's quite obvious that the two little princes, Consort Rong, and the people of the Rong family were all thoroughly outmaneuvered."

“Yes.” Xiao Fengqi sighed. “Actually, I also had doubts about this, so I specifically asked my great-aunt.”

"What did you ask?"

"Since they knew it was a setup, why did they make everyone in the manor so prepared?" Xiao Fengqi spread his hands. "I've never really understood. According to their plan, neither the young prince, the Rong family, nor Consort Rong could have actually launched a palace coup that day. Although they had two thousand soldiers, and although the two young princes were under the control of Linhuang Manor at that time, it coincided with the arrival of tribal leaders with their personal guards in the capital to report on their duties. The men they brought were all capable fighters, and if anything had really happened, they wouldn't have agreed to it. So, no matter what the Rong family did, it wouldn't have any effect, and that proved to be true. But the question is, knowing that nothing would happen, why did they make everyone so tense? Or are they afraid that something unexpected might happen?"

"They're probably worried about something unexpected happening." Chu Han cleared his throat, took the fruit tea Merlin handed him, and smiled. "It tastes good."

Merlin didn't speak, but nodded slightly, served everyone freshly made fruit tea, and then returned to his seat.

“What my great-uncle said is true. It’s hard to predict the situation when a palace coup will happen. You might think they don’t have the guts, or that it might be all bark and no bite, but it’s also possible that they will be provoked by the situation and take the risk, and the coup will actually happen. If they really do stage a coup without making any preparations, then it will truly be a disaster,” Shen Cha sighed.

“That’s right.” Chu Han nodded. “So, the preparations were made to prevent this from happening. Fortunately, nothing happened.”

"Yes, thank goodness nothing happened." Xiao Fengqi sighed. "It's also fortunate that the Regent struck first and crippled them. Otherwise, who knows what those two hotheads might have done."

"And then?" Jin Miaomiao blinked. "The Rong family ran away, and the Regent Prince led his men into the palace without any hindrance? Are the two who were beaten in bad shape?" "They are indeed not in good shape." Xiao Fengqi nodded. "When they arrived at the palace, they were basically on their last breath. However, the late king had the imperial physician examine them and said that it was just a superficial injury, not a serious problem. They would be fine after a month or two of proper care. I heard that Consort Rong even came to cry and wail, but the late king did not see her. He only ordered someone to take her to the palace gate to see the Rong family's private soldiers who were being held captive, and to tell her what had happened."

"and then?"

"I can't remember exactly whether she was confined for half a year or a year. But before her confinement was lifted, a white silk ribbon ended her life." Xiao Fengqi spread his hands. "As for the two princes and the Rong family, they were also punished quite severely. However, they vented all their resentment on the Xiao family and the Qi family, which is why Mian appeared in Linhuang Prefecture and asked our benefactor to come and investigate."

"So, it's not just the Rong family that's colluding with Mian, right?"

"Yes!" Xiao Fengqi nodded. "It's not just Mian; many people are also involved in the Shi family's 'Civet Cat Project,' and most of them are..."

“Those who are related to the aristocratic families of the Central Plains and Jiangnan.” Seeing Xiao Fengqi nod, Chu Han smiled. “Actually, Yi saw this a long time ago.”

"he?"

“Yes!” Chu Han nodded. “After we finished dealing with the Sleep and the Tanuki Plan, we continued to investigate other cases according to the original plan. When we passed through Linhuang Prefecture, I went to see the Prince of Liao. Now that I think about it, I should have met Yi. He wasn’t surprised to see me. We played chess and chatted for a while. I told him about the Sleep and the Tanuki Plan. He wasn’t surprised at all that these people in Linhuang Prefecture would have such an idea.”

"why?"

"The families involved are mostly those that have fallen on hard times, or those that are ambitious but incompetent, or those with a lot of messy affairs at home, and they all have to send their children away. He knows all of that."

"The King of Liao?" Seeing Chu Han nod, Jin Miaomiao pouted, "This Yi is really amazing, he knows everything."

"Compared to A, his passion for politics can be described as unprecedented and unparalleled." Chu Han smiled. "B is someone who works in the shadows, who can go without food or sleep, but must handle politics, and no matter how small the matter is."

“Yes!” Xiao Fengqi nodded. “When I was a child, I felt that the late king was a bit too energetic. Anyway, I heard from Young Master Lan and Young Master Nan that the light in his study was never off.” He spread his hands. “The late king’s health wasn’t good to begin with, and he just kept going like that…” He sighed and said, “But now that I think about it, it seems that the two brothers were pretty much the same in their later years, both sickly and weak. I feel…” He looked at Jin Miaomiao, “Lord Jin, do you think Young Master Lan or Young Master Nan might have had similar conditions?”