Too high to reach

Chapter 368 It shouldn’t be
In the study in front of the Qi Prince's mansion, there lived Zhou Dong's childhood friend.

This person is of average ability and likes to drink, so he doesn't do as well as the others.

But he's good at social maneuvering and loves to flatter. Zhou Dong is one of those people he likes to flatter.

During this period, Zhou Dong and he became quite close. Drinking and complaining were the fastest ways to get closer.

Zhou Dong was generous, and when his childhood friend brought others along, he didn't mind. So, the friend used Zhou Dong's generosity to his advantage, flirting with everyone, and they all enjoyed eating and drinking with him.

After taking over the management, Mo Yi dealt with all those who were deeply involved with Feng Liniang and those who had problems in their work.

In reality, most people don't care who manages their household; they just work and eat no matter who they're with.

Some people are happy because someone's departure creates vacancies, increasing opportunities. Unexpected joy is the most delightful.

Of course, some were unhappy. Their power had been diminished, and their previous plans had fallen through. Having no way to deal with it, they liked to gather together and complain.

Some of the workers, who were valued by Feng Liniang and followed the rules well, seemed to be earning less than when they worked under her…

After several rounds of meals and drinks, Zhou Dong selected a few staunch supporters.

Since it was just eating, drinking, and chatting, and no one asked them to do anything, no one thought much of it.

This is exactly the result Zhou Dong wanted.

I'm maintaining it slowly, and I don't know when it will come in handy.

……

Prince Yong'an has been under a lot of pressure lately, and he's not eating or sleeping well.

They kept a close eye on the news from that side every day.

The news is just bits and pieces, nothing that clarifies the situation.

The people he sent to gather intelligence near Li Jing were all carefully trained. But either they had no people or no information, or what they brought back was useless... This shouldn't be.

He felt increasingly uneasy. He often paced back and forth like a caged beast, scratching his scalp until it was almost raw.

Finally, as the year drew to a close, I received some more news...

Others might not see anything wrong, but after all these years, he realized something was off!

There is definitely a problem!
How come, during the fighting, those so-called bandits started running towards my hideout? There are so many places they could go…

Prince Yong'an frowned as he looked at the map. "Is something really wrong, or am I just worrying too much?"

"My lord, the Prince of Qi's actions are indeed somewhat inexplicable... We must not take this lightly. The people we sent over also gave incorrect feedback."

"Master, how about we fight?"

After thinking for a long time, the Prince of Yong'an finally shook his head: "That would be chaotic... It's not the right time..."

Chen'er is still young, and the Emperor's attitude is unclear;
The Crown Prince and Li Jing haven't even started fighting to the death yet;
I suffered a huge loss a few days ago;
"Send more assassins over there, and transfer people from these two locations...and also send some from here. Target Li Jing personally; kill him if you can, wound him if you can't. Capture the leader, and no matter what, stop the situation from escalating!"

The subordinate took his orders and left.

Prince Yong'an was a man who loved to hold grudges. "Bring everything related to Prince Qi's mansion. Let's see where we can get our hands on it! Even if the backyard catches fire first, that's fine too."

……

A man sits on a dock on a canal more than a thousand miles from the capital.

He was dressed in coarse linen clothes, with socks of indistinct color and straw sandals. His head was covered with a turban, revealing skin that was dark and shiny.

He looks like a dockworker.

He had something dangling from his mouth, squinting as he gazed at the ship about to enter the dock in the distance.

It must be quite cold in Beijing right now, right?

His room has a heated wall, making it warm all year round.

Stepping outside, he donned a mink cloak. Thick-soled cloud-patterned sandals, he stepped onto the bench in front of the carriage…

After entering officialdom, he followed his superiors and quickly became accustomed to that bureaucratic way of doing things.

Doing things at a leisurely pace, sometimes you don't even know what you've done in a whole day.

When so-called important people speak, one has to look at their words, tone, expression, setting, reason, and each other's status to infer their meaning.

He adapted quickly and learned the ropes. So his promotion went very smoothly.

It was even starting to develop its own style, and then everything came to an abrupt halt...

He was forced out of it, and then he felt that he had wasted the first twenty years of his life... During this time, he played many roles: a young gentleman waving a golden fan, applying perfume, and speaking in a seductive manner...

A sickly but honest and poor scholar.

A spendthrift, foolish young master.

A rough, wealthy man.

A conman, the kind who swindles money and sex...

But no matter what they're dressed up as, in the end it's all crimson...

He was helping the prince secure the canal transport rights. Only then did he realize that the profits involved were far more than just money.

From trembling so much he could barely stand after killing someone, to now being able to eat steamed buns right there after killing someone... and all of this has only been a few months!?

He doesn't even know who he is.

But his boss patted him affectionately on the shoulder, "What a genius... he can play any role convincingly. Luckily, the master sent you."

He felt affirmed, but his feelings were complicated...

I learned to swim, and although my movements were so clumsy they were almost unbearable to watch, I was a silly little stray in the waves, and it actually worked...

“Ready…” a deep voice came from behind him.

The ship docked and dropped anchor. Four guards disembarked, including two or three men in brocade robes, who were chatting and laughing as they stepped off the ship, followed by other guards.

"Move!" came the order from behind.

Without hesitation, he pulled a knife from the cushion under his buttocks and rushed over...

……

It had already snowed at the mountain villa where Feng Liniang lived.

Thick and very cold.

The surrounding mountains were also covered in snow, which would probably only melt in the spring.

At this point, no one else would come, so she simply stopped coming out of the house altogether.

She was quite strong-willed and didn't overthink things, living her life as usual. She even made some underwear for herself and Shao Ge'er.

"I wonder how much taller he's grown? Does he even remember me...?"

Only when I think of this do I feel moved, and even shed tears.

It was snowing outside that day. The old woman who served her had just added firewood to the heated wall and went back inside to rest.

She lit a small charcoal stove in the house, preparing to brew tea.

The door creaked open, a gust of cold wind blew in, and then it closed again.

Feng Liniang thought the door had been blown open by the wind, but then she saw a man in a white cloak inside the house.

stranger……

"Ah!" She was about to scream when the man stepped forward, grabbed her by the neck, and she couldn't scream anymore.

"Madam, keep quiet, or I'll kill you." The man's expression remained completely blank.

Feng Liniang was so frightened she almost peed herself...

“You?” she said with difficulty.

“I am here on my master’s orders. If you can calm down, madam, I will let go and we can talk.” He loosened his grip slightly.

"Who is your master?" Feng Liniang calmed down.

In this kind of weather, anyone who can come here must be someone special.

It's very easy for you to kill yourself!
I didn't kill him, I just listened to what he had to say.

"Don't worry about this lady. My master told me to say that the King of Qi has been away for several months and hasn't returned, nor has there been any news. What he's doing over there is very dangerous; he's surrounded by enemies, and it's hard to say whether he'll return safely."

The Princess Consort of the Prince's manor is pregnant. If she gives birth to a son, even if Prince Qi is in trouble, your son will not be able to control the manor. Therefore, would you like to come down the mountain with me and lie in wait, so that when the opportunity arises, my master will assist the lady..."

"Why did your master help me?" Feng Liniang asked, squinting her eyes.

There is no free lunch.

"Ah, that's not something Madam should worry about. Madam only needs to understand that if Princess Mo gives birth to a son, Madam will never have a chance to turn things around..."