Chapter 600 - 337: I Am Invincible

The person wearing the white tiger pattern mask raised a hand to grasp the secret letter, unfurling it with his fingers to read the contents.

[On the night the plague broke out, Fledgling fell seriously ill.]

[Liu Hong was killed by Marquis Xiao with a single punch. Feng Erbao witnessed it with his own eyes and brought the corpse back to the Capital Prefecture.]

[Zhu Hao attempted to flee but was beheaded by Xiao Jinghong with a single sword strike.]

[Liu Hong’s son, Liu Taofang, was found dead in a guest room; the perpetrator remains unknown. Liu Taoyao and Liu Zhaoxue are missing.]

[Song Jinjian has appeared in Shu State, following Simurgh Phoenix.]

[The National Preceptor of Poshisu Country seeks a Closed-door Disciple; the son of King Landu has already set off to present himself.]

[The Barbarian Race shows signs of moving north, which seems to be related to the son of the Left King...]

After finishing the secret letter, the person wearing the white tiger pattern mask fixed his gaze on the very top line.

"Qingzhou is seriously ill? What a joke."

His voice was no longer as deep as before; instead, it carried a hearty, chuckling tone.

He then stood up and walked to the window. Pulling a snow-white falcon from his sleeve, he tied the secret letter to its leg and released it into the air.

The snow-white falcon instantly flapped its wings and soared high into the sky.

The person in the white tiger pattern mask watched as it circled twice in the air before landing somewhere in the eastern part of the Imperial City. A flash of displeasure crossed his dark eyes.

"Hmph, that dog Chen Xuanji couldn’t even hold out after cowering for five years, forcing me to sit here and rot.

"Sooner or later, I’ll settle this score with you..."

He grumbled and cursed for a while before leaning back in the Grandmaster’s Chair, crossing his legs, and leisurely drinking his wine. Between sips, he chewed on a few peanuts, producing loud CRUNCH CRUNCH sounds.

"At least there’s food and wine. Otherwise, there’s no way I’d let him order me around..." he muttered, his voice barely audible, as if he were worried about being overheard.

A moment later, only the sound of snoring remained in the Quiet Chamber.

Meanwhile, at the spot where the snow-white falcon had landed—the backyard garden of a sprawling five-courtyard mansion.

After reading the secret letter in his hand, Chen Xuanji paid no mind to Fledgling’s severe illness. Instead, he stared thoughtfully at a line further down.

"Song Jinjian went to Shu State..."

Chen Xuanji waved his hand, shattering the secret letter into pieces. Clasping his hands behind his back, he gazed at the plum blossoms in the garden.

He stood in silence for a moment before suddenly breaking into laughter. As he laughed, he looked toward the south.

He wasn’t looking very far, nor was he looking at the south of Great Wei. Rather, he was looking at a residence just one street over—a residence with a plaque hanging by its door that read "Cui Mansion."

"Old friend, I imagine you must be quite furious that I killed one of your dogs.

"Although Liu Hong didn’t die directly because of me, it can still be said that he died by the hands of the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family."

Chen Xuanji had always been a stern and unsmiling man. Yet at this very moment, he could no longer hold it in, nor did he want to. After playing this game of chess for so long, he had finally glimpsed the tip of that person’s iceberg. How could he not be thrilled?

"I should have known earlier. If the Ji State Trading Company didn’t have Da Shan behind them, they would never dare to be so unscrupulous."

After his laughter subsided, Chen Xuanji pondered for a moment before ordering a carriage to be prepared so he could head to the Imperial Palace to seek an audience with the Holy Emperor.

Shortly after, the carriage left the Chen Mansion and traveled north, coming to a halt outside the Imperial City.

Chen Xuanji stepped out, passing through the heavy city gates and bypassing several majestic grand halls at the front, before arriving at the Imperial Study in the rear.

He waited for the little eunuch guarding the door to go in and announce his arrival. Only then did he smooth out his Crane Patterned Crimson Robe and enter the study.

The eunuch attending inside subsequently took his leave, leaving only Emperor Wei and Chen Xuanji alone in the room. The two men exchanged a glance and, surprisingly, both broke into slight smiles.

Chen Xuanji bowed deeply and offered a respectful salute. "Holy Emperor..."

Before he could finish, Emperor Anhe waved his hand. "Xuanji, dispense with the formalities.

"Though there is a distinction between us as ruler and minister, we are also old friends of many years.

"Especially over these past five years, you have stayed by my side at every turn, offering your counsel. It has not been easy for you. Therefore, I grant you the privilege of forgoing the customary bow when you see me."

Chen Xuanji looked up at him. No longer declining the honor, he smiled and expressed his gratitude.

Emperor Anhe motioned for him to take a seat. "You’ve come all this way to see me. Have you received some news from the White Tiger Guard?"

"I will not hide it from the Holy Emperor. Over in Shu State..."

Chen Xuanji selectively relayed the contents of the secret letter, omitting only the part about Song Jinjian’s appearance in Shu State.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Anhe furrowed his brows slightly, a trace of displeasure coloring his expression.

"Do the Xiao Family grandfather and grandson really have so little regard for me? The two men I specifically requested both died by their hands?"

Chen Xuanji remained silent, allowing the emperor to vent his anger. He knew very well that Emperor Anhe wasn’t genuinely angry. They were two insignificant figures to begin with; if they died, they died.

Indeed, about half an incense stick of time later.

Emperor Anhe took a sip of tea, looked at him with a smile, and asked, "With Liu Hong and Zhu Hao dead, can our layout in Shu State be considered complete?"

He then quickly denied his own question. "The Xiao Family is still there.

"Not only are they still there, but they are also free from their restraints.

"My beloved minister, your strategy of sacrificing the plum tree to save the peach seems to have fallen short of your usual standard."

Chen Xuanji’s expression remained perfectly calm. "The fact that the Xiao Family passed the test is enough to prove that they are temporarily capable of defending Shu State."

"Oh?

"That matter... do you already have an answer?"

Meeting Emperor Anhe’s gaze, Chen Xuanji said softly, "The north."

Emperor Anhe’s smile gradually faded at those words. He stared at him for a long while before finally speaking.

"Why not the south?"

Chen Xuanji replied, "At first, I truly hoped the Holy Emperor would launch a southern expedition against the Barbarian Race to project our dynasty’s prestige.

"I spent five years causing discord between the Royal Family of Poshisu Country and King Landu, and I provoked internal strife within the Barbarian Race, doing everything possible to weaken them.

"However, the Barbarian Race’s territory is too vast, and they have countless experts among their ranks. Even if we mobilized the entire nation’s strength, it remains uncertain whether we could achieve victory in a single campaign."

Emperor Anhe remarked noncommittally, "Now that chaos has erupted in the south, it will allow the Xiao Family, which already has one foot in the grave, to guard the Southern Border without expending too much effort."

"What the Holy Emperor says is correct."

Chen Xuanji raised his hand and pointed toward the north. "In recent years, due to the border market trade, although the north’s military has grown stronger and their horses sturdier, they have also become immersed in a life of luxury and debauchery.

"Within two years, I am certain their coffers will be completely hollowed out.

"When that time comes, even if the Holy Emperor doesn’t launch a northern expedition, they will march south to raid our borders anyway.

"Rather than waiting passively, it is better for the Holy Emperor to seize the initiative and strike."

After hearing this, a hint of eagerness flickered in Emperor Anhe’s eyes, yet he shook his head with a laugh.

"Xuanji, what a brilliant feint to the east while attacking the west. Even I was almost fooled by you.

"From the very beginning, you had already made up your mind to have me launch a northern expedition, didn’t you?

"The reason you sent your two sons south was probably to stabilize the situation in Shu State. Whether the Xiao Family falls or not was never truly important."

Chen Xuanji lowered his head slightly. "I would not dare hide it from the Holy Emperor. I did indeed have such intentions."

Seeing this, Emperor Anhe pointed at him and scolded jokingly, "You... you really hide things deeply."

"I beg the Holy Emperor’s forgiveness."

Despite their banter, both men understood the truth—that the affairs of the world were constantly changing. Regardless of Chen Xuanji’s original plans, the fact that the Xiao Family still drew breath was an indisputable reality.

A smile returned to Emperor Anhe’s face, and he waved his hand. "Forget it, the north is fine too.

"Over these years, the people at the border markets have ventured deep into the Great Desert Grassland and have already thoroughly scouted the terrain, climate, and water sources there.

"With a northern expedition, my chances of victory are much greater!"

After chuckling for a moment, Emperor Anhe then asked, "But how do you plan to persuade the court ministers?

"Especially my respected teacher?"

Chen Xuanji bowed deeply. "Once the Ji State Trading Company and those Noble Families hit a wall and suffer losses in the south, that person... will naturally nod in agreement."

"The Ji State Trading Company?"

Emperor Anhe narrowed his eyes slightly, and his smile turned cold.

"Then proceed according to your thoughts. I shall await your good news!"

"Thank you for your approval, Holy Emperor!"

Shortly after, Chen Xuanji left with long, purposeful strides.

Following his departure, several imperial decrees were issued.

Yang Ye was to temporarily serve as the Governor of Shu State; Duke Dingyuan Xiao Yuan and Dingyuan Army Commander-in-Chief Xiao Jinghong were to be docked three years’ salary; Chen Yunfan of the Shu State Governor’s Office was to be rewarded for his meritorious deed of slaying Lv Jiunan...