Assassination

Recruitment. Xu Yuan had indeed entertained similar thoughts. Ever since they met, Young Master Wang's manner of speech and conduct, along with the series of methods he used while handling various chamber of commerce affairs along the way, had genuinely impressed him—especially the man's analytical assessment of Great Yan's commercial market as a whole. He was someone of great foresight. Having systematically studied modern management, Xu Yuan found that his own insights fell short of this man's in several respects. Yet as the two traveled north together, that notion had gradually faded. The chambers of commerce this Young Master Wang managed were all quite large. While they did not match the scale of the Tian'an Chamber of Commerce in those commanderies and prefectures, they still ranked within the top ten. Young Master Wang had once mentioned that his father served as an official in the imperial court. Since he came from the bureaucracy, a family of that stature had almost certainly taken a side long ago. If they backed the Chancellor's Manor, there was no need for Xu Yuan to recruit him; if they backed the imperial clan, someone of that scale was completely beyond his ability to recruit anyway. Thus, Xu Yuan's intention to recruit had shifted into merely befriending him and biding his time. After all, his current identity was fake. If the guy ever hit a dead end, Xu Yuan could use this connection to offer him a lifeboat and a second chance. Who would have thought this kid was waiting for him right here? The jade had settled without a sound. Looking at the jade medallion on the table, the muscles on Xu Yuan's face twitched almost imperceptibly. He had one of these in his Sumeru ring too. It was not made of jade, but purple iron crystal, yet it bore an engraved dragon and was similarly inscribed with the character "Three." The Third Prince, Li Junqing. On the stage, the courtesans' dance remained soft and graceful, with ethereal, floating music drifting out from behind the platform. Li Junqing stared at him with a smile and spoke softly: "Brother Zhou, I hope you will assist me in compiling the Compendium of Industry and Commerce." Xu Yuan froze for an instant, his gaze soon turning somewhat odd. "A treatise on business?" The Third Prince let out a long sigh. "Brother Zhou, though Imperial Father currently places great importance on industry and commerce, the methods of management still rely almost entirely on customary tradition. Relevant literature and ancient records are scarce. I wish to share Imperial Father's burdens, but lack the talent. Observing Brother's phrasing and demeanor over this past month, it is clear you have a grand design in mind." "..." Hearing this, Xu Yuan remained expressionless, giving no response. Commerce across the realm was flourishing nowadays, subtly developing various marketing and management techniques that bordered on modern. Yet due to the insular flow of information and the tendency of lineages to jealously guard their trade secrets, the lifelong wisdom many head shopkeepers accumulated was either taken to their graves or passed down solely to their sons. And if the son proved useless, the lineage simply died out. In other words, no one had yet systematically compiled this knowledge. Judging by his words, however, it seemed Li Junqing was already working on it. Very interesting. The problem was that Xu Yuan had previously showcased his knowledge and perspectives to this Third Prince precisely to establish authority and show his worth, paving the way to recruit him later. And now... Clearing his throat, Xu Yuan shook his head. "I, Zhou Chen, am hardly equal to such an immense task." The Third Prince sighed, setting aside his indolent air, his expression turning solemn. "The way of commerce is the grand path to enriching the nation. Yet commercial texts are scarce, and parties from all walks guard what knowledge they possess like treasures, leaving talented men without books to learn from. "Brother Zhou, if you could compile your knowledge into volumes, in the future, even the imperial policy examinations might test examinees on your writings alongside the Four Books and Five Classics. A glorious undertaking that benefits a thousand generations—this is the merit of a Saint!" *The merit of a Saint...* Listening to these words, Xu Yuan felt rather amused. This Third Prince certainly knew how to work people. Xu Yuan hadn't even agreed yet, and the prince was already painting cakes—painting the grand cake of a Saint's legacy that would endure for millennia. If Xu Yuan hadn't studied the art of making empty promises himself, he might have actually bought into it. Still, what the Third Prince intended to do was genuinely surprising. Only with books could people study. This Third Prince wanted to establish a complete training system for commercial talents on behalf of the imperial clan, steadily churning out all manner of business minds. Seeing Xu Yuan remain silent, the Third Prince sighed. "Brother Zhou need not mind my status. You may refuse or accept as you please." As he spoke, his slender fingers lightly tapped the jade medallion of imperial identity resting on the table. Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan kept his expression carefully measured. "Your Highness the Third Pr—" Li Junqing waved a hand, speaking with an easygoing flair: "Brother Zhou and I hit it off from our very first meeting. You are a year older than me; simply call me little brother or Junqing..." "Ah, Junqing..." "..." The Third Prince paused. Maintaining an elegant smile, the prince nodded. Xu Yuan rubbed the rim of his porcelain teacup with his finger and said with downcast eyes, "Junqing, in recruiting me like this, have you considered my family background?" Hearing this, the Third Prince narrowed his eyes and chuckled heartily, leaning back against his chair. "Since Brother Zhou is so forthright, I won't beat around the bush either. Though Brother Zhou possesses immense talent in commerce, I imagine your family's influence is not particularly great." "Oh? How so?" Xu Yuan continued tracing the rim of the cup. The Third Prince pre-emptively shielded himself: "Brother Zhou, my following words carry no offense." "Mm," Xu Yuan nodded. The Third Prince raised three fingers. "There are three points. "First, Brother Zhou, you are in your thirties, yet only possess a sixth-rank cultivation. This cultivation is somewhat low. Barring natural invalids like Third Young Master Xu, the core scions of prominent clans can all have their cultivations piled up with pills and resources, reaching at least the fifth rank." Saying this, the Third Prince glanced at Xu Yuan and folded one finger back. Xu Yuan listened without uttering a word. Seeing this, the Third Prince continued: "Second, I hold some authority within the Imperial Shadow Guard, yet I have never heard of someone like Brother Zhou in the Imperial Capital. Given your age and talent, were you from a prominent clan, it is impossible I wouldn't have heard of you. Even if you truly belonged to such a clan, you would at most be from a suppressed branch family. "Third, if Brother Zhou's family were truly so grand that even I could not recruit you, you wouldn't travel outside without so much as a single accompanying attendant. A young master from the household of a third-rank court minister would at least have a third-rank grandmaster following him." With that, all three fingers were curled back. Just then, the effeminate man approached carrying breakfast, including a tray of meat congee, and gently placed the dishes onto the table. Xu Yuan took a bowl of demonic beast meat congee, blew on it lightly, then looked up into the Third Prince's eyes and asked, "So Junqing had it all worked out." Most first- and second-rank posts in the Great Yan Dynasty were purely honorary titles; the third rank was already the pinnacle of real authority. After all, even the Prime Minister was merely a second-rank official in Great Yan. Substantive posts at the level of vice ministers and ministers of the various ministries were practically all staunch loyalists, but below that, it was a game of maneuvering. People who defected to the other side because they were undervalued were everywhere. Noncommittal, the Third Prince took a flask of fine wine from his Sumeru ring and poured a cup for each of them. "If Imperial Brother learns of Brother Zhou, I imagine he will be quite delighted as well." "..." Hearing this, Xu Yuan rolled his eyes inwardly. Painting cakes again. "Imperial Brother" presumably referred to the Crown Prince. When the intangible cake of "glory for a thousand generations" failed, he switched to the merit of aiding the dragon to the throne. This Third Prince's skill in making empty promises was truly consummate—not a single word about concrete compensation. After a brief silence, Xu Yuan took a sip of the meat congee, dabbed the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, and said in a mild tone, "Junqing, but what if my father studied under Duke Xu?" Without hesitation, as though he had long anticipated this, the Third Prince replied: "Duke Xu is a pillar of our Great Yan, bending his back to the task for the realm and its people." Halfway through, his tone paused, and he enunciated each word: "Yet Brother Zhou must understand that Duke Xu also serves the realm of Great Yan. Moreover, with his busy administrative duties, His Lordship likely cannot spare the sight for you." Xu Yuan chuckled and shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, the effeminate man chimed in with a soft, breathy voice: "My master is a forthright person, which Young Master Zhou must have seen along our journey. It is inconvenient for him to discuss stipends and official ranks, but as long as you come over, it will certainly not be worse than what a servant like me receives." "How should I address this Eunuch?" Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the effeminate man. Discounting his memories, this was probably the first time he had seen a living eunuch. When he first saw the man's effeminate demeanor, he hadn't thought of eunuchs—after all, there were men like Si Ziyu who were naturally feminine. Who knew he truly was one? Now that there was no need to keep up pretenses, the effeminate man rolled his eyes and laughed. "Aiyo~ Young Master Zhou certainly has a way with words. This servant would not dare claim the title of 'Eunuch.' Nowadays I am merely a castrated wretch attending my master, though this servant's surname is Hou." "Then thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Hou." Xu Yuan gave a slight smile, then shifted the conversation with a shake of his head: "However, this matter still requires further consideration. My father's standing in the Chancellor's Manor is passable, and for the time being, he has no intention of switching allegiances." As his words fell, silence descended. The Third Prince's smile remained, though a hint of contemplation crept into his eyes. Eunuch Hou's smile, however, carried a chill as his fingers gently rested on the hilt of the blade at his waist. Xu Yuan noticed, but paid it no heed. Instead, he kept his gaze on the chuckling Third Prince across from him. "It seems Junqing has other arrangements for me?" The Third Prince spread his hands and laughed. "If a talent like Brother Zhou were put to great use under Duke Xu, I fear another Hua Hong would emerge—no, several Hua Hongs." Xu Yuan looked impassive, taking a sip of wine. "Junqing truly thinks highly of me. If not for the fact that my father truly cannot betray the Chancellor's Manor, I would indeed love to venture forth alongside you." The Third Prince tapped the table. "Betrayal is merely a matter of raising the price in a business deal." Xu Yuan smiled faintly. "Junqing, you cannot afford that price." The Third Prince sighed. "...Loyalty, is it? Duke Xu truly is an exceptional man." After a brief silence, the Third Prince picked up his chopsticks and gestured to the fine dishes on the dining table. "Brother Zhou, this meal is the last hospitality I will offer you." "A condemned man's last meal?" Xu Yuan did not shy from the topic. From opposing standpoints, if an opponent could be eliminated, they naturally should be. If he had the means, he would gladly eliminate this Third Prince as well. Hearing this, the Third Prince burst into laughter, his voice relaxed and casual. "You jest. After today, I will write a letter to Duke Xu, praising Brother Zhou's immense talent." "..." Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed. The Third Prince rolled up his sleeves, pouring wine and picking at the food. "Don't look at me like that. Duke Xu acts for the sake of Great Yan, and eliminating a talent like you would also be a loss for our Great Yan. "We are friends, not enemies." Pausing, the Third Prince seemed to remember something and suddenly looked up. "Oh, right. Once you gain power and prestige, remember to pay me back." "..." Xu Yuan chuckled, picking up some food with his chopsticks. "Huh? What money?" The Third Prince drew in a sharp breath, his chopsticks pausing. "Wait, did you forget the silver spent during our travels, Zhou Chen? Since you won't be following me, you naturally have to pay it back." "Wasn't that your treat?" "Earning money isn't easy these days." "Put it on tab for now. We'll talk about it later." "As you wish, but money lent by me accrues interest." "Whatever." Xu Yuan gave a dry chuckle. "Tsk." Having eaten and drunk their fill, Li Junqing leaned back in his chair behind the folding screen, picking his teeth with a jade toothpick as he watched Xu Yuan's departing figure walk out of the pavilion. Once Xu Yuan vanished past the doorway, Eunuch Hou asked in a hushed voice, "Your Highness, are we truly letting this person go?" "Duke Xu and we are friends, not enemies." Li Junqing murmured with a sigh, "The Chancellor's Manor truly has wonderful luck; every talent belongs to them." Eunuch Hou fell silent for a moment before whispering, "Yet their Chancellor's Manor is now threatening His Majesty's imperial throne, and His Highness the Crown Prince also seems to..." "Eunuch Hou." Li Junqing cut him off, his voice hardening slightly as he shot a glance at his personal attendant. "Do not make me repeat myself a third time." At those words, Eunuch Hou dropped straight to his knees. "This servant spoke out of turn." "All right, get up." Li Junqing rose and stretched lazily. "Whether Duke Xu will even believe a letter from me, the Third Prince, is an open question. He might even take him for a spy. Why worry so much?" Saying that, he walked toward the stairs. Stepping out from behind the screen and taking only a few paces, Li Junqing suddenly heard the sound of footsteps coming from the entrance of Qifeng Pavilion's main hall. Immediately after, Xu Yuan's familiar voice echoed from afar: "Young Master Wang, you have friends looking for you." *Young Master Wang...* Li Junqing was taken aback. Why had this Zhou Chen returned? And now that their identities were out in the open, why call him Young Master Wang again? In his confusion, Li Junqing looked toward the pavilion entrance and saw six men clad in brocade robes following Xu Yuan into the hall, steadily closing in on him. As Xu Yuan walked, he smiled and chatted cheerfully with the six brocade-robed men around him: "That's right, the one in white robes is Young Master Wang. I also met him for the first time here in Qifeng Pavilion." Li Junqing swept his gaze across the faces of the brocade-robed men, finding them completely unfamiliar. He extended his intent-soul, only to discover that with his cultivation level, he could not see through their auras. The aura was ghostly, yet familiar. After a moment's thought, Li Junqing recalled where that familiarity came from. During his travels, he had struck a massive deal with the Wokou along the southeastern coast. The attendants beside that so-called "daimyo" possessed this very aura. *Tsk. I merely swindled six million taels of standard silver out of him with empty hands to fill the state treasury, and he mobilized this fanfare of assassins?* While he was thinking, Eunuch Hou had already stepped in front of him to shield him. Xu Yuan had already begun to quietly retreat, while several of the brocade-robed men reached into their robes. "Young Master Wang, our master's silver—" Before the brocade-robed man could finish speaking, a sharp roar echoed through the entire hall: "Scoundrels! Let go of my brother! Whatever you want, come at me!" "..." Xu Yuan's footsteps paused. Xu Yuan glanced sideways at the surrounding brocade-robed men. The brocade-robed men also looked at him. Ethereal music swelled. Xu Yuan circulated the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art and drew the iron sword from his waist, bracing to face the enemies. Tugging at Eunuch Hou's sleeve, Li Junqing shouted at the top of his lungs: "Eunuch Hou, go help my brother! Don't worry about me! Brother, you go first—" *Void-Stepping Slash.* "..." Li Junqing.