She Isn't Foolish

Fake his death? Hearing his father's words, Xu Yuan's brow arched slightly as a whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind. As things stood, even though the vast majority of high-ranking figures across the world's sects still took him for nothing more than an idle playboy, quite a few individuals already knew his true standing in the Prime Minister's Manor. In the current climate, slipping out of their sight by faking his death and working behind the scenes was indeed an excellent option—at least until his cultivation grew strong enough to keep him safe. The real issue, however, was this: Could they actually keep it under wraps? Of the five who had ambushed and tried to assassinate him in Huizhou, three were dead, but two had managed to escape alive. If those two ever talked, the charade would fall apart immediately. And the consequences of that unraveling would be severe... Xu Changtian was clearly alive, yet the Prime Minister's Manor had proclaimed to the entire world that he had passed away. What was the meaning of that? The higher-ups of the various factions were no fools. The moment the truth of the whole affair was laid bare before their eyes, whether through the grand scale of that assassination or the manor's deliberate deception, one conclusion would become unmistakably clear: Xu Changtian, who was supposed to be a useless dandy, was actually an indispensable figure to the Prime Minister's Manor. The secret of Xu Yuan's true identity, which had previously been confined to a very small circle, would instantly spread to the entire realm. As these thoughts flickered through his mind, Xu Yuan looked across the stone table at Xu Yinhe's calm, impassive face. He almost opened his mouth to ask, only to realize in the nick of time how foolish a question it would be. If he could think of it, how could his old man have missed it? His father was doing this because the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion wouldn't dare say a word. The Transcendent Realm expert who had pinned down Lou Ji had destroyed every shred of evidence linking them to the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion before dying. If they leaked the information now, wouldn't that be tantamount to announcing to the world that they were behind the assassination? Letting out a soft breath, Xu Yuan lowered his voice and asked instead, "Father, are you planning to make an issue out of my 'death'?" Xu Yinhe picked up the teapot in front of him, poured himself a cup, and replied in an unhurried tone, "A great deal happened while you were unconscious. Our Prime Minister's Manor needs a simple housecleaning, and several fence-sitters planted in court by the sects also require a trumped-up charge to send them on their way." A boundless expanse of azure stretched across the sky, with balmy sunlight cascading down like a waterfall. Xu Yuan glanced at the koi blowing bubbles at the surface of the pond outside the pavilion, a faint frown creasing his brow. His father's words were brief, but they carried a massive amount of weight. The situation throughout Great Yan had clearly grown far tenser than it had been before he fell unconscious. Launching a major internal purge in the manor at a time like this was hardly a wise decision on the surface. Yet Xu Yuan had little objection to it. After all, across those worldlines in *Cangyuan*, the Prime Minister's Manor had held such an overwhelmingly dominant hand that victory seemed assured, yet their position had inexplicably collapsed. While external meddling from the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion played a role, there had undoubtedly been internal rot within the manor as well. Thanks to his memories of his past life, Xu Yuan could vouch for the loyalty of top-tier figures like Lou Ji and Zong Qingsheng. But he had no way of knowing about those a tier below them, let alone the core figures of the manor who had never appeared in *Cangyuan*. For his father to bring this up now, he had likely uncovered something... Just as Xu Yuan was lost in thought, Xu Yinhe's steady voice drifted from across the table: "I expected you to advise against it, Changtian." "..." Xu Yuan raised his eyes, meeting a gaze as sharp as a hawk's. A slight tremor ran through his heart, but he quickly offered a faint smile. "Whatever you choose to do, Father, you must have your reasons." Yet Xu Yinhe's sharp, placid gaze remained fixed on Xu Yuan's eyes. The corner of his mouth curved up slightly. "On this matter, Changtian, do you truly have nothing to say?" After a moment's silence, Xu Yuan let out a soft sigh. "Father, carrying out an internal purge at a time like this is not wise. But if it isn't done now, it will be too late once things descend into utter chaos down the road." Xu Yinhe took a delicate sip of the fragrant tea from his porcelain cup, his voice tinged with amusement. "When did you learn to play both sides like those ministers in court, Changtian?" Xu Yuan clicked his tongue. Seeing no way out of it, he threw his hands up and said casually, "I don't know your subordinates, so what can I say? "Those veterans in the manor may have followed you all their lives, but that doesn't mean they've stayed the same people they were at the beginning. "Back then, you and they had nothing to lose, so there was nothing to hold you back. But now everyone has made a name and fortune. Even if you can climb a step higher, for them—" "Mind your words, Changtian," Xu Yinhe cut him off. "Didn't you ask me to speak?" Xu Yuan chuckled, glancing around the quiet courtyard. "Besides, there are no outsiders here, are there?" Xu Yinhe stared at Xu Yuan with a helpless expression for several breaths before shaking his head and murmuring, "Indeed, there are no outsiders. But if your elder brother or maternal uncle were to overhear such talk, it would still cause unnecessary trouble. "Changtian... "Even if words are spoken without intent, once certain ideas take root, they will sprout in people's hearts." "..." Xu Yuan paused for a moment, then gave a rueful chuckle. He truly had been a bit careless, or perhaps he still hadn't fully adjusted to his current identity. Here, in the second heart of power within the Great Yan Dynasty, a single word—even one meant entirely in jest—could be taken as gospel by those below, who would promptly run off to prepare for it. Make jokes like that too often, and one morning you might wake up to find a crowd of subordinates blocking your door with an imperial dragon robe, dropping to their knees to force you into it. Nodding, Xu Yuan steered the conversation back on track and said quietly, "In any case, people change. No matter how steadfast one's ideals were back then, after several decades, a shift of some kind is inevitable. "When stepping back would allow them to comfortably enjoy wealth and glory, yet you, their leader, still wish to pursue that original ideal, it's hardly surprising that some of them would develop other ambitions. "Purging that faction might cause localized, temporary pain, but it will be immensely beneficial for the future." With that, Xu Yuan shifted the topic, a touch of surprise coloring his voice: "Still, did you say there are also sect agents in the imperial court?" Compared to his old man's internal purge, this came as far more of a shock. His father had spoken lightly, but the implication was staggering. The Emperor in Jinluan Hall and his old man sitting before him were two powerhouses who had held the court in an iron grip for years. The high officials had long since been culled until only the imperial faction and the Prime Minister's faction remained. Claiming there were sect people in court meant moles had wormed their way into either the Prime Minister's camp or the royalist camp. To Xu Yuan's question, Xu Yinhe replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Changtian, never underestimate the world, and never underestimate the sects. The only reason they are constantly on the back foot and constrained right now is that their internal interests are not aligned for the time being. "The Black Qilin Army, the Gewu Academy, and even Lou Ji's Black Scale Guards—any of them could harbor their people." Hearing this, Xu Yuan let out a soft sigh. No matter how brilliant Lou Ji's intelligence network was, there was simply no avoiding this problem. It was a fundamental flaw born of the manor's rapid expansion. Growing into such a colossal behemoth over just a few decades meant they had been forced to absorb vast quantities of fresh, outside blood. Just as Lou Ji could casually scatter a handful of seeds across the realm decades ago, allowing them to grow independently into contacts for the Black Scale Guards, the sects—and even the imperial family—could do the exact same thing to the Prime Minister's Manor. Watching the calm, steady expression on his father's face, Xu Yuan understood. His old man was showing him his hand. He was telling him that the manor's current situation was nowhere near as glamorous as it appeared on the surface. Though there was room for error, taking a single wrong step would still come at an immense cost. After a moment's contemplation, Xu Yuan asked, "Father, if those people are hiding in court, why would they jump out now? And why do you need an excuse just to crush them?" Xu Yinhe smiled faintly and replied softly, "Because the Imperial Preceptor has entered the capital." *The Imperial Preceptor has entered the capital...* Hearing those words, Xu Yuan's thoughts raced, and he instantly understood why those moles hiding within the imperial and prime minister factions had chosen this moment to reveal their allegiance to the sects. The sects needed a voice in court regarding the matters on the Northern Border. It was cumbersome, ceremonial red tape, but it was absolutely essential. The traditional order had not yet collapsed, and everything still had to be conducted according to the rules. Within the Great Yan Dynasty, absolute righteousness emanated from the imperial court. Without those voices speaking up in court, the sects' stance regarding the Northern Border would perpetually remain on the defensive under the weight of that moral high ground. With that realization, Xu Yuan looked at his father and murmured, "Father, for the Imperial Preceptor to enter the capital at a time like this..." "He also brought his disciple along," Xu Yinhe cut him off. "..." Xu Yuan froze. *Wait... who was the Imperial Preceptor's disciple again?* Xu Yuan licked his lips and ventured tentatively, "Ran Qingmo came too?" "Yes." Xu Yinhe's lips held a smile, though a complicated look flickered in his eyes as he looked at Xu Yuan. "What's more, she is inside the manor right now." "..." The moment he heard that, Xu Yuan's gaze went blank, his brain momentarily locking up. It wasn't that he was overwhelmed with joy that the Big Ice Block was here; rather, he simply couldn't fathom why she would be staying inside the Prime Minister's Manor. The Imperial Preceptor had entered the capital, prompting high officials to defect from the imperial and prime minister factions to the sects. Now his old man was about to deal with those sect plants in court, yet the Imperial Preceptor's disciple was staying right under their roof... What was the meaning of this? Watching his third son's reaction, Xu Yinhe looked quite pleased. He was glad that the first emotion to flash across the boy's eyes was confusion, not delight. It meant he was not someone whose rational judgment was easily swayed by sentiment. "If you have questions, you may ask me directly." "..." Xu Yuan breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had half expected his old man to give him a meaningful look and tell him to figure it out himself. Fortunately, none of the manor's higher-ups, including his father, had a habit of playing the riddler with their heir. "Given the current climate, why is Ran Qingmo inside our manor?" Xu Yinhe gave a straightforward answer: "Because I reached an agreement with Ran Jianli to collaborate against the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. One of the conditions was ensuring the safety of his disciple, Ran Qingmo." *Against the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion...* The face of that punching-bag Saintess immediately popped into Xu Yuan's mind, bringing a headache with it. What was this? Teaming up with the main wife to beat the second wife black and blue? The amusing thought vanished in a flash, and Xu Yuan quickly brought his focus back to the matter at hand. He wasn't surprised that his old man was targeting the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. His son had been assassinated and turned into a monster; as a father, there was no way he would swallow such an insult. "But... we probably don't have any evidence, do we?" "I am merely paying them back in their own coin. No evidence is required—only a list provided by Ran Jianli." "Then on that list..." Xu Yuan's voice lowered, sounding tentative. "Rest assured, the Saintess is not on it." "..." Xu Yuan fell silent. After a quiet moment, he let out a faint sigh and asked softly, "I understand the gist of it. But Father, during the month I was unconscious, what exactly happened on the Northern Border?" To that question, Xu Yinhe did not give an immediate answer. Instead, he said, "The situation on the Northern Border is somewhat complicated and cannot be explained in a few words. If you are curious, you may go to the study and read the memorials yourself, as well as the internal intelligence reports from the past month." At this point, Xu Yinhe paused, catching the faint, barely perceptible trace of worry in his third son's eyes. He sighed. "You needn't worry. Even if something happened to you, that Wuyuan girl would come to no harm." Hearing that tacked-on reassurance, Xu Yuan offered an awkward, sheepish smile. He felt as though his old man had seen right through him. "*Sigh...*" Xu Yinhe let out a gentle sigh. Straightening the black dragon robe around himself, he slowly rose to his feet and asked with an offhand smile, "Changtian, since Ran Jianli's disciple is here in the manor, do you wish to see her? She has been waiting for you for over a month." "..." At the question, the image of that Big Ice Block wearing her muli veil surfaced in Xu Yuan's mind. A smile instinctively curved his lips, and he was about to nod in agreement when the words caught in his throat. Xu Yuan lowered his voice and asked, "Father, you mentioned earlier that you plan to announce my death to the world?" "Yes." "When you collaborated with the Imperial Preceptor, did he know the specifics of my condition?" "He did not." "..." After several seconds of silence, Xu Yuan murmured quietly, "In that case... it's better if I don't see her." Standing in the pavilion as the balmy breeze brushed past his black robe, Xu Yinhe looked deeply at Xu Yuan. "Do you not trust the Ran girl, Changtian?" Xu Yuan shook his head helplessly. "No, I trust her. If I tell her that my survival must remain a secret, she won't tell her master." "Then why refuse to see her?" Xu Yinhe asked. Silence followed his words. Xu Yuan lifted his gaze toward the vast blue sky and murmured softly, "Ran Qingmo might not seem the sharpest, but she... isn't actually foolish. "If I tell her about this, it will only put her in an agonizing position."