Zhou Yuan took out a brand-new envelope from his embrace.
“There is a power to the east of the Imperial City, called the Azure Sea Listening Tide Pavilion. It has been deeply rooted for many years and has a powerful background. But to put it bluntly, it is actually a high-class brothel.”
Zhou Yuan said indifferently:
“Those who can patronize the Azure Sea Listening Tide Pavilion are either high-ranking officials or wealthy merchants. To put it plainly, it is a high-class brothel.”
“And the first thing I want you to do is to enter here and help me investigate a girl named Jiu Er.”
“I suspect she is an informant for the Sky Weaving Pavilion.”
“Sky Weaving Pavilion?” Li Zao's eyes narrowed slightly, and he looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, “Is it that force which made its fortune by selling military secrets, and despite several purges, still stands tall and even grows stronger?”
Zhou Yuan nodded and said seriously, “That’s the one.”
Li Zao took the envelope with a solemn expression, opened it directly, and read it carefully. It contained the life history of the girl Jiu Er, her hobbies, and the friends she had made. It even recorded the merchant’s son named Yun Xuan, who had favored her the most.
Li Zao put away the envelope and frowned, looking at Zhou Yuan and asking:
“Since you have investigated the background of this girl Jiu Er so thoroughly, with only one step left, why don’t you do it yourself?”
“Also, I need to know, what is your purpose in investigating the Sky Weaving Pavilion?”
“Is it an order from His Majesty, or is there another hidden reason?”
Zhou Yuan smiled:
“It’s fine to tell you too.”
“I suspect that the Pavilion Master of the Sky Weaving Pavilion is Zhou Wuji.”
Xu Mu was startled: “Is it the owner of this courtyard, the current Crown Prince?”
Zhou Yuan nodded, his expression turning slightly cold:
“Since he left six years ago, I knew that Zhou Wuji would return from the border one day. Father originally wanted to make him the Crown Prince, and sending him to the border was just to gain the support of the military and further win over the officials.”
“But Father did not expect that in the six years he was away, not only did my fourth brother thrive with the help of his maternal family, but I also made a name for myself and achieved repeated merits. So, he might have wavered in choosing the heir to the throne.”
“But no matter what, Zhou Wuji is older than us, and he has the support of the military and the martial arts world. I am currently weak and must take some measures.”
“As long as I can prove that Zhou Wuji is the Pavilion Master of the Sky Weaving Pavilion, and present evidence of him leaking military and court secrets, Zhou Wuji’s status in the military and the martial arts world will plummet!”
Li Zao nodded in agreement.
The Sky Weaving Pavilion was Zhou Wuji’s right-hand man. Even if the investigation did not reveal him as the mastermind, it would still be a significant blow to him to have it eliminated with the help of the court.
“The Azure Sea Listening Tide Pavilion has too many powerful forces behind it, deeply entrenched, and there are many court officials. But I have no one there.”
Zhou Yuan continued: “If I were to use my personal power to investigate, and if I were accidentally exposed, it might leave me vulnerable to my other brothers. Especially my eldest brother, which is why I need you to act.”
After he finished speaking, there was silence in the warehouse.
Li Zao did not immediately respond, as she did not want to get involved in the power struggle of the Great Zhou royal family, which could lead to a terrible death if she was not careful!
Zhou Yuan was not in a hurry. He turned his head slightly, his gaze penetrating the wall, and looked towards the main courtyard of the Crown Prince’s mansion.
He seemed to see Zhou Wuji, who was struggling there, cleaning up the mess.
Although he won today, this blow was nothing to Zhou Wuji. He still had many opportunities to win over these ministers, because he had the support of the military and the intelligence network of the Sky Weaving Pavilion, holding the secrets of too many people.
“I promise you.”
After much deliberation, Li Zao nodded her assent.
Although investigating the Sky Weaving Pavilion was dangerous, she was willing to take the risk compared to being bound by that marriage contract from Zhou Yuan for the rest of her life.
“Very good.” Zhou Yuan nodded with admiration in his eyes, then looked at Xu Mu and said, “If I remember correctly, you need to return to Great Xia from Beilong Dao.”
Xu Mu looked at Zhou Yuan, frowning and asking:
“What’s wrong?”
Zhou Yuan smiled, took out a thick stack of envelopes from his embrace, and handed them to Xu Mu:
“Four years ago, a level five pollution source appeared on the border of Great Zhou. The heroic spirits who died on the battlefield all mutated into blood demons. The pollution spread so widely that it even affected the Xia Dynasty, causing heavy casualties to both sides!”
“And my imperial brother, Zhou Wuji, was the deputy general of the Red Flame Army in the border troops. The main general did not let him fight on the front lines to protect him, but only let him stay with the rear troops to eliminate any stragglers.”
“Later, this pollution source was suppressed by two powerful experts from Great Xia and Great Zhou. The most core pollutant was also taken away. But after all, this was a level five pollution source. In those vast mountains, how many treasures washed by dark energy remained?”
“The armies of Great Xia and Great Zhou divided their territories and went in to search. But at this time, Zhou Wuji also appeared, leading his personal guards and driving straight in. He did not stop even when he reached the search area of the Xia Dynasty, and he reaped a rich harvest. When he returned, he was discovered by a Xia Dynasty army. Fearing punishment from the military law, Zhou Wuji led his men to eliminate that small team and paid them hush money afterward.”
“The Xia Dynasty military was furious and believed that this was done by the Zhou army. But unfortunately, all the Zhou soldiers who entered the mountains to search at that time had alibis. Without evidence, the Xia army had no choice but to give up.”
“But somehow, Zhou Wuji’s story spread. When the Xia Dynasty military requested an investigation, the Great Zhou military consistently claimed that Zhou Wuji was guarding food in logistics at the time, and they held firm. Therefore, the Xia army could do nothing.”
Zhou Yuan said indifferently.
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and asked, “You mean, you want me to go to the border army and help you find concrete evidence that Zhou Wuji killed the Great Xia army?”
Zhou Yuan nodded: “Yes.”
“In the information I gave you, there was a person who was Zhou Wuji’s confidant. When Zhou Wuji entered the mountains that year, he did not take him with him but left him in logistics.”
“I think those who truly went into the mountains with him and killed people must have been silenced by Zhou Wuji long ago, and it would be impossible to find anything out. So, I can only start from other places. That person is one of the breakthroughs, but how to implement it depends on you.”
Xu Mu frowned and said to Zhou Yuan: “To investigate something like this, I first need to infiltrate the border army. But right now, I can’t even get into Beilong Dao. How can you expect me to investigate?”
“That’s not difficult.” Zhou Yuan smiled slightly, turned around, and looked at the middle-aged man tied up with ropes and gagged with a radish.
The latter looked at Zhou Yuan, his eyes no longer holding the initial excitement, but deep fear.
Zhou Yuan and the others’ conversation did not exclude him.
He had heard too many things he shouldn’t have.
How could he avoid being silenced?
Zhou Yuan removed the radish from the man’s mouth. Before he could speak, the latter coughed violently and shouted, “Your Highness, as long as you don’t kill me, I will do anything. I have a way regarding Beilong Dao and the Red Flame Army!”
Zhou Yuan smiled slightly and untied the man’s ropes.
The feeling of constraint disappearing, the man immediately felt reborn. He glanced at Xu Mu with some fear, whose strength was too great, as if the ropes had snapped his blood vessels.
Yuan Mou lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his face pale. After a while, he finally recovered. He slowly sat up from the ground, his face slightly fearful as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said:
“I am Yuan Mou of the Tiger Roar Army, and like the Red Flame Army, I am also part of the border troops.”
Zhou Yuan heard this, looked at him, and smiled with narrowed eyes:
“Judging by your appearance, you are at least an official. Can you take someone to Beilong Dao and then transfer them to the Red Flame Army without any problems?”
Yuan Mou’s face was pale. He glanced at Xu Mu, then nodded and said, “The border army is currently short of personnel. I have a friend in the Red Flame Army, and it’s not difficult to transfer a soldier.”
Zhou Yuan nodded, helped him stand up. The latter was tall and burly, half a head taller than Zhou Yuan, but his presence was more than ten times weaker.
“You’re so obedient, you won’t betray us, will you?” Zhou Yuan unsealed the man’s ability-blocking acupoints and asked calmly.
Yuan Mou’s face was deathly pale:
“Your Highness, I just want to live.”
“If you don’t believe me, you can sign a contract with me. As long as it’s not a subservient contract that damages my dignity, I can accept it!”
Zhou Yuan looked at him, his eyes gradually becoming fervent, and sacred golden light poured from his pupils into the man’s sea of consciousness, leaving the latter in deep shock.
After an unknown amount of time, perhaps just a moment, the man emerged from the state of shock and illusion. He reached out and touched his body, then looked at Zhou Yuan with a pale face and asked:
“What… what did you do to me?”
Zhou Yuan did not answer, but simply patted his shoulder and smiled slightly, “Nothing.”
“From now on, you will take orders from him.”
Yuan Mou followed Zhou Yuan’s gaze to Xu Mu. Then, as if remembering something terrifying, he shuddered violently and knelt on one knee, cupping his fists and saying:
“Yuan Mou of the Tiger Roar Army, greetings, Officer!”
Xu Mu was slightly stunned, then scratched his head and said, “No need to be so formal, we are cooperating.”
“You can call me Brother Xu Xiao.”
“Yes, Brother Xu Xiao!”
Seeing this, Zhou Yuan turned his head indifferently and looked at Zuo Mingqiu, who was also calmly looking at him.
Li Zao and Xu Mu had already been assigned their missions. Only Zuo Mingqiu remained. What would he have him do?
“Do you want to return to Great Xia with Xu Mu?”
Hearing this question, Zuo Mingqiu shook his head, his eyes revealing a sharp glint: “Great Xia is too far from the hundred tribes.”
Zhou Yuan understood what Zuo Mingqiu meant and smiled, “Then you will follow me from now on.”
Hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu frowned:
“What do you mean?”
“Follow me and help me fight for the throne.” Zhou Yuan said, with his hands behind his back, looking seriously at Zuo Mingqiu, “After I ascend, I will help you ascend and reclaim the position of Heavenly Master.”
“And you yourself will become the highest-ranking royal attendant of my Great Zhou Dynasty. If you are willing, I can even let an outsider like you become the State Preceptor of my Great Zhou Dynasty, how about it?”
Hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu did not hesitate and directly shook his head: “I want to reclaim my position by my own strength, not by relying on you.”
“I also want to ascend the throne by my own strength.” Zhou Yuan looked at Zuo Mingqiu and smiled slightly, “To me, you are just a relatively firm stone. I need you to be a stepping stone so that my ascent can be easier and more stable.”
“But to yourself, am I not also a stone beneath your feet?”
Zhou Yuan looked at Zuo Mingqiu, his expression calm:
“Our relationship is simply mutual help, or rather, mutual exploitation.”
Hearing this, Zuo Mingqiu fell silent for a long time.
The conditions offered by Zhou Yuan were indeed very tempting. The latter was one of the princes with the greatest hope of ascending the throne in the current Great Zhou Dynasty, a half-step Human King realm expert ranked twentieth on the Boundary Ranking, and the State Preceptor Yuan Pu was his teacher.
If Zhou Yuan could indeed become the emperor, he would be able to borrow the power of the Great Zhou royal family.
“Yan Yu is no weaker than you. Even if you win in the end, do you think Baiyun Taoist Temple will let you return so easily?” Zhou Yuan looked at Zuo Mingqiu, his expression calm, his eyes carrying an unrefusable firmness. “You need me, Zuo Mingqiu, or rather, you need a force that can contend with Baiyun Taoist Temple.”
“Even if you don’t use my strength, with the help of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it can at least ensure that the battle between you and Yan Yu is fair.”
Xu Mu silently watched Zhou Yuan and Zuo Mingqiu converse, without interrupting. Although Yan Yu was his senior brother, he had indeed snatched Zuo Mingqiu’s position as Heavenly Master, so it was normal for Zuo Mingqiu to want it back.
However, his only hope now was that the two would only distinguish between victory and defeat, and absolutely not decide life and death!
“I promise you, but I have a condition.”
After a long time, Zuo Mingqiu sighed softly, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said, “I have a half-disciple, he must follow me.”
“Of course, no problem.” Zhou Yuan spread his arms open and laughed heartily, “Your disciple will not be bad. I naturally welcome him.”
“Hmm.” Zuo Mingqiu nodded. “Then it’s settled.”
Zhou Yuan then turned to look at Yuan Mou of the Tiger Roar Army and asked, “When are you scheduled to depart from the Imperial City?”
Yuan Mou’s face was solemn as he cupped his fists: “Reporting to Your Highness, the original departure time should be three days later. I still have a batch of goods to pick up.”
“That’s good.” Zhou Yuan nodded, then looked at Xu Mu and said with a smile, “Since you can only leave in three days, tonight, you will go to the Azure Sea Listening Tide Pavilion with Zuo Mingqiu and Li Zao.”
…