Watching Han Qian hurriedly depart, Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong stood before the stone bridge, gazing at his retreating figure, and said to the youth beside him:

“Yang Yuanpu possesses mediocre qualifications, yet he has Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian, along with Marquis Xinchang Li Pu and Shen Yang helping him plot great affairs, and generals like Zheng Hui, Li Zhigao, Zhou Dan, Gao Chengyuan, and Guo Liang capturing cities and seizing strongholds for him. In this feudatory reduction campaign, he captured Tanzhou City with almost no effort at all. Now he even knows to remain patient and slow his attack on the remaining rebels to cultivate his strength. Perhaps the position of Chu sovereign will truly fall into his grasp. Qingyang, what do you think of Yang Yuanpu as a person?”

“When has my opinion ever mattered?” the youth said resentfully.

“How could it not matter? Qingyang, your husband must at least be a sovereign of a nation to be worthy. Otherwise, who could be worthy of you?” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong said with a smile.

“If Yang Yuanwo has a chance to ascend the throne, wouldn’t I have to marry that muddled and incompetent sickly wretch as a secondary consort?” The youth felt unspeakable dissatisfaction and depression about her already determined fate.

“As for Yang Yuanwo, if he ultimately ascends the throne in the Chu Kingdom, Chu will certainly descend into great chaos. At that time, it would also not be a blessing for our Shu Kingdom,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong said with emotion.

“If the Liang Kingdom simultaneously descended into chaos, wouldn’t that be even better?” The youth’s clear eyes suddenly brightened, then dimmed again as she said, “It’s just that Elder Brother, you’re suspected by Marquis Qingjiang, and this time you voluntarily requested to serve as emissary to Chu territory. If Chu truly descends into chaos, Elder Brother, you’ll likely have even less of a place to shelter.”

“Our Shu Kingdom’s strength is weak. If Liang is strong, they will attack Shu. If Chu is strong, they will also attack Shu! Compared to Shu’s survival or destruction, my life and death are a small matter,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong said. “If you truly can marry Yang Yuanpu as a consort, you must remember in your heart that Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian are perhaps our Shu Kingdom’s greatest threat!”

“Ah,” the youth asked with slight shock, “In this feudatory reduction, besides occupying Xuzhou, Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian haven’t had any dazzling achievements afterward. In several critical battles attacking Yuanling and Wuling, either Zheng Hui commanded the troops, or Marquis Xinchang Li Pu used Wen Ruilin’s strategies.”

“In the feudatory reduction campaign, it appears Marquis Xinchang Li Pu holds primary merit. But from when Zheng Hui led the Wuling Army to occupy Chenzhou and spy on Wuling, to when Li Zhigao led Dragon Sparrow Army elite forces to rush to the Yuan River and rendezvous with Wuling forces, the defeat of Tanzhou’s Ma clan was already determined. Father King also only made his final decision to negotiate peace with Chu after learning of this matter. Qingyang, up until that point, tell me whose merit was greatest?” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong asked.

“If you put it that way, it was Han Daoxun and his son Han Qian’s merit in managing Xuzhou that was greatest,” the youth said thoughtfully.

“Yes. Han Daoxun presented the ‘Memorial on Epidemic Waters,’ and thus the Dragon Sparrow Army was formed. Afterward, Han Daoxun traveled far to Xuzhou to serve as Regional Inspector. At that time, many people didn’t understand the meaning. Looking back at this matter today, you’ll realize how terrifying some people’s calculations are!”

“When Han Daoxun went to Xuzhou to serve as Regional Inspector, was he already secretly plotting the feudatory reduction?” the youth asked in shock.

“Otherwise, how do you explain why Han Daoxun would take up office in Xuzhou that year?” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong looked toward the southwest direction, his eyes full of longing, and sighed softly, “Why didn’t Heaven grant me such a person to assist me?”

Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong had kept these thoughts buried extremely deep all these years, but at this moment, with his spirits depressed, he couldn’t help but speak them softly.

Unfortunately, Han Qian wasn’t here. Otherwise, hearing Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong’s words and knowing such a huge misunderstanding had occurred, he would likely be breaking out in cold sweat explaining to Wang Yong: Big brother, this is truly a misunderstanding! With so many variables over these years, who the hell could have prophesied to this step?

“This could probably be called schemes of gods and ghosts, couldn’t it?” the youth said with emotion. “The strategy of slowing the attack was perhaps Han Daoxun’s instruction, merely spoken through Han Qian’s mouth.”

“I originally thought such a person couldn’t possibly exist in the world, but the facts are as such, so I must acknowledge it,” Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong nodded, agreeing with the youth’s judgment, and said, “Compared to his father, Han Qian is ultimately somewhat weaker. Otherwise, Wen Ruilin wouldn’t have been employed by Marquis Xinchang.”

The youth also nodded. Although their contact time with Marquis Xinchang Li Pu and others had been brief, they could still sense the estrangement between Chai Jian, Li Chong, and others toward Han Qian.

In her heart, she thought: Han Qian clearly first captured Wen Ruilin in Wuling City, yet the result was Wen Ruilin being employed by Marquis Xinchang, even establishing great merit in capturing Tanzhou City. If his father had been in Wuling City at that time, the outcome definitely wouldn’t have been like this.

The youth and Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong were maternal siblings. Even though favored by their father, over these years they had suffered considerable bullying from the legitimate eldest son Wang Hongyi. She was even more aware in her heart of her brother Wang Yong’s bitter depression. Her eyes burned intensely as she bit her lip and asked: “Could we expend more effort on Han Qian, and at that time request Han Daoxun to plan for Elder Brother?”

“In the future it might be possible, but don’t be too clever by half right now. You should focus your thoughts more on Yang Yuanpu. Don’t show too much interest in Han Qian,” Wang Yong cautioned.

“Who has any interest in him?” the youth said with a dissatisfied light snort. “The great schemer is his father. Han Qian at most possesses some gloomy scheming. Moreover, such a person with a narrow and ruthless heart can be driven and used, but beyond that, where is he worth half a thought from me? Furthermore, you’ve also seen those official letters he wrote by hand—the characters are ugly, the wording crude. Compared to his father’s ‘Memorial on Epidemic Waters,’ with its gorgeous prose and substantial content, they’re worlds apart. It’s a loss that a few days ago, Elder Brother, you actually invited him to compose lyrics, testing whether he was concealing his talents!”

If Han Qian heard the youth’s disdainful words at this moment, he would likely be unable to resist copying a few of Su Dongpo’s graceful lyrics and throwing them in her face.

***

***

Han Qian walked into the great hall. The Third Prince was in high spirits, appreciating his newly composed lyrics. Seeing Han Qian enter, he beckoned him over and said rather excitedly: “Teacher Han, come see how this new lyric I composed is? Even Yang Qing thinks my lyric-composing skill has greatly increased these past few days.”

Yang Qing was the alias of the youth disguised by Princess Qingyang. Han Qian hadn’t paid attention before, nor had anyone introduced her name to him. He only learned it after checking the Shu emissary delegation roster.

Seeing the Third Prince mention Yang Qing with barely suppressible excitement in his words, Han Qian secretly had a headache. He didn’t know how much insider information unknown to outsiders the Third Prince had revealed under Princess Qingyang’s bewitchment, letting Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong and his sister know.

Han Qian looked again at Marquis Xinchang Li Pu standing to the side, whose expression was somewhat gloomy. He must have also guessed Princess Qingyang’s identity and the purpose of Princess Qingyang disguising herself to accompany Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong as emissary to Chu.

If Princess Qingyang’s marriage alliance target was the Third Prince, then even if his daughter Li Yao married to Yang Yuanpu was the legitimate princess consort, her status would be somewhat threatened. Moreover, his relationship with the Third Prince hadn’t yet recovered to the point of intimate closeness.

Thinking of this, Han Qian calmly took the Third Prince’s newly composed lyrics and looked at them for a while, saying: “I know nothing about poetry and song lyrics. Reading Your Highness’s lyrics, I feel they’re good, yet can’t say what’s good about them. They’re probably not far from that Wang Yong’s level.”

“Teacher Han has also learned to flatter and fawn,” Yang Yuanpu laughed heartily. “Yang Qing only said my lyric-composing skill had greatly increased, but the skill is still insufficient. How could I be compared to Marquis Changxiang!”

Seeing the Third Prince’s mouth constantly speaking of “Yang Qing,” Han Qian thought the Third Prince hadn’t yet seen through Princess Qingyang’s female identity but was already preoccupied with her. This was not a good phenomenon. He directly revealed: “Yang Qing is most likely the Shu Lord’s youngest daughter, the famous Princess Qingyang in disguise. According to this subject’s knowledge, Princess Qingyang has also received guidance from the great lyricist Wei Zhuang. Her insight naturally far surpasses this subject’s.”

“Ah, Yang Qing is Princess Qingyang?” Yang Yuanpu truly hadn’t previously discerned Princess Qingyang’s female identity. For a moment, his expression became somewhat dazed.

Han Qian glanced at Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, seeing his expression become even gloomier. He thought that even if Li Pu had no estrangement with the Third Prince, when the Third Prince married his daughter Li Yao he was only fourteen years old—how could he have understood anything of romantic feelings at that time?

The Third Prince at this moment was at the age when romantic desires were at their peak. If in the future all his passion fell upon Princess Qingyang, for Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, this naturally couldn’t be considered a good thing.

Of course, besides Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong and his sister, these two variables, what Han Qian was more concerned about at this time was how Emperor Tianyou would reward Marquis Xinchang Li Pu for the great merit established this time.

Only thus could he judge how much Emperor Tianyou actually knew about the Shenling Bureau’s remaining forces in Great Chu, and how much vigilance Emperor Tianyou held toward the Shenling Bureau.

“By the way, Teacher Han, you will stay by my side to offer counsel and strategy in the future, but the Xuzhou Vice Regional Commander position is still important. Who does Teacher Han think would be good to replace you?” Yang Yuanpu thought of something and asked Han Qian.

Yang Yuanpu had privately promised the Han family hereditary control of Xuzhou. Although Great Chu wasn’t yet his to rule, now that he wanted to keep Han Qian at his side, he thought to have Han Qian recommend a candidate for Xuzhou Vice Regional Commander, which could be considered showing he hadn’t forgotten this promise.

“The feudatory reduction campaign has progressed to this point. The Wuling Army’s mission has also been completed, and there’s no need to continue maintaining it. Otherwise, the cost of supporting the Wuling Army is too high. On the other hand, Jinyun Tower’s Military Bureau needs to be reorganized. After the Wuling Army is disbanded, Tian Cheng is steady in dealing with matters and thoughtful in consideration. He might be qualified for the position of Provincial Vice Regional Commander,” Han Qian said.

Yang Yuanpu looked toward Marquis Xinchang Li Pu, seeking his opinion.

Marquis Xinchang Li Pu hadn’t expected Han Qian would actually voluntarily propose disbanding the Wuling Army. At this moment, he was also slightly stunned, then went with the flow saying: “Lord Han and I thought of the same thing. I also think using Tian Cheng is appropriate.”

Yesterday when Wen Ruilin reminded him, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu hadn’t paid particular attention. Today, hearing Zhang Ping send someone to relay that the Third Prince was bewitched by Marquis Changxiang Wang Yong and his sister to the point of speaking about everything, he rushed over anxiously to pour some cold water.

Compared to a new character appearing who might affect his daughter’s position as empress, Marquis Xinchang Li Pu thought it would be better to ease relations with Han Qian. Moreover, with Han Qian voluntarily proposing to disband the Wuling Army, in that case, even if they truly gave all of Xuzhou to the Han family, what harm would there be?