Just as that wisp of green smoke dissipated.

Wei Yi’s eyes, which had been somewhat haggard, gradually gained light, with traces of spirit faintly visible.

He slowly rose and walked toward a bookshelf on his right. He stopped in front of it, slightly tilting his head back, his gaze searching across it.

Finally, it landed on a book.

He took it down.

The cover prominently displayed the four characters: “The Art of War”!

He then began flipping through a few pages.

The fragrance of books filled his nostrils. Clearly this book was very new, rarely opened.

As the densely packed characters flashed before his eyes, memories also emerged scene by scene in his mind.

He still remembered, back then…

“Come, come, come. Today this prince will teach you ‘The Art of War.'” Jingrong tossed the book to him.

He flipped through it.

He didn’t quite understand it.

Jingrong was stern, “Listen well. The contents of ‘The Art of War’ are quite complicated, with many things. It’s understandable that you don’t comprehend it clearly. However, with this prince here, just study diligently, and this prince will teach you with dedication. But before mastering it, you must first memorize the Thirty-Six Stratagems within. As for what these Thirty-Six Stratagems are, you need to…”

“I know.” Wei Yi answered eagerly.

“You know? You’ve read this book?”

“I just looked at it.”

“How much did you just look at?”

Wei Yi’s warm, deep eyes gradually lowered, his brow radiating wisdom. He said earnestly, “The first stratagem is Deceiving the Heavens to Cross the Sea, the second is Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao, the third is Killing with a Borrowed Knife, the fourth is Waiting at Ease for an Exhausted Enemy, the fifth is Looting a Burning House, the sixth is Making a Feint to the East and Attacking in the West, the seventh is Creating Something from Nothing, the eighth is Advancing Secretly by an Unknown Path, the ninth is Watching the Fire from Across the River, the tenth is… the thirty-sixth is Retreat as the Best Strategy.”

He rattled off all thirty-six stratagems in rapid succession.

Not a single error.

“Can you tell me what ‘Advancing Secretly by an Unknown Path’ means?” Wei Yi asked.

Jingrong turned to the section on Advancing Secretly by an Unknown Path. His well-defined fingers tapped on it as he explained, “Simply put, this means that for a certain purpose, one conceals their true intentions behind actions that don’t arouse suspicion, so people cannot detect them.”

“What about ‘Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot’?”

Jingrong, full of patience, turned to the section on Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot and said, “This stratagem means that some things cannot be destroyed openly, but must be done in secret. There are also two layers of meaning here. The first refers to when two sides are in conflict, if necessary, one can make secret plans to sabotage the enemy’s camp, or disturb the enemy’s morale. This is a stratagem. The other layer has a derogatory meaning, suggesting that certain people play dirty tricks in secret, and so are called petty people.”

The explanation was detailed.

The memories gradually dispersed.

“Advancing Secretly by an Unknown Path, Removing the Firewood from Under the Pot…” Wei Yi murmured those two phrases.

A crafty depth flickered in his eyes.

Making him difficult to fathom.

He slowly closed the open copy of “The Art of War,” returned to sit behind his desk, looked at the incense burner beside him, and couldn’t help but gradually clench his hands into fists.

He said, “Jingrong, I haven’t lost yet!”

“Bang!”

He slammed “The Art of War” onto the desk.

As if foreshadowing the arrival of a massive conspiracy.

…

Early morning, white mist pervaded.

Tree leaves and grass were all covered with dew, gleaming with crystalline light, leisurely and serene.

Early on, Ji Wanxin was led by someone to a pavilion located by a stream in the Imperial Garden.

Wei Yi was sitting inside waiting for her.

“Your Majesty, Second Miss Ji has arrived.”

Wei Yi waved his hand, “Everyone withdraw.”

“Yes.”

All the palace attendants retreated.

In the pavilion, Wei Yi sat on a stone chair, holding a book in his hands, reading it carefully with lowered eyes.

He couldn’t help but praise, “This book is truly well-written.”

Ji Wanxin stood outside motionless, head lowered, without the slightest nervousness in her eyes. Instead, there was a hint of having victory in her grasp.

“Come in.”

She moved forward with small steps, walked in, and curtsied, saying, “I pay my respects to Your Majesty.”

Wei Yi turned the book in his hand face down on the table, his brow stern. He raised his eyes to look at her, the corner of his mouth hooking up as he asked, “How did you manage to place that slip of paper under my ginseng soup?”

She replied, “I merely took the bold liberty of borrowing a little external help.”

“Oh? Who would risk decapitation to do such a thing for you?”

“Naturally, someone who isn’t afraid of death.”

“And what about you?”

Ji Wanxin smiled bleakly, “If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have come to the capital, and even less would I have entered the palace.”

Wei Yi understood her meaning, “Interesting!”

Ji Wanxin said confidently, “Since Your Majesty summoned me here and dismissed the others, it’s clear that my note was delivered correctly.”

Wei Yi laughed contemptuously, “Ji Wanxin, do you know what kind of person I hate most?”

“…”

“It’s people like you who think they’re so clever.”

She said nothing, her gaze lowering slightly.

“However…” Wei Yi’s fingers tapped on the stone table a few times. He looked the woman before him up and down and said, “You have piqued my interest. I very much want to hear what exactly those four characters ‘civil and military can prosper’ are supposed to mean?”

His tone was low!

Ji Wanxin boldly raised her head, meeting his gaze without the slightest fear. Instead, a hint of cunning flashed across her face as she said, “I don’t know if it’s appropriate to speak.”

“I want to hear the truth!”

“Yes!” Ji Wanxin took a breath. “Although Your Majesty is honored as the Son of Heaven, above ten thousand people, with all officials paying homage, you may have gained the realm, but ultimately cannot win the love of your heart! Your heart must be filled with unwillingness. Yesterday, Your Majesty issued three imperial edicts, each one demonstrating Your Majesty’s benevolence and wisdom, yet also revealing Your Majesty’s compromise with Prince Rong. As for the deeper meaning… I dare not speculate further.”

“Continue.”

“Prince Rong previously united with the Kong family forces of the late Empress Dowager to repel Prince Yi’s troops. My eldest brother was also captured as a result, losing his head. Afterward, the late Emperor decreed that Kong Qu be made General of Elite Cavalry, commanding two hundred thousand troops! With just one word from Prince Rong, the Kong family will certainly assist again. If Your Majesty truly wishes to control the court, having only civil officials without military generals is equivalent to governing externally but not internally, not reaching the root! Therefore, Your Majesty needs a force to contend with Prince Rong.”

“You’re referring to?”

“My second brother, Ji Huan.”

Wei Yi’s expression darkened, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.” She said as much.

Wei Yi curled his lips coldly, rose and walked before her, his eyes vicious, “Then do you also know that just based on what you’ve said, I could kill you?”

She looked at Wei Yi’s sharp gaze and said calmly, “If I feared death, I wouldn’t have written ‘civil and military can prosper.’ Moreover… is Your Majesty truly willing to accept this?”

Wei Yi’s eyes suddenly tightened, a flash of murderous intent crossing them. He reached out and grasped Ji Wanxin’s delicate neck.

“Ugh!”

Ji Wanxin’s eyes widened, her hands grabbing at Wei Yi’s wrist, her face full of pain.

Her face even paled in terror!

Wei Yi’s face was fierce, his voice harsh, “Ji Wanxin, don’t think you understand me! The more accurately you speculate, the stronger my desire to kill you becomes.”