Chapter 580: Chapter 578, 579: Only Lending Passage, Not Sending Troops (2)

"A friend from Chongzhou told me the shopkeeper’s wife is from Chongzhou and brews Tusu wine," said Xiao Pavilion.

"Oh."

As they were speaking, the shopkeeper brought the wine and beef that Xiao Pavilion had ordered.

As soon as the items were placed down, Xiao Pavilion said, "Brother Qin, you start drinking, I need to use the restroom..."

He asked the shopkeeper where the restroom was.

The shopkeeper said it was in the backyard and led Xiao Pavilion there.

Once in the backyard of the tavern, Xiao Pavilion immediately established a secret signal.

After confirming identities, the shopkeeper said, "Prince Huai’s Mansion Spy, the Drunkard."

"Prince Huai’s Mansion Spy, Xiao Pavilion," replied Xiao Pavilion.

"Xiao Pavilion? You’re from the Xiao family?"

"Just a concubine’s son of the Xiao family," a shadow flashed in Xiao Pavilion’s eyes, he then said, "Flower Shadow is dead, I am now in charge of contacting you. Although I am just a concubine’s son of the Xiao family, your tavern is too shabby; if I come here often, it would not fit my status. If there’s anything in the future, you come here to find me."

Xiao Pavilion handed a piece of paper to the shopkeeper, then turned and left.

The shopkeeper suddenly called out to Xiao Pavilion, the latter was stunned: "What’s the matter?"

"Did Flower Shadow really commit suicide out of guilt?" asked the shopkeeper.

"Does it matter?" Xiao Pavilion’s eyes narrowed, and said, "She failed her mission, her identity was exposed; dead or alive, it’s useless to the Prince."

The shopkeeper smiled awkwardly, then said, "Indeed, none of our secret bases in Qinhuai were exposed, which means she kept the secrets before."

"Isn’t her brother in our hands? For her brother’s safety, she had no choice but to take the path of suicide," said Qin Pavilion.

The shopkeeper grinned and said, "Young Master Qin might not know, her brother actually died the year before last. And what’s laughable is how he died; he also committed suicide, same death method as his sister."

...

Chongzhou, Prince Huai’s Mansion.

Although it’s nominally a prince’s mansion, in scale, it’s not even as good as the mansion of a wealthy merchant in the city, not to mention compared to Prince Chong’s Mansion, less than a tenth of it.

In the garden inside the mansion, Prince Huai was listening to the reports of the people below.

The mission in Jiangnan to poison Chen Mo has declared a failure.

To this, Prince Huai merely sighed without being too surprised.

After all, if Chen Mo could be killed so easily, he wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Knowing the chances were slim, he still did it. One reason was because he was impulsive at the time, another is he is currently in Chongzhou, and his control over Jiangnan is quite limited.

So to him, those spies in Jiangnan are inconsequential; even if the mission fails, it doesn’t cause him any loss, might as well try, what if it succeeds?

"Digger Bee also said he promised Flower Shadow, whether the assassination mission failed or not, he would ask you, the Prince, to release her brother and parents. Now that her brother is dead, then her parents..." The steward looked at Prince Huai and said.

"Such a small matter, decide it yourself." Prince Huai didn’t care; the life and death of a pawn’s family did not concern him.

"Understood."

The steward retreated, but not long after, he returned, saying King Chong had arrived.

Just after reporting, King Chong came into the garden uninvited.

This caused Prince Huai to furrow his brow; entering without permission was clearly a sign of disrespect.

Suppressing his displeasure, Prince Huai said, "Brother Yan, why have you come personally?"

"I heard brother sent people to Jiangnan to assassinate Chen Mo, was it successful?" asked King Chong.

Prince Huai was startled, feeling more aggrieved, and said, "Brother Yan, your information is indeed quick."

King Chong merely smiled without speaking.

"It was discovered by Chen Mo, the assassination failed," said Prince Huai.

King Chong was not surprised, as he had already known the outcome beforehand—he asked knowingly, then said, "Brother, your beauty trap was wrong, Chen Mo favors married women. If you’d sent an identity-wielding lady, you might’ve succeeded. A courtesan is too lowly."

"Brother Yan, what do you mean?" Prince Huai furrowed his brows; he felt the other was mocking him for something.

King Chong didn’t answer but instead skillfully changed the subject, "Uncle Wang replied."

"Willing to join the alliance?" Prince Huai quickly asked.

King Chong shook his head.

Prince Huai’s expression changed, saying, "That shouldn’t be, Uncle Wang is accustomed to bullying the weak and fearing the strong, whoever is more powerful, he’ll support. Now that Lu Sheng agreed to join us against Chen Mo, how dare he refuse?"

"Uncle Wang didn’t exactly refuse. He said he allows us passage through his lands, but won’t send troops. The territory we conquer, he doesn’t want a share," King Chong explained.

Prince Huai laughed angrily upon hearing this: "Such cowardice, he doesn’t deserve the surname Chu."

King Chong didn’t respond.

"When does Lu Sheng plan to launch an attack?" Prince Huai continued.

"I’ve already sent a letter, we’ll know by mid-month."

...

Yan State, Prince Anping’s Mansion.

When Prince Anping replied to Prince Chong, Prefect Zhang Le was out of town. Upon learning the news, he hurried back and immediately went to Prince Anping’s Mansion to see Prince Anping, Chu Ji.

Inside the study of the mansion.

"Your Highness, Lu Sheng inherited Xu Guozhong’s army, and although the Xu Army suffered significant losses in the last Support the King battle, they weren’t crippled; their strength is still robust. Now they have vanquished the Qiang Race, gained the territory of Xiliang, and their strength has greatly increased.

Now Lu Sheng has joined forces with King Chong and Prince Huai; their strength already surpasses Chen Mo. By refusing to form an alliance with them, it doesn’t seem wise. What if they jointly eliminate Chen Mo, then we..." Zhang Le said worriedly.

"Eliminate Chen Mo? I doubt it."

Hearing this, Chu Ji chuckled a few times and then laid a blank sheet of paper on the desk.

Zhang Le stepped forward to grind ink for Chu Ji.

Chu Ji said, "What kind of person is Prince Huai, the leader of the Support the King alliance with over 200,000 troops, chased the Xu Army into retreat, what a glorious time; but now? Huai State has been seized, Fengzhou occupied, family scattered, fallen to relying on King Chong’s shelter.

On the other hand, Chen Mo defeated Celestial Master Tuo, beat Liang Song, raided Linzhou, ousted Prince Huai, allied with Wu and Xiao families by marriage, formed alliances with Shu Residence and Xiliang, expelled the Jin Xia army that was eyeing like hungry tigers, gaining massive public support; even if Lu Sheng joins forces with them, who would win is hard to say."

Zhang Le was surprised and asked, "Your Highness favors Chen Mo?"

"I favor neither, only the result?"

"???" Zhang Le expressed confusion.

"Let them fight it out, whoever wins, I’ll support," Chu Ji said.

"But wouldn’t that be the Lower Grade?" Zhang Le wanted to say opportunism has never ended well.

"My definition of winning isn’t one side’s total victory, but occupying an absolute advantage, then I’ll step in to assist."

Just then, the ink was ready, Chu Ji picked up a brush, lightly dipped it in the ink, and wrote the word "Stable" on the blank paper.

...

Qinhuai, Xiao Family Ancestral Mansion.

In the martial training ground.

"Snap..."

A crisp breaking sound echoed, yet another Longbow was snapped by Chen Mo, eliciting gasps from the surrounding young people.

It turns out, today while Chen Mo was idly wandering around Xiao Mansion, he came to the martial training ground, watching the young heirs of the Xiao family practicing martial arts, he spontaneously decided to observe.

Unexpectedly, among these youths, many were admirers of Chen Mo.

Someone mentioned Chen Mo’s exceptional archery skills, requesting a demonstration.

Feeling the eager gazes, Chen Mo couldn’t refuse and agreed.

Thus unfolded the current scenario.

Because these young ones were mostly underage, many were just Entry Grade, some even just starting their cultivation journey, the Longbows on the weapons rack were light practice bows.

Unaware, Chen Mo pulled too hard and broke one.

On the next attempt, he again failed to control his strength and broke another.

Thankfully, on the third try, Chen Mo finally managed his strength, but instinctively used the Sun-Shooting Arrow technique, still breaking it.

At this point, a youth brought his father’s bow and arrow, and this time Chen Mo controlled his strength and refrained from using the Sun-Shooting Arrow.

He bent the bow, notched the arrow, aimed, and released.

Two hundred paces away, the glass bead atop the eaves shattered upon impact.

"Well done!" Cheers erupted from the surrounding youths.