eurekapd Chapter 395: Front Edge (64)
Chapter 395: Front Edge (64)
Qiao Ruicheng said that he would investigate, but he could tell him clearly that the fall of the two cities was indeed related to the eldest prince, including the plague.
Liu Qiuwu and Li Jingran were horrified, as those were the lives of people from two cities!
If a person who is so disregarding of human life really obtains the supreme power, one can imagine how difficult life will be for the people in the future.
Suppressing the turmoil in their hearts, the two knew that they could not easily gain the trust of King Xian. Feeling that they had gotten the answer, they thanked each other and said goodbye.
"I didn't expect that even though the person is gone, his relatives would come looking for him. What a twist of fate." Speaking of the little brother, Yu Shuche sighed softly, then turned to ask Qiao Ruicheng: "Arui, what do you think about this?"
"It's hard to say for sure whether they are pretending to surrender, but what they mentioned is indeed very helpful, Ache, you see." Qiao Ruicheng pointed at the tea with his finger, then drew on the table while speaking.
"Liu Jinsheng, the Jin family, and the First Prince's Mansion formed a triangle. Whether the First Prince wanted to get the Liu family's help through marriage or it was a temporary change later, this remains unchanged. All doubts are in the First Prince's Mansion."
Qiao Ruicheng pointed twice with his index finger at the point representing the eldest prince's palace.
Yu Shuche's eyes narrowed, "That's right. Now that the scope has been narrowed down to the eldest prince's residence, combined with the eldest prince's change of heart and Qiao Wenjin's indirect criticism, I have thought of someone."
Qiao Ruicheng raised his eyes, met his gaze, and uttered a name: "Jin Xuhua?"
"Yes, it's him, A'rui. Haven't we been investigating this person but found nothing? After listening to what you and Master Liu said, I felt like a bolt of enlightenment!" Yu Shuche's eyes flickered and he was a little excited.
"My Ah Che is very smart. Come on and tell me about it." Qiao Ruicheng curved the corners of his mouth and showed an attitude of listening attentively.
"If I can think of it, you must have thought of it a long time ago." Yu Shuche said firmly.
"But I want to hear what Ache says." Qiao Ruicheng said with a smile.
"Okay then, what did I say? Don't laugh at me if I'm wrong."
"No, when did I ever make fun of Ache?" Qiao Ruicheng asked back.
Yu Shuche muttered something like "It seems not", and then began to express his own views.
"Cangwu and Xuanyue countries have taken over two cities in Dayuan, but the clues and intelligence given by General Ling before his death only involved the collusion between the eldest prince and Xuanyue country. Then what about this Cangwu country that suddenly appeared?"
"Well, continue."
"If Cangwu Kingdom doesn't contribute anything and knows nothing about us, will it be willing to join Xuanyue Kingdom in attacking our Dayuan? We can't rashly intervene in a matter where we have no chance of winning. On the contrary, Xuanyue Kingdom will not be generous enough to share the fruits of its hard work with others."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
"Back to the starting point, the fall of the two border towns just happened to draw our attention to this inconspicuous person, Jin Xuhua. So what role did he play in it? Now that I think about it carefully, it is not impossible to say that he is a spy lurking beside the eldest prince of Cangwu. Only in this way can he plan things for the eldest prince and secretly cultivate his own power. It is also because of this that the eldest prince accidentally ruined his plan, which is why Qiao Wenjin called him a dog."
“Pa pa pa.” Qiao Ruicheng laughed and clapped his hands. “A Che is really amazing.”
Yu Shuche took a sip of tea and said with curved eyes, "Thank you for the compliment, but this is also thanks to the information sent by Master Liu. Once a hole is broken in this dense net, it will be much easier to turn the hole into a big hole. Jin Xuhua, the Jin family, and that Liu Jinsheng, aren't they also Jin after removing the surname Liu? Maybe they are one family."
Qiao Ruicheng narrowed his eyes dangerously, "That makes sense, then let's start with the Jin family."
As for Liu Qiuwu and Li Jingran, although they did not say anything, they sent people to investigate secretly, and the results made them quite satisfied.
One of them did not lie, and the other left the family and joined the eldest prince. Most importantly, neither of them alerted the enemy after returning, although they were targeted everywhere, especially Liu Qiuwu.
It was only after Liu Qiuwu went to Prince Xian's Mansion that he found out that the eldest prince had already won over other branches of the Liu family. Even regarding the business routes that they originally thought would never be agreed to be managed by the Jin family, these people agreed without blinking an eye.
Liu Qiuwu was very angry when he saw this, but he had no idea what to do. After all, people said that it was a benefit for your nephew-in-law, which meant it was a benefit for your own nephew. Why should you, as an uncle, be so angry?
What a shitty nephew!
Fortunately, Liu Qiuwu kept his composure and did not expose Liu Jinsheng's fake nephew on the spot. When King Xian came to him again, he finally knew that Liu Jinsheng was a member of the Jin family, and the Jin family was one of the spies from Cangwu State hiding in Dayuan State. These things sounded so horrifying.
"What does the Jin family want with that business route?" Liu Qiuwu was shocked, resentful and angry about the eldest prince and his people's betrayal of their country. He was also extremely worried and exhausted about the infiltration and covetous eyes of two major enemy countries.
Alas, there are internal and external troubles!
"Pretend to compromise, join them, and then monitor what the Jin family wants to do with that line. We will work together from inside and outside." Qiao Ruicheng said.
"Okay." Liu Qiuwu was willing. This was no longer just a matter of revenge.
"But in this case, we have to put on a show for them, at least to make them think that we have broken up, especially you." Qiao Ruicheng's deep gaze wandered over Liu Qiuwu and Li Jingran.
The two looked at each other and agreed.
"But how can I act this out so that the Crown Prince and the others won't suspect me?" Liu Qiuwu asked.
"It's definitely not possible at the ordinary level, but the fact that you don't have a close relationship with us is also a good thing. At least considering the current situation, it is not very difficult to reverse the situation." Yu Shuche replied.
Li Jingran was surprised, "Princess, did you come up with a good plan so quickly?" Then he pointed at himself and Liu Qiuwu, "What about us?"
Yu Shuche chuckled, and the look he gave them was very intriguing.
"It would be much easier for Master Li to have a "fall out" with Master Liu than for Master Liu to regain their trust. I just don't know if you two are willing to do that."
"Princess, just say it frankly. If we can eliminate all the disasters that threaten the survival of our Great Abyss, I will not hesitate even if I, Liu Qiuwu, die!"
"That's right. The country is in crisis. There is nothing we can't do." Li Jingran said with a sharp look and righteousness.
Qiao Ruicheng was very pleased with the two people's determination to defend Dayuan to the death.
"Dayuan is lucky to have people like you, but don't worry, this is not something that will cost you your life."
"Please give me some advice, my Lord and Princess."
"Ahem." Yu Shuche choked up, staring at the two men with his black and white eyes, and said, "Although Ah Che and I didn't go out often before, I have heard a little about your romantic affairs."
As soon as the word "romantic affair" came out, no matter how calm Liu Qiuwu and Li Jingran were, their defenses were broken and they both felt uncomfortable.
It was something that was clearly a tacit agreement, but it was exposed in front of both parties. How could it not be embarrassing?
However, despite the weird atmosphere, Li Jingran's eyes were already glued to Liu Qiuwu's face.
"..." Liu Qiuwu tilted his head slightly to avoid his burning gaze, and felt his face a little hot.
Looking at the two people, one awkward and the other unconcealed, Yu Shuche and Qiao Ruicheng exchanged glances silently.
It seems that the rumors are true, at least it seems to be true now.
"Well, I don't mean to offend you two. I just think that since you are going to have a "fall out", why not take advantage of this? You can't get what you want, and you hate because of love, and you resent because of love. Don't care anymore..."
"Okay!" Liu Qiuwu didn't want to listen to Yu Shuche's explanation anymore and interrupted him dryly.
Li Jingran's Adam's apple rolled, "Qiu Wu doesn't mind, and I have no problem with that either."
Liu Qiuwu turned around to look, but met the other person's eyes that were just looking at him. He immediately dodged again as if he was burned. This look seemed to want to eat someone...
Qiao Ruicheng: "Okay, then let's talk about the detailed plan."
After discussion, Liu Qiuwu decided that if he wanted to regain the eldest prince's trust, he would have to find a breakthrough from the eldest prince, and then "turn to the light". It would also be best for him and Li Jingran to turn against each other at this critical juncture, so that they could achieve more amazing results.
Liu Qiuwu did what he said, and after returning he still acted aloof and unwilling to go along with them. So those people looked at him as if he was a rotten tree that could not be carved up, and then, apart from finding trouble with him everywhere, they even had the tendency to undermine him.
But Liu Qiuwu is no pushover. If they really had the ability, the prince would not have gone to such lengths. After bribing them, he would still want to win him over.
But now, facing these troubles, Liu Qiuwu deliberately gave in, making himself look very overwhelmed.
Of course, they cannot really be sidelined. If they do, he will be completely useless and the eldest prince will probably eliminate him directly. Then what is the point of him going deep into the tiger's den?
So he wants to use this to create the illusion that he is worthless, and this illusion is for King Xian to see. Then King Xian will cooperate with him to act out a "worthless and discarded" drama. By then, he will be extremely angry and hate himself for being "blind" in the first place.
The eldest prince, who truly knew that he still had value, would surely laugh out loud, and would extend an olive branch to him with the feeling of "The idle prince is too clever for his own good, that's all", and would feel happy.
Things went as Liu Qiuwu had imagined. During this period, not only Liu Jinsheng came to persuade him, but even his father and mother came to persuade him. Besides, they said that he was not a child anymore and other children of his age could already help with housework, so it was time for him to start a family.
Start a family...
Liu Qiuwu and Li Jingran knew that the best time for them to break up had come.
But even though he knew that this was just a stopgap measure, Li Jingran could already imagine himself exuding a sinister coldness and stubborn madness. He didn't even need to plan it out and just acted out his true colors.
Liu Qiuwu did not immediately agree with what the two elders said. After all, it was too abnormal to immediately agree to something that he had previously refused. He had to wait a little longer. He could not eat hot tofu in a hurry.
"Qiu Wu, do you really want to get married?"
Li Jingran asked Liu Qiuwu in a hoarse voice and with a hurt look on his face, revealing his true feelings.
"I..." Liu Qiuwu felt a little reluctant. Although he knew someone was watching them from behind, this feeling that was hard to express was not fake. Looking into the other person's eyes, he really couldn't put it into words.
So he lowered his eyelids and said helplessly: "Jingran, my parents only have me as their son. It is inevitable for me to start a family, get married, have children, and continue the family line."
Li Jingran's face turned pale, and he quickly grabbed his hand and forced him to look at him, then said with difficulty: "So you really want to marry someone else? No! I won't allow it!"
Liu Qiuwu frowned, seemingly displeased with his arbitrariness, "Why do I need your permission to get married or not?" After saying that, he pulled his hand back abruptly.
Li Jingran felt as if thousands of swords were piercing his heart. He stared at him blankly, his lips trembling: "But...but I like you! Qiu Wu, I have always..."
“That’s enough!” Liu Qiuwu’s face changed slightly. He interrupted him harshly, his eyes becoming colder. “I think you’ve drunk too much and are talking nonsense… Hmm? Hmm…”
Li Jingran did not play by the rules. He took advantage of the situation to embolden himself, grabbed the person and forcefully kissed her.
Liu Qiuwu:!
Li Jingran was hungry and thirsty. He plundered the person frantically before he could react, as if he wanted to eat the person's mouth into his stomach.
Wet, warm, numb and a little stinging... A lot of words flashed through Liu Qiuwu's mind, and just when he was about to sink into depravity with the other party, his remaining rationality made him bite the other party's lips, then he pushed the man away and punched him hard.
"Hmm!" Li Jingran groaned, and not only took several steps back but also nearly fell to the ground. After he steadied himself, he wiped the corner of his bitten lip with his thumb.
Glancing at the blood stain on his fingertips, Li Jingran raised his hand and licked it with his tongue, "Heh~ Not bad." Then he stared straight at Liu Qiuwu, "Qiuwu, you know my feelings, why do you always ignore me like that? My heart hurts too."
Liu Qiuwu denied it with a green face: "I don't know!" Then he turned his head away, took a deep breath, and said weakly: "Unethical love is unacceptable in the world, you... should turn back."
"Ha, haha... an illicit love? Unacceptable to the world? You can turn back? Hahaha..." Li Jingran's eyes turned red with sadness as he laughed, "Qiu Wu, this is the first time I know that you are so hard-hearted."
He stared at him and walked towards him step by step.
Liu Qiuwu was a little overwhelmed, but he still said coldly: "I can't help it if you think this way, but since you have such... such thoughts about me, you should take them back. I can't respond to you."
"No what? Unbearable?" Li Jingran seemed not to have heard what was said afterwards. He stared at Liu Qiuwu with red eyes, and moved closer to him and wanted to grab the other's hand.
Liu Qiuwu waved his hand, opened the hand that was extended to him, and the person also took two steps forward.
"That's not what I meant. You're too upset right now. I'll just pretend it never happened and leave."
After saying this, he felt that this was enough and fled, leaving Li Jingran alone.
Li Jingran just kept looking at him until he disappeared, then he laughed at himself: "I have engraved you into my bones. If I let you go, who will let me go?"
Li Jingran stood there for a while and then left.