Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 333 - Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine: The Maid

Chapter 333: Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Nine: The Maid

"Indeed, it seems to be the case," Xu Yuan said with a touch of sigh, "Faced with a two-option question, anyone but a fool would choose the Sects, considering there’s no risk of them usurping Dayan."

"....."

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Chen’s face turned to that of someone who had eaten shit. He did not respond, nor did he dare to.

Usurping Dayan, was that something one could casually mention?

Especially when the Prime Minister’s Mansion actually had the capacity to usurp Dayan.

Seeing Zhou Chen’s reaction, Xu Yuan did not say much more but heaved a sigh, "However, I believe that as a member of the Imperial Family, Li Zhaoyuan inherently does not wish to compromise with the Sects."

The world is not binary.

Although he had not spent much time with him, Xu Yuan could tell that Li Zhaoyuan was trying his best in his own way.

Whether it was fearlessly coming to the border city or the earlier entrapment of Xu Mengxi to win her over, he was clearly striving to gain the support of those neutral parties.

He was steadily narrowing the gap between himself and the Crown Prince.

Li Zhaoyuan must have seen the true nature of the Sects.

The Sects are slowly and irreversibly undermining the foundations of Dayan.

When his father, Li Yaoxuan, ascended to the throne, many Sects had already reached into local finances.

One faction controls local politics, and many important positions in the Government Offices have Sect backgrounds.

Had Dayan not produced Li Yaoxuan and Xu Yinhè this era, in a mere two to three generations, or at most five to six, Dayan’s Emperor would have become the "Zhou Emperor" of my previous life.

Zhou Chen still did not respond, this time because he could not.

He always had a clear understanding of his role: a high-level enforcer raised by the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The more you know, the faster you die.

Thus, regarding these top-level intricacies, he had deliberately avoided them before.

Xu Yuan waved his hand and exhaled a white breath into the stormy night, "Well, all that we’ve discussed tonight is mere speculation, not to be taken as truth, and whether the culprit behind the scenes is the Second Prince remains a question."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan looked up at the direction where the storage had been set ablaze, his tone tinged with curiosity, "However, I am quite curious as to how the perpetrators of tonight’s act managed to execute their plan."

Zhou Chen paused to ponder, "It must be an inside job? Either bribery or coercion, combined with a high-level Cultivator secretly infiltrating."

Xu Yuan was somewhat lost for words when he heard this.

Zhou Chen’s guess was very close to the truth, considering the methods Xu Yuan had arranged for the Black Scale Guards to destroy the Sect storages were also essentially these few.

Any more would hardly make for additional flair.

But the problem was the sheer number of Sect storages within Northern Border City. Even at the risk of exposing themselves, the Black Scale Guards could only cover about half at most, and there was still the risk of being stopped.

Yet tonight, the storages of the Sects within Northern Border City were wiped out in one fell swoop, almost without exception.

Compared to the storages under the care of the Prime Minister’s Black Scale Guards, which were always heavily guarded, with formations on strict alert and activated around the clock, even if the high-level Cultivators in the city were scarce, they would always have a Fourth Grade Integration Body expert on standby day and night, using the Peek Sky Formation to monitor the surroundings, capable of killing Third Grade Cultivators, stopping Second Grade ones and detecting First Grade powerhouses with the aid of the Formation.

With that in mind, Xu Yuan’s eyes revealed a thoughtful glint.

Under such defenses, to simultaneously detonate all the storages in the city, this move... was terrifyingly bold.

Meanwhile,

The two had already braved the wind and snow to enter the separate courtyard of Li Qingyan’s rear hall.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan did not say more and looking at Zhou Chen, he spoke in a low voice, "With such fierce snow, does Mr. Zhou really intend to stand guard for me?"

Zhou Chen’s spirit perked up upon hearing this, and with a sincere and earnest voice as he made a bowing gesture, he said, "The Third Young Master’s kindness to Zhou is heavier than a mountain; it is Zhou’s duty to drive your chariot and guard your door."

Xu Yuan saw no reason to refuse.

A Third Grade Great Master as a coachman indeed had quite the presence.

With a respectful bow, Xu Yuan smiled, "Then I am in Mr. Zhou’s debt..."

"Third Young Master."

Xu Yuan had not finished his words when he saw Zhou Chen suddenly frown and ask, "I remember that Prince Wu Yuan never used maidservants to attend to him?"

Li Qingyan grew up in the military, lacking the delicateness of a lady from a distinguished family, she took care of her armor, bathing, and hair by herself.

With surprise in his eyes, Xu Yuan followed Zhou Chen’s gaze toward the other courtyard:

"Yes, what about it?"

Zhou Chen hesitated slightly:

"That must be the maid Prince Wu Yuan arranged for you, Third Young Master."

"...."

Xu Yuan’s eyelid twitched.

What kind of maid?

Li Qingyan arranging a maid for him late at night, isn’t that overly cautious?

Thinking this, Xu Yuan sent out his will-spirit to explore the interior of the courtyard.

As an Innate Taoist Body, having entered the Soul Condensation realm of Grade Fifth, and with the cultivation of secret techniques, Xu Yuan’s will-spirit could already cover a radius of fifty yards.

But when his will-spirit entered the courtyard, he found it empty.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan’s brows slightly furrowed.

If Zhou Chen could sense something and he could not, that meant the so-called "maid" inside was likely of Fourth Grade Integration Body or even higher.

If it wasn’t Li Qingyan, then was it arranged by the Second Prince or Lou Ji?

But if it were either of them, they would have likely informed him beforehand.

Seeing Xu Yuan’s expression, Zhou Chen’s demeanor became solemn, and he reached for the hilt of the sword on his back.

Xu Yuan gestured with his hand to hold off for now and directly pushed open the courtyard door.

Inside the courtyard was pitch-black, only the faint glow of Bright Pattern Lamps under the snow-covered lawn was visible, and looking down the stone path, one could vaguely see a slim silhouette in Li Qingyan’s room busying with something.

Is this... making the bed?

In the snowy night, the scene was somewhat eerie; he had only been out for a quarter of an hour, and the bed was probably still warm when someone entered his room to make the bed?

Xu Yuan’s brow furrowed, and he discreetly took a step back, motioning to Zhou Chen with his chin.

The meaning was simple,

You go check it out, I’ll come over if there’s no problem.

Zhou Chen’s lips twitched at this, but he still whispered softly:

"Third Young Master, please be at ease, if a fight breaks out inside the Government Office, the great formation will activate immediately."

As he spoke, Zhou Chen drew the treasured sword that gleamed coldly from behind his back with a "swoosh," and in an instant, he was outside the door.

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan also took out the Qingyu Sword from the Sumeru Ring, ready to use Step Void Slash to escape at any moment.

And at this moment,

The "maid" inside seemed to finally notice someone was outside, and a light voice came through:

"Minister Xu’s son?"

Hearing this, Zhou Chen immediately stood still and turned to look at Xu Yuan.

He found the voice somewhat familiar but couldn’t immediately recall who it was.

However, since it was a voice he recognized, it was likely not an enemy.

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard, Xu Yuan had a very strange expression upon hearing the voice.

He suddenly understood why the storages of the Sects had been concurrently destroyed.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Chen cracked a smile:

"You know her?"

Xu Yuan stepped forward, put away the Qingyu Sword:

"Mr. Zhou, you should know her too, an old acquaintance from Jingjiang Prefecture."

Zhou Chen was taken aback at these words, and then also sheathed his sword with a tinge of ambivalence in his smile, bowing with hands clasped:

"Third Young Master, take care of yourself, I will wait here at the courtyard door."

Having said that, he turned and walked toward the outside of the courtyard.

Xu Yuan chuckled and shook his head, passing by Zhou Chen he suddenly transmitted:

"If there is no sound from me after two quarters of an hour, break in."

Having said this,

Xu Yuan approached the door of the side room alone and pushed it open to enter.