Peace Order
Chapter 254 - 121: The Mountain Marrow of Nanyue, Reunion with Auntie_2

Chapter 254: Chapter 121: The Mountain Marrow of Nanyue, Reunion with Auntie_2

Afterwards came the woman’s coquettish complaint and the man’s light laughter, seemingly pulling her into his arms. Li Guanyi, standing guard from a distance, grinned.

What a nauseating couple.

It seems like it’s time to leave today.

As Li Guanyi was planning to slowly make his exit, the man said, "You ask who it really is? Ha, perhaps I should tell you today. If anyone is to come, it’s most likely that guard from the Qilin Palace that day, that Li Guanyi."

Li Guanyi’s footsteps halted, and his gaze grew sharp.

He rested his hand on his sword and crouched back down.

The court lady asked, "Hmm? Him?"

The man said, "Yes, it’s what the Prime Minister said. That old Xue Family man came to meet the Prime Minister that day, and told the Prime Minister the news you overheard."

The court lady said, "That news, I reported it immediately to Her Majesty upon my return, no second person knows of it."

The man laughed and said, "Indeed, so how did that old Xue Family man come to know of it?"

"It seems probable that you two were overheard by Li Guanyi that day. Heh, perhaps that’s exactly why he stumbled upon Hou Zhongyu and Yue Qianfeng’s plot and established his merit. However, we can’t be sure it was indeed him."

"It’s also possible that the old Xue fellow has other channels of information."

"That’s why the Prime Minister has us wait here for ten days. If Li Guanyi comes for it, it means he eavesdropped that day and the Xue Family actually has no other channels, so there’s not much to worry about. If not, then we are in danger."

The court lady asked, "Then, shall we kill him?"

The man couldn’t help but laugh and said, "What did you say?"

"He is an Imperial Guard, an elite of the Emperor’s imperial guards. Li Guanyi is one of the best among them, a third-layer Martial Artist wearing heavy armor, carrying a Battle Halberd, a sharp sword. Although we are trusted by the Prime Minister and Her Majesty, our value lies in our closeness and wit, not strength."

"In troubled times, talent is to be cherished."

"A Martial Artist of the Triple Realm is capable of leading a thousand soldiers, a miscellany general."

"The Prime Minister has such people assigned everywhere. Even if there are any, he wouldn’t have them perform such tasks, wasting ten days. You and I combined could confidently defeat Li Guanyi, yet we’d hardly be able to kill an armored Imperial Guard inside the palace without being discovered."

"Here, the Prime Minister simply wants us to respectfully hand over this Mountain Marrow to Li Guanyi."

The court lady was surprised, "Why?"

The scholar said, "Simple. If Li Guanyi comes here, it means he hasn’t informed the old Xue Family man about the Mountain Marrow. That indicates Li Guanyi does not fully yield to him, and the Prime Minister probably wants to drive a wedge between them, making Li Guanyi lean towards us from the bottom of his heart."

The court lady said with some reluctance, "For that, we are to part with a treasure like Mountain Marrow?"

"Is it worth it?"

The man replied, "Li Guanyi is not worth it."

"But Xue Daoyong is."

Li Guanyi frowned upon hearing this. It seemed they were planning to create dissent. That Tantai Xianming only had eyes for Xue Daoyong, to possibly worsen the relationship between Li Guanyi and Xue Daoyong, he was willing to pay such a price.

The scholar smiled and said, "How is it creating discord?"

"The strategy of using people relies on a single word: ’sincerity’."

"Treat a hero with the respect due to a hero."

"For the beauty trap, use a person he cannot obtain in his youth. Only then can it be successful."

Li Guanyi was considering whether to bite the bait and then report back to the old master.

Eat the bait, spit out the hook.

At that moment, the scholar smiled faintly, "But I have a third idea."

"With a treasure like Mountain Marrow, it’s very unlikely that Li Guanyi will come."

"Why don’t we take the Mountain Marrow and, seizing the opportunity of the grand ceremony, fly away to a distant land? By then, you and I will leave Chen Country far behind and soar as a pair in Ying Country, away from the dangerous court, drinking wine, and playing the qin every day. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"

In the pavilion, the middle-aged scholarly man made a suggestion. The court lady widened her eyes and said in a low and urgent voice, "Are you mad? How could the Prime Minister and Her Majesty ever tolerate our departure?!"

The scholar confidently said, "Li Guanyi has not come for so long, he probably won’t come."

"Otherwise, it means he is simply not around."

"I specifically sought out craftsmen from the Mo School to create something similar to the Mountain Marrow. Look, isn’t it the exact same?" He took out a box, in which lay a palm-sized pyramidal crystal radiating a bright yellow light, illuminating the vicinity, and highly resembled the Mountain Marrow.

"This is enough to mix the false with the true."

The scholar said, "In the Prime Minister’s Mansion, we are confidants, close ministers, but we are not his most trusted aides."

"Our power is only at the second layer of the refining realm, which is not enough to stand out in the vortex of the Capital City. These past few days, I’ve felt like I’ve been sitting on pins and needles, often waking up frightened in the middle of the night, covered in cold sweat, and have to touch my throat to ensure my head is still attached."

"As confidants, we are involved in dangerous, head-risking matters. But without sufficient power to protect ourselves... However, outside the Capital City’s vortex, in any city, a second-layer Martial Artist is somewhat significant. Wealth and glory are within easy reach."

"What are you waiting for?!"

The court lady, seemingly persuaded, knew fear after learning about the illegitimate child.

If she knew this news, she was bound to die.

The Empress abides by vegetarianism and recites scriptures.

But she can’t wash off the thick scent of blood from her hands.

After struggling for a long while, she then whispered, "You must not fail me."

The scholar was overjoyed, "We have already enjoyed conjugal pleasures, and you’re carrying our child. How could I ever fail you? Rest assured!" He stopped the woman. Li Guanyi thought he’d witnessed a scene of elopement, but suddenly heard the clash of cold steel, followed by the sound of blades piercing flesh.

His eyes flashed, he moved closer with light steps, only to see the two of them lying in a pool of blood, each with a knife wound. The scholar held a short knife in his hand, while the court lady had a dagger. Their weapons were bloodstained, and both were injured.