Chapter 121: This Guy Isn't Just Heartless, He's Rotten to the Core

Page 1 of 3

The moment Benefactor Xue had left, Li Yuanjing suddenly had a thought.

Could that old melon-head Xue be acting so readily because he intended to profit from both sides, taking the complainant’s money and then the defendant’s as well, while savagely crushing his father-in-law, Qiu Zehai?

After all, given Benefactor Xue’s temperament, he was entirely capable of such a thing.

And if that was what he intended, the blame would obviously fall on Li Yuanjing.

But why should Li Yuanjing shoulder such a burden for Benefactor Xue?

He immediately ordered Zhuzi to bring Liu Yun over from the rear courtyard, where the old man had been waiting, and whispered a few words into his ear.

Liu Yun nodded repeatedly. A sharp glint flashed in his aged eyes, and he soon departed.

…

Less than half an hour later, Benefactor Xue hurried back. He promptly laid a large bundle of silver notes before Li Yuanjing.

“Yuanjing, the sixty thousand taels are all here. Count them if you like.”

As he spoke, he took out a small package and handed it over with visible reluctance.

“Yuanjing, this is merely a token of your old brother’s appreciation. I’m counting on you for everything.”

Seeing Benefactor Xue bow deeply to him, Li Yuanjing’s brows twitched slightly.

“I still trust your character, Old Brother. I’ll go meet the Young Duke at once.”

Benefactor Xue was overjoyed. He dropped straight to his knees with a thump.

“Yuanjing, the great kindness you have shown me—both the Qiu and Xue families will remember it for all eternity…”

…

“Sir, do you mean that I’m not leaving tonight after all, and that tomorrow I should intensify the search for the assassins in Feng County, only departing the day after tomorrow or the day after that?”

In the county government’s Household Affairs Office, Zhang Zhiji ignored the silver notes scattered across the floor and looked at Li Yuanjing in astonishment.

Li Yuanjing drew a deep breath.

“Young Duke, I know this may seem rather abrupt, but after careful consideration today, I believe this is the best choice for us.”

“Please instruct me, Sir!”

Seeing how solemn Li Yuanjing looked, Zhang Zhiji hurriedly cupped his hands in salute.

Li Yuanjing steadied himself before explaining.

“Young Duke, as we said before, this is the strategy of drawing out the enemy by appearing to retreat. Though Boshan is somewhat smaller than Feng County, with a slightly smaller population, the two counties are broadly similar.”

“And you have seen the situation here in Feng County with your own eyes. Do you really think that hurrying to Boshan tonight would produce better results?”

“In my view…”

“Rather than that, Young Duke, you should announce tonight that you intend to leave for Boshan. In reality, however, you should remain where you are and intensify the search for the assassins in Feng County tomorrow.”

“Even if we fail to find the slightest trace of them tomorrow, Feng County and Boshan will likely both be thrown into turmoil. And the thread connecting everything will remain in your hands, Young Duke.”

“If you are still uneasy, we could have someone disguise himself as you tomorrow morning and leave the city first, just to test the waters.”

“Exactly. As the saying goes, warfare is the art of deception.”

Zhang Zhiji was evidently beginning to be persuaded. His brows drew tightly together.

But after pondering for a while, he suddenly shook his head and laughed.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

“Sir, I understand. I understand everything! You are speaking with such painstaking earnestness because you are worried that I might act rashly and put myself in danger!”

“But there is no harm in it.”

“If staying in Feng County an extra day is necessary, then I shall stay an extra day. I will follow your arrangements. However, Sir, this time the money from the Qiu and Xue families must be divided equally between us!”

“Even if I am foolish and inexperienced, I cannot let you labor and scheme so much for my sake without receiving any benefit at all! Would that still make me human?”

As he spoke, Zhang Zhiji looked at Li Yuanjing with complete sincerity.

Seeing him like that, Li Yuanjing was moved for a moment.

But he understood even more clearly that one moment was only one moment.

Besides—and this was the most important point—he had to push Zhang Zhiji onto the proper path. After all, the two of them had already become partners bound by common interests.

Li Yuanjing hurriedly cupped his hands deeply.

“Young Duke, I will remember your sincerity, Li Yuanjing swears it! But on this matter, you must listen to me. I will take only ten thousand taels. As for the money you spent earlier to pacify the people of Feng County, you need not pay out anything more.”

Seeing that Zhang Zhiji was about to object, Li Yuanjing spoke first.

“Young Duke, things have already come this far between us. I am no saint, and I certainly will not pretend to disdain money. But there is one thing I understand even more clearly.”

“Only if you prosper can I, Li Yuanjing, prosper as well!”

“So!”

“The money in our hands must be spent where it matters most. Young Duke, you must first complete your most important task properly and securely!”

“As for the brotherhood between you and me, how could we possibly rush such matters in a single day?”

“This…”

After hearing Li Yuanjing’s heartfelt words, Zhang Zhiji fell into deep and solemn thought.

At last, he began to understand what his father, Duke Ying Zhang Wen, had said to him before he left the capital:

“Once you enter the world, you are no longer your own master.”

Now, he truly was no longer alone. A man of Li Yuanjing’s talent had already become bound to him.

“Sir.”

“I understand.”

Zhang Zhiji drew a deep breath and once again bowed solemnly to Li Yuanjing.

Seeing that Zhang Zhiji now understood the proper boundaries, Li Yuanjing relaxed as well.

“There is one more matter, Young Duke. I may need to borrow your influence.”

“Oh?”

“What is it? Speak freely, Sir.”

Zhang Zhiji hastened to respond.

Li Yuanjing pointed at the Household Affairs Office.

“Young Duke, I want this office.”

Zhang Zhiji narrowed his eyes slightly, then burst into hearty laughter.

“Excellent, Sir—truly excellent! Give me that man’s name, and I will go speak with Zhao Bingchun at once!”

Li Yuanjing’s spirits rose as well. He immediately wrote a name on a sheet of paper.

“Ma Huan!”

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

…

After leaving the county government, Li Yuanjing felt even more invigorated when the cold wind swept over him.

After all the maneuvering and struggle, he had finally transformed himself, within the narrow sphere of Feng County, from a powerless pawn into the player controlling the entire board.

The post of chief administrator of the Household Affairs Office might appear as insignificant as a mere bread roll, beneath anyone’s notice.

Yet within Feng County itself, it was a genuine position of power and profit.

To a great extent, it carried the same responsibilities as the Imperial Revenue Ministry.

In certain respects, it even wielded greater authority than the ministry itself.

As long as Master Ma, Ma Huan, could take control of the Household Affairs Office, Li Yuanjing would not only be able to learn the details of every commercial transaction in Feng County, including its population and distribution of wealth; he would also be able to intervene in property transfers and other business dealings.

Not to mention that he could openly plant his own people within the office and arrange positions for them.

When he returned to the inn, Benefactor Xue, who had been waiting there with desperate anticipation, hurried forward.

“Yuanjing, how did it go? Has the Young Duke decided to spare the Qiu and Xue families?”

By now, Li Yuanjing appeared to have everything firmly under control. He sighed.

“Old Brother, for the moment, it seems the matter has passed. But in the future, you must be more careful and never commit such an offense again. You know better than I how precarious the situation is now.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

Benefactor Xue nodded repeatedly and wiped the cold sweat from his brow.

“Yuanjing, whatever happens, I will remember your great kindness for the rest of my life!”

After sending away the deeply grateful Benefactor Xue, Li Yuanjing casually opened the package the man had given him earlier and counted the money.

There were only two thousand taels in silver notes.

They were not issued by Yufeng Exchange, either, but by some minor money house.

A cold smile crept across Li Yuanjing’s lips. He immediately strode to an inconspicuous guest room in the rear courtyard.

Liu Yun had already been waiting there for quite some time.

“How did it go?” Li Yuanjing asked with a smile as he poured Liu Yun some tea.

Liu Yun hurriedly accepted the bowl with both hands, flattered beyond measure.

“Sir, you truly see everything before it happens. Xue Mang really was up to no good!”

“The Young Duke asked the Qiu family for only sixty thousand taels, but Xue Mang demanded a full hundred thousand! He even forced that old Lord Qiu to sell off two of his beloved concubines tonight at a miserable price…”

“A hundred thousand taels?”

“Qiu Zehai even sold his concubines?”

Li Yuanjing was momentarily struck dumb.

Xue Mang was no longer merely cold-hearted.

His heart was blacker than coal—black through and through.