Chapter 281
Book 25 Chapter 04 - Hard To Differentiate Between Real And Fake
Over the next ten days, Xiang Shaolong attended Court as per normal but politely declined all entertainment engagements. Instead, he devoted all his time and energy in training his team of three hundred elite ‘Special Forces’ members.
Their equipment can be considered the best this era can offer, incorporating his modern 21st century design and was further improvised by Uncle Qing, the head of Yue’s blacksmith a.s.sociation, allowing them to become the living examples of the martial arts experts ill.u.s.trated in Wuxia novels. Besides being proficient in all types of normal and hidden weapons, they are able to climb any wall and trespa.s.s any property, becoming what we would know as stealth ninjas.
On this evening, Ji Yanran and Wu Shu came over from the farms and they brought good news.
The gorgeous Talented Lady exclaimed: "Under my mixture of soft and hard tactics, Wu Yingen finally confessed that he has been supplying information to Crown Prince. However, he insisted that he was doing this for the sake of the Wu Clan as Crown Prince has instructed him to try and persuade us from leaving for the borderlands!"
Teng Yi icily smiled: "A traitor will always have his excuses!"
Ji Yanran explained: "Yanran did believe his words, because when Yanran pointed out that due to Hubby’s incredible accomplishments, influence and prowess, it is possible for Crown Prince to view Hubby as a threat and a target for extermination, he was so terrified his face turned green and his lips turned white. In the end, he disclosed the ident.i.ty of the person liaising with him."
Xiang Shaolong interrogated in a deep voice: "Who is it?"
Ji Yanran replied: "His correspondent is a man named Yao Jia. Does Hubby know him?"
Xiang Shaolong nodded: "He is the a.s.sistant of Li Si and he is responsible for communicating with the various States. He just came back from Qi and I would cla.s.sify him as a very wise man."
Ji Yanran added: "Third Master En has now recognized the severity of the situation and promised to cooperate fully with us. To be safe, Yanran has sent all his family warriors and followers to the borderlands, just in case Yao Jia has bribed them individually."
Xiang Shaolong determined: "Wu Yingen’s greatest usefulness is that through him, we can dupe Crown Prince into thinking that we will only leave for the borderlands after everything has been completed."
In a deep voice, Teng Yi reminded: "If I am this ungrateful brat, I will have you killed at Yongdu by the hands of Lao Ai. When that happens, I can use the excuse of avenging you and fully annihilate the forces of Lao Ai, killing two bird with one stone."
Xiang Shaolong chortled: "No matter what, we must mislead him into believing that we will only leave after killing Lu Buwei."
Turning to Ji Yanran, Xiang Shaolong proposed: "Yanran’s thinking is much more thorough than we, the two brothers. Can you try to fake some story and reveal it bit by bit to Yao Jia before the coronation? It would be good to make the story obscure, letting him slowly deduce and piece the jigsaw puzzle before guessing the final message that we want to pa.s.s to Crown Prince."
Ji Yanran batted her eyes once at him, answering: "No need to flatter Yanran, I’ll just do my best!"
Teng Yi probed: "We would need to leave for Yongdu in two months time. Has Third Brother thought of a plan to kill Lu Buwei and simultaneously make a safe retreat?"
Xiang Shaolong sighed with a breath: "I want to see Zhu Ji before confirming the details."
The two persons, Ji Yanran and Teng Yi were utterly shocked.
Teng Yi advised: "Lao Ai is now regarding you as a thorn in the flesh. If you go to Yongdu, you may get into trouble. Moreover, if Crown Prince knows about it, he would be more determined to kill you than ever."
Ji Yanran also spoke up: "Empress is no longer the Empress of the past. She may even a.s.sume that you killed her real son in order to make the switch. It is really not appropriate for you to see her."
Xiang Shaolong did not consider these points. His heart becoming uncomfortable, he turned speechless.
Patting his shoulder, Teng Yi consoled: "As long as we act with a clear conscience, it does not matter how others judge us!"
Xiang Shaolong bitterly smiled: "I wanted to see Zhu Ji and try to prevent her from getting killed is precisely because it is weighing on my conscience."
To Ji Yanran, he implored: "Can you invite Sister Qing over? Through her, I can meet Zhu Ji in secret."
Her exquisite face darkening, Ji Yanran furiously reprimanded: "Once you have decided on something, you would stubbornly follow it through. Zhu Ji has mothered two bas.tards for Lao Ai, do you really believe she will abandon her two sons and leave with you? Presently, we can barely fend for ourselves and here you are, trying to increase our burden. When Tingfang and Zhizhi are leaving, they did instruct me to watch over you and not let you partic.i.p.ate in any dangerous activities. If you insist on meeting that lady, Ji Yanran seeks a divorce!"
Ever since Xiang Shaolong got to know Ji Yanran, this is the first time she is so fierce and upset. Petrified, he shuddered and dare not defend himself anymore.
Teng Yi nodded: "Today, Second Brother is not going to help you, especially when this concerns the life and death of the entire clan. No matter what, Third Brother has to listen to Yanran."
A helpless Xiang Shaolong had no choice but to agree.
Only then did Ji Yanran’s anger subside.
Over the next few weeks, besides giving his full attention to training the three hundred men team, Xiang Shaolong also instructed Wu Guo on the finer tips of impersonating himself, for he must succeed in deceiving Xiao Pan, Li Si and the others who know Xiang Shaolong very well.
The only loophole is his voice. Luckily, Ji Yanran has an excellent idea: At a suitable time, Xiang Shaolong will start faking an illness. Therefore, even when his voice becomes deeper and hoa.r.s.e, it will not arouse any suspicions. On top of that, he can do away with speaking less, thereby killing two birds with one stone.
That night, Xiao Yuetan came back from the farms and borrowed a set of Xiang Shaolong’s official robes. Locking Wu Guo and himself inside a room, he has everyone patiently waiting outside, eager to find out how Wu Guo will eventually turn out.
Until now, everyone is still puzzled over Xiang Shaolong’s decision to have Wu Guo masquerade