Chapter 1 An Unreliable Man

"Your Highness, this man is not to be trusted!" After Xiao Qingyin left, Uncle Qin commented thus. But Wang Fangpin appeared hesitant. Though Xiao Qingyin's sudden emergence was rather swift, his path to fame in Danyang these past days was quite clear. Xiao Qingyin didn't seem to be scheming much. On the contrary, the eagerness of Danyang's dignitaries in psychological testing continually propelled Xiao Qingyin to become a popular figure in such a short time. Moreover, the background check on Xiao Qingyin seemed to have no problems. Though Xiao Qingyin was popular, he indeed lacked a platform in Danyang and Dongping to display his abilities. After all, he was already thirty years old. Although Dongping had begun to cultivate a large number of grassroots officials to adapt to the needs of local officials in the vast and complex territories of Yun Province, Zhen Province, the Northern Grasslands, and Yazhou, Dongping also intentionally increased its central financial pressure to reserve young officials at all levels, so that when the territory further expanded in the future, there would be a group of experienced and capable officials who could quickly take over. However, Xiao Qingyin, who was over thirty years old and possessed such strange abilities, probably couldn't develop within such a system.

Wang Fangpin couldn't help but wonder, what if Xiao Qingyin's allegiance was sincere? Xiao Qingyin's revealed attitude clearly assumed that Wang Fangpin's recruitment was still because of Tan Weiming. He didn't seem to know that her actions were all for herself and her family. Many people had such misunderstandings, but this was something Wang Fangpin had always been exploiting, never revealing the truth.

"It's indeed too hasty to rashly trust such a person. But it's a pity to give up on such a person… Moreover, what if everything he said is true and comes to pass?" Wang Fangpin said faintly. Before Uncle Qin could react, she waved her hand, signaling Uncle Qin to say no more. She instructed, "It's not just today, I've done every one of those things he came up with, those psychological test questionnaires. Many people in Danyang deeply believe in these things. When others reveal these things, and then reflect on their own nature, it's indeed as Xiao Qingyin said. This alone is too astonishing. And those questions, combined, are saying that my chances of success are slim… Alas, I don't know whether to continue."

Uncle Qin didn't reply. After a while, Wang Fangpin hesitantly instructed, "Uncle Qin, please arrange another meeting with Mr. Sun."

Uncle Qin didn't hesitate, immediately nodding and responding. Arranging a meeting with that Mr. Sun wasn't easy, with too many things needing coordination. And Uncle Qin understood even more that at this moment, only that Mr. Sun could settle Wang Fangpin's heart. Compared to planning things that couldn't be brought to the table, it was more terrifying to hesitate and waver when planning such things. If those on their side realized that the initiator, Wang Fangpin, herself was hesitant, the first ones to denounce Wang Fangpin would probably be them.

In the next five days, Wang Fangpin and Mr. Sun had two contacts. One was through a letter, as before, and the other was a brief but complete face-to-face conversation. However, for the intelligence bureau personnel who couldn't intervene in the core and could only observe the situation from the periphery, these two contacts were enough. They had already narrowed the list of suspects to only four people. Efficiently tracking and investigating four people was very simple for the intelligence bureau.

Xiao Qingyin's situation was even better. He was now qualified to be invited by Ye Tao and enter the Ye residence openly, chatting with the bigwigs who secretly came to the Ye residence in Ye Tao's study about his feelings during this period. Crown Princess Wang Fangpin was indeed a very dangerous person, Xiao Qingyin said.

"The identity of that Mr. Sun will probably be revealed soon. I really didn't expect that the four people currently identified are all of strange identities. One is the manager of Quanxiang Commercial Bank, one is the steward of the Zou family, one is a traveling scholar registered in Taixue like you, judging by his accent, and the other is actually a minor official in the Ministry of Rites…" Cao Pojun shook his head, helplessly explaining the current situation to everyone. "Looking at these arrangements, each time they were so careful and ingenious. If it weren't for careful planning, with calculation against carelessness, we might not have discovered anything."

Xiao Qingyin said indifferently, "It's good to have results. Otherwise, I came all the way back from Xiling, and if I have to rush back again, it would be a wasted trip."

Ye Tao earnestly asked Xiao Qingyin, "If you were to stay in Dongping, using the name and identity of Xiao Qingyin to take office, would you be willing?"

Xiao Qingyin respectfully said, "Lord, as long as the imperial court needs it, as long as you need it, I will follow all arrangements. I just hope it's a more interesting job."

Ye Tao nodded and said, "Naturally. Your ability to recognize people is very useful, and I want you to continue to develop in this area. However, the plan I'm proposing now, His Majesty is a bit unsure, or rather, not very daring to use yet. Anyway, you'll be staying in Danyang for a long time, so there's no rush. But calling you here and not letting you go back, Lei Huang should have some objections, right?"

Xiao Qingyin stood up, somewhat terrified, and said, "Lord, this ability to recognize people was personally taught by you and the Madam, I dare not take credit for it."

Ye Tao waved his hand casually, asking Xiao Qingyin to sit down, and said, "Have you learned these things?"

Xiao Qingyin nodded and said, "I have learned… with the Lord and Madam personally teaching…"

Ye Tao interrupted Xiao Qingyin's respectful words and said, "What you've learned is your own ability. This matter now belongs to you, and will continue to, you must remember this, and think that way."

Xiao Qingyin repeatedly affirmed. And Ye Tao's statement just now also made him a little interested in his future work. Ye Tao's suggestions were never conservative. But Tan Xiaopei was also a bold person, and the mutual trust between this monarch and subject was what led to Dongping's prosperity today. Ye Tao's way of speaking was something that Tan Xiaopei wouldn't dare to use, which was quite rare, and it must be a very interesting job.

Just as Ye Tao and Xiao Qingyin and others were quietly gathering together, discussing unusual matters. That Mr. Sun had already begun to make arrangements in secret. Mr. Sun was furious at this Xiao Qingyin, who had risen in a short time, and had shaken Wang Fangpin's defenses in her brief meeting with the Crown Princess. Now, his contact and cooperation with the Crown Princess involved increasingly direct and damaging content. Although Wang Fangpin refused to let this Mr. Sun touch the content related to her contacts with family officials, especially military officers, she could obtain general information through him. The Crown Prince's residence's study had many confidential documents, and although Wang Fangpin wasn't very interested, she had copied some seemingly unimportant content for him when Mr. Sun requested an exchange. Although Wang Fangpin didn't know Mr. Sun's true identity, it didn't prevent her from becoming increasingly dependent on Mr. Sun as she sank deeper into conspiracy… These past two times, she had sought advice from Mr. Sun on answering her questions, especially regarding her own mindset. Mr. Sun wouldn't allow anyone to shake this trust in any way.

And Mr. Sun was also planning to solve this problem. He suggested to Wang Fangpin whether to feign kidnapping Xiao Qingyin once to test who was backing him. And Wang Fangpin actually agreed. Afterwards, Mr. Sun discussed it with Uncle Qin and hired some martial artists to do this. Mr. Sun was somewhat helpless. Although Wang Fangpin was important, she wasn't important enough for him to activate his arrangements in Danyang to solve her little doubts. And Wang Fangpin herself really didn't have any force that she could mobilize. In this regard, not to mention military power, even the power to arrange the deployment of the palace guards was firmly in Tan Weiming's own hands. Wang Fangpin could only provide a sum of money for Mr. Sun to arrange this matter.

Not long after, Mr. Sun saw another opportunity. It turned out that Baowentang Bookstore was preparing to publish all the questionnaires that Xiao Qingyin had created recently, and Xiao Qingyin would also give a lecture at Taixue. And Ye Tao would also attend. Mr. Sun thought about it again and again, and felt that this was a good opportunity. He had three quasi-first-class experts under his command in Danyang. He felt that even if they weren't a match for Ye Tao's guards, they should at least be able to hold them off for a while. And the martial artists he hired, especially the six experts from the famous independent assassin group "Xin Men" (Serpent Sect), made him feel confident. The "Xin" in "Xin Men" didn't mean trustworthiness, but referred to a snake's tongue. Although their prices for assassinations and other secret operations were high, they were indeed experts. Mr. Sun pondered that if he could organize a successful operation, it would be best to eliminate Ye Tao. Xiao Qingyin had become a secondary target. Even if the assassination failed, as long as they insisted that this was an activity planned with the money of the Crown Princess, it could cause a period of chaos in Dongping's court. The Crown Princess was now somewhat hesitant and may not launch as planned in the future, and whether this assassination failed or not, Dongping would be in chaos, at least for a period of time. It seemed that the effect was not much different from serving the Crown Princess, Wang Fangpin, and it might be even better if it succeeded.

And Mr. Sun had been preparing in this way.