The next day, scouts reported unusual activity from the Great Li's Qingli Army.
Following this, more news arrived: a dense fog had suddenly risen over Changming Mountain, located at the border between Lin Yuan and Liao Jiang, in the early hours of the previous day. The fog shrouded the area, leaving only a veil of mist visible from the foot of the mountain. A scout team dispatched by the border guards to investigate vanished without a trace.
No signals were received from the scout team during this period.
A day later, as the fog persisted, Gu Qianyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the border army, dispatched another scout team and a vanguard company of soldiers into the mountain. They too disappeared without a trace.
Instead of sending more soldiers into the mountain, Gu Qianyi ordered a camp to be set up at the foot of Changming Mountain, with soldiers forming defensive formations.
"The fog hasn't dissipated?"
Nan Shiying furrowed her brow. The climate around Changming Mountain was not humid, and it rarely rained. Therefore, the fog in the mountains could not be a natural phenomenon. Was Liao Jiang, hearing of the impending war between Lin Yuan and Great Li, intending to interfere?
Ji Jinmo tapped his fingers on the table. "The source of the fog is unknown, but the soldiers stationed at the foot of Changming Mountain have not felt any discomfort, suggesting the fog is not poisonous."
"Not necessarily!"
Nan Shiying said, "Some toxins enter the body through the respiratory tract, paralyzing the nerves bit by bit. However, this process is quite lengthy. This mountain fog has only just appeared, and it's too early to definitively conclude whether it is poisonous or not."
Ji Jinmo sensed a deeper meaning in her words. After a moment of thought, he asked, "Are you suspecting the Medicine King Valley?"
"A little bit!"
Nan Shiying formed a circle with her thumb and index finger, leaving about an inch of space between their tips.
When the Medicine King Valley was mentioned, Nan Shiying's expression shifted. She quickly changed the subject. "The Governor of Xiling Commandery was assassinated, and Luan Wencheng has become a wanted criminal. It is likely that the Ghost Fiend Sect was responsible. Feng Quan is still within the Ghost Fiend Sect, his fate unknown. My lord, should we perhaps activate Ghost?"
"What do you mean?"
"Let Ghost go to Xiling Commandery."
Ji Jinmo glanced at Nan Shiying. The Ghost Fiend Sect had kidnapped Feng Quan for Ghost. Now they wanted Ghost to go to Xiling Commandery? Would this not be like throwing a meat bun at a dog?
"The current situation is like the surface of this tea," Nan Shiying observed the still tea in the cup on the table. She flicked the rim of the cup with her finger, and the calm surface rippled. The tea leaves at the bottom swayed with the ripples. "Only by moving can we stir up waves and reveal what lies hidden at the bottom."
"So, you do not believe Ghost's statement that day?"
"Does my lord believe it?"
Ji Jinmo's lips curved slightly. Past events, even those experienced firsthand, could be described in a thousand different ways by different people, let alone by those who had not experienced them.
Ji Jinmo did not answer, but his silence served as an answer. However, compared to this matter, Ji Jinmo was more concerned about Nan Shiying's choice. "So, do you want to go to Xiling Commandery or Changming Mountain?"
Nan Shiying smiled, a brilliant smile.
"Changming Mountain!"
"When do we depart?"
"After Ghost leaves the capital for Xiling Commandery!"
...
The Liu Residence.
At the morning court today, His Majesty mentioned Liao Jiang.
Liu Wanjun tapped his fingers on the table, trying to fathom His Majesty's intentions. Lost in thought, he looked up at Wang Qiancheng, who sat quietly in a chair with his head bowed. Since meeting Wang Qiancheng and speaking with him at length that day, Liu Wanjun had discovered that Wang Qiancheng was not as frivolous as he appeared. Although he was unfamiliar with court affairs, he possessed extremely keen insight and an intelligent mind. Liu Wanjun felt inclined to cultivate him, hence he often summoned him to his study.
Liu Cheng felt somewhat uneasy. Ever since he had been outmaneuvered by Wang Qiancheng that day, the person summoned to the study had changed from just Wang Qiancheng to the two of them.
Although Lord Liu Wanjun had a kind and benevolent demeanor, Liu Cheng still felt as timid as a mouse encountering a cat, his heart trembling.
"His Majesty mentioned Liao Jiang today. What do you think his intentions are?" Liu Wanjun suddenly asked. Liu Cheng's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, nearly spilling the tea onto the table.
Wang Qiancheng cast a subtle glance at Liu Cheng. Liu Cheng dared not look up and secretly kicked him.
Their subtle actions did not escape Liu Wanjun's notice. Liu Wanjun called out, "Cheng'er, you speak first!"
Liu Cheng's mind went blank. His Majesty mentioned Liao Jiang, so be it. Why ponder so much? If something were truly amiss, His Majesty would eventually say something. Wasting time speculating on His Majesty's thoughts was less productive than listening to a few more tunes at Huancai Pavilion.
Liu Cheng grumbled inwardly, but he dared not voice these thoughts.
"Um, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Liu Cheng racked his brains but could not articulate anything sensible.
Liu Wanjun's temples throbbed twice. He suppressed the anger surging within him and turned to ask Wang Qiancheng, "Qiancheng, what is your opinion?"
Wang Qiancheng pondered for a moment and spoke carefully, "Liao Jiang is adjacent to our Lin Yuan, separated only by the Jade River and Changming Mountain. Now that our border with Great Li is experiencing conflict, perhaps His Majesty... is concerned that Liao Jiang will take the opportunity to dispatch troops. At that time, with both Great Li and Liao Jiang attacking simultaneously, even if our Lin Yuan is militarily strong, it would be difficult to avoid unforeseen developments under the strain of being held on two fronts!"
"Excellent!"
Liu Wanjun's eyes lit up. He liked Wang Qiancheng more and more. If Cheng'er possessed even half of Qiancheng's intelligence, he would be content. It was a pity... Liu Wanjun sighed. Seeing Liu Cheng staring at Qiancheng in astonishment, his expression flickering between 'You actually know how to answer this question' and 'Are you sure you're not making this up,' he almost couldn't resist picking up the teapot and throwing it at the scoundrel's head.