Chen Pingping looked at him without a trace of pity: "You have followed me for twelve years. Before you die, I'll give you a chance to say one last sentence."

The head of one division, his face slightly pale, quickly regained his composure and smiled. He looked at the man who had promoted him from an ordinary staff member to the number three figure in the Overwatch Council, and sincerely said, "Don't trust women. They are all lunatics, inherently unsuitable for politics."

After saying this, he slapped the top of his head with his backhand. With a crack, his body went limp and he collapsed onto the wooden table, lifeless.

These were his true feelings. Even if Fan Xian, who was deliberately seeking information, hadn't overheard Princess Li Yunrui and Zhuang Mohan's late-night conversation, Chen Pingping's expression made it clear that the princess had long been a key target of observation by the Council. From the moment the princess frantically betrayed Yan Bingyun, the head of the first division, Zhu Ge, was destined to die.

The corpse was dragged away, and the subsequent affairs were naturally handled according to the regulations. Chen Pingping glanced at the paper in front of him again and shook his head. "Continue analyzing, who is crazy enough to expose everything?"

He could remain indifferent, but the other seven heads of divisions, witnessing a colleague with whom they had worked for over a decade meet such a miserable end, couldn't help but feel some emotion. After a moment, they regained their senses and responded, "The Dongyi City delegation just left the day before yesterday, and this happened today. I think it's inextricably linked to Dongyi City."

"Indeed, according to the palace's investigation, no matter what, the assassin who entered the palace on the night His Majesty hosted the envoys of the two countries was definitely related to Dongyi City."

"It was also on that night that the assassin appeared at Guangxin Palace and killed one of Princess Li Yunrui's maids. It's estimated that it was at that time that they overheard the conversation between the princess and Zhuang Mohan."

"Dongyi City is now releasing this information for two reasons. First, they hope the court will be in chaos for a while. After all, this time, there was no truly effective agreement reached between the two states, like with Northern Qi, so Dongyi City is very afraid of the court sending troops."

"Moreover, once this matter is revealed, His Majesty, in his shock, will likely tear up the agreement with Northern Qi, and the war between the two countries will reignite. Dongyi City, which has always been caught in the middle, would undoubtedly be happiest to see this situation."

"Whether from the motive or the final effect, Dongyi City is the most likely culprit and could also gain the most benefit from this matter."

"The only question is, the paper from the Xishan Paper Mill was only stolen last night. How could Dongyi City write so many copies overnight? You have to know that most of their personnel lurking in the capital are being monitored by us. Those not under our control shouldn't be so numerous." Yan Ruohai analyzed, "To accomplish this feat overnight would require at least forty well-trained individuals."

Chen Pingping listened to his subordinates' methodical analysis, smiled slightly, and said nothing. The room fell silent.

After a while, someone suddenly asked, "What about the exchange agreement?"

"Continue," Chen Pingping said blandly.

"To capture Xiao En, you ruined your legs, yet now, because of Princess Li Yunrui's simple betrayal, Xiao En is to be released back. This subordinate is unwilling."

"Unwilling? What methods do you have to bring Yan Bingyun back alive?" Chen Pingping said with a cold smile. "The exchange must happen. We will deliver Xiao En alive into the hands of the Northern Qi people, but we will only let him catch a glimpse of the sky above Shangjing, the capital of Northern Qi."

The others knew that the Dean already had a plan and nodded slightly. These people were absolutely unwilling to return Xiao En to Northern Qi with both hands. That old fellow was the former chief spy of Northern Wei and had killed countless Qing spies. Moreover, the information in his mind, even to this day, would likely pose a great threat to Qing. If the person captured by Northern Qi wasn't Yan Ruohai's son from the Fourth Division, these cold-blooded heads of the Qing secret service would certainly petition the Dean and persuade His Majesty to let that unfortunate person captured by Northern Qi sacrifice himself for the country.

Yan Ruohai also knew this, so he felt immense gratitude towards the Dean from the bottom of his heart. He suddenly said, "What about Princess Li Yunrui?"

"We are loyal to His Majesty. We do not know what His Majesty has not spoken of. We do not act," Chen Pingping made the final decision.

"Should we arrest the Dongyi City delegation?"

"Arrest them for what? To admit the court's disgrace? Let the Eighth Division handle this. Say that remnants of the ancient Yue from the South are unwilling to accept the fall of their state and are spreading rumors in the capital. They have all been captured. Pull a few from the prison, go to the execution grounds, and kill them. Before the execution, remember to have all the people of Kyoto come to watch the spectacle," Chen Pingping said blandly.

The subordinates obeyed and departed, some to sanitize, some to spread rumors, and some to make arrests. Only Yan Ruohai lingered until the end. He looked at the Dean and calmly said, "There is no poison in this world that can keep Xiao En alive all the way and then kill him in front of the Northern Qi rulers."

Chen Pingping said, "What do you mean?"

Yan Ruohai frowned slightly. "I understand my son. He would not agree with His Majesty's actions either. I think he would gladly exchange Xiao En's life for his."

Chen Pingping looked at him coldly. "You must avoid suspicion in this matter and not participate in the discussion. As for how to do it, that is my business. Indeed, there is no poison in this world that can be so miraculous, even if Fei Lao is currently in Kyoto. However, Xiao En must die, and Yan Bingyun must return."

He smiled and said, "Don't forget, four and a half years ago, it was I who kicked your son to the north."

Yan Ruohai was about to say something when Chen Pingping coldly waved his hand to stop him and said blandly, "I originally planned to wait for Bingyun to return and then have him take Zhu Ge's place. Zhu Ge could have lived a few more days. But today, these pieces of paper are flying everywhere, and Kyoto is filled with discussion. I must give you an explanation."

Chen Pingping sighed. "Matters hidden in the shadows suddenly became known to everyone in Kyoto. Such an absurd and effective method will probably force His Majesty to give an explanation to the officials who know about this."

Chen Pingping coughed twice and said, "You should know that there is currently a Commissioner in the Council. I mentioned it to you last time, I plan to send him to Northern Qi."

Yan Ruohai frowned. "Very dangerous." He understood that the Dean was entrusting the task of killing Xiao En to that Commissioner.

"Without carving, one cannot become a useful vessel." Chen Pingping's eyes looked somewhat weary. "If he succeeds, I hope that one day in the future, you will be able to help him manage this Council properly."

Yan Ruohai finally understood, felt a slight shock in his heart, dared not say more, knelt in front of Chen Pingping's wheelchair, and nodded heavily.

…

…

"Who exactly did this?" Chen Pingping pushed his wheelchair to the window, his thin fingers slowly lifting a corner of the black cloth, peering out the window like a child. The autumn rain that had lasted for several days had stopped before yesterday, and outside was another sunny day, the distant palace shimmering with golden light.

He leaned against his wheelchair, using the light that filtered through the corner of the black cloth, looking at the piece of paper in his hand, and couldn't help shaking his head: "Saying she colluded with Northern Qi would be one thing, but why also say that she keeps three thousand male favorites and indulges in debauchery in the palace?" These issues involving the reputation of the royal family were naturally inconvenient to discuss in the previous meeting.

Chen Pingping laughed, looking at the neat, matchstick-like characters on the paper: "What a ridiculous stage play, the writing is too ugly… However, the brushwork and style do resemble that idiot from Dongyi City."

"Dongyi City, oh Dongyi City, is it really you?" he said to himself in his heart, a trace of a smile appearing on his face: "The Si Gu Jian of those days was just a simpleton, not this kind of lunatic. Dealing with that crazy girl, Princess Li Yunrui, this method is quite effective. Regardless of what jade or porcelain it is, smash it and pile it together, and no one can tell it apart. However, you have disrupted His Majesty's plans, and His Majesty will not be pleased."

Neither the all-calculating Chen Pingping nor the insidious and crazy Princess Li Yunrui could imagine that such a big event was actually just a prank by that pair of master and servant.

——————————————————————

Fan Xian calmly, even somewhat coldly, observed the aftermath of this event. It seemed that the pornographic literature he had dictated was indeed an unbearable burden in this country. Regardless of the emperor's true thoughts deep down, and regardless of how much damage the princess's real strength would suffer as a result, what he wanted had finally happened.

Quietly and silently, Princess Li Yunrui moved out of the palace and returned to her fiefdom, Xinyang. As for the conflicts and power struggles within the royal family as a result of this matter, they were not within Fan Xian's scope of consideration.

As Wu Zhu had initially calculated, Emperor Qing lavishly rewarded him before Princess Li Yunrui left the capital. At the same time, Fan Xian also received many benefits, although on the surface there was no connection, it just seemed that His Majesty praised him for winning face for the dynasty.

With the imperial decree, Fan Xian was immediately promoted from an eighth-rank Assistant Musician to a fifth-rank Teaching Assistant at the Imperial Academy.

In the flower hall, Fan Xian held the imperial decree, scratching his head, and asked his father, "What does a Teaching Assistant at the Imperial Academy do?"

"Teaches the students of the Imperial Academy." Fan Jian also found this imperial decree too inexplicable and shook his head, "You haven't even taken the formal imperial examination, how did you get into the Imperial Academy as a Teaching Assistant?"

"Does that mean I don't have to take the imperial examination next year?" Fan Xian asked with a smile.

"Yes." Fan Jian seemed somewhat unenthusiastic and said blandly, "Without the imperial examination, it's not the proper path. It looks extremely smooth at the moment, but there will always be some obstacles in your future career." But then he thought that what he wanted was for the Fan family to be safe and sound, and for this handsome young man to be able to live out his life comfortably, wasn't it?

This was also that person's idea, otherwise they wouldn't have named this child Fan Xian, with the courtesy name Anzhi.

…

…

Fan Xian, upon hearing that he didn't have to take the imperial examination, was already overjoyed and returned to his study with a smiling face. But he saw that Fan Sizhe was already waiting in the room, grinding ink and looking at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Writing an inscription."

"What inscription?"

"Half-Idle Studio Poetry Collection."