Chapter 811: Chapter 771: Not Enlightened (First Update)

The next day, Song Fang calculated the time to visit the Xie Mansion after the Lower Court, but didn’t see Xie Zheng. Yang said that their government office was currently handling a case under tight pressure, so he had been returning quite late.

Due to Song Wei’s connections, Xie Zheng gradually gained the favor of Emperor Guangxi. Last year, Xie Zheng was on the list of examiners for the provincial examinations in each prefecture. A month before departure, the group of eight set off but unexpectedly encountered the case of the Qingzhou Prefect being murdered. Without delaying the examinations, Xie Zheng, along with a few examiners, solved the case, making significant contributions. Seeing Xie Zheng’s talent in this area, Emperor Guangxi promoted him to the Ministry of Justice. He is now a fifth-rank doctor.

This fifth rank already qualifies for positions at the Imperial College and Hongwen Academy, elevating the status of the Xie Family. Because Xie Zheng’s eldest son, Xie Feng, was nearing the age for matchmaking, many official’s wives visited the Xie Mansion. Song Fang didn’t stay long before leaving and reported the situation truthfully to her mother-in-law upon returning home.

Mrs. Xu sighed, "Initially it was Jiajia’s sudden idea, and we were too hasty. The palace examination results haven’t even been announced yet. Let’s take it slow. Hastily arranging a match for her might make things difficult in the future, and I wouldn’t feel at ease."

With her mother-in-law’s instructions, Song Fang naturally had to temporarily halt any mentions of matchmaking for Xu Jia.

...

There were only three hundred candidates for the palace examination. Apart from the top ten rankings that required the Crown Prince’s decision due to some disputes, the examiners had already determined the rankings for the other two hundred candidates. The results were delayed for release because the Crown Prince ordered the list to be published on the twenty-sixth of this month, which was still about half a month away.

On this day, Zhao Xi summoned Song Wei for an audience.

Song Wei entered the Imperial Study Room, saluted, and then stood aside.

Zhao Xi set down the vermillion pen with which he was reviewing memorials, looked up at him, and asked, "Recently, I’ve discovered that the hidden forces of the Yun Family in the Capital far exceed what I previously imagined. What do you think they intend to do?"

Song Wei initially thought the Crown Prince had summoned him to discuss the top three rankings. Unexpectedly, it was about the Yun Family’s hidden forces.

The intelligence network of the Yun Family is known as the Sky Eagle Guard, and Song Wei had heard of it. It’s even more secretive and well-organized than the imperial espionage network.

In other words, Yun Huai would know about any developments before the Crown Prince does.

After a moment of silence, Song Wei said, "The Yun Family and the court have always kept to their own domains. Although they have many hidden forces in the Capital, they have never acted recklessly and have remained relatively quiet. However..."

Pausing for a moment, Song Wei continued, "If Your Highness finds them a nuisance, consider recruiting these people for your own use. As Your Highness is about to ascend the throne, coinciding with the unrest in the Northern Border, the Beiyang Royal Family must be closely watching our country’s movements. Right now, Your Highness is in urgent need of personnel. If you could enlist the assistance of the Sky Eagle Guard, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, curbing some of Beiyan’s ambitions and strengthening Chu Country’s intelligence network—a win-win situation."

Zhao Xi listened and suddenly chuckled softly.

Song Wei immediately stopped speaking, "Does Your Highness think it’s inappropriate?"

It’s certainly not inappropriate.

Zhao Xi suddenly understood why his father would willingly search for such an Assistant Minister for him personally.

Song Wei’s intelligence is indeed not to be underestimated; he had just hinted at the idea, and Song Wei had already guessed all his intentions.

Such a perceptive and yet respectful minister is rare.

"Continue." Zhao Xi said, "I want to hear how you plan to recruit these people for our use."

Song Wei thought for a moment and replied, "Toward the Yun Family, only a policy of appeasement will work."

"Oh?"

"Within the Yun Family, whether it’s their hidden forces or disciples, they don’t fear death, but they fear their families’ deaths. If Your Highness could start from this aspect and guarantee the protection of each of their family members as long as the Yun Family is willing to submit, Master Yun might consider it."

"I’m afraid this alone won’t be enough to persuade Yun Huai." Zhao Xi said slowly, "Given that Yun Huai can command such loyal and dedicated followers, he must have already made arrangements for the security of their families."

"That must involve promises of wealth and a life free from worry," Song Wei responded, "And these require a significant amount of Silver Coin. No matter how wealthy the Yun Family is, they can’t rival the nation’s riches and can’t compare to Your Highness."

"You mean?" Zhao Xi asked.

"The Yun Family has many businesses under their name, and the taxes they pay each year are already a considerable amount. If Your Highness gives this sum to them, coupled with the court’s protection, Master Yun might reconsider."

...

After the midday meal, Zhao Xi sent Eunuch Sanbao to the Western Marquis Mansion personally to bring Yun Huai to the Eastern Palace.

By rights, Yun Huai, as a Jianghu person with no official status, should kneel before the Crown Prince. However, Zhao Xi directly exempted him from this and had him seated.

Yun Huai calmly walked over to the bat and dragon pattern armchair and sat down.

"I’ve invited Master Yun here today to discuss a business deal with you." Zhao Xi got straight to the point.

Yun Huai cupped his hands, "Your Highness, please feel free to speak."

As a monarch, Zhao Xi naturally couldn’t directly reveal his intentions, "With so many hidden disciples within the Yun Family, the annual expenses must be considerable, right?"

Yun Huai responded calmly, "The Yun Family has a few businesses under its name, just barely making ends meet."

He wasn’t being excessively modest; the Yun Family needed to spend a fortune to train elite disciples and manage the intelligence network of the Sky Eagle Guard. Coupled with the responsibility of taking care of the families of these disciples, it was indeed a significant expense. However, to avoid arousing the court’s suspicion, the industrial ventures under the Yun Family were kept quite ordinary, with not much left after annual expenditures and taxes.

"If it were up to me, I would exempt all taxes on the Yun Family’s properties. What does Master Yun think?"

Yun Huai was astute; as soon as the Crown Prince started, he already guessed the following words.

Or rather, he had anticipated this from the day he first entered the Capital to escort away Xue Yinhuan, when the Crown Prince asked him if he would like to secure a position in the court.

The Crown Prince wanted to recruit the Yun Family to his cause.

Although Yun Huai hadn’t interacted with Zhao Xi many times, the intelligence provided by the hidden spies had given him a sufficient understanding of the young Crown Prince who was about to ascend the throne.

The young Crown Prince had an intrinsic ruthlessness, merely unexpressed for the time being. Given time, when he rules the world, he would become more terrifying than the inherently suspicious Emperor Guangxi.

Since the Crown Prince had resolved to win over the Yun Family, the consequences of the Yun Family’s resistance would only result in mutual destruction.

Yun Huai neither agreed nor disagreed; he merely asked Zhao Xi, "I wonder, what does Your Highness envision for the Sky Eagle Guard?"

The Yun Family’s Sky Eagle Guard was deeply concealed, and except for the Family Head himself, even the Inner Sect disciples or the Direct Disciples couldn’t ascertain the precise locations of their operations.

Zhao Xi knew Yun Huai was an exceptionally intelligent person; speaking with such a person saved a lot of words, "Bei Yan has the Chi Long Guards, said to be a top-notch Hidden Guard that only appears when the nation is in peril. However, this time, to deal with you, they revealed themselves prematurely and lost two leading Grandmasters, which makes me think the Chi Long Guards aren’t that formidable. The Sky Eagle Guard is hidden even deeper; they are enough to become the Chu Country’s top Hidden Guard. If they submit to the court, all the vast expenses required to train them will be covered by the National Treasury. Meanwhile, the tax exemption on the Yun Family’s industries remains the same. As for you, you will still be the Yun Family Head, free to roam the Jianghu, and within the scope of Chu Law, I will not interfere with your freedom."

In simpler terms, it meant the Yun Family was to hand over the meticulously nurtured Sky Eagle Guard to the court.

Yun Huai pondered for a moment, "I want to know Your Highness’s next plan."

Zhao Xi did not shy away from him, "Have the Sky Eagle Guard infiltrate Bei Yan. I need all the intelligence on the Beiyang Imperial City."

Previously, Zhao Xi had planted some hidden spies over there, but they were overly cautious, which somewhat constrained their actions and made it hard to obtain first-hand intelligence.

Moreover, most of those hidden spies had been removed by the Beiyang Imperial Concubine, so the remaining ones were even more cautious, making it difficult to transmit information back.

"That sounds like a very appealing offer. As a mere commoner, it seems I have no choice." Yun Huai remarked with a sardonic smile.

"Master Yun can take your time to consider," Zhao Xi said, "I won’t force you."

"I can hand over the Sky Eagle Guard, but I must add a condition."

"Go ahead," Zhao Xi gestured for him to continue.

"Grant me an honorary position."

Zhao Xi was taken aback.

He remembered that when Yun Huai first came to the Capital a few years ago, he had tried to recruit him and offered him a position in the court. At that time, Yun Huai had flatly refused. Why did he suddenly bring it up today, wanting to hold a position in the court?

It was unbelievable!

"Is Master Yun sure you’re not joking?"

Yun Huai’s tone was indifferent, showing no flaw, "There is someone I can’t persuade; I’d like to hold a position to stay in the Capital."

Zhao Xi nearly blurted out and asked who couldn’t be persuaded.

But the words were swallowed back at the last moment.

It must be someone quite troublesome for Yun Huai to be this vexed.

Reflecting on Yun Huai’s agreeable disposition in handing over the Sky Eagle Guard and his willingness to take a position, Zhao Xi said, "If there’s anything I can help with, Master Yun, please feel free to ask."

Yun Huai, thinking of something, had a hint of helplessness on his lips, "That person is not attuned; Your Highness can’t help."