coobybook Chapter 124 Pre-New Year Report 2
Chapter 124 Pre-New Year Report 2
On the surface, he was Lady Yan's most capable subordinate, but in reality, he was the most powerful and talented cultivator secretly cultivated by the emperor.
Out of fear, the powerful and influential immortal sects all tacitly agreed to suppress the imperial court's achievements in cultivation from various angles.
It is unknown whether the immortal sects and aristocratic families possess some secret treasures or have planted countless spies within the imperial court. Regardless of how the imperial court tries to conceal this, any cultivators privately cultivated by the imperial court or mortal forces who reach a certain level of strength or scale will inevitably face suppression or even elimination by numerous aristocratic families, both openly and secretly.
The main principle is that while it's permissible for people from the mortal realm to cultivate, their strength and scale are not allowed to exceed the limits set by the government. Anyone who crosses this line will face ruthless retribution.
Furthermore, powerful clans have implemented strict policies to guard against the leakage of cultivation techniques, resources, spiritual medicines, and some important cultivation secrets, making it difficult and frustrating for cultivators under the control of the imperial court and some independent cultivators to cultivate.
As for Yan Qing, he is the emperor's most likely and most loyal subordinate who will break through to the Golden Core realm at a young age!
Half a year ago, the emperor learned through secret channels that some immortal sects and families were suspicious of the strength of his cultivators and were preparing to launch a surprise inspection. Having received advance notice, the emperor hurriedly sent Yan Qing and several of his slightly inferior subordinates away to avoid trouble.
Just then, Lady Yan reported that Wei Zhu and his wife wanted to postpone the transaction of the Repelling Resentment Grass that year. The emperor had a sudden inspiration. He saw that Yiling was extremely remote and there were no major immortal sects guarding it. People from the immortal sects rarely ventured into this place.
He immediately decided to send Yan Qing with a group to Yiling, ostensibly to serve as Lady Yan's subordinates, but in reality to avoid being killed while dealing with the matter of the resentment-repelling herb.
However, not long after they arrived, news arrived that Wei Zhu and his wife had been brutally murdered by evil spirits, and the exorcising herb was completely useless. The emperor was furious and severely punished and demoted Lady Yan for her failure to protect her, and wanted to temporarily appoint Yan Qing as the leader of the secret agents in the Yiling area.
If Wei Chaoyan hadn't arrived half a day earlier, or even an hour later, she wouldn't have been able to find Yan Niangzi, who had already left, even if she had gone to the cloth shop. Naturally, Wei Chaoyan, who was also unfamiliar with Yan Qing, would not have had the chance to connect with him and get his help!
Life is unpredictable, and everything is interconnected!
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"Very well, Yan Qing, get up quickly!" the emperor said with some delight, sitting at the head of the table.
"Yes!" Yan Qing obediently stood up, bowing her head respectfully without saying a word.
"Does Yan Qing have any important matters to report upon returning to the capital?" The emperor was not in a hurry to discuss important matters with his confidants, but instead chose to ask Yan Qing's purpose first.
Yan Qing took out the intelligence report written by Lady Yan from his bosom and held it up with both hands. He reported to the emperor in a simple, clear and organized manner all the big and small things that had happened from the time Wei Chaoyan first went to the cloth shop to find Lady Yan until he left Yiling and returned to the capital.
When the emperor saw Yan Qing take out a secret report, he didn't need anyone else to bring it. He took the report himself and stepped down from his seat. He slowly flipped through the report with an unchanged expression while listening to Yan Qing's clear and detailed report.
After a short while, Yan Qing's report concluded. The Emperor returned to his seat, closed the secret report, and placed it on the table beside him. He pondered for a moment, then said nothing about Yan Qing's report. Instead, he lowered his eyes and gestured for his trusted confidants to report on the progress of their respective tasks.
Having accurately received the emperor's message, the trusted confidants tacitly stepped forward one by one according to their status and rank to report the results of their work.
"Your Majesty, as of the end of the year, there are a total of thirty-two members of the royal family with the potential for cultivation. Among them, six have achieved some success: three are from the direct line, two are from collateral branches, and one is the youngest son of the second daughter of Your Majesty's third aunt. The rest have not yet reached the Qi Sensation stage. This old minister is ashamed!" the Imperial Tutor said with a look of shame.
"Your Majesty! Since the beginning of the year, the concentration of resentment has increased to varying degrees throughout our territory. Evil spirits, walking corpses, ferocious beasts, and vengeful ghosts have frequently appeared, causing great distress to the people. However, most immortal sects and aristocratic families in various regions have become increasingly enthusiastic about exorcising evil spirits, but the money spent on exorcism has not decreased but increased. The people in prosperous areas are doing relatively well, but the people in remote and impoverished areas have suffered heavy casualties!" The commander of the Black Flag Guard, who was responsible for monitoring the internal security of the dynasty, stepped forward to report with a sorrowful expression.
As soon as he finished his report, the secret room was quiet for a moment, and then someone else came forward to report.
"Your Majesty, according to reports from our spies, the relationships between the various immortal sects are becoming increasingly tense. In particular, the Wen clan of Qishan is becoming more and more domineering and unrestrained. Judging from their actions, they may have ambitions to unify the immortal sects!" The head of the secret agents responsible for contacting all the spies planted in the immortal sect families and monitoring the immortal sects' news calmly stood up to report.
"Haha, doesn't that mean the Hundred Schools of Immortals will eventually clash? When that happens..." The emperor slammed his hand on the armrest, his eyes burning with ambition.
"Ahem, Your Majesty! Think carefully!" The Imperial Tutor coughed slightly to remind the Emperor not to lose his composure. "Think about the defeat of the Lin family of Huai'an seven years ago, and then think about the bloody purges of the aristocratic families one hundred and fifty years ago!"
"Bang!" A large basin of ice-cold water was poured over his head, instantly calming the emperor down. He pursed his lips, his fingernails digging fiercely into his palms from his sleeves, and said calmly without changing his expression, "Continue!"
Those below kept their eyes down and remained silent, while those whose turn it was stood up, bowed, and reported their situation.
……
"Your Majesty, I have selected a group of elites from spies across the land, and they are currently undergoing training at a training ground outside the capital. Once the restaurants and eateries in various locations are completed after the New Year, they will be able to move in in batches. At that time, they will not only be able to run the restaurants and eateries well, but also successfully build a more comprehensive intelligence network under the noses of the major immortal sects!"
"Your Majesty, the sites and plans for building workshops in remote and impoverished areas have been finalized. Construction can begin immediately once the funds, provisions, and manpower arrive after the New Year! Once the workshops are completed, the local people's livelihood will surely improve significantly!"
After the last person finished reporting, the secret room fell completely silent, except for the sound of the emperor closing his eyes in thought and tapping his knuckles on the armrest.
After a long while, the emperor's voice finally rang out: "My dear ministers, you have worked hard! Judging from all that has happened before, a massive civil war will break out among the various sects of the immortal realm sooner or later. This is the opportunity we have been waiting for, and we must seize it firmly!"
"Therefore, my dear ministers, you must handle your affairs with even greater care. This will be the foundation upon which we will resist the oppression of the immortal sects in the future!"
"Yes! We are willing to die for Your Majesty!" Everyone bowed solemnly.
"Minister Wei, you'll need to put in a lot of effort with the Wei family girl. She's likely experiencing a fortuitous encounter, but unfortunately, she's a fierce and protective mistress, otherwise... Fortunately, she's on good terms with Yan Mei (Lady Yan's real name). You should stay by her side and assist Yan Mei, deepening the Wei family girl's goodwill towards the court, so that she'll willingly and proactively offer any fortuitous encounters beneficial to the court!" The emperor instructed Yan Qing as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Your Majesty's decree will be obeyed!" Yan Qing bowed his head in response.
"Alright!" The emperor rose and looked at the solemn crowd below, saying earnestly, "You all must remember to act with humility and caution, and not make any big moves that would attract the attention of the immortal sects! Whether our dynasty can break free from the control of the immortal sects depends on this dynasty, so we must not make any moves that might alert them!"
"Here!"
"Alright, then you may leave!" The emperor waved wearily, signaling them to depart.
With a series of creaking sounds, the stone walls on both sides of the secret chamber slowly cracked open, creating a hole wide enough for two people to pass through. The group then split into two groups and left in an orderly fashion.
Seeing that his subordinates had all left, the emperor turned around and pressed three times on a certain spot on the back of his chair, then calmly left the secret room through the suddenly appearing secret passage.
Once the emperor's figure had completely disappeared from the secret chamber, the candlelight inside went out instantly, plunging the entire chamber into darkness!