Poisonous Strategist of the World

Bai Lichang's return meant Cui Yi no longer needed to spend all day reviewing reports. Chi Ying arranged for Bai Lichang to preliminarily review the documents, handling routine matters independently and filtering key issues for Cui Yi's afternoon review.

Thus, the energetic Wu King happily went to train troops in the morning, returned for lunch, and handled official business in the afternoon.

After a full day of contemplation, Xie Yong provided his response.

"Have you made up your mind?" Cui Yi confirmed after hearing him.

Xie Yong bowed his head and clasped his hands: "Yes, Your Highness. You forgave my betrayal and gave me a chance to start anew. I am deeply grateful and will dedicate myself entirely to you. However, I have a small request..."

Cui Yi waved his hand: "What is it? Speak."

Xie Yong swallowed and pleaded earnestly: "My mother... came from a humble background and suffered greatly under the main wife. She endured silently, hoping I would succeed and bring honor to our family. In the future, I don't seek high office or wealth; I only ask that you not reveal my service to the crown prince to her."

Cui Yi readily agreed: "That's easy. I promise."

Xie Yong bowed again in gratitude. Bai Lichang commented: "It's heartening to see Mr. Xie switch sides. But how will you respond to Xie Xiao?"

Cui Yi confidently replied: "It's simple. Please draft a letter stating that the grain was stolen by bandits in Yan Prefecture, unrelated to the emperor. I have dispatched forces to recover it. Xie Zichang's accusation of collusion with the court is false, fabricated by enemies to sow discord. He should investigate further."

Chi Ying remained silent, while Cui Yi glanced at her: "Any objections, beloved?"

Chi Ying quickly shook her head: "None! Your wisdom is commendable. Xie Xiao mentioned receiving a secret letter from the princess, which must be forged. Given her illness, she couldn't write. Someone must have imitated her handwriting. The suspects would include those close to her, such as her tutors, childhood friends, nannies, and maids."

Bai Lichang nodded approvingly: "Indeed. To forge her handwriting requires familiarity with her style and animosity towards Xie Yong. Xie Xiao has been governor for over twenty years and wouldn't overlook these clues."

Cui Yi nodded: "Then please draft the letter." Bai Lichang agreed.

"Is there anything else troubling you, Mr. Xie?" Chi Ying noticed Xie Yong standing quietly, seemingly unaffected by their plan to deal with Lady Ye.

Xie Yong looked up in surprise, then lowered his head: "No, I... just..."

Cui Yi, annoyed by hesitation, raised his voice: "Speak up! What kind of man hesitates like this?"

Xie Yong forced a smile and said: "Yes." He turned to face Chi Ying and knelt down.

Chi Ying was taken aback: "Why such formality?"

Xie Yong bowed low, forehead touching the ground, then looked up, voice hoarse: "Regarding the plot to kill you and the young lady, I was aware. The emperor also ordered me to break up your relationship with the prince. Please forgive me."

Chi Ying wasn't surprised: "Different camps naturally scheme against each other. It's not your fault. Rise. Let's not dwell on this."

Xie Yong stood and left. Cui Yi leaned back contentedly, a slight smile on his lips.

"Your Highness," Bai Lichang began.

"Hmm?" Cui Yi responded.

Bai Lichang looked sincerely at him: "What have you been eating lately? May I share some?"

Cui Yi blinked, momentarily confused. Chi Ying burst out laughing: "Be careful, sir. If you anger His Highness, he might serve you a bowl of closed-door soup."

Bai Lichang sighed dramatically, stroking his beard: "Making a living nowadays is no easy task..."

Chi Ying laughed uncontrollably. Cui Yi, displeased, coughed and asked coldly: "What's so funny? You two audacious ministers, always mocking me."

"No, Your Highness," Chi Ying said after calming down. "I'm delighted to see you think things through carefully. Advisor Bai will have more free time now."

Cui Yi grunted and stood up: "I'm leaving."

Chi Ying smiled and saw him off, then instructed Xiaqiu: "Prepare the carriage. I'll visit Jiangkou Camp."

With two thousand Yan Prefecture troops practicing horsemanship and farming, Chi Ying arrived at the camp gate. A soldier informed her that General Cao was in the fields, and General Yang was also absent.

Worried about potential emergencies, Chi Ying pondered recruiting more capable individuals for Cui Yi. Bo Muer was unlikely to be swayed, so she needed to consider other options.

Following the soldier's directions, Chi Ying found Cao Qian.

Despite Yan Prefecture's short summers, crops like wheat, sorghum, and millet were thriving. Chi Ying had anticipated this and prepared seeds accordingly.

Amidst the lush green rice fields along the Jinjiang River, Chi Ying spotted soldiers working diligently. Upon seeing the royal carriage, a sharp-eyed soldier rushed to inform Cao Qian, who soon ran over.

"Why are you dressed like that, General Cao?" Chi Ying asked, amused.

Cao Qian wore simple coarse clothes, with his pant legs rolled up, revealing mud-stained calves. He wiped his sweat-covered face with a white cloth draped over his shoulder, squinting under the sun.

Cao Qian sheepishly wiped his face and asked: "It's easier to work this way. Do you have something to discuss?"

Chi Ying invited him to the shade and Xiaqiu served him a bowl of plum juice. Cao Qian drank thirstily.

Light stood under the tree, fanning himself with a bamboo hat.

"Is His Highness in the camp every morning?" After he had rested enough, Chi Ying asked.

Cao Qian answered without thinking, "Yes, he comes every morning."

Chi Ying asked further, "What time does he come and what time does he leave?"

Cao Qian stopped fanning and looked at them suspiciously, "Why do you ask this... Is something wrong with His Highness?"

Chi Ying only had a guess in her heart, not very sure, and did not intend to tell him too much. But Cao Qian seemed very worried, nervously asking non-stop, "In recent days, His Highness has been coming later than usual. Before, he always arrived at the camp at three quarters past five in the morning, but today he arrived almost at seven. I thought... His Highness wasn't at home? Where could he have gone? In the past, His Highness would stay in the camp all day, rarely going to brothels or taverns... Uh, my apologies, please punish me, Your Ladyship!"

"Why should I punish you when it was I who asked?" Chi Ying waved her hand laughingly, "We also met at the Carved Flower Tower, so brothels and taverns are not necessarily bad places. I'm not suspecting that His Highness has someone else outside, but recently His Highness has been acting very unusually, speaking and doing things in an orderly manner as if everything was planned beforehand, and he doesn't need us to give any advice, he can make his own decisions..."

Cao Qian asked seriously, "Is someone misleading His Highness in secret?"

Chi Ying shook her head, unable to hide the worry in her eyes, "It's too early to say that. The person teaching His Highness speaks words of reason, indeed seems to be giving advice for His Highness. But I fear that behind that person there is another manipulator who knows our every move, while His Highness remains unaware, which will be troublesome."

Cao Qian frowned and thought for a while, then said, "I'll send someone to follow His Highness, and report back to Your Ladyship if anything happens."

Chi Ying nodded, "That's what I was thinking too, but... General Cao has followed His Highness for so many years, always by his side, loyal and devoted. Wouldn't this be too difficult for you?"

Cao Qian laughed, putting the bamboo hat on his head, "If His Highness trusts Your Ladyship, I naturally trust Your Ladyship too. Knowing that Your Ladyship is doing this for His Highness, how could I find it difficult?"

Chi Ying sighed with relief, "If His Highness had more people like General Cao around him, how could we fail?"

Cao Qian blushed from being praised, scratching the back of his neck, "Xu Cheng, the son of former Yan Prefecture Governor Old General Xu, seems to be a fierce warrior too, but unfortunately... You should go back now, once His Highness' whereabouts are confirmed, I'll send someone to your residence to explain. The noon sun is scorching, take care not to get heatstroke."

Chi Ying nodded, "Alright, I'll go back first, this sun is unbearable. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare a big pot of plum soup and send it over to help you all cool off."

The next morning, Cui Yi left home just as dawn broke. Chi Ying was raising silkworms with Nong Yue in the side room, fresh mulberry leaves were cut into strips and sprinkled onto trays full of silkworms. The larger silkworms ate large pieces of mulberry leaves directly, filling the room with a rustling sound.

Before nine in the morning, a servant came to report that General Cao had sent someone to deliver a message. Chi Ying washed her hands and went to the main hall to see the messenger.

The man was a spy who, after paying respects, recounted everything he saw that morning to Chi Ying. As she listened, Chi Ying's expression became increasingly grim. After the man finished, she rewarded him with money and dismissed him, sitting alone in the chair pondering.

The spy said that early in the morning, Cui Yi didn't go to brothels, taverns, teahouses, or gambling dens, but instead turned to a fortune-telling stall under the city gate. He gave the Taoist priest a small string of coins worth several dozen cash and sat there talking for nearly an hour before heading to the military camp.

A fortune-telling Taoist priest? Chi Ying felt very puzzled. How could Cui Yi believe in such things? She hadn't noticed this before. Who exactly was this Taoist priest?

After dismissing the spy, Chi Ying sat down and thought for a long time. According to her memories from her previous life, she had never heard of any talented individuals in this barren land of Yan Prefecture. But a living person couldn't appear out of thin air. Based on the spy's description, the fortune-telling Taoist priest seemed to be less than thirty years old. Chi Ying reviewed all the characters she remembered, but still couldn't figure it out.

Xiao Qiu fanned her gently and whispered, "Your Ladyship, why don't you ask His Highness directly?"

Chi Ying, deep in thought, shook her head, "No, if His Highness wanted to say something, he would have already done so. If he doesn't want to, asking him would only upset him, which isn't worth it."

Xiao Qiu tilted her head and thought again, "Then why not bring that person here and ask directly?"

Chi Ying sighed, massaging her temples with her fingers, "I've considered that too, but since they haven't provoked us openly, if we can't convince them and cause a scene at the city gate, it wouldn't be good. Or should I meet him myself? The key point is that I don't know how His Highness got acquainted with him, and why he listens to everything he says. Someone who can make His Highness obey within three to five days must be quite a character. If he intends to harm His Highness, I wonder if Mr. Bai Li and I together can defeat him."

Seeing her mistress worried, Xiao Qiu also fretted. Suddenly, an idea struck her, "Hey, Your Ladyship, why don't we also go to that Taoist priest for fortune-telling! Whether it's good or bad, we'll know after trying, right?"

Fortune-telling... Chi Ying thought carefully and found it feasible, nodding, "Alright, let's meet him. Order the sedan chair."

"Got it~" Xiao Qiu put down the fan and ran out hurriedly. When she returned, she was holding little Cui Xian, who had just finished feeding. Chi Ying asked curiously, "Why did you bring Xian'er here?"

Xiao Qiu proudly held up little Cui Xian, saying, "Your Ladyship, think about it. Mothers are most concerned about their children, right? If you hold Miss for fortune-telling, the other party won't suspect you easily."

Chi Ying laughed, "We're tricking him, if we disguise ourselves too well, wouldn't it be meaningless?"

Xiao Qiu seemed to realize this suddenly, "Oh yes... Then..."

"Bringing Xian'er along is fine," Chi Ying was reminded and thought of another layer, "Come help me redo my hair and change into plain clothes."

After a short while, the prince's sedan chair arrived at the city gate. Xiao Qiu whispered through the curtain, "Your Ladyship, I see that Taoist priest, hmm..."

She hesitated, making Chi Ying curious too. Lifting the curtain, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Qiu glanced at the fortune-telling stall and lowered her voice even more, "I think that person... looks like a woman."

"A woman?" Chi Ying almost shouted, "Really? Stop the sedan chair!"

The bearers stopped the sedan chair. Chi Ying, holding little Cui Xian, stepped out and looked up at the white banner under the city gate—"Calculating Without Omission."

The seated Taoist priest wore a sky-blue robe and a floating hat, with a clean-shaven face, delicate eyebrows, and graceful eyes, looking quite handsome. Given his smooth jawline, no wonder Xiao Qiu suspected he was a woman.

Back in the capital, most fortune-telling Taoist priests were half-old men with goatees. It was rare to see one as young as him.

Chi Ying ordered the bearers to wait on the spot and walked straight toward the fortune-telling stall with Xiao Qiu.

The young Taoist priest sat cross-legged on the ground, neither shouting nor greeting passersby. Only when Chi Ying sat down on the small stool in front of the stall did he lazily lift his eyelids and say a few words, "This poor Taoist only tells fortunes for those with fate. Please seek someone else, Madam."