Chapter 1335: The Trial of Yao State

Chapter 1321: Yao State's Probing

The two settled into a private room by the river. He Lingchuan immediately ordered ten dishes.

Before Fan Shuang could say much, two cold dishes arrived. One, bright red, looked very appetizing.

"What's this?"

"'Drunken Chicken with Fermented Grains,' made from fermented grains." He Lingchuan first put a piece on his plate. "I brought some chefs from Yangshan, and Zhuyin Restaurant is now introducing new dishes. Brother Fan, you're here at the perfect time to help me sample them."

Few could resist his enthusiasm. Fan Shuang, somewhat dazed, ate several dishes before exclaiming, "Truly delicious!"

He Lingchuan turned to have the attendant bring tea, then immediately said, "Brother Fan, when can those hundred excellent horses finally depart? I'm eagerly awaiting them."

Fan Shuang quipped, "Is an island a good place for riding horses?"

The Scarlet Valley horses He Lingchuan purchased from Yao State were not draft or transport horses; they were mounts suitable for battlefield charges. What would an island lord of an archipelago do with so many magnificent steeds?

He Lingchuan smiled, "My island also has valleys and grasslands."

He Lingchuan was delighted, "Your country is truly generous!"

Scarlet Valley horses fully mature at five years old, with well-developed organs and well-proportioned muscles. They pass their peak just after ten years but can serve as warhorses until at least thirteen or fourteen. Yao State has always strictly controlled the export of such valuable strategic resources. He Lingchuan had originally thought it would be good enough just to buy some, even if they were old or sick. To his surprise, Yao State provided the most robust and finest horses.

However, after his initial delight, he immediately sensed something was amiss. Why was Yao State suddenly showing him such favor?

Fan Shuang implied that the release of these one hundred prime horses was by the Yao King's decree.

"A few days ago, I was summoned by His Majesty the King, and I mentioned Brother He's past deeds. My King greatly admires you, praising your upright character, and feels more confident in cooperating with Yangshan."

Fan Shuang's words were subtly calculated, making it sound as if he had proactively brought up the topic during his audience with the King, thus gaining He Lingchuan the Yao King's appreciation.

He Lingchuan was moved and immediately congratulated him, "Congratulations, Brother Fan, on your audience with the King. Your future is surely bright and prosperous."

There were countless minor officials in Yao State, but only a handful ever met the Yao King. Fan Shuang modestly replied, "I was merely summoned for a brief question-and-answer session."

But his barely contained joy was evident.

He Lingchuan, however, seized on the keywords in Fan Shuang's remarks. The Yao King heard about He Lingchuan's past deeds and praised his uprightness?

How much could Fan Shuang know about He Lingchuan's deeds? It could only be related to Spirit Void City and the Immortal Elixir case.

The Yao King wouldn't praise a foreign merchant without reason. Did 'uprightness' refer to He Lingchuan's determination to see the Immortal Elixir case through to the end, his fearlessness in the face of power?

Hmm, the resistance He Lingchuan encountered while investigating the Immortal Elixir case primarily came from Cen Boqing, the son-in-law of Spirit Void's Grand Minister of Agriculture. However, while Cen Boqing certainly made things difficult for Chiyan officials, the Yao King, being thousands of miles away, likely wouldn't have noticed him.

And if one spoke of 'power' in the Yao King's eyes, Cen Boqing probably wasn't significant enough.

So, was it Qingyang?

Coincidentally, Qingyang was currently serving as the Grand Overseer in Yao State.

In the Dragon Coil World, He Lingchuan had heard how the Overseers and Special Envoys dispatched by Beijia would condescend to their vassal states. The King of Xiluo himself had been publicly berated and humiliated by Overseer Wang, shown not an ounce of respect.

If this was Beijia's longstanding tradition and custom, the Yao King might not feel very comfortable dealing with Overseer Qingyang.

So, what was the deeper meaning behind the Yao King suddenly summoning Fan Shuang at this time to inquire about He Lingchuan's past investigation into the Immortal Elixir case?

He Lingchuan felt there was something to be gained here.

So he took a bite of venison, then changed the subject: "The past events in Spirit Void City feel like a lifetime ago. I wonder where State Preceptor Qingyang is now. After I left Spirit Void City, I only knew she had been stripped of her State Preceptor title."

Fan Shuang coughed lightly, "She is no longer a State Preceptor, but our country's Grand Overseer."

"Overseer?" He Lingchuan's face showed shock, his voice rising three octaves. "She's serving as Overseer in *your* country?!"

The Soul-Seizing Mirror in his arms couldn't stand it anymore. "Master, your acting is truly getting more and more exaggerated."

Fan Shuang awkwardly replied, "Ye-yes, that's right."

"What happened?" He Lingchuan first showed disbelief, then understanding dawned on him, and he let out a long 'Ohh.' "State Preceptor Qingyang—or rather, Grand Overseer Qingyang—truly has remarkable means. To not only avoid ruin but also find such a good position thousands of miles away!"

"Even when handling cases back then, I could sense the profound depth of her relationship with the Beijia Emperor." He looked at Fan Shuang with sympathy. "Has Beijia ever sent an Overseer here before?"

This question made Fan Shuang quite uncomfortable, yet he had to answer. His chopsticks hovered mid-air. "Never. This is... the first time."

As a Yao State official, he felt a knot of resentment about the matter.

"This is truly... sigh!" He Lingchuan shook his head, ending with a long sigh. "Brother Fan, you've reminded me never to step into Yao State territory again."

"Why do you say that, Brother He? Are you concerned about your safety in our country?"

"Shouldn't I be?" He Lingchuan cast him a sidelong glance. "When I investigated the Immortal Elixir case back then, I offended Qingyang and was nearly blown up by her agents in an inn."

"That was Spirit Void City, and she could act so recklessly! Now—" He gulped down some wine, still shaken. "I'd best avoid appearing under her nose."

"Brother He, you manage the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce and are involved in the war of the Seven States against Bixia. Whether you like it or not, you've already entered Grand Overseer Qingyang's radar." Fan Shuang quickly interjected, shattering his plan to retreat into his shell. "Forgive me for speaking plainly, but if the Yangshan Chamber of Commerce wants to develop in the Glimmering Gold Plains, you cannot bypass our country, nor Grand Overseer Qingyang."

"This..." He Lingchuan looked troubled.

Fan Shuang couldn't help but provoke him. "Brother He, Spirit Void City back then was a den of dragons and a tiger's lair, yet you entered it unflinchingly. Why are you suddenly apprehensive in the Glimmering Gold Plains?"

"I was still young then..." He Lingchuan coughed. "At that time, I also had Prince Chiyan as a backing; I wasn't exactly entering the dragon's lair alone."

Hearing the words 'dragon's lair,' Fan Shuang felt there was a hidden meaning: Wasn't Beijia's Demon Emperor of the dragon lineage?

Fan Shuang casually said, "In Spirit Void City, did Brother He perhaps have a powerful protector behind him? Otherwise, how could he have escaped safely in the end?"

The Yao King himself had said that He Lingchuan must have had a benefactor assisting him.

To be able to preserve He Lingchuan's life from the great maelstrom of Spirit Void City and right under Qingyang's nose—how immense must that 'benefactor's' power be?

"Ah?" He Lingchuan quickly waved his hand, denying it three times in one breath. "No, no, no, where did you get that idea, Brother Fan?"

However, the more he denied it, the more convinced Fan Shuang became that there was more to the story.

"I thought it had been two years since then. But if Brother He finds it difficult, then don't say anything."

"Oh, it's not that I don't want to say, it's that there really isn't any hidden story." He Lingchuan then explained, "Prince Chiyan protected me with all his might, and the Emperor was so sagacious. Besides, State Preceptor Qingyang made a grave mistake and was inadvertently pinned down at her weak point by her opponent, unable to recover. Tell me, how much of that could a small fry like me control? It was a time of great upheaval; one big wave came, and my small boat would have capsized."

Fan Shuang let out a long 'Ohh,' "Now that Brother He puts it that way, I understand!"

'Inadvertently pinned down at her weak point by her opponent'? That was State Preceptor Qingyang!

What kind of opponent would be qualified to pin down that old viper's weak point and even win? If Fan Shuang himself had tried, he probably would have been poisoned before even touching her.

It must have been State Preceptor Shuangye! Besides Qingyang's old adversary, who else would have such immense power?

He Lingchuan compared himself to a small boat, so who was the big wave? It couldn't have been just Qingyang, otherwise he would have sunk long ago.

Having uncovered this information, he was inwardly delighted.

He Lingchuan saw his beaming smile and knew he was secretly guessing State Preceptor Shuangye—he had already hinted so obviously.

That was precisely the point. Fan Shuang had studied in Spirit Void City for several years and was no longer a political novice. The more He Lingchuan denied it, the more Fan Shuang would fill in the blanks himself.

He Lingchuan guiding him to associate it with Shuangye was, of course, correct.

When the Immortal Elixir case was fermenting in Spirit Void City, State Preceptors Qingyang and Shuangye were engaged in a constant exchange of attacks and defenses. Their frequent skirmishes with Shuangye greatly diverted Qingyang's attention, leaving her little mind to focus on He Lingchuan.

After all, her true opponent was Shuangye, not some minor character named He.

Furthermore, it was only after Fu Shanyue came to the Yangshan Archipelago that he frankly told He Lingchuan that the rapid progress of the Immortal Elixir case in Spirit Void City had indeed received State Preceptor Shuangye's support behind the scenes for Chiyan State.

He just hadn't mentioned it to He Lingchuan at the time.

So He Lingchuan seized this opportunity to forcibly attribute the credit back to State Preceptor Shuangye.

The most brilliant part was that he not only hadn't mentioned Shuangye's name but had even denied receiving help from a benefactor initially, yet Fan Shuang had already concluded that State Preceptor Shuangye was the powerful backer behind him and would relay this information to the Yao King.

He Lingchuan then brought up several large Beijia merchant associations that had close cooperation with Yangshan. Amidst the eating and drinking, after a bout of boastful rambling, he feigned inability to hide his triumph, saying, "But then again, thanks to Spirit... Beijia's patronage, at least thirty percent of the Yangshan Archipelago's visitor traffic comes from Beijia."

This was an exaggeration. But no matter; how many businesspeople don't brag?

Fan Shuang didn't mind, because He Lingchuan had revealed another crucial piece of information: even now, he was still receiving special patronage from Spirit Void City.

Otherwise, how could a minor island lord from a remote location secure so many large contracts and so much visitor traffic from Beijia? Among all the desolate islands under heaven, why was the Yangshan Archipelago the only one to flourish in just a few years?

This meant that, to this day, He Lingchuan and State Preceptor Shuangye still maintained contact.

State Preceptor Shuangye remained the benefactor behind He Lingchuan.