CMWKSD -Chapter 236 Brilliant to the Extreme

The members of the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation were making frequent small moves.

They thought they were being extremely discreet.

But Ji Yiqing was the sort who held grudges.

The moment he recalled how Zhuo Ya had actually dared to shoot an arrow at Jiu Yue’s head right at the city gates, his anger surged uncontrollably.

So Ji Yiqing dug into his own pocket, took out all of his private savings—just a few dozen taels of silver—and handed them over in full to the people of Dark Moon Pavilion in the capital.

He told them to keep a death grip on the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation.

He wanted to know everything—even how many times they farted each day.

Jiu Yue had already taken revenge on the spot.

But Ji Yiqing was still furious.

On this point, Shao Qing and Ji Yiqing were surprisingly in agreement.

So what exactly were the Northern Barbarians doing in the capital?

Ji Yiqing knew every detail.

Although he knew that Emperor Fengyuan would also send people to follow up on the matter, Dark Moon Pavilion consisted of people from the streets and alleys.

They always managed to dig up strange clues that others could never find.

And then, somehow…

Ji Yiqing was probably going to earn another merit.

Because he discovered that someone from the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation had been in contact with a small palace maid.

Ji Yiqing: …

So…

How exactly had Consort Rong entered the palace back then?

Ji Yiqing checked the records and learned that she had entered through the imperial selection.

But in truth, as long as someone had silver, even the selection could be faked.

After all, Emperor Fengyuan was burdened with countless affairs of state.

Selecting a few concubines—he didn’t necessarily have to be present.

So was there someone behind the scenes, pushing things along when Consort Rong entered the palace?

Then now, with the Northern Barbarians contacting this palace maid—What information were they trying to pry into?

Regarding the matter of Emperor Fengyuan being poisoned, Jiu Yue had not told everyone everything.

So Ji Yiqing did not know about it.

He did not even know whether that curse still existed.

However, the Crown Prince having offspring was, in itself, a major event.

The court officials all said it was Heaven blessing Great Qi—the Crown Prince had heirs.

Only some of the old ministers vaguely guessed certain things.

But no one dared to directly ask Emperor Fengyuan.

Wouldn’t that be stabbing right into his sore spot?

But if the Northern Barbarians wanted to know Emperor Fengyuan’s condition, there must be a reason.

Ji Yiqing made many conjectures.

Then he told Ji Chaomian about his analysis.

Ji Chaomian silently glanced at Ji Yiqing. “Second Brother, at the speed you’re earning merits, are you planning to become Grand Chancellor at thirty?”

Ji Yiqing’s eyes instantly lit up. “Is that possible? Big Brother, do you think I could?”

Ji Chaomian: …

Do you want to be Grand Chancellor?

Or do you want to be Jiu Yue’s Grand Chancellor?

Ji Chaomian was already numb—stuck with a younger brother whose brain was full of Jiu Yue.

What else could he do?

Of course, he would do his utmost to back him up.

The brothers devised a whole series of plans.

How could they discreetly let Emperor Fengyuan know about this matter—Without arousing suspicion?

…

Jiu Yue beamed as she looked at Ying Yi. “One thousand taels. I’ll sell you a huge piece of intelligence. Want it?”

Ying Yi stared at Jiu Yue’s profiteer-like expression. “Every time you say it’s major intelligence!”

Jiu Yue looked back at him. “Just tell me—weren’t all the pieces of intelligence I sold you major ones?”

The face beneath Ying Yi’s mask nearly twisted out of shape.

For the court, they were major intelligence, sure—but to him, they were utterly meaningless!

Who wanted to know whether the Minister of War stuffed steamed buns or apples into his chest when he cross-dressed?!

He wasn’t a pervert!

He’d bought intelligence twice, and Emperor Fengyuan hadn’t reimbursed him either time.

He’d paid out of his own pocket.

In the end, he could only issue an order in the leader’s name, forcing the Eagle Eye members to split the cost evenly.

One piece of intelligence about the Minister of War stuffing buns into his chest while cross-dressing—Cost him a hundred taels!

A hundred taels!!!

Jiu Yue waved the papers in her hand. “So? Want it or not? Absolutely worth the price.”

Ying Yi glared at her bitterly.

She’d learned badly—learned badly, Jiu Yue had.

She used to be so pure. Now she even knew how to fleece people.

Oh no—she only knew how to fleece him.

But the higher the price, the more important the intelligence must be in Jiu Yue’s eyes.

The problem was, Ying Yi could never guess what kind of intelligence Jiu Yue considered important.

But there was no helping it—Jiu Yue had already dangled the carrot.

This donkey could only admit defeat. “I want it!”

Jiu Yue raised her brows. “No credit.”

Ying Yi gave a stifled grunt. He really didn’t have a thousand-tael banknote on him.

He could only turn around and pool money together with Ying San-san, Ying Er-er, and the others.

Ying San-san and the rest were on the verge of tears, feeling that sooner or later, they’d be plucked bald by Jiu Yue.

But in the end, they still scraped together a thousand-tael banknote.

Jiu Yue happily put the banknote away.

Then she first handed Ying Yi the receipt, so he could go back and ask Emperor Fengyuan for reimbursement.

Ying Yi carefully stored the receipt away.

If this kept up, he wouldn’t have any dignity left as the leader of Eagle Eye.

Jiu Yue was just too good at this.

Jiu Yue handed a portrait to Ying Yi. “My people saw the Northern Barbarians contacting this palace maid.”

“Most likely, the Northern Barbarians are anxious to confirm His Majesty’s physical condition.”

Then Jiu Yue pulled out several more portraits—these were of several military officials.

They were probably among those who had been swapped out earlier.

Stragglers, essentially.

“These few were also contacted. They should be their people.”

As she spoke, Jiu Yue smiled. “Well? Worth the price, right?”

Ying Yi’s expression turned solemn like never before.

He knew about Jiu Yue detoxifying Emperor Fengyuan.

He also knew that the mastermind behind it was from the Northern Barbarians.

It seemed that this time, the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation had come to Great Qi—

First, to probe.

Second, to confirm Emperor Fengyuan’s condition.

A beautiful plan.

Unfortunately, they ran into Jiu Yue—this unexpected variable.

And got wiped out in one sweep.

Ying Yi carefully put away the portraits. “Your Highness truly has Great Qi at heart, constantly keeping people watching the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation. That’s how this unexpected gain came about.”

Jiu Yue put on a shy smile. “Oh my, this time it really wasn’t me.”

Seeing Jiu Yue’s expression, Ying Yi immediately sensed something was off.

Normally, at this point, Ying Yi would have shut his mouth.

But maybe he’d spent too much time around Jiu Yue.

People change.

Knowing there’s a tiger on the mountain, yet still climbing it.

He was just cheap like that!

“Then who was it?”

Jiu Yue blinked at Ying Yi. “You don’t know? Of course it was my Ji Yiqing.”

Ying Yi wanted to cover Jiu Yue’s mouth.

But Jiu Yue rattled everything off in one breath.

“He only had a few dozen taels of private savings, and he still took them to reward my Dark Moon Pavilion people.”

“Told them to keep a special watch on the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation during this time, just to find a chance to vent my anger over the city gate incident.”

“I told him it wasn’t necessary, really, but he insisted. Honestly, I just can’t deal with him.”

“If I hadn’t stopped him, he’d even have had Dark Moon Pavilion put sacks over the Northern Barbarians’ heads.”

Ying Yi: …

Ying San-san: …

Ying Er-er: …

They felt like they’d been walking down the road just fine, only to be kicked straight into a ditch.

And Ji Yiqing—such a steady person.

The idea of putting sacks over people’s heads definitely did not come from Ji Yiqing on a whim!

That had to be Jiu Yue’s idea—she was testing him now.

If he said it was okay, the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation would be getting sack-covered tonight.

Ying Yi shook his head.

Jiu Yue let out a regretful sigh.

Why couldn’t they put sacks over their heads?

It wasn’t like she wanted them dead.

A beating wouldn’t kill them—losing an arm or breaking a leg or something.

They’d still be alive and kicking, wouldn’t they?

Besides, she’d even thought of the excuse.

After beating them up, just toss them into a ditch.

Say they collectively fell into it while walking.

How perfect.

But it wasn’t allowed?

Ying Yi saw Jiu Yue’s clearly disappointed expression and knew she’d dropped the idea.

He let out a slight sigh of relief.

Still, with Ji Yiqing full of bad ideas, the Northern Barbarians’ envoy delegation would probably be better off getting sack-covered.

That, at least, was the truth.

Zhuo Ya, because of her balding head, Secretly sent people to search for folk remedies.

Quietly.

Now…

Whether hair had grown back or not was hard to say.

But one thing was certain—

She had become brilliant to the extreme.

“Ahhhhhh! My hair!!! Where’s my hair?!”