Inside the reception hall of the Top Scholar’s Residence, Li An sat there holding a teacup…
Staring wide-eyed at the peerlessly beautiful Ninth Princess of Northern Yan.
Today, Murong Xue wore a light purple palace gown — fresh and elegant — which made her already fair skin appear even more luminous.
Especially those fox-like eyes of hers, now curved in a half-smile as she looked at him.
“Lord Li, I heard you haven’t been feeling well lately? That’s why you’ve been resting at home?”
Murong Xue spoke with concern.
“I’ve specially brought some nourishing tonics from Northern Yan. I hope you recover soon.”
Li An glanced at the pile of gifts and inwardly scoffed.
Visiting the sick?
More like coming to interrogate him.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern.”
He gave a dry laugh and followed her lead.
“I’ve merely been… overthinking these past few days. A bit fatigued, that’s all.”
“Overthinking?”
Murong Xue’s lips curled slightly.
“I’ve heard that although Lord Li is suspended at home, the court has been receiving constant good news.”
“The Ministry of Works has forged divine steel. The Directorate of Agriculture has yields of several thousand jin per mu…”
“These were all your arrangements, weren’t they?”
At this point she stopped being subtle and directly exposed his real identity, her tone sharpening.
“Lord Li may belong to Northern Yan, yet everything you’re doing now is strengthening Great Qi.”
“I’m very curious — is this an accident, or… do you have other intentions? Or perhaps you’ve truly been bought over by the Emperor of Great Qi and forgotten where you belong?”
Here it comes!
Li An screamed inwardly.
As expected — she came to question him.
And her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
“Your Highness misunderstands… These matters are not—”
Before he could finish, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
Hongmei’s voice rang out.
“Someone from the palace has arrived — His Majesty urgently summons you!”
“Urgently?”
Li An froze.
He was currently suspended. What urgent matter required him?
“They said…”
Hongmei glanced at Murong Xue and lowered her voice deliberately.
“It seems something has happened at the border.”
Something at the border?
Li An’s heart leapt with joy.
Was this the long-awaited good news?
Had Northern Yan finally sent troops south?
Did that mean his plan to cut off military supplies had succeeded?
Inside, he was overjoyed.
But in front of Murong Xue, he forced a solemn expression.
“Your Highness, my apologies.”
He stood up.
“There is urgent business at court. I must enter the palace at once.”
“As for what we were discussing, let us speak another day. I will give Your Highness an explanation.”
Murong Xue also rose immediately upon hearing of border troubles.
“The border situation concerns me greatly as well. Lord Li, once you’re in the palace, be sure to investigate thoroughly…”
Leaving behind a bewitching smile, she departed.
Imperial Palace — Taihe Hall
By the time Li An arrived, the court was already in uproar.
“Your Majesty! Eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch from the frontier!”
A dust-covered messenger knelt on the floor, terrified.
“General Zhenbei reports: The Northern Yan army presses upon our borders. Our arrows are exhausted, provisions depleted!”
“The soldiers have gone without food for three days!”
“If reinforcements do not arrive soon, the frontier may… may fall!”
The hall erupted in chaos.
Standing outside, Li An heard the news and felt a surge of excitement.
Finally!
Finally something that could crash the national fortune!
If the frontier fell, that was catastrophic!
Lose a war, lose territory — what would those assembly lines and inventions matter then?
If the capital fell, national fortune would plummet to the bottom!
His mission to ruin the nation would be complete!
But he suppressed his wild joy and forced himself to look grief-stricken.
After all, the entire court was present. He had to play the role of a “loyal and concerned official.”
“Lord Li has arrived!”
The eunuch at the door announced loudly.
“Summon him in!”
Emperor Zhao Ling’er’s voice sounded heavy from within.
Li An adjusted his robes and stepped into the hall.
The moment he entered, he felt countless complicated gazes upon him.
Some gloating. Some cold. Some genuinely worried.
Standing at the front, Prime Minister Wang Fu immediately shouted:
“Li An!”
“Do you know the magnitude of the disaster you’ve caused?”
“The frontier is in crisis! Soldiers freeze and starve!”
“This is all your doing!”
Li An blinked, putting on an innocent expression.
“Me?”
“What does this have to do with me?”
“Prime Minister, what do you mean?”
“What do I mean?”
Wang Fu sneered.
“You think I don’t know?”
“The Ministry of Works was thrown into chaos by the people you planted, reducing military production!”
“The Directorate of Agriculture was disrupted by your farmer — planting sweet potatoes instead of proper grain!”
“And the Mutual Trade Office? Handed to a gambling den owner!”
“The frontier lacks weapons and provisions — it is your responsibility!”
“Now the border is in danger — you are the culprit!”
He turned indignantly to the emperor.
“Your Majesty, this old minister does not wish to target Lord Li.”
“But our frontier soldiers bleed on the battlefield while we cannot even supply food…”
“How can I bear it?!”
Several ministers chimed in:
“The Prime Minister speaks truth!”
“Li An is a disaster!”
“Your Majesty, this man brings ruin — he must be executed to calm public anger!”
Hearing this, Li An secretly applauded.
Yes, yes! It’s all my fault!
Panic all you want — it’s useless!
Northern Yan’s army is coming!
However…
Just as they were calling for his execution—
“Prime Minister,”
Grand Commandant Sun Qian stepped forward calmly, holding a newly arrived military report.
“This old minister has just received another dispatch from the frontier.”
He glanced around and smirked slightly.
“Perhaps it would be unwise to condemn Lord Li so hastily.”
“What do you mean?”
Wang Fu frowned.
“There’s more news?”
“This report was sent after the previous urgent message.”
Sun Qian unfolded it and read aloud:
“General Zhenbei’s eight-hundred-li urgent report: Your Majesty! Just as our army was on the brink of starvation, a mysterious convoy descended like divine soldiers!”
“The escort claims the supplies departed secretly from the capital several days ago!”
“They delivered large quantities of new-style weapons and an unprecedented military ration!”
“The weapons are extraordinarily sharp — one strike can sever enemy sabers!”
“The rations are sweet and filling — one portion sustains a soldier for an entire day!”
“Our morale surged! At noon today, we counterattacked and shattered Northern Yan’s vanguard!”
“Three thousand enemies slain, five hundred captured!”
“The Northern Yan vanguard has collapsed and fled north!”
The hall fell into deathly silence.
Those who had just cursed Li An stood frozen, mouths agape.
Some even shuffled back a step.
“This… this…”
An imperial censor stammered.
“How is this possible…”
Another minister muttered before hurriedly covering his mouth.
Moments ago they were predicting disaster — now it was victory?
Divine weapons? New rations?
The reversal was too sudden!
Wang Fu’s face twisted spectacularly.
“How… how is this possible?”
“The frontier reported exhausted arrows and provisions!”
“Where did this convoy come from?”
“Prime Minister may not be aware…”
Sun Qian replied evenly.
“According to the report, the convoy bore the banner of Shunfeng Escort Agency.”
“The escort leader was Zhao Dadan of the Mutual Trade Office.”
“The new weapons were forged by Zhang Tiezhu of the Ministry of Works — standardized new models.”
“And the rations were sweet potatoes grown by Old Li of the Directorate of Agriculture.”
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the hall.
“I believe everyone knows…”
“Zhao Dadan, Zhang Tiezhu, Old Li…”
“All were talents personally discovered and promoted by Lord Li.”
Dead silence.
All eyes turned to Li An.
Li An: ???
He was completely dumbfounded.
What was happening?
Departed several days ago?
Then he remembered.
That late-night convoy he had seen days earlier.
Damn it!
In the end, he’d still been sabotaged by his own people!
His subordinates’ comprehension skills were way too advanced!
“Lord Li.”
Sun Qian stepped before him, eyes full of admiration.
“This old minister once thought you merely eloquent.”
“Now I see you are farsighted beyond measure!”
“Feigning withdrawal at home, yet secretly arranging such a decisive move!”
“At the frontier’s darkest hour, your people descended like divine soldiers with life-saving supplies!”
“Lord Li, I am truly impressed! On behalf of the hundred thousand frontier soldiers, I thank you!”
Li An looked at the sincerely grateful Grand Commandant.
Inside, he wanted to cry.
I really didn’t know!
They acted on their own!
I’m innocent!
But could he say that?
Obviously not.
“You overpraise me, Grand Commandant…”
He responded stiffly.
“Your Majesty!”
Wang Fu finally snapped out of it.
“This may be a ruse!”
“What if the report is false?”
“What if the weapons and rations are defective?”
“I request a thorough investigation!”
Emperor Zhao Ling’er sat upon the dragon throne, watching Wang Fu’s flustered face and the murmuring ministers.
A satisfied smile spread across her lips.
“Prime Minister, are you suggesting…”
“That the frontier’s victory is false?”
“I—I do not mean that…”
Cold sweat dripped from Wang Fu’s forehead as he hastily denied it.
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
Zhao Ling’er rose to her feet, her gaze sweeping across the court.
“Where are those ministers who were just shouting to have Li An executed?”
“Do you still have anything to say?”
Silence filled the hall.
Those who had yelled the loudest earlier now lowered their heads, wishing they could bury them in the ground.
“Good!”
Zhao Ling’er tapped the armrest of the dragon throne.
“I knew Li, my beloved minister, would never disappoint me!”
She looked at Li An, her eyes brimming with trust and admiration.
“Even while suspended from office, you managed to arrange frontier affairs so properly.”
“You are truly the pillar of my realm!”
“From this day forward, your suspension is lifted!”
“As for rewards—”
“Your Majesty!”
Li An hurried forward and interrupted her.
“This humble servant… does not dare claim the credit!”
“This matter… this matter was entirely the work of my subordinates. I did nothing…”
He meant every word.
He really did nothing!
He hadn’t even known about it!
But everyone present interpreted it differently.
“Lord Li is truly modest!”
“He gives all the credit to his subordinates—this is the bearing of a great man!”
“I misjudged Lord Li!”
Li An: …
Do you people not understand human speech?
“There is no need to decline, Li,” Zhao Ling’er said with a faint smile. “We shall discuss rewards later.”
“Today’s events prove one thing…”
She turned to the court and declared loudly:
“Li’s reforms are correct!”
“The Ministry of Works’ new techniques can forge divine weapons!”
“The Bureau of Agriculture’s new farming methods yield abundant harvests!”
“The Trade and Logistics Office can deliver supplies swiftly to the front lines!”
“These are all acts that benefit the nation and the people! Reform of the imperial examinations is necessary—abolish the eight-legged essay and promote practical learning!”
“From this day forward, anyone who dares slander Li shall not be spared!”
Who would dare oppose her now?
All the ministers cried out in unison:
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Li An stood there with a grateful expression on his face.
But inside…
Inside, ten thousand alpacas were stampeding wildly through his heart.
What the hell?!
Why can’t I just be impeached?!
I’d gladly accept any number of accusations!
Everything I did was meant to get attacked from all sides!
Can you people stop lying through your teeth?!
Those troublemakers were supposed to be disasters—how did they all become meritorious officials?!
Just as Li An was drowning in despair—
Ding!
The familiar system notification rang in his mind.
【Battle Report Update!】
【Detected: Great victory at the frontier! Great Qi forces crushed Northern Yan’s vanguard, killing 3,000 enemies!】
【Impact: Border security index greatly increased. Military and civilian morale surging! Combined with prior potential factors… National Fortune surges!】
【National Fortune Impact: +35,000】
【Current National Fortune Value: 115,800】
Li An looked at the number breaking past one hundred thousand and couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Over a month of painstakingly planning his “ruin-the-nation grand scheme” had gone down the drain.
Worse still—
The second cycle was nearing settlement.
According to the system’s rules, if the national fortune at the end of the cycle exceeded that at the beginning…
And if the compensation mission was not completed…
He would be punished.
And this time, the punishment was outright erasure.
“Lord Li?”
Grand Commandant Sun Qian noticed his pale face and asked with concern, “Are you unwell?”
“N-No… I’m fine…”
Li An forced a smile.
“I’m simply… too excited…”
Excited?
Yes. Very excited.
If he didn’t think of something fast, he’d really be dead.
—
By the time court adjourned, news had spread through the capital like wildfire.
“A huge victory at the frontier!”
“Northern Yan’s army was beaten back!”
“Three thousand enemies killed! Five hundred captured!”
“They even used some kind of divine weapon—cut through Northern Yan sabers in a single strike!”
“It was made by Lord Li’s people! That blacksmith Zhang Tiezhu from the Ministry of Works!”
“And that dried sweet potato ration—one meal lasts all day! Also arranged by Lord Li!”
“Lord Li is a miracle worker!”
“Even under house arrest, he saved the nation! Who dares speak ill of him now?”
Celebrations erupted everywhere. Some citizens even beat gongs and drums in jubilation.
Tea houses and taverns buzzed with discussion.
“I always said Lord Li was a good official!”
“Oh please—you were calling him a traitor just last month!”
“That was my mistake! Now I see clearly—he’s a loyal minister!”
“Hah! Your face changes faster than flipping a book!”
“Those who understand the times are heroes!”
For years, Northern Yan’s military strength had weighed heavily on Great Qi’s people.
Now that victory had come—who wouldn’t rejoice?
Some clever merchants had already begun selling “Lord Li’s Signature Dried Sweet Potatoes.”
Though none of them knew whether Lord Li had ever eaten one.
—
Amid this universal celebration, only one man was miserable.
In the backyard of the Zhuangyuan Residence, Li An lay in a reclined chair, staring blankly at the sky.
Hongmei stood nearby, watching him cautiously.
“Young master…”
“Don’t speak,” Li An said weakly. “Let me have some quiet.”
“But, young master—”
“Quiet!”
She obediently fell silent.
Li An closed his eyes, replaying everything in his mind.
Divine steel forged.
Crops yielding thousands of jin per mu.
A great frontier victory.
National fortune up thirty-five thousand.
And all the credit… placed squarely on his head.
He had become Great Qi’s great hero.
The emperor’s pillar.
The people’s savior.
But he came here to ruin the nation!
What exactly did he do wrong?
Why was heaven treating him like this?
Ding!
【🚨 SYSTEM RED ALERT 🚨】
【Abnormal fluctuation detected in Great Qi’s National Fortune!】
【Current Cycle: Second Cycle (Day 45/60)】
【Time Remaining: 15 Days】
【Midterm Settlement Simulation in Progress…】
【1. Ruin-the-Nation Mission (Great Qi)】
- Initial National Fortune: 152,479
- Current National Fortune: 125,800
- Status: Ongoing
【2. Save-the-Nation Mission (Northern Yan)】
- Required Increase: +64,479
- Current Increase: 0
- Status: Not Activated
- Warning: If unfinished at cycle’s end, host will be directly erased!
The ruin mission was one thing.
But the compensation save-the-nation mission from the previous cycle…
Seeing the bright red “Direct Erasure,” Li An broke out in cold sweat.
“Finished. I’m finished…”
Fifteen days left.
Northern Yan’s increase: zero!
Even if he rushed there now to start building, it would be too late!
“What do I do? What do I do?”
He paced in circles.
“I need to send something to Northern Yan… money? technology? resources?”
“Right! Divine steel! And sweet potatoes!”
He stopped abruptly, madness flashing in his eyes.
Wasn’t this a ready-made opportunity to boost Northern Yan’s national strength?
If he gave them the divine steel formula, wouldn’t their military power rise?
If he sent sweet potato seeds and farming methods, wouldn’t their civilian prosperity grow?
Transfer all of Great Qi’s good stuff to Northern Yan—
Even send Mohist disciples there to serve—
Drain Great Qi to nourish Northern Yan!
Destroy one nation while strengthening the other!
A perfect two-birds-one-stone plan!
But…
How to send it?
His current position was awkward.
If he openly aided the enemy, even the emperor’s imagination wouldn’t stretch that far.
He needed a legal, reasonable, preferably aboveboard channel.
“Young master.”
Hongmei’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“What?”
“That… the Ninth Princess of Northern Yan is here again.”
“If you don’t wish to see her, I’ll send her away…”
“Wait!”
Li An flung the door open, startling her.
“Who did you say is outside?”
“The Ninth Princess of Northern Yan…”
“Murong Xue!”
Li An slapped his thigh in excitement.
“Of course! How could I forget her?!”
Wasn’t she the perfect transport captain?
Who better to carry things back to Northern Yan than its own princess?
And she was here for peace negotiations, wasn’t she?
If he handed over the divine steel formula and sweet potato seeds under the banner of “promoting bilateral relations” and “sharing technological achievements”—
He could complete the mission, and Great Qi might even interpret it as a brilliant strategy for securing peace!
“Quick! Show her in!”
“No— I’ll go myself!”
He didn’t even put his shoes on properly before sprinting barefoot toward the reception hall.
Hongmei stood frozen, watching his retreating figure in confusion.
Wasn’t he just on the verge of despair?
How did he suddenly become this excited at the mention of the Northern Yan princess?
Could it be…
Was her young master starting to have feelings for that Ninth Princess?
Pouting slightly, Hongmei muttered with a hint of jealousy:
“Young master… just what kind of grand chess game are you playing…”
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