YWTGU -Chapter 54 I’m Using Great Qi’s Chicken to Lay Northern Yan’s Eggs!

Inside the reception hall of the Zhuangyuan Residence.

The Ninth Princess of Northern Yan, Murong Xue, sat upright in her chair, holding a cup of hot tea.

Today’s attire was different from before—a light teal palace dress that made her look even more refined and ethereal.

Her fox-like eyes curved slightly as she gazed toward the doorway with an ambiguous smile.

She was waiting.

Waiting for that man she both loved, hated, and could never quite figure out.

Just moments ago, she had been ready to leave.

But Li An had suddenly rushed out like a madman—one shoe barely on, the other foot completely bare—chasing after her.

“Princess! Your Highness, please wait!”

At the memory, Murong Xue’s lips curved upward again.

Interesting.

Earlier, Li An had seemed eager to avoid her. Now he was chasing her down?

What exactly was this man plotting?

“Lord Li.”

Back in the reception hall, Murong Xue took a delicate sip of tea before setting the cup down.

“I thought perhaps you were unwilling to see me.”

“No, no, no!”

Li An shook his head vigorously, glancing around the room and then at the attendants behind her.

“Your Highness, I have an urgent matter to discuss.”

Lowering his voice deliberately, he added: “Could we… dismiss everyone else?”

Murong Xue’s eyes narrowed instantly.

Dismiss everyone?

So it was something confidential.

“You may all withdraw.”

She waved her hand, signaling her maids to leave.

Li An turned to Hongmei as well.

“You too. Go outside.”

Hongmei frowned, clearly uneasy.

“Young master…”

“Go.”

His tone allowed no argument.

Reluctantly, she stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Now only Li An and Murong Xue remained.

Li An took a deep breath and stepped closer.

His eyes were bloodshot.

Days of sleepless nights caused by surging national fortune had taken their toll.

But in Murong Xue’s eyes, it looked different—

Like a loyal minister under immense pressure, enduring hardship while infiltrating enemy territory for Northern Yan.

“Your Highness.”

Li An began in an unusually sincere tone.

“I know the events of the past few days—including Northern Yan’s setback at the frontier—have made you question my loyalty.”

“You believe that everything I’ve done in Great Qi has been helping Great Qi. Correct?”

Murong Xue nodded.

“Isn’t that so?”

She countered:

“The Ministry of Works forged divine steel. The Bureau of Agriculture cultivated high-yield crops. The frontier achieved a great victory…”

“Which of these does not benefit Great Qi?”

“Lord Li, I am not here to accuse you.”

“I only want to know… do you still remember that you are a son of Northern Yan?”

Li An suddenly laughed.

There was a hint of madness in that smile.

“Your Highness, you are mistaken.”

“Terribly mistaken.”

“You think I have truly been forging iron and farming for Great Qi?”

“Wrong.”

“From beginning to end, everything I’ve done has been for Northern Yan.”

Murong Xue froze.

“What do you mean?”

Li An walked to the window and looked out at the sky.

“Your Highness, think about it.”

“I am a Northern Yan agent, infiltrating Great Qi’s court.”

“If I truly wanted to sabotage Great Qi, what would be the best method?”

“To openly destroy things?”

“No.”

“That would only expose me and get me executed.”

He turned around and looked at her with intense loyalty.

“The best method is to use Great Qi’s resources for Northern Yan’s benefit.”

“Let Great Qi pay. Let Great Qi labor. Let Great Qi’s craftsmen, farmers, and soldiers…”

“Lay the bricks for Northern Yan’s rise!”

This perspective stunned Murong Xue.

She had never considered such an approach.

“You mean…”

“Exactly!”

Li An stepped closer and leaned in.

His voice dropped.

Their faces were less than a foot apart.

“What I did in the Ministry of Works—exploding furnaces, burning silver, exhausting craftsmen…”

“On the surface, it looked like I was developing technology for Great Qi.”

“But in reality?”

A deliberate glint of pride flashed in his eyes.

“I was using Great Qi’s treasury, manpower, and materials to conduct trial and error for Northern Yan!”

“Think about it. Every furnace explosion cost thousands of taels of silver.”

“Every ruined batch of materials was carefully sourced from across the empire.”

“Every exhausted craftsman was one of Great Qi’s finest. Even if Northern Yan wanted to experiment, where would we find so many experts?”

“All those costs were borne by Great Qi!”

“And I?”

He sneered softly.

“I only needed to observe, record every failure, note every improvement.”

“When success finally came, I would take the formula.”

“Great Qi spent countless sums, only to make a wedding dress for Northern Yan!”

“The failed furnaces, the wasted silver, the exhausted artisans…”

“Great Qi footed the bill.”

“And the final product?”

He straightened and pulled a rolled blueprint from his robes.

“This is the result.”

He spread it open on the table.

“The formula for divine steel.”

“Smelting methods, material ratios, furnace temperature control…”

“It’s all here.”

Murong Xue stared at the blueprint in disbelief.

“This…”

“And this.”

Li An produced a small cloth pouch and poured out several sweet potato seeds.

“Sweet potatoes.”

“A high-yield crop producing five thousand jin per mu.”

“The planting techniques, cultivation methods, storage strategies…”

“I’ve had everything compiled.”

He met her gaze with burning intensity.

“At the Bureau of Agriculture, that old farmer I assigned—he looks crude, but he’s a genius.”

“He used Great Qi’s fertile land, fertilizer, and manpower to conduct countless experiments.”

“The costs? All paid by Great Qi.”

“And Northern Yan can simply take the results.”

“Your Highness, do you understand now?”

“Everything I’ve done in Great Qi was not for Great Qi.”

“It was for Northern Yan!”

“I am using Great Qi’s chicken to lay Northern Yan’s eggs!”

“When these technologies mature, I will send them all back.”

“Northern Yan’s army will wield divine steel weapons.”

“Northern Yan’s people will enjoy high-yield harvests.”

“Northern Yan’s national power will soar!”

“And Great Qi?”

He let out a cold laugh.

“They will have spent endless silver and manpower… only to clothe Northern Yan as the bride.”

“That is my true plan.”

“That is my loyalty.”

Silence fell like death in the hall.

Murong Xue stood there, completely stunned.

Her mind raced.

So that was it.

She had suspected Li An might truly be serving Great Qi.

After all, everything he did resembled a loyal minister.

But now she understood.

This man was far more terrifying than she imagined.

He had not been bought.

He had been exploiting Great Qi.

Using their resources to pave the road for Northern Yan.

Such calculation… such depth…

“Lord Li.”

She stood up, her voice trembling with shock and emotion.

“You… you have gone to such lengths for Northern Yan…”

“You… you’ve suffered so much.”

Her eyes even glistened with tears.

Li An inwardly rolled his eyes.

Suffered?

Oh, he had suffered all right.

But not in the way she thought.

He was being driven insane by these over-imaginative people!

Still, outwardly he adopted a resolute expression.

“I do not suffer.”

“As long as I can serve Northern Yan, even if the Emperor of Great Qi dismembers me, I will not regret it.”

“Your Highness, I give you these today so you may return them to Northern Yan immediately.”

“Let Northern Yan’s craftsmen forge divine steel.”

“Let Northern Yan’s farmers plant sweet potatoes.”

“As long as Northern Yan grows stronger, any grievance I endure in Great Qi is worthwhile.”

Murong Xue could hold back no longer.

She stepped forward and seized his hand.

“Lord Li!”

“I misunderstood you.”

“I thought you were seduced by Great Qi’s wealth and glory.”

“I even considered reporting to my father that you had defected.”

“I… I was wrong.”

“You’ve endured so much for Northern Yan.”

“You’ve earned merit in Great Qi, yet must pretend loyalty.”

“You’re praised by Great Qi’s people… yet your heart must ache.”

“You… you truly have had it so hard.”

Li An felt relief flood through him.

Success.

She believed him.

She really believed him.

“Your Highness overstates it.”

“I understand your concern.”

“After all, my actions were easy to misunderstand.”

“But I swear to heaven—my loyalty to Northern Yan shines like the sun and moon.”

Murong Xue looked into his bloodshot eyes.

They burned with what she saw as unwavering devotion.

And perhaps… a hint of despair?

No.

Not despair.

A resolve to face death without fear.

She believed him.

Completely.

This man was risking everything for Northern Yan.

Bearing slander, misunderstanding, constant danger.

All to deliver these technologies home.

Such a man…

Such a man was a true hero of Northern Yan.

“Lord Li, I understand now.”

She gently gathered the blueprints and seeds.

“I will send these back immediately.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“I will escort them personally.”

“I will report to my father and have the best craftsmen and farmers follow your methods.”

“Within three months, Northern Yan’s national power will leap forward.”

“Our army will wield the finest weapons.”

“Our people will never starve again.”

“Northern Yan’s strength will surpass Great Qi!”

“And all of this… will be thanks to you.”

Hearing this, Li An finally felt at ease.

Three months?

No need for three months!

As long as you start right now, the system’s numbers will begin rising!

And my life will be saved!

But on the surface, Li An still had to look “moved.”

“Thank you, Your Highness, for understanding!”

“I knew you would comprehend my苦心—my painstaking efforts!”

“But, Your Highness, you must act quickly!”

“The faster the better! Delay invites change.”

He gripped Murong Xue’s hand tightly.

“I could be exposed in Great Qi at any moment!”

“Only when Northern Yan grows strong can I feel at ease!”

“Only then can I… have the confidence to continue infiltrating!”

Murong Xue nodded.

“I understand.”

Her gaze was now filled entirely with admiration.

“Lord Li, rest assured.”

“I will make arrangements immediately.”

“And…”

She hesitated slightly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

“I said before—if I lose, I will honor my word.”

“I will marry you. That promise still stands, regardless of status.”

“When the time comes, we will be family.”

“I will always stand by your side and help you accomplish your great cause.”

Li An forced a bitter smile inwardly.

Marry me?

Princess, please don’t!

I’m just trying to finish this system mission and stay alive—who has time to get married?!

But outwardly, he put on a deeply moved expression.

“Your Highness…”

Before he could continue, hurried footsteps sounded outside.

“Young master! Young master!”

Hongmei’s anxious voice rang out.

“Someone from the palace has arrived!”

Li An and Murong Xue exchanged a glance.

Someone from the palace?

At this time?

“Enter,” Li An said.

Hongmei pushed the door open, followed by a young eunuch.

Li An recognized him—a subordinate of Eunuch Liu.

“Lord Li.”

The eunuch bowed.

“His Majesty has issued a decree summoning you to the palace at once for a banquet.”

“A banquet?”

Li An blinked.

“What banquet?”

“His Majesty says that today’s great victory at the frontier calls for a celebratory feast.”

The eunuch smiled.

“You achieved the foremost merit. His Majesty specifically named you.”

Li An felt utterly helpless.

A celebratory feast?

Celebrating what merit?!

I was trying to ruin the nation!

But could he refuse?

The emperor had personally summoned him.

Obviously not.

“I will enter the palace at once.”

He turned to Murong Xue.

“Your Highness, I must take my leave.”

Murong Xue looked at him, her eyes filled with concern.

“Lord Li, you are sending these technologies to Northern Yan…”

“If the Emperor of Great Qi finds out…”

Li An waved a hand, interrupting her.

“Your Highness, do not worry.”

His gaze hardened again with resolute determination.

“For Northern Yan, I fear nothing.”

“Even if I must walk through blades and flames, I will do so.”

“You just focus on delivering these items back home.”

“I will continue serving Northern Yan here in Great Qi.”

Murong Xue’s eyes reddened again at his “fearless” expression.

“Lord Li…”

“I will wait for your return.”

Li An nodded and followed the eunuch out.

—

The reception hall fell silent.

Murong Xue stood alone, holding the blueprints and seeds, her heart surging with emotion.

This man…

He was truly extraordinary.

Infiltrating enemy territory, enduring immense pressure.

Forced to pretend loyalty to Great Qi while secretly plotting its decline.

Living every day under the threat of exposure.

Such a person…

She couldn’t help but think again—

This was a true hero of Northern Yan.

“Lord Li, I will not disappoint you.”

“I will deliver these to Northern Yan immediately.”

“I will tell Father everything you have done.”

“And I will… always stand by your side.”

She carefully packed away the documents and seeds, then left the residence.

—

Outside, Hongmei had been standing the whole time.

With her sharp senses, she had overheard nearly every word.

Her feelings were complicated.

On one hand, she felt proud.

Young Master truly was the ace of Blackwater Terrace!

Even she had nearly believed his story!

Or perhaps…

Perhaps he truly meant it?

On the other hand, a faint bitterness crept into her heart.

Young Master’s attitude toward Princess Murong Xue seemed… different.

The sincerity in his words.

That look in his eyes.

That handclasp.

Hongmei bit her lip.

“Young Master…”

“Who is it that truly holds your heart?”

—

Meanwhile, Li An was walking toward the palace with the eunuch.

But his thoughts were elsewhere.

“System, check!”

“Has Northern Yan’s data started increasing?”

Ding!

【Scanning…】

【Northern Yan National Power Increase: 0】

【Notice: Technology transfer requires time. Please be patient.】

Li An nearly exploded.

“What do you mean ‘requires time’?”

“I’ve only got fourteen days left!”

“Give me something concrete!”

【System Prediction: If Northern Yan begins implementation immediately, data will begin rising in 7–10 days.】

【Recommendation: Continue advancing the plan to ensure smooth transfer.】

Li An inhaled deeply.

Seven to ten days…

That meant a buffer of four to seven days.

During that time, he had to ensure Murong Xue truly delivered everything.

And that Northern Yan actually implemented it.

“Fine.”

He muttered inwardly.

“I’ll gamble one more time.”

“This time, it has to work.”

He looked toward the imperial palace.

Inside, Emperor Zhao Ling’er was waiting.

And he would begin yet another performance.

Same situation.

Two different narratives.

To Murong Xue, he claimed it was for Northern Yan.

To Zhao Ling’er, he would claim it was for Great Qi.

How long could this double life continue?

Li An sighed and stepped into the palace.

—

Hongmei followed at a distance, worry etched across her face.

No one understood better than she did the pressure he faced.

The ever-present risk of exposure.

“Young Master… please be careful.”

“This time, you’re truly dancing on a blade’s edge…”

What if his identity were exposed one day?

What if the Emperor of Great Qi learned the truth?

What would happen then?

The more she thought, the more anxious she became.

She resolved to report back to Blackwater Terrace.

They must prepare to extract him at any moment.

No matter what.

Even if it meant disobeying orders.

She would protect him.

Her eyes hardened with resolve.

“Young Master, Hongmei will protect you.”

“No matter what happens, I will stand by your side.”

She escorted him to the palace gates before turning back.

—

Li An, meanwhile, stepped inside.

He had no idea Hongmei had made such a decision.

Nor did he know Murong Xue had completely believed his fabricated loyalty.

He only knew he had to face Emperor Zhao Ling’er.

Attend the so-called victory banquet.

Continue acting.

Until—

Until he completed the system mission and avoided erasure.

He straightened his robes and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Inside, a grand feast was prepared.

Civil and military officials filled the hall.

Emperor Zhao Ling’er sat upon the dragon throne. When she saw him enter, her face lit up with unmistakable delight.

“Li, my beloved minister has arrived.”

She rose from the throne and personally descended the steps.

“This great frontier victory is entirely thanks to you.”

“I have prepared this banquet in your honor.”

Li An hurriedly bowed.

“Your Majesty, I dare not claim the merit—”

“You need not be modest.”

Zhao Ling’er interrupted gently.

“I know how much you have given for Great Qi.”

“I know how much grievance you have endured.”

“But I believe your loyalty to Great Qi shines like the sun and moon.”

Li An nearly laughed.

Shines like the sun and moon?

Your Majesty, if you knew what I just told Murong Xue, you might not say that.

But could he say it?

Of course not.

“This humble servant… is overwhelmed.”

“Come, sit beside me.”

Zhao Ling’er personally helped him up and seated him at her side.

The most honored seat in the hall.

Other than the emperor herself, only Li An sat there.

All the officials looked on with complicated expressions—

Envy.

Jealousy.

Admiration.

Resentment.

But no one dared speak.

The emperor had made her trust unmistakably clear.

“Come, my ministers. Today we celebrate the great victory at the frontier. Let us raise a cup!”

Zhao Ling’er lifted her wine.

“For Great Qi!”

“For Great Qi!”

The entire court echoed.

Li An raised his cup and joined in:

“For Great Qi!”

But in his heart, he muttered:

“For survival…”

“For that damned system mission…”

“For the day I can return to the modern world…”

“With a million taels of gold in hand…”