Chapter 24: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 2

Chapter 24: The Second Day of Transmigrating into a Political Intrigue Novel

On horseback sat a man also wearing a crimson military official's court robe.

He sat as straight as a pine, slightly leaning forward, one hand casually holding the reins while the other had just been withdrawn from the hand that had forcefully pulled open the carriage door.

With his back to the light, his face was hidden in shadow, except for a pair of eyes that blazed astonishingly bright, like a beast of prey that had locked onto its target. They pierced through the boundary of light and dark inside and outside the carriage, precisely and with undisguised aggression, firmly fixing on An Yi, who sat upright within.

The wind and frost of years of campaigning had tanned his skin to a healthy wheat color, and his sharp, chiseled features were as if carved from stone. Most striking were his eyes, dark and deep like an unfathomable cold pool. "Yo, Lord An—what a small world, bumping into you again."

His gaze precisely caught An Yi subconsciously rubbing his rear, and a scoff escaped from the depths of his throat: "Did you... take a spill?"

"Hahaha!"

Unchecked mockery poured from his lips, his eyes gleaming with undisguised malice.

An Yi wore a wooden expression, looking at the insolent man before him.

Ge Lian, Junior Marquis Ge Lian, the original owner's enemy, and also... the protagonist ordained by fate in this world.

So, he had transmigrated into a book again.

The moment he saw Ge Lian just now, just like before, the original story flooded back into his mind.

Having been through this once before, this time it was far less painful.

Moreover, the comment section came alive again!

In his previous life, when the male lead Du Guyuan was thrown into prison, this voice had completely fallen silent.

Presumably, the plot had fallen apart and the author dropped the story.

As for this world... An Yi quickly processed the information flooding into his mind: This was a typical male-centric power-struggle novel with a dominant male protagonist!

The protagonist, Ge Lian, started as a junior marquis who inherited his title, went through blood and fire on the battlefield, advanced step by step, and finally trampled over countless enemies' bones to ascend the supreme throne!

Step by step, he rose ever higher!

Defeating countless villains!

And he, An Yi, unfortunately, was one of those stepping stones destined to be crushed under the protagonist's feet to achieve his imperial ambition!

A sinister big boss who only appeared later in the story, a super villain utterly callous of human life, ruthless, forsaken by all, and ultimately put to death by dismemberment!

An Yi: ...

Really?

Me?

A sinister super villain?

No—why is he a villain again?!

An Yi: ...

This bastard Ge Lian is much harder to deal with than that fool Du Guyuan, who is nothing but a pretty face!

According to the original novel's narrative and the host's memories, this is the early stage when the plot begins to unfold.

Although the final confrontation is still far off, the enmity between the two had been brewing for a long time.

This stems from the host's previous intention to marry Ge Lian's cousin, Princess Shaoli, hoping to forge ties with the imperial family and add a hefty stone to his political capital.

However, Ge Lian, with his keen eye, saw through the deep scheming and unscrupulous ruthlessness hidden beneath the host's gentle and refined exterior.

He judged that the host was no match at all for his cousin and decisively intervened, sabotaging the marriage proposal.

Thus, they failed to become in-laws and instead became bitter enemies!

From then on, in the imperial court, they were on opposing sides, with conflicting political views, clashing head-on, and their hatred snowballed into a deathless feud!

An Yi's head could only produce a helpless '...'.

Damn it!

This time Ge Lian had been dispatched by imperial decree to suppress bandits, and had only returned to the capital a few days ago, travel-worn.

After today's morning court session, he was heading to the Ministry of War to report for duty when he spotted An Yi's carriage parading down the palace road from afar.

Fresh grievances and old hatred surged in his heart, igniting a nameless fury.

The naturally unruly and willful Young Marquis Ge, who acted solely on his whims, could never swallow such an insult!

So he spurred his horse straight toward An Yi, deliberately causing this minor "accident" solely to annoy An Yi and embarrass him.

At this moment, he sat tall upon his fine steed, his crimson martial official robes fluttering slightly in the cold wind, making his stance as imposing as a mountain, as deep as an abyss.

Ge Lian, high on horseback, leaned forward slightly, his black cloak falling from his shoulders, carrying the grime of travel and a fierce, chilling aura.

He lowered his gaze, his dark eyes as cold as ice, staring unflinchingly with undisguised scrutiny and malice at the crimson-robed official sitting upright inside the carriage.

After the heavy carriage door was rudely yanked open, the biting winter wind instantly filled the warm interior.

Yet, sitting inside, An Yi's young, handsome face, as fair and smooth as polished jade, showed no trace of anger or alarm.

As if the man outside the carriage door was not a murderous arch-nemesis, but an ordinary acquaintance greeting him.

A faint, habitual, flawless warm smile even curved at the corners of his lips.

"Young Marquis," he said, his voice clear and pleasant, with its usual composed cadence, sounding jarringly out of place in the tense atmosphere: "Why the sudden stop? Got something urgent to discuss?"

But Ge Lian knew all too well that beneath this seemingly gentle exterior lurked a deep and venomous scheming mind.

"A honeyed tongue, a viper's heart? That phrase perfectly suits An Yi!"

This hypocrite was forever wearing this pleasant-faced mask!

Ge Lian, still on horseback, leaned his tall body slightly forward, exuding the pressure of a predator closing in on its prey.

He grinned, revealing his white teeth, but his smile held no warmth, only a bloody edge that scraped against An Yi's eardrums:

"Important matters? Naturally, I have a matter of utmost importance to ask of Lord An!"

His tone suddenly rose, brimming with undisguised sarcasm and anger: "I merely left the capital for a few months to suppress bandits, only to find upon my return one of my capable generals exiled to Lingnan, that malarial hellhole! Lord An, the one who oversees criminal law and basks in imperial favor, perhaps your lordship can enlighten this marquis—what law did he violate to deserve such a heavy punishment?!"

An Yi sat as steady as a mountain, his voluminous crimson official robe reflecting

The genial smile on his face did not change in the slightest. “So this is what has angered the Junior Marquis.”

His tone was calm, even carrying a hint of regret. “Peng Boshi embezzled military funds; the evidence is conclusive, the case is ironclad. This is a violation of national law, punishment according to statute is the duty of the Ministry of Justice, and it is also the upholding of discipline and order.”

He deftly steered the topic away, his demeanor innocent and utterly self-assured. “If the Junior Marquis has doubts, you should naturally seek out Minister Bao to review the case files—that would be the proper course.”

Ge Lian snorted heavily.

Before Ge Lian could flare up, An Yi spoke again.

He abruptly changed his tone. Although he was not much older than Ge Lian, his posture now seemed especially condescending, and his voice took on the benevolent, earnest tone of an elder offering advice to a junior:

“The Junior Marquis has toiled in battle, sharing the nation's worries—truly a pillar of the state. However... the art of managing subordinates requires a balance of leniency and strictness, and requires careful and constant thought.”

“Regarding the matter of Peng Boshi, those in the know naturally understand that it was his own greed that clouded his judgment and led him to break the rules. But in the eyes of those who are unaware, or those with ulterior motives...”

An Yi deliberately paused, his voice growing softer yet each word cutting straight to the heart. “They will inevitably speculate whether the Junior Marquis has been negligent in discipline, or even worse... that this act was tacitly approved or instigated by the Junior Marquis. After all, the amount is so huge... If someone further exploits this, dragging in idle talk of 'building up military power for personal ambitions' or 'disregarding the law,' wouldn't that needlessly tarnish the Marquis’s reputation and arouse His Majesty’s suspicion?”

He gave a slight shake of his head and a soft sigh, his expression one of profound concern, as if he were deeply worried for the other party's sake.

“I say this in the hope that the Junior Marquis will nip problems in the bud and steer clear of suspicion.”