Chapter 37: Into a Political Intrigue Novel, Day 15

Chapter 37: The Fifteenth Day of Entering a Political Intrigue Novel

An Yi's scheme was a series of interlocking steps, ruthless and precise. Using Jiangnan, Duan Mingde's "cash cow" and "source of hidden trouble," as a breakthrough provided righteous justification while maximally weakening the Duan faction's foundation—and allowed him to secretly seize control of the army there!

This move was extremely risky, yet also exceptionally brilliant!

"Lord An truly has a foolproof plan." Ge Lian sincerely praised, then a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes: "But Jiangnan has been Duan Mingde's stronghold for years, with intricate entanglements. Lighting the fire is easy; controlling the blaze... is difficult. If it backfires or spirals out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Thus, we need to collaborate with internal and external coordination." An Yi's expression remained unchanged, clearly having thought this through long ago: "The Jiangnan official circles are not monolithic. Duan Mingde's increasingly arrogant actions in recent years have sparked much discontent. I will find ways to install or convert our people in key positions. As for the 'fire' in the army..."

In the original novel, after the original An Yi killed Duan Mingde, he smoothly absorbed the latter's influence in Jiangnan.

Among them were two who later joined the male lead's camp. They had long been disgruntled with Duan Mingde and An Yi, harboring their own sense of justice, but with their lowly status, exposing Duan Mingde was a pipe dream.

But with the help of the current An Yi and Ge Lian, things would be different.

An Yi looked at Ge Lian: "That's where the Junior Marquis's old connections and prestige come in. When to ignite the fire, and how large to make it, must be precisely controlled—this requires close cooperation between us."

Ge Lian was silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously drawing patterns on the table. He was weighing risks and rewards.

An Yi's proposal was highly tempting; success would bring enormous gains. But the risks were equally formidable; a single misstep could lead to utter ruin.

He looked up, once again meeting An Yi's gaze. Before him stood a man as graceful as bamboo, yet with a mind as deep as an abyss. Beneath that composed demeanor lay the power to orchestrate heaven and earth.

The stirrings in Ge Lian's heart, stirred by his feelings, now surged stronger and more turbulent.

"Good!" Ge Lian suddenly leaned closer to An Yi: "I, Ge Lian, accept this deal! But..."

He changed his tone, with an undeniable firmness: "Since it's cooperation, it must be honest. I need to know about the undercover agents Lord An has placed in Jiangnan, and the detailed plan for every step thereafter. Otherwise, I dare not light this fire."

An Yi seemed to have expected this demand, his expression calm: "Naturally. The specifics will require careful planning."

His gaze swept across the bustling street outside the window: "After this, the Junior Marquis need only wait for my message."

Ge Lian nodded: "Then it's settled."

With the serious matters concluded, the atmosphere in the private room seemed to relax slightly. Ge Lian picked up the teapot again, intending to refill An Yi's cup.

But An Yi had already stood up, straightening the sleeves of his blue Confucian robe with unhurried grace: "I have already had my tea, and the matters are settled. I still have official duties to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Ge Lian also stood, his tall figure looming with an oppressive presence as he stepped closer. His gaze lingered on An Yi's well-defined hand holding the teacup, recalling that fleeting glimpse at the carriage that day, his Adam's apple moving. He suddenly lowered his voice: "Why is Lord An in such a hurry?"

An Yi paused, lifting his eyes to meet Ge Lian's. That gaze remained the same, yet seemed to carry a faint, elusive meaning.

He did not answer, only nodded slightly, then turned and opened the door of the private room.

"Lord An," Ge Lian's voice came from behind, tinged with an unreadable ambiguity: "Pleasure doing business."

An Yi's back didn't hesitate; he walked straight out. An Ping immediately followed, and the master and his servant soon vanished at the staircase.

Ge Lian stood alone by the window, watching An Yi board the carriage and leave below. He picked up the teacup An Yi had just drunk from; the rim still seemed to hold the warmth of his fingertips. He gazed at the pale green tea, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Finally, he lowered his head, sniffed the rim, then tilted his head back and downed the remaining cold tea in one gulp. The tea was bitter, yet left a hint of aftertaste.

An Yi, sitting in the carriage, was still recalling the content of the original novel.

To overthrow Duan Mingde, cooperating with the male lead Ge Lian was the best direction. Ge Lian was different from Du Guyuan; he wasn't insane.

If he could help elevate Ge Lian to power early, could the subsequent chaos across the realm be avoided?

Later, when Jiangnan erupted, with their prior preparations, they wouldn't be as lost as in the original novel, allowing the flames of war to spread and countless commoners to die.

If someone started a rebellion, it might also enrage that fool emperor on the dragon throne, shortening his days, right?

As for himself, with his influence as Chief Grand Secretary, plus Ge Lian's feelings... for him, he should be able to protect himself.

Judging from the original novel, Ge Lian wasn't one to burn bridges after crossing.

Alone in the carriage, An Yi couldn't help grinning to himself, then rubbed his temples, frustrated. Life in ancient times was way harder than in the modern world!

Just then, the comment section piped up again:

"…"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"The male lead is a total pervert!"

"He actually drank the leftover tea from An Yi's cup—and sniffed it!"

"This is so intense!"

"Bro, you smell so good!"

"Why do you have to be like this! Getting me all hot and bothered!"

"Does the author have a group? Any... steamy scenes?"

"A female web-novel reader came to take a look."

"Not bad, eight out of ten, pretty tasty."

An Yi: …

I take it back; Ge Lian is just as insane!!

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The following days seemed deceptively calm and uneventful, with even the conflicts between An Yi and Ge Lian at court decreasing.

Several months passed, gradually bringing summer.

Eastern Palace, Wenhua Hall's side hall.

Sunlight slanted through the tall windows, casting neat patches of light on the polished brick floor. An Yi, wearing a simple yet elegant dark blue Confucian robe, sat upright behind the desk, his posture straight as bamboo.

Opposite him sat the Crown Prince. The heir apparent, barely twelve in nominal age, still looked thin and young, his round cheeks still retaining their baby fat.

He strained to sit up straight, hands placed neatly on his knees, lips tightly pressed, trying to maintain the proper demeanor of a crown prince.

An Yi was tutoring the Crown Prince, his gaze resting gently on the boy, but a faint, nearly imperceptible sigh escaped him.

The Emperor's older sons—imperial princes—had either been implicated in court struggles and poisoned by the Emperor's own hand, or deposed and imprisoned to death on fabricated charges, or sent far away to their fiefs in what amounted to exile.

In the vast capital, only this one dragon seed remained.

In the original novel, the Old Emperor's greed for supreme power bordered on madness; his suspicion and slaughter of his own flesh and blood were chilling.

The Crown Prince survived only because he was still too young and not yet a true threat in the Old Emperor's eyes.

The Old Emperor was forced by his ministers to appoint a crown prince, and he harbored resentment, even detesting this son.

If no changes were made, the Crown Prince would die suddenly in the palace six months later.

Then only a few princes in their fiefs could succeed to the throne. Just then, the Jiangnan uprising would erupt, the flames of war spreading quickly. Those princes would also lead troops to the capital, intending to claim the throne.

The entire world would fall into chaos.