Embroidered Uniform Guard: I Can Plunder Talents-Chapter 163 - 29: You Get Wrecked, I Become the Commandant—A Bright Future for All

Chapter 163: Chapter 29: You Get Wrecked, I Become the Commandant—A Bright Future for All

Then let’s use this opportunity.

Take care of Prince Jin and drag Ye Liuyun down with him—one stone, two birds. The perfect plan revolved over and over in his mind through the night.

On the surface,

Qi Yuanliang’s lips betrayed an irrepressible smile.

,,,

The next day arrived in no time.

Ye Liuyun simply gave Xing’Er a couple instructions. Now that Sheng Lanzhi wasn’t in the residence, he’d leave the affairs of the manor to Xing’Er for the time being.

The relationship between Xing’Er and Ye Liuyun—

In the manor these days, it was hardly a secret anymore.

Everyone understood: though outwardly, Xing’Er was still Sheng Lanzhi’s personal maid, her status was no longer what it used to be.

No one dared offend her.

"I understand. Master, you must take care—return safe and sound!"

Listening to Ye Liuyun’s instructions,

Xing’Er nodded earnestly, her worried gaze never leaving Ye Liuyun.

Though she knew her master was capable, formidable—

Any time Ye Liuyun left to handle a case, Xing’Er couldn’t stop herself from worrying.

"Don’t worry!"

Meeting Xing’Er’s anxious look, Ye Liuyun grinned.

He reached out and tousled Xing’Er’s hair. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Your master’s got plenty of skill. How could anything happen to me? Just rest easy and wait for me here!"

With that, Ye Liuyun strode briskly out.

Xing’Er remained standing where she was, eyes full of worry as she watched Ye Liuyun’s departing back.

Once Ye Liuyun had left the residence—

He first gathered his men.

This time, aside from Si Nan and Shi Sheng, he brought only ten Embroidered Uniform Guards—few in number, but Ye Liuyun could tell at a glance they were all about second-class; quite satisfactory.

"Sir!"

Upon seeing Ye Liuyun arrive, the group bowed in greeting.

You could tell by their air—they were clearly well-trained, not mere ornament.

Ye Liuyun nodded, signaling them to dispense with the formalities.

Then he clapped Shi Sheng on the shoulder.

"Well done!"

It looked like Shi Sheng really had put in effort to recruit these capable fellows.

"Sir, about Prince Jin—I’ve found out quite a bit."

Si Nan, standing to the side, noticed Ye Liuyun praising Shi Sheng and quickly jumped in.

He couldn’t let Shi Sheng hog all the credit.

Otherwise, wouldn’t their lord start thinking Si Nan’s presence was of little consequence?

"On the road."

Ye Liuyun nodded, swung onto his horse, and beckoned Si Nan to follow.

Qi Yuanliang was already waiting outside the Imperial City—their conversation could continue as they rode.

,,,

Soon enough,

With Si Nan’s account, Ye Liuyun gained a deeper understanding of this Prince Jin.

Prince Jin’s real name was Yan Ze, elder brother of the current emperor Yan Shuzhu, ranking third, the Third Prince.

Back when the old emperor still ruled, even though Yan Ze was only the Third Prince, under the shadow of the Eldest Prince and Second Prince, he had demonstrated noteworthy talent.

His sway within the Imperial City ran deep.

Many considered him a strong contender for Crown Prince.

At the time, the struggle for the heir-apparent was bitter—many princes clashed until blood ran.

The imperial family is the coldest of all.

Brotherly bonds in name only; for the throne, fratricide was a common tale in history, nothing new.

But just as the Crown Prince struggle reached its crucial pitch—

The old emperor announced seclusion.

He then let Yan Shuzhu ascend to the throne. Everyone knew Yan Shuzhu was just a puppet, convenient for the old emperor to reclaim the seat when he broke seclusion.

So that he could easily sit as emperor again.

Knowing was one thing, accepting another. Who didn’t want the throne, if only for a few days?

But the old emperor was only secluded, not dead—who dared speak ill?

In the end,

The princes who should have gone to their fiefs but lingered for the succession departed for their own domains the day after Yan Shuzhu’s coronation.

Prince Jin was the first to set out.

Most believed these princes, seeing their chances for the throne dashed, left the Imperial City in disappointment.

Heading to their fiefs to live carefree as princes.

Of course,

Rumor had it a few princes still stayed in the Imperial City, though they’d seldom been seen since.

If things stopped there, nothing seemed amiss.

But—

"Military buildup?"

From Si Nan’s account, after going to his domain, Prince Jin hadn’t just idled away.

In the last two years, word came that Prince Jin had been amassing troops in his territory—quite a number. Princes were allowed soldiers, but only within limits.

Yet Prince Jin, Yan Ze, recruited without restraint. If he wasn’t plotting rebellion, it was hard to believe otherwise.

"Exactly!"

Rebellion is no minor affair.

Si Nan didn’t dare say it loudly, only huddling close to Ye Liuyun, whispering every detail of his investigation.

"I also heard, apparently it was only thanks to our current emperor constantly mediating that nothing happened before. But lately, for some reason, His Majesty seems to have stopped getting involved."

,,,

Seeing Si Nan’s baffled expression—