c85 (1/2)

Chapter 85: Stirring (Part 1)

Yan Hong Tian drew the black chess pieces into the chess boxes and coldly spit out a few words, “It is long enough.”

Twelve years. He had waited long enough.

This chess game had been played for too long, encompa.s.ses too large. One wrong move will throw the entire game. Lou Xi Yan could not help but worry. The Yang family’s defeat was the first step and he had guessed that in recent year, Yan Hong Tian would definitely move against the Xin clan. He did not expect that it would be so soon…

“This official Dan Yu Lan greets the Emperor. Long live the Emperor.”

Dan Yu Lan’s arrival broke the silence in the solemn room.

“Raise.”

Dan Yu Lan just stood up when Yan Hong Tian cool voiced questioned lowly, “Regarding the case of the thief and subst.i.tution of army rations, it seemed that Beloved Official Dan have not yet close the case till now.”

“Recently there is an increase in cases and thus had failed to manage it timely. This official have initiated a re-investigation of the case.” As Dan Yu Lan replied, he was secretly observing the two person at the table. The chess was played halfway but the Emperor and Prime Minister Lou no longer holding any chess pieces in their hands. This meant that they no longer had any mood to play chess or was it…

Before he could have a chance to guess the strange atmosphere between the Emperor and Prime Minister Lou, Yan Hong Tian calm voice sounded again, “Zhen will give you three months. This case must be investigated very thoroughly and clearly.”

The four words ‘very thoroughly and clearly’ resounded. Did the Emperor meant to dig out? Dan Yu Lan thought of something and asked, “Does the investigation required to be done in secret?”

Yan Hong Tian’s lips arched as he replied, “Up to you.”

Must investigate secretly! Must dig deep! Dan Yu Lan understood the intention of the Emperor and clasped his hands together to greet, “This official will withdraw.”

After Dan Yu Lan left, Lou Xi Yan who had already placed the chess piece down, picked the white chess piece up again and place it down onto the board without much thought and seemingly much more relaxed than previous. “I was still wondering if the coastal pirates were that powerful that you need to specially get General Su to place a siege. So it turned out to be a tactic of moving the tiger from the mountain.”

Yan Hong Tian looked at the chess piece that Lou Xi Yan just placed down, it was not place in the middle of the black pieces to eliminate them but it had firmly blocked the way out of for the black pieces and he was pleased. He knew that Xi Yan would definitely help him. With the same brisk move, he picked up a black piece and place it in the middle of the white pieces to stop their attack. His actions were lethal and the words he said did not disclose anything, “The pirates are indeed powerful. Not only do they rob cargo s.h.i.+ps in the sea, they also come ash.o.r.e to loot and burn down residences. These actions are strange thus only when General Su is in charge will Zhen feel a.s.sured.”

“Really?” Lou Xi Yan raise an eyebrow slightly as he softly said an “Oh.” As if he had a clear understanding, he exclaimed, “Then it’s this official mistake. It should be a plan to bring down two birds with one stone.”

Yan Hong Tian stared blankly for a moment before laughing out. The one who knows me, was only Xi Yan. Even though the outcome of the game was unclear, Yan Hong Tian pushed the game to the side and picked the hot tea that Xiao Yu poured and sighed, “Su Ling is brave, fierce and has a perseverance character. However, he is proud and arrogant. Thus when there are disdained things that are needed to be fixed yet would not be easy to drive, Su Ren would be a good candidate.”

Lou Xi Yan was still holding a chess piece but apparently Yan Hong Tian had no longer any interest in continuing the chess game. Lou Xi Yan calmly responded as usual, “It seems that you have already deployed well and it was me who worry too much.”

“This Imperial court should be changed else they would have forgotten who is the master of Qiong Yue.” The Yang family had been wiped out and the Xin family cannot be remained!

It was almost noon when the wind started blowing. The winter should be a cold one this year.

*****

Investigation Manor

The celebration was over and the difficult and urgent cases were almost finished, thus Cheng Hang and Lu Jin had already rested for quite some days. If there were no major cases in the capital, it would also be time for them to start to head to the other provinces for cases. Both of them had come over to the Investigation Manor early in the morning to discuss about the matter but only knew when they arrived that Daren was summon by the Emperor to the Palace. Thus both of them sat at the mahogany chair in the study in boredom as they waited for Dan Yu Lan to return.

Cheng Hang picked up the tea which was already refilled twice and drank it up in one mouthful before he asked with irritation and expectation, “What do you say of why did the Emperor summon Daren to the Palace for? Would there be any major case?”

Lu Jin was more graceful than him. He took a sip of the hot tea before faintly replied, “When Daren returns, we would know.” All the reported cases were reviewed by the Board of Punishment before it was brought up and he did not recall any big case recently.

Nonsense! Cheng Hang rolled his eyes at Lu Jin and Lu Jin ignored him as he continued to drink his hot tea. Both of them waited for more than half a s.h.i.+chen (1 s.h.i.+chen = 2 hours) and Cheng Hang started to pace around the study. Just as he was almost out of patience, Dan Yu Lan finally returned.

It had already been winter for quite a number of days and the winter wind was starting up. Within the Investigation Manor, there was a few hundred year old trees that were trembling in the strong wind. Dan Yu Lan’s expression was sunken as he walked in the cold slowly thinking. No matter how hard the wind was blowing, he was unmoved. When he finally walked into the study, he did not even see the two of them who were waiting for him inside and walked straight to his desk and sat down in silence for a long time.