Chapter 528: Detached Observer
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
With Bao'er's original naïve and innocent personality, security would hardly be guaranteed even with a flawless defense. Children would have to play, go out, eat, they would always be tempted by fun.
This was a child's nature. Inevitable regardless of circumstance.
Because of this, one could barely be aware of a fatal trap possibly hidden in between the normal occurrences of the day.
No matter how almighty a guardian was, no matter how peerless, as long as there were risks like this, life and death were two paths hanging distinctly over every situation. No matter what follow-up action was carried out, whether or not the conspirator was killed or revenge is taken, it would ultimately amount to nothing.
In Tiantang City, those who wanted Bao'er dead could be up to hundreds of thousands now! In addition to that, those with the burning hot intent to kill were all influential powerful people, who could very likely turn intention into action!
Yun Yang prevented some of this by nipping some possibilities of the child being tempted and deceived right in the bud.
"In the future, if any stranger talks to you, ignore them. No matter what the circumstance."
"As long as something does not belong in our home, we don't want it."
"Don't speak of 'what-ifs', don't believe in 'what-ifs', and don't bet on 'what-ifs'…"
Yun Yang paused, stumped when he saw Bao'er looking at him in equal confusion. He called Li Yingqiu for assistance. Yun Yang realized that he seemed to have spoken beyond Bao'er's comprehension but was at a loss for words when he attempted explaining anything with simpler words. Instead, he asked Li Yingqiu to come over and help clarify Yun Yang's words so Bao'er could understand them.
Supplemented with Li Yingqiu's clarification, Bao'er's big eyes blinked with understanding as he memorized Yun Yang's pieces of advice seriously, constantly nodding his head too.
"Bao'er is so good today." Li Yingqiu exclaimed and said in relief, "It looks like someone has to come to the big city to become better. Bao'er seems to have changed into another person once he got here, he is so much more obedient now, how adorable."
Yun Yang's heart lurched, sighing to himself.
Time had crawled deeper into the night. Bao'er had already fallen asleep.
Yun Yang asked Li Yingqiu over.
"After this, Bao'er has to begin learning intensely."
Yun Yang pointed at the rows of books in front. "He has to absorb and digest all this knowledge in the shortest time possible. He needs to familiarize himself with all of it and be able to use it when necessary. Also, it seems that you have already understood Bao'er's identity. Therefore, anything that he should be in contact with for his own good, should be done incessantly so without fail, while all that he shouldn't be in contact with must never even touch him!"
"Yes." Li Yingqiu's eyes were shining with a mixed sense of fear but also an inexplicable thrill.
Yun Yang watched the woman in front of him with a steady gaze.
After a long time, he continued, "Work wholeheartedly. Everything will be there. Do you understand?"
Li Yingqiu jolted before she answered, "Yes, thank you for young master's reminder."
Yun Yang waved his hand to dismiss her but he did not go to sleep, instead, he went to pace around in his study room.
How could Yun Yang not discern the change of Li Yingqiu's psychological state? It was a huge mental change for someone who had no desire and wanted nothing from life but now to suddenly realize that they could manipulate the highest authority.
How could Li Yingqiu's mindset not change given the present circumstances? However, Yun Yang allowed the existence of such change.
Truthfully, anyone would be ruffled after such an encounter. If one were to be indifferent, it would be considered abnormal. Li Yingqiu would be more concerned about Bao'er's safety and Yun Yang's orders because she was well aware that she had to listen to Yun Yang for at least the next ten years without any defiance. Otherwise, she would be killed like a weed to be chopped.
"Greed and desire are the most abhorrent evils in this world." Yun Yang murmured. "But they're also the most lovable…"
"I like man's greed and desire the most."
"So I'm never a kind man. Fortunately, I'm not a kind man!"
…
It was the very same night of Bao'er staying in the Residence of Yun for the first time when something happened.
During midnight, someone slipped into the residence with an underhanded motive. It was a pity that before the person could find out where Bao'er was staying, the person had met someone, someone who was white like snow and glowered with cold nonchalance – Bai Yixue.
There was no nonsense, not even any words exchanged. Only the soft flicker of sword light, swiftly ending the encounter.
With Bai Yixue's current cultivation base level, there was basically no one in the whole of Yutang who could block the strike of his sword. When he attacked, it was like killing a chicken with a large butcher's knife!
The next day.
Marquis Yun was apathetic about the assassin's dead body at the courtyard. With a wave of his hand, he said, "Send the corpse to the Board of Punishment. No need to be concerned about anything else.
There were already people from the palace who were waiting at the door.
The masters in charge of teaching the prince were sent by His Majesty. Yun Xiaoyao stole a peek, realizing that each of them was well respected and knowledgeable. There was also another shared similarity among them, they were very neutral in their stance, unprejudiced and objective.
It looked like the emperor had really put in great effort to recruit the best talents available.
"This king shall look at your preparations first." Yun Xiaoyao said, "His Majesty is stringent about his demands on the eldest crown grandson's academic progress. There must be no mistakes."
As he spoke, he pulled the handful of men to one side, obviously to brief them in secret. After all, some things must not be mentioned in public.
Besides, he wanted to give Yun Yang some buffer time. He did not know how Yun Yang's preparation was but Yun Xiaoyao wanted to give him reasonably sufficient time!
The feeling in the capital city was ominous.
Countless conspiracies were being carried out in secret – The Residence of the Crown Prince, Residence of the Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Fifth Prince, Sixth Prince, and other princes' residences too. The higher authority Residences of the Chancellor, Grand Commandant, Grand Tutor, and others such as the Leng Family, the Qiu Family, and other residences of reputable generals…
Also included were noble families in several cities who had survived and done well for dozens and even hundreds of years.
These forces and residences had people moving in and out everywhere, hastily and surreptitiously. Everyone looked heavyhearted, unable to relax no matter how much they disguised their emotions.
Some people who were more perceptive had recognized some imperial guards of the emperor appearing in Tiantang City in spite of their disguises.
With this recognition, Tiantang City was veiled in a mysterious atmosphere.
…
His Majesty had been very busy throughout this period of time. He was feeling drained from facing the various daily agendas of rewarding the soldiers according to their merits, settling the handicapped veterans, pensioning the sacrificed and whatnot. He poured his heart and soul into handling these matters, which is why it seemed that he was not aware of the lurking danger surging in waves across the capital city. It appeared that he was completely ignorant of it all.
However, the handful of people who truly understood the emperor could clearly see that His Majesty's temper was much more volatile and his actions had become more extreme despite him tackling the government and the daily national affairs in the most well-rested state.
Based on the Emperor of Yutang, Emperor Yu Peize's past administration, he would usually raise the paddle high but land it lightly even when the officials were blatantly slacking or had ulterior motives. He worked with mercy and reverence, but not in extremity. However, when the current Emperor found out about the slightest mistake in the officials' work during this period of time, he would condemn it mercilessly; he often sacked the officials, dismissing them from the court, and refused to recruit them again forever.
Even when he was occasionally resting, his eyes that were staring into the void would still flash with the flicker of an intent to kill.
Even those who intimately understood the emperor did not truly comprehend the despair currently plaguing His Majesty.
Previously, Yutang was engulfed in a subjugation threat due to the four-nation siege. Millions of soldiers charged at the frontlines and sacrificed themselves on the battleground. Now that the war was over, it was time to reward these warriors and take care of their families so that their heroic souls could rest in peace while the people's heart could be kept beating in assurance.
It was an intent that one ought to have and something that one should do; there was no doubt about it!
This point in time was even more important to the soldiers compared to the instance when they died in the battlefield because their lifetime of contribution would be decided upon this day. Everything that happened now was relevant to the families of the militants who were stationed at the border's warzone, their lives after the militants' sacrifice, how they would go on living…
These things were of utmost priority. Everything else would be considered secondary in comparison.
In spite of the importance of such things at this crucial moment, his sons, the princes, were actually rather nonchalant and unconcerned. It was as if this had nothing to do with them as they chose to stay far from the affair. Plenty of civil and military officials also seemed like they had lost their souls; they cared only about the successor of the throne!
No doubt, that would be where their future gains would be – how could the orphans, widows, and the families left behind by the fallen soldiers, be as important when compared to their great future!
"Ungrateful, rapacious, shameless maniacs!" The Emperor uttered to himself.
Casting his gaze outside the window, another case of fret crawled into his mind. "Didn't that School of Kismet State person say that he's coming to find me? Why isn't there any news until now? It's better to end this as soon as possible; changes will be imminent if it's dragged on. He sighed, "I'm not the initiator in this, I can only brace myself for what will happen next."
…
It was in the early morning of this day that a person clad in white stood atop a mountain outside Tiantang City. He was surrounded by the mountain fog, looking divine, as if he was riding on the clouds.
The person gazed at Tiantang City's from afar; the longer he observed it, the tighter his face frowned.
"It's so strange." he murmured to himself.