Chapter 366 - 217: Peerless Prodigy Xie Yuan, the Path to Grandmaster Opens

Chapter 366: Chapter 217: Peerless Prodigy Xie Yuan, the Path to Grandmaster Opens

"The Yao family has border caravans in Yanzhou, don’t they? They avoid West Pass and take detours just because they’re afraid of me. They may not dare to cross through Yunzhou, but we can certainly go to Yanzhou. Tai Bo, send our people to Yanzhou to ’inspect’ their cargo for them. I’m sure they’ll find something that can’t see the light of day."

"And another thing, we need to inform Prince Cloud Mountain. We can’t let him just guard Cloud Mountain, drinking tea and fishing all day like some carefree Prince Anle. How many people in the Yunzhou Prefecture government knew about this and gave their silent approval? Let him go rattle their cages."

Situ Qin rattled off a series of commands, and Li Tai committed each one to memory.

Watching from the side, Xie Yuan felt it was the first time he had ever seen the young Commandery Princess show her teeth.

She said a great deal, but didn’t forget to turn and explain to Xie Yuan:

"My clan uncle, the Prince, and I are on fairly good terms. I try not to bother them most of the time... but sometimes I need him to act as an intermediary and pass along a message."

Xie Yuan understood her meaning, and he also knew who she meant by "they."

Situ Qin’s status was special, but she had always kept her distance from the imperial family. She didn’t want to return to the Xue family, nor would she directly use her identity to influence officials and gentry clans.

But her status and her bloodline were undeniable facts. There were times, like now, when she encountered problems that she couldn’t resolve without leaning on that family name.

So she relayed the matter to Prince Cloud Mountain, letting him handle things on the official side.

After all, this was a human trafficking operation that spanned two provinces, even reaching the border, yet it had somehow gone on for so long without being exposed. It was hard to say just how deeply the local officials were implicated.

And if Prince Cloud Mountain knew, then the Emperor would know. He had once given his imperial word that he would protect Situ Qin, and that no harm must ever come to her, whether she lived among the common folk or anywhere else.

This incident, then, was sure to cause significant waves in the days to come.

Li Tai led Situ Qin and Xie Yuan, preparing to head back to Yunzhou Prefecture first.

Xie Yuan kept looking back over his shoulder, his eyes fixed on the Celestial Tier Assassin’s corpse. He looked reluctant to leave, as if he wanted to say something but held his tongue.

’Situ Qin comes from a wealthy family. As for me... well, I have a little something saved up, but life in the mountains is frugal, and it’s not easy to save money!’

"Stop looking. He has nothing of value on him. I already checked."

Li Tai saw what Xie Yuan was thinking and shook his head.

"Why would an assassin from the Autumn Wind Building carry any worldly possessions?"

Xie Yuan felt a little embarrassed. He nodded silently, thinking that Li Tai had a point.

With the Flying General leading the way, it only took a single night to get from the Yunyan border back to Yunzhou Prefecture, even while carrying two people.

By the time they arrived, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

The moment they returned to the Situ Mansion, Li Tai took Situ Qin’s orders and began deploying their forces.

As the first faint light of dawn broke, the entire mansion stirred to life, like a great beast awakening from hibernation.

Xie Yuan had visited many times before, but this was the first time he realized the mansion housed so many people.

Capable guards and quiet scholars were all mobilized by Li Tai. Soon, the mansion gates swung open, and people hurried off in every direction.

And so, every influential figure in Yunzhou Prefecture learned that Princess Pingxi had made a rare, significant move. A wave of anxiety washed over them, and they each sent people to test the waters.

Situ Qin, however, ignored them all. Her silence left the great figures of Yunzhou on edge.

「Inside the mansion.」

Situ Qin, the very person many suspected was preparing for war, was instead lounging on a soft couch in a lakeside pavilion. She blissfully savored a breakfast far more lavish than usual, specially prepared for her by Aunt Hong.

Having returned home to a delicious meal, her energy was instantly restored. The gloom of the journey was swept away, as if she’d forgotten every trouble she’d faced.

’Just moments ago, she had been coolly commanding her forces, and now she’d instantly reverted to a food-loving young girl.’ Xie Yuan watched her, unsure if he should call her carefree or something else entirely. A storm was brewing over Yunzhou Prefecture, yet the one at its center was happily enjoying a meal.

"Hurry up and eat, Master Xie! There are so many pastries. They’ll spoil if we don’t eat them!"

Situ Qin urged Xie Yuan.

’They’ll spoil if we don’t eat them.’ What a simple, rustic reason.

Xie Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle. He picked up a glutinous rice cake and popped it into his mouth.

’It really is a delicious pastry.’

’And it even has a slight restorative effect on one’s Qi and Blood.’

The two of them completely relaxed, enjoying the view of the lake, eating pastries, and admiring the morning sun.

They hadn’t even finished their lavish breakfast when Aunt Hong suddenly materialized beside Situ Qin.

"Miss, the chief steward of the Yongyang Qian clan’s Yunzhou branch is requesting an audience."

"Oh? So soon? It seems they want to offer an explanation—no, they want to try and talk their way out of it."

Situ Qin smiled, her tone light.

"Have him wait."

Aunt Hong asked:

"How long shall I have him wait, Miss?"

Situ Qin thought for a moment before saying slowly:

"I haven’t finished my breakfast yet. And after that, I need to catch up on my sleep. This trip has left me exhausted."

Aunt Hong nodded and vanished in an instant.

Xie Yuan had been listening the entire time. He mulled it over for a moment before asking:

"Miss Qin, I don’t usually see so many people around the mansion."

"Oh, many of them are old retainers from my father’s former residence, the King’s Mansion. They remain loyal out of respect for my father, so the group never disbanded. They aren’t usually in the mansion; they manage other family businesses and properties. But Tai Bo sent word to them on our way back."

Situ Qin explained.

Xie Yuan came to a realization. Many of these people had sharp, powerful auras and looked far from ordinary. They were the former elites of the King of Pingxi’s household.

With so many capable people under her command, plus two powerful Grandmasters at her side, the Situ Mansion could actually be considered a major power in its own right.

No wonder she’d been so interested in recruiting talent. Despite her low-key demeanor, she wasn’t some spoiled heiress content to just live off her inheritance.

Today, Xie Yuan had witnessed her capabilities as the head of the mansion—composed in command, organized, calm, and mature. It seemed there was more to her than just the sunny young girl he usually saw... or was there?