Chapter 945: Chapter 633: The Spy Hidden in the Prince Mansion
In recent days, to complete the task secretly entrusted by Emperor Wu, Xu Liang has been mingling among so key figures within the Prince Mansion.
As a special envoy from the Court, the entire Prince Mansion has shown him every respect, and he’s been invited to banquets almost daily.
Drinking, listening to music, drinking, watching dance performances…
This suits him quite well, as over several days, he’s interacted quite a bit with the subordinates of the Prince Mansion.
anwhile, that lord from the Imperial Clan Court hasn’t been idle either, frequently visiting the princes of the mansion.
Of course, they haven’t deliberately targeted anyone, as they were invited over and didn’t intentionally approach any particular individual.
They’re also cautious about revealing their true intentions.
After all, this is Beiliang, and surely there are people keeping a close watch on their every move.
If they continue this way, who knows when they’ll uncover anything, too much caution.
The Emperor can’t wait any longer.
We’ll need to try another approach.
“What approach?” The Left Imperial Clan inquired with a lowered brow.
Xu Liang was about to speak but then hesitated, realizing that only he knows the matter, so it’s not convenient to say more, thus he said, “Let think again, it’s not mature yet,”
“Once there are leads, I will inform you.”
“Xu Shaoqing, please carry on your duties.” The Left Imperial Clan departed with his hands behind his back.
Once the person left, Xu Liang furrowed his brow, pacing in the room, his thoughts flowing with the light.
Through his observation of the Royal Beiliang Mansion during this period and cautious probing among its personnel, Xu Liang has found nothing peculiar.
Whether it’s the King of Beiliang or his subordinates, all have been quite gracious, and proper etiquette has been maintained.
There has been no sign of anomaly from Liangzhou Prefecture.
However, the task personally ordered by the Emperor must not be without basis.
Initially, to avoid alerting the target, they have been going with the flow, but now it’s apparent this thod is not working, risks must be taken.
In such a vast mansion, it can’t be all solid, even after hundreds of years of managent, there must be eyes watching, or the Court wouldn’t feel assured.
Xu Liang’s eyes flickered a few tis, his footsteps paused, then he walked to the desk in the room, sat down, spread out a piece of rice paper, pressed it with a paperweight, and then wielded the brush to write flowing characters, one after another of varying sizes.
“Literature, Shuo, Gold, Recite….”
Strangely, these characters are not coherent, seeming like casual calligraphy practice, writing whatever cos to mind.
After writing seventeen or eighteen characters, Xu Liang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, laid down the brush against the inkstone, glanced at the paper, then looked out the nearby window, with a flick of his sleeve, the window responded by opening.
From outside the window, one could clearly see the scene on the desk.
Chen Yuan walked to the window, at which point an imperial guard who had been stationed outside quickly approached.
“Lord Xu, any instructions?”
Outside the room, the imperial guards who followed all the way from the Divine Capital are stationed every three steps, with a sentry every five.
“No need, I’m just getting so fresh air, don’t mind .” He casually dismissed them, gazing out at the scenery.
At this mont, he stood atop a small building, outside the dusk was intensifying, nearby were landscaped gardens, trees in shadows, and in the distance, a view of the evening glow.
Xu Liang’s gaze road the scenery outside the window, and soon he sensed that soone from a distant building was casting a glance his way.
Given his cultivation as a Half-step Dragon and Tiger, he could sense that there were more than one line of sight!
There are quite a few people secretly spying on this special envoy from the Court.
Hopefully, the person he’s looking for is among them.
He pondered internally, maintaining an expressionless facade.
Pretending nothing is amiss, he continued to observe the scenery, his deanor unchanged.
After about as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea, when he’d “seen” enough of the scenery, Xu Liang closed the window.
After closing the window, his brow bore a hint of worry, uncertain if the agent lurking in the Prince Mansion had seen him.
This agent seems crucial, as during the task assignnt, the Emperor hadn’t revealed the agent’s identity, only divulging the thod of contact between him and the agent.
It’s neither by secret technique ssaging nor long-distance communication, but simply the most direct and unadorned thod!
Thinking of this, he glanced at the pen and ink on the desk, his gaze subtly flickering.
Even if this pen and ink are noticed by others, arousing attention, they would not comprehend it, completely unconnected.
Because there exists an exclusive cipher book.
Those unaware of the context wouldn’t consider such a possibility.
Hopefully, everything will proceed smoothly!
Xu Liang contemplated, as this spy is embedded in the Prince Mansion, and not even the Emperor has disclosed his identity. The agent only has one-way communication, suggesting that this person has been hidden in the Prince Mansion for many years and quite possibly holds a significant position. But if the mansion changes, the agent should relay the ssage back.
In such a situation, either the information is known by very few, with most in the mansion being unaware, hence the agent receives no news, a condition requiring vigilance. The other scenario is the agent knowing but failing to report….
Xu Liang quickly halted these thoughts, believing the person arranged by the Emperor remains reliable, refraining from unnecessary speculation.
The hour gradually approached late afternoon, the clock tower in Liangzhou Prefecture sounded the third toll of the total golden bell, and the sun in the Western Heaven seed as if it were being scattered by a breeze from the vast desert, slowly spreading into a sky-filling scarlet golden cloud, softly tracing the silhouette of Qilian Mountain, turning the distant year-round snow-covered peaks into golden caps.
The daylight faded, and lanterns lit both inside and outside the Prince Mansion, their gleam coloring the view with extraordinary radiance.
At this point, a report from the imperial guard ca from outside the door.
“Lord Xu, a delegate from the Prince Mansion has arrived, inviting you to attend the evening banquet.”
With the sound marking the end of the statent, the room door opened, and Xu Liang, dressed in common attire, stepped out.
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