[Dead?]
Zhuo Fan eyed You Ming, “What is Pri Minister Zhuge talking about?”
You Ming explained, “Steward Zhuo, the emperor sensed his ti was coming and feared a world with Pri Minister Zhuge in it would stir the lands. He had put Pri Minister Zhuge down. But since I had answered Steward Zhuo’s call of wanting Pri Minister Zhuge, I had Pri Minister Zhuge fake death with a pill. Now, safe and sound, I gave the antidote.”
Zhuo Fan nodded.
Zhuge Changfeng said, “I see, Sir You Ming is with Steward Zhuo. What has happened? With His Majesty’s cunning mind, there’s no way he’d leave You Ming alive.”
The two laughed.
“He hasn’t been on my side since last evening. His Majesty had no way of figuring out our connection either. All we had among us was a transaction.” Zhuo Fan grinned.
You Ming nodded, “Before His Majesty’s jubilee, I and Steward Zhuo t, to my great benefit. In those tis of anarchy, with everyone going for the throne, Steward Zhuo made a promise. I had to do just two little things for him and he’d have on board. No matter how much my future actions affected the Luo clan’s interest afterwards, once he seized the world, I could use this promise to join the Luo clan, becoming the victor in this civil war.”
Zhuge Changfeng gave a thumb’s up, “Steward Zhuo, why didn’t I think of that? Not only binding the opponent but enticing him as well. It will make roping others easier. And this thod wasn’t successful on just him, right?”
“Just one other.”
Zhuo Fan shirked off the praise, “I made promises with potential candidates. One is You Ming, the other being Leng Wuchang.”
“What about ? Do I have no potential?” Zhuge Changfeng’s eyebrow shook.
Zhuo Fan laughed, “Pri Minister sir has that aplenty, but in those tis you were just another contender. Was I supposed to draw in a rival? That’s like asking for it.”
“Ha-ha-ha, quite true.” Pri Minister Zhuge nodded.
You Ming continued, “Steward Zhuo had urge the second prince into a quarrel at the jubilee, making up an excuse to leave the imperial capital to set everything up, while also instigating the war with everyone in passing. The other matter was egging on the second prince’s rebellion while he was fighting Regent Estate. Though there were many people asking about this at the ti, Regent Estate and Steward Zhuo both wanted to use an attack on the court as a way to delay Dugu Army. While the emperor used it to draw the Pri Minister out and take you down in one fell swoop by dumping the nation betrayer on your list of cris.”
“Oh, the rebellion had been this old man’s greatest mistake. Uhm, let’s not ntion it.” Zhuge Changfeng sighed.
Zhuo Fan and You Ming smiled.
You Ming added, “After these tasks, Steward Zhuo presented with an optional task, saving the Pri Minister from death. I didn’t want to at first, afraid that the emperor would find out, but Steward Zhuo is just too an, setting his sights on Hell Valley as the first house to wipe out. That’s like cutting my way out. Soon ca the end of Regent Estate and I was only left with the imperial family and Luo clan. Of course, I had to listen to both of them. “
You Ming eyed Zhuo Fan with a bit of annoyance, yet the man had the sa ineffable smile of a winner.
Zhuge Changfeng asked in doubt, “Steward Zhuo, why do you show such care?”
“Ha-ha-ha, I respect Pri Minister’s ability and wish to invite you to Luo clan.” Zhuo Fan cupped his hands.
Zhuge Changfeng paused, “What would Luo clan do with when it has the invincible Steward Zhuo? I will only beco a burden to Steward Zhuo.”
“Pri Minister sir, I was able to see today only through so shady thods. But when it cos to governing Tianyu, Pri Minister takes the crown.”
Zhuo Fan turned forlorn, “To deal with Quanrong and imperial family combined, I had to tough it out and make a request to the Demon Scheming Sect, thus owing them. To return the favor, I have to report to the sect, unbeknownst when I’ll be back. I need Pri Minister sir’s wisdom to lead Luo clan, control the grand sche of things and steer it clear from disaster.”
“The Demon Scheming Sect? That ans you’ve beaten Quanrong and His Majesty all while keeping the empire’s three guardian sects from catching wind of this matter?” Zhuge Changfeng shook, “That will spell the end of Tianyu’s imperial family as we know it, becoming a puppet, with the Luo clan as the ruler supre.”
“Ha-ha-ha, Pri Minister sir has the sa vision as . Coming to Luo clan, sir will have the stage set to display your skills. I will not disgrace the greatest mind of Tianyu.” Zhuo Fan smiled.
Zhuge Changfeng paced around the room, “That will make Luo clan’s steward position no different than Tianyu’s Pri Minister. And with you leaving, to whom will that fall to?”
Zhuo Fan bead, “Pri Minister Zhuge has held Tianyu in balance for a century and knows the ins and outs. Since this position and Luo clan’s steward are the sa, after I leave, it will belong to Pri Minister Zhuge, ha-ha-ha…”
It struck a chord in old Zhuge Changfeng’s heart. He’d been a Pri Minister for as long as he knew, yet had no hard feelings leaving that life behind.
Calming down, he realized he could do nothing else. But resuming his old trade, he wasn’t exactly used to working under soone.
This made the Luo clan’s steward position the best choice.
Zhuge Changfeng showed a bashful smile, “Uhm, the mont you leave, I’ll steal your position. That wouldn’t be very nice.”
“It’s all fine. The steward is in charge of all clan affairs. And with an ever growing Luo clan, those affairs will only expand. This position shall never be empty. Soone will always be there to take it. If Pri Minister Zhuge finds joining the Luo clan a poor choice, no problem, I’ll just have Leng Wuchang take it. He doesn’t like his current spot, as a military adviser.” Zhuo Fan grinned.
Zhuge Changfeng waved around, “Oh no no no, that will not do at all. Leng Wuchang has been a Regent Estate steward all his life, seldom minding matters. With Luo clan growing into its role as an emperor in the shadows, Leng Wuchang’s light experience wouldn’t help in dealing with Tianyu’s complicated matters.”
“I co from an even smaller clan yet you don’t feel the sa about ?” Zhuo Fan darkened.
Zhuge Changfeng shook his head, “Steward Zhuo, please don’t tease. You are of unseen talent, capable of anything and everything, of imnse majesty and open-mindedness. What small-ti steward can do that? I don’t know Steward Zhuo’s past but I am confident you are a worldly talent.”
“Pri Minister Zhuge, you sure know how to flatter. It’s fine though. All I want to know is, are you in or out?”
“In.” Zhuge Changfeng nodded.
Zhuo Fan relaxed and presented a Bloodworm, “Per clan rules, any new addition needs to eat this.”
“What is it?” Zhuge Changfeng asked while swallowing.
Zhuo Fan would’ve long killed him if he wanted to. Why go through all that trouble? The wiser one was, the quicker Zhuo Fan laid out his conditions.
With a nasty grin, Zhuo Fan’s hand shifted into a sign and Zhuge Changfeng started sweating buckets from the bellyache.
Easing up on the sign, Zhuge Changfeng felt terror like no other despite how short-lived the pain was.
“Ha-ha-ha, this!” Zhuo Fan snickered.
Zhuge Changfeng grumbled and whined, “Steward Zhuo, was that necessary? I’m just a scholar. I’m no expert and don’t need these thods to control .”
“Ha-ha-ha, scholar? Pri Minister sir is too modest, you’re a devious and unscrupulous mastermind. I won’t rest easy unless I have you on a leash.”
Zhuo Fan sighed, “Luo siblings are neither shrewd nor tough, re sheeps. Bringing so many beasts around their pen is all to protect them. Yet by the ti I return, won’t I have the pen empty from the beasts eating them all up? Giving you all a leash is within reason, ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuge Changfeng and You Ming shook their heads, finding no retort against this demon’s logic.
[‘Cause this Demon Archon is too damn right…]
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