Chapter 72: Looking Forward to Meeting Again

If all these treasures were used on Yun Shijun…

Yun Chu dismounted from the carriage and rode alongside it.

Looking back, he saw that those people had already been taken back to Yongzhou by the people Li Yunli had arranged.

He watched for a while, then pulled on the reins, letting himself fall a few steps behind the carriage.

Shen Ziyu, who was also riding beside him, cast him a puzzled glance but said nothing.

As Li Yunli’s carriage drew farther away, Yun Chu softly called out, “Yishui.”

A man dressed in the attire of the royal secret guards responded and rode forward.

“Here.”

This was a small team of royal secret guards that Li Yunli had assigned to Yun Chu. Now that Yun Chu had returned, the command of this team was still under his control.

Yishui had been one of the guards working with Yun Chu since their time in the Yongzhou government office and was particularly obedient to him.

Yun Chu asked, “Among your men, is there anyone skilled in stealth and theft?”

Yishui chuckled. “Yun Shijun must be joking. This is our expertise—any one of us can do it.”

“Good. I need you to do something for me,” Yun Chu said, glancing sideways as he handed over a piece of silk paper. His voice lowered slightly. “Infiltrate the Wei people’s stronghold and steal something for me.”

Yishui took the silk paper and glanced at it. Feeling uneasy, he asked, “Has His Highness approved this mission?”

“Don’t worry. Once you obtain the item, you can deliver it directly to His Highness without going through me.”

Yun Chu tilted his head and smiled.

“But before that, it’s best not to alert His Highness.”

Yishui gave Yun Chu a meaningful look but did not argue. He simply said, “Understood,” then immediately turned his horse and left with the escorts.

Yun Chu spurred his horse forward, catching up to the carriage again.

Shen Ziyu glanced at him a few times but swallowed the words he had been about to say.

“Lord Shen, do you have something to ask?” Yun Chu turned his head to look at him.

Although Shen Ziyu was curious, he knew better than to pry. “No, nothing.”

Yun Chu said, “Lord Shen seems very concerned about His Highness.”

Shen Ziyu noticed Yun Chu’s gaze lingering on him, making it difficult to gauge his meaning. Everyone knew that the Eldest Princess favored this Yun Shijun immensely, but from what Shen Ziyu had observed earlier, she had not shown him much leniency. That made it all the harder to understand their relationship.

Then again, the affairs between these two were none of his concern. What worried him was not the princess’s personal matters but the current state of the capital.

He sighed. “Yes. Yun Daren, you might not know, but during my time away from the capital, I don’t know what great upheavals may have occurred. His Highness choosing not to return with the Northern Border Army is a huge risk!”

As he spoke, he grew more worried, rubbing his temples in frustration.

Yun Chu smiled.

“What are you laughing at, Yun Daren?”

Shen Ziyu was unsettled by his calm demeanor—it made him even more suspicious.

“If Lord Shen is worried about turmoil in the capital, then you must consider it from the perspective of court politics. His Highness’s strength lies in military affairs. The soldiers stationed in the capital will not act recklessly.”

Shen Ziyu was caught off guard. He had entered the court only recently and had been entrusted with great responsibilities by the emperor, but in his anxiety, he had lost his composure.

He immediately cupped his hands and humbly asked, “Please enlighten me, Yun Daren.”

“Yongcheng Hou is from Yizhou. How many private soldiers do you think he has? Now that his forces have been defeated and captured in Yongzhou, even those who remain—do you think they would dare to confront the Eldest Princess in battle?”

Shen Ziyu smacked his forehead.

Of course!

The Eldest Princess was the daughter of Prince Jin, who had numerous generals under his command, scattered across the north and south of Chu. Her hidden prestige could not be underestimated.

Her two-year absence from the capital had been a temporary measure by the cabinet. Many in the military saw her as someone who had been unjustly sidelined.

With such a background, who would dare challenge her in military affairs?

If the Empress Dowager and Yongcheng Hou thought that colluding with foreign forces and raising a small private army was enough to take her down, they were being utterly foolish.

“But…” Shen Ziyu still had concerns. “What if the Empress Dowager isn’t being reckless? What if they’re playing dumb and actually have a hidden plan?”

Yun Chu said, “That’s why His Highness has sealed off the news and hasn’t brought the Northern Border Army back to the capital. Otherwise, with her temperament, would she be this cautious?”

As he spoke, Yun Chu glanced toward the carriage.

She had always been bold and unrestrained, yet this time she was clearly being more careful.

That was a good sign.

The struggles of the past life would not be repeated this time.

Shen Ziyu suddenly understood. “So, Yongcheng Hou is just a pawn meant to provoke His Highness! My mother often told me that the princess’s situation was difficult, but I never thought it was such a dangerous and hidden scheme! Did His Highness realize this from the start?”

Yun Chu spoke softly. “Perhaps. But since these people are high-ranking officials in the capital, His Highness cannot openly expose them. Yet earlier, Lord Shen was still advising her to return with the Northern Border Army?”

Shen Ziyu belatedly realized his mistake, feeling both regretful and grateful for Yun Chu’s guidance.

Yun Chu said, “No need for thanks, Lord Shen. In fact, I have something I would like to ask you.”

Shen Ziyu quickly replied, “Yun Daren, there’s no need for such formality. Please ask, and if I know the answer, I will tell you.”

“It’s nothing major. I just wanted to ask about the State Celestial Bureau of Chu.”

Hearing this, Shen Ziyu became serious. Everyone knew about the conflict between the Eldest Princess and the State Celestial Bureau.

Since they had just discussed the princess’s military strengths and lack of political backing, Shen Ziyu became even more cautious.

“Yun Daren, are you suggesting that the ones plotting against Her Highness are from the State Celestial Bureau?”

Yun Chu shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant. I simply need to ask someone from the Bureau a question. I wanted to know how to meet with them.”

Shen Ziyu sighed in relief. “That’s not difficult. Though the Bureau has been the emperor’s close advisory group since the previous reign, its influence has waned over the years. The old grand master still preaches and performs rituals once a month in the capital. Ordinary citizens can attend.”

Yun Chu asked, “There’s someone named Wuyou among them?”

Shen Ziyu nodded. “Taoist Wuyou? His reputation is growing. He’s likely the next successor of the Bureau. He accompanies the grand master to the monthly events. Yun Daren, do you wish to meet him?”

Yun Chu’s gaze darkened. “Is it possible?”

Shen Ziyu scratched his head. “It’s not impossible, but… Wuyou dislikes dealing with people. He only meets those with a karmic connection. No one has successfully arranged a private meeting with him.”

Yun Chu frowned.

Shen Ziyu saw his expression and quickly added, “If you want, my mother has some connections. I can try inviting him to my residence.”

Yun Chu shook his head. That wouldn’t work—he needed privacy.

“No need. Now that I know when he’ll appear, I’ll go find him myself.”

Shen Ziyu nodded, though he could see that Yun Chu was troubled. He chose not to pry further.