“You agreed to the Qudun, and her payment to you was… the Wuzhu tribe’s surrender. To legitimately remain in the Great Zhou, she secretly placed the English King’s descendants into the Eastern Tatar delegation accompanying the young prince to the capital, isn’t that right?”
Yan Xiaohan stared at Fu Shen’s legs, “But the Eastern Tatar delegation was ambushed at Blue Sand Pass, with no survivors…”
Fu Shen softly said: “Do you think the Emperor knows about this?”
The Flying Dragon Guard was the Emperor’s ears and eyes. If Yan Xiaohan didn’t know, how could the Emperor possibly know?
But if the Emperor didn’t know, why would he be so eager to eliminate Fu Shen?
“The Emperor might trust you,” Fu Shen’s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, “but perhaps not entirely, Lord Yan.”
This was his true purpose for telling the story tonight.
Yan Xiaohan had originally intended to probe Fu Shen’s bottom line, but unexpectedly, Fu Shen had countered with a provocation.
Neither of them knew the other’s true intentions. Yan Xiaohan suspected Fu Shen had another plan, and Fu Shen was wary of Yan Xiaohan standing with the Emperor. They spoke of frankness, but underneath, they continued layer upon layer of mutual probing. Neither dared to fully entrust their trust, even though they stood on the same precarious, sinking boat.
Yan Xiaohan offered an insincere compliment: “My lord’s strategies are impressive.”
“Not as thorough as Lord Yan’s considerations,” Fu Shen reciprocated. He added casually, “I can tell you one more thing.”
Two routes are the first layer of deception, the Han envoys of the Eastern Tartar mission are the second layer of deception… In fact, you and the Duke of Su have already sent away the true heir of the English Queen, right?
“Hmm,” Fu Shen nodded seriously, “If things really went to waste as you said, I would have hanged myself long ago – I’d have no face to live in this world.”
He suppressed his laughter and looked up at Yan Xiaohan: “Master Yan, please stop looking so grim. I didn’t even know you could be so sympathetic to me, how embarrassing.”
