Chapter 345

“I heard that the Emperor has called a meeting with all the nobles today. By mid-morning, we should know how they decide regarding the war. I’ve heard that some nobles want to remain neutral and not take sides, but that’s just the shallow thinking of fools.”

Mu Heng said as he sat with his wife in the reception hall. He spoke about the worrisome situation that had troubled the nobles since yesterday until today. In fact, the Emperor should have called an emergency meeting yesterday, but it seemed he wanted everyone to think over the matter first. So, he summoned everyone for a meeting today instead.

Representatives from other regions, including Mu Heng, Yueqian, and delegates from various allied regions, were not called to this meeting. It was an internal discussion among the nobles of the Hu Region.

This was understandable, as internal discussions were crucial. It was necessary for them to find a solution, and after that, they would issue orders to the regions under their control.

For now, Mu Heng and his wife had some free time, though it wouldn’t last long. They were certain that orders would soon be issued to them.

“The enemy this time is very frightening. They know how to use people to create widespread chaos. After this, we will likely face even tougher challenges.”

Yueqian sighed. Even though she was confident that she and her family would be safe, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of the situation.

This enemy seemed incredibly strong, with strategies laid out everywhere, ready to implement plan one, plan two, plan three, and so on. For them, the most formidable enemy was one who was as cautious as this.

“I think the Hu Region will soon become a vassal state to another region. The strength of the Hu Region and its allies is quite weak. Their relationships have never been strong, so when small conflicts arise, they are quick to wage war. The enemy can easily exploit such opportunities.”

“Moreover, the Hu Region lacks abundant resources. Too much pressure will only harm its people. Soon, there will be resistance from the citizens forced into the army or burdened with higher taxes, especially after just facing severe hardships.”

Mu Heng shook his head at the situation. The Bai Region had just quelled a rebellion in his region, while the forces led by Minister Hui were still stabilizing their area. They hadn’t fully defeated the rebels yet and now faced the prospect of being called to war. Chaos was inevitable.

“In that case... perhaps we need to find our own position within that region as well,” Yueqian smiled cunningly.

Anyone aware of her current thoughts would surely call her a "villainess," even if they didn’t know she was once " The Villainess Qin."

Well... once she made up her mind, Yueqian no longer clung to uncertainties. As she had told the Empress, no matter who lost... she would not lose.

This didn’t mean she was overly confident in her or her husband’s abilities; it meant she would ensure she allied with the right side!

True, people in the Bai and Hu Regions might see her as a double-dealer, but so what?! If it ensured her family’s survival, she would gladly bear the title of “villainess.”

“So, do you have a method?” Mu Heng raised an eyebrow. Even though he understood his wife’s thinking, they still didn’t know which region was behind these malicious plans. How could they align with them...?

No, wait!

“Do you already know what to do?” He looked at his wife in disbelief again, and Yueqian merely nodded with her cunning smile.

After diligently building her own forces and keeping them a secret, she had sent capable individuals to every region to gather intelligence for her.

Just as her master had always done, Yueqian used her master’s influence to establish her own network everywhere. Although it wasn’t extensive, the grueling training over the past year, harsher than hell, had made her forces strong enough to infiltrate every region and reliably send back information.

For this situation, her agents had proven that the intelligence they gathered matched what her master’s people reported, showing they were truly top-notch.

However, it wasn’t just these few hundred elite soldiers that reassured her. What gave her the most confidence were the individuals currently on their way!

In a distant location, a masked man sitting in a carriage smiled wickedly as he read the message from his mistress.

“What orders has Miss given this time to make you smile so broadly?”

The young man boy at his side teased the leader of the theater troupe. It had been a while since they received orders from the mistress, and every time they did, it meant they had an exciting job ahead!

“Prepare to depart.”

“Pardon?”

“Prepare to depart. Also, respond to Princess Wan Bi of the Chou Region. Tell her we accept the job and will prepare the best performance for her birthday celebration!”

Liang Rui gave the orders seriously. It seemed the new play they had been rehearsing for a long time would finally be performed in a few months!

“The Chou Region?!”

“Yes.”

“B-but that’s very far. It will take us over three months to get there. In that case...”

“Don’t worry. We’ll earn money along the way. I won’t let you starve.”

“I-It’s not that I’m afraid of starving. I’m just concerned. Our troupe has often encountered dangers while traveling, and this time I’m afraid we’ll run into unreasonable people again, which always ends with you getting hurt,” the assistant said with a pout, but Liang Rui’s smile deepened.

“Don’t worry. This time... I’ll ask Qi Anxiao to accompany us.”

“Y-You!” The young man was shocked upon hearing this. His master had never sought assistance from that woman before. For him to mention asking for her help now meant that this task was extremely important, didn’t it?

Was this really just about traveling to the Chou Region for Princess Wan Bi’s event? Why did he sense the smell of blood even before they had left the Bai Region?!

Meanwhile, the Art Institute in the Bai and Du Regions received small letters from a woman who had never contacted them so abruptly before. Upon receiving the blood-stained letters, they immediately gathered for a meeting. This signaled seriousness and brutality.

“What happened? Why did she send such a letter? Did someone in the Bai Region dare harm her? Send our people to her immediately. No! Prepare everything for me. I’m going to the Bai Region right now!” Wu Yuandong said seriously, his face flushed from running upon hearing that a blood letter had arrived from Yueqian.

“Calm down first.”

“Yuandong, we haven’t read the contents of the letter yet, so we shouldn’t rush. Your impatience might end up harming her,” Luan Taisun mildly scolded the other man’s anxious demeanor.

It was true that the current state of affairs was worrying, making it easy to be concerned for Yueqian. But they had to remember how skilled that young woman was. She wouldn’t need them to rush to her aid. She should be able to take care of herself just fine! However, if she sent such a letter, it must be about something big.

“Then let’s read her letter,” Wu Yuandong tried to calm down, but anything involving his foster sister never allowed him to truly stay calm.

That little girl always acted so strong, even though she was smaller than him, younger than him, and more fragile than him! But because she was so strong, it made him worry even more.

“I’ll read her letter. Everyone, please be quiet.”

The man who was the leader of the Art Institute spoke seriously. Everyone in the room fell silent until the letter was completely read. Their expressions varied greatly as they took in the contents.

“So... what should we do next?” Luan Taisun looked at the Art Institute’s leader, who had been silent for a while, feeling confused. Like a pebble dropped into water, creating ripples, everyone who understood the letter’s message began sharing their own opinions.

"Actually, her plan is reasonable, but..." One of the elders hesitated. It was truly difficult to betray their homeland, but if they didn’t, and they lost the war in the future, it would mean the end of this Art Institute.

So, like Yueqian, they have two choices. One, make the first move to secure their place, or two... stay with their honor and dignity, and die with it!

No matter which path they choose, it’s not wrong. Even if they die, they die with value. But if they choose to become double agents, they will survive.

"But she chose to grow anew. Doesn’t that mean we should support her?" Wu Yuandong suggested. If it were any other matter, he would have sided with her, but not this time... Even in his heart, he knew that to do so would mean betraying the Du Region and the Hu Region. It didn’t seem like something a man should do!

However, the person who was like a sister to him had chosen her path. No matter how painful it felt, he still wanted to help her.

"You misunderstand," the Art Institute’s leader immediately shook his head as soon as Wu Yuandong spoke.

"Misunderstand?"

"Yes, you misunderstand that your sister needs help from us. But the truth is..."

"The truth is...?"

"The truth is, this is her way of helping us!" Upon hearing this, Wu Yuandong was utterly confused, while Luan Taisun was instantly stunned!

The Art Institute’s leader gave a faint smile, revealing a sense of sorrow in his eyes before speaking.

"This is not news that the Art Institute obtained on its own, meaning your sister has gone further than we have reached... This news was sent not to ask us to support her, but as a warning for us to make a decision. She knew we wouldn’t know this secret and might move too late, so she sent this news to the gallery herself, marked with a drop of blood."

"She knows that the Hu Region is likely to lose. And if that’s the case now... the choice isn’t whether to become double agents or fight, but whether to become double agents or be the losers! That’s all there is to it.""There isn’t... there’s no statement from your sister saying that the Hu Region will win this war at all."