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Chapter 360 The visitor is evil

Zhu Yu paused for a moment.

She hadn't thought things through and just blurted out a few words, forgetting that Lu Qing didn't know what "checkers" was.

So she briefly described the rules of checkers: "So, isn't this just like our current situation?"
Not only are there two factions, each with its own plans, but everyone is also waiting for an opportunity to act, proceeding cautiously step by step. While advancing step by step, they also have to guess what others' intentions are, and prevent their own base from being raided.

The final winner will be whoever eliminates the other completely.

“Interesting,” Lu Qing listened with great interest. “It is indeed very similar to our current situation.”

However, I've never seen this before. Now that you mention it, it seems quite interesting.

Once we've resolved these pressing issues, I'll summon a few craftsmen to my home. You can explain to them clearly what the chessboard and pieces look like, and have them make them accordingly.

When I have some free time, Chief Secretary Yu can teach me how to play this 'checkers' game.

Zhu Yu nodded. She really wasn't in the mood to think about checkers right now. After Lu Qing's hint earlier, she was more worried about something else: "Since both Chi Yu and Chang'e Zui are pointing the finger at that person..."

Both of these things have insidious and vicious effects, so... how should we remind that person to be careful?

“This matter is not as simple as just giving a reminder.” Lu Qing had already considered this issue. He slowly shook his head. “That person is different from you and me. You and I only ask a physician to come and check on us when we have a headache or fever and feel unwell.”

That person, after all, was of a different status. Regardless of whether he was feeling unwell or not, he was required to have his pulse checked every day, and to have a thorough examination every three to five days. In addition, he was given supplements and conditioning every day.

In other words, if someone has managed to get this trick into the palace, and has been doing so for quite some time, it means that this item is enough to fool the Imperial Pharmacy staff and others. Even if we remind them, they will believe us, and the people at the Imperial Pharmacy may not have a way to unravel it.

Moreover, whether we investigate or resolve the issue, we mustn't alert the people who orchestrated this scheme.

"What should we do?" Zhu Yu asked, somewhat worried.

"Don't worry, I have a way." Lu Qing waved his hand, gesturing for Zhu Yu to lean closer.

Zhu Yu leaned closer, and just as Lu Qing was about to speak, his ears twitched, his expression became alert, and he stood up from the table: "Someone's here, and they don't mean any harm."

Knowing that he had exceptional hearing, Zhu Yu quickly got up as well. The two had just arrived at the door when they heard a series of noisy footsteps outside, as if many people had rushed into the once quiet courtyard.

Lu Qing opened the door and went out first, blocking Zhu Yu behind her to prevent her from rushing forward to check the situation.

At the same time, Lu Yan opened the door and came out.

He looked as if he had just woken up, or perhaps he had been startled awake by the voice of the person who came. After all, as a commander, his vigilance was naturally much better than that of someone like Lu Zhang, who had been holed up in the capital for a long time. As he tightened the cloth that had been loosely tied around his head, he strode out of the room, came to the corridor, leaned forward, and looked sharply downstairs to check the situation outside.

Upon noticing that Lu Qing and Zhu Yu had also come out, he and Lu Qing quickly exchanged a glance, and the two of them took the lead and walked ahead to greet them downstairs.

Zhu Yu originally intended to go down with the two of them, but when she saw the old steward leading a dozen or so guards rushing into the courtyard, seemingly about to go upstairs, she quickly changed her mind and turned back to knock on Yan Shu's door.

Yan Shu was indeed still half asleep when Zhu Yu's knocking woke her up.

Fortunately, they have been sleeping fully clothed these past few days, and no one dares to risk undressing, for fear of something suddenly happening.

So when Yan Shu opened the door for her, still half asleep, her clothes were all properly on, except for her loose hair.

Zhu Yu hurriedly helped her tie her hair back up and straighten her clothes, so that no one would accidentally discover that she was a girl.

When the two of them hurriedly finished getting ready and came out of the room, Lu Qing was already expressionless, following several guards back upstairs.

"If you want to search, then go ahead, but you'd better be careful. If you don't find what you're looking for, we'll end up with less stuff, and the business we were supposed to discuss won't be possible. It'll just ruin our relationship." He said to the guards as he stood by the stairs.

The guards didn't utter a sound, but rushed in silently, splitting up and rushing into the rooms where the people were staying.

Fortunately, Yan Shu was woken up by Zhu Yu in advance and is now standing safely under the corridor; otherwise, judging from the situation, she would have been quite startled.

She looked at Zhu Yu with gratitude, her hand twitched, but she quickly restrained herself from taking Zhu Yu's hand and shaking it, considering the current situation.

In contrast, Lu Zhang was not so lucky.

He was asleep in his bedroom, oblivious to what was happening outside. When he was awakened, the guards nearly broke the latch on his door.

Therefore, when he rushed out of the room, his face seemed to clearly show the words "still in shock". When he saw Yan Shu standing calmly outside, he realized that he had lost his composure and hurriedly tried to cover it up and pretend to be calm.

However, they had always been aware that there was something wrong with this Immortal Fortress. Unfortunately, both his men and Lu Yan's men were left in the outer camp to await orders. At this moment, the few of them were essentially deep in the tiger's den. This situation of being outnumbered by the enemy was something they had never faced before.

Lu Zhang grew increasingly anxious. To avoid appearing cowardly and to bolster his courage, after a brief moment of hesitation, he resolutely strode towards Lu Qing and stood beside him. He kept glancing at Lu Qing, noticing his calm expression, which seemed no different from usual. Then, turning his head to look downstairs, he saw Lu Yan with his hands on his hips, his eyes wide, staring at the guards searching downstairs. A hint of embarrassment and dejection flashed in his eyes.

Those people searched room by room for a long time, and even their luggage was not spared; the few pieces of clothing they had brought were shaken off and scattered all over the floor.

It seemed that these people had not found what they were looking for. After leaving the various rooms, they looked at each other and went downstairs somewhat dejectedly.

Lu Qing and Lu Zhang followed behind them. When they arrived downstairs, Yan Daoxin was tidying his sleeves as he walked slowly down the corridor.