Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 86 The Rise of the Intelligence Empire! Prince Jing Secretly Subscribes, Crisis Approaches the Liu Family

The eighth day of the first month of the ninth year of Jinghe.

The festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year had not yet dissipated when the business community in Jiangnan was stirred up by two newly published "booklets".

At Chenshi (7-9 AM), various teahouses in Hangzhou.

In the private room where the merchants gathered, almost everyone had a small booklet, about the size of their palm.

The cover features four elegant characters in regular script: "Business Information Monthly".

"Gentlemen, please look at this month's headlines—" A silk merchant opened a booklet, his voice excited, "The Suzhou Weaving Bureau is negotiating with foreign merchants to purchase 'jacquard looms,' with an intended price of... three thousand taels per unit!"

The room erupted in uproar.

Three thousand taels?!

"The kind of new looms like those at Jinxiufang?"

Is the information accurate?

When has the "Business Intelligence Monthly Report" ever made a mistake?

The silk merchant pointed to a line of small print in the corner of the booklet.

"Produced by Tingfenglou, information guaranteed authentic. Subscription price... fifty taels per month."

Fifty taels.

not cheap.

But for these merchants who often deal in transactions worth thousands of taels—

value.

Because the booklet not only contains information on market price fluctuations, supply trends, and interpretations of new government policies, but also includes a "risk warning" section:

"Warning: Shu brocade production may be reduced after March due to flooding; it is recommended to stock up in advance."

Opportunity: The East China Sea Thousand Islands Alliance has launched a new pearl trade, and the first batch of merchant ships will arrive in Hangzhou in March.

A message.

It might be worth a fortune.

"I've subscribed!" the salt merchant slammed his fist on the table. "Not only the monthly report, but I've also added that 'Inner Court Gossip'!"

Secrets of the Imperial Court

Another, thinner, and more expensive booklet.

It is only available through specific channels.

Subscription price: 200 taels per month.

The content contains only one item: political developments in the capital.

"During the court assembly in the first month, three of Liu Xiang's protégés were impeached by the censor, but His Majesty kept quiet and did not issue a ruling."

"Zhou Qiming, the military supervisor of the northern border, secretly reported that the Prince of Zhenbei was 'using his military power to his advantage,' but His Majesty rebuked him."

"Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo, visited the palace three times last month to pay his respects and was bestowed with newly made imperial tea."

Every word and phrase.

It directly targets the core of power.

The secret chamber of Qihuang Garden.

A huge map was spread out on the long table.

Mo Shisan held a vermilion brush and made twelve red dots on it.

"Young lady, all twelve branch headquarters are in position."

His voice carried a suppressed excitement.

"Six places in Jiangnan: Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangning, Wuhu, and Ningbo."

"Three locations in the Central Plains: Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Jinan."

"Three locations in the southwest: Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming."

Each red dot is labeled with a number.

"There are currently 307 intelligence agents. Among them, there are 49 core secret agents and 258 informants."

Ye Huang looked at the map.

His gaze swept from the south of the Yangtze River all the way to the southwest.

"Transmission efficiency?"

"Within the Jiangnan region, news can reach in one day. In the Central Plains, it takes three days, and in the Southwest, it takes five days." Mo Shisan paused, "If we use the 'Bird Division' carrier pigeons trained by Bao'er... it can be 20% faster."

Ye Huang nodded.

"Is it safe?"

"Each branch operates independently with single-line communication. The spies do not know each other, so even if one is breached, it will not implicate the others."

This is the structure of a modern intelligence organization.

Ye Huang brought it to this era.

"Very good." She looked up. "How's the contact with Prince Jing going?"

Mo Shisan's expression turned solemn.

"Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo... is very cautious."

He took out a secret report.

"Our people approached us posing as 'booksellers' and presented us with a sample of 'Secret Affairs of the Imperial Court.' Prince Jing read it and only asked one question."

"What did you say?"

"What does the master of Tingfeng Tower desire?"

Ye Huang smiled.

"How will you reply?"

"As the young lady instructed, the master of the tower said that whatever His Highness Prince Jing desires, Tingfeng Tower can provide it."

"Where is he?"

"He was silent for a long time," Mo Shisan said in a low voice, "and finally said, 'Then... let's book for six months first.'"

Half a year.

One thousand two hundred taels.

It's nothing to the prince.

But this means—

Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo.

This was a leisurely prince who always kept a low profile in the court and only loved calligraphy, painting, and tea ceremony.

We've officially entered.

---

Wanghu Tower.

Liu Chengming looked at the "Business Monthly" and "Court Secrets" that had just been delivered to him.

His face was ashen.

"Tingfeng Tower... Yehuang's intelligence network has expanded to this extent?"

The confidant bowed his head: "Yes. According to our intelligence, there are twelve branch headquarters and three hundred secret agents. There's no news in Jiangnan that she doesn't know."

Liu Chengming crushed the booklet.

Paper scraps flew everywhere.

"What about our news?!" he growled. "How's it going at Xiling?!"

"We've made contact with the witch doctor. But..." The confidant's voice trembled, "She's demanding an extremely high price, and she wants... ten young boys and girls as 'inducements'."

Ten children.

Liu Chengming's eyelids twitched.

"Give it to her."

"Young master, what if this is discovered..."

"Then don't get caught!" Liu Chengming said sternly, "Buy it in remote, impoverished areas! Get it from human traffickers! I don't care what you do, I want to see the Gu worms within a month!"

His trusted aide, drenched in cold sweat, stammered, "Yes...yes!"

"And one more thing," Liu Chengming called after him, "find the locations of Tingfenglou's branches. Take them down one by one."

"Young master, those branch headquarters are very well hidden..."

"Then let's throw money at it!" Liu Chengming sneered. "There are always people in the martial world who would rather die than give up money. Spread the word: a thousand taels of silver for providing the location of a Tingfenglou branch. Five hundred taels of silver for killing a spy."

"Yes……"

After the trusted confidant withdrew.

Liu Chengming stood alone by the window.

Looking towards the direction of Qihuang Garden.

A madness flashed in his eyes.

"Night Phoenix..."

"You have an intelligence network."

"I have money, power, and connections."

"Let's see who... can outmaneuver whom."

The Hall of Mental Cultivation.

There were two items in front of Nangong Ye.

On the left is a booklet of evidence against Liu Chengming, sent by the Censorate.

On the right is a thin book titled "Secret Affairs of the Imperial Court".

Xuan Ying knelt below.

"Your Majesty, this book, 'Secrets of the Imperial Court,' was 'accidentally' left in the Imperial Study by His Highness Prince Jing."

Unintentionally?

Nangong Ye smiled.

His third brother has been "unintentionally" doing things since he was a child.

His talent was revealed unintentionally.

He received praise from the late emperor unintentionally.

Unintentionally... during the most intense period of the struggle for the throne, he took the initiative to request to be granted the title of a leisurely prince, and lived in seclusion in the prince's mansion, only indulging in calligraphy and painting.

"Listening Wind Pavilion..." Nangong Ye flipped through the booklet, "Have you found out anything?"

"I've investigated." Xuan Ying lowered his head. "The owner of the building uses the alias 'Night Phoenix,' and on the surface is the owner of the Jiangnan Jinxiufang. But his true identity..."

He paused.

"Suspected to be... Shen's elegant poem."

The hall fell silent.

Nangong Ye's hand stopped on the booklet.

for a long time.

"The scout said... his eyebrows and eyes resemble His Majesty's."

"Bang!"

Nangong Ye slammed his fist on the dragon table!

The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were shaken to the ground!

"Great...very good!"

He was breathing heavily, his eyes bloodshot.

"Shen Qingci...you lied to me...you did a good job lying!"

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Xuan Ying prostrated himself on the ground.

Nangong Ye stood up.

They walked outside the hall.

The wind was biting cold.

The wind made his dragon robe flutter loudly.

Nangong Ye stood alone in the cold wind.

Looking south.

"Qingci..."

"If you are really alive..."

"This time, I will not let you escape."

On the same day.

Qihuang Garden.

Night Phoenix is ​​reviewing the latest intelligence summary.

Mo Shisan rushed in.

"Girl, two things."

"explain."

"First, Liu Chengming is offering a reward of a thousand taels of silver for the location of our branch headquarters. Two of our informants have already been bribed."

Ye Huang raised her eyes: "Has it been dealt with?"

"It's been dealt with." Mo Shisan's voice was cold and hard. "According to the rules, traitors are executed. The body... has been returned to Liu Chengming."

"And the second one?"

"Prince Jing, Nangong Shuo, has sent a message through a secret channel." Mo Shisan handed over a slip of paper.

There is only one line of text above:

"The Liu family intends to harm the prince; be careful."

The prince.

Bao'er.

Ye Huang's eyes turned cold.

"Source of the information?"

"The Prince Jing's informant in the Liu family should be reliable."

Ye Huang remained silent.

for a long time.

She put the note away.

"Tell Prince Jing that I have remembered this favor."

"Yes."

After Mo Shisan stepped down...

Ye Huang walked to the window.

Bao'er is playing with the cat in the yard.

The laughter was crisp and clear.

"Bao'er," she called softly.

"Mother!" Bao'er ran over.

Ye Huang knelt down and hugged her son.

They were holding each other very tightly.

"Mother?" Bao'er sensed something was wrong.

"It's alright." Ye Huang released her hand and smiled. "Mother is just... a little cold."

Bao'er reached out her little hands and hugged her neck.

"Baby, warm your mother's heart."

A sense of warmth spread.

Ye Huang closed her eyes.

When I opened my eyes again.

His eyes held only coldness and resolve.

"Liu Chengming..."

"You dare touch my son."

"I'll let the Liu family..."

"The entire family was buried with them."

outside the window.

Overcast.

It's going to snow again.