He changed Tiwat

Ye Lan initially said that investigating Han Fulai was Ning Guang's idea, so who gave Han Fulai the task of investigating Ye Lan? Gan Yu? Or Ke Qing?

But Han Fulai's next words surprised Yan Fei even more.

"...I know that Ye Lan is Ning Guang's direct intelligence officer, and she is skilled in disguise and identity change, practically a 'thousand faces in one person.' Investigating her will probably be very difficult..."

"You already know, why do you still want me to investigate?" Yan Fei's face was full of question marks.

"It's precisely because I know all this that I need to investigate her." Han Fulai's voice was unusually hesitant. "Anyway, I'm entrusting this to you, Yanfei. Yelan's actions during this period are very important to me."

...You two look so alike! Even your vague, evasive manner is exactly the same... How annoying!

Yan Fei puffed out her cheeks: "Okay, the investigation is no problem, but... I'll charge a commission, and it won't be cheap even if you're a VIP client!"

"Then... if I don't have enough money, can I write an IOU?" Han Fulai thought that he only had a little over a million Mora in his savings, while Yan Fei, the number one legal consultant in Liyue Harbor, usually earned commissions starting at a million Mora.

When he rented a room at Yan Fei's house, he saw Yan Fei quote prices to her clients: 6,000 Mora for interpreting the law, 180,000 Mora for accompanying consultations per hour, and 710,000 Mora for a single commercial case. The specific price and commission would depend on the situation.

Although it's unclear how much of a discount Yanfei gets as a VIP client, the difficulty of investigating Ningguang's direct intelligence officer, Yelan, suggests the fee won't be cheap.

"..."

Yan Fei stared at Han Fulai's face. Han Fulai looked sincere and seemed genuinely interested in giving her the money.

Could it be that this guy is actually quite stupid?

I'm willing to help with this kind of favor, and this guy is actually thinking of charging me money?

How can someone like that have a girlfriend? I'll have to ask Shen He what he sees in this guy later!

As Yan Fei pondered, she suddenly felt a little wronged.

She shook her head, and her two antlers swayed gently along with her full head of pink hair.

Does this mean they've rejected my request...? Han Fulai felt a little uneasy.

Suddenly, Yan Fei called out to Shen He, who was standing to the side keeping watch.

"Shen He, your brother Han said he's changed his mind. Tonight, we're not having fish head tofu soup. Instead, we're having 'boiled black-backed bass'! And without the Yunnan chili peppers!"

"Huh? Really?" Shen He's eyes sparkled; she had complete faith in Han Fulai's cooking skills.

"Really, really. Don't you think so?" Yan Fei glanced at Han Fulai mischievously.

"Uh...of course it's true! Ah He, look forward to my skills!" Han Fulai said, rolling up his sleeves, looking ready to show off his skills.

"Okay." Shen He smiled faintly.

"If it tastes good, I'll allow you to write an IOU."

Yan Fei whispered a sentence and pulled Shen He away.

If you don't add Jueyun Jiaojiao's "boiled black-backed bass"... then how do you make it? Han Fulai smiled wryly, it seems he'll have to go to Wanmintang to ask Xiangling for advice later.

Now, he should go to the Jade Pavilion to meet Ningguang.

Once upon a time, he was a newbie who was led into the political arena of Liyue by Ningguang, but now, he is secretly planning to turn against his "mentor".

Yes, he asked Yan Fei to investigate Ye Lan, but his real intention was not Ye Lan herself, but Ning Guang behind Ye Lan!

At least two of the rumors surrounding the fabricated Mora incident are related to Ningguang.

First, there were rumors spread by sailors under the guise of Beidou; second, there were rumors that Ningguang himself had fabricated Mora... He didn't believe Ningguang would be completely unaware of these things!

As Ningguang's direct intelligence officer, Yelan's abilities are evident to all; the best example is Zhiyi.

Zhiyi's plan was already quite meticulous, and his counter-surveillance skills were personally passed down from Uncle Tian. His connection with the Fools was only a tiny flaw in the plan.

Without Gan Yu's help, even if Han Fulai himself had doubts about Zhiyi, it would have been difficult to find loopholes in Zhiyi's plans. But Ye Lan did it with ease. Not only that, she was one step ahead in every aspect, taking control of Zhiyi in advance and laying the groundwork for the entire Qingxupu plan.

If Uncle Tian hadn't asked Gan Yu for help for his beloved disciple, thus prompting Han Fulai to intervene midway, Ningguang and Yelan's plan would likely have succeeded perfectly. Qingxupu would now be a post-explosion ruin, with all the secrets buried within.

Such intelligence control and strategic maneuvering are nothing more than routine operations for Ningguang, the Tianquan Star who controls the Liyue intelligence system.

So what exactly does this luminescence do in the process of counterfeit currency circulation and the spread of rumors?

Based on the information obtained at the dock today, Ningguang seems to have done nothing, simply letting the counterfeit money circulate and the rumors spread... as if she had truly been easily deceived by Pantalone's methods...

But Han Fulai didn't believe it.

He was certain that Ningguang had another plan, but she was keeping it from him and most of the people in Liyue.

Ningguang must have done something in this counterfeit Liyue coin incident, she just doesn't know it yet.

But Han Fulai was unwilling to accept that. He refused to be a pawn again, kept in the dark and manipulated at will. Even if that player was Ningguang, it wouldn't do!

He is no longer the same person he once was. He is no longer the naive and clueless young healer who has just transmigrated to Liyue.

Now, he is a man who has changed Yuehaiting and Qianyan Army.

Now, he is a man who has defeated Oser and Bazhe.

He is now a man worthy of his position as the Executive Vice President of Yuehaiting and the title of successor of the Rock King Emperor.

Just like he told Ye Lan in the Qingxupu Ruins, one chopstick, two bowls, and three small balls. Wherever the chopstick points, the small balls follow.

He was the one running this "Three Immortals' Magic Show." He decided to hold the chopsticks himself.

So he asked Yan Fei to help investigate Ye Lan.

How Yan Fei investigates and what results she finds are not actually that important. Although Yan Fei has extensive connections and considerable information gathering abilities, Ye Lan is a far more skilled professional in both investigation and counter-investigation than Yan Fei. He didn't have high expectations for Yan Fei's investigation results.

What Han Fulai really wanted to see was how Ye Lan would react after discovering Yan Fei's investigation, and how Ning Guang would react.

This is what is known as "testing the waters".

Chapter 50 Han Fulai is my man

Upon arriving at Qunyu Pavilion, Han Fulai first met Bai Wen, who was responsible for guiding him.

However, Baiwen's behavior was rather strange. As he led the way to Ningguang's study, Baiwen would occasionally raise his hand to gently brush the stray hairs behind her ear, using this action as a cover to steal a glance at Han Fulai.

Han Fulai had naturally noticed Bai Wen's actions and felt slightly puzzled. Logically speaking, he was quite familiar with Ningguang's three private secretaries, often running into them whether visiting Ningguang at Qunyu Pavilion or working at Yuehai Pavilion. There was no need for them to be staring at him like this, was there?

Did Ningguang say something to them before?

For example, did they complain about me ruining the Qingxupu Ruins project? Or did they say something about other things, like the Qianyan Army's military strengthening plan? Or did Baiwen and the others hear some gossip about me?

...It couldn't be that I looked particularly handsome today and she couldn't help but glance at me a few more times, could it?

Just as Han Fulai was lost in thought, Ningguang arrived at his study.

Bai Wen stepped back and gestured for him to proceed.

Just as Han Fulai was about to knock on the door, he heard a fierce argument coming from inside—he finally understood why Baiwen had been behaving so strangely earlier.

Ningguang and Keqing's voices came from the study. The two were arguing about something, and the focus of their argument was Han Fulai.

"...I've already said it, everything that happened at the Qingxupu Ruins was under my control, the control of Yuheng Star!" Ke Qing's voice was quite loud, and you could hear the anger in her voice even through the door.

"Oh? I heard people say that it was all Xiao Han's own idea?" Ningguang's voice was calm, but it was not quiet.

"Mr. Han is my personal secretary. Everything he does represents my will. Is there a problem?"

"That Yelan is also my direct intelligence officer, and what she does represents my will. What instructions does Yuhengxing have?"

Don't argue over me! You're all my wings, no... my bosses! Han Fulai stood outside the door, his face full of black lines.

In Baiwen's mind, Han Fulai, the deputy head of Yuehaiting, had been upgraded to "the man who made Lady Ningguang and Lady Keqing quarrel over him."

"You're using the heir of Tian Shu Star as bait, and you're even planning to sacrifice him. Have you asked Uncle Tian's opinion?"

"...He will understand for Liyue's sake."

"Then how do you explain your poisoning of Ambassador Winterspring? If it weren't for Mr. Han's undercover plan, do you think the Winterspring wouldn't have been able to find out the cause of Yusupov's death? Aren't you afraid that this will plunge Liyue into war?"

"I have my own plans."

"You're always like this, sneaking around doing everything. Who knows what you're thinking!"

With a "smack," it sounded like Ke Qing slamming her hand on the table.

“I’m in charge of intelligence work in Liyue! I don’t think I need Keqing’s approval to know what intelligence I have or what I do,” Ningguang’s voice also contained a hint of anger.

"You...you bastard!" Keqing seemed to be forcibly suppressing certain unladylike words. "I thought you had changed your ways and become an ally I could trust...but whether it's this plan to fight the Fools or the demon god's ruins beneath Qingxupu, you clearly knew about them, yet you didn't tell me a single thing!"

"We're both members of the Liyue Seven Stars, so there's no hierarchy between us—what, are you telling me how to do things?" Ningguang said sarcastically. "But you, are you so eager to take responsibility upon yourself and let him act as he pleases?"

"Hmph! Han Fulai is my man, and I don't need your permission to do what I do. I support everything he does!" Ke Qing refused to back down.

Hearing this, Han Fulai felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Being a corporate slave for so long is tough enough, but coming to Liyue means constantly working overtime, and Keqing is the one who makes him work the most overtime. I thought Keqing still couldn't get rid of her inconsiderate habit towards her subordinates, but I didn't expect her to value me so much, even willing to take the blame for me.

In fact, without Ke Qing's help, Han Fulai's plan to deal with the Qingxupu Ruins would not have been completed so smoothly.

I need to find a chance to properly thank Ke Qing. Han Fulai secretly decided.

However, we can't let them keep arguing right now, or things will get even more complicated.

He interfered with Ningguang's plans, so it's normal for her to be dissatisfied. Han Fulai came here today to apologize to Ningguang. He had Yelan deliver the recording to Ningguang to show his sincerity and indicate that he wasn't intentionally going against her.

Furthermore, he and Ningguang were quite close personally, and he had helped her a lot on several occasions, so Ningguang should be grateful to him. Moreover, he had the support of Yuehaiting and the immortals behind him; in his view, even if Ningguang was dissatisfied, she wouldn't make a scene. His apology gave Ningguang a way out, and she could then let the matter drop.

However, Keqing's personality clashes with Ningguang's; both are quick to judge right and wrong. It's likely that Ningguang invited her over today, and during the wait, a few casual words might lead to a disagreement. Although Ningguang and Keqing are now allies in reforming Liyue, and she intends to befriend Keqing, she ultimately retains her pride as a Tianquan star and cannot back down to Keqing. And so, inevitably, an argument ensues.

Come to think of it, it was my fault for being late. If we hadn't been delayed by the counterfeit money, Keqing and Ningguang wouldn't be bickering like this...

Han Fulai thought for a moment and then knocked on the door.

"Sorry I'm late."

The argument inside the room came to an abrupt halt.

"Little Han is here, please come in." Ningguang's voice returned to its calm state.

Han Fulai walked into the study and saw Ke Qing picking up a teacup and pretending to drink tea to cover up her expression. However, her messy pigtails betrayed the fierce battle that had just taken place in the study.

"Lady Ningguang, Lady Keqing, I'm sorry I'm late, but there's a reason for it."

As Han Fulai spoke, he took out the bag of Mora that Bai Shu had given him from his satchel.

"On my way here, I learned through some channels that there were counterfeit Mora being spread in Liyue Harbor, so I went to investigate first. This bag contains the counterfeit Mora I collected."

"Cough... forgery... cough cough, forgery of Mora?" Keqing was clearly hearing about this for the first time and choked on her tea.

Ningguang, however, had clearly heard about it beforehand, and her face remained expressionless.

Han Fulai gave the two a detailed report on the intelligence they had gathered in Liyue Harbor that day, including their speculation that Pantarone was the mastermind. Of course, he omitted the matter of Bai Shu and the part about asking Yan Fei to investigate Ye Lan.

After listening to the report, Ningguang nodded calmly.

"I only discovered this matter a couple of days ago myself. I invited you two here precisely to discuss it, but Xiao Han spoke first. Do you two have any solutions?"

Chapter 51 Although he is your man, you won't be angry if I borrow him for a day, will you?

How to deal with the counterfeit Mora circulating in Liyue Harbor?

Ningguang's question was indeed an urgent matter, but even with Keqing's intelligence, she couldn't think of a good solution upon hearing it. Moreover, her expertise lay in land development, and she wasn't particularly knowledgeable in finance.

If you were to ask Keqing what she's thinking right now—she's thinking about how to physically solve the root of the problem.

"Pantalone again..."

Ke Qing gritted her teeth, wishing she could stab the 'rich man' in the heart with a sword.

She always remembered the bill for the fireworks display.

Han Fulai calmly shook his head. "No. I'd like to ask Lady Ningguang if there's any way?"

If you were to ask Han Fulai to tell the truth, is there a way out? The answer is yes.

He did not intend to take any action before figuring out Ningguang's plan. Firstly, he wanted to plan carefully before acting. If Ningguang's plan was indeed without problems, he would simply go with the flow. Secondly, he had recently interfered with Ningguang's actions and had fallen out with Yelan. He did not want to cause any more trouble in the short term.

Ningguang sighed softly.

"Things happened so suddenly... I don't have any good solutions for the time being."

Han Fulai naturally didn't believe Ningguang's explanation. The fact that Ningguang had invited Keqing and him here to discuss the counterfeit currency was clearly because they were both participants in the Liyue currency implementation plan.

These matters are directly related to them, and it's impossible for him and Keqing to remain uninvolved. Even if Ningguang has her own ideas, she has to discuss them with them. In other words, Keqing and he definitely have a place in Ningguang's plan.

Moreover, he was quite certain that Ningguang had already taken action. In his eyes, Ningguang's claim of having no choice at this moment was less a cover-up and more a way of stalling for time—she was waiting for the right opportunity, an opportunity to make the deed done and leave no room for change.

But it doesn't matter, because Yanfei's investigation won't yield results in a day, and Han Fulai will also need time to find out Ningguang's plans.

If Ningguang is currently using a "delaying tactic," then Han Fulai happens to need the buffer time provided by this "delaying tactic."

Ningguang and Han Fulai's eyes met. Ningguang remained expressionless, while Han Fulai smiled faintly.