Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

He analyzed the internal relationships of the Censorate with remarkable detail, his profound understanding of the situation secretly alarming Fan Xian. His fellow townsman had done far more research in secret than Fan Xian had imagined.

“But all of this takes time,” Fan Xian pointed out, “and neither Emperor Qing nor Chen Pingping will give me that time.”

Gao Yao's smile turned mysterious: "Time can be created. The Northern Qi delegation is about to visit, border frictions are ongoing, and the trade dispute between Qing and Dongyi City also needs to be addressed... In the court, there are plenty of ways to divert attention. Besides—"

He paused, lowering his voice even further: "Chen Pingping's health is not as good as it appears. I learned through special channels that his old injuries have been worsening over the years, especially on rainy days, requiring him to rely on large amounts of pain medication."

Fan Xian's pupils contracted slightly. This was information he himself was unaware of.

"So your plan is..." Fan Xian felt his throat go dry.

“Not assassination, that would be too obvious and would attract Emperor Qing’s full investigation,” Gao Yao said calmly. “It’s about speeding things up. Since he doesn’t have much time left anyway, we just need to make the process faster and more natural. A sudden illness, an unexpected aggravation of an old injury… there are many ways to take the life of someone whose body is already fragile.”

The candlelight crackled and popped, creating a small spark. A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the soft breathing of the two people.

Fan Xian was torn by an internal struggle. On one hand, reason told him that Gao Yao's analysis was correct, and this was the fastest way he could currently see to accumulate strength; on the other hand, he found it difficult to accept treating someone who had once helped him so coldly, even if that help might have had ulterior motives.

"I need time to think about it," Fan Xian finally said.

Gao Yao seemed to have anticipated this answer and showed no disappointment: "Of course. This is no small matter; you really need to think about it carefully. But remember, Fan Xian—"

His gaze sharpened: "In this world, hesitation is often the greatest enemy. Emperor Qing won't wait for you to be ready, nor will Chen Pingping, and certainly not your enemies. If you truly want to avenge Ye Qingmei, you must make a choice."

Fan Xian stood up, preparing to leave. He stopped at the door, not turning back: "Gao Yao, why did you help me? Just because we're from the same hometown?"

A soft sigh came from behind: "Because I can't stand the rules of this world, because I think Ye Qingmei's ideals are worth realizing, and also because—"

A rare emotional fluctuation suddenly appeared in his voice: "The road here isn't long enough. I hope to travel further."

Fan Xian did not respond, and pushed open the door to leave. The night was as dark as ink, and the lanterns under the eaves swayed in the wind, casting long shadows.

Walking back to his residence, Fan Xian's thoughts were as deep as the night. Gao Yao's words echoed repeatedly in his mind, each word heavy with weight. The Censorate, Chen Pingping, the Eighth Bureau, the Black Riders... these words intertwined, forming a complex and dangerous web of power.

He knew he was standing at a crossroads. One path was to proceed step by step, gradually gaining power in the Imperial Treasury through his marriage to Lin Wan'er, becoming a relatively safe pawn in the game between Emperor Qing and Chen Pingping; the other path was the perilous one pointed out by Gao Yao—to take the initiative, seize control of the Censorate, and accumulate enough power to rival the imperial authority.

The former is safe but slow, and he may never be strong enough; the latter is dangerous but efficient, and once successful, he will truly have the means to avenge his mother.

For Gao Yao, Fan Xian, this special individual, has always been a pawn that requires careful consideration.

"It can be used, but it can also be not." Gao Yao had repeatedly weighed this proposition in his secret room. He already had enough chips and a plan in hand, and Fan Xian was not an indispensable link.

This is why Gao Yao's interactions with Fan Xian are far more profound than his interactions with anyone else. Their conversations are often laced with subtle wit; on the surface, they discuss business and politics, but in reality, they are testing the boundaries of each other's understanding of the world.

Fan Xian can often quickly understand and respond to certain modern concepts that Gao Yao intentionally or unintentionally reveals; and only Gao Yao can fully comprehend the way of thinking of that world that Fan Xian occasionally mentions.

This tacit understanding gave Gao Yao a dangerous thought: what if Fan Xian was willing to stand on his side? An ally with modern thinking, familiar with the political situation of the Qing Kingdom, and deeply trusted by all parties, was far more valuable than an ordinary strategist.

Gao Yao even began to envision such a scene in his mind—Fan Xian taking charge of the Supervisory Council, while he himself controlled the economic lifeline, the two of them, one in the open and one in the shadows, were enough to reshape the power structure of the entire Qing Kingdom without making a sound.

But Gao Yao was equally keenly aware of Fan Xian's danger. This young man was too intelligent, too principled, and too bound by his own bottom line. Unlike Emperor Qing's ministers, he wasn't easily bought off, nor did he crave power like the princes. Fan Xian had his own internal scales, making his actions often unpredictable. Gao Yao understood that such a person, if an ally, would be the strongest pillar; if an enemy, the most formidable opponent.

Therefore, Gao Yao's attention to Fan Xian was almost second only to his surveillance of Emperor Qing. Every day, someone would secretly report Fan Xian's every move: who he met, what he said, where he went, even the slightest changes in his expression were recorded. This intelligence was compiled into a book and placed in the most prominent position on Gao Yao's desk. Sometimes, when alone late at night, Gao Yao would peruse these records, trying to decipher Fan Xian's true thoughts between the lines.

"My soul is a modern soul, and that will never change," Gao Yao often reminded himself. This was the most fundamental connection between him and Fan Xian, and also the greatest variable. A soul with modern egalitarian values ​​and a respect for the value of individual life was destined to create extraordinary waves in this feudal dynasty that treated human life as worthless. Gao Yao both hoped that these waves could be used to his advantage and worried that they would ultimately disrupt his plans.

When Gao Yao, through Wang Wenyuan, proposed the exclusive right to manage grain supplies to Emperor Qing, he was already 90% certain of the outcome. This wasn't blind confidence, but rather a profound understanding of imperial psychology—Gao Yao himself had been the ruler of a nation, ruling over a territory several times larger than Qing, and reigning for centuries. He knew all too well how someone in that position would think.

Emperor Qing's consent arrived as expected, and the imperial edict would be issued soon. When the news reached him, Gao Yao was in a secret chamber of the Chamber of Commerce, examining maps of granaries across the land. He didn't even look up, merely nodding slightly, as if he had heard nothing of importance. This composure stemmed from his precise understanding of Emperor Qing's psychology: at this moment, Emperor Qing was besieged by crises on three sides.