Years turn into wind

The next day, Ling Xiaotian gathered his men and conspired all night, finally agreeing on a plan. They decided to use false intelligence as bait to lure the bribed official and Lu Zhirou into a trap.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Ling Xiaotian arranged for Cheng Yuwei to serve as the "bait" for the plan, pretending to contact officials and leading them to expose the network behind them. Although he had great confidence in Cheng Yuwei's ability, he could not hide his worries.

Cheng Yuwei patted his hand gently and comforted him, "Don't worry, this plan is meticulous, and I will be careful and won't take risks easily."

Ling Xiaotian sighed helplessly: "Although this is a trick, it is always better to be cautious. If anything happens, notify me immediately."

Cheng Yuwei nodded, said goodbye to him with a smile, and turned to walk out of the study. But the moment she turned around, Ling Xiaotian's eyes became more uneasy and he clenched his fists.

The next day, Cheng Yuwei met the official at a small teahouse on the outskirts of the city. The teahouse was quiet and sparsely populated, making it a good place for conversation.

"Master Zhang," Cheng Yuwei said, holding up her teacup and smiling faintly, "I've heard there's been some unrest in the palace lately. Do you have any advice?"

The official's name was Zhang Boyang, he was over fifty years old, with a steady appearance and a sincere face. After hearing Cheng Yuwei's words, he pretended to sigh: "Madam, you don't know, the greater the Marshal's power, the more enemies he will naturally have."

Cheng Yuwei smiled slightly and said, "The Marshal's Mansion is not peaceful either inside or outside, but it would be a good thing if we could find a reliable ally. What do you think, Master Zhang?"

Zhang Boyang's eyes flashed with excitement upon hearing this, as if he saw an opportunity. He lowered his voice, "Madam, you are indeed perceptive. To be honest, I do have an old acquaintance who holds a high position and has some secret interests. If there is an opportunity, I might be able to introduce you."

Cheng Yuwei sneered inwardly, knowing that Zhang Boyang had taken the bait. She pretended to hesitate: "This matter is very serious. I need to think about it."

The two talked for a while, and Cheng Yuwei quickly found an excuse to leave. However, as she left, she noticed a pair of eyes hidden in the shadows not far away - it was the spy arranged by Lu Zhirou!

She felt a chill in her heart, knowing that the situation had become increasingly dangerous. After returning to the mansion, she immediately informed Ling Xiaotian of the situation.

That night, Ling Xiaotian and Cheng Yuwei had a secret conversation in the study. They had already confirmed that Zhang Boyang was in Lu Zhirou's hands and was secretly monitoring him. Ling Xiaotian said coldly, "Since she wants to find evidence, why not give her a 'chance'?"

Cheng Yuwei said with determination: "We can pass on false information to Zhang Boyang and completely expose Lu Zhirou's intelligence network."

After discussing, they decided to make the "intelligence" a fictitious arms mobilization document to trick Zhang Boyang into handing it over to Lu Zhirou. At the same time, they arranged for their confidants to secretly monitor and ensure that all clues led to Lu Zhirou's forces.

A few days later, Cheng Yuwei deliberately and "accidentally" leaked information inside the Grand Marshal's Mansion, and Zhang Boyang took the bait. He passed the information on, and soon after, Lu Zhirou sent someone to investigate. That day, Ling Xiaotian personally arranged an ambush on the street outside the Grand Marshal's Mansion, ready to capture the spy at any time.

As night fell, the spy cautiously moved through the dark alley, unaware that he had already stepped into a trap. As he handed the documents to Lu Zhirou, Ling Xiaotian and his men suddenly appeared, intercepting both the spy and Lu Zhirou.

Faced with the sudden change, Lu Zhirou was stunned in place, but she quickly calmed down and said with a forced smile: "Brother Xiaotian, what are you doing? I just came to see you, but unexpectedly I was detained."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her coldly, without a trace of pity in his eyes. "You colluded with Lu Sheng and plotted something bad. The evidence is all here. What else do you have to say?"

Lu Zhirou's face suddenly turned pale, but she still gritted her teeth and insisted: "I did all this for you! Brother Xiaotian, do you know my feelings?"

Cheng Yuwei stood aside, looking at the complicated expression on Lu Zhirou's face, and sneered, "If you really care about Xiaotian, you won't do anything to gain power. Your so-called 'affection' is nothing but exploitation."

Ling Xiaotian waved his hand and ordered his men to take Lu Zhirou away, completely severing her influence in the Marshal's Mansion. Cheng Yuwei looked at Ling Xiaotian's stern face and couldn't help but whisper, "Are you... okay with treating her like this?"

Ling Xiaotian lowered his eyes and whispered, "She was once an old acquaintance of mine, and I considered giving her a chance to live. However, she repeatedly violated my trust, and ultimately this is the only outcome."

He sighed deeply, gently embraced Cheng Yuwei in his arms, and whispered: "Yuwei, fortunately you are by my side."

Cheng Yuwei leaned in his arms and comforted him softly: "Xiaotian, no matter what happens, I will be with you. We have been through so much, and we will not be separated by anyone."

Ling Xiaotian looked down at her, his eyes full of affection. He gently lifted her chin and slowly kissed her lips. This time the kiss was no longer restrained, but passionate and affectionate. Cheng Yuwei responded to his embrace, as if giving her all to him.

The two of them hugged each other like this, as if they were the only ones left in the world.

After this cleanup operation, the atmosphere in the Marshal's Mansion finally calmed down a bit. However, in another secret mansion, Lu Sheng received a letter from Lu Zhirou asking for help.

"Ling Xiaotian, you are truly heartless!" Lu Sheng sneered, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Since you are so unkind, don't blame me for being unrighteous."

He slowly closed the letter, his eyes filled with conspiracy again. This war seemed to have just begun.