jdhmnovel Chapter 122 Chen Zigui's Infernal Affairs
Chapter 122 Chen Zigui's Infernal Affairs
"As for the candidate..." Chen Zigui dragged out his words, deliberately whetting everyone's appetite, "Dean, I'll go!"
"You?" Sister Cen Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief. She had never imagined that Chen Zigui would actually volunteer to carry out such a dangerous mission.
"Big Brother, are you crazy?!" Xiaozhi exclaimed, grabbing Chen Zigui's arm. "Those people are desperate criminals with lives on their shoulders, and you..."
"Xiaozhi, don't worry, I know what's going on." Chen Zigui patted Xiaozhi's shoulder gently and comforted her softly.
Yu Lan also frowned. Although she believed in Chen Zigui's ability, this mission was of great importance. If she was not careful, she would fall into a trap and lose her life. She was really worried.
"Big Brother, I know you are a skilled martial artist and resourceful, but those assassins are no ordinary people either. We shot and killed one of them, so we have a grudge against them. If you go..."
"Yu Lan, I know what you are worried about. But who else can do this except me? I did not expose myself in the last sudden action. None of them know me, so they don't know whether my relationship with the dean is good or bad. In this way, I can make up excuses and reasons to gain their trust, and my identity is the most suitable. After all, I am the dean of Zhaoyin Academy. They know that I am "at odds" with the dean, so they can relax their vigilance against me." Chen Zigui interrupted Yu Lan and said in a firm tone.
"But..." Yu Lan wanted to say something, but was stopped by Chen Zigui's firm look.
"Okay, it's settled." Chen Zigui made the final decision without any room for doubt.
Then he turned to look at Sister Cen Xiao who had a worried look on her face.
"Dean, don't worry, I will definitely complete the mission and return safely."
Sister Cen Xiao looked at the confident man in front of her with mixed feelings. She knew that Chen Zigui was doing this entirely for her and for the academy. But could she really watch him take such a risk?
"Big Brother..." Sister Cen Xiao opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything.
"Dean, you don't have to say anything. I understand everything. You just need to trust me." Chen Zigui smiled gently and reached out to gently stroke her hair, as if he was comforting a frightened deer.
His hands were warm, his eyes were firm, and his words were gentle. All of this made Sister Cen Xiao feel a little relieved.
"Okay, I believe you." Sister Cen Xiao finally nodded and agreed to his request.
Chen Zigui's lips curled up into a triumphant smile. He leaned over and whispered in Sister Cen Xiao's ear, "Wait for me to come back."
His voice was low, but full of magnetism, and Sister Cen Xiao's heartbeat couldn't help but speed up a little.
After Chen Zigui left, Yu Lan was still worried. She walked over to Sister Cen Xiao and said in a low voice, "Dean, are you really confident in letting Senior Brother go? Those people are not easy to deal with. What if..."
"I know." Sister Cen Xiao interrupted Yu Lan and said firmly, "But I believe in my senior brother. He will definitely return safely. Also, Yu Lan, have Zhao Hu take the people from Qiming's fifth group and a group from the martial arts class to support my senior brother from outside, in case of emergency."
"But……"
"Yu Lan, this is not the time to hesitate. Hesitation will lead to failure. Moreover, if there is any mistake in this East China Sea Sacrifice Ceremony, it will not only affect us, but also the five or six hundred people in the entire Zhaoyin Academy..." Sister Cen Xiao's eyes became sharp, "So, we must seize this opportunity."
Yu Lan looked at Sister Cen Xiao's determined eyes and knew that it would be useless for her to continue talking.
"Well, since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more." Yu Lan said, "But I have one condition."
"What conditions?"
"I want to participate. The people participating in this operation are all my friends and my students. I..." Yu Lan said word by word, "I will never watch you take this risk."
Sister Cen Xiao looked at Yu Lan's determined eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She knew what kind of person Yu Lan was, and the relationship between her and Yu Lan was already one where they could confide in each other and trust each other's lives.
"Okay, Yu Lan, you go too." Sister Cen Xiao agreed to Yu Lan's request.
Looking at Yu Lan's happy face, Sister Cen Xiao felt a warmth in her heart.
At daybreak, members of the Qiming Group had already delivered a secret letter to the Linkang government office. The envelope contained only the simple words "Personally addressed to Lord Han," yet it exuded a solemnity that was impossible to ignore. Han Zhengxian took the letter, dismissed the servants, and went into his study alone.
He opened the envelope, pulled out the letter inside, and read it carefully in the morning light. The letter contained little, but it brought a meaningful smile to Han Zhengxian's already tired face.
"Sister Cen Xiao, Sister Cen Xiao, you really didn't let me down. I didn't expect that after so many years of being in the court, I would become a chess piece on your chessboard." He put down the letter, tapped the table lightly with his fingers, and muttered to himself.
He recalled that Sister Cen had mentioned to him a few days ago that his cooperation might be needed in a desperate situation. Although he was full of doubts at the time, considering that Sister Cen was now on the same side of the emperor as himself, and considering her past friendship with his daughter and her status in the literati, he agreed.
Now it seems that this girl is indeed not simple.
"But it doesn't matter. As long as Sister Cen Xiao stands on the emperor's side, we are comrades-in-arms who will advance and retreat together. But if you..." A sharp look flashed in Han Zhengxian's eyes.
He stood up suddenly, walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the sky which was gradually getting brighter.
"But if you dare to do anything that harms the Emperor and the Great Zhou, I will make you understand what it means to be clever and dig your own grave!"
At the same time, Cen Jiexiao was sitting in the study of the academy, holding a stack of documents ready for approval, with a frown on her face.
"Dean, why don't you take a rest? Are you busy again? I say, can you be nicer to yourself? Your injury hasn't healed completely yet." Yu Lan walked in with a cup of tea and said with a smile.
Cen Jiexiao put down the document in her hand, rubbed her brow, and said helplessly: "I don't want to do it either, but in this situation, if I don't deal with some things quickly, how can I protect myself, protect the academy, protect..."
At this point, she suddenly paused and didn't say anything more. Seeing this, Yu Lan didn't ask any more questions. She just handed her the tea and said softly, "Dean, I know you are worried about Chen Jianyuan, but think about who Chen Jianyuan is. He is a young man with both civil and military talents. He is an inspector entrusted with an important task by the emperor. After completing his mission, he will return safely."
Cen Jiexiao took the teacup, took a sip, and said with a half-smile, "I hope so."
She knew in her heart that this matter was by no means as simple as it appeared. The East China Sea Sacrifice Ceremony was of great importance, and the slightest mistake could cause upheaval in the government and even spark war.
Chen Zigui was undoubtedly in danger, and if he wasn't careful, he would lose his life. But she couldn't stop him, because she knew that everything Chen Zigui did was for her and for the academy.
"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore." Cen Jiexiao put down the teacup, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. "Yu Lan, go and call Xiaozhi for me. I have something to tell her to do."
"Yes, Dean." Yu Lan responded and turned to walk out.
After a while, Xiaozhi hurried over. When he saw Cen Jiexiao, he asked, "Dean, are you looking for me?"