After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 825 - 815: Spy

It’s not easy to rebel in the Imperial Palace. Now, the Pingyang Palace is filled with Zhao Hanzhang’s people, even the eunuchs and palace maids are carefully selected. She prefers quality over quantity, opting for personal guards to follow orders rather than using palace maids who cannot ensure safety.

Fu Tinghan is even more so, those who are not their people can’t even see him; even walking in the palace, neither eunuchs nor palace maids come into contact with his men. The security level is beyond that of Zhao Hanzhang.

Ming Yu was ultimately persuaded by Zhao Hanzhang and Ji Yuan. They hit both ends; he’s watching Liu Yi to prevent harm, while Ji Yuan sends spies to contact Liu Yi to gather intelligence on the Xiongnu secrets.

Not to mention, Ji Yuan really managed to plant someone inside.

He holds a vast intelligence network and directly activated the spies originally stationed in Pingyang City. Although there are not many people, they can serve as seeds, bringing more personnel inside.

Near dusk, Zhong Yao, who received orders, pulled in his neighbor Huyan Ping, dragging him along to the palace to pay condolences.

Huyan Ping immediately walked upon being called, also bringing along his two sons.

He marched towards the palace with great vigor, noticing that shops on the street had already opened for business. He immediately grew indignant, "Your Majesty was harmed by the Zhao scoundrel, and these people are not thinking of revenge. They have the nerve to do business during Your Majesty’s mourning period, it’s truly worse than beasts."

His eldest son walked beside him, unable to resist saying, "Father, everyone outside says that His Majesty died of illness. Zhao Hanzhang not only didn’t harm His Majesty but also summoned the Imperial Physician to try to save His Majesty."

"Nonsense, if she hadn’t attacked Pingyang City, would His Majesty have had no mind to recover? His Majesty was indeed killed by the Zhao scoundrel, maybe even angered to death."

Thinking of this, Huyan Ping couldn’t help but feel heartache.

However, Huyan Wen and Huyan Wu have been running around outside for the past two days, reading public notices sheet after sheet. Even though there are elements of Zhao Family Army deceiving people’s hearts, there are still some truths.

Moreover, the two sons are both over fourteen, right at the age for planning affairs. They know a few soldiers, though they don’t know higher-level secrets, they have heard some insider information in the army.

The two of them are at the age of utmost righteousness and vibrant thoughts; they already have their own cognition and start to think for themselves. "I think His Majesty shouldn’t have sent troops to attack Jin State at this time. If he was ill, he should have recuperated, especially when our Pingyang City suffers from severe drought, with Bingzhou and Jizhou further affected by locust plagues. Our days are already difficult; sending troops now makes it even harder."

He added, "His Majesty’s action is clearly seeking glory. Since he attacked Jin State, he must know that Jin State would counterattack, maybe even break through Pingyang City?"

"Rascal, what do you think His Majesty attacked Jin State for?" Huyan Ping said angrily, "Isn’t it for us? Bingzhou and Pingyang are stricken by disasters; everyone needs to survive, only then can we attack Jin State!"

"His Majesty died for us, yet you don’t express gratitude and repay with your life, but instead criticize His Majesty here!" Huyan Ping wanted to raise his hand to hit them, but Zhong Yao quickly stopped him, "We’re in the street; causing a scene doesn’t look good."

He glanced around and said, "The Zhao Family Army is very alert, even if you have opinions, keep them low-key. It’s not good if you get taken away."

Only then did Huyan Ping restrain himself. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Zhong Yao said to Huyan Wen, "Regardless of whether His Majesty’s action was correct or not, he indeed did it for our good. If we could conquer Jin State, we could enjoy plenty and be free from drought and locust plagues."

Huyan Ping immediately nodded, "That’s right!"

"Therefore, we can’t sit by while the Prince is in trouble; we must repay His Majesty to some extent," Zhong Yao said, "King of Beihai is captured. To conduct the funeral for His Majesty, the Zhao scoundrel hasn’t executed the Great King yet, but after the funeral, who knows what kind of grievances the Great King will suffer."

Hearing this, Huyan Ping’s eyes filled with tears again, "Brother Zhong, you’re clever, tell me what should we do?"

Zhong Yao whispered, "This time when we enter the palace to pay respects, we should find a way to talk to King of Beihai. Once the funeral ends, we’ll sneak King of Beihai out and send him away. Even if we go to meet His Majesty right now, we won’t regret."

Huyan Ping thought it made sense and agreed immediately.

Beside him, Huyan Wen felt a chill down his spine, quickly dissuading, "Father, you can’t!"

Annoyed, he glared at Zhong Yao and said, "Uncle Zhong, if Zhao Hanzhang can bury His Majesty with royal honors and not a single surrendered official has died, the Zhao Family Army did no harm upon entering Pingyang City. This shows she is a benevolent person; how could such a person harm King of Beihai?"

"Moreover, I heard that King of Beihai has a good relationship with her, even as friends. This makes it less likely for Zhao Hanzhang to harm him."

"What friendship, it’s all fake," Zhong Yao said. "Would you invade a friend’s house, kill their father, and occupy their home and assets?"

Of course not, but...

Huyan Wen opened his mouth, feeling that this analogy was incorrect, as Zhao Hanzhang and King of Beihai were not merely friends; they each represented their own country.

But he hadn’t thought it through and didn’t know how to turn his thoughts into reasoning.

Beside him, Huyan Ping glared fiercely at him, "Dalong, are you Xiongnu or Han people, Han Kingdom or Jin State? Why do you keep speaking for Zhao Hanzhang?"

Huyan Wu, who had been silent, tugged on his brother’s sleeve, advising him, "Brother, stop talking. Father can’t argue with you, but he can hit you."

Huyan Wen then kept quiet.

Only then did Huyan Ping, satisfied, lead them towards the imperial palace gates.

Entering the Imperial City, the roads became wider, and there were even more people. However, there wasn’t the noise from outside; everyone was very quiet, hastily heading out of the Imperial City or towards the palace gates.

On either side of the road stood guards in strict formation, five steps apart, sharply scanning everyone present.

Even the defiant Huyan Ping under their scrutiny couldn’t help but lower his head slightly, avoiding their gaze.

Huyan Wen noticed this, sneering in his heart. He thought, yes, father isn’t as justified. It’s just that for them, he is a father, so he can be forceful, overruling them, and thus he doesn’t need to reason.

With suppressed frustration in his heart, Huyan Wen walked swiftly to the palace gate.

Before and after the gate were divided into two rows; the left side was for exit from inside, and the right was for entry from outside. Everyone had to undergo inspection whether entering or leaving.

Men were inspected by guards and eunuchs, while women were checked by palace maids and female officials.

No weapons were permitted inside, nor could anything be taken out from the palace.

After inspection, they didn’t even ask for names or households, simply waved them through, as if entering wasn’t into the palace, but merely a city.

Truthfully, Huyan Wen had never entered the palace and never thought he would enter like this, merely by saying they were there to pay respects to His Majesty, they were allowed in.