Chapter 625 – Let Go of That Commander, Let Me Handle It (Part 2)
Yang Si was indeed feeling a bit cowardly; he hadn’t anticipated Jiang Pengji’s rapid rise.
In just a year or two, she transformed from an empty county magistrate under the control of the Green Garment Army to a Governor who practically owned an entire region.
For many who had navigated the treacherous waters of court politics, the leap from county magistrate to governor was an arduous journey that could take a lifetime.
The more Yang Si learned about Jiang Pengji, the stronger his sense of urgency became.
Whether you called him cowardly or afraid of death, regardless, it was better than losing his life.
Wei Ci had known Yang Si for many years; smart people communicate easily, and they didn’t need to spell out their thoughts to understand each other.
As viewers in the audience might joke, these two were in sync like they had shared a bed—getting gayer and more powerful by the moment.
“… Speaking of which…” Wei Ci said, hands tucked into his sleeves, a smirk on his face, “Aren’t you going to change how you address our Lord?”
Yang Si’s expression froze, taking on a slightly reddish hue, and after a moment of stuttering, he managed to mumble, “Well, I mean, I’m quite the talent myself… just admitting defeat this easily, where would I put my pride? I can change how I address her, but first, your Lord should give me some acknowledgment…”
Back then, he spoke with such conviction, it reverberated in his ears.
If Yang Si were to relent, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face?
He figured he needed to hold out for a while; if he went over first, what if they didn’t take him seriously?
He wanted Jiang Pengji to recognize his talents and extend the olive branch herself, ensuring a harmonious lord-subject relationship.
Wei Ci chuckled, concealing a smile behind his sleeves. “If you think waiting for the Lord to soften up is a good idea, you’re in for a rough time. Jingrong, you’ve been with her for a while now; when has she ever given in to anyone? Don’t blame me for the reminder, but you still have a debt with Changshou Wang. If he suddenly remembers and decides to go after you for the old scores, oh dear—”
As he spoke, Wei Ci shook his head in disappointment, while Yang Si’s expression contorted like it was cramping.
“Why bring up that particular pot?!”
After Wei Ci’s jibe, Yang Si recalled an utterly regrettable incident.
When he jumped ship from Changshou Wang, he dug a massive pit for him.
If Yang Si hadn’t sabotaged Changshou Wang in the background, leading to setbacks in the frontline battles… Considering the situation at that time, Changshou Wang would have already seized Chenzhou, killed the Emperor, and seated himself on the throne, instead of being stuck in a stalemate for over a year, shifting from a position of advantage to one of disadvantage, facing food shortages and retreating troops.
In fact, if Meng Zhan hadn’t joined the fray as an ally, Changshou Wang would have likely collapsed under the strain and retreated back to his fief long ago.
If anyone were to be hated the most by Changshou Wang right now, Yang Si would definitely be among the top three.
Wei Ci smiled, his handsome face breaking into a radiant smile that gave the impression of a blossoming garden, dazzling enough to make one feel as if they were witnessing the beauty of the world.
“Okay, okay, let’s not bring that up.” Wei Ci walked alongside Yang Si, his words laced with mirth.
After promising to let it go, he turned his tone abruptly.
“However, as someone who has known you for many years, there’s one thing I must remind you of.”
Yang Si frowned, “What is it?”
Wei Ci spoke straightforwardly, “In this vast Dongqing, besides our Lord, who else could possibly protect you? Our Lord is a stubborn mule; the more you push her, the more she digs in her heels. Frankly speaking, she’s just being willful. You’ve always called her ‘County Magistrate Liu’; did you ever see her care? Hoping for her to yield first? Good luck with that. But if you don’t yield, your life might be in jeopardy.”
Yang Si’s face turned as gray as a pot bottom, his hands itching to strangle Wei Ci.
In the past, he thought Wei Ci was clear-headed and upright.
Looking at him now, he felt he might have been blind; this guy was a knife-edged double-crosser, with a heart that was entirely dark under that charming facade.
“Go ahead and gloat. Watch your mouth; you might find yourself in trouble one day.”
Yang Si huffed through his nose, appearing more furious than ever.
The two friends bickered gleefully as they left the administrative hall together.
Xu Ke and the others were busy with work, bidding their farewells as they left. Only Qi Guanrang took his time, dragging his feet, unwilling to leave just yet.
Once everyone else had cleared out, Jiang Pengji finally turned her gaze to Qi Guanrang.
She asked, “Wenzheng, what did you find out about that matter I asked you to look into?”
Qi Guanrang nervously stroked his beard, instinctively feeling that trouble was brewing, but Jiang Pengji’s calm demeanor only heightened his anxiety.
“My Lord…”
Qi Guanrang’s lips quivered; he opened his mouth but could only stammer out two words, entirely lacking his usual fluent confidence.
Jiang Pengji chuckled lightly, simultaneously shutting down the live stream, and said, “Go ahead, no matter the outcome, your Lord can handle it. I asked you to write a letter to Wei Yuan… Considering the time, there should be a reply by now.”
Qi Guanrang hesitated for a moment, deliberating before relaying the content of Wei Yuan’s response.
Jiang Pengji listened with an impassive expression, and the more nonchalant she seemed, the more Qi Guanrang felt a chill run down his spine.
Finally—
“My Lord, I fear this matter might be… a misunderstanding, and I respectfully ask that you…”
Jiang Pengji lowered her gaze with a gentle smile, her expression revealing no hint of distress.
“Wenzheng, you don’t need to try to persuade or comfort me; I’ve long been aware of this matter, just lacked the evidence…” Jiang Pengji pouted, her unconcerned attitude appearing quite natural without a hint of contradiction, “…Moreover, Wenzheng… this situation is far more complicated than you can imagine, possibly involving realms beyond ordinary understanding. However, I am confident I can resolve it; after all, I am the Lord you chose, so you should have a bit of faith. If I can’t handle even this, wouldn’t that betray your leap of faith in me?”
Though Qi Guanrang’s thoughts were treacherous and his scheming ways struck a resemblance to those of Yang Si and Feng Zhen, careful scrutiny revealed distinctions among the three.
Yang Si favored cunning plots but could clearly see the reality of situations, distinguishing heavy from light and expertly adapting to circumstances.
Feng Zhen was fond of lavishness, often devoid of a clear plan, relying solely on whims, with ideas that were convoluted and unpredictable.
As for Qi Guanrang—
He possessed traits reminiscent of both Yang Si and Feng Zhen but was different from either of them.
Feng Zhen loved to show off, yet Qi Guanrang preferred to stay in the shadows; the philosophy of “preserving one’s self” was engraved deeply within him.
Yang Si had an obvious weakness; he would yield if the situation turned against him, while Qi Guanrang was quite stubborn on certain principles.
“Preserving oneself” didn’t mean “shily adapting to the whims of the wind.”
With such a Qi Guanrang, he chose Jiang Pengji, placing his bets on her as if he was putting everything on the line.
Not for any other reason, but even for the sake of the trust and loyalty of the young ladies under his command, Jiang Pengji could not allow herself to lose.
Determined, Jiang Pengji stood firm, and Qi Guanrang could only swallow his words back down.
Since his Lord had already made a decision, he wouldn’t speak any further.
To put it mildly, when Jiang Pengji asked him to investigate, Qi Guanrang was genuinely startled.
