"Did you reveal my information to others?" Xia Fan asked in a solemn voice.
"No, your true identity and the purpose of your visit are secrets of the Privy Council. I am still aware of this." Xin Wu quickly added, "I just mentioned that there is a person who is high on the list and deeply trusted by the core. But no specific information about you was disclosed. If not, they would probably reach an agreement in a short time."
Xia Fan finally understood what he meant.
The main force of the Privy Council Palace was out, and the remaining pillars were all "caught in one sweep" at the Ten Thousand Lantern Banquet. The ones who are still left are all small fish and shrimps, and he, an outsider, has become the one with the highest status. Xin Wu wanted to do something to reverse the disadvantage, but was unable to integrate the overall situation, so he came to him.
"What if I don't agree?"
Ultimately, this is an internal conflict between the Privy Council and the imperial court. If the prince trusts these alchemists, he will definitely release them soon. If he is wary of the Privy Council and wants to take this opportunity to dismantle this special organization that has lasted for nearly a hundred years, then Xia Fan will be happy to hear it.
As far as Jinxia City is concerned, both are the same, with the same degree of decay.
"I'm afraid the matter will have to be resolved until the second prince comes back. But before that..." Xin Wu clenched his fists, "The Privy Council is likely to suffer huge losses. Losing people's hearts is a trivial matter. Once invaded by overseas enemies, The consequences can be said to be unimaginable!”
"Enemies overseas?" Xia Fan frowned, "What do you mean?"
"It's normal that you don't know... This is what His Highness You Ning should have told you. In recent years, there have been many cases of overseas envoys spying on Privy Council intelligence in Gyeonggi, and most of them have gone unsolved. Although I don't understand the behind-the-scenes reasons, but it’s clear they didn’t do it out of kindness or curiosity.”
It seemed like he had heard this somewhere.
Xia Fan thought about it and found that Ning Wanjun had also said the same thing - "The Holy Emperor does not like these outsiders. There are several foreign envoys stationed in Shangyuan City, which has already made people crazy."
"Are you sure there is a hidden secret behind this matter?"
"I can only think so." Xin Wu said bluntly, "Things happened too strangely, and there is no powerful Qi sensor around the prince. If he wants the alchemist to complete the assassination, someone must cooperate with him. And It just so happens that these envoys from overseas are all registered as people who feel Qi!"
"The question is, what can we do if we find out? Didn't you say it yourself, and the past cases basically went unsolved?"
"That's because the other party is an envoy and lives in Honglu Temple. In the absence of conclusive evidence, the Privy Council can't take action at all. This time, the main alchemists went out to fight against the invaders of Gao Kingdom. Everyone knows that the headquarters has almost become an empty shell - If this matter is really caused by them, I am afraid they will let down their guard at this time." Xin Wu bowed his head and said, "Sir, this is not only a crisis for the Privy Council, but it is also an extremely rare opportunity. I hope you will not shirk it!"
These words made Xia Fan look at the envoy a few more times. At least when most of the core members were out of touch, he could still analyze the situation and try to take action to deal with the crisis. This thought can be called decisive and thoughtful. .
However, the above situation is just speculation after all. Assuming that it is true as Xin Wu said, there are overseas envoys behind the matter, but what is the most direct benefit of their doing so? Give the prince a chance to reorganize the Privy Council in exchange for a royalist alchemist force? It doesn't sound like a good deal. After all, as long as the prince has normal thinking, he will definitely understand that local alchemists are more reliable than overseas envoys -
Wait!
Xia Fan stared at the other person, "What did you just say?"
"Well... this is a crisis in the Privy Council, but it's also—"
"No, the previous sentence."
Xin Wu thought for a while and said uncertainly, "Everyone knows that the main force is fighting against the invaders from the High Kingdom, and the headquarters has almost become an empty shell?"
"So who are the people left behind in the Privy Council now?"
"This... general affairs officer and handyman."
"Okay, I'll take this job—no, it's our duty to protect the rights and interests of the Privy Council from being infringed by overseas forces." Xia Fan responded.
Xin Wu's expression was filled with joy, "Sir, are you... agreeing?"
"Yes, but don't communicate with the remaining alchemists beforehand. The more unclear the situation, the easier it is for betrayers to appear. If you have any needs, I will ask you alone, okay?"
"Yes!" He cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll have you, Mr. Lao!"
…
Shangyuan City, Tianfu Street District.
With the seven-star name tag given to him by the Privy Council, Xia Fan climbed to the top of a pagoda. This pagoda was built fifty years ago and has four floors. It is the smallest of the six pagodas in Shangyuan City. Although it has only four floors, it is the highest overlooking point on Tianfu Street, where you can see the complete appearance of the Privy Council Palace just two streets away.
"You can tell me now..." Li took off his bamboo hat, freed his ears that had been suppressed for a long time, and shook in the wind, "The reason why you agreed to the envoy to help the Privy Council."
Judging from the fox demon's tone, it seemed that she had been holding back this question for a long time.
Obviously, in Li's view, the Privy Council is her biggest enemy. As the murderer who took away her master, she wishes that the Privy Council would be torn apart immediately. If she hadn't trusted Xia Fan, she would probably have protested in Wanjing Tower.
"Actually, it's very simple. This is the best opportunity to sneak into the Gyeonggi Privy Council House." Xia Fan explained.
"Sneaking into... the Privy Council Mansion?" Li said in surprise.
"That's right. I have been thinking about it before. If that person's guess is correct, what is the biggest gain for the mastermind behind the scenes? After thinking about it, it is only the Privy Council itself." Xia Fan looked at the gray wall in the distance, "Others The local Privy Council is just a security agency, but the difference here is that it inherits the magic inheritance of the previous dynasty, and it is not an exaggeration to say it is a treasure trove in the eyes of insiders."
"You mean... after the hidden enemy restrains the power of the Privy Council, these halls are the most likely places to do anything?" Fang Xiandao said suddenly.
"Or a grand hall -" Xia Fan paused, "the Lubu Hall where spells, magic weapon catalogs, and secrets that ordinary people cannot know are stored."
"I see." Qian Yan raised the corner of his mouth with interest, "No matter whether the other party's guess is correct or not, it will not change the fact that the Privy Council Palace is now an empty shell."
He nodded, "And the answers you find yourself are often the most accurate and reliable."
"But, but... this is the Privy Council Palace," Fang Yanni was the only one with a worried look on her face, "What if we were caught, wouldn't it be a big deal? If there is no permission in a place like the Ministry of Records, it is a capital crime to break in without permission. Bar… "
"I didn't break in without permission." Xia Fan chuckled. "Isn't this just what the Privy Council asked me to do to investigate the truth about the assassination and prevent the plotters behind it from causing greater damage?"