109: Yaksha and the Powerful Minister (Part 3)

"What you're saying, I don't quite understand."

Zhou Chutian maintained a smile on his face, but his eyes grew increasingly cold. Mo Yingqi did not care at all; instead, he continued on his own: "You don't need to be in a rush to refute me. Regarding the life of you, Grand Chancellor Zhou, I actually know quite a bit. Although it's not enough to erect a monument or write a biography for you, I dare say that I consider myself to have some understanding of you."

"The way you put it, it's as if I have some homosexual tendencies, or some abnormal feelings for the late Emperor." Zhou Chutian seemed not to want to continue this topic. "Young man, just having read some files does not mean you truly understand a person."

"Perhaps, but by peeking at a leopard through a tube, and after meeting the Grand Empress Dowager, I made such a guess." Mo Yingqi shrugged. "But you can deny it, because no matter what the reason is, it cannot change the fact that what you are doing now is no different from treason."

The arrogance in Zhou Chutian's eyes as he looked at Mo Yingqi lessened, but the light in his eyes was now somewhat dim, making it even harder to tell what he was actually thinking.

"We've talked about me for so long, shouldn't we talk about you, Marquis?" Zhou Chutian suddenly changed the subject, steering the conversation toward Mo Yingqi. "Putting aside whether your speculations about me are correct, since you've said so much, why not listen to how I view you?"

"Oh, I'd be glad to hear it."

Mo Yingqi appeared very calm, even making a gesture of invitation. Zhou Chutian slowly stood up, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and gently stroked the stone pillar before slowly saying: "Marquis, do you know how long this pavilion has been built?"

"I really don't know."

"It has stood here since the previous dynasty." Zhou Chutian continued, as if to himself. "This pavilion witnessed the rise and fall of the previous dynasty, and it even witnessed the Founding Emperor leading troops into the capital to subsequently establish the Daxing Dynasty."

"Back then, when I set out from the capital to the border to welcome the late Emperor, I rested here as well. When I returned with the late Emperor, the two of us also drank wine and sang songs here."

"Mo Yingqi, to me, you are just a slightly clever person. Even if you might soar to success in the future by relying on your little cleverness, the Legitimate Princess, or even The Emperor, you will never reach my status, nor can you accomplish what I have done."

Zhou Chutian suddenly turned back. Even though he was advanced in years and his steps seemed to have slowed, his person still carried an inexplicable aura and sense of oppression.

"Years from now, you will merely be recorded in history books as a lucky man who married two Legitimate Princesses, but I am different." Zhou Chutian walked aggressively toward Mo Yingqi as he spoke. "As a Grand Secretary of two dynasties, I have put in so much effort and heart into the current state of the Daxing Dynasty. Even if the Daxing Dynasty eventually is on its last legs, following the previous dynasty into decline, I, Zhou Chutian, will be a figure written with heavy ink in the history books."

"Tsk, Grand Chancellor, aren't you afraid that The Emperor will erase your name from history?" Mo Yingqi only found it amusing. "Perhaps I really am a lucky man who only became a Marquis and a consort thanks to the appreciation and pity of the Princesses, but you... if you keep causing trouble like this, I'm afraid you won't even exist in the history books."

"Hahaha, perhaps, but so what?" Zhou Chutian seemed not to care about Mo Yingqi's words. "But the fact is, even if I cannot touch the military power in the current Daxing Dynasty, when there is a war at the front, my people are needed to raise provisions; when The Emperor lacks money, my people are needed to raise it; even for major construction projects and tax collection, my people must be the ones to handle it!"

"Marquis, I repeat what I said: The Emperor wants to completely eradicate me, even if he kills me, my influence will continue to exist. Furthermore, how many people rely on me for support? How many people's official positions require me to protect them?"

"Even if The Emperor completely uproots my power, it is certainly not something that can be done in a year or two. I dare to do this, so I am not afraid that The Emperor will be annoyed with me and truly kill me. Even without the Taoist's protection, so what? My operations, my connections, and my deployments over these years have long been arranged."

Speaking of this, he suddenly sat back down on the stone stool he had just been sitting on, and tapped the stone table with his finger: "I said so much just to tell you that this game of chess has always been played between me and The Emperor, and even between me and the late Emperor! And you, even if your status is high, even if you are favored by The Emperor and The Two Highnesses, to me, you are meaningless."

"I am not your useless father; he fears you, but I do not take you seriously at all. I have said it before, this game of chess is just beginning, and now it is my turn to make a move. Marquis, you are indeed capable, but unfortunately... to me, you are not much of a threat."

Mo Yingqi pursed his lips, suddenly losing the mood to continue talking with him. This person looked rational, but some kind of obsession in his heart was about to drive him crazy. In his view, only that one thing was the most important, which is why he could easily abandon people.

Son, nephew, son-in-law, Disciples and former subordinates—he didn't care about any of them. This person was just the purest kind of animal, completely acting on his own instincts.

Therefore, he certainly did not care about Mo Yingqi, because before achieving his goal, his gaze had already excluded everything else.

This would make him overly focused, but it would also make him cold and cruel; even in Mo Yingqi's view, he would become single-minded and narrow-sighted.

"It seems your evaluation of me is equivalent to no evaluation at all." Mo Yingqi shook his head. "But it doesn't matter; I roughly know what kind of person you are now."

"Hehe, still the same words, Marquis: in this world, no one can truly know what kind of person the other is." Zhou Chutian gently brushed the dust off his body. "For example, the two golden and precious wives you see now, are they really as you think they are?"

"Who knows? But I don't care."

Mo Yingqi shifted his gaze to the side, his eyes devoid of any doubt, but instead seemingly filled with a hint of tenderness. In the direction his gaze fell, the carriage of the Princess's Residence was parked there.

"Grand Chancellor, let's make a bet." Mo Yingqi turned back to look at him. "In the future, when you and I meet like this again, it will definitely be before your life comes to an end. I won't give you the chance to die so easily. Do you believe me?"

"Very well. Since you are interested, Marquis, I am naturally willing." Zhou Chutian stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left while continuing to speak. "Then let's see whether you, the Yaksha of the Pacification Bureau, are better, or if I, the top powerful minister whom The Emperor regards as a thorn in his side, will have the last laugh!"

"Oh, that's right, Marquis, this first move has already begun!"