Chapter 202 A Secret Letter Startles Old Dreams, Black Scale's Ferocious Name Awes the Lord

He stood up, walked to the window, and watched the Western Depot Agents patrolling back and forth in the courtyard.

After this period of reorganization and expansion, the strength of the Western Depot was no longer what it used to be.

However, to completely suppress the Eastern Depot, a turning point was still needed.

One that would allow the Western Depot to soar into the sky, a monumental merit that no one could ignore.

And this opportunity was right before his eyes.

"Mr. Wen."

"I am here."

"Have Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian come over."

"Understood."

Soon, Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian was brought to the study.

After a few days of not seeing him, he had lost a significant amount of weight, and the sharp glint in his eyes was gone, replaced only by a sense of numbness and submission.

"My lord." He knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head.

"Rise," Emperor Liu Sheng said indifferently.

"Thank you, my lord."

"How is the matter I entrusted to you coming along?"

"Reporting to my lord, it is all prepared." Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian took a small bamboo tube from his chest, "The letter is written and can be sent at any time."

Emperor Liu Sheng nodded, not bothering to look at the letter.

He believed that under the dual threats of the Three-Corpse Brain-Spirit Pill and his family, Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian would not dare to play any tricks.

"Very good." Emperor Liu Sheng's gaze landed on Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian, "I know that you are unconvinced in your heart, and perhaps you even have other ideas."

Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian's body trembled violently, and he buried his head even lower.

"I do not care," Emperor Liu Sheng continued, "I only care about the results."

"If you handle this matter well, not only will you be without fault, but you will also have merit."

"In the future, within the Western Depot, apart from myself, Mr. Wen, and General Su Meng, you will be the fourth in command."

"If you fail to handle it well..."

Emperor Liu Sheng did not continue, but the threat in his unspoken words caused Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian's back to be instantly drenched in cold sweat.

"I... I understand! I will definitely handle this matter well for you, my lord, even if I have to die for it!" Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian's voice was trembling.

"Go." Emperor Liu Sheng waved his hand, "I await your good news."

As if receiving a pardon, Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian bowed and retreated from the study.

Watching his departing figure, Wen Ruoyu couldn't help but ask: "My lord, do you really trust him?"

"Trusting him is not important." Emperor Liu Sheng sat back in his chair and picked up his teacup, "What is important is that Commander Wang Shouren will believe it."

"A mole who has just 'escaped death' and confirmed my 'death'—the information passed on by such a person is the most authentic and the most lethal."

...

Night once again shrouded the capital.

A black "Night Crow" flapped its wings and took flight from an inconspicuous corner of the Western Depot, blending into the vast night.

The direction it flew was precisely toward the Nine Gates Superintendent's residence.

Inside the study, Nine Gates Superintendent Commander Wang Shouren was under the lamp, carefully wiping his beloved saber.

He was in a very good mood.

Superintendent Cao Zhengchun had fallen.

Emperor Liu Sheng was dead.

In the capital, the two opponents he feared the most—one had lost power, and the other was dead.

This made him feel unprecedentedly relaxed.

Just at this moment, a slight, almost inaudible sound came from outside the window.

Commander Wang Shouren's movements stopped.

He put down his saber, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

A black carrier pigeon was quietly perched on the windowsill.

He recognized this carrier pigeon; it was the exclusive carrier pigeon of Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian, the chess piece he had planted in the Western Depot.

His heart stirred, and he removed the bamboo tube from the pigeon's leg.

He unfolded the slip of paper inside and read it by the candlelight.

The content on the note was very short.

[Emperor Liu Sheng is dead, the Western Depot is in chaos. However, before his death, he sent a secret report into the palace detailing our involvement with the 'Black Qilin'. The matter is urgent, act quickly.]

"Buzz!"

Commander Wang Shouren's brain felt as if it had been heavily struck by a hammer.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.

The note in his hand drifted to the floor.

Black Qilin!

Emperor Liu Sheng had actually found out about the "Black Qilin"!

How could this be!

The "Black Qilin" was an organization secretly cultivated by the previous dynasty's royal family, specifically responsible for executing some of the dirtiest and most unspeakable tasks.

After the Great Qian Dynasty was established, this organization disappeared, and almost no one knew of it.

Even he only knew of the existence of this organization and had made contact with it through the lord behind him.

This matter was his biggest secret and his greatest reliance.

But now, this secret had actually been dug up by Emperor Liu Sheng!

Furthermore, it had been written into a secret report and sent into the palace!

Although Emperor Liu Sheng was dead, that secret report was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

It could fall at any moment, hacking him and everyone behind him into pieces!

Cold sweat streamed down his temples.

He could not wait any longer.

He absolutely could not wait any longer!

He had to act before the Emperor saw that secret report and reacted!

A trace of insane killing intent flashed in Commander Wang Shouren's eyes.

He turned abruptly, rushed out of the study, and shouted sharply at the personal guards outside the door: "Prepare the horses! I must see Minister of War Jiang Hai immediately!"

...

The night was deep, and the study of the Minister of War's residence was still brightly lit.

Minister of War Jiang Hai, this Minister of War of the Great Qian Dynasty, stood by the window, looking at the night sky outside with his hands behind his back.

He was nearly fifty years old, with a gaunt face, but his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, revealing no emotions.

Urgent footsteps broke the tranquility of the study.

Commander Wang Shouren didn't even have time to let the servants announce him before he rushed in like a gust of wind.

"My lord! Something terrible has happened!"

His face was full of panic, and he had long lost the composure of the Nine Gates Superintendent he usually possessed.

Minister of War Jiang Hai turned slowly, looking at his ally who had lost his composure, his brows furrowing imperceptibly.

"What are you panicking about?"

His voice was very calm, as if even if the sky were to fall, it would not be able to move him in the slightest.

"My lord, you will know once you see this!" Commander Wang Shouren handed over the note he had obtained from Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian with both hands.

Minister of War Jiang Hai took the note, and after just one glance, his pupils contracted violently.

Black Qilin.

These three words were like a needle, stinging his eyes.

The air in the study instantly dropped to freezing point.

After a long while, Minister of War Jiang Hai slowly spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Is the information reliable?"

"Absolutely reliable!" Commander Wang Shouren said eagerly, "It is the information sent by Thousand-Household Official Zhang Qian! He also confirmed that Emperor Liu Sheng is already dead!"

"Dead..." Minister of War Jiang Hai chewed on these two words, his eyes shifting uncertainly.

A dead man had left behind a lethal secret report.

This was like a chess game that had already ended, yet suddenly, a piece that could decide the outcome appeared on the board.

It caught one off guard and left no way to defend against it.

"My lord, what should we do now?" Commander Wang Shouren's voice carried a trace of trembling, "That secret report is like a knife hanging over our heads, it could fall at any moment!"

"Waiting, we cannot afford to wait." A trace of ruthlessness finally flashed in Minister of War Jiang Hai's eyes.

He walked to the wall, lifted a landscape painting, and revealed a huge map of the capital's defenses hidden behind it.

His gaze moved slowly across the map, and finally, it landed on a place in the south of the city.