Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5549 Digging a Trap

Chapter 5549 Digging a Trap

Hei Chi Changzhi prided himself on not being a fool, but he simply couldn't understand why Wu Meiniang could connect the disappearance of dozens of people at the Huating Town dock to something happening in Chang'an. Was there any necessary connection between them? He just couldn't comprehend it.

Wu Meiniang, however, did not care that the valiant general whom her husband had personally dispatched to protect her was currently confused and unable to understand. All the clues in her mind were instantly sorted out, and the whole truth came to light.

"Something big is bound to happen in Chang'an. Your situation is precarious, and there may even be extreme circumstances..."

Thinking of this, my heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and my breath caught in my throat for a moment.

However, she immediately banished this emotion from her mind. Chang'an was thousands of miles away, and whatever happened was already predetermined and beyond her reach. What she needed to do was not to worry or be anxious, but to figure out how to help her husband while resolving her own crisis.

"...Since unpredictable events have occurred in Chang'an, and these people have sneaked into Huating Town with the intention of harming me, their target is certainly not a woman like me, but rather the business I own...They are afraid that I will use the power of the business to affect or even sabotage their important plans!"

But is the young master truly in mortal danger?

Wu Zetian did not believe it.

No one understood the young master's abilities better than him. Apart from the few times he had been in danger and trapped in enemy lines when he was young, he almost never relied on so-called strategic planning or cunning. Instead, he crushed the enemy with absolute strength, crushing them to pieces with the overwhelming force of Mount Tai, and eliminating any risks as much as possible.

Now that you are stationed in Chang'an, with the powerful and absolutely loyal Imperial Guards on both sides to assist you, even in the worst-case scenario you would only be in danger and powerless to do anything about it. No one in the world could take your life.

That gives her more room to maneuver.

The first step, of course, is to lure out those people lurking in Huating Town. There's no such thing as a day when you're a thief, and you can't guard against thieves forever. No matter how tight the defense is, it's bound to have loopholes if someone is determined to find one. Once there's a gap in the defense, the enemy may be able to deliver a fatal blow.

The situation became clear in Wu Zetian's mind in an instant, and how to proceed was naturally not difficult.

"Bring Li Yifu here immediately; I have something to tell you."

"This one……"

Upon hearing Wu Meiniang's instructions, Hei Chi Changzhi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Since you, Madam Wu, say that something big has happened in Chang'an and that these people who are hiding will be detrimental to you, then you must be extremely cautious in any action, and pay special attention to secrecy... I'm afraid Li Yifu is not trustworthy."

When Fang Jun assigned him to Wu Meiniang's side, he only had two instructions: first, to ensure Wu Meiniang's safety at all costs; and second, to keep a close eye on Li Yifu.

It is clear that Fang Jun does not trust Li Yifu...

Wu Meiniang turned around and smiled, "This must be your commander's order, right? Your commander and I share the same thoughts."

"……Um?"

Hei Chi Changzhi felt his brain was not working properly and he couldn't figure it out. If he knew Li Yifu was not trustworthy, why did he summon him at this time?

He found the woman in front of him, with her captivating beauty and radiant smile, to be quite troublesome. He couldn't understand her thoughts or keep up with her train of thought... It was truly too difficult to obey her orders.

Wu Meiniang was not annoyed by Hei Chi Changzhi's questioning and resistance to her orders. Instead, she smiled and explained, "It is precisely because this person is untrustworthy that we need to test him."

Hei Chi Changzhi was certainly not stupid. Upon hearing this explanation, he immediately understood Wu Meiniang's intention and said admiringly, "Madam Wu's plans are meticulous and flawless. This humble general is in awe!"

Wu Meiniang raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised: "General Black Teeth would actually utter such flattering words?"

Hei Chi Changzhi said with a righteous expression, "Madam Wu is joking. How could I have uttered any flattering or obsequious words? These are words of respect from the bottom of my heart, without the slightest falsehood."

"Ah!"

Wu Zetian smiled radiantly: "Very good, you have a bright future."

The less someone knows how to flatter, the more pleasant it is for others to hear such words.

"In addition, withdraw the defenses and send someone to inform Grand Commander Su to prepare for the complete blockade of Huating Town upon my order."

Hei Chi Changzhi shook his head vigorously: "We cannot withdraw our defenses! There's always a chance of something going wrong. My duty is to protect Lady Wu, and we absolutely cannot allow any mishaps."

Wu Meiniang said, "If you don't find a reason to withdraw, how can the enemy feel safe to come? If they are afraid of my defenses and stay put, when will we be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop? My husband is waiting for me to cooperate in Chang'an!"

However, no matter how she tried to persuade him, Hei Chi Changzhi kept shaking his head: "If Lady Wu gives me any order, I will go through fire and water without hesitation, but this is the only thing I dare not agree to."

Wu Meiniang was speechless at the stubbornness of this man who obeyed Fang Jun's every command. She said helplessly, "Then withdraw half of the guards and stay by my side yourself!"

"Here!"

Hei Chi Changzhi then accepted the order and turned to go out to carry it out.

……

Li Yifu had just finished washing up at his residence and was about to go to bed.

He served Wu Meiniang as her "chief steward," handling all affairs and decisions. He was now well-known throughout the business and his status had risen. However, with his wife and children in Chang'an, he remained alone after following Wu Meiniang from Luoyang to Huating Town. So, he spent money to buy a singing girl to serve him as a concubine.

A beautiful young woman of sixteen or seventeen, as supple as butter, with such delicate charm and subtle flattery, truly captivated him, leaving him utterly enthralled...

He had drunk some medicinal wine at dinner to enhance his mood, and just as he was preparing to return to his bedroom to embrace his beloved and unleash his full power, he was startled by a series of urgent knocks on the door, almost causing him to lose his composure...

Upon learning that Wu Meiniang had summoned him for some business, Li Yifu did not utter a single complaint. He quickly changed his clothes, took an umbrella, and went to Wu Meiniang's residence.

Upon reaching the gate, Li Yifu saw guards coming and going, but many more people were leaving and scattering in different directions. He was startled, wondering if something had happened.

Upon entering the hall, Li Yifu saw the stunningly beautiful and elegant Wu Meiniang sitting in the center, her pretty face frosty. He quickly stepped forward, bowed, and respectfully asked, "May I ask what business Lady Wu has summoned me for?"

"Something has happened in Chang'an!"

Wu Zetian's beautiful face was frosty, and her tone was cold, completely unlike her usual charming and gentle appearance, and even adding a touch of murderous intent.

Li Yifu was alarmed: "What happened in Chang'an?"

Wu Meiniang coldly said, "No need to ask any more questions. I called you here to have you arrange for all the managers of the royal families, nobles, and powerful clans involved in the business to be gathered in Huating Town. I want to ensure that they stand with the business. Anyone who objects will be kicked out immediately!"

Li Yifu was greatly surprised.

He understood all too well the meaning of "advance and retreat together"—was this a declaration of war against Chang'an using the size and power of the business?

Feeling uneasy and suspicious, Li Yifu glanced at Hei Chi Changzhi, who was like a shadow behind Wu Meiniang, and asked, "I dare not ask too much about the affairs of Chang'an, but I saw the guards in the mansion running around earlier. Could something have happened here as well?"

"Today, quite a few people have mysteriously disappeared from the docks. Just in case, guards have been deployed to various locations outside the mansion to maintain vigilance... However, with General Black Tooth here, my safety is naturally assured. There is no need to worry. Go and carry out your duties immediately."

"Here."

Li Yifu dared not ask any more questions. After bowing, he turned and left, returning to his residence.

However, he did not immediately send someone to carry out the task, but instead sat quietly in his study for a while, thinking about it...

What could possibly happen in Chang'an?

Many people have mysteriously disappeared at the dock?

Summon all the noble families, aristocratic clans, and managers of participating businesses in Huating Town.

Each question, taken individually, seems somewhat inexplicable and untraceable, but when connected together, Li Yifu quickly deduced the truth.

A momentous event has occurred in Chang'an, placing Fang Jun in grave danger. Wu Zetian aims to unite all the noble families and powerful clans involved in the business to pressure the court in order to help Fang Jun. Some even anticipated Wu Zetian's intentions and sent assassins in advance...

Li Yifu's heart pounded. Perhaps... this was an opportunity?

Having arrived in Huating Town from Luoyang, he was all too aware of the power this trading company, which brought together almost all of the Tang Dynasty's top aristocratic families, truly possessed. Leaving aside the enormous sums of money they earned from overseas each year, the sheer political influence generated by their collective presence was enough to affect and even shake every national policy and system of the court.

Wu Zetian was merely a woman and a concubine of Fang Jun, yet she became the renowned and highly respected "Lady Wu" precisely because she controlled the business. What if he were the one in charge of the business?

He wouldn't change any official position below the Minister of the Six Ministries!

However, he feared Fang Jun's inexplicable hostility, and even more so Wu Meiniang's intelligence, wisdom, and unerring strategy, so he never dared to covet her in the slightest.

However, if Fang Jun were truly in danger and needed Wu Meiniang to use the influence of the business to rescue him, but Wu Meiniang messed things up... the consequences could very well be that Fang Jun would suffer a terrible fate, while Wu Meiniang would be completely castrated and lose control of the business.

If he could gain the support of the royal families, nobles, and powerful clans behind the business, wouldn't he soar to great heights?

As for how to gain the support of these noble families and powerful clans, he didn't think it was difficult; it simply involved "conceding profits." Although these families held shares in the businesses, they had no say whatsoever, and their profits were squeezed to a minimum by Wu Zetian. If he made concessions on these two issues, he would naturally win their hearts.

Moreover, the trading company itself now possesses dozens or even hundreds of warships and thousands of elite guards, which is sufficient to ensure the smooth flow of sea routes without relying on the Royal Navy...

But was this something Wu Zetian did intentionally?

It wasn't that Li Yifu was "cautious about his life when doing great things," but rather that the longer he spent with Wu Meiniang, the more he felt that this woman was almost supernaturally intelligent, and that her understanding and manipulation of people's hearts was precise and unique. If she used this to eliminate potential threats, but ended up getting caught up in it herself, wouldn't that be a waste?

Li Yifu hesitated for a moment, finding it difficult to make a decision.

They were worried about missing a great opportunity, but also afraid of falling into the trap set by Wu Zetian...