Chapter 359: The Heart of Sima Zhao

The attendant ushered Hao Yue in, cracked the door open just enough to maintain their veneer of politeness, and with a tone dripping in overly rehearsed respect, offered, "Miss, please step inside. The lord will join you shortly. Kindly wait."

"Thank you." Hao Yue’s lips curled into a practiced, effortless smile as she dipped into a small bow—just enough to radiate grace without breaking a sweat. Her gaze briefly lingered on the attendant’s equally rehearsed grin before stepping through the doorway with an air of quiet triumph.

The room? Completely unimpressive. Bland, even. Hao Yue had walked into countless spaces just like this—predictably nondescript, screaming mediocrity despite its attempts at grandeur. One look was enough for her to piece it all together. The so-called "lord" of the Seven Stars Bureau had an agenda, and if her hunch about mid-August's chaos was right, this meeting wasn’t about pleasantries.

As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed closer, Hao Yue shifted her gaze toward the door. Her nose twitched with a few discreet sniffs—just enough to size up the visitor—before she rose gracefully, all poised elegance, to greet whoever dared to enter.

"The little lady humbly greets the lord," she said, her tone dipped in syrupy politeness, though the sharp edge beneath it could cut glass.

"Formalities aren't necessary," came the reply. The voice, muffled and distorted through a mask, was carefully altered—Chen Qing had gone the extra mile to ensure not even a whisper of his usual tone slipped through. Clearly, someone was playing the mysterious stranger a little too seriously.

"The little lady can’t help but notice this is the first time she’s been graced with the lord's presence since arriving in the capital. Would it be too bold to ask if there’s been any progress in the southern... situation?" Her words were honeyed enough, but the undertone—oh, the undertone—practically screamed, Do enlighten me, if you can manage it.

Chen Qing leaned back into his seat, the picture of calm authority, and gestured for her to sit as well, his movements deliberate and annoyingly measured. “There have been some developments in the south,” he began, his tone as smooth as polished stone but carrying the faintest edge. “Though I must say, the outcome doesn’t quite align with what Miss Hao Yue so confidently predicted.”

Haoyue was taken aback. To show her attitude, she had stayed in this residence at the other party's behest without stepping out since her arrival in the capital. Rumors about the southern flooding had spread in the capital, but she had not heard of them.

"How is it different?” she asked, her voice as light as her expression was indifferent.

Chen Qing, never one to rush a moment of condescension, replied with a measured tilt of his head. “The flooding is severe, yes, but not nearly the calamity Miss Hao Yue so… vividly painted for us. Your numbers were dramatic—tens of thousands dead, injuries piling up after the levees in Xiangyang breached. Yet, according to my latest reports, the actual death toll is…” He paused for effect. “One hundred and twenty-one.”

Hao Yue covered her mouth and chuckled, "I am not surprised at all. The official cares for the people like his own children, so he should think of ways to address the situation upon receiving the news from me. If not for your timely strategy, would Xiangyang have breached? Would the death toll have only been in the hundreds, not the tens of thousands?”

Chen Qing’s calm veneer cracked ever so slightly. “How is this official expected to answer for tragedies that never occurred? You, Miss Hao Yue, should be aware that trust is the foundation of any meaningful partnership. And thus far, what you’ve offered has been… inadequate.”

Hao Yue leaned forward slightly, her smile growing even sweeter, though her eyes gleamed with something far sharper, "Then what exactly would be sufficient?”

Chen Qing didn’t reply right away, taking a moment as if carefully choosing his words. Then, with a wry smile, he said, “Since you're so skilled in the art of divination, surely you can give us a glimpse into the future of the Great Daqing Dynasty?”

Hao Yue, looking ever so slightly amused, responded with a tone that was equal parts evasive and measured, "Well, predicting the fate of a whole nation is hardly child’s play, you know. Even if I had the power, I wouldn’t just toss out an answer like that."

Of course, Chen Qing wasn’t one to let things slide so easily. His gaze sharpened as he leaned in just a bit, like he was trying to catch her in a contradiction. "So, you can predict, then?"

Hao Yue, in her usual composed manner, lowered her head to sip her tea, taking her sweet time with it. She said nothing.

Chen Qing, sensing the tension, couldn’t resist throwing in one last jab, "Ah, it seems Miss Hao Yue is in quite the bind. No worries, I won’t push you too hard. But by all means, share whatever you can."

In the adjoining room, Hua Zhi gave a rather sly nod to Chen Qing's intelligence. He started with a question that, let’s be honest, we all knew Hao Yue would never dare to answer—hell, even if she knew the answer, she’d probably be too proud to admit it. This felt like a classic move to gain some leverage, a little power play in progress. Chen Qing stepped back, giving Haoyue all the space she needed to make her next move. And, as expected, she relaxed just enough to make herself vulnerable to a trap.

Classic.

Hao Yue did indeed breathe a sigh of relief. This little piece of leverage wasn’t even close to being fully used. Since her opponent had made that small concession, she knew it was her turn to turn up the heat and make sure the balance tipped back in her favor.

So, in typical fashion, she went straight for the jugular: "If I told you the royal family was on the decline, would you believe me?"

"You might want to watch your mouth, Miss," came the warning.

"Oh, don’t worry, I’m only saying this to you, sir. In the capital, I’ve done a bit of divination here and there. The hexagrams? A total mess, like nothing I’ve ever seen before. But there’s one thing I can say for sure: there’s a snake in the emperor’s inner circle, someone close to him. Maybe you should start your investigation there, hm?"

"This official will make a note of that."

Hao Yue took a breath, suddenly realizing she wasn’t going to get a single pat on the back for dropping such critical information. Fine, she’d take a sip of her tea to mask the awkwardness. Still, she wasn’t done yet. "And there's something else I've been suspecting for a while, but I couldn’t confirm it until now. Since I’m in the capital, it’s only right I share it with you. General Wu, over at Yinshan Pass? He’s been sick. Heard of it?"

"Oh? Is that something you divined too?"

"No, not exactly," she replied, a little too casually. "I got wind of it during my time in Yuzhou. You might recall I had quite a few followers under my command, some with rather interesting talents. However, I didn't witness this personally, nor could I calculate General Wu's fate based on his birth information. All I know is, the man’s been seeing doctors left and right, but I couldn’t tell you if it’s something serious or just a little inconvenience."

Suddenly, a thought struck Hua Zhi.

Hao Yue knew the information about Tong Yi and Wu Yong was correct, but the timeline was off. She didn't know that Tong Yi's identity as Chaoli tribe people had been exposed, or that Wu Yong's poison had been cured.

What did this indicate?

It meant that events had occurred prematurely!

She grasped Yan Xi's hand and he gently reassured her, signaling for silence.

Hua Zhi calmed down, realizing her role as a variable in this situation. Her actions had inadvertently saved Wu Yong's life by revealing the poison early and strengthening his relationship with Yan Xi. If not for Yan Xi accompanying her to Yingshan Pass a second time, the entire Hua family would have been in peril.

Hao Yue, on the other hand, was the second variable, as her appearance had led to Yuan Shifang's early exposure of the Chaoli tribe, heightening the alertness of the court and prompting Yan Xi to eliminate the remnants of the Chaoli tribe in the Great Daqing Dynasty.

Hao Yue was unaware of this. She had yet to establish a strong network of connections in the capital and remained clueless about the situation there. If she were in Hua Zhi's position, she would never have risked appearing in the sights of the Seven Stars Bureau without the power to defend herself.

Why did she take such a risky move?

Hao Yue was supposed to be clever, but her behavior today indicated otherwise.

Meanwhile, the conversation continued in the adjacent room.

"I have another matter that I'm not sure whether to reveal or not."

Chen Qing gestured, "Please, Miss Hao Yue, speak freely. Whatever you say, this official will consider carefully."

"Dare I ask the official to come closer."

This was truly a tricky situation, Hua Zhi looked at Yan Xi, who raised an eyebrow in confusion but with a hint of intrigue.

Chen Qing approached, and Hao Yue blushed modestly, inadvertently revealing her snow-white neck, which was particularly captivating.

She covered her mouth lightly, whispering a few words that truly startled Chen Qing. After a moment of hesitation, he replied, "It would be best for Miss Hao Yue to keep those words to herself in the future."

"I must remind you again that only because it's you would I speak such disrespectful words. I've said what should and shouldn't be said. Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I won't trouble the official, so I'll stay here in peace. If you have any doubts, I'll be ready to assist at any time."

———TN: Sima Zhao (司馬昭) was a powerful military general and politician in the Wei kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

However, Sima Zhao is a controversial figure in Chinese history. While he was a skilled military leader and a powerful statesman, his actions were seen by some as a betrayal of the Wei dynasty and a power grab.

The phrase "司马昭之心，路人皆知" (Sīmǎ Zhāo zhī xīn, lùrén jiē zhī), which translates to "Sima Zhao's intentions are known to everyone," is a Chinese idiom that describes someone whose ambitions are clearly evident to others, even if they are not openly expressed.