The Princess Wei Yang (106+)

Chapter 128 - Lamb to be Slaughtered - Part 1

Jiang Hua's expression was cold. He sat motionlessly, only his eyes swept over to Li Wei Yang.

Compared to an unrestrained, fierce expression, this ambiguous expression had the complexity of a forest shrouded in mist at night. It was even more frightening because one could never guess what he wanted, just like how you could never know what he would do next. In all fairness, Li Wei Yang looked forward to this because the man in front of her was like her and just as cruel.

If there were no grudges against the Jiang family, she might appreciate his decisiveness and skill in taking action, but he should not be too unreasonable, looking down on others and forcing them into a corner.

Li Wei Yang disliked this sense of superiority that the Jiang family members felt they were entitled to. It was as if everyone should bow at their feet. If anyone resisted in the slightest manner, they deserved to die. This truly did not sit well with others!

"Welcome, Third Young Master. It is indeed an honor for this lowly one." Li Wei Yang slightly smiled and sat down. The maid immediately brought tea. Li Wei Yang gently picked it up but did not drink it.

Jiang Da Furen ran back to the Jiang family and only said she encountered a group of lunatics on the road. Fortunately, Jiang Hai and their guards risked their lives to protect her, allowing her to escape, but those people captured Jiang Hai and disappeared without a trace. The Jiang family had already reported it to Jing Zhao Yin and even dispatched all their forces to search, but those people came and went without a trace, so they were unable to find anything.

Jiang Hua was finally able to leave the Crown Prince's Manor and return. As soon as he heard about this, he immediately thought of looking for Jiang Tian's whereabouts and found out that he had gone missing. He immediately put two and two together, and he was fully consumed by rage. He headed straight to the Li family, intending to secretly infiltrate like Li Wei Yang had done and kill her himself. Who would have thought she had soon guessed his intentions and sent all the guards away and prepared to welcome him as a guest. The only exception was that she did not receive him at the main entrance.

The more Li Wei Yang did, the more Jiang Hua felt it was unusual. He thought that since the other party had already made preparations, he would not succeed if he wanted to strike first and assassinate her. He immediately withdrew the Jiang family forces that had been prepared to lay down their lives and proudly came in through the main entrance.

Li Wei Yang sat not too far away from him. She even had the audacity to say: "Why, does Third Young Master not want tea after a long journey?"

Jiang Hua suppressed his anger, but he was even more infuriated by her bright smile, so he raised his cup of tea and took a sip.

Li Wei Yang smiled: "This is Yun Wu tea, the rarest and most prized in the Li residence. It's only used to entertain honored guests. I wonder what the Third Young Master thinks of it?"

Jiang Hua stared intently at Li Wei Yang, trying to find the slightest trace of fear or uneasiness, but unfortunately, he was disappointed, unable to find anything in Li Wei Yang's eyes. He had always been clever and cautious from a young age and had never been at a disadvantage, but this time, when he returned and met Li Wei Yang, he realized he was helpless and had fallen into her hands.

There is a saying on the battlefield: fight regardless if there is a trap. If a commanding general is unable to see and clearly grasp the situation, then their defeat is well-deserved. Fortunately, he had never lost, but now, the situation had been reversed, and it seems he had become the one who was defeated. He had thought it would be easy to take care of her, but now, look how much trouble he had left for himself.

Li Wei Yang glanced at Jiang Hua and slowly said, "I haven't asked yet. What did Third Young Master come for today?"

Jiang Hua suddenly stood up. He walked over to a table nearby and gestured to the Go board there: "Shall we play a game?"

Play a game of Go?! A subtle smile flashed across Li Wei Yang's face. If it were an ordinary person, the first thing they would do upon arriving is demand to know where Jiang Tian is, but the person in front of her obviously had other intentions.

Li Wei Yang sneered. Regarding calligraphy, painting and dance, she could not compare to other Xiaojies indeed, but when it came to playing Go, this was another matter altogether. It was not enough to play and practice Go from a young age. It was a bloody battle of wits, an army against an army, a general against a general, bows drawn and swords raised for glory.

She believed that she was not a lamb to be slaughtered by just anyone. She slowly stood up and went to the table beside them and casually placed a piece in the center of the board.

Jiang Hua smiled, lifted a hand and countered with another piece in a swift action. His playing style was similar to his own personality: meticulous.

"I have something to ask about today's affairs." Jiang Hua looked straight into Li Wei Yang's eyes, placing emphasis on every word.

"Third Young Master, you answer me a question, and I will answer you a question." Li Wei Yang smiled.

"No. Xianzhu, if you ask a question, I will decide whether I will answer it." Jiang Hua nodded and lowered another Go piece onto the board, "Likewise, you can choose to not answer a question that I ask."

Li Wei Yang smiled and immediately understood his intentions: "What agreement did the Jiang family and Tuoba Zhen reach regarding today's assassination? What weakness do you have over Wu Huangzi to have him in the palm of your hands? Does the Jiang family plan to implicate Qi Huangzi?"

That was three questions.

The Go piece in Jiang Hua's hands froze. He was examining these three questions and considering which to answer.

In truth, every question Li Wei Yang asked was a trap. If he answered one, Li Wei Yang would use his response to explain the remaining two questions. First of all, Li Wei Yang had long been convinced that the Jiang family participated in this ruse. Secondly, she already knew that this was a scheme against Tuoba Rui and Tuoba Yu. If he answered the first question, it would be no different than exposing the pact between the Jiang family and Tuoba Zhen. Li Wei Yang naturally had an answer for this. She only wanted him to confirm it.

He could not answer the second question. If he did, it would put the Fifth Prince in the palm of Li Wei Yang's hands. He could not let Li Wei Yang confirm her suspicions and in turn, better grasp the Jiang family's actions. If His Majesty found out that the Jiang family had something in their hands, His Majesty would suspect that the Fifth Prince did not suddenly act foolishly. As for the third question, he absolutely could not answer it because it was related to the Jiang family's next move. Once it was revealed, he would have no way to proceed.

Jiang Hua clenched the piece in his hand. He desperately needed to know if Jiang Hai and Jiang Tian were in her hands or not, how they were, whether they were dead or alive, and how to force Li Wei Yang to hand them over!

This was a frightening form of self-torment. Jiang Hua kept thinking about it and revisiting his thoughts. Although he tried his best to keep calm, he thought about which question to answer and how he could fool his opponent.

No, Li Wei Yang wasn't someone who could be easily fooled. Since she raised these questions, she would be able to determine whether or not he spoke truthfully. If he lied to her, there was a chance Jiang Hai and Jiang Tian were as good as dead.

Jiang Hua's playing speed visibly slowed down. The black and white pieces fought fiercely on end. There were pieces within traps that were traps themselves, highly complex stratagems. Li Wei Yang set another piece down and smiled faintly: "Third Young Master has the ideal stratagem, quickly seizing many of your opponent's pieces in just one move. A pity, who knows if this is a decisive decision or a futile move in the end."

At this moment, Jiang Hua chose to answer the first question.

"If Tuoba Zhen ascended the throne, the Jiang family would gain military power and complete control of the 13 southern provinces of Da Li." He smiled as he said so.

Li Wei Yang smiled. It was as she expected.

"Are the two of them in your hands?" Jiang Hua said coldly. "Are you already working with Tuoba Yu? Are the schemes behind San Huangzi's defeat by your hands?"

Li Wei Yang just smiled: "Yes, Tuoba Yu and I have already formed an alliance." She chose to answer the second question even though she knew he wanted to know the answer to the first question the most. However, he was the one who put out three questions and left it ambiguous, so she couldn't be blamed.

Jiang Hua lowered another piece, cutting off Li Wei Yang's path to retreat and slowly asked: "Is Concubine Lian one of your people? Is the medicine that Zhou Da Shou presented to the Emperor poisonous? Do you really want to make Tuoba Yu the Emperor?"

These three questions seemed relatively simple, but Li Wei Yang knew all three were dangerous to answer, especially the last one. Jiang Hua already knew she and Tuoba Yu formed an alliance but asked her if she was genuinely helping him become Emperor to see what her cards were and whether she was genuinely helping Tuoba Yu or using him. If it was to use him, the Jiang family had a chance to find an opportunity to defeat her.

"Concubine Lian is one of my people." Li Wei Yang placed another piece down. He already knew the answer to this question, but there was no evidence. She resolved the battle on the board without the slightest discomfort, "It's my turn to ask again."

She smiled slightly. Her expression remained calm and natural, her voice gentle and unrushed like a pleasant sound like a spider's web capturing its prey, "Where did you send Jiang Nan? Where is Li Min Feng? How is Duke Jiang doing?"

Jiang Hua's hand briefly stopped. This was a game, but it could not be said to be an easy one. Li Wei Yang was evaluating him based on his answers, understanding him and looking for his weaknesses. In essence, this was a battle of wits, a bloody battle to determine who lives and dies. Everything she had done was beyond his imagination.

If he answered where Jiang Nan was, it was the same as delivering a fatal advantage to Li Wei Yang's hands. As for Li Min Feng, Li Wei Yang wanted his life. If he answered, he would be putting Li Min Feng to death. As for Duke Jiang's health... Now that he was 65 years old, Li Wei Yang is suddenly concerned for his health. There was no need to say that when there is a time and place to express it. This damn girl did not loosen her grip in the slightest! He turned the piece back and forth in his hand, thinking about what Li Wei Yang said, lost in his thoughts. The black and white pieces on the board seemed to transform into pawns and soldiers. You surround me, I will trap you, cutting down one another and killing.

Li Wei Yang noticed her opponent had fallen into a trance. She pointed at the board and said: "The Third Young Master of the Jiang family prides himself in his wit and outstanding strategies, but on the board, you cannot deal with an inferior player like me much less speak of bravely fighting and establishing meritorious service on the battlefield—" In the blink of an eye, she lowered another piece. Jiang Hua watched wide-eyed as he was trapped by his opponent. He planned to break through the encirclement, but he was trapped in the northeast corner. He grew anxious by the moment, feeling the blood rising from his chest and everything in front of him almost blur away.

A bit of time passed. The mole on Jiang Hua's eyebrows were almost livid. He was furious to the point where his face had reddened. He wanted to place the piece in his hand down to break the encirclement when he discovered the white pieces had a way to break out of the encirclement but had to kill the surrounding black pieces first. There was too much linked to its surroundings. It was difficult to decide.

Li Wei Yang raised her eyes and looked at him: "Third Young Master, don't just focus on playing. You haven't answered my question yet."

"We hid Li Min Feng in the town of Dian in Yun Province—" Jiang Hua was forced to make a decision, but once he said that, he realized he made a grave mistake. He suddenly looked up at Li Wei Yang.

"So it turns out Duke Jiang isn't in good health!" Li Wei Yang smiled.

Jiang Hua heard Li Wei Yang's softly spoken words and everything in front of him turned black. Bile rose in the back of his throat and he vomited up fresh blood.

The opponent's playing piece closed in with every step. He made a mistake, a grave mistake. He should not have avoided the third question. He avoided it and chose to sacrifice Li Min Feng but in doing so, he revealed that Li Min Feng was currently with Duke Jiang, so Duke Jiang must be ill and in poor health, which is why he did not rush back for Duke Furen's funeral and may not be able to hold up for much longer. In fact, Jiang Hua was no longer certain of the future himself. As his grandfather aged, the stranger and more irritable his temperament became. He was also injured and often fainted and needed to recuperate well, but the Jiang family could not accept that Duke Jiang had fallen. No matter how powerful the family was, it still needed its leader, they needed him! He was too foolish! Too foolish!

Jiang Hua's mind seemed to have become murky, chaotic, frantic, crazy... Li Wei Yang's previous question transformed into the sharpest dagger, cutting through any useless things and lies he might say. He vaguely felt like she had understood everything!

In his answer, the truth was always mixed in with some falsehood, but most of it was true. Now, he understood why Li Wei Yang asked these questions. It was not to get answers to the questions themselves but to extract information from him, no, even to strike down his confidence!

Li Wei Yang looked at her opponent with pity and softly said: "Third Young Master, just admit defeat."

"No, I didn't lose!" Jiang Hua wiped away the blood on his lips and spoke coldly. He asked three more questions. In turn, Li Wei Yang replied. It continued back and forth, even broaching on the subject of Tuoba Yu's forces and confidants, Li Wei Yang's cards, secrets they did not want their opponents to know, but they were aware. The answers were partly true and partly false. There was truth in the lies. It had to be carefully examined in order to extract essential information. He needed to guess the truth and lies from her words, but now, he only felt a throbbing headache.

Li Wei Yang observed him. Through these questions, she confidently grasped the situation and weaknesses of her opponent, gradually approaching many of the Jiang family's buried secrets. She had borrowed this opportunity to evaluate Jiang Hua's thoughts, observe and predict their next moves.

Jiang Hua spat out blood again. The pieces on the board were all surrounded.

Li Wei Yang stared straight at him, unblinking, and softly sighed again, "Human willpower simply cannot defeat destiny. Fate is decided by the Heavens. Third Young Master, I am rather disappointed. How can someone like you be called talent?"

The words were soft and pleasant to the ear but full of regret and pity. Jiang Hua was strong-willed and always victorious from a young age. Seeing his greatest pride lost, he was furious. His veins throbbed violently, wishing he could break his head and die on the spot!

However, at this moment, a bird suddenly spread its wings and flew out from a tree. The sound broke through Jiang Hua's trance. He suddenly shook off his anger and looked at Li Wei Yang. He was stunned to see she had forced him into this hellish trance with every step, willing to commit suicide and die!

When he realized this, Jiang Hua's eyes were brimming with anger and hatred. The girl in front of him was dangerous and quite diligent. He was momentarily careless and almost died in her hands, falling into hellish trance.

Li Wei Yang saw he was conscious again and smiled regretfully: "Third Young Master should throw away the fragrant sachet. Sometimes, if you think too hard, you will only end up hurting yourself instead."

-----------------------*****------------------------Translator: Chau V.Editor: Chau V.