Chapter 1363: Conspiring Against An Emperor
“So, you agree to the plan?” Feng Qingyou asked.
“Sure. What reason do I have to disagree?” Ye Qing nodded. “The question now is, how do we trick Emperor Jing Run into agreeing to the trade without drawing his suspicion?”
Feng Qingyou also nodded in agreement. “If I’m not mistaken, Emperor Jing Run’s men are probably keeping a close eye on you. In this case, inaction is better than action, so all you need to do is to lay down your cards on the table. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Really? Won’t Emperor Jing Run suspect something?”
Ye Qing said worriedly. “You said it yourself that Emperor Jing Run is cunning, paranoid, and adept at intrigue. Can we really get back the hostages by dealing with him frankly?”
“He will suspect that something is amiss, yes. That is why we need to act quickly. Tomorrow morning, you will contact Fang Zhiyong and tell him to carry a message to Emperor Jing Run. Tell him that you figured out that his objective is the Earthly Sovereign Bell, and that you are willing to give it up in exchange for the hostages.”
“Of course, you cannot let them know that you’ve figured out the real reason they want the Earthly Sovereign Bell. Just tell them your earlier guess: that the reason they wish to claim the Earthly Sovereign Bell is to secure their disappearing Will of the Empire.”
“It is unwise to guess what is happening inside an emperor’s mind. If Emperor Jing Run realizes that you’ve seen through his true objective, then he may become paranoid and suspicious, and the plan may backfire on us instead. Sometimes, showing weakness to the enemy is the best course of action.”
“Mm. Makes sense.” Ye Qing asked, “But why the hurry? We have a week, don’t we?”
“It’s to create the illusion that you don’t have the time to make any sort of arrangement or concoct a scheme. We want to trick Emperor Jing Run into thinking that you are at your wit’s end, and your only bargaining chip is the Earthly Sovereign Bell.”
Feng Qingyou explained, “Emperor Jing Run is paranoid and cunning, but he is also prideful and self-conceited. He would not treat you as a serious opponent. That is why he will agree to your demand.”