Chapter 12: The mountain rain is coming, the wind is full of buildings, the black cloud presses the city, and the city is about to collapse.

  Qin Lei took a clear look at the person and let out a long sigh, saying: "Has Mr. Guantao not had enough fun yet?"

  Nanbu Yiguan nodded and said: "I was just about to go disturb Your Highness." After finishing speaking, he also sat on the carriage shaft, closed his eyes and rested.

  It's as if those words of killing with a sword had never appeared.

  Others looked on and thought that Autumn Wind Guest was going to the Xiao Zhi Zi's residence again to freeload, and they cast sympathetic glances at Qin Lei.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Half an hour later, in the mansion of the prince.

  On the table were dishes of celery, braised beef, boiled peanuts and duck tongue, etc. Qin Lei poured wine for Guan Tao, then sat down quietly, looking at him. The powder on his face had been wiped away, and he had changed into casual clothes. He looked refreshed and handsome, no longer like the dull and confused person from before.

  Mr. Guan Tao also smiled at Qin Lei with clear eyes and a hint of intoxication.

  The two of them stared at each other for a long time, their expressions becoming increasingly strange. Finally, they burst out laughing together, laughing so hard that the mountains shook and the earth trembled, gasping for breath.

  Among the laughter, Iron Eagle couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, what's so funny?"

  Qin Lei's anger slightly subsided, and he said in a hoarse voice: "I laugh at that ridiculous person."

  Tie Ying turned to Guan Tao and asked: "Sir, why are you laughing again?"

  Guan Taoqiang stopped laughing and panted, "I'm laughing at something laughable!" With both hands supporting the small table, his body leaned forward, staring into Qin Lei's eyes, he said word by word: "Your Highness is about to meet with great disaster, pretending to be stupid won't save you now!"

  Qin Lei curled his lip, picked up the wine cup and took a small sip, coldly saying: "Sir, isn't that so? That old man Shangguan has already formed the intention to kill, you'd best choose a good day to leave the capital city."

  Tie Ying asked strangely: "What day is it?" Guan Tao was also very curious.

  "Taboo day." Qin Lei savored a single fennel seed carefully.

  Guantao slumped back in his seat and laughed miserably: "Indeed, the day a student leaves the capital is the day of their demise."

  The house was quiet again, with only Qin Lei's sound of chewing on fennel seeds.

  His heart was surging with waves, he had learned to come down from the mountain at a young age and came to Eastern Qi. Naturally, he was prepared to make a big career: to support the ruler's power, to leave a name in history, or at least to become a high-ranking official, to grant his wife and children titles. He thought it wouldn't be difficult to achieve the latter with his own abilities, but who would have thought that after coming to the capital, he would end up in such a situation...

  The Qi state revered the ancient ways, esteemed the Wei and Jin dynasties' style, abolished the imperial examination system that had been in place since the Sui and Tang dynasties, and reinstated the nine-rank system to select officials. As a result, the aristocratic families monopolized the government, holding almost all important positions, and only bestowed some trivial and less-promising posts on so-called "commoner" families. The people from the mountains and countryside of Guantao were commoners who couldn't be any more common, without even the strength to tie up a chicken, unable to join the army like other commoners and rise through military merit. Therefore, they wandered around everywhere, repeatedly failing to find employment, until finally, forced by poverty, they humbled themselves to serve as a guest in the prime minister's residence. After more than ten years, still feeling stifled and unfulfilled, with a fondness for fine food and considerable expenses, having eaten their fill of plain rice, they earned the reputation of being a "guest of autumn wind", a fallen noble.

  If one always eats plain food, there is no risk to life after all. The nobles of the Qi state take pride in supporting guests. However, Guantao has a bit of a straightforward temperament, and he felt that he owed it to his host, so he spent five years, exhausting his energy, visiting the countryside, researching materials, and writing "Reform Proposals for the State of Qi", which he presented to the prime minister, also bringing himself mortal danger.

  Shangguan Chengxiang read the "Zou Yi" and found it to be a perfect solution for the current problems of Qi State. If thoroughly implemented, it would definitely make Qi State revive and become the most promising country to unify the Divine Continent again. The old fox also knew that if he followed the "Zou Yi" reform, it would touch on many vested interests and cause great backlash. With his family's hundred-year prestige and his own power dominating the court, he was not afraid of anything. However, if he personally took charge, he couldn't overprotect his family's interests too much, or it would affect his reputation as well.

  He wanted a puppet to resist the attack, so that he could advance and retreat freely. At critical moments, Shangguan Zaixiang could still become a hero who turned the tide of defeat. He thought that the proposer of the plan, Guantao, was the best candidate, so he lured Guantao into office with a high position. In his heart, someone who had not been an official for over a decade must be very eager, and even if he knew that the honey cake contained poison, he would swallow it without hesitation.

  However, Guan Tao was not a normal person. He was indignant at the Prime Minister's ruthlessness. As a thoughtful strategist, he had already broken down the reform into several stages in "Zou Yi" to control the backlash within the range that the Prime Minister could accept. Who knew that the old fox wanted to eat meat but didn't want to get bloody, and actually didn't even want to take any risk, and actually wanted to pass it all on to himself!

  Being an official is just a small ripple, but it's enough to drown a commoner eight times. Being an official is good, but one also needs to have the fate to be an official, and he hasn't even married yet.

  Today, it can be said that the relationship with the prime minister has completely broken down. Even if he were to replace him, he wouldn't let someone who is familiar with both domestic and foreign affairs go easily, let alone a guy who designs the next policy framework and is out of his control.

  Guan Tao wouldn't just sit and wait for death, he knew the recent commotion in the capital, and had planned to use Xiao Qizi to meet with the iron boss who had eyes and ears everywhere, to see if he could create an opportunity for himself. Who would have thought that by mistake, he witnessed the master and servant duo pretending to be pigs eating tigers.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After a long time, Guan Tao continued: "It's ridiculous that Shangguan Yunhe not only has no magnanimity, but also has blurred vision, mistaking the true dragon for a carp. Your Highness used a good strategy, actually moving the Empress Dowager of Qi and the State Preceptor to speak on your behalf. Shangguan Chengxiang still thought you were ignorant. How ridiculous! If only he knew that in a few years, it would be Your Highness who will conquer Qi."

  Qin Lei shook his head and said: "That also requires living for a few more years to succeed. Didn't Mr. just say that the young man's fate is sealed?"

  Tie Ying glared at Guan Tao and interrupted, "We've already fooled that old scoundrel. Your Highness said they would send us back with drums and cymbals."

  Guan Tao also threw in a few sarcastic words: "This is to send you on your way to the Yellow Springs Road."

  Qin Lei stood up and bowed respectfully, saying: "Please teach me, sir."

  Guan Tao stood up and returned the courtesy, also saying seriously: "If it weren't for Zhao Wujiao, Your Highness would have succeeded. But Bai Shenggong and Shangguan Chengxiang had differing opinions, leaning towards using war to awaken the self-intoxication of Qi people. Moreover, the military formation of Bai Sheng was strong and had never been defeated. So at this time, your country's declaration of war is exactly what Bai Shenggong wants. Do you think he will let Your Highness return safely?"

  Qin Lei continued to ask: "Will Zhao Wujiao oppose me returning home?" Tieying also looked at Guantao with anxiety.

  Guan Tao shook his head and said, "No, if there's a disagreement with the officials in the imperial court, it will be a war of words. As a military officer, I'm not good at speaking, and most likely to lose this verbal lawsuit. They would choose a more direct approach, one that suits their identity as warriors..."

  At this time, a strong wind started blowing, Qin Lei looked out of the window, and dark clouds were pressing down on the city, as if they wanted to destroy it.