Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1042 The Green Robe Society Arrives, Xiao He is Arrested?

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of cold decisiveness: "Fine, since they're trying to lure us away, we'll play along. Qinglong, go and do two things immediately."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

"First, inform the palace of the Qiang tribe's unusual movements and the possibility of collusion with the Chu army, so that all the ladies in the palace are aware. But remember, do not discuss your own judgment or my affairs for now, do you understand what I mean?" Gao Yao's lips curled into a cold smile.

Qinglong immediately understood. This was a tactic to use external pressure to ignite internal conflicts, thereby luring the enemy out of hiding and resolving the problem once and for all! "Yes! Your Majesty understands!"

"Second," Gao Yao lowered his voice, "you personally make arrangements for my departure, to secretly travel to the residence of Prime Minister Xiao He."

"Now?" Qinglong was somewhat surprised. It was already late at night, and it was a turbulent time.

“Yes, now.” Gao Yao’s tone left no room for doubt. “Some moves can’t wait any longer. Some people need to be moved as well.”

He needed Xiao He's wisdom, but even more so, he needed the attitude of the neutral forces in the court that Xiao He represented, who were still observing the situation. In the impending storm, he had to ensure that even if blood flowed like rivers in Xianyang, the entire administrative system of the southern border would not fall into chaos, and the overall situation would not collapse!

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will make the arrangements immediately and ensure that everything goes smoothly!" Qinglong asked no more questions, bowed and accepted the order, and his figure quickly disappeared into the shadows of the watchtower.

Gao Yao stood alone in the night, taking a deep breath of the cool air. Internal and external troubles were converging. But there was no fear in his eyes; instead, a long-lost, sharp glint of a hunter burned within them.

After Gao Yao faked his death, the surface of Xianyang City appeared calm, but beneath the surface, turbulent currents were surging. He himself never expected that this scheme of escaping unscathed would be like a boulder thrown into a still lake, creating ripples far beyond expectations and even bringing unexpected gains.

The Chu army's restless movements had already been relayed back through clandestine channels, causing Gao Yao, lurking in the shadows, to curl a cold smile. Since the fish had already smelled the fish and begun to tentatively swim, why not stir the waters even more turbulently and see just how many lurking crocodiles could be drawn out? The Chu army wanted to move? Perfect! He would seize this opportunity to sweep away all the restless elements!

The night was as dark as ink, heavily staining the majestic city of Xianyang. All was silent; most commoners and low-ranking officials were already fast asleep, broken only by the occasional rhythmic footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the long, drawn-out clapper of the night watchman. Yet, beneath this tranquil surface, an invisible, chilling atmosphere was quietly spreading.

A group of figures dressed in gray, swift and silent movements, moved like ghosts, taking advantage of the cover of night to quickly traverse the wide, empty streets of Xianyang City. The collars and cuffs of their robes were embroidered with intricate cloud patterns in barely perceptible blue silk thread—the mark of the "Blue Robe Society."

In the eyes of court officials, the Green Robe Society was a special and feared entity. Directly subordinate to the enigmatic and powerful Lord Gao Yao, who had "died young," their duties included intelligence gathering, monitoring officials, and even carrying out clandestine missions. They were like Gao Yao's eyes and ears, his claws, spread throughout the shadows of the empire; their members acted secretively and their methods were unpredictable. Being targeted by the Green Robe Society often meant that some shady dealings had been exposed, or that unforeseen trouble was imminent. Therefore, court officials generally harbored a deep fear of these grey-clad figures.

At this moment, the Qingyi Society members had a clear target—the residence of Xiao He, the Grand Secretary.

At the gate of the mansion, two servants on duty were dozing against a doorpost when they suddenly felt a chill on their necks. The cold blade was already pressed against their skin, startling them awake instantly. Their bodies stiffened, and even a cry of surprise caught in their throats. Immediately afterward, there was a rhythmic, gentle knocking on the gate. The gatekeeper, rubbing his sleepy eyes, had barely opened the door a crack when, before he could even see what was outside, several members of the Green Robe Society filed in like a tide, their movements clean, efficient, and perfectly coordinated.

They had a clear division of labor: some quickly took control of the front yard, while others rushed straight to the inner courtyard. The servants and maids in the mansion were still in a daze when they were quickly subdued, their mouths stuffed with cloth, and they could only whimper in terror. In a very short time, the entire Xiao mansion fell under the complete control of the Green Robe Society. The process was silent and the efficiency was astonishing.

Xiao He was not asleep at this time. He was in his study, reviewing documents submitted from various regions by the dim light of an oil lamp. His desk was piled high with bamboo slips and silk scrolls, and his brow was slightly furrowed, clearly pondering some thorny political matters. As the Grand Secretary, the central figure in the empire's operation, he dared not slacken his efforts even in the dead of night.

"My lord! My lord! Something terrible has happened...!"

The study door was suddenly flung open, and the old steward of the manor scrambled in, his face ashen, his voice trembling with extreme fear, almost incoherent.

Xiao He was interrupted from his thoughts. He raised his head in displeasure and looked at the distraught steward. He said in a deep voice, "What's the panic! There are tall people to hold up the sky if it falls! Such panic is unbecoming!" He always valued his demeanor and composure and was very dissatisfied with the steward's loss of composure.

The steward, panting heavily, pointed outside the door and stammered, "M-Sir...it's the Green Robe Society! The Green Robe Society is here! They...they broke in! They've taken down everyone in the manor! I don't...I don't know why!"

"What? The Green Robe Society has arrived? And they've taken down everyone in the mansion?" Upon hearing this, Xiao He's pupils suddenly contracted, and the brush in his hand fell to the table with a "thud," splashing a few ink stains.

He abruptly stood up, his face filled with disbelief. How dare the Green Robe Society so blatantly break into the residence of the Grand Secretary and carry out this act of detention? This was utterly lawless! Had they gone mad?

But Xiao He was, after all, a man of great experience and exceptional intellect. After the initial shock, his mind began to work at lightning speed, filtering through various possibilities. Gao Yao was "dead," and the Qingyi Society should, in principle, enter a state of silence, or only obey some specific command mechanism.

Who can mobilize them now? Princess Lü Zhi? Prince Gao Lin? Or perhaps Lady Yu Shu behind Prince Gao Yu? But upon closer reflection, none of these seem very likely. As long as the heir to the throne remains undecided, a transcendent and powerful organization like the Green Robe Society should never easily side with any prince or harem faction, lest it disrupt the balance and backfire.