The Princess Wei Yang

80.1.Tit For Tat

Thebeautiful melody ended; Yan Zhi stood up, bowed and left silently.

Li Min Desuddenly stood up: "Sanjie, I have forgotten my cloak, I'll go out and get it."

His cloakwas obviously in the carriage, so how could he have forgotten? Li Weiyang wascurious; she wanted to know who Yan Zhi was, and why did she attract Li Min De'sattention?

She did notreveal any change in expression in front of the two princes, but gently smiled:"Go ahead."

Jiu Gongzhujumped up: "I'll go with you!"

Unexpectedly,she gave out a shrill scream at the next moment. Li Weiyang saidapologetically: "I am so sorry Princess, I did not do it on purpose."

Li Weiyanghad spilt her teacup onto Jiu Gongzhu's beautiful skirts.

Jiu Gongzhu poutedher lips; her lips were so pouted that one could balance an oil lamp from it."You are so clumsy!" She was oblivious to the fact that Li Weiyang did this onpurpose to prevent her from following Li Min De.

She left theroom to change into new attire. Aside from the servants, the only three left inthe room had weird expressions on their faces.

Tuoba Zhensuddenly laughed and said: "The three of us seem to have a special affinity."

Indeed, itwas affinity, but an accursed affinity. LiWeiyang laughed coldly and turned to look at the river. "What's that?" shesuddenly asked.

Tuoba Yufollowed the direction of her gaze: "Oh, that's Jade Peak Pagoda, built on anisland at the heart of the river. It is especially beautiful at night. If you'dlike, we could visit the island another day to take a look."

Li Weiyanghad a small smile on her lips, and muttered in thought: "It is a goodlocation." Her words had another hidden meaning in it.

Tuoba Zhen'seyes flashed and he stilled for a moment in surprise. He asked blandly: "Whatdo you mean by that?"

She lookedat him and replied with a smile: "The terrain is good. This river is formed bythe merging of the mountain stream and Hu Po Lake. If one were to cut a longcanal at lowest point the watershed where the two meet, he could split theriver into two and obtain easy control of ship navigation and irrigation ofcrops. You see, isn't it a good place?"

Tuoba Zhen'sface changed. He did not know how Li Weiyang found out, but this was hisoriginal plan, which he did not get the chance to start yet. If he executed it,he would gain complete control over the two rivers' transportation; his wealthwould increase immeasurably, far better than Tuoba Yu and the others. He washowever, unable to think of a plan to obtain this land without alerting othersof his scheme. He definitely could not allow anyone else to make the firstmove. In shock, he immediately replied: "If this idea could work, why hadn'tanyone done it so many years past?" Xianzhu shouldn't think unrealistically, thisis merely empty talk."

Li Weiyanghad a small smile upon her lips: "San Dianxia should know best if it is just mywishful thinking. In the past, there was the famous Xian Yuan Yan; the river wassplit into inner and outer sections, and the flow of the waters was controlled.For this river, splitting it could not only prevent floodings, enable tradesand irrigation, there is still the massive and gorgeous Dong Jiang Bridgespanning the banks. These should not have been possible by human hands and yetthey exist, so what else could be impossible!"

Tuoba Zhen'ssmile, which was originally on his face, had completely disappeared.

He suddenlyfelt coldness all over.

Li Weiyangmet his eyes, and it was as if she understood what he was thinking, like sheeven knew of the next step in his plan. Having seen a gaze like this, it was asif he was doused in a sheet of cold water.