Song Chengyue, as the Daqian Jinyiwei Commander and the number one leader, wielded great power.
He understood better than anyone else that his position, Song Chengyue was Song Chengyue, and the Commander was the Commander.
As the Commander, his reputation outside needed to be arrogant and despotic, utterly detestable, especially towards the Crown Prince and those Princes. When he encountered them, a courteous nod was sufficient, and any more warmth was foolishness on his part.
When someone from the Crown Prince's retinue came directly to the Jinyiwei government office to see him, he didn't break the visitor's legs only out of respect for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince also showed him respect, by having the man executed and sent over, ostensibly distancing himself from the situation.
Everyone carried on as before, not forming alliances but also not making enemies.
Song Chengyue listened to the report from his subordinates, waving his hand impatiently.
"Hurry and clean up. Do whatever needs to be done. What does it look like, leaving it at the doorstep? People who don't know any better would think we've killed another one and left it there as a warning."
He naturally believed that the Crown Prince wouldn't be so arrogant and foolish as to send someone to see him casually.
Surviving the encirclement of the other Princes and still not being kicked out of the Eastern Palace, at the very least he knew who could be offended and who could not.
And he, was someone who absolutely could not be allied with but, more importantly, could not be made into an enemy.
When Song Chengyue first joined the Jinyiwei, he used to wonder why none of the Commanders of the past had even a slightly good reputation, especially his predecessor, whose reputation was akin to a cesspit.
Those who seemed pretty decent when inside the government office abruptly turned into rabid dogs, temperamental, after promotion.
Later, when he himself rose to the position, he fully understood that the one making decisions and having the final word would get nothing done if they were too agreeable.
Being overbearing and incapable of spitting out a kind word, with a wicked heart and ruthless hands, actually helped him avoid a lot of trouble.
Unfortunately, while it made things easier to manage and to succeed, his reputation soured, and he gained more enemies.
When a new emperor ascends the throne, killing Song Chengyue would win over a lot of people's hearts.
Or, if something major happened, his head, Song Chengyue's, would be the best Magical Treasure to appease the public's anger.
He had seen it all clearly a long time ago. Now, he simply lay low, indifferent to life and death, and owing no one any favors.
He casually pulled out a document from the pile on the table, another attempt to curry favor, using connections to get a ticket to a cushy job while doing nothing and offending no one.
After looking at the credentials prepared by his subordinates and considering the background and power behind the individual, he slapped the table, and a drawer popped open with another set of documents.
When he opened it, it was full of dirt on the individual's family.
Those recent acts of playing God, spreading rumors and hyping up the Second Prince's rhetoric, were all from that family.
Looking at the mentioned Magical Treasure, Song Chengyue thought about it—it was the very same device currently in use at the Jinyiwei government office.
A spy had previously brought one from Dali. Indeed, it was quite effective. The death cell beneath the government office, where the Death Qi that lingered for years, had disappeared.
The spies who worked year-round in the death cell didn't notice it themselves, but once they stepped outside, one could easily identify them as Jinyiwei from the death cell.
The filth, Death Qi, poison, and Evil Qi that clung to them nearly pickled them in their own scent.
Although they were all skilled, they simply couldn't be sent out on missions.
Now the situation had greatly improved. As the Commander, the number of personnel he could mobilize had increased, albeit imperceptibly.
That Magical Treasure, however, was a bit tricky to handle and had to be quietly sent back to Dali for processing. They couldn't handle it themselves because it was too dangerous.
He slapped the table again, and this time, when he opened the drawer, it was empty.
On the surface of the table, a ghastly face with Four-eyed Strange Face appeared, with a mouth that stretched across its entire face when opened.
"What are you slapping for? Do you think the people below, and I, can find out everything?"
Song Chengyue laughed and gave a respectful bow.
"Brother Four Eyes, I meant no disrespect, just habit."
The face on the table, with its four eyes looking in different directions, did a full rotation before turning back to Song Chengyue.
"Song, we've been working together for many years, and I watched as you rose through the ranks. There's something I shouldn't say, but don't blame me for being nosy."
"You're talking like an outsider, Brother Four Eyes, how many years have you been in the Jinyiwei government office compared to me? I'm overstepping by calling you Brother Four Eyes—it's only because you're my elder, and any admonitions from you are more than welcome. Please, speak freely."
Song Chengyue listened with eager attention.
The Four-eyed Strange Face on the table chuckled.
"Don't try to flatter me; I'm just someone who's lived a bit longer and knows a bit more.
Your predecessors were either too soft, too stubborn, or too hypocritical. They were not the kind to last long.
I didn't care for them, so I didn't bother to say anything.
You, however, are not as hypocritical as the previous Commanders.
Of course, you also haven't treated me as just a table Demon, so you're much more pleasant to me.
There's something I feel I need to warn you about, even though I shouldn't say it."
"Thank you, Brother Four Eyes." Song Chengyue immediately stood up and thanked him.
Very few people knew of this table Monster, certainly not more than a handful.
Others only knew that the Jinyiwei had an archive, where various intelligence reports and documents would be stored after filing over the years.