Chapter 471: Chapter 471 Jiao Fangsi
Zhan Lan and Mu Yan returned to the palace.
Mu Yan said, “Lan’er, don’t worry, Baili Jiang won’t live much longer.”
Zhan Lan understood that imprisoning or killing the Eldest Prince of Western Rong or Baili Jiang in Nanjin would be equivalent to declaring war on Western Rong, so they couldn’t kill them now.
“I never worry about how you handle things.”
Mu Yan met Zhan Lan’s trusting gaze and felt delighted.
Zhan Lan was also in a good mood today. She had taken advantage of the Western Rong envoys’ visit to have someone steal Baili Jiang’s purse, luring him to find Zhan Xincheng, and thus confirmed Zhan Xincheng’s treason.
Today, the second branch of the Zhan Family had finally collapsed, and Liu Xi no longer needed to imitate anyone’s handwriting.
…
Li Changlong had just bought a small house in Ding’an City, cheerfully thinking about taking a concubine.
He was just about to leave when he saw a dozen constables from the Ministry of Justice rush into the yard.
“What do you think you’re doing!” Li Changlong shouted loudly.
“By the Emperor’s order, to arrest the treasonous rebels Zhan Liluo and Li Changlong!” Ye Xiaowu, the chief arrest officer of the Ministry of Justice, showed his badge.
Zhan Liluo was pushed out of the house in a wheelchair by her maid, seeing Li Changlong being pressed to the ground by the constables while he wailed.
“Oh my, who committed treason!” Li Changlong looked at Ye Xiaowu with the expression of a fool.
Ye Xiaowu stepped on his back and looked at Zhan Liluo, “You’ll know once you’re inside!”
Zhan Liluo looked bewildered, and it wasn’t until she was lifted from the wheelchair and thrown into the prison carriage by two constables that she was so frightened her lips trembled and her whole body shook, not daring to say a single word.
When she was thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s dungeon and found herself imprisoned with her mother and grandmother, she finally understood everything.
Madam Zhang hugged Zhan Liluo and cried heartbreakingly, “My poor daughter, it’s all your father’s fault; we’re all implicated by him!”
Zhan Liluo leaned against Madam Zhang, sobbing uncontrollably, “Mother, are we going to die? Why did Father commit treason!”
Madam Wang, her face covered in blood, looked at the two of them and cursed angrily, “You brats, what nonsense are you talking about! Xincheng would never commit treason; this is all a conspiracy! A conspiracy!”
Madam Zhang let go of Zhan Liluo and grabbed Mrs. Wang’s hair, years of pent-up emotions finally erupting, “You old hag, it’s all because of you, it’s you!”
“Ungrateful wretches, cursed banshee!” Madam Wang, seeing that Madam Zhang no longer had any respect for her, also grabbed Madam Zhang’s hair, and the two grappled with each other.
Zhan Liluo, unable to walk, watched them fight. Before long, Madam Wang was pinned down by Madam Zhang, and her grey hair was pulled out in large chunks.
Zhan Liluo screamed in fright.
“Ah, don’t fight!”
Madam Zhang, not leaving empty-handed, was beaten to a pair of black eyes.
But regardless of how the two fought, the jailer acted as if he didn’t see a thing.
Xiao Chen walked over, and the jailer immediately stood up respectfully.
“Mr. Xiao, as you instructed, I didn’t interfere with them.”
“Hmm, keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t die. The case isn’t scheduled for trial for a few days.”
“Understood, sir!”
…
The envoys hadn’t left Ding’an City, and Zhan Xincheng’s crimes of treason had been relayed in full to Emperor Qingwu by Lu Zhong and Yang Wu, who was furious. For the sake of Nanjin’s reputation, he had no choice but to imprison Zhan Xincheng and others in the dungeons first.
As night fell, Si Yao heard her confidant say, “Your Majesty, just now, General Ye left the hostel alone. Our people followed him and found him going to the Jiao Fangsi.”
“He’s someone who usually stays away from women, why would he go to such a place?” Si Yao frowned deeply.
“He might be meeting someone, trying to divert attention,” the confidant whispered.
Si Yao suddenly stood up from her chair, “I’m going to see for myself.”
“But Your Majesty, how can you go to such a place?”
“I’ll disguise myself as a man, won’t that work?” Si Yao said coldly.
Under the night sky, the Jiao Fangsi was filled with the sounds of music and dancing, entertaining the guests.
Ye Xiuhan passed through Jiao Fangsi, climbed over the wall to the adjacent teahouse, where a servant guided him into the room. He opened the door to see Zhan Lan sipping tea inside.
“General Zhan, you are very punctual.” Ye Xiuhan entered the room and closed the door.
Zhan Lan smiled, “General Ye is as well. What brings you to meet me today?”
Ye Xiuhan sat across from her, his sharp phoenix eyes surveying the surroundings.
“It’s very safe here; no need to worry about being overheard,” Zhan Lan poured a cup of tea for Ye Xiuhan herself, “Thank you, General Ye, for your help today.”
Zhan Lan expressed her gratitude, and Ye Xiuhan remained composed, “As the sister of the Little Prince, General Zhan, he surely doesn’t want to see you get hurt.”
Zhan Lan curved her lips, realizing that Ye Xiuhan helped her because of Xiao Luobai, it seemed she had overthought.
Ye Xiuhan feared Zhan Lan would ask about the Martial Arts Arena, but luckily he had already prepared an explanation.
Zhan Lan put on a listen-to-business expression.
Ye Xiuhan looked into her beautiful eyes and said, “General Zhan, once this general returns, Beiyue might experience a change.”
Zhan Lan set down the teapot; Ye Xiuhan’s meaning was clear, he intended to help Xiao Luobai ascend to power.
For Zhan Lan, Xiao Luobai becoming the emperor of Beiyue was only a matter of time; after all, in her past life, he was.
She wasn’t particularly surprised, and was even a little happy for Xiao Luobai.
“That’s a good thing.” Zhan Lan looked back at Ye Xiuhan’s wise and deep eyes.
The more she looked, the more his nose seemed to resemble Mu Yan’s, and even the contours of his face were similar.
But upon closer inspection, he didn’t quite resemble him.
Zhan Lan was momentarily distracted, wondering why she had such a feeling.
“The Little Prince asked me to bring you a letter.” Ye Xiuhan took a letter from his chest.
Zhan Lan received it and opened it, seeing a line of words.
“May Nanjin and Beiyue always remain allies, just like you and me, sister.”
The envelope also contained a dried purple flower.
Zhan Lan burned the letter to ashes under the candle flame.
She reminded, “General Ye, do you know you brought a little tail today?”
Ye Xiuhan nodded, “Since General Zhan instructed me to come through Jiao Fangsi, I had guessed. I’m well aware of what Si Yao wants to do; the day the emperor of Beiyue dies will be her end as well.”
Zhan Lan raised her cup, “Dealing with you is a pleasure, General Ye.”
Ye Xiuhan clinked glasses with Zhan Lan.
“How’s your health?”
Faced with Ye Xiuhan’s sudden question, Zhan Lan felt somewhat puzzled, “Good, quite well.”
Ye Xiuhan gently swirled the tea in his cup, “That’s good.”
Fearing Zhan Lan might misunderstand, he added, “Perhaps General Zhan will have to go to the battlefield again, take care of yourself!”
Zhan Lan gave a bitter smile, “How I wish for peace in the world, for generals to retire, and soldiers to return to the fields, never to fight again!”
Ye Xiuhan sipped his tea, “Indeed.”
Zhan Lan gestured towards the direction of Jiao Fangsi, “Would General Ye like to watch a show?”
“Sure!” Ye Xiuhan rarely showed a smile.
Zhan Lan pushed the window open, seeing across the wall into Jiao Fangsi, where a cross-dressed Si Yao suddenly screamed, “Ah, what do you want to do!”