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Chapter 112: Chapter 112 Crisis Looms
Zhan Lan, sitting beside Si Jun, observed that his asthma had improved a bit since before.
As long as he wasn’t subjected to major shocks, it was generally just a few light coughs.
Using her peripheral vision, Zhan Lan noticed Si Jun was watching her.
Gazing directly back, Si Jun abruptly dodged and turned to look at the Qingfeng Scholar, who was shaking his head and lecturing animatedly.
Zhan Lan knew clearly in her heart, after the confrontation with the Western Rong, Si Jun must have taken notice of her.
Just like in his past life, he wanted to manipulate people, using threats and temptations, stopping at nothing.
She feared that it was Si Jun who had spread the news of her severing the Western Rong Main General’s arm upon her return to the city.
Next, he would definitely spin a story from it, use this to make contact with her, help her, cause her to owe him favors, and afterwards, control her.
A shadow passed through Zhan Lan’s eyes, filling her with revulsion.
After school, she left the academy at once and made her way into the bustling market.
Shaking off the person following her, she quietly arrived at the underground palace of the Qilin.
That person who had followed her must have been Si Jun’s man.
Such pettiness!
Zhan Lan’s mood was heavy as she entered the underground palace of the Qilin.
Young Master paid no heed to Zhan Lan’s arrival.
Zhan Lan was baffled by Xiao Luobai’s attitude.
Just like the face of a child is like the weather in June, changing on a whim.
Xiao Luobai blocked Zhan Lan’s path and said, "You... why aren’t you using my Death Guard anymore!"
Only then did Zhan Lan understand why he was upset.
So, she patiently soothed Xiao Luobai, saying, "Young Master, sister truly appreciates you, and Long Kong and the others also helped me greatly, but people shouldn’t take undue advantage without end, right? Do you hope for your sister to be that kind of person?"
Xiao Luobai stood on tiptoe and met Zhan Lan’s gaze eye-to-eye, saying, "I’m as tall as you now, I don’t want you to be my sister anymore."
Zhan Lan folded her arms and looked at Xiao Luobai, clicking her tongue, "Indeed, you’re about to catch up to me in height!"
Zhan Lan gently patted Xiao Luobai’s shoulder.
Xiao Luobai’s ears turned red in an instant, and Zhan Lan teased with a laugh, "Oh, feeling shy, are we? Our Young Master is growing up!"
"I, the Young Master, am twelve years old now, I’m an adult, don’t speak to me like that!" Xiao Luobai huffed.
Zhan Lan nodded earnestly, "Yes, yes, Young Master the adult!"
While they joked and laughed, Granny Qi came out.
Zhan Lan approached her quickly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Judging by Granny Qi’s expression, there was likely news about the matter Zhan Lan had asked to be investigated.
Granny Qi dusted off non-existent dust from her sleeves and said to Zhan Lan, "Girl, one of the midwives you asked us to look for has been found."
Zhan Lan eagerly asked, "Where is she?"
Granny Qi sighed and said, "She died three months ago. Her children, who did not show her filial piety, did not live with her. She had been dead for three months, her body decomposed before it was discovered..."
Zhan Lan was struck as if by lightning as she listened to Granny Qi’s words.
A key witness was dead!
Granny Qi looked at the seemingly soulless Zhan Lan and said, "Girl, don’t be anxious, our people are doing their best to find the other midwife."
Zhan Lan came back to her senses and nodded, "Okay, thank you for your trouble, Granny Qi."
Granny Qi glanced at the Young Master, then at Zhan Lan and shook her head.
Their Young Master, unsuspecting and slightly confused, seemed to have taken a liking to this girl, Zhan Lan.
Yet, this girl treated the Young Master like a child, still unaware of what kind of interaction the two would have in the future.
"Can you treat me to a meal?" the Young Master suddenly tugged at Zhan Lan’s sleeve and asked.
Zhan Lan nodded, "Of course!"
"That’s great, let’s go now..." The Young Master was full of excitement, but Granny Qi said coldly: "No, Young Master, you cannot leave the Qilin Underground Palace."
Xiao Luobai stubbornly looked at Granny Qi and snorted: "I will!"
Granny Qi coaxed the Young Master in a soft voice, "Then you must train diligently. Once you turn fourteen, you can leave the Qilin Underground Palace, how about that!"
Zhan Lan had now also come to learn a bit about the Qilin Underground Palace; before she got close to the place, she knew nothing of their affairs.
It was not until one day that she found out the Young Master’s name was Xiao Luobai, which happened to be identical to the posthumous child of the Crown Prince Consort from the former dynasty of Beiyue.
By age, and from what was known of past events, it was highly likely that Xiao Luobai was the future king of Beiyue.
Yet, she had never met this legendary youth.
All of these were mere speculations of hers.
...
Meanwhile, after finishing his studies, Si Jun quietly entered the Heavenly Person Pavilion through a secret door.
Si Jun had made an appointment with Zhan Feng who, wearing a veiled hat, entered through the secret door and bowed to Si Jun, getting straight to the point: "Young Master Si Jun, I’ve been sleeping poorly for several nights in a row, feeling very anxious..."
Si Jun smiled slightly, "What, are you scared?"
"I’ve heard that my great-uncle has already requested an imperial decree from His Majesty to personally investigate the case of the stolen military provisions."
"That has nothing to do with you, you were at war then," Si Jun said casually.
Zhan Feng anxiously said: "But, those people recognize me, and over in the Western Rong, although Tuoba Hong is already dead, I don’t know if there were any letters of correspondence with me there!"
Si Jun’s gaze darkened, "Don’t worry, I heard that Tuoba Hong’s camp was completely burned down by a huge fire. Even if your great-uncle investigates and it leads to you, as his nephew, he will certainly protect you."
Zhan Feng heaved a sigh, "I hope so!"
Zhan Feng was starting to regret getting to know Si Jun. When he was twelve, he lost one hundred thousand taels of silver at a gambling den.
He was terrified; if not for Si Jun stepping in to settle matters, he might have been beaten to death by his grandfather.
It was two years ago that he and Si Jun ended up in the same boat.
He also discovered that Si Jun’s true identity was Emperor Xuanwu’s illegitimate son.
Si Jun was highly ambitious. A year ago, when he went to the border, Si Jun asked him to woo Tuoba Hong of the Western Rong.
Si Jun never showed himself in all of this, communicating only through Zhan Feng.
Si Jun promised that if the Western Rong were willing to send troops to help him ascend to the throne, he would cede several cities of Lianbian City to the Western Rong.
Moreover, Zhan Feng also had some pirate confidants in Chunshui City who were accumulating wealth for Si Jun.
Originally a timid person, Zhan Feng now found himself trapped on Si Jun’s ship, with no possibility of getting off.
Seeing Zhan Feng’s anxious demeanor, Si Jun said coldly: "Don’t rush, nothing will happen with me here."
Suddenly, Si Jun thought of something and said with a smile, "Right, Prince Yu has invited me to play football tomorrow, why don’t you join us?"
Zhan Feng nodded. Si Jun did seem to appreciate him; every time they went hunting or played football with Prince Yu, Si Jun would call him to join.
Prince Yu was Emperor Xuanwu’s most favored son, and showing his face more often in front of him might one day win Prince Yu’s trust!
...
Time flew by, and in a blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Zhan Beicang, by imperial order, finally caught a gang of pirates in Chunshui City.
He led his men to secretly escort the pirates to the capital.
Zhan Feng was completely unaware that Zhan Beicang had caught his men; he was still immersed in the joy of horseback archery and playing football with Prince Yu and Young Master Si Jun.
He was utterly oblivious to the crisis that was drawing closer step by step.
