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Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Emperor Xuanwu Gets Angry
Zhan Lan’s expression became serious, "Xiao Chen, help me bring out a team of Hidden Guards."
Xiao Chen naturally accepted a stack of silver notes, his delicate eyes looking towards her as he nodded and said, "Alright."
If it were an ordinary person, seeing such a large amount of silver notes would certainly surprise them, wondering about the origin of the silver notes.
But Xiao Chen wasn’t surprised; he knew Zhan Lan’s capabilities. If it weren’t for her poor judgment in falling in love with Si Jun in her past life, she would not have ended up with such an outcome.
In this life, as long as she is not misled by Si Jun again, she will surely turn the situation around drastically.
"Lady, what’s the codename for the Hidden Guard?" Xiao Chen respectfully inquired.
Zhan Lan looked up at the stars filling the sky and then towards the pitch-black night.
She spoke softly, "Let’s call it Dark Night."
They still cannot expose themselves under the daylight; they can only operate in darkness.
Just wait for the dawn!
"Alright!" Xiao Chen responded solemnly.
The two rode on horses, riding side by side, disappearing into the night.
Zhan Lan returned to the back courtyard in the middle of the night, where Liu Xi had been waiting for her without daring to sleep.
Only when Liu Xi heard Zhan Lan’s familiar footsteps did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Liu Xi was a very tactful servant who did not greet Zhan Lan until she had settled down to sleep.
Only then did she go to sleep contentedly.
...
The next morning, a rumor circulated in the main streets of Ding’an City.
"Have you heard? The Zhan Family Army defeated the Western Rong but didn’t receive any rewards!"
"That can’t be right, the Zhan Family Army fought bravely and shed blood; they should definitely be rewarded!"
"It’s said that General Zhan’s illegitimate son, Zhan Peng, harassed one of the emperor’s concubines, so their merits were canceled out!"
"What! Isn’t Zhan Peng a pretend son of General Zhan? How could the misconduct of a bastard nullify all the merits of the Zhan Family Army!"
"Indeed, ah, General Zhan also devotes himself wholeheartedly to the people, unambitious and unselfish. Anyone would feel uncomfortable in his situation!"
"I heard that General Zhan didn’t even complain about not being rewarded this time; instead, the soldiers who fought with him felt very emotional, feeling unfairly implicated by Zhan Peng!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, ah, the emperor shouldn’t let the actions of one bastard affect the whole Zhan Family Army!"
"Shush, keep your voice down; such disrespectful remarks should not be overheard by others."
Zhan Lan, wearing a veil, walked past the commonfolk, and hearing their voices, she smirked.
The two people who led the discussion behind her had received her silver and quietly blended into the crowd.
Since yesterday, starting from when Zhan Beicang and Kong Shen went to the Capital Government, Zhan Lan spent silver to hire people from the black market to spread the news throughout the city that Emperor Xuanwu, because of Zhan Peng’s fault, failed to reward the entire Zhan Family Army.
This news would definitely reach Tingyu Tower; under public pressure, Emperor Xuanwu will have to reward the Zhan Family Army again.
By then, it won’t be Emperor Xuanwu’s initiative but a coercion by the people!
Zhan Lan wanted the world to see how Emperor Xuanwu treats his subjects!
To see how he treats the soldiers who fought bloodily for his imperial power!
It’s also good for the people of Nanjin and other court officials to understand clearly.
...
Inside the palace, upon hearing the latest intelligence from Tingyu Tower, Emperor Xuanwu angrily overturned the table with its papers, ink, brushes, and inkstone.
The palace maids and eunuchs in the room were all frightened and knelt down on the ground.
He coldly ordered, "Everyone leave, Eunuch Li stay behind!"
Everyone bowed and left, closing the carved golden doors from the outside.
Eunuch Li quickly soothed, "Your Majesty, do not be angry. In my view, someone must be deliberately magnifying this issue, using public opinion to force Your Majesty to compromise."
Emperor Xuanwu’s pupils contracted, filled with royal wrath and authority.
He calmed his emotions and said, "Have the people of Tingyu Tower thoroughly investigate who is behind this. This person is adept at manipulating public sentiment, not a straightforward person like Zhan Beicang!"
Emperor Xuanwu suddenly thought of something and smiled faintly, "Wait, you just mentioned that tomorrow is the birthday of Zhan Beicang’s most beloved legitimate daughter. Send the reward to the banquet of the legitimate daughter; let the Zhan Family doubly rejoice!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Eunuch Li bowed.
...
At the General Mansion, in the separate courtyard of the legitimate daughter, Zhan Xuerou, supported by her maid Qiuyue, walked step by step in her own garden.
The beating she suffered on the mountain had indeed caused significant physical harm.
After such a long time, without support, she might fall after just ten steps.
Zhan Xuerou was covered in sweat; Qiuyue wiped the sweat from her forehead with a brocaded handkerchief.
Busy wiping Zhan Xuerou’s sweat, Qiuyue did not notice the path ahead. Losing balance, Zhan Xuerou tripped and fell.
Qiuyue also fell, pulled down by Zhan Xuerou, and scraped her knee.
Enduring the pain, she immediately helped Zhan Xuerou up.
"You idiot!" Zhan Xuerou scrambled up from the ground and shoved Qiuyue, causing her head to hit a nearby rockery, instantly bleeding profusely.
Frightened, Qiuyue immediately knelt down and cried, begging for mercy, "I’m sorry, young miss, it’s my fault!"
Zhan Xuerou glared at her fiercely and said, "You are utterly useless! What do I even need you for?"
Blood streamed down Qiuyue’s face, yet Zhan Xuerou was still not appeased.
Tomorrow was her birthday, and because of the fall, her hands were scraped.
She leaned on the rockery and kicked Qiuyue.
Crying, Qiuyue got up and kept apologizing, "Miss, please forgive me, I won’t dare again!"
Zhan Xuerou coldly watched Qiuyue, contemplating whether to replace this useless maid.
She glanced at the pond behind the rockery, thinking if Qiuyue drowned in the pond, could she then replace her with a more clever maid.
After all, she had hinted several times at Qiuyue to cause trouble for Zhan Lan, but the girl had always sloughed it off.
Since she couldn’t be of use, why keep her?
Plus, most importantly, Qiuyue knew too many of her secrets. If one day Qiuyue betrayed her...
Her benevolent image would be destroyed.
Zhan Xuerou’s gaze gradually turned fierce; only the dead can keep secrets!
Might as well kill her!
Zhan Xuerou pretended to be sympathetic and said, "Qiuyue, get up. I know it wasn’t intentional. I see the lotus flowers ahead—they are quite beautiful. Help me to the pond to pick some!"
Qiuyue was somewhat surprised; today, Miss Xuerou was unusually gentle. She wiped her tears and kowtowed a few more times to Zhan Xuerou.
"Thank you, young miss! Thank you!"
Zhan Xuerou, smiling, helped Qiuyue up, and with Qiuyue’s support, they walked around the rockery towards the pond.
She was utterly unaware of Zhan Xuerou’s cold, murderous gaze.
