Chapter 28 Dealing with Si Jun

Zhan Lan squinted, thinking about her past life. In three years, her cousin from the Wang Family would become the richest man in Jiangnan.

Members of the Wang Family kept dying, and he became the sole heir. Moreover, his crippled legs were cured, he married a wife, and had children.

Such a series of bizarre events.

She found a file in Tingyu Tower showing that the County Magistrate who handled the case was caught for a corruption scandal, which included a bribe of ten thousand Silver Tael given by her cousin from the Wang Family.

Thinking about it this way, everything suddenly became clear.

Corruption among officials had become the norm.

Zhan Lan reflected: Throughout history, the peak of any dynasty didn't last more than three hundred years, and now the Nanjin dynasty had begun to reveal various problems.

Domestically: The emperor indulged in Taoist practices, engaged heavily in construction, imposed heavy taxes, and officials led by Mu Yan were naturally corrupt, bandits roamed freely, nobles and high officials annexed commoners' land, leaving the people in misery.

Externally: In two more years, the borders of Nanjin were going to face multiple crises.

All these were signs that Nanjin dynasty was gradually heading towards its demise. If it weren't for the Zhan Family's absolute loyalty, perhaps Nanjin would have perished even before Si Jun could ascend the throne!

An hour later, an elderly man with white hair was carried back, and Zhan Lan rose from her seat.

Granny Qi burst into tears the moment she saw the old man.

"Old man!"

Alchemist Qi, weakened by his lengthy imprisonment, opened his eyes, smiled at Granny Qi, and then closed them again.

"Quick, take the old man down."

After everything was settled, one of the Hidden Guards whispered something into Granny Qi's ear.

Granny Qi responded and turned to speak to Zhan Lan:

"Young lady, we from Qilin Underground Palace will take over your business."

"Bring out five thousand Silver Notes for this young lady!" the old lady ordered someone behind her.

Zhan Lan hadn't expected Granny Qi to be so straightforward.

The case regarding the Wang Family had not been confirmed, but she had already paid half of the Silver Notes to her.

But who dares to fool Qilin Underground Palace!

If she had deceived Granny Qi, she would probably be captured no matter where she fled to.

Zhan Lan put away the Silver Notes close to her body.

Granny Qi asked, "How can we contact you if we find out anything about Granny Qi?"

"I'll come here often!" Zhan Lan got up to leave, waving her hand behind her.

"What a peculiar girl!" After sending off Zhan Lan, Granny Qi immediately went to take care of Alchemist Qi.

...

At Marquis Lin Yuan's Mansion, a Protector hurriedly came to report to Si Jun, who was about to go to bed.

"Young Marquis, something bad has happened, Alchemist Qi has been kidnapped!"

"What did you say!" Si Jun abruptly rose from the bed, coughing violently due to his agitation, gasping heavily.

Servants anxiously went to get medicine for the Young Marquis.

"Go find him, dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but bring him back to me!" Si Jun's usually calm and gentle eyes turned fierce.

Ever since he was young, he had asthma, which caused him great suffering, until his Death Guard captured Alchemist Qi, who had been searching for medicinal herbs in the wilderness.

Over three years, his condition had been controlled, and he had not experienced a coughing fit like today's in a long time.

The intense chest tightness made him panic, and he did not want to endure this pain any longer.

But only the damn Alchemist Qi's medicine could help him manage his condition.

He had also tried having someone monitor Master Qi while making the medicine, but strangely, no matter how others ground the powders, they could never get the dosage right.

Si Jun now completely depends on Alchemist Qi!

He coughed vehemently, swallowing a mouthful of the medicinal powder soup that the maid served.

These medicines could only be taken for three days at most; Alchemist Qi must be found within this time!

Who could it be? Someone who knows about his secret prison. If he finds them, he will surely tear them to pieces!

...

In the middle of the night, Zhan Lan returned to the back courtyard of the General Mansion to catch up on sleep. As soon as Dugu Yan woke up in the early morning, she discovered that Zhan Lan had gone out again.

She really found it strange. Where had Zhan Lan gone now? Didn't she need any rest?

Little Black also looked out of the window longingly, suddenly barking.

Dugu Yan covered Little Black's mouth, and Zhan Lan entered, carrying a large parcel on her back.

"You're back, how did you..."

Zhan Lan gasped for air, putting down the large bundle on her back, causing a buzzing sound on the table.

"It's fine, don't be so careful. The Lady has gone to worship Buddha, open it quickly!" Zhan Lan wiped the sweat from her forehead and stretched her sore shoulders and neck.

Dugu Yan opened the bundle and was immediately stunned. Then her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "These are my family's purple-gold hammers!"

Zhan Lan nodded, gulped down some water, Dugu Yan's hammers were indeed very heavy.

Purple-gold is a casting material even higher grade than meteoric iron. Its characteristics are heaviness and hardness, used for making heavy weaponry.

"Where did you get the silver? The last time I went to redeem them, the shopkeeper said it would cost a thousand taels of silver!" Dugu Yan lifted the two hammers, tears streaming from her excitement.

Zhan Lan, while marveling at Dugu Yan's strength, said, "It's nothing, I gave that fortune-telling place a lot of silver last night!"

Dugu Yan set the purple-gold hammers down, and bowed deeply to Zhan Lan, "I will slowly repay you!"

Zhan Lan casually waved her hand, "Just focus on your training. Maybe one day I will need your help, and you can repay me then!"

Dugu Yan nodded vigorously, "I will!"

Zhan Lan ruffled her hair. In her past life, in order to save her father, Dugu Yan pawned the family heirloom, the purple-gold hammers, and only reclaimed them at the age of thirteen.

In this life, she got the purple-gold hammers back even earlier.

Starting her training of the Dugu Family's ancestral martial arts at the age of eleven would surely lead to Dugu Yan's success sooner.

However, why did Dugu Yan's gaze seem to become more and more infatuated? No, it was admiration.

Dugu Yan put away the purple-gold hammers, thinking to herself: Fairy Sister, indeed Fairy Sister, she had never mentioned the purple-gold hammers to anyone, and yet Zhan Lan knew about them.

From now on, she would follow the Fairy Sister!

"Miss Zhan Lan, Miss Liu Xi is here," Xiao Tao's voice came from outside.

Liu Xi entered, and Dugu Yan closed the door behind her.

Zhan Lan pulled out a hundred silver taels and placed them in front of Liu Xi, "Tomb-Sweeping Festival is approaching, you helped me last time, take these hundred silver taels to refurbish your father's tomb, and keep the rest, you might find it useful."

Liu Xi looked at Zhan Lan in astonishment, bowed and said, "Miss Zhan Lan has already avenged this servant, I cannot accept this money."

After having silver, Zhan Lan felt much more confident, indeed, sometimes money truly was the foundation of one's confidence.

"This money, you will need it soon, enough chit-chat, take it."

Zhan Lan added, "This silver is not stolen, you can rest assured, and don't feel pressured, if you do feel pressured, do me a favor."

"Please tell, Miss Zhan Lan," Liu Xi said with a grateful look, finally accepting the silver.

Zhan Lan reminisced about the past life; Liu Xi was very useful in the end, it was better to have her in her own camp.

After a conversation, Liu Xi left the back courtyard quietly.

...