Su Pan’er and Qin Yi exchanged looks, each discerning a special aning in the other’s eyes.
Zhang Zhongding was tall and burly, clearly not soone to be trifled with. When walking down the street, even the brazen punks would actually initiate trouble with him?
There’s a problem, a big problem at that!
After the ssenger had left, Su Pan’er slowly spoke up, "What do you think, if Ke’er and Zhang Zhongding were to clash, who would win and who would lose?"
"Is that even a question?"
Qin Yi retorted with a question of his own but did not elaborate further.
Behind Zhang Zhongding stood a Commander, but behind Ke’er was none other than the Emperor himself! It was obvious who would win and who would lose. He also would not allow Ke’er to lose!
Both shifted the topic seamlessly, seeming to have no intent to ntion the matter again.
However, both understood that there would be no shortage of subsequent issues!
Indeed, as the New Year approached, the "accidental" incidents involving Zhang Zhongding and Su Ke beca more frequent.
One day, His Majesty summoned Zhang Zhongding and then assigned him a mission!
"Currently, I am far away from Shengjing, and Ah Mann’s illness is fluctuating; it truly worries endlessly. I originally intended for you to return to the capital, but considering you had been injured recently, I chose soone else. Yet now, I am in a difficult position..." His Majesty’s words tapered off.
Zhang Zhongding hurriedly stood up and paid his respects, "To accept the ruler’s money is to share the ruler’s worries. I do not know what troubles His Majesty, but although Zhongding is not gifted, I am willing to relieve Your Majesty’s concerns!"
"Excellent! Truly worthy of being Beloved Lord Zhang’s good son!"
Qin Yi was greatly pleased and praised him repeatedly. Then, with continual sighs, he said, "It’s about the grain transport. Although I have temporarily entrusted Cao Imperial Historian with this task, the grain transport is fundantal to Our Great Zhou and of utmost importance. It’s not reassuring to only send Cao Imperial Historian and the two officials there, especially now, as the New Year is approaching and it is the busiest ti for grain transport. I would like to send an additional capable young officer, both literate and martial, to accompany them. Alas, finding the right person... Ah!"
These words made Zhang Zhongding’s eyes light up!
He imdiately knelt down, "Your Majesty, your humble servant is willing to go and relieve you of this worry!"
Qin Yi’s expression was one of pleasure!
"Excellent! Truly worthy of being Beloved Lord Zhang’s good son, not arrogant nor impulsive, confident and spirited, very good! I grant you the greatest of authorities; should you find anything amiss, you have my permission to execute first and report later. Ensure the water transportation runs smoothly!"
"I obey the Imperial Decree!"
With the Imperial Decree granting him authority to execute first and report later, Zhang Zhongding quickly withdrew.
He could not help but feel a sense of strangeness in his heart. His achievents were not yet distinguished, and although his father stood before him, he was still uncertain if he could take on such a grave responsibility. However, the power granted by His Majesty imdiately dispelled his original concerns. He gathered his n and left Luoyan Village in a grand manner.
Su Pan’er naturally understood Qin Yi’s strategy.
Still, she frowned, "With such arrangents, might you not alarm the old fox in Shengjing?"
"Certainly, it will alarm him, but it depends on whether he can react in ti or not."
Qin Yi confidently looked at Su Pan’er, raising an eyebrow, "You don’t think that I, the Emperor, would have no contingency in Shengjing, do you? Rest assured, I believe that Brother Ye has already started taking action!"
A re Zhang Zhongding, he did not regard him in the slightest.
As long as the Commander Zhang is dealt with, Zhang Zhongding will be rendered incapable of causing any more trouble!
Ever since discovering the Yinrou power within Su Ke’s core, Qin Yi swiftly dispatched a ssage to Ye Han, asking him to investigate Commander Zhang. Commander Zhang’s martial arts style was unique, characterized by its sheer strength, showing no traces of the Yinrou technique. After Ye Han kept watch for so ti, he still found nothing of note.
However, the lack of discovery regarding Commander Zhang doesn’t an there was nothing to find on Zhang Zhongding!
Since Su Ke injured Zhang Zhongding with a feigned setback, Qin Yi had an inkling and covertly sent soone to pretend to be from Su Ke’s faction, to probe him several tis.
Indeed, at a critical mont, Zhang Zhongding threw another punch, which solidified Qin Yi’s suspicions once and for all!
The conclusion he arrived at left Qin Yi in a daze for a long while.
After all, Commander Zhang was a sworn brother who had gone through life and death with him. In the past, Commander Zhang and Old Cheng had stood by his side in battle, conquering the great lands for the Great Zhou. Now, just as he had discovered Old Cheng’s heart is here but longing to be sowhere else, he found out that his right-hand man was actually taking orders from soone else, which enraged Qin Yi!
While Su Pan’er was healing, he acted with a domineering decisiveness, ruthlessly purging everything related to the Valley of Ghosts!
Had it not been for Su Pan’er’s intervention, he would have razed the Ghost Valley to the ground as well.
"I know, you sent Zhang Zhongding away only to unsettle Commander Zhang in Shengjing, to make him slip up. But isn’t this too risky? After all, several children and Brother Ye are still in Shengjing." Su Pan’er was sowhat concerned.
"Without sacrifices, the wolf can’t be trapped. Besides, this child belongs to soone else."
Qin Yi gently patted Su Pan’er’s head: "Don’t worry so much. There is no perfect plan at this ti, what with man proposing and the Divine Will disposing. Everything now... relies on destiny!"
When you pull out the radish, the dirt cos with it!
This ti, by making a move against Commander Zhang, the situation in Shengjing was bound to change. However, why his mother ca back to life from death, why he was targeted by a sinister plot, and why that guard had carried him fleeing to the dock...
Ti has passed, and many mysteries remain in the past.
If Commander Zhang could harm an innocent newborn baby back then, such a person does not deserve to live!
With Su Ke and Zhang Zhongding having left, Luoyan Village seed to have cald down.
Under Qin Yi’s companionship, Su Pan’er quietly recovered from her injuries while they waited for the outco.
This particular year was the most peaceful one Su Pan’er had spent since arriving in this unfamiliar tiline.
She got up early in the morning as usual, changed into new clothes, took Little Yan Yan with her, and together with Qin Yi, they slowly walked along the Shuanghekou dock, tasting all the delicious food along the way and enjoying the scenery.
It was blissful and harmonious.
Afterward, officials from the nearby area began to visit in succession to celebrate. Qin Yi was once again plunged into busyness while Su Pan’er, on the other hand, beca idle, taking care of relatives from both the Qin and Su families and the neighboring villagers.
Having lived with them for a while, the simple villagers enriched Su Pan’er’s days.
Not long after the New Year, it was the Lantern Festival.
Su Pan’er and Qin Yi especially made a carp-shaped festive lantern for Little Yan Yan, as a birthday celebration for her.
Yet, to their surprise, Little Yan Yan, who usually cared a great deal about her birthday, seed unexpectedly sullen. When Su Pan’er inquired, she brushed it off, claiming to miss her brothers and sisters.
At this mont, Su Pan’er could never have imagined that when spring ca and they prepared to return to the capital, Little Yan Yan would leave a letter behind and disappear without a trace, with no clue as to her whereabouts.
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