However, Zhang Lan didn't have much ti to settle down.
A knocking sound, urgent like a soul being pulled, echoed outside the door!
"Open up! Routine investigation by the Feather Forest Guard!"
Wei Zhi shouted.
Inside the room, Zhang Lan's pupils contracted, and his fists clenched suddenly. How could it be so fast!?
"Don't move for now!"
Zhang Lan stared with wide eyes and stopped the Great Yu craftsn who were handling the black fire inside the room!
His mind raced, frantically thinking about an escape plan.
If he were caught here, with the evidence and the charge of treason, it would undoubtedly lead to the extermination of his entire family!
What to do… Even Zhang Lan, who was usually calm, had beads of sweat the size of soybeans forming on his forehead.
Suddenly!
His eyes narrowed, a hint of determination appeared on his face, and he took out a jade bottle from his bosom. He shouted to the craftsn around him, "Co over and take these pills!"
...
anwhile, the knocking on the door beca more intense!
Wei Zhi: "Inside, listen up. I'll give you ten counts. If you don't open the door, I, as a Feather Forest Guard, will break in and conduct an investigation!"
"Ten, nine, eight..."
When he counted to two, the heavy small door creaked open!
Zhang Lan, wearing a forced smile, appeared.
Wei Zhi was stunned, "Lord Zhang?"
Zhang Lan smiled at him, hiding the nervousness on his face, and then shifted his gaze to Sima Qin, who was behind in his robes.
"Pri Minister, I didn't expect you to co so early..."
"Zhang Lan, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, is this your privately-run workshop?" Sima Qin seed sowhat unsurprised, just narrowing his eyes and looking at Zhang Lan with so confusion.
During the day, the female Emperor had said that if he admitted in advance, he could get a lighter punishnt. Sima Qin was present at the ti, so why didn't he speak up?
"Heh, I was a little confused for a while. I didn't expect Her Majesty to notice so quickly. I was originally planning to move out early tonight to avoid any trouble. I didn't expect the Pri Minister to arrive so soon..."
Zhang Lan had a regretful expression.
"Do you still want to take a chance? You! Really disappointing for an official of the Great Jing!" Sima Qin, seeing Zhang Lan's willingness to confess, felt relieved and reprimanded with so heartache.
The remaining trace of doubt was dispelled.
"Yes, yes… I deserve the Pri Minister's reprimand."
With his head down, Zhang Lan's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness.
"What were you secretly running here?" Sima Qin asked, and the scribe behind him began recording.
"It's nothing. I just wanted people to make so clothes, snacks, and... I just wanted to evade so taxes. I didn't expect such bad luck. I admit my mistake!"
Zhang Lan laughed again, with a look of helplessness on his face.
"Now that you know you're wrong, let's go in and take a look."
Sima Qin stepped inside.
"Pri Minister, do we need to bring the soldiers in?" Wei Zhi asked cautiously.
Sima Qin hesitated.
Zhang Lan's eyes flashed with a keen light, and he quickly said, "Forget it, Lord Wei. The space inside my workshop is small, and we can't move around with so many people… Moreover, I am under the Pri Minister's nose. What tricks can I play?"
Wei Zhi was taken aback. Zhang Lan seed sincere in what he said, and he didn't have the ability to play tricks himself.
"Just Wei Zhi and the scribe, you two co in. Other Feather Forest Guards can rest here," Sima Qin said calmly.
The three walked in front, observing the surroundings of this small workshop.
Zhang Lan followed behind, counting his steps.
Suddenly!
A sinister smile appeared on his face.
"Co out!"
With a command from Zhang Lan, about a dozen dark figures rushed out from the corner, holding tools like fire tongs and shovels in their hands.
Their path was imdiately blocked!
They surrounded Sima Qin and the other two!
At the sa ti, Zhang Lan forcefully crushed a formation stone.
An invisible energy barrier shrouded the sky above this small workshop!
Wei Zhi's eyelids jumped, and a bad premonition arose. "Soundproof barrier!?"
"Oh! Lord Wei has sharp eyes. Indeed, it's a soundproof stone... To prevent you from yelling and disturbing the neighbors next door!"
Zhang Lan's mouth curled up, completely dropping the disguise at this mont. The smile on his face was incredibly sinister!
...
Gu Lan, in disguise, confird again in a puddle by the road and finally walked onto East Straight Street with peace of mind.
The night wind blew, rustling his clothes.
His figure was enchanting, like a demon ready to reap souls.
However!
Just as Gu Lan arrived at the street, he noticed sothing unusual about that black fire workshop!
"A barrier?"
Gu Lan swept his spiritual sense and saw about a hundred Feather Forest Guards resting in front of the thick and low iron gate. He imdiately understood that sothing must have happened inside!
And whatever happened inside.
The soldiers outside were still unaware!
"If it's an imperial inspection, how could it be possible to keep the Feather Forest Guards uninford?"
Gu Lan didn't disturb anyone.
With a sense of doubt in his heart, he lightly stepped, and his figure appeared on the roof ridge of the main house of the black fire workshop, just like during the day.
But what he saw this ti.
It was a much tenser situation than during the day!
"Brother Wei is actually inside... Looks like he's been surrounded?"
Gu Lan had a good impression of Wei Zhi. Seeing a familiar face, he was slightly surprised. His gaze then fell on Sima Qin in a purple robe, but he didn't recognize who this person was.
However, after a mont of insight using the Qi-Insighting Technique, Gu Lan was amazed to discover that this old man was unexpectedly a Destiny of blue rank!
...
At this mont!
Sima Qin took a quick glance around and instantly knew Zhang Lan's plot. He stared at him with a sharp look.
"Zhang Lan, did you plan to assassinate us since you ca out to greet us just now?"
"Of course!"
At this point, there was no need to hide.
Zhang Lan revealed everything shalessly. "There's no way. Pri Minister, you are so anxious. Couldn't you wait until tomorrow morning to investigate? You had to co and die tonight!"
Alright, this old man is Sima Qin. No wonder he has such a high Destiny... Gu Lan pondered.
Recalling the introduction of him in the original work.
Sima Qin, a loyal and courageous minister! Holding the position of Pri Minister, he had high prestige in the court. He spent his entire life laboring for the affairs of the Jing Nation, never bending the law for anyone!
It could be said that if he didn't oversee the overall situation in the court.
With the female Emperor believing in the prophecy of the old Director of Astrology and leaving the palace, the Great Jing would probably not last more than a few months. The national fortune would co to an end!
A well-known good official... Gu Lan had a new perspective on him.
Now, looking back down!
After Zhang Lan's ambitious plan was exposed!
Sima Qin sighed deeply, looking at him with regret. "Zhang Lan, you've only committed the cri of running a private business. Why go this far?"
"If you kill today, there will be no place for you in the Jing Nation anymore."
"Why bother? Why not return to the court with , apologize to Her Majesty... I promise not to ntion the killing intent you had tonight."
When these words ca out, Zhang Lan was stunned for a mont, then burst into laughter! Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
Sima Qin and Wei Zhi frowned.
At this mont!
But hearing Zhang Lan laugh, "Pri Minister, do you really think those behind are just clothes and snacks? You still have ti... Why not go see for yourself what they really are?"
This ti, Sima Qin was stunned.
Imdiately after, Wei Zhi lifted the black cloth covering the table, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
"It's sulfur and saltpeter!"
"You... Are you secretly manufacturing firearms?"
Wei Zhi saw through it with a single statent, shouting in astonishnt.
Sima Qin also frowned, "Zhang Lan, dare you set up a black fire workshop outside the Ministry of Works? Are you planning to rebel!?"
"Hehe, so what... Now you two can be clear about your fate, right?" Zhang Lan grinned, no need to explain too much to them.
The sinister look in his eyes signaled the craftsn behind him.
The craftsn continued to approach a few steps!
Wei Zhi drew his sword to protect Sima Qin in front of him, with a stern look, "Zhang Lan! Do you think that you, a few ordinary people, can harm the Pri Minister in front of ?"
Snap!
As soon as he spoke, a match lit up in the dark night!
Making everyone present tense!
Zhang Lan held up the match, slowly approaching the pile of gunpowder enough to turn everyone into ashes, with a cold tone:
"Heh, I certainly don't expect them to be able to kill you."
"They... are just here to detain you for !"
"Wei Zhi, Sima Qin! If you don't want to blow up this street right now, I advise you not to resist futilely!"
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