Xuanzhu County, Youth Daily office.
It was already after work hours, the sunset was falling, Qing Lan with the look of a pretty widow showed an expression of awkward joylessness, forcing herself to greet the junior editors.
Now that Jing Zhengwei, the gatekeeper, wasn’t around, Mu Qingi, the bootlicker, finally had a chance to spread her wings, calling "sister" at Qing Lan before and after, even inviting Qing Lan to go on a date at Stone Street by the gate, hoping to elevate the subordinate relationship to that of close confidants.
Qing Lan didn’t refuse, after all, she wouldn’t have anyone to dine with upon returning ho.
As they left the newspaper office and got into the car, they suddenly noticed the noise on the main road and curiously asked, "What’s happening over there?"
The female driver, Mi Die, glanced over: "Seems like the Heyang Army has entered the city? Lady, do you need to know more details?"
"I’ll go check!" Mu Qingi volunteered, skillfully grabbing paper and pen, getting out of the car and running towards the main road, like a seasoned paparazzi.
She wasn’t so skilled because she often conducted interviews (Youth Daily is all false fabrications, needing no interviews), but because she honed her abilities through spying on Jing Zhengwei and Qing Lan.
If Qing Lan were to see her notebook, she would definitely be furious enough to order Mu Qingi to wear a white stocking glasses maid outfit to work from then on—don’t ask why it’s a white stocking glasses maid, anyway, Qing Lan never wore one.
At this mont, Qing Lan rubbed her hands with unease, looking at Mi Die in the rearview mirror: "Um, Sister Mi..."
"What’s the matter, lady?"
"Can you stop calling that in future?"
"Why, lady?"
"Because I’m still not one!" Qing Lan answered: "You calling that in front of others makes embarrassed, what if the young master hears it?"
"Wouldn’t that be even better?" Mi Die remarked in surprise.
"Just don’t call that anymore."
"If I didn’t see you acting like you lost a husband these past few days, I wouldn’t bother flattering you, girl. Humph, not appreciating kindness." Mi Die pouted.
"I wouldn’t be happy!"
"Can you suppress your raised lips before saying that? An experienced woman like , I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice; I know what you’re thinking." Mi Die said.
Qing Lan was furious and anxious: "If you keep being rude, I’ll tell the young master!"
Mi Die looked indifferent: "Fine, I don’t really want to work here anymore anyway?"
Qing Lan was startled: "Ah, why?"
"The young master has offered a generous sum for my retirent, and of course I agreed." Mi Die tapped the steering wheel lightly: "Besides, my skills aren’t sufficient, I’m not young anymore. The young master didn’t have ti to groom a team, guardians of my caliber aren’t qualified to protect you anymore."
"Moreover, my two children are grown now, it’s ti for to go ho and spend more ti with them. Didn’t have money before, that’s fair; now that I have so, I have no excuse not to go ho."
Qing Lan blinked: "You... were you making excuses not to go ho before?"
"Not really making excuses, just if I can not go back, it makes things much easier for ." Mi Die said calmly: "Because many of their troubles, even if I went back, I couldn’t solve."
"When I said they were being bullied by other kids it’s only one aspect, the other reason is my husband has an incompetent brother. Quite a portion of money sent ho was given by the old folks for my uncle’s relief, the uncle’s kids would even snatch their toys and food. But I can’t question the old folks—sending them to look after the children is my only choice."
"Every ti before leaving, looking at their eyes filled with reluctance, I still feel..."
Mi Die shook her head: "Sad."
Qing Lan promptly said: "Then hurry and go back, the Jing Family no longer needs you, off you go!"
"Don’t worry, it’s not as serious as I said." Mi Die smiled: "Those two kids are mine, how could they be pushovers? They’re already teenagers and can defend themselves now."
"Moreover, I can’t bear to abandon the young master. I’ve protected him for more than ten years, watching him grow from a little brat expelled from his ho to now the Patriarch of the Jing Family, there’s a bit of sentint."
Qing Lan murmured: "Perhaps you’ve taken him as a brother?"
"I don’t have such a brother... The rumors you heard before are mostly true." Mi Die suddenly said: "The young master was indeed a villain addicted to slaughter. I initially thought you wouldn’t escape this fate, yet strangely he changed after you ca."
"Although others still have many misunderstandings about him, I’m the one closest to him, and I can clearly feel that he has indeed changed."
"Changed to be mature, kind, sympathetic."
"Therefore, my calling you lady is not entirely a joke. As for the shackles of status, you don’t need to worry about it at all."
"Maybe..." Mi Die softly said: "People don’t necessarily have to accept fate."
Bang!
Mu Qingi squeezed back into the car and said loudly: "You definitely can’t guess what’s happening outside!"
Qing Lan nervously asked: "Is it the Chenfeng’s arrival?"
"The young master of the Ting Family is back with the army!" Mu Qingi enthusiastically said: "Now everyone is guessing if sothing happened in the Ting Family, and whether he’s returning with the army to seize power."
Qing Lan’s expression slightly changed.
As the Silver Blood negotiation group approached Linhai Army, the young master of the Ting Family chose this ti to return to Xuanzhu County...
If it’s not just coincidence...
If everything is indeed the result of gears shing...
Qing Lan held her forehead in a daze.
She recalled the young master’s remarks about Silver Blood’s deliberations, recalling the news from the past few months, her thoughts uncontrollably ca to one conclusion—
The negotiation group is dood.
...
...
Bronze Bell Town military camp.
This factory temporarily converted into a command post was extrely oppressive.
The corpses of two assassins had been cleared away, but the ss on the dining table remained as before, like a reminder of whose domain this is.
The light felt as heavy as if pressing on everyone’s shoulders.
Lanyan’s right hand shone brilliantly, gently wiping the shoulder’s wound, stopping the bleeding imdiately, and scabs were even starting to form.
dical Officer’s exclusive inner scenic battle technique!
Lexue watched, his eyebrows wildly jumping: "General Lan is truly versatile."
Lanyan donned the soldier’s coat handed over: "Without family connections spanning heaven and earth, no wealth accumulated for generations, no loyal and reliable subordinates, naturally, I have to learn a bit of everything, do everything myself."
"Actually, there’s no need for you all to be tense." He smiled: "You are all valuable individuals, and valuable people never need to worry about being obsolete. You may not believe , but you must believe in the vast wealth accumulated by your respective business guilds. Even if I am furious, for the sake of the military pay, I will favor you."
With these words, a breath of relief rippled through the mbers of the Silver Blood Association, even Lexue’s tense and excited spirit relaxed slightly.
Indeed, we have money!
Even if Lanyan doesn’t like us, could he dislike money?
Finally, Ting Chao Zao rembered his duty and said gently: "General Lan, we are here representing the Silver Blood Association to form an alliance with Linhai Army, and whatever Linhai Army needs in terms of military funds or materials, they can discuss with our Silver Blood Association."
"The Silver Blood Association is willing to beco General Lan’s support and Linhai Army’s support."
"General Lan..."
At this mont, Lanyan slightly raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.
"Before discussing cooperation, I must fulfill the agreent I have with the president of the Silver Blood Association."
Quan Xin was taken aback: "What agreent? Does General Lan have a contract with President Ting?"
"Oh, not a contract, just a verbal agreent." Lanyan looked around: "Actually, I didn’t expect President Ting to understand my hint, but as the president of the Silver Blood Association, dominant in Dongyang for decades, his decisiveness and courage indeed earn Lanyan’s admiration."
Everyone exchanged looks, Luo Zhen asked: "May I ask what the agreent is."
"You know of this agreent too." Lanyan said calmly: "I once asked the president of the Silver Blood Association to et with ."
Lan Jianbo said: "We understand, but because President Ting is of advanced age, we few have co to represent the president to et General Lan..."
"No, no, no." Lanyan shook his head: "I an no offense to you, but I cannot negotiate with you."
"Not only because you’re not the current president, but also because our alliance cannot have any restraints, nor can it be publicized; it can only be an agreent kept in the hearts of both parties. An agreent between two people might be leaked, an alliance among seven will only beco a widely known story."
"Furthermore, even if President Ting is elderly, why not send an agent instead of sending several business guild successors?"
"It’s because I and President Ting already have a consensus."
Lanyan clasped his hands together, his eyes emotionlessly swept the room.
"The next president of the Silver Blood Association, will be chosen by ."
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