To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 299 If Xiang Ta isn't eliminated, neither you nor I will have peace.

"teacher!"

Fusu turned to look at Zhang Fan and exclaimed, "I truly never imagined that this major coal theft case, which alarmed Father Emperor, would be resolved so easily under your strategic planning!"

"Without firing a single shot, the thief was caught red-handed and brought to justice! Teacher, you are truly a divine being!"

Upon hearing Fusu's words, Zhang Fan's tense nerves relaxed, and his expression softened.

"It's really relaxing. The trouble is finally resolved, and I can finally rest."

Zhang Fan chuckled and patted Fusu on the shoulder. "Fusu, you've been working tirelessly these past two days, drafting documents and mobilizing troops to cooperate with my 'bitter scheme.' You must be exhausted. The situation is now settled; you should take Mofeng back to the manor to rest!"

Fusu was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Teacher, aren't you coming back with us? The case has just been closed, where are you going?"

Zhang Fan's lips curled into a smile as he straightened his robe and replied:

"I'm going to meet an acquaintance and also to discuss the remaining tasks."

Having said that, Zhang Fan didn't elaborate further and turned to leave at the other end of the street.

……

It was evening.

In the depths of the death row in the Changzi County government office.

The place is shrouded in darkness, and the air is thick with the smells of blood and mildew.

"Cough cough..."

Inside a cell, Xiang Ta looked desperate and panicked, huddled in a pile of straw.

In just one afternoon, his long gown was reduced to tattered rags, and his body was covered with whip marks and branding marks, clearly indicating that he had just undergone severe torture.

With each breath, a sharp pain shot through my chest.

"I can't admit it... I'd rather die than admit it..." Xiang Ta gritted his teeth and swore in his heart, enduring the pain.

Fortunately, in order to act discreetly, he did not carry any tokens that could prove his identity as a member of the Xiang clan when he came to Shangdang.

As long as he denies being a member of the Xiang family, the authorities will at most consider him a wandering bandit from Jiangdong and behead him; they will absolutely not implicate his uncle from Kuaiji County.

Just as Xiang closed his eyes, preparing to tough it out.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

A few slight noises came from the corridor outside the cell.

Immediately following was a muffled thud!

The jailer guarding the death row cell was knocked unconscious!

Xiang opened his eyes and struggled to climb to the wooden fence.

By the light of the fire, he saw several masked men in black rapidly approaching his cell.

"Click!"

With a soft click, the lock on the cell door was pried open by the man in black.

Upon seeing this, Xiang's lifeless eyes burst forth with wild joy!

"Help! Did my uncle send men to rescue me?"

Xiang was so excited that he trembled all over. He even began to fantasize about how, after escaping, he would tell his uncle Zhang Fan's true colors and then return to take revenge!

He tried to stand up and, in a low voice, called out to the man in black who entered the cell:

"Quick! Take me away..."

However, he didn't have a chance to say those words.

"Pfft!"

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh echoed in the cell.

The ecstasy on Xiang's face froze. He looked down, staring incredulously at his chest.

A dagger plunged to the root of his heart, and excruciating pain exploded within his chest.

"you……"

Xiang raised his head and stared at the man in black in front of him.

The man in black didn't speak, but looked down at him with indifference in his eyes.

Then, a smile appeared on the corner of the man's mouth beneath his mask.

With a flick of his wrist, the man in black drew the poisoned blade.

A stream of black blood gushed from Xiang Qi's chest.

The poison took effect extremely quickly; Xiang couldn't even scream, and his pupils dilated rapidly.

They didn't come to save me... they came to kill me and silence me!

Is it Ji Honglou's secret Chu connection?

Or... were these Jiangdong assassins sent by my uncle to eliminate any future threats?

Filled with resentment and doubt, Xiang Ta's strength dissipated, and he slowly fell backward, crashing onto the pile of straw.

To the death!

Those eyes were fixed on the top of the cell, their gazes unwavering in death.

……

As the guards changed shifts, a series of terrified screams soon echoed from the depths of the death row.

Half an hour later, an urgent secret report was delivered to Zhang Fan, who had just returned to the government office and was about to have a cup of hot tea.

Look at the bamboo slips!

Zhang Fan's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air.

With a "crack," the fine white porcelain teacup was knocked onto the table, splashing scalding hot tea all over the table.

"Is this never going to end?!"

Zhang Fan gritted his teeth, his face extremely gloomy.

Almost the instant I saw this intelligence, a beautiful figure appeared in my mind.

His original plan was to keep Xiang in a death row cell, keeping him hidden and using him as a pawn to be played.

As long as Xiang Ta doesn't die in his hands, that old fox Xiang Liang will have to be hesitant to act rashly!

They wouldn't dare to pull any drastic, desperate measures in the shadows!

But now!

This chess piece was actually killed right under my nose!

In Changzi County, who else but the one in Ji Honglou could possess such extraordinary abilities and such ruthless methods?

"Prepare the horses!"

Zhang Fan abruptly stood up, strode out of the government office, and didn't even call out to the guards accompanying him.

He rode alone, leaving everyone else in the dust, heading straight for the center of Changzi County.

Not long after.

The Ji Honglou plaque then came into Zhang Fan's view.

Tonight, Ji Honglou is still bustling with people, and the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments can be heard all night long.

The pimps and madams greeting customers at the door saw Zhang Fan's menacing appearance and were about to step forward with smiles to stop him, but they were frightened by a single look from Zhang Fan and retreated to the side.

Ignoring everyone else, Zhang Fan stormed up the stairs and headed straight for the top floor attic.

"Bang!"

Without any polite knocking, Zhang Fan pushed the door open forcefully.

A gentle breeze blew in through the open window, causing the sheer curtains to flutter.

Beside the rosewood tea table inside the room, Mi Yueyao was still wearing a fiery red dress, her long black hair casually tied up.

With extremely elegant movements, she held a small silver teapot and slowly poured boiling tea into the teacup.

Hearing the door open, she showed no sign of panic, not even a tremor in her hand as she poured tea.

Only when the water was seven-tenths full did Mi Yueyao gently put down the silver pot, raise her captivating peach blossom eyes, and look at Zhang Fan, who was standing at the door with a face full of anger.

"Xiang is dead!"

Zhang Fan strode into the room, his hands gripping the tea table tightly. He looked down at her, his anger palpable.

"In the death row of the Qin Dynasty, they even used a deadly poison that kills instantly upon contact with blood!"

"Did you send someone to do it?"

Despite Zhang Fan's accusation that he wanted to eat people, Mi Yueyao remained calm and composed.

She bowed slightly, picked up the cup of freshly brewed hot tea on the table, gently blew on it to warm her lips, and then took a small sip.

The aroma of tea filled the air!

Mi Yueyao parted her red lips slightly and let out a soft laugh.

"Why is Young Master Zhang so angry?"

Mi Yueyao put down her teacup, looked up at Zhang Fan, and said gently, "If Xiang Ta is not eliminated, neither of us will have peace."

"The young master's decision to imprison him in the death row is indeed a good bargaining chip to restrain Jiangdong. But he is, after all, a direct descendant of the Xiang clan. How could Xiang Liang sit idly by and watch him fall into the hands of the Great Qin Black Ice Guard?"