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

Chapter 294 The feeling of being betrayed must be unpleasant, right?

If Zhang Fan is in Jiangdong, then who is this Zhang Fan who was "kidnapped" in Changzi County?

Which news is true?

If it was the Xiang family who did it in Changzi County, why did the news leak out so quickly, and even get embellished and spread like wildfire as gossip?

Xiang's face turned pale and then red. He gripped the teacup tightly in his hand, a strong sense of unease suddenly rising in his heart.

The waters of Shangdang County seem to be much deeper than he imagined!

"Young Master, the current situation is so strange, what should we do?" The middle-aged steward, seeing Xiang Ta's uncertain expression, couldn't help but lower his voice to ask for instructions.

Xiang took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

"No rush! No matter how wildly the rumors spread, they're just baseless gossip. Our important task is to deliver this batch of 'goods' safely to Ji Honglou first!"

"Hmm...we'll send it in through the usual coal trading channels!"

……

Time flew by and it was already evening.

As night falls, the streets of Changzi County gradually quiet down, but the Ji Honglou in the city center lights up with red lanterns on time, still presenting a brightly lit and extravagant scene of luxury.

The top floor of Ji Honglou was isolated from the outside noise, making it exceptionally quiet.

Mi Yueyao, dressed in a red dress, leaned lazily against the window.

She toyed with an exquisite jade hairpin in her hand, her gaze passing through the half-open window as she quietly observed the turbulent night outside, seemingly plotting something.

On the mahogany bed behind her, Zhang Fan, who was tied up in a "T" shape, was actually snoring softly.

After struggling to no avail and confirming that Mi Yueyao wouldn't take his life for the time being, Zhang Fan simply resigned himself to his fate!

Since there was no way to resist, he simply closed his eyes and fell fast asleep, sleeping soundly.

Just then, a series of hurried but light footsteps came from outside the door.

"OP!"

A subordinate dressed in black spoke respectfully from outside the door, his voice tinged with seriousness, "We just received news that the group of Jiangdong merchants who entered the city during the day secretly bribed some of our servants to bring all their goods in through the side gate in the back courtyard!"

The sudden announcement sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Zhang Fan, who was in bed, was awakened by the noise. He smacked his lips sleepily and opened his sleepy eyes: "Ugh... what's all the noise about in the middle of the night..."

Upon hearing the report, Mi Yueyao, who was by the window, suddenly lost her languid expression.

A chilling light shone from her beautiful peach blossom eyes.

Ji Honglou was a place of strict rules, and for a servant to dare to let someone in with goods for money was simply crossing her bottom line.

"How dare you!"

Mi Yueyao's voice was extremely cold. Without the slightest hesitation, she immediately ordered through the door, "Dispose of all those servants who accepted bribes and secretly released goods. Leave no one alive!"

"Yes, sir!" The subordinate outside the door was startled and immediately replied.

"besides!"

Mi Yueyao turned around, her gaze icy as she looked towards the door, her tone chilling with murderous intent, "Go and examine it carefully! I want to see what these rats from Jiangdong have gone to so much trouble to send in!"

There was a moment of silence outside the door.

Not long after, the footsteps of that subordinate rang out again.

This time, however, his steps were chaotic and disordered, and even through the door, one could hear the shock and panic in his voice.

"OP...OP!"

The subordinate's voice trembled violently, "I've opened the crates and inspected them! Those large wooden crates brought in by merchants from Jiangdong weren't filled with ordinary goods at all; they were... they were all sharpened weapons and fine iron armor!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Mi Yueyao's languid aura vanished instantly, and her beautiful face was immediately covered with frost.

Zhang Fan, who had been lying in bed pretending to be asleep, suddenly shuddered, his back instantly breaking out in a cold sweat, and he became completely awake.

Armor?

Zhang Fan felt a chill run down his spine.

Under the laws of the Qin Dynasty, possessing a few weapons at most resulted in exile, but possessing armor, even just one set, was a clear-cut crime of treason!

Once verified, they will surely face the extermination of their entire clan!

Those bastards from the Xiang family, their trick of using someone else to do their dirty work is too ruthless!

"What are you standing there for? Let me go right now!"

Zhang Fan struggled desperately against the silken ropes binding his limbs, shouting at Mi Yueyao at the top of his lungs, "See? This is your trusted ally? That old fox Xiang Liang had already planned his escape route!"

Zhang Fan, panting heavily, stared intently into Mi Yueyao's eyes: "He smuggled the weapons and armor used in treason into your territory, and then tied me, the imperial envoy, to your hands. Once the officials search, you, Ji Honglou, will be unable to clear your name even if you jump into the Yellow River! He's using you as a scapegoat to appease the Qin Dynasty's wrath!"

Mi Yueyao stood still, not replying immediately, but her face gradually darkened as Zhang Fan spoke, becoming so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

She's incredibly smart, how could she not understand the intricacies involved?

At this critical juncture, the Xiang family forcibly stuffed evidence of treason into Ji Honglou's possession, clearly indicating that they had no intention of leaving her any way out.

From the very beginning, Xiang Liang only regarded her as a "pawn" that could be discarded at any time!

Once the truth comes out, the Xiang family can simply walk away, while all of Ji Honglou's hundreds of people will be slaughtered!

Mi Yueyao gripped the jade hairpin tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force, her chest heaving violently, clearly enraged.

The sealed room fell into a suffocating silence.

Zhang Fan nervously swallowed, looking at Mi Yueyao's frosty face, fearing that this woman might do something crazy and desperate in a fit of anger.

Time passed by, second by second.

After hesitating for a long time, Mi Yueyao finally suppressed the murderous intent in her eyes, replacing it with an extremely calm and resolute look.

Without a word, she turned around, walked quickly to the bedside, and pulled a gleaming dagger from her sleeve.

Several cold glints flashed swiftly, and the tough silk ropes binding the four corners of the bed were all snapped.

Zhang Fan felt his limbs loosen, and he finally regained his freedom.

He stretched his limbs, looked at Mi Yueyao who was furious and her face was as cold as ice, and instead of being afraid, he couldn't help but chuckle:

"How does it feel to be betrayed by that old fox?"

Zhang Fan stood up, patted the wrinkles off his clothes, and looked directly into her eyes:

"Xiang Liang's move of killing two birds with one stone is truly ingenious. He not only wants to condemn you, Ji Honglou, to the death penalty for treason, but he also wants to use this batch of armor to nail me, the imperial envoy of Qin, to the pillar of shame for 'treason and collusion with the enemy'! When Qin is enraged and thoroughly investigates Shangdang, the Xiang family of Jiangdong can easily escape and reap the benefits."

Upon hearing this, Mi Yueyao gritted her teeth in anger.