Chapter 166 Evening Conversation

"Mother, if you can save both face and substance, that would be best. But if you don't have substance, what's the point of saving face? Please think carefully. No matter what you choose, I now have the confidence to be your retreat."

Seeing Xu Yinxi's huge change, Lian was both moved and shocked.

If Xu Yinxi used to be a gorgeous peony kept in a greenhouse, now she is a proud plum blossom standing alone in the cold wind.

She...seems to have grown up a lot and changed a lot.

"Miss Xu Si!" Someone on the street called her softly.

When they looked up, they found that it was Qian Zhenniang and Fang Ningmo waving at her on the street.

Xu Yinxi quickly greeted them with a smile, "You guys are done with your work too? Why haven't you gone home yet?"

Fang Ningmo and Qian Zhenniang seemed to have just seen Lian and quickly saluted her.

Fang Ningmo smiled at Xu Yinxi and said, "The City Lord will definitely work all night to deal with the refugees today. We'd like to meet up and discuss any countermeasures."

Lian saw that the two girls were a little uncomfortable seeing her here, and thought that they were talking about political affairs, so it would be difficult for her to interrupt. Of course, she knew what was going on and said with a smile, "You girls, chat, I'll go back first."

After the others watched Lian leave, Fang Ningmo pulled Xu Yinxi aside and said, "I heard that Moxiang Bookstore has teaching materials for the elementary literacy class today. Let's go check them out!"

Fang Ningmo pulled Xu Yinxi and Qian Zhenniang towards the study.

The three girls walked into the study hand in hand. The boss seemed to recognize Fang Ningmo. Fang Ningmo winked at the boss as soon as she entered the door, because Xu Yinxi noticed that the boss closed the door and left after they entered.

Fang Ningmo then said, "My cousin has something he wants to discuss with everyone. I have no choice but to trick you all here. Let's go upstairs first—"

Seeing this mysterious posture, Xu Yinxi and Qian Zhenniang were both puzzled. The three of them went up to the library on the second floor, where they saw several rows of bookshelves in the corner and several soybean oil lamps lit in the room, making everything in the room dim.

The window was open and there were sounds of footsteps and voices passing by below.

There was a person sitting on the long table, and it was Fang Xun.

When these four people met, the atmosphere in the room was a little strange. If someone didn't know the situation, they might think they were having a secret meeting here.

Qian Zhenniang originally felt that it was inappropriate for a single man and a single woman to be in the same room, but seeing Xu Yinxi's calm expression, she was no longer afraid of anything.

The city lord said that when a man and a woman are in the same room, is there nothing else they can do except having a tryst?

They are talking about serious business!

Thinking of this, Qian Zhenniang's expression finally calmed down a little. Seeing Fang Xun and Fang Ningmo's serious expressions, she couldn't help but ask, "But what happened?"

But Xu Yinxi thought more.

She and Qian Zhenniang have sensitive identities. They are both Xu Zhenying's right-hand men and the people closest to Xu Zhenying.

However, the Fang siblings called both of them to a secluded place at the same time. It was obvious that the matter they were discussing was of great importance.

"Please take a seat, ladies." Fang Ningmo gestured for them to take a seat.

Fang Xun and Fang Ningmo exchanged a glance before Fang Xun slowly asked, "Why do you think the city lord is taking in refugees?"

Qian Zhenniang was a little confused.

Hasn't this issue been discussed already?

The city lord also explained it clearly, so why did the Fang brothers and sisters seem to not believe it?

Qian Zhenniang was about to speak, but subconsciously glanced at Xu Yinxi.

Xu Yinxi didn't say anything. She sat there, neither humble nor arrogant, with a pair of eyes as cold as snow, making it impossible for people to approach her.

Qian Zhenniang's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Among these four people, it seemed that except for himself, none of them believed what Xu Zhenying said.

So is Xu Zhenying lying, or are they just overthinking and speculating?

Xu Yinxi smiled faintly. "The City Lord has already made this issue very clear. The world is in chaos, and no place is safe. Only by strengthening ourselves can we have the ability to protect ourselves. The City Lord is prepared for a rainy day and wants to be ahead of you and me in everything. Does Mr. Fang think there is something wrong with that?"

Fang Xun shook his head.

This Xu Yinxi's ability to speak in an official tone is even better than his.

He also knew that if he didn't tell the truth first, Xu Yinxi would never open up to him.

"Well, Miss Xu is wary of me and won't tell me the truth. But I am loyal to your Xu family."

Xu Yinxi interrupted him with a smile, "Mr. Fang is not loyal to the Xu family, he is only loyal to my sixth sister. You need to make this clear."

Fang Xun sighed, "Miss Xu Si, you and I have been through so much together, there's no need to hide it all. We all work for the City Lord. I trust you, and you should trust me too. I asked you all to come here just so we can discuss things. This way, we won't be unable to grasp the City Lord's thoughts, which would make it difficult to carry out the rest of our work."

Xu Yinxi restrained her expression this time, "Mr. Fang, please speak."

"Okay, I'll tell you the truth." Fang Xun took a deep breath and looked at the two beautiful faces opposite him. These people might be his future allies. He fully trusted them and was willing to give them his back without reservation.

"The city lord... should be rebelling."

As soon as these words were spoken, only Qian Zhenniang's breathing became disordered.

Fang Xun stared at Xu Yinxi and saw that she didn't look shocked. He wondered if Xu Yinxi had guessed what Xu Zhenying was thinking, or if Xu Zhenying had already told Xu Yinxi about this?

"Miss Xu, with that expression on her face, does it mean she already knew about this?"

Xu Yinxi shook her head. "I just heard you say that, too."

Fang Xun didn't believe it. "You two girls are always with the City Lord. I don't believe you are completely unaware of his thoughts."

Qian Zhenniang was shocked and said, "To be honest, I never knew. How could we possibly guess what the City Lord is thinking?"

Fang Xun asked, "If the City Lord had no such intentions, why did she start training new soldiers as soon as she entered Lan County? Why did she send Xu Huiming and others to open up new trade routes? Why did she take in so many refugees at once? Fourth Miss Xu also said that the City Lord always plans ahead. If she had no intention of rebelling, why would she cultivate land, store food, and recruit soldiers? Don't tell me you can't see the City Lord's ambition to conquer the world!"

Qian Zhenniang couldn't utter a word to refute it, but she subconsciously believed that rebellion was punishable by the death of nine generations of her family. Naturally, she couldn't imagine that Xu Zhenying would actually rebel. So she hurriedly said, "The city lord is a girl. How could she possibly want to rebel? What can she achieve by rebelling? Is she trying to become emperor? Have you forgotten that the city lord is a woman?"

Fang Xun stared at Qian Zhenniang and said word by word, "What's wrong with being a woman? The City Lord is more outstanding than thousands of men in the world. If you look at her actions, she dares to think and act boldly. Sometimes her ideas are as incredible as those of a god. She dares to be the first in the world, so why doesn't she dare to create a precedent for a woman to be emperor?"

Qian Zhenniang's body shook, as if she couldn't believe it.

But for some reason, she couldn't refute Fang Xun's words.

Xu Zhenying is a person who cannot be judged by common sense.

Other women might not even dare to think about rebelling, but for her, Xu Zhenying, there was nothing she was afraid of!

Perhaps, there is nothing in this world that the city lord dares not do, and there is nothing she cannot do!

Fang Xun's originally thin figure has gradually grown up due to better living conditions. His skin is very white. Although he looks thin, he already has the bearing of a handsome young man, especially his eyes, which are now looking at Xu Yinxi deeply and calmly.

"Miss Xu Si, I don't believe that with your intelligence, you didn't notice the city lord's ambition."

Xu Yinxi smiled calmly, but her words were somewhat heartless. "Your Fang family is leaving soon, so why bother about these things?"

Fang Ningmo became anxious and said immediately, "Fourth Miss Xu, please don't hide this from us now. To be honest, the Zhou family is our Fang family's enemy. My grandfather was loyal to them, yet they annihilated our entire family! Moreover, the Zhou family members are cold-hearted and unfit to rule the world! If the City Lord is truly determined to conquer the world, even if it means leaving the Fang family and disobeying my grandfather, I am willing to follow him and fight!"

"Leaving the Fang family and disobeying grandfather?" Xu Yinxi's lips curled up, and it was hard to tell whether it was mocking or contempt. "You two, if Mr. Fang is determined to leave, do you think you can still stay in Lan County?"

Fang Xun hardened his heart, "If that's the case, I can only use my life to force Grandfather to submit!"

Xu Yinxi was stunned for a moment, and there was a rare confusion in her eyes.

Sixth sister, how can you bewitch so many people?

Why do all people follow you willingly?

She couldn't help but ask, "Rebellion is a matter of one general's success and thousands of bones. Now the city lord only occupies a piece of the city, and you are willing to follow her regardless of everything? Do you know what kind of crime it is to be discovered in rebellion?"

Fang Xun's throat rolled, and his eyes were filled with an incomprehensible eagerness and madness. "Miss Xu Si, after seeing the world created by the City Lord, there is no way I can go back to where I was. Her world is so beautiful that I would rather die than create that heaven with her!"

Fang Ningmo also said, "Miss Xu Si, you and I are women. In this chaotic world, we can either follow the city lord and be appointed as a marquis and prime minister, setting a precedent for women, or be exchanged for a bushel of grain like Li Zhaodi, or be cooked and eaten like Yin Zhang... If I don't want to end up in that situation, I can only fight for myself and for all women in the world."

Xu Yinxi's heart was filled with indescribable excitement. She felt like she was walking on a dark road, and now she finally met one or two like-minded people on the road.

Fight for all women in the world!

Cut through the thorns and brambles, no matter what!

"I understand." Xu Yinxi remained calm, just as she had been when she was with Xu Zhenying. Her face seemed expressionless, as if no emotion had changed. "Since you've been so open with me, I can tell you with certainty that she... is indeed planning a rebellion!"

After these words were spoken, the three people in the room had different expressions.

There is panic, excitement, and fear.

"In the Lan County government office, there's a map of the Zhou Dynasty. I once saw her holding a lamp at night, carefully observing the mountains, rivers, and streams on it. Later, I noticed she'd made many marks on it with charcoal. I guessed she planned to capture Lan and Ye counties first, then Jinzhou and Qianzhou, and finally move south."

Qian Zhenniang was terrified.

Whether it was her meticulous care for Xu Yinxi or her cautious silence, Xu Yinxi discovered such a big secret of Xu Zhenying, but still walked around him as usual every day. This determination and intelligence were far better than hers!

"This is why the city lord wanted my cousin and Feng'er to go south to open up new trade routes. They brought with them recipes for making salt and sugar, which will help us establish an intelligence network and provide us with money. This is also why the city lord is accepting these 40,000 refugees at once. Once these 40,000 refugees arrive, Ye County and Lan County will be connected. With just a year of training, the city lord will surely be able to train an invincible army, and then we can take Jinzhou Prefecture directly."

Fang Xun stood up suddenly, his mind suddenly feeling clearer, as if all the confusions he had previously had were now cleared up. "Besides you, who else knows what the City Lord is thinking?"

"I guess there's Feng'er...Jiang Yongkang."

"Why isn't Xu Huiming here?"

"Although the City Lord values ​​the Xu family, he doesn't trust them. Furthermore, the Xu family has been good citizens their entire lives, so it's impossible for them to rebel. Rather than spending time convincing them, I think the City Lord will choose to keep it a secret. When the truth can no longer be hidden, when the matter is irreversible, then there's no need to say more; they should have guessed it."

"Then why did Jiang Yongkang know?"

Xu Yinxi pondered for a moment. "After the Spring Festival, he met privately with the City Lord and was away for more than ten days. I guess the City Lord must have told him some secrets that were inconvenient for us to know. So I think Jiang Yongkang should also know about it."

Fang Xun narrowed his eyes again and asked aggressively, "What about you, Miss Xu? What do you think?"

However, Qian Zhenniang could no longer keep up with the two people's thinking.

So Xu Yinxi had already guessed the city lord's plan?

Even Feng'er knows what the city lord is thinking?

Only at this moment did Qian Zhenniang realize the gap between herself and Xu Yinxi. Xu Yinxi was able to restore the broken fragments to their original appearance through just these few words. Such logic and meticulousness were truly terrifying.

What kind of people are around the city lord?

"Me." Xu Yinxi smiled faintly, her eyes slightly narrowed, a little sad, but also resolute. "Miss Ning Mo and I think the same thing. Only by following the city lord can I show my value. Otherwise, waiting for me is only the square world in the backyard. Fang Xun, you are a man, you will never understand what it feels like for an eagle to be locked in a cage-"

Fang Ningmo was slightly moved.

We are all women and we feel the same way.

Do these women have any other choice except to follow Xu Zhenying and break the rules of this world?

How could an eagle that has seen the vast world be willing to be trapped in a cage?

Fang Xun laughed loudly. The young man's laughter was somewhat arrogant and a little crazy. "Okay, very good! Since everyone agrees, then let's do as the city lord said and overturn the sky!"

Compared to the excitement of the Fang siblings, Xu Yinxi seemed much calmer. She took a sip of tea from her cup and said quietly, "The road ahead is long and arduous, and I will continue to search for it. Young man, the road ahead is still very long. You'll have to put your head on the line and work for at least twenty years."

Thinking of the current predicament of Lan County, several people could no longer laugh.