...

Inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Dongfang Tinglan and Dongfang Yelei stood facing each other, while Gong Beize and Shen Qiu stood on the long corridor of the lakeside pavilion.

It wasn't that Gong Beize didn't want to stay by Dongfang Tinglan's side, but rather that he understood the importance of the blueprint that Dongfang Yelei had produced to Dongfang Tinglan, and he didn't want to put her in a difficult position or leave her with any regrets.

Dongfang Tinglan looked at the image of the "Shennong Order" on the paper in her hand, her face grim and terrifying, and asked, "Who gave it to you?"

The pattern on this "Shennong Token" is so clear that it must have been seen by someone who has seen the real thing. Apart from the elders in the pavilion and people of power and status, no one knows what it actually looks like.

Dongfang Yelei immediately realized that Dongfang Tinglan must have seen this thing before, but whether it was in her possession was hard to say.

It seems the "adult" has found the right person.

“A mysterious person gave it to me and asked me to help him find this item, and he is certain that it is in your possession.”

Dongfang Tinglan asked, "Male or female?"

"A man."

Dongfang Tinglan frowned. This person could not possibly be her senior brother. Her senior brother had never been interested in the "Shennong Token," so how could he possibly be looking for it?

If that's the case, that person must hold a high position within the pavilion, since it would be useless for ordinary people within the pavilion even if they obtained it.

"What does the other person look like? How old are they?"

Dongfang Yelei said, "I don't know, he shouldn't be that old. He always wears a mask when we meet."

Why did you choose to tell me this?

Logically speaking, they are in cahoots, so why did Dongfang Yelei do this?

Could it be that Dongfang Yelei had a change of heart and betrayed the company?

Is that possible?

Dongfang Tinglan still didn't believe he would change his ways.

Dongfang Yelei said, "He wants to see you."

"See me?" Dongfang Tinglan asked, somewhat puzzled.

Dongfang Yelei nodded and said, "Yes, he said he wants to see you. There are some things he needs to talk to you about alone."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Tinglan hesitated.

On one hand, she also wanted to know what that person's purpose was. Originally, she wondered who was behind this, targeting the Dongfang family. Now it seemed that she was the one who brought disaster to her parents, and her second brother was probably a pawn being used because of his ambition.

On the other hand, she also understood that going to the appointment alone might be dangerous and would worry her family.

After a moment's thought, he asked, "When?"

In the end, she decided to go and see who this person was and why he did this.

Dongfang Yelei was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and said, "Anytime is fine with me if it's convenient for you."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Tinglan pondered for a moment and said, "Five o'clock this afternoon."

Dongfang Yelei said, "Okay, I'll let him know for you."

Immediately, Dongfang Tinglan put away the blueprints and left the pavilion in the middle of the lake first.

Upon seeing this, Gong Beize immediately went to greet her and asked, "What did Lan'er say to you?"

"We'll talk about it when we get back."

Gong Beize nodded, and then the two quickly left.

As Dongfang Yelei watched the two leave, a smug sneer appeared on his face. "My lord, I have completed the task you assigned very well."

His face immediately turned sinister. "You were the one who was ruthless first, so don't blame me for being unjust."

He then left the pavilion in the middle of the lake, and Shen Qiu followed him.

-

Dongfang Tinglan and her companion returned to the old man's courtyard. It was already lunchtime. Dongfang Tinglan asked Aunt Hui, who told her that the two elders had already gone to sleep. The two then went directly to their own room.

Inside the room, after the two sat down, Gong Beize poured a cup of tea for Dongfang Tinglan and himself. Dongfang Tinglan drank it all in one gulp and then slowly said...

"The person behind Dongfang Yelei wanted to see me, and I agreed."

Gong Beize frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Why did you agree?"

He didn't believe his wife would agree to Dongfang Yelei's request for no reason; there must be some reason she couldn't refuse.

Dongfang Tinglan looked at Gong Beize and said, "The people behind him are very likely from Shennong Pavilion."

Immediately, Dongfang Tinglan handed the blueprint she had obtained from Dongfang Yelei to Gong Beize. Upon hearing this, Gong Beize frowned, took the blueprint, opened it, and immediately said, "Isn't this the pattern on your 'Shennong Token'? Did he show it to you?"

Dongfang Tinglan nodded and said, "Although I haven't seen Dongfang Yelei for a long time, I know his character. He's ambitious but lacks the guts to do something. If there weren't people pushing him from behind, how would he dare to take such a risk?"

If he had the heart and guts, he would have had plenty of opportunities over the past twenty years. Moreover, she was not in the Dongfang family at that time, and Dongfang Yi was still young. That would have been the best time, so why did he choose to make his move only now?

Upon hearing this, Gong Beize pondered for a moment and said, "When?"

Dongfang Tinglan said, "I'll go alone at five o'clock this afternoon. Dongfang Yelei will tell me the location later."

Gong Beize frowned and said, "I don't agree with you going alone. Do you know how dangerous it is? Even if you know that the other party is from Shennong Pavilion, it doesn't mean that the other party is not dangerous. People's hearts are unpredictable, and so many years have passed. Neither you nor I know what Shennong Pavilion is really like."

"Once Xue'er and the others return, we can all investigate together and find out the truth. I won't allow you to take the risk alone."

How could he possibly let her go to the battlefield alone? It was too risky, and he would absolutely not agree to it.

Hearing this, Dongfang Tinglan was deeply moved and smiled, saying, "I didn't plan to go alone. If I were going to go alone, I naturally wouldn't tell you these things. The reason I told you is so that you could protect me from the shadows."

I'm not that stupid to believe Dongfang Yelei. He's clearly up to no good, and there must be some problem between him and the person behind it all.

"I suspect that Dongfang Yelei's failed poisoning attempt this time might be the trigger for the breakdown of their alliance. Or is it that the person behind the scenes really wants to see me, or that Dongfang Yelei is planning to use me for something? These all need to be confirmed one by one."

Hearing this, Gong Beize was still uneasy. He did not want to put Dongfang Tinglan in danger at all. Moreover, he was in the dark and could not protect her closely, which meant there were too many unknown possibilities.

Therefore, Gong Beize remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Dongfang Tinglan knew that Gong Beize was still worried, so she took his hand and comforted him, "Beize, I know you are worried about my safety, but while I am your wife, I am also myself. I am an adult and capable of handling these things. You need to learn to trust me."

Hearing this, Gong Beize explained with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, "It's really not that I don't trust you, it's just that this matter is too dangerous, I admit I'm timid and scared."

It took him decades to finally awaken her, and they had only been together for a short time. She was truly afraid of the consequences of losing him.

He never wanted to repeat his bleak past.