Chapter 63 He surrendered to the emperor with five heads and confessed everything!
"Fairy...I...I..." Qi Zhan's lips trembled, and he was about to confess.
Ning Jinli thought he didn't believe her, so she said seriously, "I'm not lying to you. Just remember, Xiao Qidi will definitely unify the world and establish the Great Xuan Dynasty in the future!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Zhan was greatly alarmed.
Could Xiao Qidi really have accomplished something so extraordinary?
Through his observations over this period of time, he felt that Xiao Qidi could become a good ruler.
Unexpectedly, the fairy said he could unify the world!
It's important to understand that among the seven kingdoms vying for supremacy in the Central Plains, the Xuan Kingdom was not the strongest, and it also faced the covetous eyes of foreign tribes...
However, since Fairy Jinli spoke with such certainty, there was nothing to doubt.
"Yes, I understand," Qi Zhan said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
Ning Jinli winked at him, "You really have to do your best."
A genuine smile, brighter than the sun, touched Qi Zhan's heart once again.
Before he could say anything, Ning Jinli ran towards Xiao Qidi.
Qi Zhan stood there for a long time, watching Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi walk side by side in the fields, his complex expression gradually hardening.
At that moment, he made an important decision. He bowed deeply to the backs of the two figures from afar, then strode away with resolute steps.
Ning Jinli walked with Xiao Qidi in the field. Looking around, apart from the greenery in the cultivated fields, the surrounding area was still a vast expanse of barren land, with yellow sand and dry soil stretching to the horizon.
The idea of planting trees and creating forests popped into her mind.
“Little brother, besides planting crops, we should also start planting trees here,” she suggested.
Xiao Qidi said, "That's exactly what I was thinking. We can dig some seedlings from the southwestern border."
"The Medicine King Valley area?" Ning Jinli shook her head. "No, no, it's too much trouble, and that area has also been affected by the drought."
"Do you have a better idea?" Xiao Qidi asked.
Ning Jinli looked smug. "Of course! Let me tell you, in my time, our country had the best afforestation technology in the world. Many deserts have become oases."
Xiao Qidi's eyes lit up. "How can that be done?"
“We need to use drought-resistant and fast-growing plants,” Ning Jinli said, counting on her fingers. “For example, saxaul, oleaster, and willow, which can prevent wind erosion and fix sand dunes. Once it reaches a certain scale, it can form a virtuous natural water and soil cycle, and this place will definitely become a good place with favorable weather in the future.”
"Alright, then I'll leave it to Miss Ning!" Xiao Qidi said happily, clasping his hands in greeting.
Ning Jinli acted immediately, returning to the factory to contact the producers of drought-resistant plants to negotiate purchases.
In Linxian Village, Qi Zhan summoned five patrolling guards to a secluded corner.
"Big brother, have you decided to make your move?" someone asked, rubbing their hands together in anticipation.
Qi Zhan looked around at the group and said, “Although the six of us are not blood brothers, we have all worked under the Marquis for many years. Since you are willing to call me elder brother, I will naturally think of you as well.”
"No... why are you suddenly saying all this, big brother?"
The five patrolling guards looked puzzled.
Qi Zhan continued, "I want to advise you to pledge allegiance to the sovereign."
"What?!" The five people were shocked.
Immediately, someone angrily shouted, "What do you mean?! We could tolerate the delays before, but now that we've finally managed to infiltrate the patrol guards, although it's still not easy to get close to Xiao Qidi, there's still a chance, and you actually want to defect to him?"
Qi Zhan said sincerely, "Brother, listen to me first. You must have seen the Lord's abilities and character during this time. If we assassinate him, the Great Xuan will lose a great ruler."
“So what if we lose him?” the guard immediately retorted. “Our mission is simply to eliminate him! Even without him, there will be other rulers! The Marquis has his own plans!”
Qi Zhan continued to persuade him, "We don't know what the Marquis's plans are. Besides, even with the Empress Dowager's support, the Marquis doesn't have absolute power in the court. Are you so sure that the Marquis can defeat the Prime Minister in the future?"
"Enough with the nonsense!" One of the guards was already impatient, drawing his sword and coldly shouting, "The Marquis promised us a lifetime of wealth and honor after this is done. If we can help him completely control the Xuan Kingdom in the future, we can all be promoted and ennobled! Qi Zhan, don't ruin our plans, or don't blame us for turning against you!"
The other four guards also had cold expressions and slowly drew their swords from their waists.
Qi Zhan raised his hands. "Brothers, I don't want to fight you with swords drawn. Take my advice: it's not too late to choose to follow the Lord. Fairy Jinli has already told me that he will—"
Whoosh!
Before he could finish speaking, a long knife was already at his neck.
"Qi Zhan! Are you going to betray the Marquis?" A murderous glint appeared in the guard's eyes. "Do you know what happens to a traitor!"
Qi Zhan calmly said, "If we're talking about betrayal, it was Lord Hou who betrayed the Great Xuan Emperor first. I made this decision so that we brothers could abandon the darkness and embrace the light."
"Heh!" the guard sneered. "Even if Xiao Qidi rightfully ascends the throne, even if he wins a battle and pacifies the border with the help of a fairy at Xitun Pass, so what? He can't gain power in the court! The only right thing for us is to continue following the Marquis!"
Another guard held a knife to Qi Zhan's neck, threatening, "Since you've already decided to side with Xiao Qidi, we have no choice but to silence you."
Qi Zhan slowly closed his eyes, "Do you really intend to remain so stubbornly ignorant...?"
"You're the one who's stubbornly clinging to your delusions. Take care on your journey to the underworld. Considering how much you once cared for the brothers, we'll burn some incense for you later!" As soon as he finished speaking, the guard was about to slit Qi Zhan's throat.
However, in that instant, Qi Zhan violently shook off the two knives with both arms, took a half step back, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Don't force me to fight you."
Five guards, on high alert, surrounded him with knives.
"Qi Zhan, although your martial arts are the best among us, we are all top-tier experts!"
"You have absolutely no chance of winning against the five of us!"
"Stop your futile resistance! Just accept your fate and die!"
As the last word fell, the five guards simultaneously unleashed their deadly attacks on him!
About half an incense stick's time later, Xiao Qidi had just returned to his tent in Linxian Village and was about to have the army doctor change the dressing on his back. Before he could even take off his coat, a soldier guarding the camp came to report.
"Your Majesty, the patrol captain is carrying five severed heads... and requests an audience with you!"
"Um?"
Xiao Qidi's eyes showed a strange expression.
After a moment's thought, he immediately left the tent.
From afar, they could see Qi Zhan kneeling at the entrance of the camp, covered in blood, with five heads lying on the ground, and more than a dozen soldiers surrounding him with weapons in hand.
Xiao Qidi approached, "Qi Zhan, what do you mean by this? If I remember correctly, these five men were selected to be patrol guards along with you, and now you've killed them?"
"Your Majesty!" Qi Zhan kowtowed and said, "There is a reason for this, please allow us to speak privately."
Xiao Qidi nodded slightly to the soldiers guarding the camp.
Immediately, Qi Zhan was stripped of his weapons, stripped down to only his underwear, and then his hands were tied behind his back before he was taken into the camp.
Qi Zhan offered no resistance whatsoever.
Once inside the tent, Xiao Qidi casually glanced at him and said indifferently, "Not bad. You cut off the heads of five guards and emerged unscathed. Tell me, how do you explain your actions?"
Qi Zhan looked around and said, "Please dismiss your attendants."
Xiao Qidi waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to leave.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" Qi Zhan bowed deeply and said bluntly, "The five men and I were ordered by Marquis Le'an to follow you when you left the capital!"
Upon hearing the words "Marquis of Le'an," a chill flashed in Xiao Qidi's eyes, but he was not particularly surprised.
"Following me?" Xiao Qidi said coldly, "You want to kill me, don't you?"
Qi Zhan gritted his teeth and said, "That's right."
Xiao Qidi's face tightened, and he clenched his back teeth.
Qi Zhan then truthfully recounted how the six of them had followed him all the way, how they had disguised themselves as refugees to infiltrate Linxian Village, and how they had been selected to become patrol guards.
The atmosphere inside the tent was oppressive.
On such a hot day, it felt as if the air itself had frozen into ice.
Qi Zhan felt an invisible, oppressive aura firmly enveloping him.
After explaining the situation, he also revealed his true intentions in deciding to pledge allegiance to the emperor.
Unable to persuade the five men and facing execution, he had no choice but to bring their heads to the emperor.
Having said everything that needed to be said and explained, Xiao Qidi remained silent for a long time.
Qi Zhan kept his face pressed against the ground, not daring to look up, and even held his breath.
After a long silence, a deep, cold voice came from above, "Does the Empress Dowager know?"
Qi Zhan answered softly, "I don't know if the Empress Dowager knows..."
"Is it that you don't know, or that you're afraid to say?"
As soon as he finished speaking, accompanied by the sound of a blade being drawn, a long sword gleaming with a cold light was pressed against the back of Qi Zhan's neck.
Qi Zhan gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I truly do not know! If Your Majesty does not believe me, then kill me!"
Another silence followed.
The pressure is becoming increasingly apparent.
Qi Zhan silently closed his eyes.
Suddenly, with a whoosh!
Qi Zhan suddenly felt that his hands were no longer restrained.
"Get up," Xiao Qidi said expressionlessly, sheathing his long sword.
Qi Zhan breathed a sigh of relief, lowered his head, and slowly stood up. "Thank you for sparing my life, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, I think... the Empress Dowager is certainly unaware. If she knew that Marquis Le'an intended to assassinate you, she would definitely stop her. She is your birth mother; she would never stand idly by—"
"If you don't want to die, don't mention her again!" A vein suddenly bulged on Xiao Qidi's forehead.
Qi Zhan's heart skipped a beat. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Xiao Qidi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, clutched his chest, and asked, "Who else knows about the assassination attempt on me?"
Qi Zhan said, "This is a top secret matter. Apart from Marquis Le'an, there are only the six of us who are responsible for carrying it out."
"Have you secretly relayed the situation at Xitun Pass back to the capital?"
"Your Majesty, not yet."
"Very well, from this day forward, I hereby appoint you as the Patrol General, and you shall have full authority over all patrol guards. No one in Xitun Pass and Linxian Village may leave without my permission! If even one of them escapes, I will hold you accountable!"
"Yes, sir!"
Qi Zhan responded loudly.
It goes without saying that this was to prevent the ruling forces in Kyoto from learning about the situation at Xitun Pass, thus giving the emperor more time to develop his strength.
Otherwise, His Majesty would have already spread the news of defeating the Yu Kingdom's army and capturing the Yu Kingdom's crown prince.
Qi Zhan felt more at ease thinking about how this young king had accomplished great feats in pacifying the borderlands without announcing them to the world to prove himself, and how he could remain so calm. He couldn't help but look forward to the day when he would lead his army back to the capital.
I really want to see how those powerful and influential officials who don't respect the emperor will react.
...
At this very moment, at the factory, Ning Jinli had already contacted the supplier and finalized the purchase of drought-resistant plants.
They will be delivered in a few days.
While there was still time, she drove her Mercedes-Benz G-Class to the dealership where she had previously purchased it for maintenance and repairs.
"My goodness!" The receptionist exclaimed in surprise as she looked at the car, which was deformed, peeling paint, and covered in dust and mud. "Miss Ning, where did you take this car?"
Ning Jinli said, "I took a trip on the mountain road."
The receptionist looked pained. "This is a brand new car! You... sigh, it's a good thing you brought it in for repairs. If you had kept driving it like this, it wouldn't have been able to run."
"How long will it take to repair?" Ning Jinli asked.
The receptionist looked serious. "It's hard to say. We'll let you know when it's fixed. We have some spare cars in our shop. If Ms. Ning needs one, she can use it for now."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome, you're welcome. I'm glad you don't mind."
The receptionist led her to the garage, where there were only a few ordinary secondhand cars priced at tens of thousands of yuan.
Ning Jinli didn't mind; she took the car keys and drove off.
After leaving the car dealership, she planned to take Aunt Su to the villa in Lanyue Mountain Villa.
After Zhao Bin was arrested, once the lease expired, she had people clean and rearrange the villa inside and out.
"Aunt Su, are you home?" Ning Jinli asked over the phone.
"I'm at work," Aunt Su replied on the other end of the phone.
Ning Jinli was startled. "Going to work?! We're not short of money now, didn't I tell you to stay home and rest? Where did you go to work?"
"Oh dear, I can't stay idle," Aunt Su said with a smile. "Don't worry, Xiao Li, I just found an easy cleaning job. It's not tiring. The company is called... oh, Bao Yun Tang."
Ning Jinli frowned.
Bao Yun Tang?
Isn't this the same name as Master Wu's antique shop?
"Aunt Su, I'm coming to your place right now." Ning Jinli said, hung up the phone, and immediately called Master Wu.
She only found out after asking Master Wu that the antique shop she had visited before was actually a branch of a human company.
They also have a proper office building in the city center, with over a thousand employees.
“Miss Ning…you…are you going to Bao…Tang…Company…?” Wu Sanye’s voice came through the phone, broken and intermittent.
Ning Jinli asked, "Where are you? The signal is so bad."
After much effort in communicating with him, she finally understood that Uncle Wu had gone to another place on business and had ended up in a remote mountain valley.
Master Wu also said that he couldn't get away to come back, but he would inform the company president so that they could make preparations to receive this big boss.
After finishing the intermittent phone call, Ning Jinli drove straight to Baoyuntang Company.
Wu Sanye immediately called the company president.
However, the signal got worse and worse. He only told the president that the company's new big boss was coming over soon, and before he could describe the big boss's specific situation in detail, the call was cut off.
I couldn't get through no matter how many times I tried, and I couldn't even send a message.
At Baoyuntang Company, the president has already issued orders to all departments, requiring them to make preparations as soon as possible, to make a good impression on the new big boss, and to ensure that there are absolutely no mistakes.
As instructions were relayed down the chain of command, the cleaning staff responsible for maintaining cleanliness throughout the company were kept extremely busy.
"Su Qinglan, clean the drainage ditches on both sides of the entrance! Hurry up!" The person in charge of cleaning work passed by the entrance and happened to see a cleaner there, so he casually assigned the task.
"Okay, okay." Su Qinglan put on rubber gloves and crawled into the ditch.
She was adept at this dirty and tiring work, and quickly scooped out a large clump of silt and garbage, placing it next to the drainage ditch.
"Holy crap!" Suddenly, an exclamation rang out.
Su Qinglan quickly looked up and saw a young man in a suit and slicked-back hair cursing, "Who the hell put this pile of garbage here?! They've dirtied my shoes!"
“You are…” Su Qinglan looked at him more and more familiarly.
After looking it over, I finally recognized it.
Isn't this Xiao Li's ex-boyfriend, Zhao Bin?
Su Qinglan wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm and greeted him with a surprised smile: "Xiao Bin! You work here now?"
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