Chapter 50: I Want to Find a Man for My Master!

Watching Zhou Huai’an’s murderous expression, the terrified Zhou Er answered in a trembling voice, “I... I don’t know...”

“You don’t know?”

That answer nearly drove Zhou Huai’an insane.

His most beloved son was dead.

And this damned servant actually claimed he did not know who the murderer was.

What use was there in keeping such trash alive?

“Why wasn’t it you who died?”

Just as Zhou Huai’an was about to kill Zhou Er, the Grand Elder rushed forward and caught his hand.

“Family Head, this is not the time to deal with Zhou Er. If he dies, won’t our Zhou family be letting the murderer escape punishment?”

The Grand Elder’s reminder brought Zhou Huai’an back to his senses.

Indeed, Zhou Er was the one who knew everything.

If he killed Zhou Er, how would he avenge his son?

With that thought, Zhou Huai’an glared at Zhou Er with bloodshot eyes. “Speak! What exactly happened? How could my son have been killed for no reason?”

Desperate to stay alive, Zhou Er immediately recounted everything that had happened after he had gone out with Zhou Hao the previous day.

When he finished, everyone in the entire council hall was stunned.

No one could have imagined that Zhou Hao had died simply because he had been blocking someone’s path.

Furious, Zhou Huai’an roared, “By my order, seal off the entire Cloudreturn City! Capture the murderer who killed my son at once!”

“At the same time, bring me that bastard Shen Lang. I want him buried with my son!”

Hearing the madness in Zhou Huai’an’s voice, the Grand Elder frowned deeply. “Family Head, capturing the murderer is no problem, but Shen Lang—”

“Shut up!”

Zhou Huai’an turned on him with a crazed expression. “If that useless Shen Lang hadn’t enraged my son, how could my son have died?”

“He must die with my son!”

Seeing that Zhou Huai’an had completely lost his reason, the Grand Elder still felt that something was amiss.

But then he remembered that Shen Lang was merely a spoiled young master, while the true head of the household was Nalan Yanran.

Even if they eliminated Shen Lang, it should not interfere with their dealings with Nalan Yanran.

With that in mind, the Grand Elder glanced toward the Zhou family warriors waiting outside after hearing the order and signaled that they could carry out the Family Head’s command.

At the same time, inside the City Lord’s Residence, Nalan Yanran watched Shen Lang stroll into the room, humming a little tune as though he had not a care in the world.

Her pearly teeth ground together with a sharp crack.

“Where did you go last night?”

“I went to the First Pavilion to gather intelligence. What’s wrong?” Shen Lang asked, puzzled.

“Gather intelligence?”

Nalan Yanran was so furious that her eyes had turned red.

“You bastard! Didn’t you spend the night with the courtesan?”

“Do you really take me for a fool?”

Seeing that Nalan Yanran somehow knew about his affair with An Yiyao, Shen Lang was rather surprised.

But he quickly understood.

The Divine Firmament Emperor must have arranged two guards to protect him, one in the open and one in secret. His whereabouts had been revealed by the hidden guard.

Still, as a seasoned veteran of officialdom, Shen Lang was not even afraid of disciplinary investigations.

Why would he care about Nalan Yanran?

“Miss Nalan, in your eyes, if I go spend the night with a courtesan, does that mean I can only be doing something sordid?”

“Have you never considered why I would do such a thing at a time like this?”

Confronted with his sudden questions, Nalan Yanran was momentarily at a loss.

Shadow had just come to her and told her the emperor’s latest order. He had also casually informed her of Shen Lang’s passionate night with An Yiyao.

That was why Nalan Yanran had grown angrier and more frustrated the more she thought about it. When Shen Lang finally returned, her fury had erupted.

Yet she had never considered the questions he was asking now.

Especially when she saw his expression of profound heartache, she hesitated before asking, “Are you saying there was a reason you spent the night with An Yiyao at the First Pavilion?”

“Of course there was. That An Yiyao is no ordinary woman!”

“She’s an information broker!”

“Do you know what important information I learned from her?”

At the words “information broker,” Nalan Yanran’s pupils contracted sharply.

Realizing that she might have misunderstood Shen Lang, she asked with some embarrassment, “What information?”

“The Zhou family is planning a rebellion!”

“So send word to His Majesty at once and have her dispatch experts here. We need to wipe out the Zhou family in one stroke!”

“What?!”

Nalan Yanran was shocked by Shen Lang’s words.

But she soon sensed that something was wrong.

Shadow had been secretly protecting them all along. If the Zhou family truly intended to rebel, Shadow would certainly have informed her immediately.

With that thought, Nalan Yanran clenched her fists and ground her back teeth together. “Shen Lang, are you trying to fool me again?”

“If the Zhou family wanted to rebel, they would have done so long ago. Why would they still be conducting business with us?”

Seeing how clever Nalan Yanran had become, Shen Lang was somewhat surprised.

But plans could never keep pace with changing circumstances.

He had never expected that idiot Zhou Hao would seek his own death.

So Shen Lang maintained his calm expression. “They weren’t going to rebel before because Zhou Huai’an still believed there was hope.”

“But now Zhou Hao is dead. Zhou Huai’an is going to lose his mind!”

“If we don’t seize this opportunity to take down the Zhou family, we’ll be throwing away a gift from heaven!”

“What? Zhou Hao is dead?”

Nalan Yanran was utterly stunned.

As the Divine Firmament Emperor’s right-hand woman, she had an exceptionally thorough understanding of the powerful clans and aristocratic families throughout the Great Qin Empire.

She knew perfectly well how important Zhou Hao was to Zhou Huai’an—and to the Zhou family as a whole.

And now he had simply died.

Nalan Yanran stared at Shen Lang with a grave expression. “Did you kill him?”

“What are you talking about? The idiot didn’t bring his flash when he went out. How is that my problem?”

Seeing that Shen Lang did not appear to be lying, Nalan Yanran’s expression grew extremely solemn.

Indeed, Zhou Hao’s death was nothing short of a catastrophe for Zhou Huai’an.

And when people were consumed by rage, they were hardly capable of thinking clearly.

But this matter was far too serious. Nalan Yanran had no choice but to get to the bottom of it.

“How exactly did Zhou Hao die?”

“Who killed him?”

Realizing that Nalan Yanran would not let him off unless he gave her a proper account, Shen Lang immediately delivered the explanation he had prepared.

“A man wrapped from head to toe in a black cloak.”

“That man was terrifyingly powerful. He killed Zhou Hao with a single punch.”

“You weren’t there at the time. If you had been, you would have been frightened by his brutality too...”

Watching Shen Lang’s solemn, utterly convincing expression, Nalan Yanran felt a tremendous storm surge within her heart.

Especially when she recalled the Divine Firmament Emperor’s order, her expression grew even graver.

“Are you certain he killed Zhou Hao with a single punch?”

“Can you take me to find him?”

“What for? Are you planning to avenge Zhou Hao?” Shen Lang raised an eyebrow.

“No.”

“I want to find a man for my master.”