Chapter 55: The He Family Comes Calling—Are You an Idiot?

“Master He?”
Seeing the newcomer, Nalan Yanran was momentarily taken aback.
She couldn’t understand why He Xiufei would jump into the trap.
But soon, recalling that Shen Lang had gone to the brothel with He Renchao for the night, Nalan Yanran suddenly realized!
Clearly, Shen Lang’s visit to the brothel wasn’t just a simple intelligence gathering mission.
It was highly likely that, through He Renchao, he had also tricked He Xiufei!
With this thought, Nalan Yanran’s eyes reddened again.
Shen Lang had truly done so much for them.
If she were to betray Shen Lang’s efforts, it would be a grave sin.
Suppressing her inner sorrow, she put on the aloof persona Shen Lang had crafted for her and said coldly, “Aren’t you one of Zhao Tianba’s men? Why help Shen Lang?”
“And besides, Shen Lang has already been captured by the Zhou family. You’re too late!”
With that, Nalan Yanran turned to leave, following Shen Lang’s teachings on how to handle such matters.
He Xiufei smiled cheerfully, “Miss Nalan, we’re all clever people here; there’s no need for riddles.”
“Your affair with Shen Lang is no longer a secret.”
“Besides, can you take down the Eight Kings of the private sector all by yourself?”
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran stopped in her tracks.
Without any emotion, she said, “You think you alone can deal with the Eight Kings?”
Understanding Nalan Yanran’s implication, He Xiufei playfully flicked his feather fan.
“I am now Zhao Tianba’s strategist and a renowned scholar throughout the Great Qin Empire. Digging pits for them and sending them to their deaths is far too easy.”
“Frankly, in my eyes, the Eight Kings of the private sector are nothing but a joke.”
“If you and I join forces, I can wipe out the Zhou family first!”
Seeing He Xiufei’s confident demeanor, Nalan Yanran once again marveled inwardly at Shen Lang’s brilliance.
A scholar famed across the land had been so thoroughly duped by Shen Lang, like a rookie soldier.
Now he was to become her master’s sharpest weapon against the Eight Kings.
While missing Shen Lang, Nalan Yanran squinted and asked, “How shall we join forces?”
“Simple. Miss Nalan, you must urgently need a proxy to complete His Majesty’s assessment, right?”
“I, He Renchi of the He family, am a fitting candidate for your proxy!”
Upon hearing the name He Renchi, Nalan Yanran grasped He Xiufei’s true intention.
He believed Shen Lang was doomed, and the He family wanted to cooperate with her to seize the succession first.
Then, the He family would turn against her.

However, knowing it was all part of Shen Lang’s plan, Nalan Yanran stood unshakable.
Seeing He Xiufei rushing to offer his own death, she would not let him off so easily.
“He Renchi is a man of letters who can stabilize the nation and a warrior who can protect the state. Indeed, a worthy partner.”
“But how can you, Lord He, guarantee you won’t discard me once you’ve used me?”
Seeing Nalan Yanran’s stubbornness, He Xiufei confirmed the rumors were true: the poisoner of Great Qin was not Shen Lang, but Nalan Yanran herself.
With this in mind, He Xiufei bluntly revealed his grand ambition: “If Miss Nalan is one of us, why would we discard you after use?”
“You’re being reckless!”
Anger flashed across Nalan Yanran’s face.
In her heart, she belonged to only one man—Shen Lang!
Even in pretense, she would never allow another man to covet her.
Unbeknownst to her, her fury both baffled He Xiufei and infuriated Shen Lang, who was watching from the shadows and pounding his thigh in frustration.
To him, He Xiufei was simply a useful beast of burden.
If used well, he could greatly ease the task of dealing with the Eight Kings.
In fact, having him propose wiping out the Zhou family could accelerate infighting among the Eight Kings.
With this thought, Shen Lang immediately commanded the system in his heart, “Give me a mask—I need to teach that woman how to handle things properly!”
[Beep, ten points of resentment deducted from the host.]
[Beep, congratulations to the host for acquiring the Bronze Mask.]
Seeing the demonic mask appear in his inventory, Shen Lang quickly took it out and donned it.
He Xiufei clearly sensed he had just spoken rashly.
Nalan Yanran clearly had genuine feelings for Shen Lang.
As long as Shen Lang lived, her heart would not entertain another man.
Realizing this, He Xiufei feigned solemnity, “Miss Nalan, what I proposed was merely a suggestion, not a finalized deal.”
“If you find any issues, you may voice them directly!”
“Then we can…”
“Get lost!”
Before He Xiufei could finish the word “discuss,” Nalan Yanran, unable to contain her anger, raised her voice and roared furiously.
Realizing no agreement would be reached today, He Xiufei ceased provoking her.
He merely left a cold remark and turned to leave:
“Miss Nalan, think carefully. This is the best moment to annihilate the Zhou family. If you miss it, Shen Lang’s revenge may never be fulfilled!”
Without waiting for her reply, he vanished from the city lord’s mansion.
Watching He Xiufei disappear, Nalan Yanran sat in her chair with a self-mocking smile, her eyes filled with sorrow.
As she pondered how Shen Lang was faring with the Zhou family, Shen Lang, wearing the Bronze Mask, entered and said, “You made a mistake just now!”
Thinking it was Shadow lecturing her, Nalan Yanran replied coldly, “If you think it’s inappropriate, tell my master anytime, I…”
Mid-sentence, she suddenly turned, as if recalling something.
With a wary gaze, she looked at the disguised Shen Lang and asked gravely, “Who are you?”
“Nameless and unknown. My master calls me Tiga!”
Tiga?
Hearing this strange name, Nalan Yanran seemed to understand something.
Her eyes sparkled, “You work for Shen Lang?”
“That’s right. My master feared you wouldn’t handle the complex plans well after he left, so he sent me to relay his words!”
Seeing that Tiga was truly Shen Lang’s servant, Nalan Yanran forgot all decorum.
Excitedly, she asked, “How is Shen Lang now? Is he still alive?”
“He is. I just came from him,” Shen Lang said, touched.
“That’s good, that’s good!”
Hearing this, tears slipped down Nalan Yanran’s cheeks again.
But thinking Tiga was Shen Lang’s servant and worried she might embarrass him, especially if she married Shen Lang, she quickly wiped her eyes, saying, “Some dust got into my eyes just now.”
“Speak. What message did your master send me?”
“You fool! If He Xiufei comes looking to cooperate, agree immediately!”
“Don’t ever let that free labor go to waste!”