Chapter 691: Chapter 692: The Last Chance

Of course, Xie Anjun was anxious too. ’If Zheng Baosu really says something he shouldn’t, I won’t be able to escape punishment, even though I’ve now inherited my title!’

But that didn’t mean he would just let Fan Chengzhuo blame him.

’We did this together, so we should bear the responsibility together! How dare he try to dump all the blame on me?! What is this nonsense!?’

Fan Chengzhuo was about to speak when a gust of cold wind entered his throat, and he began to cough violently again.

"COUGH COUGH—COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH—HACK!"

It sounded as if he were about to cough up a lung.

Seeing him in this state, Xie Anjun frowned, his earlier rage subsiding slightly.

He took a deep breath and said coldly, "Regardless, now is not the time to be pointing fingers! Zheng Baosu has already been escorted back to the Capital City. The most important thing now is to make sure he doesn’t expose us!"

Xie Anjun lifted the carriage curtain again. After confirming no one else was around, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "I heard that even though Zheng Baosu was escorted back to the Capital City today, His Majesty seems busy with Nanhu matters. He won’t be interrogating him personally for now, so it will most likely be delayed until tomorrow. This is a good opportunity!"

Fan Chengzhuo’s eyes sharpened as he stared intently at him. "Opportunity? What kind of opportunity?"

"The opportunity to make sure those secrets rot in his gut forever, of course!" ’Fan Chengzhuo really must be gravely ill,’ Xie Anjun thought, ’it’s even addled his brain.’ "Just one night is enough! There are so many ways to silence someone permanently. We just have to pick one—"

"No!"

Fan Chengzhuo roared, his tone resolute.

"Absolutely not!"

"Why not?" Xie Anjun was baffled. "Weren’t you the one who came rushing over, begging me for help to intercept him outside the Capital City? Now he’s been brought back, but thankfully, it’s not a hopeless situation. We still have a little time! He may be imprisoned in the palace, but with all this commotion, it won’t be difficult to find out where he’s being held! Then, we just need to find someone to act in secret, and we might just succeed!"

Unable to practice martial arts since he was a child, Xie Anjun had instead devoted himself to curating connections. Now that he was Marquis Zhongyong, many people were inclined to do him a favor, making it all the more convenient to arrange things within the palace.

"I said no, and I mean it!" Fan Chengzhuo’s voice grew more frantic. Seeing Xie Anjun’s furrowed brow, he realized he had overreacted. He forced himself to suppress his anxiety and tried to keep his voice calm. "...So many people are watching right now! If he just dies, how could His Majesty not suspect foul play? Then, in his fury, he’ll order a full investigation. Do you really think... that you and I could escape that!? Acting now will only make things far worse!"

By the time he finished, Fan Chengzhuo’s face was deathly pale.

But Xie Anjun listened.

His expression shifted several times before he finally swore in exasperation. "This won’t work, that won’t work! So you tell me! What the hell are we supposed to do?! With his cowardly nature—bullying the weak and fearing the strong—he’ll probably confess everything before they even start the torture!"

The words caught in Fan Chengzhuo’s throat, but he couldn’t argue.

Although Zheng Baosu had stumbled his way into the title of General Xianwu, anyone who knew him was aware that he didn’t actually have what it takes to lead men into battle.

If he had an ounce of competence or courage, he never would have gotten involved in so many dirty deeds.

So, Fan Chengzhuo was speechless.

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch Zheng Baosu die.

"Let me think... I’ll think of something... There has to be a way..." Fan Chengzhuo muttered.

Xie Anjun looked at him and found the sight utterly ridiculous.

"A way? At this point, what way could there possibly be?! Don’t tell me you can make Miao Sheng take back his accusations!?"

Even though he hadn’t been at court that day, he had heard about the major crimes Miao Sheng listed in his impeachment of Zheng Baosu!

Each charge was clear! The evidence was concrete! It was all irrefutable!

"Zheng Baosu is done for. Right now, all we can do is cut our losses and save ourselves!"

Xie Anjun truly couldn’t understand. He frowned, sizing Fan Chengzhuo up and down for a long moment.

"Even if he is your grand-nephew and you share some blood, you shouldn’t be this worried, should you? You’re actually still daydreaming about how to save him? If you ask me, you should be more worried about him selling *you* out!"

Fan Chengzhuo remained silent.

But Xie Anjun’s patience had run out. He let out a cold laugh. "Anyway, I’ve said my piece. If you want to save him, be my guest! I have no intention of being dragged down with you!"

With that, he flung the curtain aside, jumped down from the carriage, and stormed off without a backward glance.

SLAM—!

The main gate of the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion slammed shut.

Once again, only the solitary carriage remained in the alley.

The driver had no idea what the two had discussed inside, but seeing Xie Anjun storm away in a rage, he knew it couldn’t be good. He approached the carriage, filled with apprehension, and cautiously asked, "Sir, where to next?"

The carriage was silent.

The driver scratched his head uneasily and asked again, "Sir?"

Fan Chengzhuo still didn’t answer.

Now, the driver finally sensed something was wrong. Mustering his courage, he took a step forward and slowly lifted the curtain.

"Sir—AH!"

Inside the carriage, Fan Chengzhuo’s eyes were clenched shut. Blood trickled from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth, and his brow was a sickly, dark color. He had clearly passed out!

The driver reached out a trembling hand to check for breath. It was faint, but thankfully, the man was still alive.

The driver let out a sigh of relief, but his anxiety immediately returned.

He glanced back helplessly at the shut gate. After a moment’s hesitation, he abandoned the thought of knocking. Xie Anjun and Fan Chengzhuo had parted on bad terms. Asking for help now would only get him a door slammed in his face.

With that thought, the driver gritted his teeth and scrambled back onto the driver’s seat.

"Giddy-up!"

’No matter what, I have to find a clinic first! I have to save him!’

...

Xie Anjun, of course, knew what was happening outside his gates.

"Pay it no mind!" he said coldly.

The servant was worried. "It seems Mr. Fan’s condition is quite dire. It would be one thing if he’s alright, but if he... won’t that just create more trouble for you, my lord Marquis?"

After all, Fan Chengzhuo had come knocking on the gate of the Marquis Zhongyong Mansion in broad daylight and had spoken with Xie Anjun.

If word of this got out, there was no telling what people might say...

Xie Anjun couldn’t care less.

"He was already gravely ill. Even if something were to happen, what does it have to do with me?"

Besides, after their recent clashes, he had discovered that Fan Chengzhuo was incorrigibly, infuriatingly stubborn.

’If Fan Chengzhuo really takes a turn for the worse this time, or even dies... it would actually save me a lot of trouble!’

At this thought, Xie Anjun’s eyes narrowed.

"Someone!"

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