"Actually... there's no need for that."
Si Xitong insisted, "Can you hear me?"
Zhang Changle immediately clasped his hands in obedience and said, "Your subordinate obeys! Your subordinate is willing to start from the bottom of the Censorate!"
What's going on? Xie Lanzhi looked suspicious, somewhat puzzled by Xiao Fenghuang's actions.
At this moment, Zhang Ju spoke up: "Your Highness, please rest assured, Chang Le is a promising talent. With proper training, he will surely become a pillar of the Shenxing Division. I will certainly pay close attention to him."
Si Xitong shook her head and said, "I have no intention of sending him back to the Shenxing Division. He is young and impetuous and does not know how to restrain himself. He needs more experience. From now on, Zhang Changle will serve as a guard in Jianzhang Palace."
A perfectly capable person was reassigned to guard the gate.
Xie Lanzhi frowned. Could she be sulking with her?
She didn't speak. The master and subordinate cooperated smoothly, and Zhang Changle accepted everything.
Xie Lanzhi immediately suspected that this was a backup plan left by Little Phoenix, but what could a mere guard do?
After that, Si Xitong dismissed Zhang Changle.
She took the initiative to sit in the palanquin, and did not forget to invite Xie Lanzhi: "Marshal, it's time to return to the palace."
Chapter 88 The Mastermind Behind the Scenes: Prince Feng Ning
Xie Lanzhi stepped onto the palanquin, lifted her robe and sat on the prayer mat. As the palanquin was lifted, the two figures gradually moved away from the Shenxing Division until they disappeared.
Zhang Changle stood up, and Zhang Ju breathed a sigh of relief and stood up as well. He glanced at the jailers beside him, who immediately surrounded him, showing concern and care.
Zhang Changle scoffed. He then changed his tone and said to Zhang Ju, "Congratulations, elder brother, on gaining the Marshal's favor. The Censorate truly cannot do without you."
Zhang Ju snorted coldly, "Chang Le, you have a lot to learn, especially in this palace. Who is the real master? You need to open your eyes wide."
Instead of greeting everyone he meets.
Zhang Changle seemed unconcerned, showing no sense of defeat whatsoever, which puzzled Zhang Ju greatly. This kid usually couldn't tolerate even the slightest flaw, and he cherished victory and defeat as if they were his own life. How come he doesn't care at all now?
The two returned to Lanzhang Palace.
Si Xitong carried Xie Lanzhi on her back, and no matter how Xie Lanzhi tried to get in front of her, she would quickly turn around.
She thought Little Phoenix was upset with her, so she tried to coax her.
But Little Phoenix walked to the sword rack in the corner in the blink of an eye, picked up E Shi, and took out a clean white towel from the drawer next to it to start wiping it.
The world was polished until it was completely translucent.
"Little Phoenix, I didn't expect you to give up so quickly." Xie Lanzhi didn't know whether to comfort her or continue to be assertive, but since she had started, she had to keep acting.
"You've made yourself lose face in front of your subordinates."
Si Xitong didn't blame her, but her calmness was perplexing.
She stared at the obsidian scabbard and said, "You did nothing wrong. If it were me, I would also hope that the person I love could be more outstanding."
"And I failed, which disappointed you."
Xie Lanzhi fell silent. Whether she was disappointed or not was one thing, but more than that, she understood her. Knowing that she was a novice, she decided to give her more opportunities to gain experience.
Because she believed that the little phoenix would learn very quickly.
“You’ve always thought I was very smart, haven’t you?” Si Xitong said. “I have indeed disappointed you. I should have continued to argue with you logically and made you back down, but I chose not to do so.”
"Don't praise me by saying it's a strategic retreat; that kind of consolation is hard to accept."
Now that things have come to this, Xie Lanzhi might as well speak frankly.
“Zhang Ju has been in power for a long time, and he cannot be replaced by Zhang Changle simply by solving a case or making a contribution.”
Si Xitong calmly said, "I know."
"So you know these little tricks won't work on me."
Si Xitong said, "Of course I know."
The thought of her indifference every night in her arms infuriated me. It was as if she were telling her that she was far from being a voluptuous, mature woman, even though she was nominally an adult in her own world. She still saw me as a child.
"So you're giving up?"
Si Xitong didn't reply to her this time, her attitude was ambiguous, yet she didn't seem to be indecisive.
Xie Lanzhi's curiosity was piqued: "Aren't you going to tell me what you're going to do next?"
Zhang Changle is indeed a talented person, and it's a waste to just put him as a guard at the gate. Moreover, Xie Shi has doubts about his handling of the case, so it's hard to guarantee that he won't be targeted by Xie Shi's mean-spirited people.
"Little Phoenix, if you value this subordinate, I might as well give way and let him..."
Si Xitong finally spoke, "No need."
"No need?" Xie Lanzhi didn't say anything more. After she finished wiping the sword, she deliberately picked up the plate to take a look. The plate was shiny, indicating that it had been well taken care of by Little Phoenix recently.
Even the sword seemed to lose some of its menacing aura and gain more brightness. For a moment, she wondered if this would have any effect on the sword.
Xiao Xiu hesitated at the door several times, wondering whether she should go in and remind her two masters to have their meal.
Si Xitong happened to be waving at her.
"Marshal, His Highness has prepared your favorite soup," Xiao Xiu said. "He also personally roasted some mutton."
Xie Lanzhi was hungry, so she nodded and said, "Let's serve the food."
She looked hungry and craving something, as if she had truly forgotten about hurting her lover.
Lanzhi is clueless about romance and has no sense of propriety.
After Xiao Xiu served all the dishes, Xie Lanzhi ate with great satisfaction. Once she was full, Si Xitong took her to walk around and digest. He didn't mention what had just happened, leaving Xie Lanzhi feeling stifled.
It seems that Little Phoenix's current greatest strength is actually torturing herself.
If only she put more effort into other areas.
Just as Xie Lanzhi was feeling sorry, Wu Qiu arrived.
Wu Qiu rushed over and told her about the internal strife within the Xie family.
"Marshal, Marshal, the Xie soldiers from Jianzhang Palace have started fighting!"
Jianzhang Palace? Could it be! Xie Lanzhi's gaze instantly swept towards the woman beside her. Si Xitong seemed not to have heard, and even gave her a bewildered look.
Pack!?
"what happen?"
Wu Qiu then recounted the story of the Xie army being killed before Jianzhang Palace was built. Later, it was the Xie army that moved into Jianzhang Palace. At this critical juncture, the remaining forces of the previous generation began to contend with the current forces.
Zhang Changle led Xie Jun in a fight against the remaining group. The remaining group suspected that Zhang Changle had tampered with the Shenxing Division and killed their brothers.
Zhang Changle neither denied nor admitted it, only saying that it was the duty of the Censorate and that he was merely performing his duties.
Xie Jun then took him to the Shenxing Division and demanded that Zhang Ju hand over all the evidence and case files related to the bandit case.
Zhang Ju refused, and the two sides started fighting. Zhang Ju didn't dare to kill anyone, but Zhang Changle directly killed five Xie soldiers, completely offending the remaining Xie soldiers. Then the two of them hid in the Shenxing Division, but were surrounded by Xie soldiers and dared not come out.
This matter escalated into a fight based on a mere unfounded suspicion.
Zhang Changle showed no mercy and killed Xie Jun, completely unlike the humble attitude he had when kneeling before the Shenxing Division.
Xie Lanzhi thought to herself that something was definitely fishy; she knew that Little Phoenix wouldn't back down so easily.
She wanted her to see firsthand how Xie Jun acted beyond his authority and how he disregarded the officialdom of Tianjing. It seems Hai Yun is also facing a very difficult situation.
Xie Lanzhi ordered Wu Qiu: "Arrest all those who are fighting."
Si Xitong finally spoke up, saying, "The Shenxing Division was passively killed this time and did not actively cause trouble. Zhang Changle was innocent because he was attacked and killed by a baseless suspicion for his meritorious service in the bandit case."
"Lord Wu, what do you think?"
Wu Qiu was taken aback. He nodded and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. Xie Jun broke into Jianzhang Palace without permission, disregarding the law, and instigated a private fight with the Shenxing Division. He called it seeking justice, but in reality, he was settling personal scores."
In this way, the blame falls entirely on Xie Jun, and even if the news spreads throughout Tianjing, the Censorate will remain an innocent victim. The Xie family has always been domineering, and their reputation is infamous. If something like this happens again, even if Xie Jun is wronged, they will be unable to seek justice through legitimate legal channels, turning a just cause into an unjust one.
That's quite a clever scheme.
It seems that Little Phoenix had already placed people everywhere while she was at the military camp. Even the Xie family had people working for her.
As for the newly arrived Xie family guards, Xie Lanzhi fell into deep thought. When she had previously allocated resources to the Xie family, she had witnessed the Xie family's survival chain. Those at the bottom of the Xie family were exploited more, did more, and gave more.
Meanwhile, those at the top can sit back and reap the benefits.
Could it be that Little Phoenix is taking advantage of the class contradictions within the Xie family?
"Those men even injured the new guards?"
Wu Qiu said, "Indeed, two people were seriously injured, and a lowly soldier killed five people in a fit of rage before fleeing to the Shenxing Division."
Xie Lanzhi couldn't help but rub her forehead: "Is her name Zhang Changle?"
"Yes," Wu Qiu said. "I'm afraid the Zhang brothers won't last much longer."
It seems this kid has already tied Zhang Ju to the ship, just because he's the eldest brother. Even if they don't get along, in the eyes of that group of Xie soldiers, brothers will only protect their own brothers. So even Zhang Ju is caught in the crossfire. If this drags on any longer, the Censorate will be left without anyone.
She was quite comfortable using the Department of Censorate and found it easy to get things done, so she didn't want to lose the department.
It would be a waste to exchange a group of reckless brutes who only know how to shout and fight for intelligent and resourceful interrogation talents.
Xie Lanzhi cherishes talent, which is why she protected Zhang Ju. Now, Little Phoenix is putting Zhang Ju and Xie Jun on a scale, letting her choose. Anyone with eyes can tell who to choose.
It seems Little Phoenix isn't someone to be trifled with either. During the time she was away at the military camp, she'd prepared so many contingency plans. If I drag this out any longer, she might really let Zhang Changle continue her provocations.
"Little Phoenix".
This shout was filled with helplessness and compromise.
"It's a waste of talent for the Zhang brothers to die at the hands of a bunch of brutes."
Si Xitong's beautiful eyes lit up, and she wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Lanzhi is right."
Wu Qiu: ? ? ?
What are these two masters up to?!
Xie Lanzhi didn't forget to give her a boost of confidence: "If I don't value the text, I'll just let him die like this."
Si Xitong's eyebrows danced, and she said with great confidence, "This is not your personality. Even if you force yourself, it will not do you any good."