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The next target - Zhan Beiheng!
There used to be a reasonable number of offsprings in the royal family of Heaven Demon, but over the years, the second, fourth, eighth and ninth son had all passed away at a young age. If it wasn't for the farsighted grandfather who sent Zhan Beiye to Geiya in his earlier years, he might have long been dead. When Zhan Beiqi died in the Changhan mountain range, Zhan Nancheng was only left with Zhan Beiheng by his side.
As the longest-surviving prince and a somewhat trusted confidante of the Emperor, Zhan Beiheng would definitely not be as plain and incapable as he seemed. From Meng Fuyao's observation, he was a cunning and scheming man who had great tolerance - Ya Lanzhu used to be his fiancee, but she disregarded their marriage agreement and chased after Zhan Beiye instead. While she became the laughing stock, he was not spared from the mockery as well. However, he nonchalantly agreed to break off the engagement and treated Ya Lanzhu like a stranger from then on. When they met at the True Martial Arts Meet, his expression did not waver at all.
A person like him meant trouble. With him around, even if Meng Fuyao killed Zhan Nancheng, she would only be doing a favor for him. Hence, Meng Fuyao has already decided to first kill Zhan Nancheng, and then slaughter Zhan Beiheng.
The method to kill him - by using the hands of someone else!
Now, Meng Fuyao was a general under Zhan Beiheng. The latter managed the imperial guards on behalf of the Emperor and was the boss of Meng Fuyao's boss. He was in the good books of the Emperor, and every day, he would receive an overwhelming number of visitors trying to meet him. As the pair of stone guardian lions had been polished sparkly clean by the officials who leaned on them, they were replaced by a pair of steel ones, and he earned the reputation as the ”Aristocrat of the steel guardian lion doors”. A man like Prince Heng would not bother to meet a subordinate's subordinate like Meng Fuyao.
Meng Fuyao made three visits to his residence, and each time her card that was used to request for an audience was collected by the stuck up attendants at the door, yet she could not meet Zhan Beiheng at all. But she was not anxious. When she went back, she expressed her amazement that it was a rarity among royals to have someone receive such special favor from the Emperor, to which Zhangsun Wuji replied, ”Is the Emperor especially generous to him recently?”
After some thinking, Meng Fuyao agreed, ”Seems true.”
”Just like how one tries to accessorize flowers with beautiful brocades or add oil on top of a fire, everything starts to go downhill once one reaches his zenith.” Zhangsun Wuji smiled. ”History has proven that either the ruler or the subordinate will definitely change during a period of reign. Zhan Nancheng must have become suspicious of Zhan Beiheng.”
Meng Fuyao's eyes darted around, and she pounced on Zhangsun Wuji's knees. Looking up at him innocently, she said, ”Your Highness, Fuyao is loyal to her ruler and has always pledged allegiance to Wuji. It is merely a temporary antic to devote myself to another court now. Seeing that you're showering me with so much favor, could it be that my death day is coming soon? I beg Your Highness to not favor me, please don't favor me-”
Everyone spat out their rice at the same time, and Ya Lanzhu barked, ”Meng Fuyao, how shameless of you!”
Faking a kick, Zhangsun Wuji laughed. ”Away with you, I dislike the sight of you. You can continue being a nuisance to civilization for another thousand years.”
Meng Fuyao chuckled and sauntered away, heading towards Zhan Beiheng's residence for the fourth time. This time round, she did not give the attendants her card. Instead, she stopped the two attendants in an alley not far from the residence and gave them a fierce beating. Afterward, she demanded, ”Who told you guys to look down on me and not let me in? From now on, I'll beat you up every time I see you.”
The attendants cried, ”Captain Meng, this, this…. It's not up to us to make the decision…”
”F*ck, you dare belittle me? I'll make you broke.” Meng Fuyao cursed and then she instructed, ”Later when I'm at the door, take my card. Welcome me in a grand fashion, and then serve me tea and chat with me in the waiting area. You no longer have to pass the card to the prince, and just do what I told you. If you keep to my instructions, I'll not beat you up.”
If she did not want to deliver her card to request for a meeting, why would she be there? Just to drink tea and chat at the waiting area? The attendants could not fathom it, but her request made their jobs a lot easier, and they hurriedly agreed.
Moments later, Meng Fuyao strolled to the door, and the door was opened quickly even before she delivered her card. The attendants squeezed past the crowds to welcome her, giving her 90-degree bows and formally inviting her in.
Officials who had been waiting under the scorching sun turned their heads in unison and stared at Meng Fuayo.
'This lad is something! The servants of Prince Heng usually have their noses up in the air, and since when have they ever been so humble and courteous? There's an 80% chance that he is the Prince's confidante!' thought most of them.
After a while, Meng Fuyao ambled out of the door as the attendants politely sent her out of the door. In a loud voice, she said, ”I suddenly remembered that I have urgent matters to attend to. As for Prince Heng, I'll come by later for him to call upon me!”
When everyone heard that, they felt that Meng Fuyao was even more amazing. 'He can come and go as he wishes, and that definitely means that he has intimate ties with the Prince!' they thought.
In a hurry, those officials who had been unable to enter crowded around Meng Fuyao and blocked off her path. One after another, they tried to curry favor with her, and their chatter was all over the place.
”May I know of your noble surname, General?”
”I'm Governor Liu, what an honor to meet you, General…”
”General, you're handsome, and you have a spectacular aura. I took a liking to you when I first saw you, and I really hope to meet you. Do you happen to be free? I booked a table in a grand restaurant, and I hope that you'd grace the banquet…”
Meng Fuyao was all smiles, and she responded, ”It's hot under the sun, let's talk under the shade.”
So, under the shade, they went, and Meng Fuyao's hands were very soon filled with gifts, many of which by those who had requested for her ”speak kind words” of them in front of the Prince. Some officials even wept on her sleeves and cried, ”Please take pity on me. I've entered the capital for so many days, but I've yet to see the Prince. My money is running out soon even though I don't even have a proper job. Lord Meng, if you can help, please help…”
”My pleasure! My pleasure!” Meng Fuyao beamed as she left, under the watch of the expectant officials, and with her arms filled with luxurious items.
The next day, she visited the residence at another time of the day. She pulled off the same trick, and similarly went back with a huge load of gifts.
The day after, she continued to receive the offerings but this time round, she carried a basket.
After days of repeating the same routine, the attendants anxiously went up to her and said, ”General Meng, His Highness is waiting for you at the garden.”