The old woman trembled as she walked up to the crowd. Her temples were full of white hair, and the wrinkles on her face spread everywhere. However, different from others, she exuded an aura of a killer who had been wandering in the jianghu for a long time. Even Shi Muyuan, who had experienced life and death once, would flinch at the sight of her.
She raised her eyebrows. In fact, her two fists were already clenched. It was no secret in the harem that she, the Empress Dowager, was at odds with Concubine Rui. If they reacted and didn't believe her, she might not be able to leave this place today.
"May I ask who this is?"
Fan Zhen was the first to react and quickly introduced her.
"This is Granny Liu. She's one of the veterans of our organization."
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan politely greeted, "Hello, Granny Liu. But I wonder why you said so? Do you think I'm the one you're talking about?"
"Empress Dowager, there's no need to hide in front of this old woman. In fact, I've noticed since you just came."
"I don't think I have any feud with Granny Liu, do I? You come up and wrong me with such an identity. Aren't you afraid that Big Brother Fan will take action against me later?"
Granny Liu looked at the walking stick in her hand, unhurried.
"Empress Dowager, there's no need to be so nervous in front of an old woman like me. This old woman exposes you today without any other intentions. Moreover, I've always believed that this organization shouldn't fall into that woman's hands."
At this, almost everyone looked over in surprise. Fan Zhen remembered what had happened before and twitched the corner of his mouth slightly.
"Granny Liu, you'd better be more careful when speaking in front of outsiders. Not all words can be said casually."
But as soon as he said this, he was directly retorted.
"Didn't you just regard the Empress Dowager as an outsider? Besides, this old woman has said more than once that that woman is definitely not a good person. All of you are blind as if your hearts were covered with lard."
A group of big men were scolded by an old woman and seemed nothing. Fan Zhen always felt a bit embarrassed, but he didn't know why. He still seemed a bit cramped in front of Granny Liu.
After opening his mouth for a long time, he finally found his voice and whispered in his own defense.
"Concubine Rui has said before that I'm the only man in her heart."
Shi Muyuan didn't know what this old woman meant either. She actually winked at her. Subconsciously, she helped and said, "Concubine Rui has said many such things in front of General Qin. If Big Brother Fan doesn't believe it, I can ask someone to call Qin Feng here."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Xiao beside her was already ready to act.
Originally, everyone was just talking casually. No one expected that Fan Zhen was so stubborn.
He unexpectedly responded directly.
"Then call that general here. I'd like to see what kind of person can make that proud woman lower her proud head."
At this, Shi Muyuan's hand suddenly froze. She came here secretly today and didn't inform anyone in advance. If Qin Feng came and exposed her later, she would be unable to defend herself.
Her face gradually turned pale. She didn't know whether she should ask someone to look for Qin Feng or not.
Just when Fan Zhen was about to start doubting, Xiao Xiao spoke first.
"Then this maid will go and invite General Qin here in person. Without the Empress Dowager's token, General Qin can't leave either."
Fan Zhen didn't continue to doubt. Before Xiao Xiao left, she gave her mistress a reassuring look and then quickly left.
The Empress Dowager who was left behind was always a bit distracted.
...
Xiao Xiao originally wanted to look for him, but as soon as she appeared on the street, she saw two familiar figures.
She raised her eyebrows and stepped forward to block their way.
"Coincidentally, Young Master Shi and General Qin are both here. Please come with this maid?"
Shi An was also very surprised at her sudden appearance. He looked behind her but didn't find the person he wanted to see. His tone suddenly turned cold.
"Didn't I tell you to stay by the Empress Dowager's side before? You've already made a mistake once. Do you still want to make a second one? It seems that you think this young master has a good temper?"
Hearing the anger in his tone, Xiao Xiao quickly knelt on the ground to admit her mistake.
"Young Master has misunderstood. This maid doesn't mean that. I came here for the safety of my mistress. Please come with this maid. By the way, General Qin too."
Hearing her repeatedly emphasizing the person beside him, Shi An keenly sensed something was wrong.
"What exactly happened to my little sister? Why must Qin Feng go there?"
Xiao Xiao was a bit anxious, but in the face of his inquiry, she could only answer patiently.
"Sir, please come with me. We'll talk on the way. You'll soon know what happened."
Curiosity appeared on Qin Feng's face. He would never refuse the invitation of his sweetheart.
The three of them walked into the alley and came to the black market.
Xiao Xiao had almost told them the whole process.
"That's how things are. I hope the two of you will cooperate later."
As soon as she finished speaking, they had already come to the front of that black building.
Qin Feng didn't expect that his sweetheart's first request of him would be because of such a thing. But there was nothing he could do. After all, the Empress Dowager had a favor for him.
Several people lifted their feet and walked in at the same time. Soon, Fan Zhen led people to greet them. Looking at the general not far from him, he was exactly the same as the portrait he saw in Concubine Rui's palace in his memory.
He originally thought that the portrait was of the late emperor. Of course, this was also because of Concubine Rui's previous explanation.
Thinking of the nervous look of Concubine Rui when he found the portrait that day, he suddenly felt quite ridiculous.
The picture was pulled back to the memory. The man was lying obliquely on the imperial concubine's couch, twirling the woman's hair with his fingers. He casually looked up and saw a long box not far from him.
In fact, if the box hadn't been taken good care of and polished to shine all over, he wouldn't have noticed this thing.
Fan Zhen walked slowly to the box with curiosity. With a slight flick of his finger, the box was opened, and a scroll inside came into view.
"What's this?"
He casually looked back and saw Concubine Rui looking very nervous. "It's just a scroll left by the late emperor. There's nothing interesting about it. I'm tired today. How about we go to rest early?"
"The person in this scroll is not as old as the legend. It really doesn't look like the late emperor as the common people said."