Another trusted Steward frowned and shook his head repeatedly. "This shows that Lin Fan has no character, no patience, and no perseverance. Yet a man with such a disposition possesses such formidable Alchemy skills. The heavens must be blind!"
The people in the Secret Chamber took turns disparaging Lin Fan. The more they spoke, the more indignant they became.
For this scheme, the Chief Steward had not summoned all the Stewards of the Ten Thousand Treasures Hall to a council meeting. He had called only Granny Qian and these few trusted Stewards into the Secret Chamber to discuss their plans.
Bribing officials of the Commandery City Office to use an official assignment as a trap for the General Pacifying the Lands was something that could never see the light of day. If word got out, it would badly damage the reputation the Ten Thousand Treasures Commerce had built over many years. Worse, anyone looking for an opening could seize on it and bring the Commerce even greater trouble.
The Chief Steward drew a deep breath and suppressed his anger. His gaze swept over the handful of people in the Secret Chamber, and he lowered his voice. "Not a word of this can get out. The money we spent greasing the officials' palms must never leave this room."
Granny Qian bowed slightly. "Understood. But... Lin Fan refused the assignment. Hasn't our plan fallen through again?"
A shadow crossed the Chief Steward's eyes. "Since Lin Fan is so detestable, with character so rotten, what comes next will be easier."
Candlelight flickered in the Secret Chamber, casting their figures across the walls. In those gloomy shadows, another plot was already taking shape.
As they talked, a new scheme, crueler and more ruthless than the last, gradually emerged.
Once the plan was settled, the