Elsewhere, Ran Zijin returned home in a fury.
Bang!
He smashed an exquisite white jade tiger to pieces. His face darkened to the extreme as he ground out, "Wang Half-City, you bastard!"
That damned fellow's return now was plainly aimed at him.
Although Lin Yi's prestige as heir apparent had risen somewhat, the chief steward of Northern Liang was truly second only to the Prince of Northern Liang himself. His prestige was beyond the heir apparent's reach.
Wang Ziwen's renewed purge had not only thrown his plans into disarray but also left him unable to voice his grievances. This was going too far.
"Father, what happened?"
Ran Chao had returned just then. Seeing the shards of the white jade tiger on the floor, he couldn't help asking.
Something good had happened to him today, yet his father was still in a rage. He had to tell him the happy news.
Ran Zijin waved a hand and said irritably, "You're practically floating as you walk, boy. Looks like something good happened. Did you spot another pretty girl?"
Although this boy was his son, he gave no thought to studying for the imperial examinations and spent his days idling instead. He and Lin Yi had even become known together as the two great heirs of Northern Liang, nearly making Ran Zijin die of anger.
At first, he had disciplined his son, but eventually he had given up altogether.
Fortunately, his younger son was quite gifted in his studies, so he didn't have to force his eldest to study. At worst, he could simply have his younger son enter the imperial court when the time came.
"Hehe, Father, you're underestimating me. Am I some lust-starved ghost? This is really good news," Ran Chao said smugly.
"Really good news?"
"That's right. I sold that abandoned mine in Baiyuan Commandery to someone for a whole twenty thousand taels of silver."
The mine in Baiyuan Commandery?
Ran Zijin paused, then immediately remembered.
After he had first arrived in Northern Liang, he had sent people to investigate the region and heard that there was a huge mountain range of coal mines here. So he had seized it through trickery and force.
But later, whether as retribution or not, the coal had run out completely after only a month of mining, turning the vast mine into an abandoned one.
Many people in Northern Liang City knew about it, yet someone had actually paid twenty thousand taels of silver for a spent mine. There were no fools these days, so how could anyone willingly buy an abandoned mine? Not even a dog would want it.
Sensing something amiss, he said gravely, "Who would pay twenty thousand taels for a spent mine? Did you find out why they bought it? Don't go falling into someone else's trap."
"Hehe, Father, you don't know, do you? They took a fancy to the salt in the mine," Ran Chao said rather sarcastically.
Salt?
At those words, Ran Zijin's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help laughing.
Now this was interesting!
That salt was all poisonous. Otherwise, he would have sold it long ago. Someone had bought the poisonous salt mine, and that was simply wonderful.
He had gained twenty thousand taels for nothing, while the buyer would probably lose every last coin.
Poisonous salt might be salt, but it certainly couldn't be eaten.
He couldn't help laughing as he asked, "Who bought it? From now on, no one in our family is to buy their salt!"
"Hehe, it was Lin Yi's lackey, Zhang Long. He probably bought it for Lin Yi," Ran Chao said with a smug grin.
"Lin Yi's man bought it?"
Hearing that, Ran Zijin's eyes lit up, and he burst out laughing. This really was excellent news.
Wang Ziwen, weren't you standing up for that brat Lin Yi? Now the brat has walked right into this himself. Heaven truly has eyes. Let's see how you turn the tables this time.
He said gravely, "Send people to watch the Prince of Northern Liang's Residence. As soon as Lin Yi prepares to sell the salt to outsiders, have them come back and tell me. I'd like to see whether the people still support the Prince of Northern Liang's heir after he sells poisonous salt!"
Selling poisonous salt?
Ran Chao's heart skipped a beat. If that poisonous salt really went on sale, probably all of Northern Liang would regard Lin Yi, the heir apparent, as their mortal enemy.
So, without even realizing it, he had set a deadly trap for Lin Yi.
If Lin Yi really sold it, even the Prince of Northern Liang probably wouldn't be able to protect him. Then Lin Yi would die by his hand.
On that point alone, he was better than Lin Yi.
He said excitedly, "Don't worry, Father. I'll keep a close watch on him. This time I'll show the world there aren't any two great heirs of Northern Liang. I'm far better than Lin Yi!"
"Hmph, you good-for-nothing. Why must you compare yourself to Lin Yi?"
Ran Zijin gave his son a displeased look. This unambitious good-for-nothing couldn't even set his sights a little higher.
Although Lin Yi had recently acted decisively and ruthlessly, Wang Ziwen's return had made him suspect that the person pulling the strings was not Lin Yi at all, but that old fox Wang Ziwen.
He did not believe that an ignorant, unskilled person could change so much. It was plainly unreasonable.
Wang Half-City, on the other hand, had always been a crafty old schemer. This series of moves was very likely his doing.
That old bastard couldn't bear to see him doing well in the slightest.
Ran Chao: "..."
Just as he was about to speak, his pupils suddenly contracted. "Someone's outside!" he shouted.
"Who is it?"
His father had previously ordered everyone to stay away from this area. Since someone was now eavesdropping outside the window, they clearly weren't one of their own.
"I'm an assassin!" the person outside replied.
Who goes around announcing they're an assassin?
The thought flashed through his mind, but before he could react, a piercing pain shot through his abdomen.
Ran Chao looked down, his face turning deathly pale. An arrow was lodged in his abdomen.
"Damn it, it really is an assassin!"
"Someone, quickly! There's an assassin here!"
Ran Zijin reacted instantly, shouting as he scrambled toward a corner. He had no wish to die at an assassin's hands.
Bang!
The door was kicked open, and a dark figure rushed straight into the room. The intruder wore black night clothes, with only a pair of eyes exposed. Those eyes were now brimming with killing intent.
The feeling was extraordinary; it was definitely the kind born of a blood feud.
Father and son were filled with bitterness. This was probably a sworn enemy who had come after them. Otherwise, the intruder would never have looked like that.
Damn it, we're in serious trouble this time!
Gulp!
Ran Zijin took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. In a low voice, he said, "What brings you to my Ran residence, sir? If I have done anything amiss, I can apologize to you in person!"
This person was remarkably skilled. If they resisted head-on, he and his son would likely face certain death. Only by playing along until the guards arrived might they have a sliver of hope.
"Hmph!"
The intruder snorted coldly, showing no intention of stopping, and walked straight toward Ran Zijin.
It's over!
Ran Zijin's expression changed drastically. The intruder was impervious to reason and was about to strike without pausing. He was probably determined to kill him.