"This..."
Wang Zitao hesitated, then finally gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, "I just got word that the Ran father and son were attacked by an assassin. Ran Zijin, the clan head, was gravely wounded and fell unconscious, and Ran Chao was shot through the abdomen with an arrow. Muzhi, you weren't the one who did it, were you?"
Holy shit!
The words left everyone dumbfounded. The Ran father and son had actually been attacked by an assassin and gravely wounded, with Ran Zijin left unconscious? The news was far too shocking.
They had been at Piaoxiang Tower the whole time and hadn't heard the news yet.
Remembering what Wang Zitao had said earlier, everyone turned to the heir, Lin Yi. Could it really have been his handiwork?
"Good grief, the heir really is ruthless!"
"Heh, this is a delicate matter. Ordinary people wouldn't dare touch the Ran Clan, which means whoever did it is no ordinary person!"
"Others may fear him, but the heir certainly doesn't!"
"Tsk, tsk, that's our heir of Northern Liang for you. The Ran Clan has kicked an iron plate this time."
At that moment, everyone looked at Lin Yi with awe. Here was an heir who dared to move against even the Ran Clan. He was rather terrifying.
Zhang Long and Zhao Hu also came to a sudden realization. No wonder the heir had spoken so grandly earlier. He had already made arrangements.
The assassin this time was probably one of the heir's people.
The heir really was petty. He had already sent someone to assassinate the Ran Clan.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Yi laughed it off. "How could that be? Zitao, you know perfectly well that I'm famous for my kind heart. How could I possibly do such a thing?"
Pfft!
Wang Zitao nearly spat blood. Brother, do you have some misunderstanding about what kindness means? That word has never had anything to do with you, has it?
A little disappointed, he said, "So it wasn't you, Muzhi. I thought it was and was ready to thank you!"
"Thank me?"
Hearing that, Lin Yi's lips twitched. What the fellow had said was rather interesting. Wasn't he openly taking a jab at the Ran Clan?
Could the Wang Clan be planning to step forward?
At that moment, he recalled something. If he remembered correctly, this fellow seemed to have a grudge against Ran Chao too.
It was said that the two had fallen out badly over a woman, and Wang Yining had eventually had to step in and settle the matter. Even so, Wang Zitao had made things difficult for Ran Chao at every turn ever since.
That was also why he was on good terms with Lin Yi. After all, the enemy of one's enemy was a friend.
Having figured that out, Lin Yi suddenly understood. Besides sounding him out, the fellow probably really did want to thank whoever was behind the assassin.
But this matter could be either serious or trivial, and he naturally wouldn't be stupid enough to take the blame.
Lin Yi could only sigh. "Ah, Northern Liang is going through troubled times. I was just attacked by an assassin, and now it's the Ran Clan's turn. No wonder the chief steward wants another purge. The waters in Northern Liang run deep!"
Wang Zitao gave Lin Yi a long look. He had actually come to sound Lin Yi out and see whether he was the one who had moved against the Ran Clan.
A force that dared to send an assassin after the Ran Clan was a huge threat no matter what, and the same was true for the Wang Clan. That was why he wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Now Lin Yi's reaction left him somewhat puzzled. Could it really not have been him?
That wasn't right either. Lin Yi's behavior had been very unusual.
Still, he hadn't expected to get an answer simply by asking. With a wry smile, he said, "Whoever did it is a friend of mine. I've been fed up with the Ran Clan for a long time, and this person did what I didn't dare do."
"Haha, Zitao, you really do keep your grudges and favors straight!" Lin Yi said with a dry laugh.
Hahaha!
Wang Zitao couldn't help laughing too. With a grand gesture, he said, "I'm happy today, so everyone's bill is on me!"
As far as he was concerned, life's three great joys were the wedding night, seeing one's name on the imperial examination rolls, and having an enemy meet with misfortune. He was in a wonderful mood today!
The people below immediately burst into cheers. Whatever his purpose, everyone was getting a freebie, and that was definitely a wonderful thing.
"Brother Zitao is mighty!"
"Young Master Wang is so domineering! That's just too cool. We've scored a freebie today!"
"Hahaha!"
Damn!
Lin Yi's lips twitched. The brat was direct enough. If Ran Zijin woke up, he would probably spit blood.
At the chief steward's residence in Northern Liang City!
Wang Ziwen had also received the news that the Ran Clan had been targeted by an assassin, and he was stunned.
Although he had been preparing to retaliate against the Ran Clan, he shouldn't have made a move yet. How had they come to be attacked by an assassin?
He couldn't help looking at Xu Zhong beside him. With a strange expression, he asked, "Xu Zhong, did you do it?"
"It wasn't me!"
Xu Zhong denied it directly and concisely!
A thought stirred in Wang Ziwen's mind. Whoever had managed to fight his way into the Ran residence was no ordinary person. If it wasn't him or Xu Zhong, could the prince have acted personally?
No!
The prince should have been tied down at the front, carving out territory for his son!
At that moment, Xu Zhong suddenly spoke, his voice deep. "The heir!"
"You mean the heir did it?" Wang Ziwen's pupils contracted as he cried out.
Hearing that, Xu Zhong nodded and explained.
"The heir has two experts at his side. One is Ma Chao, the commander of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry. Although he learned battlefield killing techniques, fighting his way into the Ran Clan wouldn't be difficult for him."
"The other is Wang Yue. His skills are terrifying, and he specializes in assassination and close combat. Fighting his way into the Ran residence would be as easy as turning over his hand!"
"This assassin acted with restraint. Although he attacked the Ran father and son, he only gravely wounded them without killing them!"
With that, he closed his mouth.
"So that's how it is. I still underestimated our heir!"
For Wang Ziwen, however, that much information was enough.
An expert had carried out the attack but left them alive. That showed the assassin knew where to draw the line.
Wound, but don't kill!
It was plainly a warning and retaliation. It probably really was the heir's handiwork.
He knew in his heart that although the heir, Lin Yi, was a good child in his eyes, he was not one to take a loss lying down. The Ran Clan's status and position kept him from dealing them a killing blow, but he could still take a tooth for a tooth.
Wang Ziwen couldn't help sighing. "Ah, that little rascal I watched grow up has finally revealed his edge!"
He had investigated the people around Lin Yi too, but only to determine whether they posed a threat.
He hadn't expected there to be two great experts at Lin Yi's side. That was no small matter. It seemed the heir had been hiding his strength and biding his time, all so he could amaze everyone with a single feat!
At that moment, he suddenly felt old.
He was moved!
Relieved!
Happy!
Their heir had grown up!
Xu Zhong glanced at him and said quietly, "How could the Prince of Northern Liang's son be a useless playboy? He had to learn to grow up. As things stand, he's only barely passing!"
Wang Ziwen had no reply. This fellow was as arrogant as ever.
But just as he had said, the heir needed to grow up too, and now things were looking very good.