The Path of the Cannon Fodder's Counterattack

Chapter 17: Good Luck Struck

Ling Xiao looked away, recalling that this Young Master Lan Wei’s personality was frank, naive, and impulsive. Since he hadn’t shown up that afternoon and hadn’t sent anyone to rebuff him, not even a pigeon, the proud and arrogant Lan Wei couldn’t ignore it and had looked for a chance to drop by to question him. There was nothing unlikely about it.

Thinking like this, Ling Xiao calmed down and deftly moved away the sword placed on his neck as he smilingly said, “I guessed that you would come to find me when I didn’t go see you after you set up that appointment. Looks like I guessed right.”

Lan Wei frowned, his face angry as he placed the sword that Ling Xiao had moved away back against his neck, “Why did you not come see this Young Master?”

At the bottom of his heart, Ling Xiao rolled his eyes.

Although this Lan Wei did not hold an official position, he was still the Prime Minister’s son. If the matter with Mo Qi could be resolved without any other unexpected events, this person would eventually walk the path of an official. This kind of existence walking closely to Ling Xiao, a Steward of the palace. He’d have to be stupid to meet him when the Emperor was already not happy with him right now.

At the same time, this Lan Wei failed to understand this point. He was already unfavored by the Emperor because of the matter with Mo Qi. However, he just didn’t understand how to reflect on himself and even went so far as to burst into the palace to see him. Ling Xiao ruthlessly disdained Lan Wei’s stupidness in his heart, but his expression was normal as he said, “You are the Prime Minister’s son, and I am the Eunuch Steward of the palace. This palace has a rule about not approaching people of the assembly in the first place. The two of us meeting violates this rule. If the Emperor knew, not to mention me, even you would find it difficult to escape punishment.”

Lan Wei’s brows relaxed a little and pursed his lips as he asked, “The place this Young Master chose was very hidden, who would know?”

“There are numerous informers in the palace. I am not afraid of many things, but I am afraid of the chance[1].” Ling Xiao carefully pushed away the sword point as he replied.

Lan Wei went silent, finally accepting Ling Xiao’s excuse as he set down his sword. Immediately, Ling Xiao retreated two steps, Lan Wei seeming to mock him for his cowardice as he watched. Ling Xiao curled his lips, and not even bothering to start something over Lan Wei’s expression. After all, he feared death in the first place.

Lan Wei looked at Ling Xiao for a moment, feeling as if the other was insulting his eyes. Flinging his head to the side, he somewhat jeeringly said, “Aren’t you the one that wants to eliminate the informers of the palace?”

Ling Xiao collected himself, looked like Lan Wei already knew that his five informers were broken off by him. He thought it over, and a plan formed in his mind that made him unable to help curving his lips a little, “I am the Emperor’s servant right now. What the Emperor wants me to do, I will do it. He had me investigate the informers in this palace, so I will investigate. That is all.”

Lan Wei heard what he said and his complexion darkened, “Ling Xiao, stop using the Emperor to pressure this Young Master. Don’t forget why you entered the palace!”

As Ling Xiao listened to his words, irony-filled his heart. His face was cold as he sneered, asking, “Why don’t you tell me why I entered the palace?”

Lan Wei sneered back, “Because you were Qi Qi’s servant, she let you enter the Emperor’s palace with her. Walking to this point, she even gave you a post when you entered. Her favor to you has always been as heavy as a mountain since before. Now that you have become the Eunuch Steward, you should remember her and help her more.”

This Lan Wei had been thoroughly brainwashed by Mo Qi, even everything he had done before became something Mo Qi had given him?

Could this Lan Wei be any stupider?! Could Mo Qi be any more shameless?!

Ling Xiao was angered, but he inwardly restrained his own feelings, bearing with it without giving a response. With Lan Wei brainwashed like this, there would inevitably be a day where Mo Qi would thoroughly exploit him. These two people were both his foes, and he only needed to watch them slowly court disaster. He really didn’t need to do anything at all.

If he made Lan Wei clear-headed, it was the same as saving Lan Wei, but Ling Xiao was not that kind-hearted.

As a result, Ling Xiao chose silence.

Even so, Lan Wei did not let him off, “Did you listen to what this Young Master said?”

Ling Xiao rolled his eyes. The first time he saw her, he had rushed to be exploited. He had even gone so far as to push his beloved woman in front of the Emperor. It was simply…

Thinking to here, Ling Xiao couldn’t think about it anymore. When he thought about how he was also like this in his past lifetime… he couldn’t help but fall silent.

After quite a while, he finally answered, “I cannot help you.”

Lan Wei raised his sword, and Ling Xiao glanced at the point of the sword that was almost within reach as he said, “The Emperor ordered me to not approach him for a while, so how could I help you?”

“What…” Lan Wei frowned, then his expression became one of joy, “Then it means you have lost favor?”

Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow, then profoundly smiled, “You could say it like that.”

“I heard that you were in charge of thoroughly investigating the informers within the palace? Is that the reason you can’t approach him?” Lan Wei did not listen to Ling Xiao’s innocuous words and guessed it himself.

Ling Xiao was surprised and reacted a few seconds too late, allowing Lan Wei to dig out a few more clues. Lan Wei took back his sword and thought about it for a good while before saying through clenched teeth, “Tomorrow, this Young Master will deliver a list of names to you. After this matter is settled, you will have done a meritorious service for the Emperor and he will trust you even more. At that time, you will help Qi Qi do the right approach and obtain better results.”

“However, you better remember this! If not, this young master’s blade will not be so lenient again!” Lan Wei coldly snorted once after he finished speaking, and he climbed out through the window.

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Footnotes:

[1]Great number of things: yi wan; the chance: wan yi. They use the same exact characters, but just flipped. So pun-ish? 不怕一万就怕万一