Flames of Ambition

44: Cunning Zexel

Chapter 44: Cunning Zexel

Fan Yaoli stayed in that place for two weeks to heal everyone who had an illness. Everyone cheered how Fan Yaoli defeated their nemesis and how she removed their discomfort.

She led them to prosperity, and from now on, they would live to their fullest.

The leader of the village approached Fan Yaoli and spoke to her about their gift.

"Uhm, Gentleman Dong Fu, I would like to offer you the protection of ZUGC so that if someone wants to stir trouble in your village, just press this button and someone will come," Fan Yaoli said with a smile, making everyone gasp.

They did not expect that their savior was a member of ZUGC—perhaps someone who even held a high position. However, that fact did not affect the gratitude they felt for how Fan Yaoli helped them escape their demise.

They also knew how kind the people in ZUGC were, so they were genuinely grateful that someone from their ranks helped them.

"Ms. Fan Yaoli, please accept this humble gift from our village. We know this is small compared to what you can receive, but please take this," the leader said as he handed Fan Yaoli a box. Fan Yaoli accepted it with politeness.

When she opened the box, she couldn’t help but be stunned by what she received.

"This is too much for me, Gentleman Dong Fu. Besides, I already have a lot of businesses under my name, and I earn a lot of money in a single day. If you give me this, your village will be at a great disadvantage," Fan Yaoli said as she looked at the contract—ownership of their shipping pier. It meant Fan Yaoli would now be the new owner of their shipping line, which was the reason why the bandits harassed this village.

"You will just be the owner, and we can still work under you, Lady Yaoli. Besides, we know that you will not treat us poorly, and the last few days are proof of that. Please accept it, Lady Yaoli," Dong Fu, the village leader, said sincerely.

Fan Yaoli sighed and accepted the contract with gratitude.

"I promise, I’ll treat you all well," Fan Yaoli said. She stayed a bit longer in the village and returned to the Capital after her stay. She now had a medicine shop, an auction house, and a shipping line under her control.

The medicine shop she had built and closed had already been relocated to a much more convenient place. The name of the shop was also changed along with its location.

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The Emperor was satisfied with his scheme. He had lured his own enemies using the medicine that the previous owner gave him. He didn’t even use his own money to purchase it. He had also earned a lot of money from it. He did not care that the previous owner took half of the profits because he had already earned so much, and he was too much of a coward to oppose ZUGC. Although that owner did not directly tell the Emperor that she had ZUGC at her back, he knew that she did.

First of all, no one dared to use ZUGC’s name ever since it became powerful throughout the Da Continent. If someone did use it, they would disappear in just one day—and no one would know what happened to them.

No corpses were found. No traces pointed to any perpetrator. Even royals who used their name did not survive the ill fate of invoking ZUGC’s name. It was as if ZUGC had eyes in every corner of every country in the whole Da Continent.

One of the emperors of a neighboring country used their name; in just three days, that emperor was demoted and disappeared without a trace. So the Emperor of Pingjing Country was not stupid enough to oppose them.

It had become an unspoken rule: do not oppose ZUGC, and everything would be alright.

After that, the Emperor began preparing for his adopted son’s wedding to Fan Lihua, a banished member of the Fan Family who had become a commoner. He had already ordered someone to investigate her and confirmed that there was nothing special about her except that she worked as a cook at a ZUGC restaurant.

She had no contact with anyone since she came under observation—aside from occasional meetings with Feng Zhengying.

The Emperor was satisfied with how useless she seemed—an ideal match for his crippled adopted son. At first, he suspected that it might be another scheme by Feng Zhengying, but his informants reported that the two looked genuinely in love and nothing seemed suspicious.

So he was willing to arrange the marriage, thinking Fan Lihua was not a threat. The Fan Family's backing and the genius Fan Qingyou were solely in the grasp of his Crown Prince, his favorite son. Even if Fan Lihua held the title of second genius of the Capital, it would be useless without backing.

"When will be the wedding of my useless adopted son?" the Emperor asked.

"In three days, Your Majesty. Are we going to stop it?" his man asked.

"No, let her marry him. She is useless as well since she has no backing. Solely focus on Fan Qingyou—please her, so we can secure the Fan Family's support.

"Make sure that Fan Lihua stays bound to Fan Guan Xi. Since she has already had her coming-of-age ceremony, let her be married immediately to my son. Understood?" he ordered. His man nodded and immediately went to carry out the task.

But little did the Emperor know, the people around him were all Zexel’s people, so they immediately reported everything to their true master—the one who made them who they were today.

Upon receiving the report, Zexel couldn’t help but look confused.

"You okay?" Feng Zhengying asked.

"Well, I’m just confused. Did I overestimate the Emperor, or does he have another plan? Why does this report make him seem so stupid in my eyes?" Zexel said, making Feng Zhengying laugh.

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Okay Violets, I had an announcement. My schedule of updates to this story is will be move every Sunday. I dis promise I'll update three to five days but I was too busy right now so it will be every seven days. Please be patient and continue to support my story.

Let pray to my fellow Filipinos and other people who got COVID 19. I hope to all of you to get well soon.

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Ybrehl