Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Following Yang Changlin's instructions, Fang Haoshan said, seemingly trying to conceal something, "That's not entirely true. Butler Cai, cough... cough..."

Before he could finish speaking, Steward Cai interrupted him, covering his face, saying, "Fang Haoshan, stop talking. Since you're not feeling well, go back first. I'll report this to the Prefect! As for your claim of not having any money, I'll have a doctor come to your house to diagnose you!"

Fang Haoshan put on a grateful expression.

However, after pretending for a long time without uttering a single word and coughing for quite a while, Steward Cai was quite frightened.

After sending Fang Haoshan back, Butler Cai hurriedly went inside!

Fang Haoshan, who was standing at the door, immediately stopped coughing, a disdainful expression on his face, and then rode away.

After entering the mansion, Steward Cai first washed himself several times with clean water, and then changed his clothes!

He even ordered his men to burn the clothes he was wearing!

After doing all this, he hurriedly went to find Cai Yong!

In the rush, I bumped right into Cai Yong, who was in a hurry and beaming with joy!

Cai Yong was overjoyed to receive the message from Qianlong!

Cai Yong looked at the anxious butler and asked, "Butler Cai, what happened?"

This steward, Mr. Cai, is an old member of the Cai family, and he knows his temperament very well!

Butler Cai isn't the kind of person who's impulsive or careless!

Steward Cai bowed and nodded: "Reporting to the patriarch, something serious has indeed happened!"

Before Cai Yong could ask, Steward Cai said, "Master, may I have a word with you in private?"

Cai Yong nodded and walked to a secluded spot.

Before Cai Yong could speak, Steward Cai said, "Master, there may be a plague outbreak in Chanda City!"

Cai Yong's previously smug face immediately fell: "What? A plague has broken out in Chanda City? Are you sure?"

Butler Cai nodded: "Master, although I'm not entirely sure, it's pretty close!"

Butler Cai recounted Fang Haoshan's arrival to announce the death, including his persistent cough and the blisters that had appeared on his body.

Cai Yong frowned as he listened: "Is it possible that he's faking it?"

Butler Cai listened in silence for a moment; he truly hadn't considered this possibility!

He was speechless for a moment: "Even if Fang Haoshan was faking it, they wouldn't joke around with the life of the Fang family patriarch! If it weren't for the plague, the Fang family patriarch would be in exceptionally good health. How could he have died so suddenly in such a short time!"

Seeing this, Cai Yong said, "Whether the old master of the Fang family is alive or dead is another matter! Those merchants are cunning! How could a plague spread so easily? Could it be some kind of trick by the Fang family? After all, the timing of the old master's death is too suspicious! He was swindled out of all his money by Ashina and was then targeted by Helu! Could it be that they don't have money to give to the Turks now, and are deliberately creating this to scare them?"

Butler Cai nodded repeatedly as he listened.

Cai Yong, who was standing nearby, said, "Steward, go and offer your condolences on my behalf, and while you're at it, check out the situation!"

Butler Cai immediately put on a bitter face: "Master, what if they really are there? Will I get infected if I go there in person?"

Cai Yong said, "Don't be too nervous. It's not that easy to catch the plague. When you go, cover your mouth and nose, and there won't be any major problems. You can keep your distance from them and take a doctor with you."

Seeing Cai Yong say this, Steward Cai dared not say anything more and could only nod in agreement.

He agreed verbally, but he didn't really mean it.

He valued his life and decided that he wouldn't go in later.

Just let the doctor take a look.

After instructing the steward, Cai Yong hurriedly went to report the good news to the heads of the four new major clans.

After all, the Turks had suddenly returned, and listening to their words, it was still a long way off when they would return to fight back.

They were almost in despair, after all, serving these living fathers was no easy task.

When Cai Yong brought this news, everyone was shocked.

"Cai Yong, are you sure about this news?"

Cai Yong nodded very firmly: "Of course I'm sure...of course I'm sure...look, this is Mr. Qianlong's letter."

Cai Yong carefully took out the raven letter and handed it to everyone.

"Mr. Qianlong has already gone to the Central Plains to plan for the Turks... In five days at most, their damned Northern King Prefecture will surely be thrown into chaos..."

Kan Shanyue nodded excitedly: "Then the Turks will leave, right?"

Liu Qi laughed: "That's for sure. The Turks don't want to stay here. They want to conquer the Central Plains."

Lin Nan chimed in, "Then our hard times are coming soon. Cai Yong, have you told those Turks about this? Let them have some fun, let them restrain their soldiers, and let them wreak havoc in the Northern King County."

Lin Nan's words were unanimously approved by everyone.

Cai Yong said, "I'll go and talk to the Turks right now..."

No one tried to stop him.

...

On the other side, in Fang Haoshan's mansion.

He Lu's clansmen still surrounded the Fang family's house completely.

White silk ribbons have already been hung over the mansion.

However, the Helu people didn't take it seriously at all.

Seeing Fang Haoshan return, he said aggressively, "One of you died, and you made such a commotion! If you don't have money to pay us, we'll tear your funeral hall down..."

Fang Haoshan scratched himself, coughed, nodded and bowed in agreement, and showed a weak expression.

Watching Fang Haoshan cough and cover his mouth with his hand, he smeared the blood he had prepared beforehand onto his palm.

He made a face as if he had coughed up blood all over his hand.

The Helu soldier sneered, "You worthless thing, where are you coughing at... Get out of here..."

Fang Haoshan wiped the blood from his palm onto his body.

"Yes Yes Yes..."

Fang Haoshan went in, scratching and coughing at the same time.

He Lu's soldier frowned slightly: "Those wretches look like they're not going to live much longer either."

The other soldiers nodded: "That's right, we don't know if they can come up with the money. If they can't, then we've been guarding this place for nothing!"

“If you don’t have money, those girls inside are pretty good too!” He Lu’s soldier chimed in.

"A bunch of people Ashina has already had his way with! And if they want to play with women, they can find them easily. Are they made of gold? Are they worth us wasting so much time on? If they can't come up with the money, I'll make sure these lowly people wish they were dead..."

As the Turks were talking, Steward Cai's carriage arrived.

Several fully armed people, who were completely covered up, got off the carriage.

Among them were several doctors and several of Steward Cai's confidants.

They had just gotten off the vehicle when they were stopped by He Lu's soldiers.

"What are you doing? Why have you made such a mess of this place?"

Butler Cai bowed and scraped, revealing his face, before covering himself up again.

"Gentlemen, I am the steward of Prefect Cai Yong. We have been ordered to come and offer our condolences to the late Master Fang..."

As he spoke, Steward Cai produced a token that indicated Cai Yong's identity.

"Why are you dressed like this for a funeral?" a soldier from Helu asked.

Butler Cai didn't dare to speak carelessly: "This is our local custom..."

I made up a reason on the spot.

He Lu's soldiers had heard Batu He Lu say that they should be more polite to Cai Yong.

They didn't try to stop them.

As he spoke, Cai Yong let his confidants and several doctors go in.

He waited by the carriage.

Seeing this, He Lu's soldier asked Steward Cai, "What? Aren't you going in?"

Butler Cai nodded: "Well... our patriarch already said that their status isn't worth my personal attention."

He Lu's soldier sneered, "You lowly people, you yourselves have your own hierarchy..."

Butler Cai smiled awkwardly, not daring to speak recklessly and anger these people.

At this moment, one of the Helu soldiers, being somewhat shrewd, spoke to the leader.

"Chief, have you noticed anything amiss?"

The leader of the group of soldiers listened in silence for a moment: "Something's wrong? What's wrong?"

One of the soldiers spoke up, "They seem to be a few doctors. Why would they send doctors in out of nowhere?"

The leader nodded: "Yes, the old man inside is dead... what's the point of having a doctor?"

The soldier continued, "Judging from their attire, it's obvious they're trying to isolate themselves from something... The steward came on behalf of Cai Yong, but he didn't go in himself. If Cai Yong truly looked down on this person, he wouldn't have sent anyone to offer condolences... This steward is clearly lying... He seems to be afraid of something, or perhaps he's hiding something."

The leader listened to the analysis of the soldiers beside him and found it very reasonable!

He turned his head and looked at the restless butler Cai. After a few glances, he realized that something was wrong.

He drew his sword and rushed forward, pressing it directly against the man's neck.

This sudden scene startled Butler Cai so much that he knelt down on the spot.

With a thud, she pleaded in a tearful voice, "Sir, what...what's going on? Is there some misunderstanding?"