Disease rights policy

Standing at the city gate, Qiao Ran thought that Qin Huai should not be able to get in either, at least he was safe. She comforted herself, no matter what, she had to go to Wuting Hall to see, even if she was alone, her brothers would be saved.

Tomorrow at noon, there won't be much time left.

Wuting Hall was built against the mountain and has been famous for its easy defense and difficult attack over the years. Although it is located in Sichuan, it is clearly separate from the Sichuan court and does not interfere with each other.

The beautiful scenery and lush green hills made it a truly wonderful place. Qiao Ran took a waist tag from a maid outside the Wuting Hall, checked it at the door, and then went inside with her head down.

In recent days, Cang Zhengqing has been hosting lavish banquets, especially since he plans to use the so-called "Ghost Gate" brothers' lives to lure Qiao Ran and Qin Huai out tomorrow. Therefore, he has invited many people tonight to discuss matters together.

Qiao Ran entered the outer hall without any hindrance and was assigned to prepare writing brushes and ink for the guests staying overnight. She splashed water in the special basin for washing brushes, her fingertips icy cold.

"They had no idea that I, Qiao Ran, had already established my own sect. These hypocrites really know how to label people," Qiao Ran muttered, frowning as the water was too cold. She threw down the soaked pen, wiped her fingers on her clothes, and muttered, "Ghost Gate, indeed. Why not call it the Palace of the King of Hell? It sounds awful."

Even if Qiao Ran is uncultured, she wouldn't give her main branch such a shabby name as "Ghost Gate," would she? Who does she think she is?

The servants running errands in the outer hall hurried back and forth, each so quiet that their footsteps were almost inaudible. Items were delivered to the inner hall one after another, and guests were brought in in an endless stream. The hall was brightly lit.

Qiao Ran casually fiddled with a few sets of writing brushes and inkstones, and followed a maid who was delivering things to the moon gate that was the only way to enter the inner hall. Cang Zhengqing didn't know what he was thinking. The huge Wuting Hall was connected by only this moon gate, which was three people wide, and was guarded by elite disciples. People entering and leaving were checked three or four times.

Finally, it was Qiao Ran's turn. The gatekeeper glanced at her and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Qiao Ran, dressed in the clothes of an outer maid, carried the writing implements and nodded respectfully, saying, "These are for the guests in the inner courtyard."

"bring here."

Qiao Ran felt her hand lighten, and when she looked up slightly, an inner maid in a pale yellow dress had taken her tray. She was slightly stunned, and the guard at the door shouted, "What are you standing there for? Get out of here!"

"Yes." Qiao Ran glanced at the moon gate, turned around, took two steps, weighed the waist tag used by the inner maids, and a smile appeared on her lips.

As long as she doesn't resort to violence and her identity isn't exposed, places like this, where entry and exit are based on waist tokens, are like flat ground to her.

Even the most skilled martial artist is no different from a lamb waiting to be stolen once she gets close.

Fortunately, the clothes of the maids in the inner hall were all washed in the outer hall. Qiao Ran changed into a pale yellow dress in the laundry room and waited until it got darker before sneaking into the inner hall by using her waist token.

"You, come here," a manager called out to Qiao Ran, frowned and pinched her, saying, "What are you sneaking around doing? Everyone else is busy as bees, but you're the only one slacking off."

Qiao Ran couldn't explain herself. She had just uttered a single, feigned "I..." when something was stuffed into her arms.

"Hurry up and send it to the hall master," the steward cursed. "You're all lazy and good-for-nothing, how do you do your job? You can just store things from the hall master's study in the storeroom, don't you want to live?! Go now!"

Qiao Ran glanced at the box in her arms, wondering what it was, then looked at the weasel-faced steward, "Should I deliver it to the hall master?"

Wouldn't that mean sending her to see Cang Zhengqing? What if they find out?

The manager's voice grew even harsher, "If it wasn't you, who else could it be? If the head of the hall hadn't been busy with guests tonight and hadn't had time to deal with you, you would have already thrown several tires. How dare you leave such valuable things in the wrong place! Just wait until the head of the hall comes back and settles the score with you!"

"Wouldn't it be even worse for a lowly person to deliver something so valuable?" Qiao Ran was busy searching for the secret prison and didn't want to disturb Cang Zhengqing, let alone go in front of the person in charge. She declined, saying, "It would be more appropriate for you to go in person."

Unexpectedly, as soon as Qiao Ran finished speaking, the man with the pointed mouth and monkey-like face raised his hand to slap her. Although Qiao Ran dodged half of it, she was still slapped on half of her face. She suppressed her burning anger and stared at the manager.

The steward pointed at her nose and said, "Everyone says that the outer maids are rude and lack manners. You look like you were just temporarily transferred from the outer hall. I don't allow you to question my words. You're being incredibly presumptuous! Sending you to the main hall is giving you a chance to make something of yourself. You're so petty and timid. Now get going!"

Qiao Ran gritted her teeth, enduring the burning pain on her face, and said "Yes," before carrying the box past the steward.

What a cowardly bastard! How dare he slap her! Such a good opportunity to stand out, why doesn't she go herself? It's obvious that this thing is a hot potato, and she's afraid of angering Cang Zhengqing, so she doesn't dare to deliver it.

After weighing the pros and cons, Qiao Ran decided it was best not to deliver the square box in her arms. It was better to avoid trouble; her main purpose was to sneak in and find her brothers.

But... valuables?

The box isn't heavy in my hand, so what's inside?

"Let's open it and take a look," Qiao Ran muttered. "If it really is some kind of treasure, then let's just say it's a gift from Wu Tingtang to my sister."

Hiding behind a rockery, Qiao Ran opened the wooden box and looked at it in the scattered light. It was a portrait. The woman had bright eyes and white teeth up close, but looked completely different from afar. Her red lips were half-covered and the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned.

"There's a hint of shady dealings about them..."

After staring at it for a while, Qiao Ran inexplicably got goosebumps. What kind of woman would need Cang Zhengqing to be kept in the storeroom? She didn't expect Cang Zhengqing to be such a romantic. Holding this portrait only caused trouble. Qiao Ran didn't know whether to give it to him or not.

She thought for a moment, then threw the box in a conspicuous place and ran away.

Qiao Ran searched the backyard but couldn't find the place where people were being held, not even a heavily guarded one. Just as she was about to take a risk and sneak into Cang Zhengqing's courtyard, the entire Wuting Hall suddenly became restless in the night. Torches blazed through the small moon gate, seemingly rushing into the backyard all at once.

exposed!

Qiao Ran's first thought was that she had been discovered, and she tried to take advantage of the chaos to leave. However, she underestimated the strength of Wuting Hall, whose disciples had completely surrounded the area.

She had no choice but to be pushed and shoved along by the gathering maids, who were trembling with fear, not knowing what was happening.

Then a shrill scream echoed through both the inner and outer courtyards. Everyone looked up in horror and saw a blood-soaked person rolling out of the empty courtyard. The person was now curled up on the ground in pain, clutching their body and begging for mercy in a panic.

"Master, spare my life! I've been wronged..."

Before the sound was even finished, he was struck hard by the whip again, his skin instantly torn open and blood splattered everywhere.

"Yes, he's the one in charge..."

Qiao Ran recognized him immediately; it was the same steward from the inner courtyard who had slapped her half an hour earlier. Given her current situation, Qiao Ran couldn't help but panic and instinctively lowered her head.

"The master has ordered a search of everyone inside and outside the hall until the item is found!"

Only then did everyone realize that something had been stolen. At this moment, Cang Zhengqing came out of the house. He was over forty years old, and his calm demeanor carried a hidden ruthlessness. He glanced at the situation in the courtyard and said in a deep voice, "Bring it here."

Immediately, someone brought the half-dead steward to him.

Cang Zhengqing lowered his eyes. "Where are the things?"

"Master," the steward stammered, prostrate on the ground, blood trails trailing behind him, trembling as he tried to explain, "I gave it to a maid, and she delivered it to you. It's true."

"Let her identify it, and find it quickly," Cang Zhengqing said.

Qiao Ran could hear the pounding in her heart. She had thrown the things in the yard, so they must have been picked up by someone else. Had she not turned them in?

The person in charge slowly turned her head. Qiao Ran didn't even dare to meet her eyes. Fortunately, she had also been whipped on the face, and blood blurred her vision, making it difficult to see clearly for a long time.

Suddenly, the steward pointed, "It's her...it's her..."