Under Yun Fan's repeated persuasion, the two women withdrew their investments. Initially, they were angry, feeling that Yun Fan didn't believe in their capabilities. However, after several simulations, they discovered the flaw in their plan and immediately gasped in shock. They realized that compared to Ye Qingcheng's treachery, they were still a step behind.
Due to this delay, Yun Fan didn't go to discuss the plan with Liu Ming, as it was already dark. The next day, Jiang Xueyan and Yang Xue went to film, while Zhao Fanghua and Leng Ningshuang also set out to execute the plan, unbeknownst to Yun Fan.
Just then, Lin Wushuang arrived. "Brother Yun, my grandfather invites you over as a guest. He specifically sent me to pick you up!" Lin Wushuang invited Yun Fan.
Yun Fan agreed, as he also wished to meet this elder statesman. However, he didn't go alone today; he brought Lin Tianxin with him. Lin Tianxin was his fiancée, so bringing her along to a visit was perfectly acceptable.
In the room, Lin Tianxin asked Yun Fan, "Yun Fan, how do I look in this outfit?"
"Good, very good!" Yun Fan replied perfunctorily, as this was the seventh time Lin Tianxin had asked him that day. Lin Tianxin was very pleased. She had to dress elegantly and appropriately to meet such an important figure and not embarrass Yun Fan. She was extremely happy that Yun Fan was bringing her along, especially in the capacity of his fiancée. This proved that her relationship with Yun Fan had taken another step forward. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't have minded not being brought along, but today's guest was a top figure in China.
Afterward, they went downstairs. Lin Wushuang had been waiting impatiently. Although Lin Tianxin was radiant, he didn't look at her much. He wouldn't have looked much even at Ye Qingcheng. In his opinion, women only slowed down his sword drawing speed.
An hour later, Lin Wushuang said to them, "Brother Yun, Madam Yun, please wait in the living room. I'll go and invite the elder."
"Go ahead!" Yun Fan said casually. The title "Madam Yun" made Lin Tianxin beam with joy and blush with shyness, as she and Yun Fan were not yet married.
At this moment, Yun Fan said to Lin Tianxin, "Tianxin, please sit down and wait!"
"Oh!" Lin Tianxin was a bit nervous. Although this was just a private visit and not a formal occasion, she felt an inexplicable sense of tension.
"Relax, don't be nervous. Just be yourself!" Yun Fan comforted her.
"I'll try my best!" Lin Tianxin let out a long sigh.
Soon after, Lin Wudi arrived. "Young friend Yun, I've finally been waiting for you!"
"You are too kind, elder!" Yun Fan got up and greeted Lin Wudi.
"You are truly blessed, young friend. I didn't expect your wife to be so beautiful and captivating. In terms of beauty, she rivals Ye Ji in her youth!" he said with a smile to Yun Fan. Lin Tianxin's face flushed as she didn't expect the elder to give her such high praise.
Yun Fan smiled and said, "I only met you briefly last time, elder. Today, I must have a good chat with you!"
"That's for sure!" Lin Wudi glared at Lin Wushuang. "What are you still standing there for? Go fetch some tea!"
"Yes!" The innocent Lin Wushuang quickly went to prepare the tea.
At this moment, Lin Wudi said to Yun Fan, "I wanted to have a good talk with you earlier, but some matters delayed me. Please don't mind."
"Of course not!" Yun Fan replied politely.
After Lin Wushuang brought the tea, Lin Wudi instructed him, "Take Madam Yun to join your sisters."
"Yes!" Lin Wushuang politely said to Lin Tianxin, "Madam Yun, please!"
"Mmm!" Lin Tianxin naturally understood that Lin Wudi and Yun Fan were about to discuss important matters, so she followed Lin Wushuang.
At this time, Lin Wudi said to Yun Fan, "Young friend, ever since you exposed Yu Shuai as a mole, we have been very happy! But as you expected, Yu Shuai was only one of them! Or rather, he was just pushed to the forefront by some people. Those who truly harbored ill intentions are more than just him!"
"If I'm not mistaken, the Crown Prince is also one of them, right?" Yun Fan said directly.
Lin Wushuang nodded, "That's right, he is one of them. But because his status is too sensitive, he cannot be moved without absolute evidence!" In fact, after Yun Fan alerted Lin Wushuang, he had already guessed that the Crown Prince was one of them, but they were not from the same faction. He had wanted to report it to the Heavenly Emperor, but without absolute evidence, he didn't want to disappoint the Heavenly Emperor.
Yun Fan understood perfectly. The Crown Prince was the Heavenly Emperor's son, and without absolute proof, moving against him would damage the Heavenly Emperor's authority. At this moment, Yun Fan said, "I understand! I just can't imagine who else there might be besides the Crown Prince? Ye Ji?" Ye Ji was incredibly powerful, capable of killing a Xiantian expert in one move. She was someone he couldn't contend with right now. However, due to their backgrounds, he would inevitably clash with Ye Ji in the future, and honestly, his chances of winning weren't high. Unless his master intervened, but asking his master to step in for such a minor matter would be embarrassing. Besides, his master was here to temper him, so he wouldn't intervene unless absolutely necessary.
Lin Wudi looked puzzled. He hadn't expected Yun Fan to suspect Ye Ji. Weren't they...?
"It's not Ye Ji, but someone else!" he told Yun Fan. "This group of people is definitely not on the same side as the Crown Prince. As for who it is, it hasn't been completely investigated yet!"
Since it wasn't her, then it wasn't. Whether it was or wasn't didn't make much difference to Yun Fan. His third task had already been completed after Yu Shuai's downfall. He didn't want to be involved in this matter anymore, as it was no longer his concern.
At this point, Lin Wudi said to Yun Fan, "It seems there's no room for maneuver between you and the Crown Prince!" Yun Fan had inadvertently disrupted the Crown Prince's plans, and coupled with the Ye Qingcheng incident, a conflict between Yun Fan and the Crown Prince was inevitable.
"Ultimately, we've troubled you. If you hadn't investigated Yu Shuai, you wouldn't have reached this point with the Crown Prince!" Lin Wudi said. "However, it all seems destined. Even if you hadn't been involved in this, the Ye Qingcheng incident would have led you to this point."
"It doesn't matter. I don't cause trouble, but I'm not afraid of it!" Yun Fan said. "Since he wants to kill me, I won't be polite." What he needed to do now was to expose the Crown Prince before taking action.
"Although the Crown Prince is constantly watched by the Heavenly Emperor, he has secretly built up many forces over the years. He absolutely cannot be underestimated!" he told Yun Fan. "If you need any help, I will definitely assist you!" Yun Fan wasn't surprised by this. He had long heard that the Crown Prince and the Lin family were at odds. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the Lin family's situation would likely become very difficult. Of course, it would only be difficult; after all, the Lin family was deeply rooted in China, and even if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he couldn't eliminate the Lin family. Perhaps this was why the Lin family remained so calm.
"Thank you, elder, but I still want to resolve this myself!" Yun Fan refused Lin Wudi's offer. If he couldn't even outmaneuver the Crown Prince, he wouldn't be qualified to inherit the position of Ghost Valley's sect leader. Lin Wudi could see that Yun Fan was a strong-willed person, much like himself in his youth.
"Young friend, why did you come to Jinling? Is it truly just because of Ye Qingcheng?" The Heavenly Emperor might know some of Yun Fan's background, but Lin Wudi certainly didn't, so he was curious why Yun Fan had come to Jinling. In his opinion, it was likely a young man succumbing to a beauty. Upon arriving in Jinling, so many scandalous rumors had spread about him and Ye Qingcheng. Of course, Ye Qingcheng was only one part of it; there were others Yun Fan didn't know about, but Lin Wudi knew about the "first wife."
"You jest, elder. Ye Qingcheng and I are merely in a temporary partnership!" Yun Fan said. "Once the cooperation ends, she and I will be enemies!"
"Enemies?" Lin Wudi was somewhat puzzled. With so many rumors circulating about them, they were still enemies! Honestly, he couldn't quite figure it out.
Yun Fan then said, "My initial goal in coming to Jinling was to bring down the Ye family and obtain what belongs to me. But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince became a variable along the way!" This was something Yun Fan hadn't anticipated. If it weren't for the Crown Prince constantly targeting him, his goal might have been halfway achieved by now. As for complete success, that was impossible. Even though he was confident he could defeat Ye Qingcheng, one shouldn't forget that there was an even stronger Ye Ji.
Lin Wudi's lips twitched. He hadn't expected Yun Fan's goal to be to bring down the Ye family. Could it be that everything Yun Fan had done in Jinling before was to infiltrate the Ye family and then bring them down from within? However, he didn't ask Yun Fan why he was targeting the Ye family, as it was Yun Fan's secret, and he had no penchant for prying into others' secrets. He wondered what the Ye family's expressions would be if they knew Yun Fan's objective was to defeat them. He still reminded Yun Fan, "The Ye family's strength is something you must already know, so you must be cautious above all else!"
"I know!" Yun Fan said. "Getting back to the point, elder, do you have any way to make the Crown Prince shed his disguise?" This was Yun Fan's true objective. The Ye family was too powerful, and so far, the two sides hadn't officially clashed. Therefore, he believed the immediate priority was to deal with the Crown Prince, this troublesome individual. Once the Crown Prince was dealt with, he could focus on the Ye family. Although the Crown Prince held a high position, and Jinling was his territory, Yun Fan wouldn't be facing him alone; Ye Qingcheng would also be involved. Such a lineup against the Crown Prince would be a double assurance.
Lin Wudi pondered for a moment and then said, "Yes!"
"What method?" Yun Fan asked curiously.
"The Crown Prince himself has no flaws, otherwise, he wouldn't have remained stable under the Heavenly Emperor's watch for so many years!" Lin Wudi said. "Although he is a perfect individual, those around him may not be. As long as you can find evidence, young friend, the day of bringing down the Crown Prince won't be far off!"
"I understand!" Yun Fan nodded. He wanted more than just to bring down the Crown Prince. This fellow had schemed multiple times to kill him. He wouldn't let the Crown Prince live so easily. His goal was to kill the Crown Prince. However, at present, this plan had to remain in his heart.
"Alas!" Lin Wudi sighed. "All of this depends on you, young friend. While my Lin family wishes to help, we must consider the Heavenly Emperor's face!"
"Understood!" Yun Fan was about to take his leave when Lin Wudi reminded him, "Young friend, your affairs with Ye Qingcheng have caused the royal family to lose face. If possible, please don't continue with Ye Qingcheng!"
"We'll talk about that later!" He had nothing with Ye Qingcheng, they were just allies. At this crucial moment, he didn't want to abandon his teammate. Lin Wudi knew Yun Fan hadn't taken his words to heart. However, one thing puzzled him greatly. Despite the uproar, only the Crown Prince was targeting Yun Fan, and the royal family remained inactive. Were they hesitant? Lin Wudi thought about it and concluded that this was the only possibility – they were hesitant about the Ye family. As for being hesitant about Yun Fan, he didn't think so. After all, Yun Fan was just a prodigy with extraordinary talent, and his background was not significant according to investigations. He had already decided in his heart that no matter whether Yun Fan won this time, he would protect him. With his authority, protecting Yun Fan would be quite simple; as long as Yun Fan joined the military, he would be safe.
After Yun Fan left the Lin family, Lin Tianxin was escorted out by several women. However, unlike Yun Fan, she held a gift box in her hand.
"Yun Fan, this is a jade bracelet the old madam gave me. I couldn't refuse it, so I accepted it. Is that okay?" Lin Tianxin asked Yun Fan.
"It's fine, as long as you like it!" Yun Fan smiled. Lin Tianxin was relieved and then left the Lin family with Yun Fan, hand in hand.
...
Back at the hotel, Yun Fan received another invitation from Zhulian. Unlike before, when she always invited him for drinks, this time Zhulian invited him for a meal. As long as there was no drinking, Yun Fan agreed.
At the dinner table, Zhulian asked Yun Fan, "Little brother, why the long face? Do you have something on your mind?"
Yun Fan said, "It's not a major worry. I want to deal with the Crown Prince and force him to reveal himself, but he's very cunning, so I have to target the people around him!" He didn't hide anything, as he believed Zhulian's status was not simple, and she might be able to help him. Of course, there was also the possibility that if Zhulian was a relative of the Crown Prince, revealing this would expose his plan prematurely. So, this time, he decided to take a gamble.
Zhulian smiled enchantingly, "So that's what it is! It's not difficult. I can help you find evidence of the Crown Prince's rebellion!"
"What?" Yun Fan was stunned. He hadn't expected Zhulian to have such capabilities; it far exceeded his expectations.
"That's wonderful!" Yun Fan asked excitedly, "Sister, what are your terms?" He didn't expect Zhulian to help for free, so he wanted to ask about her conditions.
"I'll tell you the terms later. Sister will help you first!" Zhulian deliberately kept him in suspense.
"Why don't you tell me now? Otherwise, I'll be worried!" Yun Fan felt a bit awkward.
"Alright, I'm not joking. Sister should help you, but to make you feel less indebted, I'll tell you my small request!"
"Go ahead!" Yun Fan was prepared.
"Sister is encountering some difficulties in her cultivation, so I might need your help then. You are not allowed to refuse!" Unintentionally, a hint of mischief flashed across her lips, but Yun Fan didn't see it.
"Okay, no problem!" Yun Fan agreed immediately, feeling relieved in his heart. As long as it wasn't about exchanging his virtue, it was fine.
"Sister, how long will it take to find the evidence?" Yun Fan asked curiously. Zhulian held up three fingers.
"Three months?"
"Three days!" Yun Fan was instantly shocked. "So fast?"
"Of course, you don't need to doubt Sister's abilities. In Jinling, if Sister wants something, she can get it!" she guaranteed him.
"That amazing?"
"Naturally!"
After dinner, Zhulian had to leave and couldn't go drinking with Yun Fan. Yun Fan breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. If they continued drinking, his liver wouldn't be able to take it. However, having Zhulian help him gather this evidence meant he didn't have to do it himself, saving him a lot of trouble.
Yun Fan contentedly prepared to go back and wait for Zhulian's news. However, when he returned to his room, he found Ye Qingcheng already lying on his bed, exuding charm and allure. Undoubtedly, any other man would have lost control. But fortunately, Yun Fan had strong self-control and remained unfazed. This was all thanks to the women around him. Being constantly by his side had helped him develop extraordinary self-restraint.
"Why are you here?" Yun Fan asked in confusion.
"Humph!" Ye Qingcheng snorted. "The other day, I sent my subordinate Liu Ming to discuss the plan with you. Why didn't you discuss it with him? Are you looking down on me?"
Yun Fan explained, "Not at all. And you don't need to worry about the plan; I have my own methods!"
"What methods do you have?" Ye Qingcheng pressed.
Yun Fan replied, "I've asked my god-sister to help me investigate evidence of the Crown Prince's rebellion. She can find it in three days!"
"You're bragging! You've definitely been fooled by your god-sister. If I can't do it, how can she?" Ye Qingcheng said angrily. "Also, why do you blabber about all your plans? What if she's someone from the Crown Prince's faction? Wouldn't we be in a passive position?" Clearly, she was very angry with Yun Fan at this moment.
"You don't need to worry about that; I trust her character!" Yun Fan vouched. "Besides, this sister's background is extraordinary; she even dares to defy Lin Wudi, so I believe she has the capability!"
"Then what benefits did you give her?" Ye Qingcheng didn't believe someone would help Yun Fan without any reward. Was it just because of their unconventional god-sister and god-brother relationship? Let's not joke; even blood relatives can betray each other, let alone such a relationship, which was insignificant.
"Her terms aren't high; I can handle it myself!" Yun Fan said righteously. See? I didn't even ask you to help me fulfill her terms. What a righteous man!
"Tch!" Ye Qingcheng said disdainfully, "Don't tell me you're paying with your body?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yun Fan said irritably. "She and I have a normal sister-brother relationship. We just confide in each other when we have worries, drink together, and get drunk together! I feel no pressure or worries when I'm with her!"
"Isn't that still an unconventional relationship?" Ye Qingcheng pouted, clearly meaning she wouldn't believe him no matter how he explained. Yun Fan was speechless, mentally cursing himself for being so foolish as to explain himself to Ye Qingcheng. The result was that after all his explanations, Ye Qingcheng still didn't believe in their sibling bond. Therefore, Yun Fan decided not to explain any further. Let Ye Qingcheng imagine whatever she pleased.
"I'd really like to know who in Jinling has such great influence?" Ye Qingcheng asked Yun Fan.
Yun Fan proudly replied, "She has no intention of changing her name or surname. She is Zhulian!"
"What?" The next moment, Ye Qingcheng's face showed endless fear.
"Wh-what's wrong?" Yun Fan asked, puzzled. He didn't understand why Ye Qingcheng was so afraid. Was the person a ghost? But inwardly, he was extremely satisfied. It seemed Ye Qingcheng was also frightened by his "virtuous" sister, proving that Zhulian indeed had a formidable background.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Ye Qingcheng asked incredulously.
"I'm sure!" Yun Fan asked, "Do you have any doubts?"
Finally, Ye Qingcheng calmed down and said to Yun Fan, "Do you know that this person has been dead for twenty years?"
"Hiss!" Yun Fan instantly gasped. It really was a ghost!
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Yun Fan said disbelievingly. "Perhaps it's just a common name!"
"Believe it or not!" Ye Qingcheng said disdainfully. "I didn't expect you to recognize a ghost as your god-sister. Your taste is truly unusual!"
"Admirable, admirable!" Her tone of voice made Yun Fan grit his teeth.
"To tell you the truth! Zhulian was one of Jinling's three great beauties back then. But even heaven was jealous of her beauty, so she died tragically at a young age!"
"Three great beauties?" Yun Fan asked curiously, "Who were the other two?"
"One was your mother, and the other was naturally my mother!" Ye Qingcheng smiled.
"Then how did Zhulian die?" Yun Fan asked, confused.
Ye Qingcheng said, "I don't know, it was too long ago. It's said that Zhulian was just eighteen when she died, one year older than my mother, but she already possessed a beauty that could captivate cities and nations, attracting countless officials and wealthy men to her performances!"
"A courtesan?" Yun Fan asked, and Ye Qingcheng nodded. "That's about right, but unlike other courtesans, she only performed at high-class establishments and never accepted clients!"
"If she hadn't died, in this era, she would either be a famous star or a top streamer! Unfortunately, although she was one of the three great beauties, her background was vastly different from the other two!"
At this point, Yun Fan analyzed, "So, you mean, my god-sister is using Zhulian's name to interact with me?"
"Yes!" Ye Qingcheng said. "Therefore, this person is untrustworthy. Who knows what her intentions are!" Although Ye Qingcheng said she was untrustworthy, Yun Fan believed Zhulian wouldn't lie to him. So, he said, "Let's wait and see after three days. We don't lack these three days anyway!"
"Mmm!" Ye Qingcheng said, "Regardless, be careful!"
"However, I have a suggestion!"
"What suggestion?" Ye Qingcheng said, "Three days later, I'll go with you to meet this impostor!"
"No!" Yun Fan refused outright. "She'll be unhappy if you go. I'll go alone!" Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng almost choked. Listen to that, was he even speaking human language?
"In your heart, am I less important than an impostor?" Ye Qingcheng asked Yun Fan angrily.
"Do you want to hear the truth?"
"Tell me the truth, you b****!" Ye Qingcheng glared fiercely at Yun Fan, determined to hear how Yun Fan would judge her.
Yun Fan said, "No."
"You..." Ye Qingcheng's vision went black, and she almost fainted. This guy was too detestable. So, she said to Yun Fan, "Fine, I'm not leaving today. I want to see what your beautiful companions will say about what you and I do in this room!" With that, she tore her stockings and disheveled her clothes, preparing to make a scene. Yun Fan was startled. If the others found out, he would be unable to explain himself. So, he quickly said to Ye Qingcheng, "Let's talk calmly. We don't need to do this!"
"Humph!" Ye Qingcheng snorted. "I have nothing to say to you now!"
"She's not as good as you, is that okay?" Yun Fan said against his conscience. "In my eyes, her status is far inferior to yours. We are teammates now, and you can't betray your teammate!"
"Do you know fear now?" Ye Qingcheng said triumphantly. "If there's a next time, don't blame me for being merciless!" With that, she left angrily. Yun Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
...
Three days later, Yun Fan arrived at the designated location to wait. Not far away, a woman wearing a stylish straw hat was watching Yun Fan. She was drinking milk tea while observing her surroundings, determined to see who this impostor was. Yun Fan had initially refused, but Ye Qingcheng repeatedly assured him that she would not show herself, only observe from the shadows. Yun Fan agreed. Of course, there was no choice but to agree, as Ye Qingcheng had arrived even earlier than him, and he couldn't possibly turn her away now.
Just then, Yun Fan checked the time; it was the agreed-upon hour. He looked around and saw a figure appear. The figure walked directly towards Yun Fan. At this moment, Ye Qingcheng held her breath, not daring to let her aura leak out. According to Yun Fan's instructions, the other party was a master, so she had to be careful with every move, or she would be discovered.
"Finally, I've been waiting for you! Today, I'll let you know how you'll be punished for impersonating someone else, you impostor!" With that, she ignored her agreement with Yun Fan and walked over.