135. Cai Yong's Greenlight

While both of them are talking, they don't know that a group of Oriole members is watching them from the roof. Waiting for a moment to strike and collect information at the same time, it was lucky that they were in the area and decided to follow Cai Wenji's Carriage as she had top-level importance from the Grandmaster.

Hearing that it was under Tao Qian's order, the Orille members felt excited as they received big information. Inside Oriole, they have a strict structure and level of clearance in which they can climb the ladder to become a Master of Major Town Oriole Hideout.

Jia Xu, Xu Kai, and Chao Bo have permanent positions as the top leaders of Oriole, while below that each Oriole member receives a chance to enter the top hierarchy reversing a high position that is more secure than the job they are doing as a field agent.

After receiving this information, the Orioles began to jump down and ambushed the two masked men. They were caught by surprise and they couldn't even put up a fight, the Orioles shot them down with their hidden sleeve arrows.

The bodies then were taken care of by the Orioles, and after that one of them became the driver driving the carriage towards Lie Clan's residence. While the rest follow the carriage silently, either through roofs or from behind which are hidden thanks to the already dark sky.

The Lie Clan guards who were guarding the Lie Clan residence entrance were surprised when they saw the Cai Clan carriage return here, while feeling confused one of the guards approached the Oriole members who became the driver and asked if there was something that caused them to return here.

The Oriole member whispers a secret code to the Lie Clan's guard, a code that only the Lie Clan's guard knows and uses when there's an emergency.

The guard was surprised at first, but instantly turned his demeanor and informed his companion to notify their lord as there was something urgent that needed his attention.

One of the Guards immediately entered the Lie Clan Residence, fortunately, Lie Fan was still spending his time with his wives in the garden and hadn't entered one of the many rooms in the mansion.

Lie Fan who is spending some sweet time with his wives is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the Lie Clan Guard, he asks the guard if there is something wrong that caused him to disturb him in his private time.

The guards approached Lie Fan and whispered about a code that only the Clan Guards know, and use in an emergency situation where one of Lie Fan's family or closest aide is in danger.

Lie Fan was surprised, knowing that Ying Yue, Diao Chan, and Wannian were safe here which meant maybe his closest aide like Jia Xu or Xun You are the one in danger.

He told Ying Yue and Diao Chan to go to the dining room without him, he followed the Clan Guard towards the entrance of the Lie Clan Residence. There he was surprised, as he saw the Cai Clan carriage that Cai Wenji entered before.

He approached the driver but wasn't aware that it was an Oriole member, wanting to ask the reason why he knew the secret code and why the Cai Clan carriage was here and not bringing Cai Wenji home.

Lie Fan: "What's the meaning of this? How do you know the secret code that only the Lie Clan guards know?!"

Oriole: "The cicada is stalking unaware of the Oriole behind."

Lie Fan: "I see, what's the problem? Does something happened to Lady Cai Wenji?"

Oriole: "She was going to be kidnapped My Lord, but fortunately we follow Lady Cai Wenji's carriage, the mastermind behind the kidnapping is Tao Qian who is supported by an unknown noble in the capital. It said that he can help Tao Qian to replace you, My Lord!"

Lie Fan: "Preposterous! How could something like this happen again? Thank you for your initiative in following Lady Cai Wenji, I will take care of it from here you go and inform the Grandmaster about this."

Oriole: "Yes My Lord!"

The Orioles except for the one disguised as the driver began to disperse, going to the Governor's castle to report this to Jia Xu. Lie Fan then Princess hugs Cai Wenji, bringing her inside the Lie Clan mansion.

While holding her, the softness of Cai Wenji's body and her fragrant smell made his heart boil up furthermore seeing the serene look on Cai Wenji's face, highlighted her gentleness and elegance.

He was grateful that the Orioles decided to follow her, if not something bad would definitely happen to Cai Wenji like her historical counterpart being kidnapped and sold to the Wuhuan tribes. He doesn't know what he would have done if Cai Wenji was successfully kidnapped.

Lie Fan puts Cai Wenji in one of the guest rooms in his mansion, he assigns some guards and maids to protect and take care of Cai Wenji until she is awake. Lie Fan then goes toward the dining room, where he informs both Ying Yue and Diao Chan who are waiting for him about Cai Wenji's situation.

Ying Yue and Diao Chan were surprised by Lie Fan's revelation, and they both followed Lie Fan to Cai Wenji's room not having the appetite to have dinner. Cai Wenji can be said to be their best friend here in Xiapi, so of course they are very concerned about her well-being.

Lie Fan leaves the two of them here, he goes to his study where he will wait for Jia Xu as he should have received the report from the Oriole about what happened.

Diao Chan: "Poor Sister Cai, how could she become a kidnapping target twice?"

Ying Yue: "It's because Sister Cai is so kind and gentle, maybe there are men who perceive that kindness and gentleness as a sign of affection."

Diao Chan: "That's true by the way, Ling Yue do you know who brought and put Sister Cai in this room?"

Ling Yue: "Concubine Diao it's Master himself who brought her here, he carried her here from the entrance and put her in this room himself."

Both Ying Yue and Diao Chan turned their head to face each other, and saw the shock in each other eyes. Looks like the suspicion that both of them felt before is true, looks like there is something between Lie Fan and Cai Wenji.

Lie Fan on the other hand received Jia Xu and Cai Yong who were informed of this matter by Jia Xu, Lie Fan told them what happened and also apologized to Cai Yong as because of him Cai Wenji became Tao Qian's target.

Cai Yong: "No No, Governor Lie Fan it's not your fault I'm grateful that because of you Ji'er is safe. It's that bastard Tao Qian and whoever is behind him! It's a conspiracy to split us and smear your name!"

Lie Fan: "Even so, it's because Lady Cai Wenji became Wannian's tutor and has a close relationship with both of my wives that makes her a target."

Cai Yong: "The truth is Governor Lie Fan, do you truly think it's just because of that reason that Tao Qian and the man behind him decided to kidnap Ji'er?"

Lie Fan: "Of Course! She has easy access to my residence and now about the inside of my residence!"

Jia Xu: "All of that is true My Lord, but the main reason is that there is a rumor that the two of you have a special relationship and the Oriole has told me about what happened at the entrance."

Lie Fan looked at both Jia Xu and Cai Yong, he stayed silent for a while and then explained that he only helped Cai Wenji not purposely hugging her, and also teased her that's all that happened.

Cai Yong just closed his eyes while listening to Kie Fan's explanation, he as a father is not blind and can see Cai Wenji's growing affection for Lie Fan.

Especially these last few months since the Wannian incident, every time returning home from Lie Caln residence Cai Wenji always giggles happily when they are eating lunch or dinner together.

Now from what Jia Xu just said and Lie Fan's reaction, it can be seen that it looks like the interest is not only on his daughter's part but Lie Fan's also interested in her daughter.

If it was before, when Lie Fan and Cai Wenji had just arrived at Xiapi he would have opposed this relationship and would not let it blossom. But since that time, Lie Fan has done many favors for him and the Cai Clan especially now by saving Cai Wenji from being kidnapped and the chance to never be seen again.

In truth, Lie Fan's status now is much higher than his status. He is a renowned scholar but also a fallen one due to the Eunuchs, and now he is Lie Fan's subject. The high disparity between their status is also one of the reasons he is opposed to Cai Wenji being with Lie Fan.

Cai Yong: "Governor Lie Fan, what do you think of my daughter?"

Lie Fan: "Your daughter is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, her gentleness and elegance are unmatched combined with her intellect she is one of the most captivating women I have ever met."

Cai Yong: "I may be old, but I'm not blind and stupid. I have seen the way Ji'er giggles by herself and is absent-minded, especially these past few months it become more frequent."

Lie Fan: "Master Cai Yong, I don't understand why are you saying all of this..."

Cai Yong: "What I'm trying to say is, I permit you to associate with Ji'er if she reciprocates your advances. If not then please don't force her because I will resign from my position and bring my clan back to Luoyang."

Lie Fan was surprised by this, he knew that Cai Yong opposed the matters between him and Cai Wenji. That's why he never pierced the thin layer between him and Cai Wenji because he knew that it would only further hurt her, and at the time he also still in a dilemma about the matter between the two of them.

But since the Wannian incident and now that she is almost kidnapped, he can't ignore the lingering feelings any longer and wants to slowly persuade Cai Yong.

In a turn of events, Cai Yong gives his permission which surprises him. Lie Fan's face turns from joy to solemn and promises that he will do as Cai Yong says, if he ever forces Cai Wenji then Cai Yong can leave Xiapi with the Cai Clan without any consequences.

Cai Yong nods his head and strokes his beard happily. While he is a now scholar and looks down on a concubine, he is in the end an open-minded one with allows his daughter to learn like a man and even produces her own poetry that is famous among both men and women.

Next Lie Fan, Jia Xu, and Cai Yong are discussing about how to handle Tao Qian. What they don't know is, that Tao Qian is very nervous right now as his henchmen haven't come yet bringing Cai Wenji.

When the sky turned darker, and the moon slowly moved higher, Tao Qian knew that his plan most likely had failed and could only hope that his henchmen were dead without talking about any information. He even has organized some of his belongings, ready to escape anytime a piece of news about Cai Wenji's kidnapping has been spread out.

_________________________________

Name: Lie Fan

Title: Yellow Heaven Subjugator

Age: 20 Years Old (187 AD)

Level: 14

Next Level: 412.000

Renown: 215

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 5)

SP: 706.700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 775

VIT: 349

AGI: 343

INT: 361

CHR: 93

WIS: 299

WILL: 207

ATR Points: 0