Chapter 291: 291: Hmm, here to collect a debt!

Words : 1372 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Hmm, here to collect a debt! Zhan Xuerou’s words greatly astonished Si Jun. He looked at Zhan Xuerou and said, “Rou’er, sit down and speak slowly.” Zhan Xuerou exaggerated the story when she recounted it to Si Jun. Si Jun patiently asked, “Do you mean to say that now Zhan Lan has become the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion, so they kicked you out together?” Zhan Xuerou nodded sadly, “Your Highness, you must help me retrieve the status of General Mansion’s legitimate daughter, so I can assist you.” Si Jun’s gaze grew increasingly complex. According to his understanding of Zhan Lan’s character, she truly seemed more like the legitimate daughter of General Mansion. Could it be that Zhan Xuerou was truly an impostor? Doubts crept into Si Jun’s mind, but before he ascertained the truth, he dared not jump to conclusions. If Zhan Xuerou was not the legitimate daughter of General Mansion but an ordinary woman, then she would be utterly unable to help him achieve his great ambitions. As a man with ambitions of becoming an emperor, Zhan Xuerou could become one of his many women in the future, but she could never become his Empress. Compared to Zhan Xuerou’s tenderness and understanding, he preferred the identity of Zhan Xuerou as the legitimate daughter of General Mansion. As long as her identity as the legitimate daughter remained, he didn’t care who the real Zhan Xuerou was. Zhan Xuerou tentatively asked, “Jun, you wouldn’t believe what Zhan Lan says, would you? She’s a schemer, capable of plotting against others in the court and on the battlefield, and she can also plot against me...” Si Jun smiled faintly, sensing that Zhan Xuerou was somewhat too impatient and wanted to use him as a pawn to do her bidding. Zhan Xuerou was jealous of Zhan Lan, driven to near madness, especially now that they had swapped identities, which made Zhan Xuerou feel even more unbalanced. However, his fiancée was the Zhan Family’s legitimate daughter, as decreed by his Emperor Father. If that was the case, Zhan Lan was to be his future Princess Wei and the eventual Empress. Si Jun didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad at this realization. Because he had seen clearly that Zhan Lan didn’t seem to like him. The last time they had met at the auction, Zhan Lan played a trick on him, resulting in Mu Yan severing one of his fingers. Although a melon forcibly twisted is not sweet, he wanted to twist it anyway. If Zhan Lan really was the legitimate daughter of General Mansion, then he had nothing to worry about and could rely on Zhan Lan and the Zhan Family’s influence to secure his rule. However, now that Zhan Lan and Mu Yan were already engaged, this matter was somewhat troublesome. “Your Highness, what are you thinking about?” Zhan Xuerou asked ingratiatingly. Si Jun touched her hand and said, “Rou’er, you stay in the Prince Wei Mansion for now, I’ll think of a way to help you.” Zhan Xuerou smiled happily, wrapping her arms around Si Jun’s waist, “Your Highness treats Rou’er the best.” Si Jun looked at the glaring red scar around her neck, visible through the gauze, and asked, “What happened to your neck?” Zhan Xuerou was reminded of a painful memory and tearfully said, “Your Highness, do you remember? That evening we met, I said I was going to see wedding headdress embroidery samples with my mother and Zhan Lan the next day. Then, we were ambushed in the grove, someone kidnapped me and my mother. A masked man slashed my throat with a sword. Eventually, Zhan Lan was kidnapped too, a pity she was saved.” Si Jun’s eyes darkened, and he remained silent. Zhan Xuerou continued, “Your Highness, could you help me investigate who wanted to harm us?” As she spoke, it seemed as if Zhan Xuerou suddenly had a realization, and she exclaimed with an epiphany, “I understand now, it must have been Zhan Lan who deliberately had me and my mother kidnapped, then acted out a pitiful play, deceived my mother with a wounded decoy strategy, and then my identity was switched. It must have been Zhan Lan’s doing!” Si Jun’s eyes were like an unfathomable abyss, fortunate that Zhan Xuerou wasn’t particularly clever, as she actually blamed this incident on Zhan Lan. Zhan Xuerou had previously suspected Si Jun, but she didn’t believe that Si Jun would harm her. Si Jun soothed her, “Rou’er, don’t be afraid. Stay at my residence for now, I’ll look into this matter as well. Let’s think of a long-term plan.” Zhan Xuerou felt a great comfort in her heart, knowing that she had Si Jun’s protection. Her body softened, and she fell into Si Jun’s arms. Looking at the injuries on her body, Si Jun pushed her away with a hint of disdain, but spoke with concern, “Rou’er, you’re hurt; you need to rest...” Zhan Xuerou looked at Si Jun with a hint of disappointment. Could it be that he hated her because of the scar on her neck? Si Jun kissed her cheek and said, “We’ll talk when you’ve recovered.” Having said that, Si Jun immediately called for his servants and ordered, “Treat her as you would me. Go now!” “Yes!” Several maids took Zhan Xuerou away. Walking through the vast Prince Wei Mansion, Zhan Xuerou was a little excited when she arrived at the chamber with the maids. The words that Si Jun had said to his servants... did they mean he warned them because she was the future mistress? Zhan Xuerou’s spirit found solace, and she was not as heartbroken and sad as before. ... As night deepened, Zhan Lan had just finished bathing and was sitting in her room, combing her hair. Without the Li family around, her mood was exceptionally light. She pondered: Zhan Xuerou must have gone to look for Si Jun by now! No one knew Si Jun better than she did. He would definitely stabilize Zhan Xuerou first and one day cruelly discard her. Use and throw away; such was Si Jun’s style of dealing. In her past life, the reason Si Jun never left Zhan Xuerou was partly because she was adept at pleasing him and partly because he had killed so many of the Zhan Family. He needed the pretense of Zhan Xuerou’s identity as the legitimate daughter of the Zhan Family to tell the world that the Zhan Family had rebelled against his benevolence. By continuously allowing the daughter of the Zhan Family to be the future queen, he showed his mercy. From beginning to end, what he cared about was how the history books would judge him. But who would write the history books of the future is still uncertain! Zhan Lan dried her hair and took off her robe, changing into a set of light and transparent clothes before going to bed. Just as she was about to let down the bed curtains, she sensed someone standing behind her. Zhan Lan turned around and saw Mu Yan. After a sigh of relief, she asked, “When did you come in?” Mu Yan looked her up and down and said casually, “I just came in after you got dressed.” Zhan Lan saw his expression of regret and said with shame and annoyance, clutching her chest, “Xiao Tao and Liu Xi didn’t stop you?” The corners of Mu Yan’s mouth curved up, “After they saw me, they conscientiously returned to their own rooms. Wasn’t that your instruction?... I thought you were waiting for me.” The corners of Zhan Lan’s mouth twitched. Had those two girls been bought off by Mu Yan? However, Mu Yan’s skill at sneaking into others’ rooms unnoticed was akin to that of a master assassin. With her arms crossed, Zhan Lan looked at Mu Yan and asked, “What are you doing here so late at night?” Mu Yan stepped closer to her, leaned down, and stared at her lips as he said, “Mmm, I came to collect a debt!”

Chapter 291: 291: Hmm, here to collect a debt!

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