ALL NOVEL Chapter 218: Fishing
“What do you mean by this?”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Nalan Jie furrowed his brow, staring intently into Xiao Yan’s eyes.
Xiao Yan gently pinched his chin, organizing his thoughts before raising a hand to respond to Nalan Jie.
“Earlier at the entrance, his attitude towards me was like…we were meeting for the first time.”
Indeed, the butler recognized Xiao Yan as Nalan Yanran’s fiancé based on her description, but it was as if he completely forgot that they had ever met before.
“This…” Nalan Jie slightly furrowed his brow and said slowly, “What’s weird about that? After all, the last time he saw you was ten years ago, and you were still young back then. It’s normal if he doesn’t remember you.”
“If I were just a child with no significant ties to the Nalan family, I could understand the butler not remembering me,” Xiao Yan said softly, looking at Nalan Jie. “But I have a marriage contract with your granddaughter, and he already knew about this when he saw me ten years ago.”
“However, just now when he received me at the door, he never mentioned our previous meeting. He only received me based on your Yanran’s description, without saying anything extra.”
“These are just my doubts. Grandpa Nalan, whether he has a real problem is up to you to consider. After all, counting today, I’ve only seen the butler twice and don’t know him as well as you do.”
Xiao Yan’s words made Nalan Jie frown deeply.
He understood Xiao Yan’s point.
Due to the marriage contract between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran, it was unlikely the butler would forget Xiao Yan, even after ten years. Even if Xiao Yan’s appearance from his childhood was vague, his special identity should be well remembered—at least recalling that the family’s young miss’s fiancé had visited the Nalan family ten years ago.
However, the butler seemed to have completely forgotten meeting Xiao Yan, without exchanging words like “Long time no see” or “You’ve grown so much.”
If the butler had a cold personality, it might be understandable. It could be explained that he recognized Xiao Yan but didn’t want to engage in small talk. But Nalan Jie knew this long-time butler well. He was very warm to acquaintances and remembered special people even if he had only met them once. There was no way he would fail to greet Xiao Yan, the young man he had met ten years ago and who was his young miss’s fiancé.
This meant Xiao Yan’s suspicion was not baseless.
The current butler might really not be the same person from ten years ago.
With this realization, Nalan Jie’s eyes flashed with anger.
Ten years ago, when Xiao Yan visited the Nalan family, Nalan Yanran had just returned after being missing for two days, and many servants who had gone out searching were still not back. Thus, only Nalan Jie and the butler received Xiao Yan.
At that time, Xiao Yan visited merely to deliver a letter from his grandfather, Xiao Di, to Nalan Jie. He didn’t even enter the main door, left after confirming Nalan Jie’s identity and handing over the letter.
The entire visit took less than five minutes, and Nalan Jie and the butler never mentioned Xiao Yan’s visit to anyone else.
If someone had collected all the butler’s habits, information, and manner of speaking over these ten years and secretly replaced him, they probably wouldn’t know about Xiao Yan’s brief visit.
This could explain why the butler didn’t greet Xiao Yan earlier.
“Bastards!”
Nalan Jie roared angrily, his voice echoing through the room.
His first instinct was to confront the butler immediately.
However, he quickly suppressed this thought.
His anger gradually subsided, replaced by sadness for the butler who had been unknowingly replaced.
After all, the butler had been with the Nalan family for decades. Apart from Nalan Jie, the oldest person in the family was this butler. Nalan Jie valued him highly, even more than his own son and granddaughter.
But before venting his anger, Nalan Jie needed to consider who had replaced the butler and for what purpose.
After some contemplation, the answer became clear.
The only party in the entire Jia Ma Empire with the motive and means to do this was the Yun Lan Sect, the same group the royal family was preparing to act against.
Nalan Jie often stayed with the military, leaving his home frequently. Replacing the butler when he wasn’t home would be easy for the Yun Lan Sect.
Understanding this, Nalan Jie broke out in a cold sweat.
The butler handled all family affairs and received many messages from the royal family, which he would always hand over to Nalan Jie without prying. But this new butler couldn’t be trusted to do the same.
Damn it!
Nalan Jie felt extreme rage, realizing how many opportunities the royal family had missed to catch the Yun Lan Sect due to the butler’s interference.
If this became known, the Nalan family would be seen as accomplices.
People would think the Lionheart Marshal Nalan Jie’s butler’s actions implicated him.
If the butler revealed everything he had done behind Nalan Jie’s back, the Nalan family would be ruined!
Even if Jia Xing Tian believed Nalan Jie, it wouldn’t matter. The “truth” would already be imprinted in everyone’s minds.
The Nalan family would be viewed as traitors.
What a vicious scheme!
The Yun Lan Sect aimed not only at Nalan Yanran but also intended to drag Nalan Jie down.
The Yun Lan Sect had nearly succeeded, but for Xiao Yan’s unexpected observation.
Nalan Jie felt immense gratitude towards Xiao Yan for saving the Nalan family from impending doom.
With this in mind, Nalan Jie gestured to Xiao Yan and then called out.
“Butler, come in.”
Though his voice was not loud, it carried throughout the Nalan family with the help of Dou Qi.
Soon, the door opened quietly, and the old butler stepped in, bowing to Nalan Jie.
“Master, what are your orders?”
“First, close the door.”
Nalan Jie’s expression remained unchanged as he spoke softly. The butler, understanding that this was an important matter, had a flicker of something in his eyes before turning to close the door. He then returned to stand before Nalan Jie, awaiting instructions.
Nalan Jie glanced briefly at Xiao Yan before speaking slowly.
“Just now, Elder Jia ordered Xiao Yan to deliver a message: instructing me to begin compiling a list of individuals within the Nalan family who have previously been disciples of the Yun Lan Sect.”
?????
Xiao Yan was immediately dumbfounded upon hearing Nalan Jie’s words.
Huh? Weren’t we saying that there was an issue with the butler? Why disclose Elder Jia’s orders to him?
Though confused, Xiao Yan did not interrupt and simply watched silently.
While his earlier remarks may not have made Nalan Jie completely doubt the butler, they had certainly planted seeds of suspicion. Given the situation, there must be a reason why Nalan Jie would openly inform the butler of Jia Xing Tian’s orders.
The butler, although slightly shaken, maintained his usual composure and bowed his head slightly.
“I will take care of it immediately.”
“Good, go ahead,” Nalan Jie nodded, his expression serious as he added, “Remember, this must be conducted in secret. No one must know about it, not even the head of the household or the young miss.”
“Understood.”
The butler responded firmly. Nalan Jie waved his hand.
“Go ahead now, and report to me immediately once you have the list.”
“Yes, sir.”
The butler left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Listening to the butler’s footsteps fading away, Xiao Yan turned his puzzled gaze to Nalan Jie. Before he could speak, Nalan Jie stood up and spoke softly to him.
“Xiao Yan, stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
Nalan Jie moved to the window, pushed it open gently, and then disappeared suddenly. The window closed behind him.
There was no need to guess; Nalan Jie must be heading to see Jia Xing Tian. Knowing that the butler was a problem, anything done within the family could be easily known to the butler through other servants.
Thus, Nalan Jie needed to create the illusion that he was still discussing matters with Xiao Yan while secretly informing Jia Xing Tian.
However, Xiao Yan was still confused.
Why did Nalan Jie reveal Jia Xing Tian’s order to the butler when he knew the butler was suspicious?
“Sigh~ I knew you weren’t very sharp,” Yao Chen’s figure appeared beside Xiao Yan, her exquisite face full of exasperation.
“It’s obvious Nalan Jie is setting a trap.”
“A trap?”
Xiao Yan tilted his head, still confused, causing Yao Chen to spread her hands in exasperation.
“Since it’s known the butler is suspicious, directly exposing him would be a waste. Why not let him serve a final purpose before being dealt with?”
As she spoke, Yao Chen gave Xiao Yan a frustrated glance.
If you had half your sister’s brains, your path so far wouldn’t have been so difficult.
That was Yao Chen’s genuine thought.
But soon, Yao Chen dismissed that thought.
Precisely because Xiao Yan was somewhat stubborn and not too clever, he had been able to walk the righteous path until now. Otherwise, who would steadfastly follow such a path that offered no personal benefit and often led to significant losses?
Xiao Yan’s foolishness made Yao Chen both annoyed and respectful.
Even she, or any reputable person she had known, couldn’t achieve what Xiao Yan had done.
Xiao Yan was the only one.
Thinking this, Yao Chen couldn’t help but find it amusing.
If they knew I had taken such a disciple, no one would believe it, right?
Given the stark differences in personality, someone like Yun Yun, who was upright but not as talented, would be a more suitable mentor for Xiao Yan.
Although she wasn’t as powerful as Yao Chen and couldn’t offer as much help, she would share more common ground with Xiao Yan in his steadfast adherence to the righteous path.
However, from the look of it, if they really become a student-disciple, the relationship between them won’t simply stop at that.
After a decade has passed, it won’t be weird to see many children running around the Sect.
Yao Chen lightly touched her chin, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Once the Yun Lan Sect issue is resolved, she’ll need to focus on rapidly improving Xiao Yan’s strength and not neglect his alchemy skills.
Three years might seem long, but it isn’t.
Yun Yun agreed to the three-year promise, believing Xiao Yan couldn’t reach the promised level, so she had little hope.
This might be the only chance to make Yun Yun put her concerns aside.
It must be achieved.
“Senior Yao, what’s on your mind?”
Seeing the smile on Yao Chen’s beautiful face, Xiao Yan instinctively frowned.
Why did it seem like Senior Yao was hiding something important?
Hearing Xiao Yan’s call, Yao Chen looked at him and waved her his hand.
“Nothing, just thinking.” With that, Yao Chen returned to the ring. “Wait here; I have plans to prepare. Once this is over, you’ll need to work hard on the goals I’ve set.”
The previous goals?
Xiao Yan was momentarily confused, then recalled and felt a deep sense of worry.
In three years, he needs to reach the Dou Wang level and advance his alchemy skills to the sixth tier.
This goal was exceedingly difficult.
While Xiao Yan was troubled, he didn’t outright reject Senior Yao’s target.
Senior Yao must have her reasons for setting such a goal, and as her disciple, Xiao Yan should trust and follow it fully.
Yet, despite saying this…
Xiao Yan sat at the table, leaning his elbow on it, supporting his head with his hand, staring at the ceiling.
No matter how determined he felt, the difficulty of achieving this goal was undeniable…