Chapter 35: You Have Already Chosen the Path to Death

Xue Zhao gritted his teeth, his knuckles popping.

The Pillar of State Mansion was a property the Crown Prince desired, but due to the sensitivity of his status, he had asked Xue Zhao to step forward and purchase it. All the documentation was in Xue Zhao’s name, ensuring that outsiders could not trace it back to the Crown Prince. Having finally managed to get into the Crown Prince’s favor, he had bungled the very first major task. He had intended to show his face before the Crown Prince, but instead, he had only made a fool of himself. The Crown Prince held nothing in lower regard than a servant who failed to get things done.

"Then what do you suggest?"

The young attendant was sharp; his eyes darted around as he replied, "I heard that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, the Crown Prince caught sight of a peerless beauty amidst the fading lantern light. He has ordered his secret guards to investigate the woman’s identity."

Xue Zhao’s spirits lifted instantly. "Have they found her?"

"No. We know neither her name nor her background, and they only met once in passing. In such a vast sea of people, how could it be easy?"

The Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival in the imperial capital, Shengjing, was comparable to the Lantern Festival—it was one of the few occasions in the year when women in the Southern Chu Kingdom were permitted to go out and enjoy themselves, making it exceptionally lively.

"Then don't just stand there, go and search! We must find that woman before the Crown Prince does."

"Yes, sir, I shall attend to it immediately."

A cold, sinister glint hid in Xue Zhao’s eyes. *Lu Lan, you dare to snatch a property that the Crown Prince himself has set his sights on? You have paved your own road to ruin.*

...

Uncle Zhong returned to the Duke of Yu’s mansion to report back to Lu Lan.

"Young Master, Marquis Xue has agreed to repurchase the Pillar of State Mansion for sixty thousand taels of silver. I will handle the matter as quickly as possible and strive to finalize it before the betrothal."

Uncle Zhong was a perceptive man. He realized that Lu Lan’s actions over the past two days—whether it was whipping Qi Cong or forcefully repurchasing the Pillar of State Mansion—were likely all related to the upcoming marriage.

Lu Lan smiled faintly. He had been right to keep Uncle Zhong; the man was highly capable. A piece of trash like Xue Zhao would likely have intimidated any ordinary servant who went to negotiate with him.

"Uncle Zhong, you handled that beautifully. Now, do one more thing for me."

Having received praise, Uncle Zhong dared not lower his guard; he knew the Young Master’s temperament—fickle as the weather, difficult to fathom.

"Young Master, pray, give your orders. I will certainly do my utmost."

"Take a few men and go out into the streets to post public notices."

"What should be written on these notices?"

"Write this: The Duke of Yu’s mansion is willing to sell Mount Dadong at a low price. Interested parties may come to the mansion to inquire about the price." Lu Lan lowered his gaze, his fingers clicking against the white paper fan in his hand.

In a vast sea of people, finding Pang Shiyuan was like looking for a needle in a haystack. He wanted to change his strategy—to find the person by drawing them out. Would it not be easier if the needle came looking for him instead?

Everyone in Shengjing knew that Mount Dadong was a "poison mountain"; no one would seek to buy it. Only Pang Shiyuan, who truly understood the value of the mountain, would come. Of course, posting a notice might not necessarily lead to finding him; after all, in his previous life, Pang Shiyuan did not appear for another two years. Regardless, he would take a shot at it; whether he hit the mark or not, it was worth a try.

Uncle Zhong’s pupils trembled. He did not understand the intention behind this, only feeling that Lu Lan was shortsighted and unaware of the significance of Mount Dadong.

"Young Master, although Mount Dadong is a poison mountain, the Master and Mistress have always said it is our mansion’s greatest asset. We cannot sell it lightly."

In this era, land ownership was a symbol of power and status. Mount Dadong spanned ten thousand *qing* of land. For two hundred years, their ancestors had refused to part with it, believing that such a vast expanse of land brought prestige to the Duke of Yu’s mansion. As for whether it made or lost money, who among outsiders could possibly know? When travelers from the east entered the capital, Mount Dadong was a mandatory passage. Hearing that they were entering the fief of the Duke of Yu, would they not hold the Lu family in higher regard? It was a project for appearances—it could not be sold.

The Young Master was still too young.

"My mother entrusted the management of these assets to me. Just do as I say. If anyone inquires about the price, bring them to see me." Lu Lan did not want to explain too much.

Uncle Zhong sighed inwardly. What kind of fool, kicked in the head by a donkey, would buy Mount Dadong? Businessmen were cunning; before paying, they would surely conduct thorough investigations. A simple inquiry would reveal that Mount Dadong was a poison mountain—it could neither grow crops nor house people. Even building a farm to raise chickens, ducks, cows, or sheep would result in them being suffocated by poisonous vapors.

Certainly, no one would buy it. But once the notices were posted, they would surely be laughed to death. *Reputation, do you understand?*