Lord Li’s words echoed Ye Fan’s thoughts, causing a smile to appear on his face.
“Lord City Lord, you are absolutely right. This Jiangnan City belongs to you, Lord City Lord. Everything should be centered around you. Anyone who dares to challenge the City Lord’s Mansion should be annihilated. The Heavenly King’s Mansion is boastful and overconfident. If they are not shown a lesson, they might not understand their place. As for the evidence you mentioned, I have it right here.”
All that mattered was getting Lord Li to agree to help.
This Lord Li was no fool. While Jiangnan City was currently in a delicate balance, the Heavenly King’s Mansion was becoming increasingly overbearing, posing a growing threat to the City Lord’s Mansion.
It was best to nip this threat in the bud.
Lord Li did not want the current three-way balance to be broken, but he also did not want any one faction to dominate.
As the City Lord, he had to be shrewd and strategic.
“This is excellent.”
Lord Li beamed. He glanced at Ye Fan, pondered for a moment, and then smiled again. “This matter, I’m afraid, will still trouble Mr. Ye. I am, after all, the City Lord. If I were to step in directly, it might stir up unnecessary suspicion among ill-intentioned individuals. At that time, Jiangnan City would inevitably descend into chaos, which is not what I wish to see. Mr. Ye, do you understand?”
These words were spoken with sincere earnestness, like a senior imparting wisdom to a junior.
Even Ye Fan was taken aback.
“How could I dare disobey your earnest teachings, Lord City Lord? However, the Heavenly King’s Mansion is not a minor power. If we were to casually suppress them, they are a colossal entity. I have no soldiers or authority. If I were to apprehend them, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to succeed.”
Ye Fan gave a wry smile, but his underlying meaning was a request for men from Lord Li.
If you don’t give me men, are you expecting me to confront the people of the City Lord’s Mansion single-handedly?
Moreover, within the City Lord’s Mansion, there was Mr. Bai Sha, whose strength was terrifying. Ye Fan had nearly lost his life at his hands.
Lord Li smiled wryly. How could he not understand Ye Fan’s intentions?
“Brother Ye, rest assured, I will not let you take undue risks. I will immediately summon the Enforcement Captain and have him gather his men to follow your orders, how does that sound?”
This was tantamount to handing over the Enforcement Team to Ye Fan’s command.
Though overjoyed, Ye Fan showed no outward reaction. He respectfully clasped his hands. “Thank you, Lord City Lord. I will not fail you.”
With the Enforcement Team at his disposal, let alone a mere Manager Hu, Ye Fan wouldn’t hesitate to storm the Heavenly King’s Mansion.
It was important to remember that in Jiangnan City, the enforcement officers held sway. With the City Lord’s trust, they had the authority to act first and report later.
Once the enforcement officers took action, even the Heavenly King’s Mansion would not dare to act recklessly.
Of course, this was only if the enforcement officers did not overstep their bounds. If they crossed the Heavenly King’s Mansion’s bottom line, the latter would naturally not turn a blind eye.
When one’s life was hanging by a thread, what need was there for rules?
After a brief chat, Ye Fan rose to take his leave.
“Brother Ye, my daughter’s illness…”
Seeing Ye Fan about to depart, Lord Li quickly got up to inquire.
For his beloved daughter, he had even been willing to relinquish his authority.
Since he took office as City Lord, the enforcement officers had always remained under his direct control, never having been delegated. The reason he was entrusting the Enforcement Team to Ye Fan this time was largely because Ye Fan could cure his daughter.
His daughter’s illness had always been a source of distress for Lord Li. Now that he had finally found an opportunity to heal her, how could he not value it?
Upon hearing Ye Fan’s words, Lord Li smiled slightly. “I will come again tomorrow at noon to treat your esteemed daughter. With just a few more sessions, your daughter will be completely healed.”
Ye Fan spoke with ease, even a faint smile gracing his face.
Before attempting the treatment, he had been filled with uncertainty. However, now, all that was needed was for the mysterious power in his dantian to continue absorbing the cold energy from Li Wanying.
In fact, even Ye Fan hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly.
Receiving Ye Fan’s affirmative reply, Lord Li finally felt at ease. “Then I shall trouble Brother Ye. I will await your arrival tomorrow at the mansion.”
As Ye Fan and Elder Lei departed, a faint smile appeared on Lord Li’s face.
“A person in good spirits is invigorated by happy events. I offer my congratulations to you, Lord City Lord, in advance.”
A figure emerged from a side hall, clad in white, with a faint smile and pale skin that suggested a touch of frailty.
“Oh? Is your illness nearly recovered?”
Lord Li’s expression remained unchanged, his tone casual, as if they were engaging in ordinary conversation.
“My illness is not something that can be cured quickly, but the medicine was remarkably effective. If there were an opportunity…”
The young man trailed off, smiling and shaking his head. “Never mind me. I am also happy for you, Lord City Lord, that Wanying has a chance to recover. However, you so easily handed over the authority of the enforcement officers. I fear outsiders might make wild guesses. This is essentially building momentum for Ye Fan.”
The young man’s tone was placid, his voice soft, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Were it not for the faint smile on his face, Lord Li might have suspected he was being questioned.
However, aware of his capabilities and ambitions, Lord Li was not angered.
“Young people, they need opportunities. Since he can cure Wanying, I, as the City Lord, naturally wouldn’t be stingy. Moreover, in this Jiangnan City, how much of a stir he can create is entirely dependent on my mood.”
Lord Li smiled.
He was not wrong. He was the City Lord of Jiangnan City, and in Jiangnan City, his word was law. No one could defy him. Even though he was handing over the Enforcement Team to Ye Fan now, it made no difference. No matter how high Ye Fan climbed, with a single word from him, Ye Fan could be plunged into an abyss of eternal damnation.
“It is always better to raise a dog without a strong background than a tiger with a deep one, because its life is in my hands. Furthermore, by entrusting the enforcement officers to him this time, if he were to take action against the Heavenly King’s Mansion’s factories, the Feng family would also be implicated. Doesn’t this perfectly suit your intentions?”
Indeed, this young man was the second young master of the Feng family, Feng Ting.
Feng Ting smiled, maintaining his usual nonchalant demeanor.
“I fear Ye Fan may not be a match for my elder brother. Although my elder brother has engaged in some irregular activities in Jiangnan City over the years, he is, after all, the legitimate eldest son of the Feng family and the old man’s favorite. If he truly intends to act, the old man will undoubtedly spare no effort. You know the old man’s methods. Although he hasn’t acted in years, he is by no means decorative.”
Compared to his outward expression, Feng Ting’s inner heart held a trace of disappointment.
Because Feng Xiao was the legitimate son and grandson, all family affairs were entrusted to him. The old man favored him even more. And he, no matter how hard he tried, could not enter the old man’s good graces.
Therefore, Feng Ting harbored resentment, a hatred that needed an outlet.
But he was an intelligent man, not blinded by anger.