Tang Dynasty: The pot is tied to the duck nest, the little rhinoceros is here!

Upon seeing that it was Jiang Fan, Fang Xuanling turned around, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Young master, you've arrived too! My horse was a little faster, but I only just got here!"

"Uncle Fang, you ran really fast! Impressive!"

"Young master, you flatter me. Please forgive me, I have urgent business to attend to and cannot stay any longer. Young master, I must take my leave now. Please come to my home again tonight!"

Jiang Fan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Uncle Fang, you're too kind. Please go ahead and take care of your business..."

Fang Xuanling: "..." It was clearly a farewell blessing, so why does it sound... a little bit inappropriate?

No sooner had Fang Xuanling left than a squad of Imperial Guards, led by Fang Yi'ai, appeared behind him.

They headed straight for the Yongzhou government office, wanting to get the thieves who harmed Fang Furong last night out before they were released.

By imprisoning the person, they would have a sufficient reason to attack the Cui family.

Fang Xuanling possessed a handwritten letter from Li Shimin as his reliance, and it was on this occasion...

Cui was severely weakened by Fang Xuanling's single-handed attack.

If it weren't for the profound heritage of his family, he would probably have been doomed this time. Fang Xuanling, who was good at planning and making decisive moves, was no pushover.

……

At this moment, Li Shimin came out of the Ganlu Hall.

With a smile on her face, she strode towards Jiang Fan... and Xiao Sizi beside him.

As he walked, he laughed, "Sizi, my little darling, have you missed your grandpa?"

Little Si shook his head: "There are no ducks. I'm nested with the pot. I don't miss Grandpa!"

Li Shimin: "..." Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain, as if an arrow had pierced his heart.

I was just being presumptuous; my sweetheart is leaking again, and it's heartbreaking.

Cheng Yaojin suppressed a laugh and turned away, but his trembling shoulders betrayed his true expression.

Seeing this, Li Shimin felt even more distressed; he shouldn't have come out in the first place.

What are you doing out here? Looking for a rhinoceros to rub salt in your wounds? Sigh—

Li Shimin was deeply saddened, but he still had to get down to business.

Approaching Jiang Fan, he said with an arrogant expression, "Jiang Fan, come with me to Qin Qiong's residence later. General Qin's illness has been completely cured, and he wants you to go."

As they were talking, Princess Gaoyang and Princess Lanling saw Jiang Fan and Li Shimin coming over and greeted them, panting heavily.

Jiang Fan saw the princesses take out lollipops from the carriage, give one to each of them, and also gave one to Xiao Sizi.

He glanced at Cheng Yaojin and Li Shimin, who were staring longingly, and speechless, gave them one more.

Princess Gaoyang, while eating a lollipop, said to Xiao Sizi, "Sizi, let's go to the Lizheng Hall to see Mother, come along!"

"No, I want to stay with my brother," the little girl said in her childish voice.

Jiang Fan was both amused and exasperated upon seeing this.

However, Xiao Sizi is too clingy and stays by my side all day. It's necessary for her to play with other children occasionally.

When Jiang Fan asked Xiao Sizi to play with the older girls, Xiao Sizi refused:

"Wherever Guoguo is, I'll be there. If Guoguo doesn't go to the main hall, I won't go either. I'll stay with Guoguo!"

Jiang Fan looked worried and earnestly advised Xiao Sizi, "Brother won't go far. You go to the Lizheng Hall first and prepare lunch for him."

When my brother comes back, he can have lunch made by Sizi. Isn't that great?

Little Sizi looked troubled: "Brother, don't make things difficult for me. I don't mind cooking, I'll cook some food..."

"Um... how about your mother teaches you, or the chefs from the Imperial Kitchen teach you?"

"No, not good at all!"

As a result, Jiang Fan said to the little ox, "Ox, run!"

Your beautiful older sister is coming to snatch the lollipop from your hand; she'll be here soon.

My brother suggested that you go hide with Mom and let her protect you, so your older sister won't dare to steal your lollipop!

Upon hearing that her older sister was coming to take her lollipop, Xiao Sizi immediately felt an absolute suppression from her bloodline and instinctively took off running away.

As he ran, he called out to Jiang Fan, "Brother, have you finished making lunch yet?"

"I'm leaving first, honey. Don't tell your older sister I went to Mother's main hall, okay? Remember to keep it a secret..."

When everyone saw the little princess, with her short legs, panting heavily, leaving with Princess Gaoyang and Princess Lanling, they were both amused and exasperated.

After Xiao Sizi left, Jiang Fan got into the carriage and drove out of the palace with Li Shimin and Cheng Yaojin.

They soon arrived at the Qin residence and met Qin Qiong. Although his steps were still somewhat unsteady,

But it's much better than before when I was lying in bed barely breathing.

His son, Qin Huaidao, was supporting him, afraid that his grandfather might fall.

When Jiang Fan arrived in front of Qin Qiong, he smoothly brought the car to a stop and rolled down the window.

Looking at Qin Qiong, he said, "General Qin, you look much better!"

"Hehe, thanks to the young master, if... if it weren't for the young master saving me back then,"

"I fear I am already dead. I know not how to repay your life-saving grace! I should have thanked you long ago, but your whereabouts are uncertain, only Your Majesty..."

"General Qin, you're too kind. There's no need to be so polite!"

"I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, so Huaiyuan took out the gift for the young master..."

"Huaiyuan, bring out the gift for the young master."

Qin Qiong didn't respond to Jiang Fan's words, but instead turned around and gave an order.

Jiang Fan was taken aback. Before he could refuse, he saw Qin Huaiyuan turn around and emerge from behind the house.

They presented a long, narrow wooden box, its surface dark and devoid of any superfluous carvings.

Yet it subtly exudes a calmness that commands respect.

Qin Huaiyuan held the wooden box with both hands and respectfully handed it to Jiang Fan.

"This is..." Jiang Fan subconsciously reached out and took it. It was heavy in his hand; the box was far heavier than ordinary wood, clearly very valuable!

"Young master, open it and take a look." Qin Qiong's face was still a little pale, but there was a smile on his lips.

Jiang Fan opened the box as instructed, and a deep, dark light came into view. Inside lay a longsword.

The blade was entirely black, unlike the greenish-brown patina of ordinary bronze swords.

Instead, it was a deep, dark black, yet it subtly emitted a warm, ethereal glow; the hilt and blade were seamlessly integrated.

The lines are broad and thick, yet they don't have much of a sharp or aggressive feel; instead, they exude a calm and dignified air.

"Old Qin, this isn't your family's heirloom 'Zhanlu' sword!" Cheng Yaojin exclaimed in surprise.

"Jiang Fan, I never expected General Qin to gift you this treasure!"

In some storytelling and historical novels, Qin Qiong is portrayed as a fierce general possessing "five treasures." Although his signature weapon is...

He possessed the "Golden Mace" and the "Tiger-Headed Golden Spear," but legend has it that he also owned a sword called "Zhanlu," which was one of his treasures. Jiang Fan never imagined that this was true.