As a young marshal, it's reasonable for me to have 300,000 private troops, right?

Having received full authorization from Zhang Zuolin, Qi Fan felt completely confident and quickly rushed back to Xi Shun's side.

Dai Xiansheng caught a glimpse of Zhang Zuolin nodding to Qi Fan from afar, and then saw Qi Fan running over with a relaxed expression. He instantly realized that he had been given a second chance at life.

The overwhelming sense of relief from having crawled back from the brink of death surged through him, and his legs went weak. If his personal guards hadn't been supporting him, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Before Qi Fan could get close, he struggled to kowtow, his voice choked with the sobs of someone who had just survived a disaster.

"Liu Zi! Thank you! Thank you for saving me! I will remember your kindness for the rest of my life!"

Qi Fan raised his hand to stop him, his gaze calmly sweeping over his pale face.

"Don't thank me yet. Your days ahead will probably be worse than death."

"I don't feel bad! I don't feel bad!"

Dai Xiansheng quickly shook his head. As long as he could live, what did this little bit of suffering matter? He smiled obsequiously, as humble as a lapdog.

"I'll do anything to stay alive!"

"It's good that you know what's going on."

Qi Fan said no more and turned to look at Xi Shun, who was standing to the side with a look of surprise on his face.

"Xishun, take him away and keep him under strict guard. After you've settled him in, come back to me immediately. We need to set up the stage for a performance."

Xi Shun then came to his senses and looked at Qi Fan with more admiration. He obviously did not expect that Qi Fan would actually persuade Zhang Zuolin and even save him!

He nodded quickly and replied, "Yes, young master, I'll take care of it right away!"

After saying that, he gestured to his personal guards to support Dai Xiansheng, who was still thanking him profusely, and quickly walked towards the confinement room inside the mansion.

After sending Xishun away, Qi Fan did not rest; he had more important arrangements to make.

He turned around and searched the mansion, and soon saw Zhang Xuecheng playing with Zhang Tingshu and Bao Yulin. He quickly waved and called out to him.

"Come here for a moment, Xuecheng. I have a task for you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuecheng immediately ran over.

"Hanqing, just tell me what it is! As long as it's within my power, I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly!"

Qi Fan stepped forward, affectionately put his arm around his shoulder, and whispered instructions in his ear.

"Take Ting Shu and Yu Lin out now and spread the word throughout Fengtian City. Tell them that the Marshal's Mansion will publicly punish the culprit who broke the streetlights and disturbed the peace last night this afternoon, and let everyone go and watch the spectacle. Remember, the bigger the commotion, the better. Make sure everyone in Fengtian City knows about this!"

"This is easy! I'm an expert at it!" Zhang Xuecheng's eyes lit up, and he patted his chest to assure him.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure the news spreads throughout the whole city!"

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around and shouted to Zhang Tingshu and the other two. The three of them ran excitedly out of the mansion.

Not long after, happy Shun returned and couldn't help but give Qi Fan a thumbs up as soon as he saw him.

"Sixth Brother, you're really something! You actually managed to calm the old marshal down!"

Qi Fan chuckled and waved his hand.

"I didn't try to persuade him; I just helped him find a more effective method than killing him directly."

happy Shun became interested and leaned closer to ask, "So what are you planning to do?"

"This matter should be done sooner rather than later. If it drags on, it will seem deliberate, like a performance for others to see. This afternoon, send a team of elite soldiers to the busiest street in Fengtian to build me a large platform. The platform must be conspicuous enough that the surrounding people can clearly see what is happening on it."

"That's all?"

"Of course not," Qi Fan added.

"In the very center of the platform hung a large banner that read, 'Marshal Zhang has dealt with the culprit who disturbed the peace of the people last night, restoring tranquility to Fengtian!'"

Upon hearing the word "common people," Xi Shun instantly understood Qi Fan's intention. This was not simply about punishing people; it was clearly about helping the old marshal win over the hearts of the people and establish his authority through this incident!

His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but praise, "I'll go and mobilize the troops right away, I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly!"

After saying that, Xishun hurriedly went down to make the arrangements.

After sending Xishun away, there was still some time before the afternoon's proceedings.

Qi Fan then realized that his stomach was empty. He had been busy all morning and hadn't even had a hot meal. He was starving.

He rubbed his stomach, turned around and walked towards his room, intending to find some snacks to tide him over.

But as soon as Qi Fan pushed open the door, he was stunned. The third concubine was sitting in a chair in the room, looking haggard but unable to hide her anxiety. She had obviously been waiting for a while.

"Third Aunt? What are you doing here?"

As soon as Qi Fan asked the question, the third concubine stood up from her chair with a "thump" and knelt down in front of him.

This sudden action startled Qi Fan, who quickly took a half-step back and then rushed forward to help her.

Although the third concubine was not his biological mother, she was still his elder according to seniority. How could an elder kneel down to a junior?

"Third Aunt, what are you doing! Get up!"

Third Concubine was being supported by Qi Fan, but she still couldn't stop crying, tears mixed with snot streaming down her face.

"Liu Zi, thank you so much... thank you for saving Xian Sheng! He's my only brother, if he were gone, I... I really don't know what I would do! I'll remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"

"Third Aunt, you're too kind," Qi Fan said gently, supporting her steadily.

"Xiansheng is still my uncle, I can't just stand by and watch him get into trouble. Please get up and talk to me."

Qi Fan struggled to help the third concubine sit down in a chair. Seeing her red, swollen eyes from crying, he felt a sense of relief.

At the same time, he caught a glimpse of the favorability rating above the third concubine's head, which was rapidly increasing, rising from a normal value to 80% in the blink of an eye, and he was overjoyed.

It seems that all the work this morning was worthwhile; not only did they save Dai Xiansheng, but they also gained the absolute trust of the Third Concubine.

"Third Mother, let me make this clear from the start," Qi Fan said earnestly, putting aside his thoughts.

"Although I saved my uncle's life this time, he made a big mistake and will inevitably suffer some hardship as a warning to others. Don't feel sorry for him then."

Upon hearing this, the third concubine forcefully wiped away her tears.

"How could I feel sorry for him! It's already a great blessing that he's alive! It's all my fault for spoiling him too much, which allowed him to develop bad habits and cause such a big disaster. He needs to be taught a lesson so he'll remember it!"

Seeing that his third concubine was so reasonable, Qi Fan was completely relieved and said with a smile.

"I'm glad you think that way. By the way, Third Aunt, if there's nothing else, you can go back now. I've been busy all morning and haven't eaten yet. I was just about to find something to eat."

"Oh dear, look at my brain!" The third concubine slapped her thigh and quickly stood up.

"How could I let you find it yourself! Leave this small matter to Third Aunt!"

After saying that, she quickly walked to the door and called out loudly, "Xiaochun! Xiaochun!"

The maid Xiaochun, who was guarding the door, immediately ran over and asked, "Third Madam, what are your orders?"

"Go to the kitchen quickly and have them prepare some hot food, something nice and delicious, and bring it to Liu Zi's room right away!"

"Yes! This servant will go right away!"

Xiaochun didn't dare to delay and quickly ran towards the kitchen.