Lord, give up! Madam has too many vests

Chapter 414 The Demise of the Si Family (2)

Yan Lan turned around and said softly, "I'm no longer your boss's wife. Qin Shi and I are divorced."

She and Qin Shi were like two hedgehogs. They once huddled together for warmth, but in the end, their wariness hidden under their quills left each other wounded, forcing them to separate completely.

Qin Shi had his secrets, and she had hers. Looking at the indifference in her eyes, Zhao Nan couldn't help but speak up: "Boss lady, you've actually misunderstood the boss. His divorce from you was against his will. There were some things he didn't tell you because..."

But Yan Lan didn't give him a chance to continue, and directly changed the subject: "By the way, how's the news from Zhoufu that I asked you to inquire about?"

She really didn't want to hear Zhao Nan mention Qin Shi anymore. Right now, Si Chu had already made his move as planned, and the movements of the Zhou Prefecture were the most important thing to pay attention to.

Seeing this, Zhao Nan had no choice but to suppress what he hadn't finished saying and quickly replied, "I was just about to tell you about this—actually, the boss has been paying attention for a long time, so he has already planted our people in the prefecture, and every move we make can be reported back in time."

Zhao Nan said in a deep voice, "The Chief has been drugged and is currently being held in the Chief's residence, remaining unconscious. This matter is extremely secretive, and only a very few people have been able to see him. The patrols outside are extremely tight; anyone who isn't a senior member of the Chief's residence simply cannot get in. Given the current situation, it is virtually impossible for you to see the Chief."

It took Zhao Nan's people, who had been planted in the prefecture, several days to finally confirm the matter.

He said in a deep voice, "The governor has been drugged and is currently being held in the governor's mansion, where he remains unconscious. This matter is extremely secretive, and only a very few people have been able to see the governor. The patrols outside are extremely tight; anyone who is not a senior member of the governor's mansion cannot get in. Given the current situation, it is almost impossible for you to see the governor."

"This must be Si Chu's doing."

Yan Lan's tone was filled with barely concealed anger, "I could tell from our last meeting that Madam Si still had some genuine feelings for the Governor, but Si Chu is different. He's an illegitimate son who has long harbored ambitions to usurp the throne."

Zhao Nan paused, then added, "In addition, I also learned a crucial piece of information: Si Chu only publicly claimed that the governor was unwell and unable to preside over affairs, but secretly he was trying to win people's hearts and minds, hoping to secure the position of the new governor as soon as possible."

He has to convene another parliamentary session early next month, and if the vote in parliament passes it, it will truly be too late.

If Si Chu's conspiracy succeeds, the governor will have no reason to live. At that time, he might... Yan Lan's brows furrowed suddenly.

Her feelings for Uncle Tao were always complicated, but no matter what, he was still her father.

But it was this very man who betrayed his mother, causing her a lifetime of sorrow and leaving him homeless since childhood, wandering alone like a weed for so many years.

Hatred and resentment tangled in her heart, and Yan Lan remained silent for a long time, enveloped in an oppressive atmosphere.

Seeing this, Zhao Nan was sensible and didn't dare to ask any more questions. She simply bowed slightly, quietly left, and closed the office door behind her, leaving the room filled with silence.

Yan Lan stood still for a moment before turning around and walking towards her desk.

The mahogany tabletop was polished to a shine, reflecting the weariness and determination in her eyes. She reached out and pulled open the bottom drawer, where a yellowed black-and-white photograph lay quietly.

The woman in the photo has gentle features and a star-like quality in her eyes when she smiles; she is her mother, Yan Yunxi.

Yan Lan gently touched the photograph with her fingertips, as if afraid of breaking some precious treasure. Her movements were extremely light, and she rubbed the photograph with her fingertips again and again, murmuring softly.

"Mom, if you were still alive, what would you do if you saw this situation?"

Night fell through the window, casting a long shadow of her. Only the desk lamp cast a small patch of warm yellow light, but it couldn't illuminate the confusion in her eyes.

As dawn broke and the morning light began to spill over the rooftops of Singapore's CBD, Yan Lan suddenly dialed Zhao Nan's number, her voice firm: "I plan to go to the capital city in person."

Zhao Nan on the other end of the phone raised her voice almost instantly, her tone filled with urgency: "Boss lady, you absolutely mustn't! The security in Zhoufu is even tighter than we heard before. There are guards every three steps and sentries every five steps. If you try to force your way in, Si Chu will hate you to the bone and will never let you off the hook!"

He paused, then added a touch of seriousness to his voice: "Before the boss had the accident, he specifically called me over and repeatedly told me to protect you at all costs. I can't let you take this risk!"

"Don't worry, I'm not risking my life by barging in." Yan Lan interrupted him, her voice brimming with confidence. "On the contrary, I'll have the Si family personally invite me in."

Zhao Nan was completely stunned. Her hand holding the phone froze in mid-air, her mind filled with confusion.

"Boss lady? You...you've been so busy dealing with the Si family these past few days, you've gone crazy from exhaustion, haven't you?"

The people in the Zhou Mansion, especially Si Chu, wished they could get rid of Yan Lan as soon as possible, so how could they possibly invite her in voluntarily?

This is simply nonsense.

Yan Lan spoke calmly and slowly, “Didn’t you say that we have someone secretly hiding in the state capital? Have that person find a way to get the message to Madam Si’s ears.”

She said she knew someone who could alleviate the governor's condition, and that if the governor remained in a coma, without food, water, or sunlight, his body would likely fail, and by then it would be too late to save him.

The afternoon sun shone through the French windows of the bedroom in the Zhou Mansion, but most of it was blocked by the heavy curtains, leaving only a few weak rays of light that fell on the pale face of the man on the bed.

Madam Si sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a plain silk cheongsam with a small pearl pinned to the collar. Her usually exquisite makeup was much lighter, and her eyes revealed an unconcealable weariness.

She held a small razor in her hand and gently shaved Tao Zhouzhang's beard.

Without his stubble, the governor's face looked even thinner, with his cheekbones protruding, which made Madam Si's heart tighten.

After shaving the governor's beard, she wrung out a warm towel and gently wiped the back of his hands and arms. When her fingertips touched his cold skin, she couldn't help but pause slightly.

"Will Lao Tao be alright?"

She looked up at Bai Lin standing to the side, her voice full of worry, and reached out to touch Tao Zhouzhang's cheek, "Look at him, he looks so thin again, his face is as white as paper."

Bai Lin quickly stepped forward, her face beaming with smiles.

"Madam, don't worry, the governor will definitely be alright."

He's been staying in his room all this time and hasn't seen the sun, which is why he looks a bit haggard.

"Once things settle down in a few days, and the Secretary-General has taken care of everything regarding the new governor, we'll naturally help him wake up. Then you can stay with him, find a quiet place to retire, and enjoy your golden years."

Madam Si nodded slowly, her gaze returning to Chief Tao's face, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

She felt a pang of heartache, but also a sense of helplessness.

At this point, the Si family has exhausted all their resources to pave the way for Si Chu, all so that he can take the position of governor.

Now that Si Chu's illegitimate child status has been exposed, there is no turning back. As his mother, she has no choice but to do everything in her power to help her son rise to the top. She can only ask Lao Tao to suffer for the time being.

Madam Si's gaze darkened slightly, and she suddenly spoke, her tone turning cold: "By the way, how is that woman named Yan Lan?"

The mention of that name brought a hint of disgust to her eyes.

If Yan Lan hadn't suddenly appeared and disrupted all the plans, things wouldn't have come to this.

Si Chu's identity will not be exposed, and she will not be dragged into this irreversible vortex. The root of all this is Yan Lan!

Like mother, like daughter. Yan Yunxi stole Lao Tao's heart back then, and now Yan Lan is ruining her son's future. They are just as annoying!

Bai Lin quickly followed up on her words, her tone full of disdain.

"Don't worry, Madam. Yan Lan is just a coward now, hiding in her apartment and not daring to even step out."

Without Qin Shi backing her up, she's nothing!

The Secretary-General said that once he officially becomes the Governor and the situation stabilizes, he will deal with her immediately and ensure she remains in your sights.

Madam Si nodded slightly, her heart finally settling down a little, and gave Bai Lin a few instructions.

"You stay here and take good care of Lao Tao. Report back immediately if there is any disturbance."

After saying that, she turned and left the room.

In the corridor covered with a thick carpet, Butler Zhao hurried over to greet them.

Steward Zhao is an old servant of the Zhou family, having worked here for over twenty years. She is usually quiet but extremely capable in her work, and Madam Si has always trusted her greatly.

At this moment, Butler Zhao looked flustered, his brows furrowed with worry. Madam Si paused and spoke first: "What's wrong? Why do you look so anxious?"

The butler quickly moved closer to her, deliberately lowering his voice and speaking with some hesitation.

"Madam, there are some things I don't know if I should say, but I feel uneasy if I don't."

"We're all family, so just speak your mind."

Madam Si raised her hand to reassure her, but Butler Zhao's gaze unconsciously swept over the patrols at both ends of the corridor, and he stopped only after confirming that no one was approaching.

Butler Zhao bit his lip and said softly, "Madam, the governor is probably really in mortal danger; it's not as simple as just being temporarily unconscious."

"nonsense!"

Madam Si's brows furrowed instantly, her voice suddenly rose, then she quickly lowered it, her tone full of stern rebuke, "Old Tao is just temporarily unconscious because the effects of the drug haven't worn off. He'll wake up soon after Si Chu settles things. Don't spread rumors here!"

"Madam, I didn't say anything out of line!"

Butler Zhao's eyes reddened with anxiety. He quickly reached out and grabbed her sleeve, lowering his voice even further.

“A few days ago, I went to deliver warm water to the governor and happened to see Bai Lin giving the governor a transparent medicine. I didn’t dare to make a sound at the time, but later I overheard her talking to the secretary-general.”

They said if that drug is continued for another month or so, the governor's organs will slowly deteriorate, and by then even if a miracle were to happen, he wouldn't be able to wake up at all!

"what?"

Madam Si was jolted and staggered back half a step. If Butler Zhao hadn't caught her in time, she would have fallen.

She stared at Butler Zhao in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief, her voice trembling: "You...you're telling the truth?"

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, Butler Zhao hurriedly pulled a small recording pen from his pocket and handed it to her, his tone urgent.

"Madam, I wouldn't dare lie to you. This is something I secretly recorded. You'll understand once you listen to it!"

Mrs. Si pressed the play button with trembling hands. Soon, a conversation between a man and a woman came through the recording. The man's voice was cold and decisive, while the woman's voice was obsequious and submissive. It was clearly Si Chu and Bai Lin!

Their conversation was full of schemes about how to use the drug to wear down the governor and how to completely cover up the truth after his organs failed.

With a "thud," the recording pen slipped from Mrs. Si's hand and fell onto the carpet without making a sound.

She felt her blood freeze instantly, the chill spreading from her fingertips to her heart. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and her vision blurred.

She always thought that her son just wanted to seize power, and that at most Lao Tao would suffer for a while. She never expected that he would be so ruthless as to want to kill Lao Tao!

The man who had been with her for over a decade and treated her with unwavering devotion—her son—was about to end his life with his own hands!

"You bastard, Si Chu!"

Madam Si gripped the railing, her voice trembling, her eyes bloodshot. "You really are just like that heartless man, without a shred of conscience, an ungrateful wretch!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she straightened up abruptly, with only one thought in her mind: to confront Si Chu immediately and expose all of Si Chu and Bai Lin's conspiracy, and not let Lao Tao die in vain.

"Madam, you mustn't!"

Butler Zhao quickly stepped forward and pressed her arm down, his tone urgent and grave, "You must not entertain such a thought! Right now, apart from you and me, everyone else in the prefecture has already been bribed by Si Chu. They only listen to him and Bai Lin's orders. You would only alert them, and what if you were also placed under house arrest..."

These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Lady Sichu's impulse.

She took two steps back and leaned against the cold wall, her chest heaving violently. After calming down, she was filled with panic, muttering to herself, "What can we do? What can we do... We can't just stand by and watch Lao Tao get into trouble, watch that little beast Si Chu kill Lao Tao."

Seeing that she was flustered, Butler Zhao quickly softened his tone and gently comforted her.

"Madam, don't panic, I have a solution."

My son is studying abroad. After graduating, he didn't come back. He happened to be working as a researcher at an X research institute.

Their institute's director is an internationally renowned miracle doctor, specializing in intractable diseases. He can even cure serious illnesses that many hospitals can't. Maybe, just maybe, he has a way to save the governor!

"Dr. X from the X Research Institute?"

Madam Si suddenly looked up, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

She had naturally heard of that name; it was a top-tier medical research institute ranked among the best in the world, and Dr. X was a highly sought-after figure by various countries.

She lowered her eyes and bit her lip, her tone full of hesitation: "But Si Chu will definitely not let the other party in."

He was determined to kill Lao Tao; how could he possibly agree to call a doctor to save him?

"Madam, you can't say that."

Butler Zhao quickly stepped forward.

"The Secretary-General may not want the Governor to live, but the person he cares about most is you. He would never let anything happen to you."

"If you think of a good way to do it, and speak up in your capacity, you'll definitely be able to get him to agree to let that miracle doctor in!"