The Marshal’s Wife is Wild
Chapter 290 - 289: Lan Weiying Caught in Public Opinion Storm

Chapter 290: Chapter 289: Lan Weiying Caught in Public Opinion Storm

The First Military Academy commenced its new academic term, and Xu An and the others returned as well.

Xu An’s team had grown by another seven people, even including an S-rank mercenary who joined after being abandoned by his teammates during a Mental Outburst. It was Xu An who had fortuitously saved him.

He Zhou’s physique had improved from B-rank to A-rank, presumably with the help of the Void Crystal Stone given by Xu An, which led him to look at Qu Tong with even more respect and gratitude than before.

When Qu Tong accompanied Xu An to purchase an S-rank mecha, they coincidentally ran into Fei Wenxing and Cheng Yao who were strolling around. The two were extraordinarily shocked and hurriedly inquired about it.

Upon hearing that Xu An’s improvement was likely due to several life-or-death experiences, both Fei Wenxing and Cheng Yao instantly ceased their hubris, feeling incomparable.

Fei Wenxing and Cheng Yao had both enhanced their physique with Void Crystal Stones and elixirs, and after a year of tempering, had solidified their strength considerably.

Qu Tong and Xu An rejected the offer to join the S-class and decided to stay in Han Song’s B5 class. Fei Wenxing and Cheng Yao also transferred to the same class through some connections, while only Song Ke remained in the A-class.

After passing the start-of-term tests, the application that Fu Xiangyu helped Qu Tong to submit was also approved.

The news that Fu Xiangyu had become a high-grade Pharmacist had spread throughout the school, stirring quite a sensation.

Since the Alchemist Association was short-staffed, they did not send a new pharmacist over. An A-class was taken over by Instructor Lan, while a newly recruited intermediate alchemist took charge of the B-class.

Qu Tong specifically checked the new students enlisted this year, the Mecha Single Soldier Department still required a minimum physique of B-rank.

However, discussions about the Sky-roaming Prime mecha surfaced on several military academies’ official websites, silently indicating future pilots of Sky-roaming Prime mechas, and hinting at the possibility of lowered recruitment standards.

But that was merely a possibility; the training for Sky-roaming Prime mechas was different from spiritual power mechas, and it would take quite a while to become widespread and enter the campuses.

Nevertheless, many instructional videos had already been posted online, which was, after all, a good sign.

As the popularity of the Sky-roaming Prime mechas remained high, Qu Tong’s wallet continually received dividends, and quite substantial ones at that.

Therefore, when the Bai Family invited her to record an instructional promotional video, Qu Tong did not hesitate to go.

*

One day, Liu Hang suddenly approached Qu Tong with a document.

"This is an encrypted file found on Xun Guangyong’s computer while organizing the office and looking through the teaching plans," he said.

It was a video, seemingly taken from the angle of an office security camera.

The video showed Qu Wanwan going to Xun Guangyong’s office, coaxing Xun Guangyong to alter missions, reinstating several previously canceled dangerous tasks back to the pending list. Xun Guangyong did not outright reject the suggestion out of consideration for Lan Xingye, but he did not agree either; he gave vague responses and sent Qu Wanwan away.

However, later Lan Weiying came in and after speaking a few suggestive phrases, Xun Guangyong reversed the status of those tasks back again.

Xun Guangyong saved and cut the video, probably intending to use it as leverage to secure some advantages for himself if a fallout occurred.

After watching it, Qu Tong looked up at Liu Hang and asked, "How do you want to deal with this?"

Liu Hang laid out his plans in detail, "Since the main individuals involved, Qu Wanwan and Xun Guangyong, are no longer here, a lawsuit is surely unwinnable. They can easily shift the blame to the deceased, claiming Xun Guangyong misunderstood Lan Weiying’s intentions, and with no one to testify otherwise."

"I know the Alchemist Association has contacts in the communications department, so I’d like to ask for your help, sister." Liu Hang finished speaking and waited for Qu Tong’s response.

"You plan to use public opinion?" Liu Hang’s intentions weren’t hard to guess.

Liu Hang nodded, "We have to make them pay somehow, otherwise it’s too frustrating. If it weren’t for your help last time, sister, we almost lost our lives."

Indeed, keeping silent was not her style.

However, it meant asking for help from the Empress Dowager or Si Yuting again.

Deep down, she still didn’t want to trouble them.

"I’ll ask first and give you my answer later," Qu Tong didn’t immediately agree.

"Okay," Liu Hang nodded agreeably. "Several other students also took on the mission during that incident, but they weren’t as lucky as us; none of them made it back. I’ll get in touch with their families first."

Determined, Liu Hang decided that even if Qu Tong couldn’t help, he would still seek justice for himself and his brothers, though the impact might not be as significant and the issue would likely be suppressed.

While Qu Tong was still considering if there was another way to handle the matter, Butler Chi told her that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort had come to visit her with Niannian, specifically to discuss Xun Guangyong’s case.

The Crown Prince spoke with righteous indignation, "I will strictly review the internal affairs of the communication department in the next few days, sister-in-law, rest assured."

"Bad people can’t bully auntie; Niannian will back you up," Niannian chimed in, hands on hips.

Qu Tong laughed and rubbed Niannian’s head, expressing her gratitude to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, and invited them to stay for dinner.

With Qu Tong’s response, Liu Hang edited the video and publicly uploaded it online.

Liu Hang’s family was also wealthy, so spending money to boost the video’s reach didn’t hurt.

Lan Weiying’s reputation had been declining over the past year, and some of her previous supporters had begun to unfollow her.

Lan Weiying remained calm and did not respond directly.

However, according to the onlookers from Fei Wenxing and Cheng Yao, Lan Weiying’s complexion hadn’t been great these past few days.

The issue remained popular for two days until the Alchemist Association approached her and Liu Hang, wanting to pay to settle the matter.

Liu Hang was resolute; there was nothing to clarify, but he was open to taking money to lower the attention on the issue.

This was a strategy that Liu Hang and Qu Tong had agreed upon beforehand. Although they didn’t need the money, the other team members, especially the families that had lost their only children, needed compensation.

In the end, the Alchemist Association had no choice but to grit their teeth and pay a substantial settlement, after which Liu Hang and his team stopped promoting the issue, but the internet has a memory.

In silence, the Alchemist Association had begun its descent from the pedestal.

*

After getting study materials from Han Song, Qu Tong returned to Luyi Star, where Old Man Yuan had already started causing a fuss.

"Ahh! How did they grow so fast? The breeding containers are almost full!"

"I feel uncomfortable all over just looking at them, and they keep making these chirping noises."

"Why are you messing with these bugs? Isn’t it disgusting?"

Old Man Yuan rambled on with his complaints.

Qu Tong approached the five breeding containers and observed them for a while.

Three of the containers’ Insect Clan members had evolved into Middle-grade, except for the one fed contaminated plants, which was still lower-grade.

The one fed her Spirit Power Stabilizing Potion was the largest and had the shiniest carapace.

Qu Tong had reached a conclusion in her mind and lit a fire, disposing of all the insects.

For the rest of her time, Qu Tong managed the properties on Luyi Star and studied elixirs under Old Yuan.

Old Yuan had perfected an elixir for restoring the Spirit Sea and even simplified it into seven stages of treatment, but it still worked by stimulating the Spirit Sea.

In other words, without Qu Tong’s spiritual power, these elixirs were poison, and even the first stage could painfully kill a person.