"Ah Ying, just think about it. That Old Lady Ling knows so many sordid secrets. How could the salt and tea supervisors possibly let her live? If I'm not mistaken, they'll probably take action tonight to cut the grass and remove the roots."
Li Ying came back to her senses. Lu Xunguang's words did make sense.
"Brother Lu, don't worry too much. The servants you've arranged in the mansion are all nimble. They won't let those villains take any advantage."
However, Lu Xunguang shook his head.
"Ah Ying, I personally selected those people. Their skills are beyond doubt, but when it comes to your safety, I really can't rest assured leaving it to others."
He sounded so determined that Li Ying didn't insist anymore. She nodded in agreement and then went to the guest room herself to make the bedding for him.
She had a graceful figure, and her eyebrows and eyes were made especially gentle by the lamp light.
Lu Xunguang lay down fully dressed, closed his eyes, but couldn't help opening them again. He said in a low voice, "No wonder those scholars like to have a beautiful woman by their side to add fragrance. Ah Ying, I really wish I could look at you like this every day."
Li Ying knew he was referring to the matter of proposing marriage. The subtle and charming atmosphere in the room made her pretty face blush slightly to the roots of her ears.
She was just about to scold him when Lu Xunguang suddenly stood up, his expression turning full of vigilance.
"They're here!"
He lowered his voice and pulled Li Ying behind him. Then he drew out a soft sword wrapped around his waist, neatly pushed open the door, and rushed straight towards the source of the strange noise outside the window!
The other side were bandits sent to silence witnesses. Li Ying knew she was no match for them. Going after them rashly would only cause trouble. So she simply tightly held the small dagger Lu Xunguang had given her for self - defense and carefully peeked through the window lattice.
Not far away, several masked men in black tight - fitting clothes hadn't reached the wing where Old Lady Ling was staying when they got entangled with the guards arranged by Lu Xunguang.
The two sides were fighting fiercely. Granny Sun and the others had already received Li Ying's instructions and were hiding silently in the main house, not daring to make a sound.
When Lu Xunguang flew over, the situation on the battlefield immediately became much clearer.
He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had an imposing manner that could hold off thousands. He kicked out, hitting the shinbone of a man in front of him. The man cried out in pain and immediately knelt on the ground.
He did a somersault and then landed a heavy punch on the rib of another thug.
These moves didn't seem very complicated, nor were there any dazzling sword lights, but every move aimed straight at the opponent's vital points.
Li Ying finally relaxed the heart that had been hanging in mid - air.
The thugs saw that Lu Xunguang was really brave and they were no match for him. Realizing the situation was bad, they didn't want to fight anymore.
Just then, Old Lady Ling also heard the noise. She pushed open the door of the wing and poked her head out.
Li Ying secretly thought it was bad. Sure enough, the leading thug also saw her. He rushed towards her desperately with a steel knife in hand!
Old Lady Ling stood there like a wooden chicken. It seemed she was about to be killed with a single blow. But Lu Xunguang just managed to arrive in time. He kicked the knife handle away, used a grappling technique to break the man's wrist, and with his other hand, he moved his fingers like the wind and firmly choked the man's throat.
When their comrade was captured, for some reason, the other thugs no longer wanted to fight. They only heard a whistle in the distance, and then their figures quickly retreated several feet and disappeared into the night.
The courtyard was completely silent. Except for the scattered dead branches and leaves, there was no sign that it had just been attacked by bandits.
Li Ying fetched a strong hemp rope. She saw the man captured by Lu Xunguang kneeling on the ground, his face dirty and his chin dislocated. He was babbling and couldn't speak clearly.
"He's a death - fighter. There's poison hidden between his teeth."
Lu Xunguang said casually. Frowning, he skillfully dug out a small pill from the man's mouth.
He exchanged a look with Li Ying. Although they didn't say much, Li Ying was greatly shocked!
It was just a matter of dealing with a small concubine's maid, but they had gone to such great lengths?
Those who had taken action today were probably the salt and tea supervisors. But they were only fifth - rank officials, yet they actually kept death - fighters?
It seemed that the secrets hidden in Old Lady Ling's belly were probably extraordinary.
Li Ying's gaze was rather complicated as she looked up at Old Lady Ling.
She saw that Old Lady Ling's face was pale and blue. She was staring blankly at the death - fighter kneeling on the ground, her eyes full of disbelief.
"Ah Ying, don't be afraid. I'll send this man to the Court of Judicial Review immediately. I'm sure we'll find out soon which master he belongs to."
Lu Xunguang pulled the death - fighter, who was tied up like a mummy, and was about to leave. Only then did Old Lady Ling come to her senses as if waking from a dream. She said in a trembling voice, "There's no need to investigate."
"This is the personal guard of the salt supervisor. I've seen him before."
She murmured in a low voice. Suddenly, she laughed desolately.
"My lord, you actually want to take my life?"
"My lord, how could you take my life? How could you be so heartless!"
She cried and laughed hysterically. As for the death - fighter, he was grunting, as if he had something to say.
Lu Xunguang raised his eyebrows and casually reset the man's chin. The death - fighter looked at Old Lady Ling disgustedly and then angrily said, "My lord, out of old affection for you, originally wanted you to serve the young lady and relieve his worries. Who would have thought that you were so restless. Falling into the enemy's hands, you were greedy for life and afraid of death and didn't want to kill yourself. You've caused so much trouble and forced us to come and take your worthless life!"
He wanted to shout something else, but Lu Xunguang was impatient. He slapped the back of the man's head, and the death - fighter's body went limp and he fell silently to the ground.
Old Lady Ling's face was ashen. She murmured to herself, "I'm restless... Heh... Am I restless?"
"I never asked for anything. I just wanted to stay by my lord's side. Every one of those illegal things that my lord and the young lady told me to do was a capital offense. When did I ever say a single word of complaint? Now my lord actually blames me for being greedy for life and afraid of death?"
She murmured for a long time. Finally, she raised her eyes. Her pupils were clear, and the former confusion was no longer there.
"Supervisor, I've wasted my true feelings in this life. Now I've done everything I should. Boss Li, don't you want to know the meaning of that secret code? Fine! I'll tell you!"
She said calmly, "It's not some scribble. It's an account book."
"This account book records in detail the evidence of the salt and tea supervisors creating false names, inflating silver prices, and lining their own pockets. I thought the lord's heart was unpredictable, so I wanted to use this account book to save my life. I didn't expect it to really come in handy today!"
She laughed desolately again. Not caring about the late - night dew, she lit an oil lamp and carefully copied down the accounts in neat, delicate calligraphy.
Li Ying gasped.
It was getting cloudy and snowy was imminent.
It seemed that the capital city was about to experience a major change.