"What is she here for again?" Yi Qing muttered.
Xiao Tian instinctively said, "Don't see her."
Ever since he knew that Ping Xinian was aware of his survival, just hearing her name made Xiao Tian feel guilty. At the same time, he couldn't help but resent the deceased Xue Ci even more.
"Huh? Why not see her?" Yi Qing said. "Anyway, we've got nothing better to do. Just see her."
When the maid went to convey the message, Yi Qing asked Xiao Tian with a smile, "I've never asked you before. What kind of woman do you think Xiao Jinghan likes? If he were still alive, would he accept Ping Xinian?"
"All she has is the stench of money," Xiao Tian said coldly.
"That's just your opinion. Actually, I think Ping Xinian is not bad - looking, can make money, and is even capable of supporting an entire army on her own. She's also deeply in love with Xiao Jinghan..."
"If those things mattered, the emperor would have accepted the empress long ago."
Yi Qing muttered, "It's just that Xue Ci got there first. Otherwise, with enough perseverance, do you really think the emperor is heartless?"
"How do you know that there isn't already someone in General Xiao's heart?"
Xiao Tian thought that Yi Qing had taken root in his heart, deeply and firmly, intertwined with his very being.
On that day, when the emperor asked him that cruel question, he didn't answer others but only said that Yi Qing was not that kind of person. He remained tight - lipped about everything else. But actually, when he heard that question, his heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle.
He didn't dare to think in that direction.
Even if Yi Qing had deceived him, even if Baozi wasn't his son, he was willing to bury all of this in the passage of time.
All he wanted was the future of their little family of three.
Love starts without knowing how, and goes deeper and deeper. This was his feelings for Yi Qing.
"Really?" Yi Qing was skeptical. "I don't think he had the time. And the military regulations of the Xiao family army are extremely strict. Any woman who enters the military camp will be killed on the spot. Even if he had the thought and the time, there were no women around! If you said there was a man in his heart, I might believe it. Hehe."
Xiao Tian felt her mischievous scrutiny and blushed slightly. He really wanted to pull her onto his lap and spank her hard.
- What on earth was going on in her head!
Yi Qing claimed that her head was full of all sorts of things - homosexuality, same - sex love...
Ping Xinian was led in by the maid. She bowed to Yi Qing gracefully, smiling as if there had never been any ill - will between them.
She was dressed magnificently today. In particular, the whole set of red - gold headdress inlaid with rubies made her skin look fair and radiant.
Yi Qing sized her up from head to toe but didn't say a word.
Ping Xinian straightened up and looked at Yi Qing with a half - smile. "Madam must be very curious about why I'm here today."
Yi Qing leaned back on the chair and looked down at her. "Since you want to say it, then just say it."
"Please ask your servants to leave."
Yi Qing didn't show her any hostility. She waved her hand amiably. "All of you, leave."
The maids serving in the room filed out one by one.
Ping Xinian looked at Xiao Tian, who was standing behind Yi Qing with his hands behind his back, looking imposing. "Ask him to leave too."
"He's not a servant," Yi Qing said. "He's my man now."
Her boldness and straightforwardness left Ping Xinian stunned.
"What, do you want to steal him too?" Yi Qing grabbed Xiao Tian's hand and sneered. "It's a pity that you couldn't steal the dead one, and you can't steal the living one either."
Ping Xinian took a deep breath. "I'm here today to tell you something important. If you don't ask him to leave, you'll have to bear all the consequences."
"You make it sound like you've ever taken responsibility for me before," Yi Qing said lazily, propping her chin up. She looked very relaxed. "I don't have to bear the consequences alone. I've got my man to take care of them for me."
Ping Xinian knew she shouldn't compete with Yi Qing in terms of eloquence. She almost gritted her silver teeth. Looking at Yi Qing and then at Xiao Tian, who didn't even bother to give her a glance, she sneered. "The more arrogant you are now, the more painful you'll be in the future."
Xiao Tian's heart tightened. He suddenly had a very bad feeling.
However, he didn't have time to think more. Enraged by Yi Qing's contemptuous attitude, Ping Xinian blurted out, "Xiao Jinghan will settle accounts with you in the future!"
Xiao Tian roared, "Get out!"
Yi Qing was actually a bit surprised to see him suddenly lose his temper.
She rarely saw Xiao Tian so out of control.
Before she could say anything, she heard Xiao Tian say, "Guards, throw her out!"
As soon as the words fell, the guards rushed in from the yard. Without any pity, they grabbed Ping Xinian by the arms from either side and dragged her out.
Poor Ping Xinian, who had spent a long time dressing up carefully today, was dragged out like a dead pig. Her hair came loose, and her clothes were wrinkled. She looked extremely embarrassed.
"I haven't finished yet! Yi Qing, just wait for Xiao Jinghan to come back and settle accounts with you!"
When the shrill voice finally disappeared completely, Yi Qing frowned, utterly confused. She tilted her head and asked Xiao Tian, "What does she mean?"
Maybe because he had been with her for a long time, Xiao Tian reacted quickly and lied smoothly. "She's just a crazy woman. Don't take it to heart. Don't believe in all those ghost stories."
"You mean she's trying to scare me with Xiao Jinghan's ghost?"
Xiao Tian even learned to counter - question. "What else could it mean? Do you think a dead man can come back to life?"
"It seems to make sense," Yi Qing murmured. "If that's the case, I guess she'll find someone to pretend to be a ghost to scare us, right?"
Xiao Tian: "… Maybe."
"Must be. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure I'm right," Yi Qing said. "She bought a house opposite ours. It would be so convenient for her to play ghost tricks. No, I have to think of a way to set a trap so that the people she sends won't be able to get away."
Xiao Tian felt helpless seeing her eager look.
He knew exactly what Ping Xinian meant, so there was no way there would be any ghost - related incidents.
It seemed that now that the imperial noble consort was dead and there was no one to restrain her and keep her in line, Ping Xinian became bold. She wanted to scare Yi Qing with the news that Xiao Jinghan was still alive.
If Yi Qing believed it, she would surely be worried that Xiao Jinghan would come back to settle accounts with her, especially since her close relationship with Xiao Tian was almost an open secret in the mansion.
If Yi Qing left, the position of the general's wife would be vacant. Then it would be very easy for Ping Xinian to find the emperor, donate some silver, and take over the position.
Yi Qing wanted to pull Xiao Tian to set up a trap, but the latter said, "There are so many people in the mansion. Prince Zhen and Zisu are always causing a ruckus, and Baozi is running around everywhere. What if our own people get hurt? It would be too late to regret. Don't worry. If she dares to send someone to pretend to be a ghost, I'll surely catch them."
"You're right. Anyway, I've got you," Yi Qing agreed.
While Yi Qing was taking a nap, Xiao Tian rushed out of the house and went to find Lu Tianzuo.
"Get me a few absolutely reliable men. I'll need them tonight..."