Yi Qing thought for a moment and immediately understood. "You're worried about tipping them off and alerting Lord Meng?"
"Exactly. If what Meng Da said is true," Xiao Tian's face grew solemn. "Even if we manage to obtain evidence of their conspiracy, it won't be easy to arrest them right away."
"Will they stage an immediate rebellion?"
Xiao Tian nodded.
The scale of forces Meng Da described was astonishing. Xiao Tian even suspected that the under - reported taxes and over - claimed military funds by the Lin and Meng families had all been used to equip their private troops.
It was highly likely that the military forces they controlled were far greater than what the court knew.
Moreover, this place was so close to the capital. Once they launched a rebellion, it would directly threaten the capital. Therefore, they had to handle this matter with extreme caution.
Yi Qing said, "You make the decision. I'll follow your lead."
When it came to military talent, Xiao Jinghan had never admired anyone more than Xiao Tian.
Xiao Tian was worried that Yi Qing might be scared. He held her hand and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
"I'm not scared," Yi Qing replied. "I'm just a bit sleepy. Close the door on your way out. I want to go to sleep."
Time waits for no one. She needed to take good care of herself.
One day, she would strut out as the youngest first - rank imperial consort with great splendor. She couldn't look old before her time and lose her edge.
She knew that given the gravity of the situation, Xiao Tian couldn't wait until tomorrow to start his investigation.
"By the way, be careful. Be prepared for the possibility that Meng Da is lying."
Despite her tough talk, she was actually soft - hearted.
Xiao Tian felt a warmth in his heart and a smile played on his lips. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Even if there are thousands of enemies, they can't stop me. Trust your man."
Yi Qing hooked her arms around his neck, gently licked his lips with her tongue, and said seductively with a flutter of her eyes, "Come back quickly. I'll be waiting for you in bed."
Xiao Tian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He gave her a gentle pat on the bottom. "Naughty. Go to sleep quickly. I'll be back after you wake up."
The place Meng Da mentioned was on a mountain not far outside the city. It wouldn't take much time to get there and back.
Sure enough, just as dawn was breaking in the early morning, he returned.
Yi Qing opened her sleepy eyes and looked at him. "Are you hurt?"
She was known for loving to sleep in. Xiao Tian had deliberately walked lightly, but she still woke up. It was obvious that although she seemed to be sleeping all night, she had actually been worried about him.
The feeling of being cared about filled Xiao Tian's heart with a warm current, melting away the fatigue of his long - night journey.
"I wasn't discovered," he said, temporarily suppressing the heaviness in his heart. He sat down on the chair beside the bed. "Go back to sleep. I just came back to tell you I'm okay. I still have to find Deng Xiao."
"The situation is very serious?" Yi Qing was so smart that she almost immediately guessed the answer.
If the situation wasn't serious, Xiao Tian wouldn't be in such a hurry to find Deng Xiao.
"The number of their privately - hidden soldiers," Xiao Tian swallowed hard and said seriously, "is estimated to be as many as twenty thousand."
This number stunned Yi Qing.
The number of regular troops under the court's control was only about the same!
"They didn't over - claim military funds, but they under - reported the number of soldiers," Yi Qing murmured.
She never expected the situation to be like this.
"Are they plotting a rebellion to become the emperor or do they have a grudge against the emperor?" Yi Qing asked puzzledly.
"They've been planning this for a long time," Xiao Tian said. "They started even before the emperor ascended the throne."
Yi Qing was stunned. "Which prince do they support?"
A look of admiration flashed in Xiao Tian's eyes. Only Yi Qing could react so quickly.
"Prince Min."
This was beyond Yi Qing's knowledge. Apart from Prince Qi, she didn't really know or even hear much about the emperor's other brothers.
But she quickly remembered something. She rubbed her face to wake herself up. "Something's not right. Didn't the emperor kill most of his brothers? How could Prince Min have escaped?"
Xiao Tian said, "You can't talk like that."
"Is Prince Min still alive?"
"He's dead."
Yi Qing said, "Well, there you go. It's not like the emperor has ever spared anyone. Are they trying to support Prince Min's heir?"
"Smart," Xiao Tian said, half - amused by her remarks about the emperor. "Prince Min's youngest son is a posthumous child. He's only four years old this year."
"Then the Meng and Lin families will be able to hold power in the court and rival each other. One can be the prime minister and the other can be the great general. Tsk tsk, they've really got a good plan," Yi Qing said.
"Indeed," Xiao Tian replied.
"So what should we do now?"
Xiao Tian was silent for a moment, not sure how to tell her.
He was going to borrow troops from the neighboring Shanxi province because the military commander there, Chen Liang, was his protégé and would not hold back. Also, it was the closest place at present.
Unexpectedly, Yi Qing waved her hand and said, "Forget it. I won't ask anymore. I can't help much anyway. You go and discuss it with Deng Xiao. I'll get up and call Xue Miao'er to visit the Lin family."
Xue Miao'er's identity would come in handy at this time.
Visiting as a sister - in - law, no one could say anything. Even if they were stopped, as long as she was tough, she could still get in.
Xiao Tian went to find Deng Xiao, while Yi Qing got up and found Xue Miao'er. They then went out together.
However, before they reached the Lin family's courtyard, when passing by the main courtyard, Yi Qing's sharp eyes saw Meng Da lingering in front of the main courtyard gate, looking deeply troubled.
Yi Qing immediately had a bad feeling.
She was just about to call out to Meng Da and warn him when a person came out from inside and said to him, "The master is up. He didn't go to sleep until late last night. I don't know why you're so ignorant as to want to see the master so early in the morning. Just wait for the mistress to give you a hard time later."
The master had finally stayed with the mistress last night, but was disturbed. One could only imagine how angry Lady Meng would be.
Then Yi Qing watched helplessly as Meng Da went inside.
The only thought in her mind was - Run!
She pulled Xue Miao'er, who was still walking forward stupidly, and said, "Let's go back first."
"Ah? Why go back? We're almost there."
"Stop asking so many questions. Just go when I tell you to," Yi Qing said impatiently, pulling her out.
"Hey, hey, hey, Yi Qing, where are you taking me? Are we going out?"
"Hurry up," Yi Qing said. "There's no time to explain. Let's go find Deng Xiao first."
Although Xue Miao'er was completely confused, she was obedient. She quickly followed Yi Qing out.
Just as they stepped out of the gate, they met Xiao Tian, who was coming back.
"Hey, Yi Qing, that's your husband!"
"Shut up," Yi Qing scolded. She gave Xiao Tian a look and pulled Xue Miao'er to a secluded corner.
"Xiao Tian, I saw Meng Da go to see Lord Meng. I suspect he's sold us out again," Yi Qing said briefly.
Xiao Tian made a prompt decision. "We can't stay in the Meng Mansion any longer. We have to leave quickly."
Although Xue Miao'er was still confused, when she heard they were going to escape, she quickly said, "Escape! Go to the mountain! Go to my home!"
Xiao Tian said, "No!"