Perhaps for Xiao Jinghan, Bai Yutang was just Bai Yutang, the only daughter of his sworn brother.
But for Yi Qing, the appearance of this woman in her home and her connection with everyone around Yi Qing was not a single - issue matter. It was a comprehensive problem.
"You still don't trust me," Yi Qing said, looking at Xiao Jinghan's expression.
"I'll investigate Bai Yutang's identity again. It's very dangerous these days. Don't go out every day."
"You should have known from the start that I'm not a canary. I have things I want to do," Yi Qing said, getting even angrier at Xiao Jinghan's words.
Xiao Jinghan pressed his forehead against Yi Qing's. His woman could only be spoiled by him. "I trust you, but you can't be so willful about this."
"Then what's the point of your so - called trust? Just because you once said you'd trust me no matter what?" Yi Qing said crossly.
"It's getting late. Let's have lunch quickly," Xiao Jinghan said, getting up.
Both of them had blank expressions during lunch. Others quickly kept their distance. Usually, the lady would show her anger directly, but this time she was sulking.
"I'm going to the palace again. Don't go out and wander around," Xiao Jinghan instructed. "I'll handle this matter."
"Fine, I won't go out," Yi Qing replied readily.
Xiao Jinghan thought Yi Qing's answer was too quick. Given her personality, she couldn't have agreed so easily.
"What?" Yi Qing asked, looking at Xiao Jinghan's suspicious look.
"Nothing. I'm going to the palace," Xiao Jinghan said, giving Yi Qing a kiss on the forehead.
"Go quickly," Yi Qing said with a smile.
Xiao Jinghan always felt something was off. When he reached the door, he told the guards not to let the lady leave the mansion for even a step, then he went out with peace of mind.
"If I'm not allowed to go out, I'll have others come in. Miao'er," Yi Qing called out triumphantly.
"What's up?" Xue Miao'er trotted over.
"Go and call Commander Deng here."
"No way," Xue Miao'er refused immediately. The psychological shadow that Deng Xiao cast on her was even greater than that of the emperor.
"Um—" Yi Qing stared at Xue Miao'er.
"He's really scary. I'm really too scared to go," Xue Miao'er refused again.
"He warms up slowly. You need to meet him a few more times, and you'll get familiar with him gradually," Yi Qing coaxed.
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. Now that you're my person, would I ever deceive you?" Yi Qing thought to herself that when she was ruthless, she could even deceive herself.
"Alright then," Xue Miao'er said and left.
Yi Qing twirled the pearl in her hand and started analyzing the matter again. She originally thought that Bai Yutang came to the Di family to target them or, more likely, Xiao Jinghan. But now it seemed neither was the case. Did that mean it had nothing to do with her?
But as soon as Bai Yutang appeared, the Iron - Blood Loyalty Token showed up and destroyed Xiao Jinghan's power. How could this be explained?
This was much more troublesome than the loss of the Tiger Tally. After all, Ping Xinian's goal was very direct and clear.
Thinking of Ping Xinian, Yi Qing remembered how wealthy she was. She would spend five hundred thousand taels on a single piece of information and donate three hundred thousand taels without batting an eyelid. The emperor even gave her some face because of her large tax payments.
"Yes, I need to make money," Yi Qing quickly went off - topic and found her life goal.
Xue Miao'er rode her horse to find Deng Xiao. On the way, she unexpectedly met a group of people galloping on horses. She couldn't avoid them in time and almost bumped into someone on the side, then fell off her horse.
"Miss, are you okay?" Yuan Hecong happened to pass by and helped Xue Miao'er up.
"Try falling and see if you're okay," Xue Miao'er said, pressing her waist and pointing at the people on the horses. "Can't you guys ride properly?"
Chen Yaxu reined in his horse and looked at the angry Xue Miao'er. He thought she was extremely cute. "Who are you? How dare you ride a horse on the street in the capital?"
"If you can ride, why can't I?" Xue Miao'er retorted.
"Miss, you may not know. Ordinary people are not allowed to ride horses on the street in the capital, unless they have the bell that permits horse - riding," Yuan Hecong said, pointing at the neck of the horse Chen Yaxu was riding.
Xue Miao'er looked over and indeed saw three delicate bells. "What's so great about that?"
Chen Yaxu leaned over. "Little girl, are you from out of town? You don't even know this rule."
"Then let me ask you, can ordinary people take a carriage on the street?"
"Yes," Chen Yaxu nodded.
"Can I ride on the horse pulling the carriage?"
Chen Yaxu frowned. "Yes, you can."
"Then I was just riding on the horse pulling the carriage. I just didn't drive it," Xue Miao'er said, hands on hips, looking at Chen Yaxu defiantly.
Chen Yaxu looked around and suddenly burst into laughter. "You little girl are so sharp - tongued. You're quite like Yuan the Dullard's family."
"Who's Yuan the Dullard?" Xue Miao'er looked around.
"Look, it's Yuan the Dullard beside you," Chen Yaxu said, pointing to Xue Miao'er's side.
Xue Miao'er turned to look at Yuan Hecong. Yuan Hecong gave a warm smile and nodded in acknowledgment. Xue Miao'er thought he did look a bit dull, but he was a nice person who had just helped her up.
As for the man on the horse, he had not only startled her horse but also behaved so arrogantly.
"Just because he doesn't talk much, you call him dull. Then people like you who always brag should be called stupid, right? No, a very stupid long - tongued man," Xue Miao'er said angrily.
"You..." Chen Yaxu didn't expect a little girl to talk to him like this.
Hearing Xue Miao'er's words, Yuan Hecong couldn't help but smile. Although she was being unreasonable, she was also cute and naughty.
"I'll remember you, little girl. What's your name?" Chen Yaxu said arrogantly, looking at Xue Miao'er.
"I'm Xue Miao'er. I never change my name, whether standing or sitting," Xue Miao'er said. She had never been looked down upon like this.
"Where do you live?"
"The Residence of the First - Rank General."
Chen Yaxu was stunned for a moment, then sized up Xue Miao'er. "You're from the General's Residence?"
"Yes," Xue Miao'er thought he was scared. "Be sensible and apologize to me quickly."
"Humph!" Chen Yaxu scoffed. "We'll meet again soon." Then he rode away.
"You..." Xue Miao'er was angry.
"Miss Xue, are you okay?" Yuan Hecong asked, looking at Xue Miao'er. "That man is Chen Yaxu, the son of the Marquis of Chunan. Since his father is stationed outside, the emperor is a bit more lenient towards him. Miss Xue, you don't have to be angry about such a thing."
"Why does he call you the Dullard?" Xue Miao'er said indignantly.
"It's just a nickname. Miss Xue, you don't have to care," Yuan Hecong said.
"No. If he dares to call you that again in the future, I'll beat him black and blue," Xue Miao'er said indignantly.
Yuan Hecong laughed again. "Miss Xue, were you in a hurry when you were riding your horse?"
"Oh, right. My mistress asked me to find that Living Yama," Xue Miao'er said, then tried to mount her horse. The pain in her waist made her suck in a breath of cold air.
"Miss Xue, are you okay? Why don't you take my carriage there?" Yuan Hecong asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," Xue Miao'er said, waving her hand and leaving.
Yuan Hecong watched Xue Miao'er's back. Although she was a bit reckless, she was very cute. As he thought, his expression gradually dimmed. Someone from the Residence of the First - Rank General?
Xiao Jinghan was now the sharpest sword in the emperor's hand. No one knew whose head this sword would fall on.