Hearing Xiao Jinghan say this, Prince Nian's imposing manner weakened a bit. It wasn't the right time to fall out with Xiao Jinghan yet.
However, since Xiao Jinghan had brought this matter up, it seemed that he was getting anxious.
The more anxious he was, the easier it would be to deal with him. By then, they would fall into chaos on their own, and the Northern Di could reap the benefits.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened. There are assassins in the embassy," a guard of the Northern Di rushed in to report.
"What?" Prince Nian's expression changed drastically. Then he looked at Xiao Jinghan. "Such a thing could happen in your country."
"This is not a matter of our Great Jin. It's a matter of the Northern Di people," Xiao Jinghan thought that it should be Gan Chengyou who had taken action.
"I take my leave!" Prince Nian turned around and left.
Yi Qing approached Xiao Jinghan. "He left in such a hurry. Is there something important in the embassy?"
Xiao Jinghan thought so too.
As soon as Prince Nian left, the noble and powerful young men who had been invited immediately lost their nerve.
Previously, with the beautiful women around, they naturally wanted to save face. But now, with Xiao Jinghan, the living Hades, around, who would be so foolish? One by one, they slunk away, looking dejected.
"Stop!" Yi Qing scanned the crowd.
Everyone lowered their heads and stood there. A few who were dissatisfied tilted their heads sideways, looking very indignant, but they didn't want to be the first to step forward.
"Who was it that just beat up Assistant Minister Xu?" Yi Qing looked at each of them one by one.
"So what if we beat up an assistant minister of the Supreme Court? What's the big deal?" Chen Yaxu stood slantwise, looking nonchalant, trying to show his uniqueness.
"Start with him," Yi Qing said, looking at Chen Yaxu.
Xue Miao'er whipped out immediately, and the lash made Chen Yaxu jump up.
"Do you know who my father is?" Chen Yaxu didn't expect that Lady Xiao would really dare to take action.
"Marquis of Chunan, Chen Zhenghao," Xiao Jinghan said directly.
"You still dare to take action even though you know who my father is?" Chen Yaxu became even more arrogant.
"Beat him!" Xiao Jinghan ordered.
Chen Yaxu stamped his feet in anger. This Xiao Jinghan was really too overbearing.
The outside of the restaurant had already been surrounded by the guards of the General's Mansion. No one was spared. They were beaten by Xue Miao'er and He Tai until they were crying and howling.
"What on earth is Prince Nian's purpose? Why is he even trying to win over the noble and powerful young men?" Yi Qing sat on one side, watching Xue Miao'er and the others teach those people a lesson.
"The family heads of these noble and powerful families are not in the capital."
"That means Prince Nian did it on purpose."
Xiao Jinghan nodded.
The whole restaurant was filled with cries and howls. Xu Maozhi limped in and saw General Xiao and Lady Xiao inside.
"General," Xu Maozhi bowed.
"See if all the people who beat you are here," Xiao Jinghan motioned.
Xu Maozhi considered himself a refined person and always believed that everything should be done according to the rules. But now, seeing these people being beaten, he suddenly thought that it wasn't so bad to break the rules.
"They're all here," Xu Maozhi nodded.
"Do you have the strength to go over and give them a few whips to vent your anger?" Yi Qing motioned to the whip on one side.
Xu Maozhi waved his hand. He tried to sit on the chair while supporting his waist, but his butt hurt too much, so he had to stand there, leaning on the table. "I think Prince Nian has extraordinary intentions for coming to the capital this time."
"What makes you say so?" Xiao Jinghan knew that Xu Maozhi was unique in solving cases.
"I've counted all the people he has met. In just a few days, he has visited almost all the important officials related to the Emperor's accession to the throne, and he will definitely return to the embassy before the Hour of the Boar," Xu Maozhi said seriously.
Xiao Jinghan had also sent people to investigate, but he didn't expect that Xu Maozhi had already found out. "Then what do you think Prince Nian's purpose is?"
"Attacking the mind is the best strategy," Xu Maozhi said directly. "If the Northern Di can use the beauty trap to cause internal strife in the Great Jin court, they will surely reap the benefits."
Xiao Jinghan knew more than Xu Maozhi. He thought that Prince Nian's schemes were not just limited to using the beauty trap to sow discord. After all, that would be too obvious. The methods he used must be such that the people of Great Jin would have no chance to fight back.
"Then what do you think we should do to deal with Prince Nian now?" Yi Qing thought that Xu Maozhi was really a shrewd person. He could figure out so much without any information.
"Of course, we should find an excuse to detain him first. If we let him continue like this, things may get out of control," Xu Maozhi suggested.
This idea coincided with Xiao Jinghan's.
The people below had been beaten enough. Everyone, including Chen Yaxu, had surrendered. Xiao Jinghan ignored them.
It was already dusk when they returned to the General's Mansion. Xiao Jinghan sent secret guards to keep an eye on the embassy. Prince Nian had reacted so strongly to the assassination attempt in the embassy today. There must be something very important there.
As soon as the Hour of the Boar arrived, the high priest placed a purple crystal flower on Dina's forehead. The flower actually drilled directly into Princess Dina's body. Princess Dina suddenly opened her eyes. A purple glow melted into her eyes, and her eyes turned purple.
"I didn't expect that after the purple crystal flower grew up, the sacrifice to bewitch the mind would actually succeed," Prince Nian looked at Princess Dina lying on the bed. "How long can the remaining purple crystal flowers last?"
"Three days," the high priest reported.
Prince Nian was a little disappointed. "It's a pity. If we had a little more time, our plan would definitely be more perfect."
The high priest didn't say a word.
"However, they have already noticed. We can't delay for much longer. Tomorrow I will go to the Emperor of Great Jin to bid farewell. The day after tomorrow, there will be a banquet in the palace. By then, we will wipe them all out."
The secret guard lying on the roof couldn't hear what they were saying, but he saw the enchanting purple flower and the strange stone mortar that held the purple flower.
"Purple crystal flower," Yi Qing was puzzled. "So it turns out that the purple - eyed bewitchment must use the purple crystal flower, and the purple crystal flower must be watered with the water from the divine spring and the parasitic vines. They must have brought a small bonsai of the purple crystal flower in a similar environment."
"It seems that Prince Nian was in such a hurry to leave today because of the purple crystal flower," Xiao Jinghan also understood.
Xiao Jinghan restricted the Northern Di delegation to the embassy on the pretext of protecting them. Prince Nian said that he understood, but then he started talking about the marriage alliance and his intention to return.
When the Emperor heard that Prince Nian was leaving, he agreed and set up a banquet in the palace to see him off.
"Are you really going?" Xiao Jinghan saw that Yi Qing was already ready.
"What else?" Yi Qing thought that if they were going to take action, it was very likely to be today.
"As soon as Prince Nian was restricted to the embassy, he started talking about the marriage alliance and his departure. The Emperor probably just wants him to leave quickly, so he agreed to this matter."
"Duke Yuan has already submitted a memorial to the Emperor. I have to go and keep an eye on it. In case that stupid Emperor comes up with some strange excuse again."
Xiao Jinghan smiled. "Okay. If something happens then, you hide behind me."
"I know."
Just as the two of them were about to go out, Lord Ghost rushed over in a hurry.
"You can't go to the palace," Lord Ghost looked at them seriously.
"Why?" Yi Qing was puzzled.
"Prince Nian has hired assassins from the Ghost Floating Mountain with a lot of money. They may have already sneaked into the palace," Lord Ghost didn't beat around the bush.