Ping Xinian knew Chu Nanhou too well. She also understood Xiao Jinghan's attitude towards women. Yi Qing was an abnormal existence.
"Miss Ping is overthinking. General Xiao is a first-rank general with a noble title. It's only natural for me to greet him with due courtesy," Chu Nanhou replied casually.
Ping Xinian didn't pursue the matter further. "As long as Yi Qing is around, Xiao Jinghan won't even glance at any other woman."
Chu Nanhou thought Ping Xinian was exaggerating. Which man in the world didn't like young and beautiful women? Although Lady Xiao was somewhat good-looking, she was far inferior to his daughter.
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Ping," Chu Nanhou said, not wanting to offend Ping Xinian. If Pyongyang wanted to profit from trade, they had to cooperate with the Ping family. "I saw that Xiao Jinghan was in a hurry to leave. He must just be passing by."
"Just passing by?" Ping Xinian sneered. "Lady Xiao's child has just turned one month old, yet the two of them left the capital in a hurry without any stops along the way. They only stopped in Pyongyang. Do you really think he's just passing by, Chu Nanhou?"
Chu Nanhou lowered his eyes for a moment. He also thought that Xiao Jinghan's visit was more than just a passing one. "Then what's your opinion, Miss Ping?"
"I'm not an official. My way of looking at things and my attitude are different from yours, Chu Nanhou. You have to figure these things out for yourself," Ping Xinian said with a smile.
Chu Nanhou laughed. "I heard that Miss Ping was almost engaged to General Xiao. You must know him better. We're on the same boat now. If you know anything, you might as well just say it. It'll be good for both of us."
A look of triumph flashed in Ping Xinian's eyes. "The emperor must be suspicious of you, Chu Nanhou."
Chu Nanhou's heart skipped a beat. The news from the capital had almost stopped recently. He had been worried about this. If it was really the case, he had to make preparations early.
"However, you have to make your own judgment on this matter. I'll take my leave," Ping Xinian said and left.
The spring rain fell silently with the night wind, moistening all things without a sound, leaving only a refreshing coolness in the room.
Ping Xinian reached out her hand to catch a drop of water dripping from the eaves. Her slender hand with bright red nail polish was crystal clear with the water droplet on it. The smile on her lips slowly spread.
"Miss, we've found out where General Xiao is staying," Liu'er said, bowing.
"Good. Carry out the plan," Ping Xinian flicked the water droplet off her fingertip.
Liu'er hesitated for a moment. "If the master finds out..."
Ping Xinian stared at Liu'er.
Liu'er's heart trembled. Since they left Licheng, she felt that her miss had changed. "Yes," she said, bowing and retreating.
Ping Xinian then looked at the darkness outside the window and laughed again.
She had just thrown out the bait, and the fish had immediately taken the hook. Xiao Jinghan was not an easy opponent, but there were too many dirty things in the royal family. Since Xiao Jinghan was so loyal to the royal family, the person who came could only be him.
Yi Qing was too exhausted to move. Xiao Jinghan washed her, wrapped her up, and carried her to the bed. He hugged Yi Qing through the blanket.
"You're not planning to stay in Pyongyang anymore?" Yi Qing asked in a low voice.
"This matter was just a side trip. It wouldn't be good if we got into trouble and delayed our main business," Xiao Jinghan explained seriously.
He thought he should put on his mask like before. Otherwise, just coaxing Yi Qing every day would exhaust him.
"What if Chu Nanhou really has rebellious intentions?"
Xiao Jinghan shook his head. "Chu Nanhou is a bit ambitious, but he's just greedy for wealth and women. Back then, when the emperor was weak and the regions were in turmoil, he dared to stand with others and occupy Pyongyang. Pyongyang is a land of fish and rice but has no natural defenses. It's not a place to proclaim oneself king."
Yi Qing thought it made sense. "Then it's strange that the son of Prince Min appeared here."
Xiao Jinghan also found it strange. "Actually, if the son of Prince Min had lived in obscurity, he could have had a peaceful end."
Just as they were talking, the candle in the room suddenly went out. Crossbow arrows shot in from the window. Xiao Jinghan hugged Yi Qing and rolled under the bed.
The sound of fighting soon rang out outside.
"My lord, are you okay?" He Tai called out at the door.
"I'm fine," Xiao Jinghan replied in a deep voice.
After a while, the sound of fighting stopped. There were several black-clothed men lying on the ground.
"The Japanese?" Xiao Jinghan looked at the men on the ground.
There were Japanese overseas who were proficient in various escape techniques and were good at hiding and assassinating. However, it was very difficult for the Japanese to enter the territory of the Great Jin. Yet, there were Japanese here.
"General Xiao," Chu Nanhou rushed over in a hurry after hearing that Xiao Jinghan had been assassinated. "It's my negligence. I failed to protect you well."
Xiao Jinghan looked at Chu Nanhou as if he was trying to see through him.
"General Xiao, rest assured. I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you an explanation," Chu Nanhou promised.
"It's an explanation to the emperor. I'm on a mission by the emperor's order. Such a thing happened as soon as I arrived in Pyongyang. Do you think a simple investigation will be enough, my lord?" Xiao Jinghan stared at Chu Nanhou.
"Yes, yes," Chu Nanhou nodded. "Someone, quickly find a new place for the lord to stay."
After the commotion of the assassins, Yi Qing was also wide awake. She couldn't fall asleep at all in the new place.
"Chu Nanhou can't be that stupid. We're still staying in his mansion, and he would order an assassination of us," Yi Qing sat cross-legged on the bed and tilted her head to analyze.
Xiao Jinghan crossed his hands behind his head and looked at Yi Qing. "Then what's your opinion, my lady?"
"I think our trip won't go smoothly," Yi Qing said seriously.
"Let's see what explanation Chu Nanhou will give us tomorrow," Xiao Jinghan also thought this matter was strange.
After settling Xiao Jinghan, Chu Nanhou didn't return to his own residence. He went straight to Ping Xinian's place.
"What are you doing here in the middle of the night, my lord? I'm not happy about this," Ping Xinian said with a displeased look on her face, keeping a distance from Chu Nanhou.
Chu Nanhou saw that Ping Xinian had just woken up and her face was still flushed. He couldn't help but take a few extra glances. "Xiao Jinghan was assassinated."
"Really?" Ping Xinian was surprised. "Is he dead?"
"If he were dead, why would I come to you?"
"It's right that he's not dead," Ping Xinian said confidently.
"Why?"
"General Xiao has been very cautious all the way. He only informed you the day before he came to Pyongyang. What kind of assassin is so powerful that they could find out General Xiao's whereabouts so quickly, enter the mansion as if it were unguarded, and accurately find his residence?" Ping Xinian analyzed.
Chu Nanhou thought for a while. "You mean... this is a show staged by Xiao Jinghan for me?"
"You said it yourself, my lord," Ping Xinian replied.
Chu Nanhou's eyes darted around. "Humph! He showed that he didn't want to stay in Pyongyang for long during the day, and then this happened at night. If I let him leave like this, he will surely slander me in front of the emperor."
"My lord is wise," Ping Xinian flattered.
If this was really the case, then Xiao Jinghan's visit to Pyongyang must not be that simple.
"Humph! What a god of war. He's just a young upstart. How dare he play such tricks in front of me? I'll teach him a lesson," Chu Nanhou liked to brag in front of beautiful women.
"Then what are you going to do, my lord?" Ping Xinian asked with a smile.
Chu Nanhou squinted his eyes at Ping Xinian and smiled enigmatically. "I have my own brilliant plan. I'll help you get revenge. How are you going to repay me?"