Ping Xinian had always had spies in Cixi City. Even after Xiang Beizheng was killed and the Ping family was targeted, she didn't recall them. Her intention was to keep a close eye on Yi Qing's news at all times.
She wouldn't be reconciled until she saw Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan dead.
"Do my makeup," Ping Xinian said as she sat in front of the dressing table.
Ping Xinian rarely took the initiative to visit Qiao Ye. You couldn't be too clingy to a man. The more you chased after him, the more aloof he would be. In the end, it was all about who cared more about the other.
When she went to Qiao Ye's mansion, she saw him playing around with a woman in his arms. That woman didn't back off when she saw Ping Xinian coming. Instead, she gave Ping Xinian a provocative look.
These were all the tricks of Mrs. Qiao. Since Qiao Ye would have other women anyway, it was better to have some obedient ones around him. She didn't want to encounter another woman like Ping Xinian.
"My lord," Ping Xinian calmly saluted.
"What is it?" Qiao Ye continued to tease the beauty in his arms.
He thought that by marrying Ping Xinian, he could control the Ping family's business routes. Who would have thought that after marrying her, so many problems would arise in the Ping family, and he even had to help deal with them. If this continued, Ping Xinian would become a burden.
"News has come from the Southern Border. Are you sure you want to listen like this, my lord?" Ping Xinian looked at Qiao Ye with a smile.
Hearing it was news from the Southern Border, Qiao Ye directly threw the woman to the ground. The woman was sensible enough and quickly retreated.
Looking at Qiao Ye's reaction, Ping Xinian knew that there was nothing but interests between them.
"Speak," Qiao Ye said impatiently.
"Yi Qing has appeared with the unconscious Xiao Jinghan. They will return to the capital soon," Ping Xinian said without beating around the bush.
"They didn't die even like this," Qiao Ye said in surprise.
"Counting the time, Xiao Jinghan should have been unconscious for almost a year. His body must be very weak. As long as there's a slight accident..."
Qiao Ye looked at Ping Xinian. "You still want to kill Xiao Jinghan."
"I'm doing this for your sake, my lord," Ping Xinian said slowly. "When Xiao Jinghan and the others arrived in the Southern Border, they ruined Xiang Beizheng's Ruyi Grass. Then they targeted Xiang Beizheng all the time. Finally, they found out that Xiang Beizheng was a remnant of the deposed emperor and made the Great Jin send troops to assist the Southern Border's Crown Princess to ascend the throne. Do you think he only knows this much?"
Qiao Ye's eyes began to roll. In fact, he had always been worried about this, but since there had been no movement from the court, he had harbored a fluke mentality.
"The Great Jin's dispatch of troops to the Southern Border has already exhausted the people and resources. Coupled with Xiao Jinghan's disappearance, the emperor will surely be patient. But now that Xiao Jinghan is alive and returning to the capital, the emperor will surely settle accounts after autumn," Ping Xinian knew what was on Qiao Ye's mind. "The emperor is determined to weaken the vassal states. Although Minnan is not a vassal king, the separatist situation is obvious. Moreover, after such an incident, it's reasonable for the emperor to punish Minnan."
Qiao Ye thought for a long time and then looked at Ping Xinian. "If that's the case, your Ping family will also be the first to bear the brunt."
"So I've come to discuss with you, my lord. We're husband and wife now, and this is our own business," Ping Xinian said coquettishly.
She knew how to please Qiao Ye, but she despised it very much. Now she had no choice but to do so.
Just dealing with Ghost Floating Mountain was already giving her a headache. If Yi Qing and Xiao Jinghan came back alive, they would surely come after her. Even if Xiao Jinghan had no evidence of the assassination, he wouldn't tolerate her.
"It seems you've already made up your mind," Qiao Ye put his arm around Ping Xinian.
"It's my duty to relieve you of your worries, my lord."
Yi Qing was already prepared. If it weren't for Wu Min's eagerness to see her in - laws, she wouldn't have been in such a hurry to return to the capital. After all, no one knew what would happen to Xiao Jinghan even if they returned to the capital.
Even with the emperor's care, without the head of the family, it would be good if others didn't take advantage of the situation. At most, they would just show sympathy.
But the two children were in the capital, and she couldn't keep delaying.
"Write to me when you arrive in the capital. If you encounter any troubles in the capital, you can come to the Southern Border at any time," Zi Su saw Yi Qing off outside the capital.
"Whoever makes me unhappy will pay for it," Yi Qing said confidently. "Don't worry. When have I ever treated myself badly?"
Zi Su believed this, but sometimes one couldn't help oneself. Even in her position, there were times when she was helpless. "Anyway, you must tell me if anything happens."
"Okay," Yi Qing readily agreed.
"Don't worry. I'll escort them out of the Southern Border. Once they're in the Great Jin, no one will dare to touch them," King Zhen promised.
Zi Su was still a bit worried.
Although Xiang Beizheng was dead, the people who had joined hands with him were still alive. Moreover, she was carrying so many pieces of evidence. Some people wouldn't let them return smoothly.
"We're leaving," Yi Qing waved.
Watching Yi Qing leave, Zi Su was still a bit worried, but with her current status, she couldn't escort Yi Qing back.
King Zhen rode his horse beside Yi Qing's carriage. "Please speak well of me in front of the emperor when you get back."
"You didn't give the emperor any face by becoming a son - in - law. What can I say?"
"Zi Su is the Southern Border's empress. I can't marry her back to the Great Jin," King Zhen said helplessly. "You know the emperor's character. He only cares about interests. What can I do?"
Yi Qing smiled. It was really not easy to make that dog - emperor lose face, unless...
"Okay, I'll speak for you when I get back, but don't expect too good a result," Yi Qing agreed for Zi Su's sake.
"I thank you in advance," King Zhen said happily.
This time, the Great Jin helped the Southern Border's empress quell the rebellion and ascend the throne. The Southern Border's empress made peace with the Great Jin. Moreover, with Xiao Jinghan involved, Zi Su sent people to escort them back in a grand manner to prevent anyone from harming Xiao Jinghan.
Those mountain bandits definitely wouldn't dare to attack Xiao Jinghan. If the Qiao family did something to Xiao Jinghan, it would be openly going against the court, and they surely wouldn't dare. So there were fewer people who could harm Xiao Jinghan.
The border officials were obviously rather negligent. Even after Yi Qing showed Xiao Jinghan's token, they still insisted on a search.
"This is an escort team from the Southern Border. Your actions are disrespectful to the Southern Border. Aren't you afraid of ruining the relationship between the two countries?" Lu Tianxun thought they were doing it on purpose.
"This is a regulation from above. We're just following orders," the squad leader said and was about to search Wu Min.
Wu Min stretched out her hand, and a centipede crawled out. The squad leader jumped back in fright and drew his sword. The secret guard beside Yi Qing directly beheaded the squad leader.
"This man intended to assassinate a first - rank general of the Great Jin. He deserved to die," Yi Qing's eyes swept over them. "All of you have been questioning General Xiao's identity and showing disdain for the friendship between the Great Jin and the Southern Border. I have reason to suspect that you have ulterior motives and are trying to provoke a war between the two countries."
Hearing Yi Qing's words, the others secretly glanced at each other and lowered their heads without saying a word.
Even if it was an order from above, they didn't dare to confront General Xiao, who was the God of War of the Great Jin.
"Get out of the way!" Yi Qing looked at those people.
Another squad leader quickly came over to salute. "Madam Xiao, please calm down. Minnan has been unstable recently. We're doing this for your own good. If you really force your way through and something happens, we won't be able to take responsibility."
"So you know what might happen," Yi Qing looked at them.