Yin Zhu keenly sensed that Ying Xue was hiding something from her, but she didn't pry, instead changing the subject. "His Highness the Prince of Qin rarely visits the manor these days. On the other hand, Minister Wen comes here quite often."
"Miss and the Prince of Qin are likely at an end," Ying Xue sighed. The Prince of Qin was involved in the general's death, and with miss's temperament, she probably wouldn't forgive him.
"What do you mean?" Yin Zhu had a vague premonition but didn't know the reason. While cleaning the room, she found a phoenix bracelet in the cabinet that Xiao Man used to wear on her wrist. That bracelet was a gift from the Prince of Qin, and miss cherished it greatly. Taking it off now must have a purpose.
"The Prince of Qin..." Ying Xue frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "He might be related to the general's demise."
Yin Zhu's face changed. "How could this be?"
"Hush, don't make a sound!" Ying Xue quickly said. She hadn't forgotten that there was a maid sent by the Prince of Qin in this courtyard. Even though Xi Yue had repeatedly stated that once she was by Xiao Man's side, she belonged to Xiao Man, Ying Xue was still wary of her.
"What exactly is going on?" Yin Zhu lowered her voice. How could the Prince of Qin be involved in the general's death? After all, the general's death brought no benefit to the Prince of Qin. Was the Prince of Qin out of his mind to have harmed the general?
"I'm not entirely sure how it happened, but the Prince of Qin is indeed connected to the general's death." Ying Xue gestured towards Xiao Man's room. "Miss has been troubled by this matter recently."
Yin Zhu looked towards the room with some concern. "Are you sure?"
"If there wasn't proof, would miss distance herself from His Highness the Prince of Qin?" Ying Xue sighed. "I originally thought miss and His Highness the Prince of Qin would become a perfect couple, but it seems I was mistaken."
"Didn't you always favor Minister Wen more?" Yin Zhu retorted. Ying Xue always said that Minister Wen was gentle, refined, sincere, and an excellent candidate for a husband. Now she was saying she favored the Prince of Qin.
"I do favor Minister Wen, but miss likes His Highness the Prince of Qin."
Yin Zhu tapped Ying Xue's forehead. "You're so young, do you even know what liking someone is? You don't even know if the person you like likes you back, and you have the energy to worry about miss's affairs. I think you should worry about your own matters first."
"I don't know, do you know?" Ying Xue retorted. Yin Zhu wasn't the oldest, but she was the most sensible person in Shuiyue Small Abode, earning Xiao Man's trust. When Qiu Tong was here, she was also highly trusted by Xiao Man, but who would have thought Qiu Tong was a spy for Lan Yue.
"I know, miss is unhappy," Yin Zhu said faintly, looking at the still dazed Xiao Man. "Especially recently, miss's worries have become heavier, and this is not a good sign."
"When miss is heavy-hearted, she's usually thinking about how to scheme against someone," Ying Xue said with an understanding look. "I just don't know who the unlucky person will be."
"How can you speak about your own miss like that?" Yin Zhu disagreed. "She doesn't look like she's scheming at all when she's like this."
Ying Xue patted Yin Zhu's shoulder and said in a mature tone, "Yin Zhu, you're still too young. How can we understand miss's thoughts? Whenever she smiles gently or is lost in thought, she's thinking about how to scheme against someone. You'll understand when you see more. Our miss is not an ordinary young lady from a sheltered household. She would never be careless about matters due to romantic feelings."
Qu Yang returned to the envoy's palace and immediately began packing his things. He couldn't stay here, absolutely not, or he would end up like Qian Yi Han and the others!
"My lord, what are you doing?"
"Packing."
"His Majesty Yu Sheng wants us to stay until after the spring hunt before leaving. There are still a few days until the spring hunt. Isn't it too early to be packing now?" the guard asked, confused.
"We're leaving at dawn. We can't stay here!" Qu Yang said without hesitation. He finally understood why Qian Yi Han met a headless end the moment he entered the imperial capital of Yu Sheng, why Yun Qi's spies in Yu Sheng were uprooted. Now he understood it all!
"Issue an order for them to pack their belongings immediately. We'll be out of the city at dawn!" Qu Yang commanded. However, after waiting for a long time, no one answered. Instead, a sword was placed at his neck.
Qu Yang swallowed, his heart trembling. Had his end come?
Qu Yang carefully turned around and looked at the approaching person. The person was dressed in black, wearing a Rakshasa mask. He had seen this mask countless times before. The leader of the Crimson Feather Iron Cavalry, Zhan Tian Que, wore such a Rakshasa mask.
"You are General Zhan."
Zhan Tian Que pressed down on the sword in his hand, and a bloodline immediately appeared on Qu Yang's neck. Blood beads seeped out, quickly dyeing his collar red.
"Trying to escape?"
Qu Yang steadied his mind. "The court is unstable. His Majesty has summoned me back urgently."
"Is that so?" Zhan Tian Que withdrew his sword and produced a token, placing it on the table. "This is an order. You must stay until after the spring hunt before you can leave."
Qu Yang's gaze fell on the small golden token, and he felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, making him shiver. "What does she want to do?"
"That's the wrong question," Zhan Tian Que said slowly. "You should ask, what does she want *you* to do."
Qu Yang gritted his teeth. "What does she want me to do?"
Zhan Tian Que's lips curved into a sinister arc. "Naturally, to do what you ought to do."
"I don't quite understand."
"You'll understand soon enough. Until then..." Zhan Tian Que flicked his finger, and his long sword was drawn about an inch. "If your men step out of the city gates, you die!"
A blatant threat. Qu Yang understood that Zhan Tian Que's threat was not to be taken lightly. If his men dared to step out of the imperial city of Yu Sheng, they would surely die on the spot!
Qu Yang didn't answer. Zhan Tian Que stood up to leave. A sharp glint flashed in Qu Yang's eyes. He suddenly attacked Zhan Tian Que, but before he could touch the mask on Zhan Tian Que's face, his wrist was grabbed. Zhan Tian Que delivered a fierce elbow strike to his stomach, causing him to double over in pain like a shrimp.
Zhan Tian Que raised his palm and efficiently knocked Qu Yang unconscious. "As cunning as ever. If you weren't still useful, I would have sent you to join your good brothers long ago!"
Qu Yang woke up from a nightmare, finding himself in bed. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a dream. Fortunately, it was just a dream. However, the scene in the dream was too realistic, and he almost believed it was real. But when he got up and found a crimson feather arrow placed by his bedside, his whole world turned upside down!