The inspection team was on its way back to the Royal Palace with Qi’s twenty-members’ diplomatic mission, of which Shi Rongyao was the envoy who took the lead. Shi Rongyao had a lean figure. Unlike those gentle civil officials, he was icy and intimidating. It seemed Sima Ray sent him for something.
Leng Changxi got down from his horse. “What do you think of him?” He passed Leng Wu and asked him.
Leng Wu pondered a while and said, “Light skills, not bad. The skill of long knives may be excellent. The gap between general and him was too wide for him to catch up, even though he had been given enough time.”
“Indeed.” Leng Changxi made the same judgment, “How could a person whose martial skills were far below me react at the same time just like me? Plus, he stood further, which meant he sensed that accident faster than me. Those facts contradict our previous cognition. Most importantly, Nuan noticed the approaching assassination and informed me, and then who informed him?”
“You mean…”
Leng Changxi shook his head and continued, “These killers were too weak, weren’t they? Insurrection just happened in the Yellow Flag Army camp. Guard of the emperor’s army is for sure to be strengthened. That was not a proper time for assassination. For assassins, being caught meant death for holding the secret. Not only were they caught without effort, but their tokens were also easily found. Tokens are related to their identities. It is suspicious that they didn’t hide them.” Leng Changxi puckered his lip, gazing at Qin Yunuan, “They lacked the passion of killing. That was the reason why Nuan sensed it, but I didn’t. On the one hand, Nuan’s intuition was a surprise. On the other, it also meant Jing Donghua was not their target this time.”
“Maybe they mistook the target?” Leng Wu stroked his head. He felt uncertain of such an absurd excuse.
“No, the assassination was not their intention,” Leng Changxi got his mind clear, “Third-rate martial skills, messy course of action. They were scapegoats intended to be caught for misdirecting our attention. In their plans, His Majesty would lay off his guard to Shi Rongyao. Also, the tense relations between West Xia and North Di will be off-balance. This conflict will replace the one between West Xia and Qi to be the major one. Five killers’ lives, a good result in sights. Sima Rui was planning something effective.”
“We shall let His Majesty know as soon as possible.” said Leng Wu anxiously.
Leng Changxi lowered his voice and looked around as if he was nonchalant. Around him were his trusted members. Qin Yunuan, Maner and Ting Xue stood beside him. A eunuch was leading the way for Qi’s mission from the other side. Seeing the mission as hungry wolves, Leng Wu frowned.
“Calm down. His Majesty must have seen through Shi Rongyao’s scheme.” Leng Changxi’s frown relieved. “According to traditions, the envoy shall present himself in front of His Majesty first, then the mission. Yet this time, His Majesty hurriedly granted a meeting to the whole mission. Shi Rongyao believes His Majesty has fallen into the trap to consult Qi’s mission on how to solve the tense relations between West Xia and North Di. Still, surely a carpet sweep is out of his imagination.”
“Is that true?” Qin Yunuan leaned forward. Members of Qi’s mission were sharp and astute as if they were plotting in mind with every pace along the path in the Royal Palace. The eunuch kept bowing and scraping all the way like he was treating his ancestors. He only showed the flattering face in front of Jing Donghua.
All of a sudden, Qin Yunuan was stunned. The eunuch’s forearm was a little bit stiff when he raised his hands to invite the mission to go. At one glance, she realized everything. She saw the knife being tied to his forearm.
“Let’s visit my mother in Xihe Palace.” Seeing the situation was under his prediction, Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan walked hand in hand in the direction of Xihe Palace. Though Bai Shishi had received a message of their return before, she was astonished to see the presence of Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. Bai Shishi leaned forward and took a glance behind them with expectations. But immediately disappointment emerged on her face.
“Your Grace, His Royal Highness is accompanying the envoy from Qi. He may come to see you later.” Qin Yunuan understood Bai Shishi’s love and worry. Jing Yuanxiao and Bai Shishi were separated by military troops’ hardness and the Royal Palace’s changes. Though everything was under their control, separation brought uncertainty to life or death. Jing Yuanxiao and Bai Shishi’s relationship was further than giving each other a hand. Affection remained.
Bai Shishi’s worry faded. She asked in surprise, “Why did they visit West Xia without any reason?”
“I guess those death killers alerted Sima Ray. He is afraid of the situation in West Xia being out of control. He wants to stop us sending troops to Qi.”
“Killers?” That was out of Bai Shishi’s prediction. She ordered dozens of guards to protect Jing Yuanxiao, as well as Leng Changxi and Qin Yunuan. The military camp was guarded. How did Qi’ killers sneak in?
“Given that Jing Yuanchu and Sima Ray were on the same boat.” Leng Changxi sneered, “But this time, a death blow is waiting for them.”
The sunlight warmed and lightened the golden glazed tiles on Xihe Palace’s roof. Here, white plum flowers were planted either around the corner or in the middle of the yard. That means everywhere. The sweet aroma of plum flowers surrounded them through their way. Sunset warmed their body. At the thought of the bloody turmoil at the military camp, Qin Yunuan and Leng Changxi breathed a sigh of relief. Though the experience was exciting, Leng Changxi wouldn’t put Qin Yunuan at risk for a second time from the bottom of his heart.
Bai Shishi asked more details about what had happened in the military camp and led them to a quiet sideway. For the sake of security, Bai Shishi settled Elder Princess down in her own palace. At the same time, Bai Shishi left life traces in where Elder Princess used to live and arranged the meal delivery as usual. No one would figure out Elder Princess was living in a private yard of the Xihe Palace.
“I arrange servants to use your prescription to take care of Elder Princess. They used your potion to clean her body and stimulate her acupoint. The other day, she opened her eyes. Recently I visit her daily. This morning, she could speak and said thanks to me. Madam Leng, you are a miracle!”
Qin Yunuan yielded her head and smiled sweetly, “Your Grace overpraised me.”
They stopped in front of the door. The moment Bai Shishi called her maid to open that door, Leng Changxi heard a strange sound from inside the room. He kicked the door without hesitation. A man in black tied Elder Princess to his body with a bedsheet. Seeing Leng Changxi broke into the room, he went out of the window and ran away.
Leng Changxi went after him without a word.
Though Qin Yunuan had inner Qi, she was unable to exert light skills. She enjoined Leng Shuang and Yuanyang, “We cannot let him slip away. You two, besiege him from the east side and west side.” She then instructed Ting Xue and Manner, “You two, go messaging eunuch and maids. Tell them a thief is in the Royal Palace, and now the crown princess orders to shut every palace gate.”
Qin Yunuan gave orders calmly. Bai Shishi, who usually in command of the situation, was now, however, unsettled. All the time, she had been confident in looking after Elder Princess. Bai Shishi settled her in a private yard and fabricated the life traces in Elder Princess’s previous palace as if she was still living there. Exposure? How could it be? As an exchange for protecting Elder Princess, Qin Yunuan defended Jing Yuanxiao and exposed Jing Yuanchu’s scheme. She did what she had promised perfectly, but Bai Shishi failed.
“Impossible, that’s impossible.” Bai Shishi slid down against the door. Panic and anxiety filled in her eyes.
“Calm down,” Qin Yunuan lifted her up, “Changxi’s light skills were the best in Qi. That man was carrying Elder Princess. He wasn’t able to run at a fast speed. Everything will be fine.”
Meanwhile, a conversation was carried out in the central hall of West Xia, just like reefs were lurking underneath the calm sea. Jing Donghua was sitting on his dragon throne with his face solemn. The same expressions were also shown on West Xia’s courtiers’ faces. Shi Rongyao presented his suggestions one by one to Jing Donghua with his head high. The firmness in his tone sounded like he was making a requirement, not requesting to the emperor.
What he said was no other than North Di’s past aggressions. Significantly he exaggerated the assassination this time. Shi Rongyao was so specialized in lobbying. If Jing Donghua failed to see through his scheme at first, he would be swayed by Shi Rongyao’s utterance undeniably.
Shi Rongyao kept saying. Jing Donghua looked as if he was listening carefully. When he thought Jing Donghua was persuaded, Jing waved his hand. A row of maid of honor came in, with trays at their hands. On each tray presented a cup of tea. The cup was warm. Apparently, the tea was newly made.
“Queshe Tea, West Xia’s specialty. Long time talks have made everyone exhausted. Let’s have a tea break and continue later.”
Shi Rongyao darted a look at the cup of tea. Alerts raised in his mind.
“Thanks for your kindness, Your Majesty. But we only hope that Your Majesty can reconsider the coalition between Qi and West Xia. We must force North Di to pay the price for its bygones.”
Shi Rongyao took a tough stance as if he could turn over the table at any time. There was no need for Jing Donghua to be polite anymore. He slightly tilted his head and also laughed in a stern voice, “No, you have to drink it all. You are guests from far away. To invite our honorable guests to have a cup of hot tea is West Xia’s traditional hospitality. We can’t break the rules passed from our ancestors.”
Noises came outside when arguments in the hall were about to be fueled. A man in black broke in with someone covered by a cotton cloth in his arms. He unfolded the cotton cloth. The person was no other than Elder Princess.
