CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 242: DANGER

It’s dark, and many people in the courtyard have already gone to rest.

Seeing Xie Liangchen step out of the room, Chang Yue and Chang An hurriedly came forward.

Xie Liangchen looked at the two brothers and first asked Chang An, "How’s it outside? Any news?"

Chang An replied, "Not yet, but there should be news soon from Mingzhou, there’s no movement from Master yet."

Xie Liangchen hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is there no other way to investigate?"

Chang An felt that Miss Xie was referring to Master.

Xie Liangchen continued before Chang An could speak, "If it’s inconvenient, then forget it, let’s wait a bit longer!"

How could they let Miss Xie worry like this? Chang An had always been smart and perceptive. Seeing Miss Xie frown, he instinctively said, "I’ll arrange it right away."

Seeing Miss Xie’s eyebrows smooth out, Chang An felt his response was correct, at least it could make Miss Xie’s heart more at ease.

After sending Chang An away, Xie Liangchen looked at Chang Yue, "Why are both of you here? Why don’t you take turns to rest?"

Chang Yue’s temperament was opposite to Chang An’s. Chang Yue never learned his brother’s craftiness; what he thought in his heart would directly come out of his mouth, which had cost him many times. To maintain a prominent position among the household generals, he chose the best way, which was to say nothing.

Of course, there were times when he was asked persistently. Not knowing how to respond, Chang Yue would just stare into the person’s eyes with tightly pursed lips. Most subordinates, seeing him like this, dared not entangle further and went to discern their leader’s thoughts on their own.

In short, Chang An had told Chang Yue to be sparing with words, and Chang Yue executed it quite well. People around him grew accustomed to his profound and mysterious look and always felt he was more imposing than Chang An.

But now, Chang Yue couldn’t use this look on Miss Xie and let her ponder by herself; otherwise, when Master returned, even if he sewed his mouth shut, Master would still find him obtrusive.

Chang Yue had no choice but to honestly say, "I can’t rest easy leaving just one person here."

Xie Liangchen said, "Haven’t the assassins been captured? Judging by the time, things should be almost settled in Mingzhou."

Chang Yue answered, "I just fear there might be others."

"We’ve been watching the people Princess Jiahui placed for a long time, there shouldn’t be any problems," Xie Liangchen said, "I have some matters at the warehouse, accompany me back there!"

Chang Yue’s mind barely had any time to turn before immediately obstructing, "No, even if you’ve got Princess Jiahui’s people covered, there may still be other spies."

"Who?" Xie Liangchen asked, "Liao people?"

Miss Xie seemed to say it casually, and Chang Yue didn’t have Chang An’s ability to gloss over the situation. He paused, then honestly nodded.

Xie Liangchen frowned, "Lin Xu is linked with the Liao people, and this time Miss Lin went to see Princess Jiahui, there might be Liao people stirring things behind the scenes." Of course, they might act through Cai Rong’s hand...

In any case, for such a big affair, there are certainly Liao people secretly watching. Now that everything has settled, Song Xian doesn’t have to hide anymore, bringing people directly to besiege the mountain bandits, would the Liao people take advantage of this on Song Xian?

Xie Liangchen said, "General Song didn’t bring many men, neither you nor Chang An are by his side, what if he encounters Liao people while dealing with the mountain bandits?"

Chang Yue hesitated momentarily, "The Xingzhou camp isn’t under our guard; Master can’t bring too many people here. Although those Liao assassins have some skills, Miss don’t worry, Master has encountered them more than once or twice lately, he has some understanding of them, and as long as things are fine here, he won’t be distracted."

"More than once or twice?" Xie Liangchen looked at Chang Yue, "Since when did it start?"

Chang Yue realized he had said more than he should, Miss Xie asked the beginning, and he said it all from start to finish. He pursed his lips, "Since the epidemic in Zhenzhou."

After the Zhenzhou epidemic, one of Xiao Xingzong’s Thirteen Grand Protectors was lost, and Song Xian sent people to investigate Xiao Xingzong... Thus, in Xiao Xingzong’s eyes, Song Xian became a thorn in his side.

Xiao Xingzong, on one hand, was stirring trouble using Cai Rong and others, while, on the other hand, sent people looking for opportunities to assassinate Song Xian.

When Song Xian was in Zhenzhou and Zhaozhou, everything was fine, surrounded by his own men. Once in Xingzhou, he didn’t bring many, and while investigating Princess Jiahui with the Du Family, during distracted moments, the Liao assassins hidden in shadow took advantage.

Song Xian anticipated this but worried that the Liao people would target her too, so he kept Chang An and Chang Yue behind.

Xie Liangchen looked at Chang Yue, "You take people to help Master."

When Chang An returned, this was the statement he overheard from Xie Liangchen.

"Refusing?" Xie Liangchen said, "Then I’ll take you all together."

Chang An looked at Chang Yue, upon just seeing Chang Yue’s uncomfortable face, knew his big brother with the loose tongue had confessed everything.

"Miss," Chang An said, "There’ll be news soon..."

Xie Liangchen didn’t speak to Chang An and stepped outside.

Seeing things turn south, Chang An quickly changed his words, "I’ll take people, let big brother protect Miss, and once there’s news, I’ll immediately send someone to inform." He hoped Master wouldn’t want to kill him when he saw him.

Chang An led people away, Xie Liangchen looked at Chang Yue, "Let’s wait for news in the east room."

Chang Yue responded.

Xie Liangchen said, "Since there’s currently nothing, I’ll brew some tea and we’ll chat."

Upon hearing the three words "we’ll chat," Chang Yue’s heart couldn’t help but shiver, his whole body tensed like a board. In truth, he didn’t need Miss Xie’s attention; as long as Miss Xie treated him like a tree or a stone as before, it’d be fine.

Xie Liangchen said, "Come on!"

Chang Yue painfully moved his steps.

The two sat down in the room, Xie Liangchen placed hot tea in front of Chang Yue, "What means do Liao people use for assassination? Have you caught any of them?"

Chang Yue said, "I’ve always been by Miss’s side; it was my brother who said they caught some, but they all died... They shoot cold arrows, are skilled in poisoning, and are pervasive. Master first encountered them on Baimaling, and recently in the Zhaozhou army, he hasn’t seen their traces."

Xie Liangchen said, "Xiao Xingzong’s sudden actions only because during the epidemic one of his Thirteen Grand Protectors was caught?"

Chang Yue shook his head, "It might also be because Master placed spies in the new city."

Xiao Xingzong perceived the threat from Song Xian and naturally would do everything to counter Song Xian. Ultimately, it was all linked to her; Song Xian sent people to the new city to trace her parents.

Xie Liangchen took a deep breath and looked at Chang Yue, "Would you tell me exactly what happened once there’s news from the mountain bandits?"

Chang Yue said, "Yes, but if the message is vague, it means something is hidden, I can tell."

Hidden means things aren’t going well, or someone’s injured.

Xie Liangchen said, "If such a situation arises, we’ll immediately set off."

Chang Yue replied, having inadvertently said too much, now seeming only able to follow Miss Xie’s lead.

"Go prepare," Xie Liangchen said, "I’ll wait here."