“Wait! Mister Xu, do you really think I’m acting out of malice? I’m just trying to save your life. Even if nothing happens here in Liuhe County, once you reach Jinling Prefecture in the Southern Province, you’ll still be in danger!”
Xu Ping’an halted in his tracks, frowning slightly as he listened to Qian Guoshun’s words behind him.
From what Qian Guoshun said, it seemed someone in the Central Court wanted the Zhennan King dead. Normally, this would be bad news for the current stability of Great Qi.
So why would those behind Qian Guoshun want Li Yuer dead?
To eliminate the feudal lords?
Impossible. Even if they wanted to clear out the feudal lords, no one would dare move directly against someone like the Zhennan King.
That’s almost like pulling a tiger’s tooth out of its mouth!
Once the Zhennan King recovers, everyone who dared to move against him would be doomed.
Besides, the Zhennan King and the Prince of the Frontier are on good terms.
If something really happened to the Zhennan King, the Prince of the Frontier wouldn’t just stand by.
And the ministers wouldn’t get off lightly either.
The royal family may kill its ministers, but if those ministers strike back, they face the royal tiger’s bloodthirsty jaws.
Judging from this, Qian Guoshun was probably being used by someone else.
Most likely, he’s just a pawn. The real target behind all this is Li Yuer’s death; without her, the Zhennan King would have no heirs.
That would be a huge blow to him.
Who benefits from the Zhennan King’s misfortune?
The princes!
Yes, only the princes. This is the perfect moment for them to strike against the Zhennan King.
Right now, the Zhennan King holds power in the court.
The Emperor has been poisoned and is unconscious.
Whoever administered the poison is unknown, but as long as the Zhennan King lives, none of the princes can seize power.
Even if the Zhennan King doesn’t care about the throne, just his presence is a huge threat to them.
Moreover, the Zhennan King currently holds power in Chao Ge.
If anything happens to the Emperor, the Zhennan King would gain complete control over Great Qi.
No prince wants to see that.
They killed the Zhennan King’s heir.
On one hand, it would provoke the Zhennan King’s wrath and spark open conflict between him and Left Prime Minister An Bulu.
With one being a leading minister and the other a powerful feudal lord, their clash would be like two tigers fighting — both sides would suffer, and the entire court would plunge into chaos and fear.
On the other hand, it cuts off the Zhennan King’s succession, preventing him from using the chaos to seize the throne.
That would be the perfect opening for the princes to take their chance.
Though these thoughts seemed to span a long time, in reality, only a few breaths had passed before Xu Ping’an had deduced this much.
Whether this was the truth or not, at least this was the most plausible explanation for now.
And those capable of secretly sowing discord between Left Prime Minister An Bulu and the Zhennan King, daring to strike at the Zhennan King’s heir—those were likely only the Crown Prince and the Third Prince Li Zhun.
They hadn’t even left Southern Province yet and were already tangled in court intrigue. If they reached Chao Ge, something could happen at any moment.
Well, whatever happens, let it be.
Since they had already left, there was no turning back.
“Qian Patriarch, you should think carefully about whether you want to be involved in this. As for everything else, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself. I will handle it.”
With that, Xu Ping’an no longer paid attention to the urgent calls behind him and strode out of the ancestral hall.
Just as he stepped outside, a panting young servant ran over from not far away.
“Whew~ whew~ Mister Xu, Old Master requests your presence.”
Xu Ping’an glanced back at the Qian Family Ancestral Hall.
This time, it wasn’t the Qian Family Patriarch impersonating someone else, was it?
“Lead the way.”
“Mister Xu, please follow me.”
After turning several corners, passing through a long corridor, and going through a moon gate, they finally arrived at the rear garden without any more wrong turns.
Qian Zhongyi was sitting in a pavilion, smiling warmly.
“I have failed to teach my son well, Young Master Xu. I hope you won’t blame an old man like me.”
“You’re too kind, Qian Lao. How could I ever have the right to blame you?”
Xu Ping’an smiled in response. Hearing this, Qian Zhongyi laughed heartily and pointed at him.
“You little trickster. You say you don’t blame me, but your words clearly mean the opposite.”
“Heh~ Qian Lao can see through me? Looks like I still have much to learn.”
“Oh, you! Enough with the little tricks. I understand perfectly. Rest assured, from here until you leave Liuhe County, you will be safe. Beyond that… I can no longer guarantee anything.”
“Thank you, Qian Lao.”
Xu Ping’an quickly raised his hand in a respectful salute. Since Qian Zhongyi dared to make such a promise, it was clear he had already sent people ahead.
At least from here until leaving Liuhe County, nothing serious should happen.
“Heh~ I hope your gratitude is sincere. My son… is a foolish man. He’s been used as a pawn without even realizing it and yet takes pride in it. If only one of my descendants were as clever as you, then I could truly rest easy.”
“Qian Lao is such a remarkable man, surely among your descendants there are a few wise ones. Perhaps if you look carefully, you might find someone worthy of training.”
“Enough, enough. You don’t need to flatter me. I know exactly what kind of descendants I have.”
After a pause, Qian Zhongyi suddenly raised the cup on the table.
“You, a physician, have forbidden me from drinking alcohol. Well then, I shall toast you with tea instead, to send you off. As for seeing you out, my legs won’t allow it.”
Xu Ping’an didn’t waste words and took a step forward to lift the other cup on the table, drinking it all at once.
“In that case, I will take my leave. Qian Lao, your illness still requires rest. For the next month, absolutely no alcohol.”
“All right, all right, I understand. Off you go.”
Xu Ping’an stopped talking, respectfully saluted Qian Zhongyi, and turned to leave.
Qian Zhongyi watched Xu Ping’an leave the garden, then let out a long sigh.
“What a pity~ Such a man, and yet he’s not from my Qian Family. Hmph! That bastard actually dared to act tough. From now on, revoke Qian Guoshun’s position as head of the family. He is to remain confined in the ancestral hall for six months as punishment. We will observe the results.”
After all, Qian Zhongyi could not bring himself to harm his own son despite his anger. Stripping Qian Guoshun of the family headship was already a severe punishment.
From now on, Qian Guoshun would no longer inherit the Qian Family.
Qian Zhongyi raised his tea cup, watching the tea stalk standing straight in the cup as he gazed toward the rising dawn.
“Boy, I hope you can make it through this journey safely. After all… you insisted on jumping headfirst into this big mess.”