Sure enough, early the next morning, Liu Yun, the Minister of the Supreme Court, led the case - handling staff of the Supreme Court and rushed to Qishan on horseback. After Sikong Ting received Liu Yun at Yushan Palace, he immediately ordered everyone to return to the capital, leaving only Liu Zhen, Liu Yun and their subordinates to continue the investigation.
Since Liu Zhen stayed in Qishan with a team of men, on the way back, the Third Prince, Sikong Chen, temporarily took over Liu Zhen's duties and was responsible for the safety of the entire team.
Although Sikong Chen, the Third Prince, was two years younger than Sikong Ting, he was already a battle - hardened general. He had just returned to the capital recently because Sikong Ting had forced him to marry, and he would stay in the capital until the end of this year before returning to Hetao.
He was a military general. When he rode past Qin Huaiqiu's carriage in his armor, Qin Huaiqiu couldn't take his eyes off him.
"He's so handsome," Qin Huaiqiu murmured.
Qin Lan smiled and said, "I also thought the young master was very handsome when he led the troops back then."
"Really?" Qin Huaiqiu smiled with his eyes almost shut and said, "But I still think I'm far inferior to him. I'm much shorter than him."
Qin Lan said, "The young master hasn't fully grown yet, but it should be soon. The master even told me to prepare more nutritious food for you."
Qin Huaiqiu snorted and said, "Don't I get enough rich food in the palace?"
Qin Lan tapped his head and said, "You can't eat that kind of food every day. You need a balanced diet. By the way, the young master has never liked vegetables. Don't think I didn't see you deliberately throwing them away every time."
Qin Huaiqiu slapped her hand away and said, "No real man eats vegetables."
"Real men don't eat vegetables? What a fallacy," Qin Lan said. "You need to eat vegetables to grow healthily."
"I..." Qin Huaiqiu suddenly remembered the morning when Sikong Ting had slept with him in his arms. The heat in his crotch still made his heart race. He didn't know if it was because he was growing up. He wanted to ask Qin Lan, but then he thought that she was a woman after all, so it would be inappropriate to ask her. It would be better to ask Nie Rong.
"By the way, the emperor didn't come today," Qin Lan murmured. "I thought the emperor would come straight to you this morning."
Qin Huaiqiu snorted and said, "It's better that he didn't come. I can enjoy some peace. It would be annoying if he came."
"Young master," Qin Lan cleared her throat. After hesitating for a while, she sat down next to Qin Huaiqiu, leaned close to his ear and said, "I think... the emperor might like you a bit?"
Without even thinking, Qin Huaiqiu replied, "Come on. Isn't he really annoyed with me?"
"But that was before," Qin Lan sighed, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Think about his recent attitude towards you."
Qin Huaiqiu asked in confusion, "His attitude towards me has always been so erratic. I'm used to it."
Qin Lan said in frustration, "Then why did he kiss you?"
Qin Huaiqiu was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion, "Wasn't it because he couldn't do that, so he just found someone to have a taste?"
Qin Lan slapped her thigh in anger and said, "Then why did he choose you specifically?"
Qin Huaiqiu froze. He stared at Qin Lan. His eyes were first filled with shock, then turned to disbelief, and finally even carried a hint of mockery.
"He likes me?" Qin Huaiqiu repeated.
Qin Lan nodded.
"It's so ironic," Qin Huaiqiu said with a bitter smile. He felt a strange feeling in his heart, just a dull ache. "After I find Qin Huailian, I never want to see him again."
"But the emperor will definitely pay more attention to the young master. That's what I'm worried about," Qin Lan sighed.
Qin Huaiqiu said, "Don't worry." Actually, he had already come up with a plan.
If Sikong Ting finally found out about this, he would take all the blame himself and would never involve the Qin family. Anyway, he only had one life. If Sikong Ting wanted it, he could just give it to him. As for the palace route he had asked Qin Lan to explore, it was a precaution in case something went wrong and for Qin Lan to escape.
If things went wrong, he would write a farewell letter, cut off all ties with the Qin family, and clearly state in the letter that he was the sole perpetrator. After all, no matter whether Sikong Ting believed his farewell letter or not, he wouldn't dare to do anything to Qin Feng, who had 100,000 troops guarding the border. In this way, the entire Qin Mansion could be spared.
Thinking of this, Qin Huaiqiu gritted his teeth secretly.
Qin Lan was completely unaware. She was looking out of the window at the scenery, waiting for the right moment to slip out and buy the things Qin Huaiqiu had asked her to buy.
To ensure safety, they set off as soon as the sky started to turn light, and Sikong Chen required the entire team not to stop. Since the emperor had been assassinated, everyone had lost their interest in the outing. So, they rode all the way at full speed and arrived at the palace that night.
On the way, when passing through a town, Qin Lan bought some night - suits and some medicines. Just in case, she also bought some short knives and flying darts.
After the team entered the palace, they were supposed to go back to their respective palaces. However, Qin Huaiqiu pulled Qin Lan and found the sedan chair of the Virtuous Concubine.
"Sister Virtuous Concubine," Qin Huaiqiu ran a few steps forward and shouted with a smile.
When the Virtuous Concubine heard Qin Huaiqiu's voice, she quickly lifted the curtain. Seeing him standing outside the sedan chair smiling at her, she waved and said, "Come in quickly."
Qin Huaiqiu wasn't polite with her. He responded and got into her sedan chair.
The Virtuous Concubine looked at him, sized him up and down, nodded and said with a smile, "Huaiqiu, don't worry. Everyone here is on our side."
"Brother knows," Qin Huaiqiu said with a smile. "I haven't thanked Sister Shiyu for helping me out last night."
The Virtuous Concubine covered her mouth and laughed, "You guessed it?"
Qin Huaiqiu smiled happily. He leaned close to the Virtuous Concubine and nudged her shoulder with his arm and said, "How could I not know? After all, there can't be such a coincidence. But, Sister Shiyu, were you really feeling unwell or just faking it?"
The Virtuous Concubine shook her head and said, "It was a lie. I heard that the emperor got angry that night and then went to your place. I thought something was wrong. So I asked Yu'er to go to your place as soon as possible."
Qin Huaiqiu felt a warm feeling in his heart and said, "Thank you."
"Don't be so polite," the Virtuous Concubine rubbed his head and said gently with a smile, "Where's Lian'er? Haven't you found her yet?"
Qin Huaiqiu spat and said, "No." He smiled and continued, "Let's not talk about this. I just asked Qin Lan to find the imperial chefs and tell them to prepare good food and wine later. I'm going to treat Sister Shiyu well tonight."
The Virtuous Concubine covered her mouth and laughed and said, "Okay."
Qin Huaiqiu was in a good mood, so he started chatting with the Virtuous Concubine about the past. They talked and laughed all the way as the sedan chair headed towards Zhaohe Palace.
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study in Taihe Hall.
Wu Qiuyang, the Minister of the Ministry of War, and the Third Prince Sikong Chen were sitting on the stools opposite Sikong Ting. The three of them were staring at an urgent secret document in front of them, and their faces were very grim.
Wu Qiuyang was an impatient man. After receiving this secret document, he didn't even have time to take off his armor. He directly rode his horse to the palace. On the way, he met the Third Prince Sikong Chen. The two of them discussed it and then went straight to the Imperial Study to see Sikong Ting.
This secret document was sent back in a hurry by Qin Feng from the border. After Sikong Ting read it, his face turned ashen and he pursed his lips without saying a word.
"Your Majesty!" Wu Qiuyang was full of enthusiasm. He stood up and walked in front of Sikong Ting, bowed and said, "I'm not very capable, but the dog thieves from Loulan are asking to send an envoy mission to the capital at this critical moment. They must have ulterior motives. I think that since a great war is imminent, we shouldn't trust them."
Sikong Ting looked at Sikong Chen with a gloomy face and said, "Third brother, what's your opinion?"
Sikong Chen shook his head and said, "I've been stationed in Hetao all along and am not familiar with the Loulan army. But General Qin Feng has been facing off against Loulan for decades. He must have very strong experience and foresight. I think it's better to let the envoy mission enter the capital as General Qin Feng proposed."
When Wu Qiuyang heard this, regardless of the fact that the other person was the Third Prince, he directly scolded, "Your Highness may be thinking too simply! The dog thieves from Loulan have been coveting our Dacheng border for a long time. Moreover, there are the Xiongnu eyeing them from behind. Now General Qin Feng already has 200,000 troops confronting them at the Protectorate General's Office. In my opinion, General Qin Feng was able to defeat them badly ten years ago. Now, we shouldn't be afraid of them even more."
Sikong Ting interrupted him and said, "But as you said, there are the Xiongnu behind the Loulan people. Since they want to negotiate, there must be a reason why they can't act rashly for the time being."
Wu Qiuyang was stunned for a moment and asked, "Then what does Your Majesty mean?"
Sikong Ting said in a deep voice, "When two countries are at war, envoys are not to be killed. Let's see what they have to say when they come to the capital. We'll stay put and it's best to respond to changes with calmness."
Wu Qiuyang said again, "But Your Majesty, they have already tried to assassinate you once in Fengquan Hot Spring. If we let the Loulan dog thieves enter the capital, I'm afraid for Your Majesty's safety..."
"It's okay," Sikong Ting said. "Third brother will temporarily take over Liu Zhen's position and command the imperial guards. In addition, I'm worried that Loulan will collude with the Xiongnu and invade our territory from multiple directions. So we mustn't slack off in Hetao and the two places bordering the Xiongnu in the northwest. Now, Dacheng already has 200,000 troops at the Protectorate General's Office. What about the other two places?"
Wu Qiuyang quickly said, "The Hetao area is temporarily under the command of General Han Yushan, with about 50,000 troops. In the northwest, it's still General Zhu Bu, with only more than 30,000 troops."
Sikong Chen said, "The Hetao Plain has abundant food and supplies. In recent years, I've also strengthened the farmland reform, and the reserve troops can reach more than 100,000."
Sikong Ting nodded and said in a deep voice, "Good. Minister Wu, tell General Zhu Bu to take good defensive measures. Also, tell Qin Feng that I've approved the entry of the Loulan envoy mission into the capital."