After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

"It's alright, I have patience."

The atmosphere became subtly tense as soon as Qingyan said this.

Qin Yan looked at Qing Yan, who was sitting across from him with a relaxed posture but whose gaze kept falling on his younger sister beside him, and his displeasure rose up again.

No matter what happened to the Crown Prince, it didn't stop him from getting angry when he heard these words.

Judging from her sister's appearance, she has never thought about these things. Now that the Crown Prince has such thoughts, does he really have to treat her like a thief from now on?

But how can you guard against thieves for a thousand days?

He cleared his throat and spoke casually, "Your Highness is busy with many affairs of state. You should have a broad mind that can encompass the whole world. Perhaps you don't need to be too persistent about some things that don't have a clear outcome in the short term, lest you waste your energy."

He said this subtly, but the meaning was clear: My sister has no feelings for you, and as the Crown Prince, you should back down.

Qingyan picked up the cup of tea from the small table beside him: "That is not true. Governing a country requires perseverance, and dealing with people... also requires patience. Sincerity can move even the hardest heart."

"Some things can't be rushed, but they also... can't be given up on."

He deliberately paused slightly at the point of "treating people," his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Fang Nanzhi's profile.

Qin Yan sneered inwardly, his attitude becoming even sharper: "Your Highness has lofty ambitions; you are destined to rule the world and become a wise ruler. At that time, with three palaces and six courtyards, and three thousand beauties, why be fixated on one corner? The world is full of beautiful women, each with their own unique charm."

Qingyan's fingers tightened slightly as he held the teacup: "Of all the waters in the world, I only drink from one; even the most beautiful landscape cannot compare to what I long for."

His words were forceful and resounding, yet Fang Nanzhi, the focus of the heated verbal exchange, remained completely unaware.

Her attention had already been drawn to the sudden commotion outside the window and the dazzling display of jewels.

On the wide street, a long convoy of cars was slowly moving forward.

It was not an official procession, but a very grand affair, with elite guards clearing the way and protecting them from the front and back.

What truly caught the eye were the dozen or so heavily laden carriages themselves, and the goods they carried—

Under the sunlight, a nearly human-sized red coral tree on the first carriage shone brightly, its strange shape and rich color almost blinding.

On the second vehicle, several open rosewood boxes were stacked, filled with uncut gemstones of various colors: pigeon blood red, emerald, sapphire... reflecting a dazzling light under the sunlight.

The third vehicle protected a white jade Guanyin statue with a transparent glass cover. The jade was warm and flawless, the carving was exquisite, and the statue had a solemn appearance, as if it were radiating a holy halo.

The fourth one, the fifth one...

It might be a complete set of famous Yixing teapots, an unfolded collection of calligraphy and paintings by renowned artists from previous dynasties, or a mountain of silks and satins.

Each vehicle was priceless, attracting crowds of onlookers on both sides of the road, who pointed and whispered, their exclamations and discussions filling the air.

"My God! These are treasures from the previous dynasty? We really found them? So many of them?"

"It's Lord Zhang! No wonder the previous dynasty collapsed. They plundered so many good things, all the hard-earned money of the people! Now that it's back in the hands of the imperial court, that's a good thing!"

"Master Zhang? Which Master Zhang?"

"Who else could it be? The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel! Tsk tsk..."

"Look at those coral trees, you probably rarely see them even in the palace these days, right?"

"It's not just rare, I think it's practically nonexistent!"

Fang Nanzhi was also stunned, especially by the white jade Guanyin statue: "The jade quality of that Guanyin statue..."

She muttered to herself unconsciously, which was clearly heard by Qingyan beside her.

He temporarily set aside his confrontation with Qin Yan and followed her gaze. His eyes were slightly cold, but his tone remained gentle as he explained to her, as if he were simply stating a fact: "That white jade Guanyin was carved from a single piece of Hetian mutton fat jade and was once the beloved possession of a certain empress dowager of the previous dynasty."

Fang Nanzhi's gaze fell on one of the carriages, where a corner of the brocade covering a painting had slipped off due to the bumpy ride, revealing part of the painting.

It depicts rugged rocks and a cold forest rendered in ink, with vigorous brushstrokes and a desolate atmosphere.

She couldn't help but gasp softly, her voice filled with disbelief: "That's Li Dajia's 'Snowy Landscape with Cold Forest'? Wasn't the original supposed to have been lost long ago? How could it be..."

"It is indeed a genuine work by Master Li. The claim that it was lost is sometimes just an excuse for corrupt officials to line their own pockets. It's incredible that it has appeared in this treasure trove..."

The two exchanged a glance, and Fang Nanzhi pursed her lips.

It's a beautiful painting that should have been appreciated by someone who understands it, but it has been buried for so long before it finally sees the light of day again.

...Will she really see the light of day again? She wasn't sure.

After the commotion caused by Lord Zhang's previous dynasty's secret treasures, the three of them boarded the carriage together.

We've had enough of the excitement, it's time to go.

Qingyan personally escorted Fang Nanzhi and Qin Yan back to the Fang residence. As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of the General's Mansion, Qingyan was about to get off when his gaze casually swept across the street corner, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

A dark figure darted out from the shadows at the alley entrance like a ghost, its cold light aimed straight for Shadow Four's head!

The latter quickly dodged.

Things happened too fast.

Qingyan didn't know why Ying Si was outside the Fang residence. But this person couldn't die yet.

"Guards!" Qingyan shouted, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

His guards and Fang Nanzhi's men reacted extremely quickly, almost simultaneously noticing the anomaly and drawing their swords to rebuke him.

The assassin was extremely cunning and ruthless. Shadow Four was caught off guard and, although he managed to parry, a deep gash was still cut open on his shoulder, and blood gushed out instantly.

"Take down the assassin! Try to capture him alive." Qin Yan reacted quickly, pulling Fang Nanzhi behind him while giving the order.

The Fang family members and the Crown Prince's men swarmed forward and engaged the assassin in fierce combat.

The assassin was extremely skilled in martial arts. Despite being surrounded by several people, he held his own for a while, fighting and retreating, clearly intending to create chaos before escaping.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the suddenly appearing assassin, another unexpected event occurred.

Four dark figures suddenly leaped down from the rooftops on both sides of the street without warning.

They ignored their previous companion and focused intently on Qingyan and Fang Nanzhi, who had just stepped off the carriage.

"careful!"

Qingyan gave a low shout, and his longsword was already drawn, its light sweeping towards the first assassin who rushed forward.

Qin Yan also drew his sword instantly and fought with another assassin, desperately protecting his sister Fang Nanzhi's other side.

These four assassins worked together seamlessly, their moves were ruthless, and they fought with a death-defying style.

Two of them entangled Qin Yan and the approaching guards, while the other two kept their attacks aimed at Qing Yan's vital points.

Qingyan's swordsmanship was exquisite, and his response was calm and composed, firmly protecting Fang Nanzhi within the safe range covered by the sword light.

Fang Nanzhi was in a hurry, but she couldn't throw the powder away, as it might accidentally hurt her own people.

But the assassin was fearless. Despite being stabbed in the ribs by Qingyan, he lunged forward and clung tightly to Qingyan's sword-wielding arm.

Upon seeing this, another assassin's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he thrust his short sword straight at Qing Yan's wide-open chest.

"Qingyan!" Fang Nanzhi exclaimed, her heart leaping into her throat.

At this critical moment, Qingyan remained calm and composed. He suddenly jerked the arm that was holding him, and his elbow struck the assassin so hard that the assassin spat out blood, and the arm loosened slightly.

At the same time, he twisted his waist and narrowly avoided a fatal blow to his chest, but the short sword still managed to leave a bloody gash on the outside of his left arm.

Fang Nanzhi saw it clearly, and her heart tightened.

Qingyan let out a muffled groan, but his eyes grew even colder and sharper.

He seemed oblivious to the pain, and with a flick of his wrist, the longsword slashed upwards at an even more cunning angle, piercing the throat and neck, instantly ending the life of the assassin wielding the poisoned sword.

His movements were fluid and without the slightest hesitation, as if he hadn't just been injured.

However, the crisis has not been resolved.

Just as Qingyan was single-handedly holding off the remaining assassins, with Fang Nanzhi protected behind him, and the situation seemed to be at a temporary stalemate—

"call out!"

A very faint yet extremely sharp whistling sound rang out from the window of a house in the courtyard diagonally opposite.

A black light, swift as lightning, was not aimed at anyone in the arena, but rather at the Crown Prince Qingyan's movement trajectory, striking directly at the open back exposed by his blocking.

The hidden weapon was so cunning and secretive, and the timing was so precise, as if it had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Qingyan was focused on dealing with the attack from the front and seemed not to notice it at all.

"careful!"

With a hoarse shout, a figure suddenly appeared. Almost instinctively, he lunged forward, using half of his body to shield Prince Qingyan from the hidden weapon.

puff!

The hidden weapon pierced Shadow Four's chest with pinpoint accuracy.

It was not an ordinary dart or hidden arrow, but a strangely shaped bone-piercing nail with a ghostly blue luster.

Shadow Four's body stiffened abruptly, and his face was instantly covered with a strange bluish-black aura.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only managed a short "uh..." before his eyes quickly glazed over, and he fell straight backward, his breath fading away instantly.

He died from poisoning; it was a deadly poison that could kill instantly upon contact with blood.

All this happened in a flash of lightning.

When Qingyan turned around and saw this scene, his long sword made a loud noise, and his sword aura suddenly became even more fierce and ruthless.

Before long, more guards in the Fang residence and the Crown Prince's secret guards finally brought the situation under control, killing or subduing the remaining few stubborn assassins.

The battle came to an abrupt end.

The streets were a mess, filled with the stench of blood.

Fang Nanzhi quickly stepped forward, squatted down to check Ying Si's condition, and touched his cold skin and stopped pulse with her fingertips.

Her heart sank. She shook her head at Qingyan and Qin Yan, her voice hoarse: "...Deadly poison, instant death, no hope."

She hasn't yet discovered his secret.

Shadow Four never harbored any ill intentions; he died saving the Crown Prince.

Qin Yan's face was also extremely grim. He looked around at the mess and corpses on the ground, his brows furrowed: "In broad daylight, they attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince in front of the General's Mansion. These assassins were death squads, with a clear target and perfect teamwork. There were even those who shot arrows from the shadows... What on earth happened? They really dared to do that!"

Furthermore, shouldn't Shadow Four be kept under strict guard in the mansion? How did he end up outside the mansion gates? And just happened to be there during the assassination attempt?

Just then, a burst of hurried horse hoof sounds came from afar.

Bai Wu, accompanied by several trusted men, escorted a carriage, and sped over, stopping abruptly in front of the mansion gate.

Bai Wu dismounted, his face ashen. He strode forward, knelt on one knee, and his voice was filled with fear and anger: "Young Master, Miss! I failed in my duty as a guard, please punish me! Madam... Madam, she..."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Qian Fengping stepped down with the help of her maid. Her face was a little pale, her hair was slightly disheveled, and her clothes were covered in dust. She was obviously frightened, but she seemed to be alright.

"Mother!?" Fang Nanzhi and Qin Yan were shocked and stepped forward at the same time.

They quickly asked what had happened, and before Bai Wu could answer, Qian Fengping spoke first.

"Today I went to check out the newly opened pastry shop in the south of the city. I had just left home when I was intercepted at the alley entrance. The other party did not show himself, but shot an arrow with a note tied to it."

She was still a little shaken when she said this. She glanced at Bai Wu beside her, who took out a crumpled piece of paper from his sleeve.

He continued, his tone heavy: "The note says that we must release Shadow Four immediately, otherwise we cannot guarantee Madam's safety."

"I dare not risk the safety of the lady. I sent someone back to the manor to order her release, and at the same time I immediately led people to track down the lady's whereabouts. Fortunately, the lady was only knocked unconscious and is temporarily trapped in an abandoned courtyard. It seems that the other party did not intend to kill her."

Luring the tiger away from the mountain, using a feint to the east while attacking the west.

The other party first used Qian Fengping's safety to force the Fang family to release the key figure Ying Si, and then, after calculating the right moment, launched the assassination when Ying Si was released and had just walked outside the mansion gate, when the mansion was not well guarded.

It's just unclear why the assassins later changed their target and decided to kill the crown prince.

And Shadow Four, the person who was inexplicably released, actually died at a crucial moment to save the Crown Prince.

I doubt even the assassin could have predicted that.

Qingyan looked at Ying Si's corpse, then at Qian Fengping who was still in shock, and finally his gaze fell on Fang Nanzhi and Qin Yan's solemn and suspicious faces.

"Clean up the scene, bring all the assassins' bodies back to the Eastern Palace, and thoroughly investigate their identities and origins."

"Take Shadow Four's body back as well for a thorough examination."

He ordered in a deep voice, "It seems that someone is determined to muddy the waters, and even... wants to drag me into it as well."

The corpses and bloodstains at the mansion gate were quickly cleared and brought under control by the Crown Prince's personal guards and the Fang family's guards.

Although Qingyan's left arm was injured and blood was seeping out, he only turned and entered the General's Mansion with the Fang family after the initial treatment of the scene was completed.

Upon entering the relatively safe lobby, the composure I had been maintaining began to crumble.

Fang Nanzhi and Qin Yan immediately surrounded Qian Fengping, who was still in shock.

"Mother, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Fang Nanzhi supported Qian Fengping's arm.

Qin Yan asked with concern, "Mother, could you see what those people looked like?"

Qian Fengping shook her head, took the hot tea handed to her by the maid, and took a sip. The warm water seemed to dispel some of the chill, and her expression softened slightly. She patted Fang Nanzhi's hand.

"It's nothing, I was just startled. Those people were masked and moved extremely fast, so I couldn't see their faces clearly. Luckily, Bai Wu and the others arrived in time."

Fang Nanzhi was still worried, so she took Qian Fengping's pulse and confirmed that she was alright.

After comforting Qian Fengping, Fang Nanzhi and Qin Yan turned their gazes to Qing Yan simultaneously.

His face was paler than usual due to blood loss, and the dark red bloodstains on his left sleeve were particularly glaring.

"Qingyan, your injury."

Fang Nanzhi stepped forward, her brows furrowed, her eyes filled with undisguised anxiety. "I wonder if that hidden weapon is poisoned. Let me take a look."

Fortunately, nothing happened.

Seeing the two of them, especially Fang Nanzhi's genuinely worried expression, Qingyan's gaze softened slightly.

He waved his hand to indicate that it was nothing serious, his voice slightly hoarse from the injury: "It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about."