My husband, please respect yourself. The princess is here to grab the bride.

A lotus pond.

The lotus flowers look even more beautiful in the sunset.

A pavilion.

The pavilion looks a little lonely in the yard.

A stone table.

A pot of tea.

Bai Shaoqiu and Qin Jingtai sat opposite each other, while He Xiaofeng leaned against a pillar with his arms folded, holding a piece of dogtail grass in his mouth. The dogtail grass swayed in the early summer night breeze.

Bai Shaoqiu poured tea and said:

"I originally planned to visit you at Changning Academy in the next two days, but I didn't expect you to come."

"Come on, and bring some wine... I just heard you were coming, so I asked the kitchen to prepare some dishes to go with the wine. The princess's house still has some wine."

Qin Jingtai took the teacup and smiled slightly: "I think your injury is very serious and it will take time for you to recover. I originally wanted to wait a while before coming to see you... but I decided to come earlier."

Bai Shaoqiu raised his eyes and saw the sorrow hidden in the wrinkles of Qin Jingtai's old face.

The sadness was not completely concealed by his smile.

His words are also very meaningful.

"Brother, I've been thinking carefully these days and I feel that the consequences of your assassination are quite serious..."

Bai Shaoqiu raised the corner of his mouth:

"Isn't it the Xuanjing Division?"

"These bastards assassinated me, which isn't such a bad thing, really."

Qin Jingtai was stunned: "Isn't this a bad thing?"

Bai Shaoqiu said, "Look, brother, four of the five assassins who came to assassinate me are dead, but all the twelve small bronze mirrors of the Xuanjingsi hidden in Xiling City are dead..."

"I didn't ask who did it because there was no need to ask."

"I believe that there are no more people from the Xuanjing Division in the entire Xiling City, at least for now... If there are still some, it either means that the palace is truly incompetent, or... my father-in-law has other ideas."

When Qin Jingtai heard this, he looked at Bai Shaoqiu with admiration.

Taking advantage of the assassination of Bai Shaoqiu and the Fourth Young Master, the people from the Xuan Jing Division in Xiling City were purged. Everyone would think that it was done by the palace, and Qin Jingtai was no exception.

This is the best excuse!

The Xuan Jing Division is responsible to the Emperor.

The emperor was obviously a little dissatisfied with the Zhenxi Palace, otherwise why would he give such a good-for-nothing to the palace as a son-in-law?

Eliminating the people from the Xuan Jing Si means cutting off the emperor's spies stationed in Xiling City to monitor the palace.

This is indeed the best opportunity, but it also brings another consequence——

"This matter must have been reported to the Red Mansion of Xuanjing Division."

Qin Jingtai put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and said very seriously:

"Shang Shu, the military marquis, is definitely not someone who would hold his nose and drink a pot of wine!"

"Even if the assassination was not arranged by Shang Shu...it was definitely not arranged by Shang Shu."

Bai Shaoqiu was stunned: "Why do you say that, brother?"

"Because if this was arranged by Shang Shu, you would have no chance of survival! There's no way you'd be sitting here chatting with my brother right now!"

"No matter who arranged this, it is a fact that twelve bronze mirrors died in the Xuanjing Division."

"Based on my understanding of Shang Shu, he will definitely send more people from the Xuanjing Division to Xiling City... He will see if the prince will take action against his people again, and whether he dares to do so!"

"On the day you were assassinated, I wrote a letter to my younger brother... and sent it to the Qin Mansion in Kyoto by carrier pigeon."

"I received a reply today. My brother said that there has been something strange going on at the Xuan Jing Division these days."

Bai Shaoqiu was stunned: "What's wrong?"

"The door of the Xuanjing Division is closed."

"No one has come in or out for more than ten days!"

"It's like everyone in the Xuanjing Division is dead!"

"My brother sent someone in to take a look..."

Bai Shaoqiu also leaned over: "What did you see?"

"There's no one inside!"

Bai Shaoqiu: "...Where are they?"

"do not know!"

Qin Jingtai continued, "The Xuanjing Division's courtyard is very large, and the First Division of the Xuanjing Division is permanently stationed there... This is the First Division led by Mu Zhou, one of the Three Golden Mirror Envoys!"

"The First Division has sent out over 6,000 people, there are over 3,000 in Kyoto, and there are 300 people in the courtyard of the Xuanjing Division in Kyoto!"

"Those three hundred people are the elite of the First Division, responsible for protecting the safety of the Xuanjing Division compound and also responsible for protecting Shang Shu's safety."

"But my brother's men went in and came back saying that the huge courtyard was completely empty. Judging from the ashes in the stove and the dust on the table... the courtyard had been empty for at least half a month!"

Bai Shaoqiu was shocked. It had only been twenty days since he was assassinated, and the Xuanjingsi compound had been deserted for half a month...

"Where did they go?"

Qin Jingtai shook his head: "I don't know... no one knows!"

"Even the City Defense Department doesn't know when they left or how they left!"

Bai Shaoqiu took a deep breath and sat up straight. He picked up the teacup and took a sip. Suddenly he smiled:

"It's definitely not directed at me."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Because I'm actually just an insignificant little person."

"Because this is the territory of the King of Zhenxi, Xuan Jingsi wouldn't dare to act wildly here no matter how brave he is!"

This makes sense.

The King of Zhenxi did not raise an army to cause rebellion, so even if all the people under Shang Shu were gathered together, they would not be a match for the King of Zhenxi.

Moreover, Xingguo is now threatened by the Northern Liang, and Shang Shu would certainly not dare to force the Prince of Zhenxi to rebel.

Bai Shaoqiu pondered for three breaths and said:

"I think it's best if everyone in the Xuanjingsi compound leaves."

"Why?"

"I don't know Shang Shu well, but if I put myself in his shoes...if I were the head of the Xuanjing Division and had to choose sides but didn't want to, wouldn't it be best to stay away from the controversial world of Kyoto?"

Qin Jingtai was startled and sat up straight.

He understood what Bai Shaoqiu meant.

The Xuan Jing Division is only responsible to the Emperor.

But the current situation in the court may force him to make a choice.

This choice is fatal!

It's not just Shang Shu's life that's at stake, it's also about the survival of Xuan Jingsi.

No one can guarantee that his choice is correct, so the best way is not to choose!

How can I not choose?

Of course, leave quietly!

"My brother has never visited Shang Junhou because he knows the rules of Xuan Jingsi."

"That's Ye Qionglou or... the Third Prince!"

Bai Shaoqiu tapped his fingers on the table and said:

"If our speculation is correct, Shang Shu led the Xuan Jingsi people away from Kyoto, this troubled place, and he didn't make a choice, this would actually be beneficial to Prime Minister Qin!"

"At least Xuan Jingsi didn't stand on Ye Qionglou's side."

"This Shang Junhou... is quite intelligent."

Bai Shaoqiu's analysis made Qin Jingtai, who was originally worried, suddenly cheerful.

What he was worried about was that Shangshu would take the people from Xuan Jingsi and leave Kyoto to personally carry out some important task. So it sounded like... he was just trying to avoid the troubles in Kyoto.

Where will this old guy hide?

Bai Shaoqiu waved his hand and said, "In short, he definitely wouldn't dare to come to Xiling City."

"As for my trip to Kyoto next year... He is the head of the Xuanjing Division, and he will not ignite the anger of the palace because of me."

"Of course, there will definitely be someone in Kyoto who will do this, and even try to divert the blame."

"I do want to ask you one thing."

"Just say it, brother!"

"Please write another letter to Prime Minister Qin, saying... I'm going to Kyoto next year and would like Prime Minister Qin to introduce me to this Shang Junhou!"

"Of course, it would be fine if this Shang Junhou still didn't return to the capital."

Qin Jingtai pondered for three breaths and then grinned.

"But the assassination attempt on you was most likely done by Shang Junhou's grandson Shang Shan."

"That's a fool. I don't think Shang Junhou is that stupid, right?"