After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Song Qingyang's expression remained unchanged: "The hard times won't last long."

Xie Yuze laughed angrily: "Where do you get your confidence? If you mess with me, believe me, I can kick you out of the capital with just one word."

Song Qingyang raised his eyes, his gaze indifferent: "Young Master Xie is welcome to give it a try."

The atmosphere around them instantly froze.

One was sitting, the other was standing, and Song Qingyang's aura was in no way inferior to Xie Yuze's.

Xie Xing was caught in the middle of the two, and the pressure was immense.

Although Xie Yuze was a bit too rough with her, Xie Xing could clearly feel that their relationship had eased significantly since the autumn hunt, and their relationship had even deepened to the point where Xie Yuze was the closest person to Xie Xing in the Xie family.

As for Song Qingyang, let's not even mention him.

Both sides have older brothers.

Favoring one side over the other will only alienate the other.

Moreover, Xie Xing has recently noticed that Xie Yuze has been making a great effort to maintain a balance between the two sides.

Xie Xing coughed twice, straightened his back, and tried to carry the water: "Brothers, please stop arguing."

She first gave Song Qingyang a sweet smile: "Big brother, don't worry, I'm doing very well in the Xie family."

Then she turned to Xie Yuze and apologized in a soft, sweet voice: "Third brother, don't be angry, it's my fault."

[You'll do it again next time.]

Xie Yuze: "..."

He knows it!

That girl is a real handful.

After all, Xie Xing was his younger sister whom he had lived with for three years, so Song Qingyang naturally knew how spoiled Xie Xing had been. However, after listening to Xie Xing's inner thoughts, Song Qingyang realized that something was amiss.

He frowned, wanting to find an opportunity to ask Xie Xing what exactly happened.

Before he could speak, Xie Yuze asked, "You came to the capital to take the imperial examination?"

Song Qingyang nodded.

Xie Yuze said, "Since you have Xie Xing's connection, you can stay at the General's Mansion until the imperial examination results are announced, or I can arrange it for you."

What Xie Yuze cared about was that he could hear Xie Xing's inner thoughts.

He has a keen eye for observation; he reacted strangely when Xie Xing's inner thoughts appeared.

Song Qingyang declined: "Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master, but there's no need. I have my own place to go."

Xie Yuze narrowed his eyes.

He suddenly spoke up: "Xie Xing, I need to talk to Song Qingyang. You go back first."

Xie Xing looked up: "Back where?"

[Are we going back to that side room?]

That bastard Luo Hanfeng will definitely kill her.

Xie Yuze's face darkened: "Return to the General's Mansion."

Xie Xing nodded: "Oh."

She stood up and glanced at Song Qingyang.

Song Qingyang smiled gently at her: "Xing'er, you can go back now. Your brother will come to find you next time."

Xie Xing nodded, said goodbye to Song Qingyang, and then went out.

As soon as he stepped outside, Xie Yuze arranged for someone to take Xie Xing back.

Once everyone had left, Xie Yuze sat down and looked up at Song Qingyang: "How do you know about things in the court, and how are you so unafraid of the General's Mansion? Whose tutelage have you joined?"

"Or perhaps, someone is backing you up?"

Song Qingyang laughed: "Thank you for your high praise, Third Young Master. I am but a lowly soldier."

Xie Yuze's voice softened: "Regardless of whether you have joined anyone's sect or not, I must remind you that if you pass the palace examination, countless forces will be secretly investigating you."

"So there are some things I still need to remind you of, be careful not to get yourself into trouble."

Song Qingyang replied in a neutral tone: "Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master. I understand."

Xie Yuze stared at him for a while, then suddenly asked, "Did you hear anything just now?"

Upon hearing this, Song Qingyang looked up at him in surprise: "What does Young Master Xie mean?"

really.

Xie Yuze said, "It's about Xie Xing."

Song Qingyang paused for a moment, then said, "It can indeed be heard."

"This wasn't there before. Could it be a secret technique unique to the General's Mansion?"

Song Qingyang was puzzled.

Xie Yuze: "...It's not a secret technique; we only found out about it a few days ago."

"A few days ago?" Song Qingyang repeated.

Xie Yuze didn't want to reveal too much to him. He said, "Come to the Supreme Pavilion again tomorrow, and I will explain to you."

He needs to tell Xie Yuhe about this.

As for Xie Tongchen...

Xie Yuze frowned, feeling troubled as he recalled Xie Xing saying he had another idea about Mingzhu.

Regardless, we need to first confirm whether Xie Tongchen actually had those kinds of thoughts.

Song Qingyang thought for a moment and then agreed.

the other side.

After leaving the Supreme Pavilion, Xie Xing took the carriage prepared by Xie Yuze and planned to go directly back to the General's Mansion.

But an unexpected incident occurred on the way.

She was the victim of an assassination attempt and robbery.

In broad daylight, on a bustling street in the capital, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and began fighting Xie Xing's men.

No one expected that anyone would have the audacity to do such a thing right under the emperor's nose.

People walking on the street screamed in surprise, and chaos ensued.

Before Xie Xing could escape from the sedan chair, a black cloth fell from the sky and covered her, plunging her into darkness.

……

News of Xie Xing being kidnapped on his way back reached the General's Mansion.

Xie Ansheng was furious: "Who dares to kidnap people from the General's Mansion?"

Xie Yuhe's expression was grave. He subconsciously looked at Xie Yuze: "Weren't you with them?"

Xie Yuze was utterly innocent. "Who would have thought that someone would dare to make a move right under the emperor's nose?"

"Did Xie Xing offend someone?" Xie Tongchen frowned.

Madam Xie scoffed from the side, "Why is it that she's the one who always gets into trouble?"

"Have you sent someone to look for it?"

Xie Yuhe felt an unbearable headache. He was already overwhelmed with work, and now this had happened.

"The authorities have already sent people to investigate." Xie Tongchen asked, "What happened to you today?"

Xie Yuze then recounted what had happened that day.

He omitted the fact that Xie Xing disliked the Seventh Prince.

But Xie Mingzhu did not let the matter go. Standing aside, she suddenly spoke up: "Today, in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, my sister even made the Seventh Prince unhappy."

"However, it shouldn't be the Seventh Prince. He has no reason to do such a thing to his sister."

Xie Mingzhu seemed to have just said that.

Xie Ansheng's expression grew even colder, his voice filled with anger: "How dare she provoke the Seventh Prince?"

The three Xie brothers knew exactly what was going on.

After Xie Mingzhu said that, they were even more convinced that the Seventh Prince was responsible for the incident.

Could it be that because he can hear Xie Xing's thoughts, the Seventh Prince is planning to go all out and kidnap him?

The three Xie brothers were in a state of confusion.

Meanwhile, at the Xie family's residence, Xie Ansheng cursed and swore as he sent people to intensify their search.

there.

Xie Xing woke up blindfolded in the damp weeds.

"Oh, you're awake?" A deep, pleasant voice came from beside me. Upon closer listening, the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

It wasn't Luo Hanfeng's voice.

Luo Hanfeng's voice is distinctive; you can tell it's his voice just by listening.

Xie Xing's hands were tightly bound behind his back, and a rag was stuffed into his mouth to gag him, making him look extremely disheveled.