The Double-Chapter 506 - 155 Assassination_4

"Proceed with the original plan," Lu Jiu replied. "The key is when Prince Cheng will make his move and by what means."

"The altar." Jih Heng interjected. "On May 18th, when the Emperor ascends the mountain for the Heavenly Sacrifice, it’s a good opportunity."

"So Prince Cheng is planning to take out the Emperor on the mountain?" Kong Liu made a throat-slitting gesture. "That works. It’s ruthless enough to be Prince Cheng’s style!"

"Should I perform spirit writing later, to see if there will be any bloodshed on May 18th?" Wen Renyao chimed in.

"Spare us the charlatan act, everyone knows your divinations are unreliable," Kong Liu said dismissively. "It’s useless, better to rely on ourselves."

"In any case, all parties have now entered the scene," Lu Jiu tapped on the table, "but if the Emperor deals with Prince Cheng this time, will the Jiang Family be next?"

"No," Jih Heng was very certain.

Everyone in the room turned to look at him.

He hooked the corner of his mouth, "The bigger one hasn’t been handled yet, so who would bother with the smaller one?"

Everyone silently pondered his words when suddenly, a guard entered and said to Jih Heng, "Ye Mingyu has sent people to guard outside Xiao Deyin’s residence. It looks like they will make their move within the next day or two."

"Eh? Isn’t Ye Mingyu Miss Jiang the Second’s uncle? Why would they be watching Xiao Deyin?" Wen Renyao couldn’t help but ask.

"Xiao Deyin is the zither teacher at Mingyi Hall, isn’t he?" Kong Liu stroked his chin. "Is there some kind of grievance?"

Lu Jiu gave a light chuckle. "Ye Mingyu has no personal quarrels with Xiao Deyin, so there’s no grievance to speak of. Without a doubt, it must be Miss Jiang the Second’s intention. Ye Mingyu is extremely obedient to Miss Jiang the Second. The only thing we don’t know is what happened between Miss Jiang the Second and Xiao Deyin." He looked at Jih Heng, since he had the closest dealings with Miss Jiang the Second.

"Maybe Xiao Deyin was too harsh on Miss Jiang the Second in the past, and she’s held a grudge over it. But that doesn’t seem right; Miss Jiang the Second isn’t the type to hold such petty grudges. Besides, she ranked first in the verification of the Six Arts, and even the old man Mian Ju praised her zither playing, proving her skill. What could be the issue?"

Jih Heng paid them no attention, simply instructing the guard, "Find a few men to keep an eye on those sent by Ye Mingyu, don’t let them cause any trouble."

This was effectively offering to clean up after Ye Mingyu.

After the guard had left, the others exchanged looks. Kong Liu asked, "Duke, what does this mean? Do you have some other deal going on behind the scenes?"

Jih Heng gave him a glance and said blandly, "Drink your tea." But his mind was busy contemplating; Jiang Li was acting quickly. She didn’t leave Xiao Deyin any time at all. Her eagerness to act was simply to bring down Shen Yurong and Yongning.

But why the rush? What reason would make her so anxious?

His thin, red lips took a sip of his tea, his lowered gaze masking his deep thoughts from the others.

...

As evening fell.

Xiao Deyin sat in the house, watching the lanterns outside gradually light up, her heart filled with melancholy.

The more one fears something, the more it becomes impossible to let go. Ever since hearing people at her door discuss "Guan Shan Yue," she couldn’t stop thinking about Xue Fangfei. Despite her efforts not to dwell on the past incidents, the nightmares followed her like shadows. She had even dreamt that Xue Fangfei was beside her, mocking her, clothed in white, slowly approaching her.

As if she wanted to drag her into the sunless depths of hell.

Xiao Deyin woke up scared, covered in cold sweat, startling her maids who thought her cold had worsened, filling the room with the bitter smell of medicine.

Sitting on the couch, Xiao Deyin couldn’t help thinking that when the incident with Xue Fangfei occurred, and she stopped leaving her house, languishing in bed, it must have been similar to her current siting. However, she couldn’t fathom what Xue Fangfei was thinking at that time: perhaps questioning how it all happened, possibly feeling hopeless, or wondering who the real culprit was, and then thinking of herself.

She shivered inadvertently.

Xiao Deyin summoned her maid, "I want to go for a walk."

"But Teacher, you are not well. You cannot walk around," her maid advised.

"It’s fine," Xiao Deyin replied, "I just want to take a short walk nearby. I feel so stifled staying in the house. You can accompany me."

She thought she couldn’t keep staying in the house. Being cooped up made her overthink and remember those terrifying memories from the past. It felt as if Xue Fangfei’s spirit haunted the house, and she feared being pursued by this vengeful ghost as much as being confronted by Xue Fangfei herself.