Nie Tong recounted the entire affair as if he had been present.
"Is Wang Chang dead?" Xie Jiang asked indifferently.
"He was still breathing when they carried him out. Meng Junyu's mind was clouded, and that stab wasn't precise. He might be salvageable."
Meng Junyu was truly incompetent. For someone from a military family, his hand trembled over such a minor incident.
It would be best if he didn't recover. His death would be cleaner, and the two families' mutual accusations would be far more interesting.
"Miss Chun He is also unharmed. Her control over her strength was just right. She just looked frightening. She can still hold on and finish the entire performance."
Xie Jiang almost gave a thumbs-up. "Everyone is truly capable, to have devised such a brilliant plan."
Nie Tong said awkwardly, "It was hasty, but it's acceptable..."
He secretly lifted his eyelids to steal a glance, unable to tell if his young master was displeased. Nie Tong remained somewhat apprehensive.
"We also timed it perfectly with Princess Le'an. We didn't actually let Wang Chang do anything to her. We don't engage in the sordid act of insulting women."
They all understood their young master's bottom line. Murder, arson, and despicable acts were all permissible, but he detested the insult of women with all his heart.
Influenced by their young master, they now all felt that insulting women was unacceptable. Who didn't have a wife or daughter? Were they not all born of women?
There were countless ways to kill someone; why resort to the most sordid act? Did they think it didn't show their capability if it wasn't sordid?
However, they truly did not insult Princess Le'an today, even though they knew their young master detested her. They merely created a slight illusion to confuse Meng Junyu, driving him to lose his reason and attack Wang Chang.
Today's affair had proceeded smoothly.
It was only a pity that Wang Chang wasn't completely dead.
"It's good that you didn't. Since the deed is done, clean up the loose ends."
It was merely a minor matter that wouldn't affect the overall situation, so Xie Jiang wasn't interested in dwelling on it.
Nie Tong replied, "Rest assured."
Seeing that Xie Jiang had no further instructions, Nie Tong withdrew.
Xie Jiang went to the window and leaned on the sill, gazing at the sky.
Aunt He passed by and saw her young master's solitary figure. "What are you looking at, young master? Young Master Yi probably won't be back."
"Why don't we call Young Master Su Yang and the others over to Da Yu?"
This way, before Young Master Yi and Young Master Xu were overthrown, the young master would have someone to warm his bed, and he wouldn't have to endure the long, lonely nights.
It was because they were all considered family that she spoke before her young master.
Xie Jiang turned her head and glared at Aunt He. Did she look so desperately thirsty?
Didn't she?
Wasn't she gazing at the sky late at night with such eagerness?
"I know your standards are high, but taking someone in is not the same as marrying them. It's just to relieve boredom when the mood strikes."
Taking in one or two people wasn't it? What did it have to do with being thirsty? One could moisten their throat even when not thirsty.
"A rabbit doesn't eat grass near its burrow."
"What?" Why would the young master have such a principle? Did the young master need such a principle? The grass near the burrow was fresh and tender, and so convenient to eat.
"Subordinates are subordinates. Even if a subordinate is attractive, they cannot be taken in." If taken in, one would have to be responsible! Was she the type of person to take responsibility so casually?
Aunt He didn't know what to say. So, the young master just wanted to play around, and after playing, would simply kick them aside?
But even if they were played with by the young master, they should be happy. Aunt He didn't dare to speak for others, but Young Master Xing Mian would certainly be willing.
"I'm still counting on them to serve me. Taking them in might be satisfying for a moment, but would it lead straight to the crematorium afterward?"
Besides, she wasn't interested in them. If she were, she would have taken them in long ago. Yi Yan Gen was more to her taste.
Aunt He thought seriously. "You mean the harem should not interfere in politics? It seems to make sense..."
"Do you think I should go spend a night at Yi Yan Gen's place?"
"You haven't given up yet? Young Master Yi has already returned to his mansion, and you're still chasing after him. He'll be terrified."
Xie Jiang decided to go and scare Yi Yan Gen. Perhaps it wouldn't be a scare, but a surprise?
Men were often hypocritical.
Even though he had run away so quickly just now, perhaps he was counting the seconds, eagerly awaiting her pursuit.
At the third watch of the night, a figure descended silently from above.
Steward Zhang's legs went weak with fright. The pastries on the tray he was holding scattered all over the ground.
"Assassin..."
Seeing the person's arrogant entry into the study, Steward Zhang silently swallowed the rest of his words.
What was wrong with them!
Why didn't they use the main entrance and instead insisted on climbing over walls!
Who were they trying to scare to death in the middle of the night!
Steward Zhang clutched his chest and got up from the ground, handing the empty tray to a young servant behind him and waving him off to get more from the kitchen.
Steward Zhang patted his backside and walked with a limp to the corridor, waiting at a discreet distance.
...
Yi Yan Gen sat upright, holding a memorial. The content was unknown, but it made him look solemn.
When Xie Jiang entered the study, he seemed oblivious.
Xie Jiang smiled, her eyebrows raised, and walked around the desk to embrace him from behind.
"So dedicated?"
Xie Jiang leaned on his shoulder, pretending not to notice his tensed body, and looked at the memorial in his hand.
"Young Master Yi is indeed extraordinary. You're even reading the memorial upside down?"
Yi Yan Gen's mind went blank. He looked closely at the memorial and realized he was holding it upside down!
He...
Yi Yan Gen glared fiercely at Xie Jiang!
Xie Jiang laughed and slid off his back, lying on the floor mat and rolling with laughter.
"You're still laughing!"
Yi Yan Gen pounced and pinned her down, wishing he could bite this scoundrel to death!
She had the audacity to laugh at him!
Had she chased after him just to mock him?!
But Yi Yan Gen dared not touch her body, let alone her mouth. Even just holding her wrists made him feel incredibly hot.
Yi Yan Gen quickly released her and moved to the side, sitting properly.
Seeing him like this, Xie Jiang laughed even harder, unable to stop.
Yi Yan Gen's mind buzzed, feeling as if a demonic sound was echoing in his ears, making it impossible to calm down.
He glared at her fiercely, warning her not to go too far. To his surprise, he saw her face flushed red from laughter.
Her cheeks in the bathtub were also this vibrant and tempting...
Yi Yan Gen felt that this spring night was truly stifling!
The sticky air made him breathless.
Yi Yan Gen got up, intending to leave, to let her laugh to her heart's content by herself!
"Don't go."
Xie Jiang rolled over and hugged his leg. "I'm leaving for Ninghe soon. Don't you want to spend a little more time with me?"
Yi Yan Gen's movement to leave faltered.
"You're leaving at dawn?"
Xie Jiang softly hummed in agreement.
Yi Yan Gen couldn't bear to leave her, even though she was so detestable.
"Can't you stay a few more days?" Xu Heng Yan's term hasn't ended yet, and he's not going anywhere.
"You can't bear to part with me? I'll be back after I'm done with my business. There's plenty of time ahead." Xie Jiang tilted her head back and lay at his feet, looking up at him.
Yi Yan Gen's throat felt even itchier. He quickly averted his gaze to the window.
In the quiet night, his heart was restless.