Sima Han hesitated for half a day, pondering what excuse he could use to refuse Manager Jiang’s request.
However, before he could even come up with a plausible reason, Zheng Wei had already agreed.
“Zheng…”
“If that is the case, then this servant shall take my leave. Young Master Zheng has many matters to attend to, and it’s unlikely he’ll finish them all today. We shall depart the day after tomorrow, then.”
With that, Manager Jiang bowed to Sima Han and Yi Zhi Xie before quickly retreating.
“He left so fast. It’s not like we would eat him. Besides, does he even know where he’s going?” Shen Xiao Yan said, feeling a bit annoyed.
Zheng Wei reached out and poked Shen Xiao Yan’s nose, saying dotingly, “You don’t actually think he’ll stay overnight, do you?”
Shen Xiao Yan looked surprised. Was that not the case?
Seeing Shen Xiao Yan’s expression, Zheng Wei understood her thoughts and explained with a smile, “He is going to see Grand Princess Zande. After all, Wu Kuang has already gone there. As someone sent by the Grand Emperor, he naturally needs to go and check on her.”
Shen Xiao Yan nodded. That made sense. When an elder brother sends someone to pick up his son, he would naturally want to check on his sister as well. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be right.
“Therefore, he should arrive the morning after tomorrow and travel with us.”
Upon hearing Zheng Wei’s explanation, Shen Xiao Yan nodded with understanding. She guessed that Manager Jiang also knew they wouldn’t be able to accommodate him, and for some reason, she felt a bit embarrassed.
“If you actually don’t want to go, I can refuse him. When I return, I will explain everything to the Grand Emperor,” Sima Han said, looking seriously at Zheng Wei and Shen Xiao Yan.
Seeing his expression, Shen Xiao Yan and Zheng Wei knew he was feeling guilty.
Shen Xiao Yan grinned, “We already guessed this would happen and have discussed it. In fact, we’ve already packed most of our things.”
“Really?”
Sima Han was taken aback. They had already guessed and packed their belongings?
Yue Qing Xin also expressed her confusion, “Since sister Xiao Yan had already guessed, why didn’t you say something? We could have discussed it and perhaps found a perfect plan that would allow us to not go while still preserving our standing.”
Shen Xiao Yan replied with a serious expression, “Elder Sister, are you being foolish?”
Hearing Shen Xiao Yan’s words, Yue Qing Xin became even more puzzled, “What do you mean?”
“Since we have now come into prominence, the Grand Emperor and His Majesty are both aware of us. The Grand Emperor has summoned us to the capital. If we refuse, won’t we offend the Grand Emperor?”
“Even if we can devise a perfect plan to make the Grand Emperor overlook this matter, is it truly good for us to stay here?”
“I fear that if His Majesty learns of this, he might think we are not accepting the Grand Emperor’s recruitment and come looking for us. At that time, if His Majesty summons us to the capital, how can we refuse? And if we don’t refuse and truly go, what will the Grand Emperor think?”
“Even though you and Sima Han know we are on your side, the Grand Emperor and others will not understand.”
“At that point, we will be truly caught between a rock and a hard place, and anything we do will become a topic of gossip.”
Yue Qing Xin’s expression became increasingly shocked as Shen Xiao Yan spoke so much in one breath. She had never considered this aspect.
What was even more surprising was that Shen Xiao Yan, who normally only cared about children and trivial matters, was analyzing things so thoroughly and clearly.
“Sister Xiao Yan has a heart of exquisite wisdom. I am ashamed of my inferiority,” Yue Qing Xin said with admiration.
Shen Xiao Yan blushed at her words, not knowing how to retort.
Unexpectedly, Yue Qing Xin’s admiration quickly turned into self-reproach, “Ultimately, it is because of me and Ah Han that you have been implicated.”
“Elder Sister, please don’t say that. What I said earlier was not insincere. I truly wish to go out and see the world.”
Yue Qing Xin looked at Shen Xiao Yan’s face for a long time. Although she saw the sincerity in Shen Xiao Yan’s eyes, she still had some doubts.
However, since Shen Xiao Yan had already spoken to this extent and analyzed all the consequences, any further words of self-recrimination from her would be redundant.
For now, it was better to focus on how to handle things once they reached the imperial capital.
“In that case, once we reach the imperial capital, I will protect you all, even at the cost of my own life,” Sima Han suddenly stood up and said sternly to Shen Xiao Yan and Zheng Wei.
Shen Xiao Yan was startled by his action, and so was Zheng Wei.
However, after Zheng Wei recovered, he also stood up and walked slowly towards Sima Han.
“You are overthinking this. If anyone threatens our safety, I will kill them directly.”
Shen Xiao Yan looked at Zheng Wei with starry eyes. At this moment, Zheng Wei was exuding an aura of dominance.
Sima Han was taken aback by Zheng Wei’s words and then burst into laughter, “Indeed, this is how it should be. I am still too naive; I should learn more from you.”
He had been in a daze just now, forgetting that they had all begun cultivating.
Although they hadn’t cultivated for long, they were certainly capable of protecting themselves.
If someone foolishly tried to cause trouble, he wouldn’t mind sending them on their way.
Shen Xiao Yan and Yue Qing Xin exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes, yet their smiles deepened.
Perhaps neither the Grand Emperor, nor His Majesty, nor the officials who already knew of Sima Han’s return to the capital would have imagined that Sima Han, who had been away for several years, was no longer the fifth prince who could be easily manipulated.
Now, what they were bringing back was a tiger in human skin.
Anyone who dared to pounce would have their neck bitten off in an instant.
Being left without a whole corpse would be considered lenient.
Shen Xiao Yan looked at the two of them and suddenly remembered something, quickly turning to Lu Tao Bao.
“What about you?”
Lu Tao Bao looked at Shen Xiao Yan curiously. What about him?
“Manager Jiang meant for you to go to the capital with us as well, didn’t he? What do you plan to do?” Shen Xiao Yan asked.
Hearing this, Lu Tao Bao smiled, “As someone who has no home, of course I will follow Big Brother and Sister-in-law. Are you planning to abandon me now that Big Brother and Sister-in-law are going to the capital?”
Shen Xiao Yan touched her forehead at his words. What kind of logic was this?
“If you go to the capital with us, what about your parents? It’s almost New Year. Shouldn’t you go and spend the festival with them?”
Lu Tao Bao scratched his head in slight distress, “Did I forget to tell you that my parents already arrived in the imperial capital a month ago?”
“I was planning to go and see them in the imperial capital after the disaster relief efforts were concluded…”
Shen Xiao Yan raised her hand to stop Lu Tao Bao from continuing, “You… Your parents went to the imperial capital? Why?”
“For business…”
Shen Xiao Yan: …
When did your family’s business extend to the imperial capital, young man? At least inform these people, alright?
Seeing Shen Xiao Yan’s distressed expression, Lu Tao Bao felt even more dejected.
“Actually, the reason why we went to the capital for business was because of you, Sister-in-law.”
Shen Xiao Yan was taken aback, “Why because of me?”