Chapter 7: A Veiled Threat

Chapter 7: Threat

It was still the same courtyard, but now not even a fly could enter.

Yan Sanhe wore a dark blue robe with her hair tied up like a man's, leisurely pacing around the yard.

Supervisor Xie moved a bamboo chair into the garden and sat down, his eyes fixed intently on her.

Little did he know that while Yan Sanhe's steps were slow, her mind was racing faster than anything else.

She had pulled out the marriage certificate to put pressure on Xie Daozhi.

This pressure revealed two things to Yan Sanhe: Firstly, even with solid evidence, Xie Daozhi would never acknowledge his relationship with Yan Xing; Secondly, this man was quick to turn ruthless!

If she hadn't thought on her feet and uttered those words, "Do you really think I'd step into the Xie family's gates unprepared?", Xie Daozhi might have killed her right then and there.

Indeed, it made sense. If he weren't a ruthless character, how could he have committed such a despicable act in the past, one that still haunted Grandfather even in death?

What puzzled her was that gentleman from the Xie household.

Why did he step in at such a crucial moment to smooth things over?

To help her?

Impossible.

After all, they were still father and son.

No, that wasn't right!

He was buying time with a delaying tactic, in order to secretly investigate what she had claimed as her "precautions."

Upon realizing this, the composed expression on Yan Sanhe's face finally shifted.

Both father and son were shrewd individuals!

One thing was for sure: the Xie family would never uncover anything, for that statement was merely a fabrication on her part, meant to intimidate.

Thus, two possible outcomes emerged:

One was that Xie Daozhi, unable to discern her true intentions, would harbor caution and fear towards her. The other was that he would take the risk, choosing to eliminate her before she could act.

Yan Sanhe turned her head, eyeing the armed guards at the entrance.

Her skills might be enough to scale a wall and deal with one or two unskilled opponents, but against so many, there would be no escape but death.

At this moment, Yan Sanhe was filled with regret. If only she had foreseen the difficulty of this mission, she would have brought along that martial arts-trained maid, and they wouldn't be stuck in such a perilous situation now.

"Chief Steward Xie, your hot tea."

"Leave it there!"

Yan Sanhe's thoughts were interrupted as she halted in her tracks. Turning around, she saw Chief Steward Xie holding a teacup in one hand and gently lifting the lid with the other.

Thoughts stirring in her heart, she turned and entered the room.

This Yan person...

What is he up to?

Supervisor Xie's hand trembled, almost spilling tea all over himself.

Just as he set down his teacup, ready to follow and see what was happening, Yan Sanhe emerged, carrying a majestic armchair.

Supervisor Xie's posterior resettled onto his seat.

However, before he could properly settle, the armchair landed with a "pat" beside the bamboo chair. Yan Sanhe shook off the wrinkles from his green robe and sat down soundlessly.

The armchair was significantly taller than the bamboo one.

They sat side by side.

One sat with perfect poise, like a master;

One of them crouched down, resembling a servant.

Chief Eunuch Xie: "…"

With a fierce clench of his teeth, Chief Eunuch Xie was about to rise and fetch a master chair from the room when he noticed Yan Sanhe tapping her fingers on the backrest of the chair.

As he lifted his head, she lowered hers and spoke in a whisper that only they two could hear.

"Allow me to guess, what is your lord currently doing?"

Before Chief Eunuch Xie could react, Yan Sanhe provided the answer.

"He's probably sending people to investigate me!"

Chief Eunuch Xie: "…" How could she know?

"What a pity, he won't find anything."

Impossible!

My Third Master serves in the Five Cities Military and Civilian Administration. Even though he left the capital yesterday evening, his brothers in the office would know everything that happens!

Not a single move or person you, Yan Sanhe, have encountered since entering the capital can escape their watchful eyes.

In response, Manager Xie let out a dismissive "humph."

Yan Sanhe, seemingly oblivious to the sound, leaned even closer to Manager Xie.

"…Pass a message along to your lord," he said.

These words were whispered almost directly into Chief Eunuch Xie's ear.

Instead of feeling a warm breath, he felt every hair on his body stand on end.

"If anything happens to me, your entire Xie family won't survive for long!"

"..."

"Don't believe me? Go ahead and try it."

Chief Eunuch Xie's mind was jolted, feeling as if an enormous hand had clamped tightly around his throat, rendering him unable to utter a single word.

He shot to his feet and bolted out of the courtyard without turning back.