Chapter 73: Qin Zhenning

Chapter 73 Qin Zhenning

"My Lord, assassins!"

The guards, Ma Fei and Cheng Zhuo, driving outside, simultaneously drew their swords from beneath the carriage and engaged the attackers, shouting a warning.

Jiang Wan, wielding a long whip, quickly emerged from the carriage. She cautiously scanned her surroundings, and upon confirming the limited number of masked men, she turned back and issued an order.

"You two stay put for now. Third Brother, guard your Second Sister with your blade!"

"Understood, Eldest Sister!"

Jiang Yaozu retrieved a large cleaver from under the bench and darted to the carriage door, shielding his delicate and seemingly helpless Second Sister from danger. Jiang Han also crouched behind her younger brother, raising her wrist-mounted crossbow, ready to provide support to her sister at any moment.

The three siblings worked together seamlessly, a clear indication that this was not their first such encounter. After all, their father was Jiang Huailiang, the Duke of Ling, the emperor’s most favored noble in the Dayu Dynasty. As legitimate, high-ranking aristocrats, it would have been unusual for them not to have faced some dangers growing up.

Jiang Wan swung her long whip, aiming directly for the assailants' necks.

Her whip skills were already perfected. Combined with her innate strength, the blend of flexibility and power doubled its effectiveness. From her initial inexperience to her current unflinching resolve in deadly combat, it had taken only a little over half a year.

This time, the confrontation was resolved swiftly. The ten masked men were surprisingly compliant—the moment they realized they were outmatched, they turned and fled. It hardly seemed like an assassination attempt; it felt more like a sparring session.

As Jiang Wan coiled her whip, she listened to the guards' report.

"Miss Jiang, these weren’t professional assassins. They were just ordinary people with no real martial skill."

"Let’s head back to the manor first."

"Yes!"

The carriage sped along without further incident.

Jiang Wan arranged for her Second and Third Siblings to go to their grandparents' residence to compose themselves, while she went directly to inform her parents.

"Bandits again? Are any of you hurt?"

Xu Shi anxiously pulled her daughter closer, examining her.

"I'm fine, Mother, please don't worry. Second and Third are also completely unharmed. I've already sent them to pay their respects to Grandpa and Grandma."

"It's good that no one was injured. Come, sit down and tell us everything!"

While pulling her daughter to sit, she turned to look at her husband.

"Husband, when will the hidden guards you promised for the children finally be arranged? They keep encountering trouble every few days. I'm worried sick."

"Soon. Third Brother's situation is easy to manage, and Eldest Daughter can make do for now. The challenge is finding a female martial artist for Second Daughter. It's simply not easy to find one quickly."

Jiang Huailiang also frowned.

"Eldest Daughter, how about you take more guards with you when you go out? That way, your father and I can rest easy."

Jiang Wan sighed.

"Father, the distance from our home to the palace isn't far. Other families don't make such a grand display. If the three of us bring a whole retinue, wouldn't that be too conspicuous? Wouldn't you risk being impeached by the censors for showing off?"

"But their children don't face danger every other day! No, I'm going to the palace to speak with the Emperor before the gates close for the day."

Father stood up, ready to leave.

"Father, wait!"

Jiang Wan stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Today's assailants weren't professional assassins. Ma Fei and the others checked and said they were just ordinary people without any martial skills. Father, have you offended anyone recently?"

"How should I know? Your father makes enemies all over every day. Who knows which bastard is behind this?"

"Then what would you even say to the Emperor? Unless the three of us never leave the house again, what good solution is there? Really, you should think carefully about who holds a grudge against our family and always wants us dead."

"I truly don't know!"

Jiang Huailiang scratched his head in frustration.

"In official circles, there's an unwritten rule: unless absolutely necessary, no one targets another's wife and children. Firstly, it's too low-class. Secondly, it risks retaliation—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I've thought it over carefully these past few days, and I truly haven't made any enemies who would want my children dead. Even that scoundrel Old Ji—I haven't gone that far against him. He wouldn't go out of his way to send people after you."

"Then who could it be?"

Father and daughter sat pondering together. Xu Shi listened with a thoughtful expression, her eyes flickering.

"Wan'er, think carefully. In these recent attacks, were the assailants primarily targeting you?"

Her voice was soft, but it made Jiang Wan pause.

"Mother, do you have a clue?"

"Perhaps."

"Wife, tell me, which scoundrel dares to target my daughter? I won't let them get away with it!"

"Don't rush. Let me investigate first. For now, let's go to Father and Mother's courtyard for the evening meal. We can discuss everything later."

After the family finished their meal and settled everyone, young and old, Xu Shi returned to her room. She took out an exquisitely crafted intertwined-vine jade pendant, a flicker of pain in her eyes.

She decided to visit Qin Zhenning the next day to ask about the so-called truth from all those years ago.

The next morning, Xu Shi arrived at the Qin residence and presented her calling card. Shortly after, she was led into the parlor.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of Madam Jiang’s visit today?"

Even nearing forty, Qin Zhenning remained as handsome as a fine antique jade. The streaks of white at his temples did not add disarray but rather a handsomeness aged gracefully.

Xu Shi took a deep breath and looked at this man she had called brother-in-law for many years. Complex emotions churned intensely in her eyes.

"Why have you remained unmarried and childless?"

His face showed no expression, his gaze as indifferent as if he were looking at a stranger.

"What does that have to do with Madam Jiang? I was unlucky enough to meet the wrong person back then and was betrayed by someone without principles. Aren’t you the one who knows the whole story best?"

That cruel woman, Xu Ruojin, had tricked him and fled with her sister, abandoning him. From that moment on, the person Qin Zhenning hated most in this world was Xu Ruoyu!

"You're so fortunate to have an elder sister who loves you more than life itself!"

Xu Shi's heart twinged with pain upon hearing this.

She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "I didn't come here today to hash out old grievances. I just want to ask you one thing—were you truly unaware of what happened back then?"

Qin Zhenning frowned slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Xu Shi.

"What matter?"

"Did you... did you betray my sister back then?"

He scoffed. "After all this time, when your sister has long since married off to someone else, you still come to pin false accusations on me about things from the past? How absurd! If there's nothing else, Madam Jiang, please leave. This humble place isn't fit to host a lady of your status. There's no need for you to seek me out in the future, so we don't end up resenting each other more."

Xu Shi fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Perhaps it is indeed too late to speak of this now, but I still wish to get answers for my sister."

Her gaze was piercing.

"Back then, were you genuinely offering help, or did you have another agenda?"

Qin Zhenning rose to his feet, turning his back to Xu Shi.

"Believe what you want—I have no desire to revisit the past."