Chapter 98 Premeditated Restlessness

Chapter 98: Brewing Turmoil

Luo Yue, who was about to die of anxiety on the side, finally couldn't help but interrupt Luo Bei: "And Qin Yuanshan has always wanted to offer you up to the Second Prince. His earlier arrangement for you to go to Miao Manor for a consultation was also a trap. Fortunately, the Prince arrived in time that day, or else you'd have been in big trouble!"

After Luo Yue finished, Qin Jiao sat frozen, holding his teacup for a long time.

After a while, he murmured, "They've got some nerve. They already have Qin Chaole, and now they want to drag me in too."

At this moment, Qin Jiao was so mad he almost laughed. Abandoning him in Nanzhou for three years wasn't enough; barely back in the capital, Qin Yuanshan was already eager to throw him into the fire.

"In their eyes, is a son just some gift to be passed around from house to house?"

Qin Jiao had originally thought that even if Qin Yuanshan disliked him, he could just keep his distance. But now it seemed that "the tree wants to be still, but the wind won't stop." He just wanted to mind his own business, but they wanted to tear him down.

Qin Jiao couldn't help but curse under his breath: "How ridiculous!"

"In my opinion, Young Master should take the chance to move to the Prince's residence. Those people in the Qin Mansion are bad news!"

Luo Yue shot Xie Nai a look and said indignantly.

Luo Bei on the side didn't speak but nodded slightly in agreement.

Qin Jiao was normally pretty easygoing, hardly ever even got red in the face, let alone cursed. But this time he was truly furious, his eyes bloodshot and his face twisted in rage.

Xie Nai took the cold tea from Qin Jiao's hand and handed him a fresh cup of tea. "Xie Chengyi and Miao Mao can't stay around anymore. I'll find a chance to get rid of them in a few days."

Then he glanced at Qin Jiao and added, "As for Vice Minister Qin, you can find a chance to talk to him."

Xie Nai believed that even if Qin Jiao intended to move out of the Qin Mansion, he should first clarify Qin Yuanshan's reasons for "using his own son to curry favor." You can't just avoid things—you have to ask questions and get to the bottom of it. One cannot evade problems for fear of facing them, or you'll mess up and miss the truth.

As for after the truth was revealed, whether Qin Jiao wanted to live in the Prince's residence or set up his own place, it was up to him.

"When the time is right, I'll go talk to my father and get this straightened out."

Qin Jiao knew very well that Qin Yuanshan had a typical overbearing father mentality. If he went to question him without solid evidence, he might even end up getting blamed for it.

Xie Nai: "As long as Young Master has his own plan, that's fine."

Although Xie Nai cared about Qin Jiao, he wouldn't stick his nose in too much. Everyone has their own choices to make; others can only offer suggestions, not act on their behalf.

Qin Jiao: "By the way, how does the Prince plan to take down the Second Prince and Miao Mao?"

Just now Xie Nai said he would find a day to deal with them, so he probably already had a strategy.

Xie Nai: "First, let's wait and see. There's no good opportunity at the moment."

Catching bad guys is like going to war; you need careful planning to ensure success. Xie Nai would not strike unless he was sure to clean house and completely crush Xie Chengyi and the Second Prince's Faction behind him.

"If you need a hand, Prince, just say the word."

After all, Qin Jiao was also caught up in this mess. Although he liked to laze around, just sitting around waiting for doom was not his style either.

Xie Nai agreed: "Good."

—

"Good."

At the same time, in the Second Prince's mansion, Miao Mao also lowered his eyes and replied.

"Prepare the strongest 'Charming Spring.' I want Qin Jiao to remember this night well!" Xie Chengyi's face, hidden in the darkness, twisted savagely, and his voice was hoarse and cold.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will make sure you are satisfied." Miao Mao's purple pupils flickered with sinister light.

Beside Xie Chengyi stood a very tall man.

He wore a dark blue cloud-patterned brocade robe with peacock motifs, a gold crown on his head, and eyes black as ink. The soft glow of the East Sea pearls in the room lit up a scar the length of a finger on the left side of his face.

Xie Chengyi: "Xie Ji'an, you must keep an eye on Xie Nai then. If he comes looking, I'll make you suffer!"

"Yes, Second Brother," the man replied softly.

"Damn Xie Nai! If he hadn't interfered, how could the position of chief examiner for the imperial examinations have fallen to that old stick-in-the-mud Wu Xianyi? Since you've blocked my path, I'll deal with your people!"

Xie Chengyi sneered smugly, and Miao Mao chimed in: "You are truly wise, Your Highness. You've found the Prince of Lingnan's weak spot."

That day at Miao Manor, Miao Mao observed Xie Nai and Qin Jiao's interaction. At first he didn't understand, but after hearing the maids describe in detail the conflict between Xie Nai and Xie Chengyi in the small garden, he finally connected the dots.

Xie Chengyi sneered: "Hah, just a Xie Nai. I could crush him with one hand."

Seeing Xie Chengyi growing more complacent, Xie Ji'an couldn't help but secretly mock him: "Idiot."

Xie Xuanran has clearly long been on guard against you, Second Brother. Coupled with that fox-like cunning Lin Wen by his side, how could the position of chief examiner have fallen to you?

Xie Ji'an lowered his head, hiding the disdain in his eyes: "Drinking and womanizing all day, and you think you can defeat Xie Nai? Yeah, right."

Speaking of the examinations, Xie Chengyi suddenly remembered something and glared fiercely at Xie Ji'an beside him: "And you, be smart. Don't think that just because Wu Xianyi favors you, you've hit the jackpot. I can crush you even more easily than Xie Nai."

"Rest assured, Second Brother," Xie Ji'an said humbly, lowering his head even further. "Ji'an always remembers his place and will not dare to disobey your orders."

"That's what I figured."

Seeing the other's submissive demeanor, Xie Chengyi's anger eased a bit: "Enough, I'm tired. All of you go prepare. Miao Mao, go notify Qin Yuanshan and Qin Chaole. Tell them that if they mess up this time, I'll make them pay!"

"Rest assured, Your Highness."

After bowing, Miao Mao and Xie Ji'an left the room one after another.

As soon as they stepped out, they heard a woman gasp: "Oh no, they're coming out! Quick, go!" "Who's there?" Miao Mao demanded in a low voice.

Xie Ji'an also looked toward the source of the sound. In the pitch-black night, he saw a flash of pink gauze quickly disappear into the dense shrubbery.

Xie Ji'an's eyes darkened. As Miao Mao moved to give chase, Xie Ji'an reached out to stop him: "Doctor Miao, no need to panic. That's just a stray cat."

Miao Mao: "A stray cat?"

"Naturally, a stray cat." Xie Ji'an's tone was calm but meaningful. "Doctor Miao is a smart man. It's not hard to judge who will win between the Second Prince and the Prince of Lingnan. So letting that 'stray cat' escape might be for the best, keeping your options open."

Miao Mao looked at Xie Ji'an with some surprise. "I didn't expect you to be such a cold-hearted guy."

Xie Ji'an didn't respond further. He smiled gently and walked away. Not far off, he saw a eunuch leading a man and a woman into Xie Chengyi's villa.

On that day when the snow had just melted, the man and woman were only draped in a thin layer of gauze. Let alone keep out the wind, under the corridor lights their skin was exposed, barely covering themselves.

Miao Mao naturally saw this too. His purple pupils darkened, and after a long while he murmured softly, "It seems it truly was a stray cat causing trouble."

When Qin Jiao returned to the mansion that evening, just as he reached the entrance, someone in a cloak stepped in front of him.

_

On a pitch-black night, Qin Jiao suddenly saw a slender shadow and was scared half to death.

But before Qin Jiao could speak, the cloaked figure spoke first, "I want to talk to you."

"I don't think we have anything to talk about," Qin Jiao frowned.

"I can tell you about the Second Prince, but you need to help me with two things as well." The speaker's face was completely hidden in the cloak, half in light, half in shadow, with an uncanny allure.

"This deal is a sure gain for you—no risk." Afraid Qin Jiao wouldn't believe him, he added.

Qin Jiao suddenly remembered Xie Nai saying earlier, "There's no good opportunity yet," and now, just when he was nodding off, someone handed him a pillow—exactly what he needed.

"Let's talk in my courtyard."

After saying this, Qin Jiao entered the mansion, and the other person, without hesitation, sneaked past others and followed him to Mushan Residence.

"We're here. Aren't you going to take off your cloak?"

The room was nice and warm, and Qin Jiao had taken off his cloak as soon as he came in.

"Okay, I'll begin with this."

Qin Jiao was totally baffled by what he said: "What do you mean?"

But the next moment, he took off his cloak, rolled up his sleeves, and showed his scar-covered arm to Qin Jiao. "That was three years ago..."

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