Xu Hengyan would have to gouge out his own eyes if he couldn't see that Yi Yanting and Xie Jiang's relationship was anything but ordinary.
Yi Yanting's reaction was clearly like his inverse scale had been touched.
Xie Jiang was his inverse scale.
It was truly unbelievable.
Xu Hengyan couldn't help but suspect that the Yi family and the Xie family had dealings long ago.
The Yi family was a prominent clan in the southeast, and prominent southeastern families were closely connected with maritime merchants. If the Yi family had dealings with the Xie clan...
It was also reasonable.
Otherwise, how could the relationship between Yi Yanting and Xie Jiang be explained?
Xie Jiang spent most of her time in the Duke of Wei's manor in the capital, and after arriving in Ninghe, she had always been under his watchful eye, giving her no opportunity to develop a friendship with Yi Yanting.
Xu Hengyan couldn't help but think of more.
Yi Yanting's earlier proposal to strengthen coastal defenses, build a navy, and open the maritime ban – was it related to the Xie clan?
Even before the Xie clan sent Xie Jiang to the capital, had they already... with the prominent southeastern families...
When did Xie Jiang come to Da Yu? Was she in the southeast before entering the capital?
Yi Yanting's attitude towards Xie Jiang made it impossible for him not to overthink.
However, all of this was just his speculation. Even if Xie Jiang was in the southeast before entering the capital, Yi Yanting had been in the capital all these years.
It was only two years ago, when the Qian family was wiped out overnight and His Majesty sent Yi Yanting to investigate the matter, that Yi Yanting spent several months in the southeast.
Did they meet at that time?
In a flash, Xu Hengyan thought of many possibilities, but it was also possible that Xie Jiang and Yi Yanting only met after Xie Jiang arrived in the capital.
It shouldn't be surprising, no matter how unbelievable things happened with Xie Jiang.
He hadn't spent much more time with her than Yi Yanting had.
Didn't he also regard her as a close friend? He was even willing to put himself in danger for her.
Xie Jiang's gaze flickered between the two. "If there are no survivors, then so be it. Grasshoppers in autumn don't have many days left to hop."
Listen to her tone! How could Xu Hengyan feel at ease?
"We were lucky to escape this time, but Lu Xuan and his son won't let it go. Although the bandits of Huanglan Mountain suffered heavy losses this time, their roots are still there, and we can't be too careful."
This brush with death was a result of her overconfidence, not taking her opponents seriously, which almost led to an irreversible situation!
Xie Jiang looked up at the sky. "I know, I know."
See how deeply ingrained her arrogant, overconfident, reckless, and impulsive image was.
Another day of pride in her superb acting skills.
Xu Hengyan walked up to her. "I have something to tell you."
"Hmm?"
"There are too many complicated matters in Ninghe, and I can't delay any longer. I plan to return to Ninghe first."
Since she had woken up, her trusted confidantes had arrived, and Yi Yanting was protecting her, Xu Hengyan had nothing to worry about.
Xie Jiang immediately thought of something. "Did the Huanglan Mountain bandits attack Ninghe county town again while you were away, rushing to Nanlong Slope to rescue me?"
Xu Hengyan nodded.
Xie Jiang looked at him. "Is the county town alright?"
Even if Xu Hengyan heard of her predicament and left Ninghe in a hurry, he couldn't have failed to foresee the potential situation in Ninghe afterward, nor could he have made no arrangements.
Xu Hengyan shook his head. "No."
If the Huanglan Mountain bandits dared to attack Ninghe, he would naturally make them pay. Even if he couldn't be in Ninghe, his subordinates were not mere decorations.
The Huanglan Mountain bandits suffered significant losses this time, which was also the best opportunity to suppress them.
Xie Jiang knew he wanted to take this opportunity to eradicate the Huanglan Mountain bandits in one fell swoop and bring peace to the people of Baiyou.
"Lu Xuan and his son are desperate. They are likely in the Huanglan Mountain bandit lair. Don't be too hasty."
While the Huanglan Mountain bandits were not to be feared, and she had never taken Lu Xuan and his son seriously, the father and son had served in the army for many years and didn't entirely rely on their ancestors' military merits to live in idleness.
Xu Hengyan nodded. "Don't worry."
The bandit problem had existed for a long time; he wasn't so impatient for quick success.
"Has Yi An examined your injuries? Is it alright to rush on the road like this?" Xie Jiang looked Xu Hengyan up and down. "You seem to be in good spirits."
"The two days you were unconscious, it was Doctor Lou who treated my injuries. You must be most aware of Doctor Lou's medical skills. My injuries are no longer serious."
Yi Yanting, hearing this, could no longer tolerate it. He placed the tea bowl in his hand heavily on the table.
The sound wasn't very loud, but it was somewhat abrupt.
Xu Hengyan and Xie Jiang turned to look.
They saw Yi Yanting, his expressionless face, stand up and walk out of the small courtyard.
From the moment Xu Hengyan appeared, she hadn't even glanced at him!
Her master was practically clinging to Xu Hengyan!
Xu Hengyan was going to return to Ninghe first, and did she want to go with him too!
How could he be so clueless and still stand there! Delaying their affectionate farewell, their reluctance to part!
Wen Feng, who was waiting outside the small courtyard, followed his master's footsteps while repeatedly looking back at Xie Jiang.
Her master was so angry he ran off, and Miss Xie wasn't even chasing after him!
Xie Jiang looked at Yi Yanting's receding back with confusion, then turned to look at Aunt He, who was tidying up the bowls and chopsticks.
Did Yi Yanting seem angry?
Who made him angry?
Doctor Lou Yi'an returned to his room at some point, and only Aunt He was left in the courtyard. Was the tea Aunt He brewed not to his taste?
Aunt He: "..."
She didn't want to take the blame.
Young Master Yi had clearly overturned the vinegar jar. The entire village was filled with the strong smell of vinegar, yet Young Master couldn't smell it at all with Young Master Xu around?
But Young Master Xu was still here, and Young Master hadn't yet taken him into his household. It was inconvenient to remind Young Master, lest Young Master Xu find out that her young master was already straddling two boats, and Young Master Xu refused to board?
Xu Hengyan had long sensed Yi Yanting's hostility towards him.
He also understood where Yi Yanting's hostility came from.
If it weren't for him, Xie Jiang wouldn't have rushed to Ninghe, and she wouldn't have gotten into trouble this time.
Since Yi Yanting regarded her as a close friend, it was only right for him to be blamed.
Xie Jiang put Yi Yanting's matter aside for the moment and asked Xu Hengyan, "When do you plan to depart?"
"Shortly."
If she hadn't been unconscious all this time, he wouldn't have wanted to delay here for a single day.
Now that she was awake, and with Doctor Lou and Aunt He taking care of her, he could feel at ease.
"So rushed?" Xie Jiang turned to a nearby room. "Yi'an, Young Master Xu is returning to Ninghe. Are his injuries serious?"
Doctor Lou Yi'an's figure appeared at the window. "Be careful on the road and don't rush too much, and there won't be any major problems. I'll prescribe some medicine for you to take."
Xu Hengyan thanked Lou Yi'an.
Xie Jiang looked at Lou Yi'an and said, "What about me?" Is it important to walk slowly on the road?
Lou Yi'an slammed the window shut, not wanting to bother with her at all. Didn't she know her own physical condition?
Xu Hengyan looked at her and smiled. "You don't have to rush. Why are you so eager to go back? Doctor Lou is also worried about your health. Tian Kangtai is watching the glass factory, so you don't need to worry. Just recuperate here properly. When your injuries have healed a bit, it won't be too late to return to Ninghe slowly."
Thinking of how she had rushed from the capital to Ninghe earlier, solely out of concern for him facing the Huanglan Mountain bandits, Xu Hengyan's expression became even more gentle and jade-like.
"Whether it's the Huanglan Mountain bandits or Lu Xuan and his son, I can handle them. You don't need to worry."