"Your Highness, are you trying to draw out the assassins?" Yan Jin Chao asked calmly.
The Prince of Beijiang looked at him and said, "Precisely."
"Your Highness, the city is filled with many citizens. I fear innocent lives might be harmed, so I do not approve of your decision."
The Prince of Beijiang stood with his hands behind his back and said slowly, "I can think of no better method, Young Master Yan. Do you have one?"
"Not at the moment," Yan Jin Chao replied.
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Beijiang chuckled, "This is unlike you, Young Master Yan. I thought you would surely have a solution."
"Rather than dealing with them in the city, it would be better to keep the person in our residence and lure the tiger into its lair."
"But I do not know who the rescuer is."
"Your Highness, wouldn't the assassins know where the person is?"
The Prince of Beijiang burst into laughter, "Young Master Yan, the way you put it makes me think you know who the assassin is."
"If I knew, I would tell Your Highness."
The Prince of Beijiang looked at Yan Jin Chao with a hint of depth, "Very well, I will remember your words."
"But I truly do not know," Yan Jin Chao said plainly.
The Prince of Beijiang couldn't help but laugh, "Indeed. I still don't know myself."
"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!" Yan Jin Chao said, moving towards the exit.
"Young Master Yan..." the Prince of Beijiang suddenly called out to him.
Yan Jin Chao turned back to face the Prince of Beijiang, "Does Your Highness require anything else?"
The Prince of Beijiang stepped forward and said, "Young Master Yan, you know that your maid injured Yu Li."
"Yes, I am aware. Miss Jiang forced her way into the Yan Manor, and Ah Ning merely did what any household member should do. Anyone else would have done the same."
The Prince of Beijiang frowned slightly, his tone chilling considerably, "But I cannot let this go."
Yan Jin Chao looked up, his gaze serene and undisturbed. Just then, he heard a faint sound from outside.
He stepped out and saw Ah Ning surrounded by many guards.
"Your Highness, is it not unreasonable for so many people to deal with one frail woman?"
The Prince of Beijiang let out a cold chuckle, "We are merely preventing her from escaping."
"So many people to prevent one frail woman from escaping? Your Highness, your men are quite useless."
The Prince of Beijiang's expression darkened, and he said, "Young Master Yan..."
Yan Jin Chao interrupted him, stating calmly, "This time I can imagine why Your Highness's men cannot catch the assassins. It is not for any other reason, but because Your Highness's men are all useless."
"Yan Jin Chao." The Prince of Beijiang's voice was terrifyingly dark.
Yan Jin Chao remained unfazed and continued, "Your Highness, useless men should not be employed. It's best to dispose of them. Perhaps I can help you resolve this matter!"
The Prince of Beijiang froze. In that moment of stunned silence, he felt a gust of wind sweep past him, followed by thudding sounds. When he regained his senses, he saw his guards lying on the ground, incapacitated.
"Yan Jin Chao, what are you doing?" The Prince of Beijiang was truly enraged.
"As I said, men as useless as these are better off dealt with by me. Keeping them only makes them more of a burden," Yan Jin Chao looked up and said calmly to the Prince of Beijiang.
The Prince of Beijiang's hands trembled with anger. If it weren't for the fact that Yan Jin Chao was still useful to him, he would have killed him on the spot.
"It seems Your Highness is tired and needs to rest. I shall take my leave!" With that, Yan Jin Chao grabbed Xue Zi Ning's hand and walked out.
The remaining guards dared not step forward casually, as the Prince had not given any orders. They only watched until the pair had left the Prince's mansion.
Once they were in the carriage, Yan Jin Chao released Xue Zi Ning's hand. "Young Master, thank you."
Had Yan Jin Chao not been so determined to protect her today, judging by the Prince of Beijiang's demeanor, she would not have been able to leave the Prince of Beijiang's mansion in such good condition.
Yan Jin Chao looked at her calmly, "Your Highness, the Prince of Beijiang indeed wanted to detain you today because you took action against Miss Jiang."
"I know," Xue Zi Ning replied.
"From now on, whether within the manor, outside, or even in the Prince of Beijiang's mansion, do not be restrained. Make your own decisions, and do not fear causing trouble..."
Yan Jin Chao suddenly paused. Xue Zi Ning, hearing this, was startled and looked up, meeting his bright, star-like eyes, which stirred her heart.
He turned his face away, looking elsewhere, and said softly, "I can protect you."
Xue Zi Ning's body trembled. She blinked, "Young Master, do you mean that I can cause trouble with impunity, and you will clean up the mess for me?"
Yan Jin Chao placed a hand on his forehead. After a long moment, he let out a soft hum, which, though muffled, she heard clearly.
"Thank you, Young Master," Xue Zi Ning said, a sense of melancholy filling her heart. Regardless of whether the current Yan Zhao Ji remembered her or not, he was protecting her in his own way.
What virtue did she possess to be worthy of his wholehearted protection?
"Young Master, I will not cause you trouble."
Yan Jin Chao hummed in response.
Upon arriving at the Yan Manor, Xue Zi Ning was the first to alight from the carriage. She then reached her hand inside, and the cool touch met her palm. She paused for a moment. Perhaps it was her habit of his warmth, but this coolness made her memories ache.
Once inside the manor, Yan Jin Chao suddenly spoke, "You must be tired today. Go and rest!"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Yes, Young Master."
As she was planning to leave anyway, this provided her with a perfect opportunity.
Returning to her room, she changed into men's attire and leaped out from the back courtyard.
She made her way to Shen Yun Xiu's residence.
The residence was empty. She sat on a stone chair in the courtyard, waiting for Shen Yun Xiu to return.
It wasn't until dusk that the main gate was pushed open, and Shen Yun Xiu walked in. As he saw the person on the stone chair by moonlight, he was slightly startled, "Your Majesty..."
"It is I..." Xue Zi Ning stood up and walked towards him.
Shen Yun Xiu quickly said, "Your Majesty, please be seated. This humble subject will brew some tea for you."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Alright."
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Shen Yun Xiu brought over the tea and placed it before Xue Zi Ning. Then he said, "Your Majesty has come to inquire about Prince Yun?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Yes. Have any anomalies been discovered regarding Yun Duan Hai?"
Shen Yun Xiu shook his head, "Not yet. I mentioned matters of the capital during our conversations, and he showed no unusual reaction."
"Do you find that credible?"
Shen Yun Xiu paused slightly, looking at her. After a while, he said, "Your Majesty, the human heart is the most difficult thing to fathom. This humble subject still hopes Your Majesty will be cautious."
"Very well. I think so too. Tomorrow is the city day. Have you heard anything about the Prince of Beijiang's plans?"
Shen Yun Xiu said in a low voice, "This humble subject has heard that the Prince will be placing the person in the Prince of Beijiang's mansion tomorrow."
"This means it presents an opportunity for me, but I do not plan to act tomorrow," Xue Zi Ning stated.
Shen Yun Xiu was startled by this, "Your Majesty, do you suspect a trap?"
"Yes. We will see tomorrow," Xue Zi Ning replied. She did not believe the Prince of Beijiang would tell Shen Yun Xiu such an important matter out of goodwill.
Shen Yun Xiu nodded, "Very well. Your Majesty must be extremely careful tomorrow."