Xue Huai'an frowned. "You're in Shacheng now. If I tell him, it's uncertain whether you can safely return to the capital. How can you expose me to His Majesty?"
"You underestimate me." Qin Su said calmly, showing no concern for Xue Huai'an.
Even if he really did do that, Qin Su wasn't worried at all.
"It might cause me trouble, but returning to Beijing is still very simple."
"And even if I can't return to the capital, can you guarantee that the message won't reach His Majesty's ears?" She didn't come alone; she has plenty of ways and means to send the message back.
Xue Huai'an fell silent.
Qin Su didn't urge him.
It seems that the snowfall in Shacheng is not heavy. The snow these past two days has been very light, melting as soon as it lands in the palm of your hand, and it can't accumulate at all.
It should be snowing in Beijing by now. I wonder how Nannan is doing.
Seeing her head bowed, Xue Huai'an wondered what she was thinking. After a long silence, Xue Huai'an finally spoke, "Okay, I promise you."
"However, threats alone are probably not enough."
"I always have to get something out of it."
Her slender, fair hands toyed with the empty teacup, her bright, expressive eyes fixed on him. "What do you want?"
Qin Su thought he would bring up the matter of promotion, but he was already the Vice Censor-in-Chief, a very high-ranking official. There were quite a few officials who were jealous of him, and it would not be a good thing for him to climb higher at this time.
Xue Huai'an is a smart man; he won't be in such a hurry to achieve results.
But what else could he possibly want besides this?
Qin Su couldn't think of anything for a moment.
"I want to know who the man was with you in the black market that day."
Qin Su was stunned for a moment, never expecting him to make this a requirement.
"Are you sure you don't want to change the terms? I am, after all, the Princess Consort of Prince Chen. A promise would be more effective than this."
Xue Huai'an didn't think so. He felt that Qin Su's reluctance to talk about it meant that the person's identity must be questionable, or that their relationship wasn't ordinary.
"No change. Who exactly is he? That shouldn't be hard for you to answer."
It wasn't difficult to answer, but Qin Su could never reveal Yu Shuo's identity to Xue Huai'an.
How do you create an identity?
Qin Su had no sense of contractual obligation; what was wrong with fooling Xue Huai'an? The two of them didn't get along anyway.
"Thinking about how to fool me?" Xue Huai'an stared into Qin Su's eyes, seemingly trying to find clues in them.
Qin Su raised an eyebrow, "Am I that kind of person?"
“I did this for you, so you should at least keep your promise.”
"Even if I tell the truth, you might not believe me. Xue Huai'an, you're too suspicious."
"You seem to know me quite well. Tell me your opinion, whether you believe me or not is up to you."
“He was a good friend of mine when I was a child.” Qin Su thought of the person who left without saying goodbye back then, so she wasn’t afraid that Xue Huai’an would investigate.
"Then why would you wear a veil?" Xue Huai'an remained skeptical.
Why are they so close if they were childhood friends? They're closer than ordinary friends.
Qin Su leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and looked at Xue Huai'an. "He injured his face and has a scar on it. He always wears a veil to avoid strange looks."
"Everyone in White Tiger Stronghold knows about this. You can investigate if you don't believe me."
"Alright, if there's nothing else, let's get this done."
Xue Huai'an watched Qin Su's retreating figure, but this time he did not try to stop her.
"Everyone's gone." Huo Wu said from the doorway, holding his knife, his tone barely concealing his disdain.
Xue Huai'an withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Huo Wu, "You are my master now, this is not the tone you use to speak to your master."
Huo Wu: "..."
He would have run away long ago if it weren't for his former master's orders.
Once the master has chosen him, he cannot choose another master, even if the Third Prince comes.
Xue Huai'an didn't press him, and changed the subject, "Go and send an invitation to the city lord, and tell him that I have agreed to his request."
Huo Wu frowned deeply. He wanted to say something, but then he remembered what Huo Wu had just said, so he held back.
Even if it weren't for the fact that Xue Qi would bring it up, he would follow behind Xue Huai'an and say, "Are you really going to help Princess Chen?" He just couldn't see how it was worth it.
"Let's see."
...
Qin Su wasn't entirely at ease with Xue Huai'an. When she learned that Xue Huai'an was going to the City Lord's Mansion at night, she disguised herself and sneaked into the mansion under the cover of darkness.
With the topographical map provided by Zhuang Heyu, she was able to perfectly avoid patrols and remain undetected.
Who are you? What are you doing there?
A maid walked over. Because Qin Su was in the shadows, she couldn't see Qin Su's face clearly, but she could tell that the maid was slender and should be a maid in the manor. Or perhaps a dancer who had just arrived.
Today, the city lord is hosting a banquet for distinguished guests and has summoned dancing girls.
As she approached, she was suddenly struck by the fact that the person was dressed in black. She immediately realized something was wrong, but before she could speak, Qin Su subdued her and knocked her unconscious with a single blow.
He managed to evade the patrol, but failed to notice that he had been spotted by a maid.
She suddenly had an idea, took off her outer garment, and put it on herself. Then she quickly tidied her hair and went inside.
She wandered around the city lord's mansion and soon found the backyard, which was guarded and should be where Luo Zhi was being held.
"What are you doing over there? We're short-staffed in the front office."
A man who looked like a butler called out to Qin Su, forcing her to stop and turn around with her head down.
You look a bit unfamiliar.
“Raise your head.”
Qin Su had already begun to consider whether to kill her to silence her, or do the same to the maid.
They knocked the person unconscious and then changed their identity.
No, this person must have a certain status in the household; it might be inappropriate to abruptly change their identity.
"This servant...this servant is newly recruited," she replied timidly, bowing her head humbly.
The man nodded thoughtfully. "We did bring in a group of maids a few days ago. Here's what we'll do: you go help out in the front hall, we don't need anyone here."
Qin Su had no desire to leave; she suspected that Luo Zhi was over there.
But there are too many people here, and if I kill a man, it will most likely alert the enemy.
That was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.
"Alright. But I'm new here and don't know the way very well."
The man led her there.
With him by her side, Qin Su had no worries about her identity being exposed.
"Today the city lord is hosting a banquet for distinguished guests, so you mustn't offend anyone. If you are favored by these guests, you might rise to great heights," the man rambled on. "You'd better serve them well."
He had just noticed that this maid was quite beautiful and might have extraordinary potential.
Qin Su: "..."
She agreed hesitantly, looking just like a country girl who had never seen the world.
"Go ahead." He pushed Qin Su over and had someone hand her the tray.
Qin Su carefully looked around and saw that the person sitting in the lower seat was an old acquaintance.
Xue Huai'an.
Tsk... Does this mean she's stumbled upon another weakness of his?
Qin Su raised an eyebrow.
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