Chapter 76: The Eve of the Storm

After a few days of peace, Xia Xue was still the same as usual, going out when she should go out and visiting friends when she should.

But she clearly felt that the guards in the Prime Minister's Mansion had been strengthened a lot.

Chu Zhenxuan has been going out early and coming back late these days, and the security in the entire Kyoto seems to have been strengthened a lot, with the number of guard patrol shifts and personnel increased.

Xia Xue knew that the storm was not far away.

Those people from the Hu Kingdom actually ate and drank as usual. The welcoming ceremony held by the Emperor was scheduled for the third day of next month, and they seemed to be really visiting on a friendly basis, waiting for the ceremony to be over before leaving.

Xia Xue knew that the calmer it seemed on the surface, the more severe the storm would be.

Xia Xue went to the Xia Mansion again and said that after the eldest wife returned to the Xia Mansion, she was much more humble than before, and that except for attending court, Xia Tianyu spent almost all his time with his wife who had shared his hardships.

Talented and virtuous people are like waves on the sea; they come with great force and go away without a trace.

In the Xia Mansion, no one mentioned Cai Deqizhu anymore.

Xia Xue has basically become the old lady's confidant now. Every time she comes to the Xia Mansion, the old lady Xia will call Xia Xue to chat for a long time.

"Xue'er, I don't know if it's because I'm getting old, but recently I've been feeling my eyelids twitching and having nightmares. I don't know what's going on."

"Grandma may be overthinking it, but Kyoto has been different lately. I feel like something is going to happen."

"I feel the same way. As long as these barbarians don't leave, I will feel uneasy."

"Even if they leave, they won't necessarily be at peace. Cai Deqijia is a person who will never let it go. With the current strength of the Hu Kingdom, it is impossible for them to go to war with Da'an. However, they are good at assassination, which is the most terrifying thing."

"If Cai Deqijia wants to take revenge, the Xia family will be the first to bear the brunt, especially the eldest branch..."

"During the time Cai Deqizhu came to the Xia family, she didn't do anything good. Morally speaking, the Xia family has done their best for her. If Cai Deqizhu hadn't wanted to kill my cousin in the end, I'm afraid my cousin wouldn't have divorced her."

Old Madam Xia nodded. Xia Tianyu was a sentimental man. Even if Cai Deqizhu wanted to harm him, she was still reluctant. However, those barbarians would not reason with you.

The two discussed for a long time. Old Madam Xia felt that the Xia Mansion needed to strengthen its guard. Xia Xue said that she would go back and discuss with Chu Zhenxuan to find some reliable people among his subordinates. Now Kyoto might be full of Hu people who had infiltrated. If more people were sent temporarily, it would be even more unsafe.

Xia Xue returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and thought about this matter over and over again. She had indeed been too quiet recently.

Xia Xue also sent someone to the palace to pass on the message. The palace has been the same as usual recently. The concubines are just quarreling with each other and arguing with each other, but nothing special has happened.

Recently, Jiang Xiaoyi is the most favored one. The emperor is busy on weekdays and basically does not come to the harem, but whenever he comes, he basically turns to Jiang Xiaoyi's name card. Maybe it is because Jiang Xiaoyi rescued the emperor from Hong Liangdi.

Naturally, there was a wave of jealousy in the harem, but there was nothing anyone could do.

Concubine Ying's belly was getting bigger and bigger. The imperial physician said that the baby was bigger than normal and asked Concubine Ying to control her diet, otherwise the baby would be too big and cause a difficult delivery.

When the other concubines heard this, although they showed concern on the surface, they were secretly happy in their hearts, and some of them hoped that Concubine Ying could give birth safely.

In ancient times, giving birth was like a woman going through the gates of hell. Whether or not she could give birth successfully depended on her fate. If she had good luck, everything would be fine. If she had bad luck, then it would be all over.

Seeing that nothing special happened, Xia Xue didn't pay too much attention to the palace, but Xia Xue had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

That day, Xia Xue was preparing to talk to Chu Zhenxuan about increasing the Xia family's deployment, but Chu Zhenxuan only came back when they reached the border of Hai and Zi.

"Why aren't you asleep yet so late?" Chu Zhenxuan put his arm around Xia Xue's shoulders and kissed him on the forehead.

The weather has been getting colder recently. Every time Chu Zhenxuan came back, he brought a biting cold with him, and a charcoal fire had already been lit in the inner room.

"I've been feeling something is not right lately. I want to discuss with you whether you have any familiar or reliable subordinates who can send more people to the Xia family."

"What feels wrong?" Chu Zhenxuan raised the corner of his mouth and scratched Xia Xue's nose.

Xia Xue pouted and glared at him, "I can't really explain it for now. I feel like I've been too calm."

Chu Zhenxuan sighed, "Even you feel it."

"Why, is there really a problem?"

Chu Zhenxuan nodded. Zuo Qing reported back that the more than 2,000 Hu people in Seabuckthorn were basically ordinary servants without any martial arts foundation. However, she said that she remembered very clearly that when she first registered in Seabuckthorn City, she felt that many people had martial arts foundation, but now suddenly they didn’t. It seemed that they had changed?

But our people have been watching them, and apart from eating, sleeping and going out as normal, there is no obvious difference. So how did these people get replaced?

In addition, how many Hu people came this time, and what is their real goal?

If it was for Cai Deqizhu, then that was absolutely impossible. If Cai Deqizhu had that status, she would have shown it when she came to Da'an, without having to wait until today.

Xia Xue pondered for a while, "Does the emperor know?"

"The Emperor is also sending his secret guards to investigate, but they seem to have no clues."

"It's just too peaceful. I always feel like a storm is coming. When the princess was about to take action that day, the people around her tried to stop her in various ways, asking her not to ruin the big event. But what exactly is this 'big event' they are talking about?" Xia Xue said indifferently.

"In any country, the most important thing is the change of dynasties."

Chu Zhenxuan and Xia Xue were stunned, and suddenly there was a consensus in their eyes.

Even if the Hu Kingdom wanted to do something big, it would be impossible for people from the Hu Kingdom to take over Da'an, unless they colluded with an insider.

The two looked at each other.

"If something happens to the emperor, who will be the biggest beneficiary?" Xia Xue asked.

"Prince."

"The most powerful among the princes"

"Prince Lu."

"The emperor has had similar concerns, so he has been keeping strict tabs on all the princes. There has been no feedback of any unusual behavior from them recently," said Chu Zhenxuan.

"How many people saw you use the tiger talisman to kill Pan Zhenzhen that day?"

"It's hard to say. I was just worried that you would get hurt. If it was from the Xia Mansion, then Old Madam Xia must have seen it, but if it was someone else, they might not recognize it."

But when Old Madam Xia spoke to her later, there were still a few people around her.

"Do you have someone you trust particularly who can keep the tiger talisman temporarily? I think all our current things should be moved, including the people." Xia Xue's eyes sparkled, and there seemed to be a fire in her heart.

"good."

Xia Xue suddenly smiled, "Instead of sitting here and making wild guesses, why don't we just attack directly? Maybe we can find some clues?"

Chu Zhenxuan tapped Xia Xue's forehead with his fingertips, "What do you want to do now?"

Xia Xue's watery eyes were sparkling.