The letter bearing his seal had fallen into the hands of the White King of Nanzhao. What’s worse, it was delivered by his most beloved daughter. This letter proving his collusion with the enemy gave Sheng Fengze leverage over the lives of more than two hundred members of the Niu family.
Soon after, Yang Jingyuan and Sang Shisi came knocking at his door, their words subtly revealing their knowledge of the situation. Deputy Commander Niu felt his life was more bitter than gentian root. Without that letter, he could have brought himself to kill Fifth Miss. But now, caught between a rock and a hard place, he was so distraught he contemplated hanging himself.
Given the circumstances, Deputy Commander Niu could only make early preparations.
Seventh Miss and Sang Shisi had been betrothed since childhood. To avoid implicating the Sang family, Young Master Sang Shisi would keep his mouth shut.
He had originally planned to arrange an “accidental” arrow shot to kill Yang Jingyuan at the military training ground. But Fifth Miss deliberately fell from the building, ruining his plan. How could he not know his daughter? Unlike Seventh Miss who inherited his great strength and was skilled in archery and horsemanship, how could she possibly fall over the railing? Even if she did fall, she had the martial arts expert Yu Yuan by her side. When the moment came, Fifth Miss couldn’t bear to see Yang Jingyuan die.
“Yang Jingyuan, it’s all your fault for refusing the marriage and harming Fifth Miss! Harming the Niu family!” With no way out, Deputy Commander Niu directed all his anger at Yang Jingyuan.
Fortunately, Yang and Sang had no evidence, only suspicions based on some clues they’d discovered at the Zhao residence. Should he kill Yang Jingyuan on his way back to Santai?
Deputy Commander Niu considered it repeatedly before finally abandoning the idea. It would alert their enemies, and Yang Jingyuan’s martial arts were too formidable—if he escaped, it would only leave evidence of their guilt. Yang and Sang only suspected the Zhao family. A married daughter was like spilled water. If things went wrong, as long as Sheng Fengze didn’t produce that letter, the worst outcome would be losing his position and receiving some reprimands.
“The Niu and Zhao families are in the same boat now. At this point, we can only take it one step at a time. Governor, you’ll have to take the blame.” Deputy Commander Niu never imagined that marrying his daughter to a merchant and staying away from official circles could still lead to the disaster of colluding with foreign powers. Fifth Miss was right. The Governor was too greedy, withholding military pay, mistreating soldiers, and extorting wealthy households in the city. When Nanzhao breached Yizhou, the Governor would make the perfect scapegoat. Only this way could they fulfill her wishes and cover up the Niu family’s crimes.
After turning the matter over in his mind once more, Deputy Commander Niu rose and left, shaking his head. Both his sons were studying in Chang’an. He had already sent someone to Chang’an with strict instructions forbidding their return. Seventh Miss was married, and his wife was one with him—he truly had nothing left to worry about.
When Sang Shisi regained consciousness, Yang Jingyuan and Ji Yingying had already left. He opened his eyes to see Niu Qiniang’s face. Sang Shisi touched his neck, wondering if he was dreaming.
“Brother Shisi, I’m sorry, my father’s hand is heavy. He was too excited and couldn’t control his strength. Let me massage it for you!”
“No!”
Sang Shisi jumped in fright. Deputy Commander Niu’s heavy hand had knocked him unconscious with one excited pat on the back. Niu Qiniang’s strength was no less than her father’s—this massage might snap his neck.
His memory gradually returned. He remembered Yang Jingyuan and threw off the covers to get up: “Where’s Young Master Yang? We agreed to come together today.”
“He left. He wouldn’t even let Ji Erniang talk to me.”
“Ji Erniang came too?”
Niu Qiniang explained the situation resentfully: “Fifth Sister intercepted them first. She took Ji Erniang away and only then sent word that she’d bring her over after their talk. How was I to know something would happen? Besides, it wasn’t Ji Erniang who fell from the building, it was Fifth Sister. Why should Young Master Yang blame me?”
Fifth Miss Niu had ill intentions! Sang Shisi angrily said: “Ji Erniang came to bring you wedding gifts, and Fifth Sister inexplicably took her away. Didn’t it occur to you to go to Xuanjige to check? How would we explain to Third Brother if something happened to Ji Erniang? All brawn and no brains!”
After scolding her, he frightened himself, fearing a beating from Niu Qiniang. Unexpectedly, Niu Qiniang’s face showed a placating smile as she clung to his arm like a young wife: “I understand now. I’ll protect Ji Erniang in the future. After all, she’s your good brother’s wife.”
“Mm. Good girl.” Sang Shisi was pleasantly surprised, trying hard to keep a straight face while his lips curved up proudly.
Wanting to know how Yang Jingyuan’s conversation with Deputy Commander Niu had gone, he hastily bid farewell to Niu Qiniang and left the Niu residence.
Sitting in the Yang family carriage, Yang Jingyuan was about to ask how Fifth Miss Niu had fallen when he noticed Ji Yingying holding her wrist. He pulled her hand over to look and saw two deep finger marks that had broken the skin and drawn blood. Yang Jingyuan said angrily: “Are you stupid? She’s insane, let her die! Why did you try to save her? She’s fine while you’re injured.”
“It’s just a small wound. It doesn’t hurt anymore.” Ji Yingying pulled her hand back, feeling very uncomfortable.
The Yang family’s rejection of the Niu family’s marriage proposal was no secret in Yizhou City. Yang Jingyuan had never told Ji Yingying about it. Later, when the two families became in-laws, Ji Yaoting had learned something of it and told her. When she met Fifth Miss Niu during last year’s brocade competition, she thought the Niu family had invited her over because of Zhao Xiuyuan. Now Ji Yingying finally understood—Fifth Miss Niu had always harbored feelings for Yang Jingyuan.
“Third Brother, Fifth Miss Niu was trying to save you. Even if she had scratched me a few more times, I would still thank her.”
She murmured the day’s events. Yang Jingyuan snorted in derision, completely disbelieving: “Ji Yingying, you’re so gullible. When I arrived at the Niu residence, Sang Shisi wasn’t there, and I barely exchanged two sentences with Deputy Commander Niu before going to the training ground. Why would he suddenly want to kill me? How can you believe the words of a woman like Fifth Miss Niu?”
“But I saw those people who were competing with you at the training ground drawing their bows. If their arrows had deviated slightly, they would have been aimed at you. I was so frightened my heart nearly stopped. If Fifth Miss Niu hadn’t suddenly fallen, they might have shot at you. When I’ve seen Fifth Miss Niu before, she always wore plain clothes, but today she changed into a striking silver-red dress—wasn’t that to draw attention?” Ji Yingying kept seeing the smile on Fifth Miss Niu’s face as she fell, and her instincts told her Fifth Miss Niu’s words were true.
“What do you know?” Yang Jingyuan thought of Fifth Miss Niu threatening him to embrace her, his handsome face turning black as a pot bottom. Seeing Ji Yingying about to argue further, he angrily cupped her face and kneaded it, blurting out: “She… was shameless! Your husband was harassed by her, understand?”
Ji Yingying pushed his hands away and mumbled: “You’re the one who jumped up to embrace her.”
“What did you say?” Yang Jingyuan’s eyes nearly popped out. He was saving someone—how had it become throwing himself at her in Ji Yingying’s words?
Ji Yingying stuck out her tongue and looked at him innocently: “I didn’t say anything.”
“You did.”
“What did I say?”
Her playful defiance nearly drove Yang Jingyuan mad. He pulled her close and sealed her lips with his own. Only after kissing her until she could barely breathe did he release her spitefully: “That’ll teach you to talk nonsense. Be careful or I’ll discipline you.”
“Still two and a half years…”
Seeing Yang Jingyuan nearly apoplectic at her words again, Ji Yingying snuggled into his embrace, giggling: “Third Brother, will you return to Santai tonight?”
Not only did she provoke him with words, but she wanted to send him away. Yang Jingyuan was truly angry now, pulling away from her and turning his head to ignore her.
“You told Deputy Commander Niu you’d return to Santai tomorrow, but what if he means you harm? You should leave tonight. You’re not staying at Mingyue Residence anyway, so leaving early would put my mind at ease. I was wrong earlier, please don’t be angry?” Ji Yingying softened her voice to coax him.
Why hadn’t Sang Shisi gone to the Niu residence today? If Ji Yingying’s intuition was right, the situation was truly serious. Sheng Fengze’s collusion with the Zhao family alone wasn’t worth worrying about, but Deputy Commander Niu was a general in command of troops. If he returned tomorrow and someone ambushed him on the road, wouldn’t that prove Deputy Commander Niu was also in league with Sheng Fengze? Yang Jingyuan’s thoughts turned, and he grunted assent, agreeing to her suggestion.
Looking down and seeing Ji Yingying’s relief, knowing she was genuinely concerned for his safety, Yang Jingyuan held her close and used his finger dipped in tea to write a line on the table: “Remember this street and this person. After I leave, if there’s urgent news, you don’t need to send Hong You to Santai or find a courier station. Give the letter directly to this person.”
Ji Yingying memorized it carefully.