Qiao Zhao walked to Shao Mingyuan’s side: “General Shao, do you think Governor Li will make his move tonight?”

Shao Mingyuan smiled: “Very likely.”

“Does he have such audacity? Privately mobilizing government officers – that’s a capital offense!” Yang Houcheng said in disbelief.

Chi Can chuckled: “The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. As long as he eliminates all traces and prevents word from leaking out, who could take his head?”

Were there a few audacious people in this world? The remnants of Prince Su’s faction even dared to besiege the Eldest Princess. What was so strange about Governor Li taking desperate risks for his future and life?

“Eliminate all traces?” Yang Houcheng muttered these four words, feeling a chill rise from his heart. “He wouldn’t massacre everyone in the entire village, would he?”

Shao Mingyuan looked toward the courtyard gate: “Massacre, everyone wouldn’t be necessary, but the people of Baiyun Village are sacrificial pawns in Governor Li’s eyes. If he wants to move against us, he certainly can’t do so openly in the government’s name.”

“Tingquan, what exactly do you mean?” Yang Houcheng rubbed his hands together.

Shao Mingyuan looked at Qiao Zhao: “Zhaozhao, what do you think is the most likely way those people will appear?”

Qiao Zhao lowered her eyes to stare at her hands. Her pale fingers had some dust on them, stained from holding the fire poker earlier.

She said calmly, “I’ve thought about this question repeatedly on the way back. I think if Governor Li dares to act while not wanting to expose himself openly, he’ll very likely have those people disguise themselves as bandits, causing trouble.”

“Bandits?” When Chi Can heard these two words, a terrifying cold light burst from his eyes.

Those who had nearly caused his death him and his mother years ago – hadn’t they also used the guise of bandits?

He should have thought of this earlier!

Yang Houcheng suddenly understood: “Right, there’s no better way to disguise one’s identity. When bandits come to Baiyun Village, conflict with us would be inevitable. If they kill us all and flee, Governor Li would at most bear the blame for poor public security, which wouldn’t have any major impact on his career. Miss Li, how did you think of this?”

“I kept thinking, and then I thought of it.” Qiao Zhao smiled.

The truth behind the Qiao family fire was merely casual gossip to others, but to her, it was a heart-piercing past.

All her energy and thoughts were spent on this matter. What was strange about being able to think of things others couldn’t?

“Tingquan, how many people do you estimate they’ll send?” Yang Houcheng asked.

Shao Mingyuan raised his eyebrows and smiled: “To deal with me, to ensure absolute certainty, probably no fewer than a hundred men.”

“A hundred men?” Yang Houcheng jumped up directly, tugging his hair hard. “Then we’re finished.”

Shao Mingyuan remained composed, his gaze steady: “If the subordinates you brought can protect themselves, then it’s fine.”

Yang Houcheng sighed: “One-on-one might be manageable, but if it’s one against two or one against three, do you expect those decorative pillows to be useful?”

“What I’m worried about are these villagers,” Qiao Zhao said.

These past few days, the villagers had been spreading rumors about the Qiao family being haunted. Though Qiao Zhao was very annoyed to hear it, these people hadn’t committed any great wrongs. If their lives were at stake, she would feel uneasy.

“The villagers’ safety is indeed a problem. Fortunately, we’re staying at Tofu Beauty’s house. Her home is at the westernmost end, an isolated dwelling. Even if those people want to disguise their identity as bandits through killing, burning, and looting, they would only do so after eliminating us first. Before that, as long as the villagers don’t come out to watch the excitement at night, their safety can be temporarily guaranteed,” Shao Mingyuan said.

Yang Houcheng grimaced: “What if we really can’t hold them off? What about those villagers?”

Chi Can smiled coldly: “Yang Er, I didn’t realize you had such a compassionate heart. If we really can’t hold them off and all become short-lived ghosts, where would we have the energy to care about so much?”

Yang Houcheng sighed deeply: “Dying in such a place would be too ignominious. As a man, dying wrapped in a horse’s hide would be far more glorious!”

To die so miserably and still be mocked for being killed by bandits – he didn’t want that!

Seeing his friend’s worried expression, Chi Can rolled his eyes and sneered: “Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. When those people come, we’ll make sure none of them return!”

Yang Houcheng’s eyes widened: “Really? Just with our dozen or so people? Though Tingquan is formidable, he has only brought Yelo and Chen Guang. Two fists can’t defeat four hands!”

Chi Can glanced at Qiao Zhao and said indifferently, “Just because Tingquan won’t let anything happen to Third Miss Li.”

“Ah?” Yang Houcheng couldn’t help but glance at Qiao Zhao.

Qiao Zhao looked bewildered, not expecting Chi Can to say such a thing.

Shao Mingyuan chuckled softly: “Don’t worry, everyone. I won’t let anything happen to any of you.”

At Yan City in the Northern Territories, having had no choice but to take his wife’s life, that pain was enough for him to remember for a lifetime. How could he make such a mistake a second time?

Chi Can lazily raise his eyebrows: “Tingquan, stop being mysterious and tell us what backup plan you have.”

Shao Mingyuan glanced at Yelo not far away and smiled: “My personal guards are all capable of fighting five men each.”

When he spoke of fighting five each, he meant against the Northern Qi barbarians, famous for their ferocity. No matter where Governor Li brought reinforcements from, he believed they couldn’t be more ferocious than those barbarians.

“Even if each can fight five, you only have three people!” Yang Houcheng counted on his fingers and suddenly smiled. “Tingquan, are you including me in the count? Even so, adding those Imperial Guards, we could handle at most dozens of people…”

“You’re shameless!” Chi Can scoffed.

Yang Houcheng was displeased: “How is this shameless? Not counting Tingquan and his two personal guards, among all of us, I’m the most capable. Among the short ones, I’m still the tallest!”

“Yes, yes, yes, you’re the tallest among the short ones. Happy now?” Chi Can was too lazy to argue with Yang Houcheng and looked at Shao Mingyuan.

He had always been clear that in this regard, they were far inferior to Shao Mingyuan.

Not wanting them to continue bickering, Shao Mingyuan said softly: “To be honest with you, I brought thirty personal guards on this southern journey.”

This southern journey was private business. With his sensitive status, bringing too many personal guards would arouse suspicion from above, so those guards had to remain unseen, disguised as ordinary civilians following at a distance.

Chi Can showed an expression of “as expected.”

He had wondered how Shao Mingyuan could remain so calm – he must have been prepared. Otherwise, with his beloved’s life in danger, how could he be so nonchalant?

Yang Houcheng was stunned for a moment, then grinned: “That’s excellent! Tonight we can have a good fight!”

Fighting without pressure was certainly much better than being one-sidedly surrounded and attacked. With this thought, Yang Houcheng felt somewhat eager to try.

The atmosphere among the group suddenly relaxed.

“I’ll go find the village chief to give him some instructions,” Shao Mingyuan said, walking out of the courtyard gate.

Night gradually fell. Because the rumors about the Qiao family being haunted were spreading more intensely, the villagers had closed their doors early. The entire village was quiet, with no one stepping foot outside their courtyards.

The bright moon in the sky had somehow hidden behind dark clouds.

A group of black-clad figures took advantage of the night’s cover and quietly rushed toward the end of the village.