Zhu Qing was so tense he didn’t dare breathe heavily.

Yet Xie Sanye before him acted as if he hadn’t noticed, struggling to keep his sleepy eyes open.

“My lord heard there were assassins again and was furious. He’s currently writing a letter to the capital. Magistrate Zhou, were those assassins in black again? Were they coming for my lord again?”

Zhou Ye’s eyes shifted slightly, the cold light promptly concealed.

“Tell your lord—this time the assassin came for me.”

“Who has such audacity?”

Xie Zhifei erupted in fury. “To dare attack even the magistrate—eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?”

“I’d like to know too!”

Zhou Ye’s expression suddenly darkened.

“Though we’re at the frontier in Nanning Prefecture, the people have always been simple and honest, the citizens peaceful. I don’t know why recently things have been so unsettled.”

“My lord too. So many years of smooth sailing, never offended anyone. Recently, I don’t know what’s happened—not one good thing. Yesterday at Guanyin Chan Temple looking for people, didn’t find even a ghost shadow.”

Xie Zhifei suddenly changed tack.

“Magistrate Zhou, where exactly are Wu Guanyue and his son hiding? Why do they keep targeting my lord?”

My Third Master—you really dare ask!

Zhu Qing’s hands, hanging behind him, trembled imperceptibly. What if this startles the snake?

Inside the room.

Yan Sanhe, pressed against the door crack, called out in her heart: Good!

Saying Pei Daren was writing to the capital made Zhou Ye weigh the consequences.

Proactively mentioning Wu Guanyue and his son—seizing the initiative!

Zhou Ye stared quietly at Xie Zhifei’s face. “How are you so certain those assassins were definitely sent by Wu Guanyue and his son?”

“If not them, who else could it be?”

Xie Zhifei rubbed his forehead, looking incredulous. “Magistrate Zhou, who do you think it could be?”

Words drifted over with the night wind. This time it was Yan Sanhe’s heart that lurched hard.

He actually dared ask this too?

…

Why wouldn’t he dare?

Pei Xiao had mentioned one thing—Xie Zhifei, when drunk, not only acted coquettish and made trouble, but his courage also swelled.

A swollen courage during normal times had no benefits.

But at this very moment, it was equivalent to Zhuge Liang singing the Empty Fort Strategy to Sima Yi.

Zhou Ye looked at Xie Zhifei’s neither-quite-smiling expression. His heart suddenly felt somewhat chilled—

Too certain, too calm, carrying an extremely flamboyant fearlessness.

He knew this person’s true identity—the third son most beloved by Cabinet Minister Xie Daozhi, Commander of the Northern City Military Magistrate.

After turning over several thoughts, Zhou Ye said flatly, “The matter will eventually be investigated clearly. Give your lord a message…”

“The lord should come in for a cup of tea.”

Xie Zhifei very rudely interrupted, smiling mockingly. “In any case, my lord also can’t sleep. Whatever you have to say, you might as well say it face to face.”

With that, he stepped back half a pace, making an inviting gesture.

Zhou Ye’s brow twitched. He swiftly glanced at Zhu Qing behind Xie Zhifei.

“This official still has matters. Please tell Pei Daren that the assassin is likely still in the office. Be especially careful tonight.”

“The lord has worked hard. The message will definitely be delivered.”

Xie Zhifei bowed. Only after the group had walked far away did his body sway, nearly collapsing. “Zhu Qing, quick, help your master.”

Zhu Qing quickly stepped forward. “What’s wrong, Master?”

“Master’s legs are weak.”

“Master just now…”

“Faking it!”

Human instinct is most honest.

The moment he opened the door, he was hit with a faint but palpable killing intent. Cold sweat broke out in fright.

Xie Zhifei lowered his head, gasping heavily for several breaths. “Close the door, bolt it, return to the room.”

…

After this incident, who dared sleep?

The current situation was like six sheep in a pen with a pack of wolves outside. No one knew when the wolf pack would attack.

“That group Zhou Ye just brought—I haven’t seen a single one of them at the office.”

After sobering up, Xie Zhifei was extremely calm, completely different from his usual frivolous manner.

“Though these people concealed their killing intent, I’m certain their skills aren’t weak. Moreover, the weapons they use are also blades.”

Li Buyan: “Then they’re definitely the black-clothed people from the grove.”

“Exactly!”

Pei Xiao smiled bitterly. “We certainly lured the snake from its hole, but we never imagined we’d lure out a snake king—and the most venomous kind.”

“Master!”

Huang Qi asked tremulously, “There’s one thing I can’t figure out. If Magistrate Zhou is connected to Wu Guanyue and his son, how did he become Nanning Magistrate?”

This question struck straight to Pei Xiao’s soul.

From what he knew, court officials, especially those guarding national borders, had to report to the capital annually for evaluation, with even more rigorous assessments.

How did this person infiltrate?

Were those bastards at the Ministry of Personnel all blind? Not as good as Yan Sanhe, a mere woman!

Thinking of this, Pei Xiao swiftly glanced at Yan Sanhe.

Forget it!

Marry her home!

Someone like this could ward off evil spirits in the household!

He coughed. “How Zhou Ye infiltrated can be discussed later. What we need to think about now is…”

“What we need to think about is whether Zhou Ye is from Hua or Qi?”

Yan Sanhe coldly took over.

“What we need to think about is his relationship with Wu Guanyue and his son. More importantly, how do we pry open his mouth and draw out Wu Guanyue and his son?”

These words made everyone’s hearts skip, especially Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao.

If Zhou Ye truly was from Great Qi…

This would be like stirring up a bloody storm in official circles. Everyone up and down who had dealings with him would face dire consequences.

If Zhou Ye wasn’t from Great Qi…

A Hua official secretly colluding with a fugitive foreign king—this crime equaled treason.

Pei Xiao shuddered. “Huang Qi, go guard the courtyard. Don’t let even a fly in.”

Before Huang Qi could respond, Zhu Qing and Li Buyan said in unison, “I’ll go too!”

Pei Xiao was angry. “Can’t this room fit you?”

Zhu Qing: “Pei Ye, Huang Qi alone can’t observe in all directions and listen on all sides.”

Li Buyan: “Pei Daren, Huang Qi and Zhu Qing together can’t observe in all directions and listen on all sides.”

Pei Xiao: “…”

With three fewer people in the room, the atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

Not only oppressive but hot. The ice basin in the corner had long since melted. With the windows closed, it was insufferably stifling.

Xie Zhifei stood to open the window, then picked up a nearby palm-leaf fan, slowly fanning.

Cool breeze struck. The irritation in Yan Sanhe’s heart subsided slightly.

Xie Zhifei glanced at her, imperceptibly moving the fan more toward her direction, and spoke slowly.

“Whether Zhou Ye is from which country, what his relationship is with Wu Guanyue and his son—let’s not discuss these two matters first.

Let’s just discuss how to capture Zhou Ye, pry open his mouth, and find Wu Guanyue and his son. That’s the key.”

“What do you think?” Yan Sanhe countered.

“I…” Xie Zhifei choked.

“Like this.”

Yan Sanhe didn’t want to waste time. She stood and took three sheets of paper. “We’ll each write down our own ideas.”

Pei Xiao was surprised. “Yan Sanhe, haven’t you always been the decision-maker?”

“Things have reached this point. We can’t make one wrong step. One wrong step and all six of us might perish here.”

Yan Sanhe glanced at Xie Zhifei. “Starting now, whoever has the best method makes the decisions—we must be cautious!”

“I agree!”