"Your Highness, your current situation is very dangerous." Bailang had initially thought that Yin Xun had managed to move to the side courtyard just to get away from women and focus on his plans. But looking at it now, moving to the side courtyard might not have been his intention at all—moving back was!
Perhaps the Fourth Miss and he were not as devoid of affection for each other as they had assumed.
Yet this was a crucial moment. To willingly deliver himself right under the eyes of Fourth Miss Jiang at a time like this—wasn't that asking for trouble?
A man obsessed with romantic entanglements was truly terrifying.
Yin Xun only smiled, his voice light and clear. "What danger is there? In any case, the Fourth Miss is out of the house all day long. We've simply moved to a more comfortable place to discuss things."
"If you want to keep things under wraps, where could possibly be safer than here? Chancellor Jiang surely wouldn't plant spies to watch his own daughter."
It was a calm and rational response, yet Bailang felt a chilling undercurrent of mockery and ruthlessness in those words.
While breaking out in goosebumps, he couldn't help but mentally light a stick of incense for that reckless Fourth Miss Jiang, before mentioning their recent opportunities.
Investigating cases, supervising construction, suppressing bandits...
To plot grand strategies, one could not be confined to this tiny patch of the back courtyard.
Nor did Yin Xun intend to remain locked up by Ming Li indefinitely.
Yet, during these past few days, although he had rarely seen Chancellor Jiang, he could deeply sense the vigilance of the Jiang Family.
Even Madam Jiang, who seemed sympathetic toward him and willing to visit, would seal her lips and deliberately gloss over certain matters when speaking with him.
Therefore, the only things he could rely on were the imperial court and his muddled imperial father.
Thus, not long after, Ming Li—who had been out gallivanting—received a warning from her own father: "Ah Li, you must keep a close eye on Yin Xun. This brat is probably about to start making trouble!"
Ming Li, who watched someone make trouble every day: Father is wise.
"You have no idea, His Majesty opened his golden mouth today and ordered him to lead men to suppress bandits at Beishan. The imperial decree will probably come down before long," Jiang Qin said, his brows deeply furrowed.
If it were merely a sudden whim of His Majesty, that would be one thing, but he feared there were others pulling strings behind the scenes...
Presently in the imperial court, the factions of the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were sharply divided, while the remaining influential veteran officials, leading their disciples, stood on the sidelines to watch the fire across the river, creating an unbearable, tense atmosphere.
If Yin Xun truly harbored other intentions and wished to use this to enter the imperial court, Jiang Qin—as a veteran official who stood watching the fire and even loved stoking it—was genuinely terrified that the fire would burn him.
After all, the title of a powerful minister was already like being roasted over an open flame. The struggle between the two factions added more fire, and mutual suspicion between the sovereign and his subjects added even more. If another inexplicable flame were to be added on top of that, the Jiang Family would probably end up like skewers of roasted meat!
"In short, you keep an eye on him for your father!"
Ming Li agreed readily enough.
Yet in truth, not only could she not get involved in Yin Xun's wild schemes, but she also had to keep her own presence to an absolute minimum.
Then, the imperial decree arrived at the manor the very next day.
Yin Xun's attitude was as usual, without showing too much surprise or doubt. He merely lowered his gaze in a docile manner to accept the decree, pausing his reluctant, lingering gaze on Ming Li as he did so.
It was as though the two of them truly lived together like glue and lacquer, unable to bear parting.
Yet in reality, it was only a short while ago that she had overheard him plotting this very matter to escape the back courtyard.
So, was he putting on an act, or had his scheming fried his brain?
"Don't put it that way, little master! Although His Highness is weird, you aren't exactly normal yourself!" Accidentally probing into Ming Li's thoughts, the Divine Stone gave a couple of dry coughs, but finally couldn't help speaking up for the weak, pitiful, and helpless Yin Xun.
This caused the young lady to arch a brow. "You certainly seem fond of him."
Realizing the skepticism in her words, the Divine Stone hurriedly shut its mouth.
At that moment, Yin Xun had also finished thanking the eunuch. Clutching the decree, he walked to her side and cautiously probed, "Wife, I..."
Ming Li thought he was asking for her consent. Figuring that the emperor had the final say on this matter anyway, she cooperated on the surface and nodded. "Be careful."
And then came silence.
Yin Xun's farewell words stuck in his throat. After a long moment, he finally revealed a puppy-like gaze and timidly replied, "The distance is rather great. I'm afraid I won't be back for ten days."
He had practically written his reluctance to leave all over his face.
Alas, Ming Li failed to catch the meaning. After pondering for a moment, she answered, "That's pretty fast."
Surely he wouldn't drop dead on the road within ten days of stepping out, would he?
Failing to see any emotion in the young lady's eyes that could be described as fondness—even though he had long anticipated her attitude—Yin Xun's expression visibly dimmed, and his lips puckered. "That band of mountain bandits has been rampant for a long time."
"There are over three hundred bandits in total, up and down."
"There are also countless traps hidden in the mountains."
So?
Sensing that trouble was heading her way, Ming Li narrowed her eyes with a hint of wariness.
Jiang Qin, however, caught the man's meaning and hurriedly spoke up on behalf of the utterly unresponsive Ming Li. "It is indeed rather dangerous. The Seventh Highness has no martial arts skills, and this is his first time taking on such a major assignment. Ah Li, you might as well go along with him to look after and take care of one another."
Though taking one's entire household along on a bandit suppression mission was unheard of in this world, Yin Xun wasn't doing anything earth-shattering for the first time. Jiang Qin could accept it completely, and was even eager for Ming Li to follow him and keep watch.
Of course, there was another point: the second daughter Jiang Ling and the Crown Prince were also nearing their wedding date. Although Ming Li had long since ceased showing any lingering affection for the Crown Prince, Jiang Qin still feared she might be triggered by the sight and mourn the past.
Therefore, sending her away to another place first and returning only in time for the wedding banquet was entirely feasible.
As the saying goes, a long pain is worse than a short one.
On one side was a father giving instructions, and on the other was a pitiful husband. Ming Li had no room for choice whatsoever; she let out a sigh and reluctantly agreed.
Thus, an appropriately pleased expression appeared on Yin Xun's face.
Bringing her along naturally wasn't out of fear.
There weren't three hundred bandits—that was a false report. He was simply afraid that when he returned ten days later, some stray cats and dogs from the outside would talk their way into this unmindful young lady's life, leaving no place for him by her side at all.
After turning it over in his mind, tying her to his belt and taking her along was the safest bet.