Seeing Niu Jinxing’s solemn vow, Li Yan felt about seventy or eighty percent convinced. Still, feeling somewhat uneasy, he had his younger brother, Li Nian, bring along a dozen personal guards. To his knowledge, Niu Jinxing’s household only employed twenty or thirty servants; even if a sudden ambush occurred, he could retreat calmly under the protection of his guards. After dispatching a messenger to inform Hong Niangzi, Li Yan followed Niu Jinxing to the Niu estate.
The group passed through the main gate into the front hall, where a meal had already been laid out. Niu Jinxing gestured for the brothers to be seated and said, "The two of you wait a moment; I must step out to attend to a personal matter."
"Please, Minister Niu, don't let us hold you back," Li Yan replied with a smile.
Chapter 561