"From the moment I decided to keep Chu Qing by my side, I was determined to do so. What do you mean by asking these questions?"
"She is from Xiliang, and furthermore, a trained assassin from Xiliang. Do you know what it means to keep her close?"
Feng Jin lowered her eyes, paused for a moment, and said with firm conviction, "I only know that Chu Qing is the person I want to keep. Nothing else matters."
From the moment she decided to keep Chu Qing, she had never considered sending her away. No matter what others said, her resolve would not waver.
"Do not speak of these things to me again. I will not listen. Furthermore, Chu Qing is no longer a spy for Xiliang. She is simply Chu Qing, an independent individual who belongs to no one."
"As you wish. Keep her by your side if you want. However, if she ever dares to harm you or the child, I will kill her without hesitation!"
As he spoke, a bloodthirsty glint flashed in Ling Mo Han's eyes. Anyone who threatened Feng Jin and the child's safety would be swiftly dispatched. He would absolutely not allow such a person to exist by Feng Jin's side.
"I believe in Chu Qing."
Feng Jin stated with certainty. Trusting those you employ, and not employing those you doubt, she believed Chu Qing would never do such a thing.
"Good. You believe her, and I believe you."
Ling Mo Han said in a low voice, pulling Feng Jin into his embrace and comforting her emotions. Since Feng Jin was so resistant to the matter, he would not bring it up again. However, he had not abandoned his own doubts. He would dispatch more people from the shadows to keep a close watch.
"Do you have any leads on who sent the assassins this time?"
Feng Jin buried her head in his chest, her voice muffled.
"It's no one but them. No living witnesses were left behind. Without evidence, even with suspicions, it's futile."
They were all elite assassins. When the assassination failed, the few who survived committed suicide, leaving not a single clue. Without evidence, even if he were to draw his sword and interrogate them, it would be useless. Dwelling on this matter would only be a waste of time and meaningless.
"You already suspect who sent the assassins, don't you?"
From his tone, Feng Jin had already guessed some of it. Ling Mo Han must already know who sent the assassins.
"Besides the Third Prince, who else could it be?"
"Chu Yan Xi..." Feng Jin exclaimed, disbelief filling her eyes. "Didn't he already collude with Xiliang? Logically, it should be beneficial for Xiliang people to enter the capital. Why would he obstruct them?"
Feng Jin couldn't understand Chu Yan Xi's intentions for doing this. On one hand, he secretly colluded with Xiliang; on the other hand, he attempted to assassinate them. What was Chu Yan Xi planning? Such erratic behavior was truly the act of a scoundrel, and Chu Yan Xi was utterly despicable.
"He naturally fears that spies from Xiliang entering the capital would threaten him. Chu Yan Xi wishes to use Xiliang's power to ascend the throne, but he doesn't want Xiliang to become his constraint."
"Eliminating them before they reach the capital would allow him to shift all the blame onto me, greatly suppressing my influence and also that of Prince Jing. This is a plan with countless benefits and no drawbacks; it truly sounds like something Chu Yan Xi would do."
From the moment the assassins appeared, he had suspected something. Thinking it through, only Chu Yan Xi could have done this. Such a ruthless person becoming the Emperor of Dong Chu would lead to chaos in the court, and the common people would inevitably suffer greatly. He was even more certain that supporting Chu Chen Yi's ascension was the correct choice. Among the Emperor's many princes, only Chu Chen Yi was capable of shouldering such a responsibility. If not for the incident of falling from his horse years ago, which injured his legs, Chu Chen Yi, with the Empress Dowager's support, would have long been established as the Crown Prince, and these current troubles would not have arisen.
"This mind and planning are truly deep. In this way, the Xiliang people will undoubtedly blame you. Xiliang already has reservations about you, so they will naturally seize this opportunity to hold you accountable. The Emperor, under pressure, will also have to give Xiliang an explanation."
"Given Chu Yan Xi's disposition, he will also relentlessly pursue the matter of Chu Chen Yi recommending you, using it as an opportunity to suppress you. At that time, he will surely lose the Emperor's favor, and the position of Crown Prince will smoothly fall into Chu Yan Xi's hands. Furthermore, with the Xiliang spies dead, Chu Yan Xi will no longer be constrained by Xiliang. This is a plan with three benefits; truly a well-conceived strategy."
After Feng Jin understood these points, she shivered. Chu Yan Xi's move was indeed ruthlessly cunning. If he succeeded, everything they had accumulated would be in vain, and there would be no room for recovery. One move would nullify all their efforts.
"Indeed. Chu Yan Xi did not succeed this time. When we return to the capital, we certainly will not let this matter rest."
Ling Mo Han lowered his eyes, concealing the complex emotions within them.
"We must be even more careful when we return. I only worry that Chu Yan Xi will target these palace maids. Judging by the current situation, Chu Yan Xi has learned that there are Xiliang spies among the dowry palace maids, which is why he is so recklessly trying to eliminate them all."
Feng Jin's analysis was not unreasonable. Chu Yan Xi was suspicious by nature. If he hadn't received wind of this early on, he wouldn't have taken such a risk.
"Chu Yan Xi must have caught wind of something to have acted this way. When we return to the capital, we will naturally have to settle them properly."
"You are no longer planning to kill them and be done with it?"
Feng Jin retorted, questioning. Ling Mo Han had always been intent on killing them before, so why had his mind changed so quickly? He even intended to settle them properly.
"Perhaps I should think of a way to disband them before we reach the capital..."
"No need. Since I've decided to keep them, it's naturally because they are useful."
He had his own plans. If they weren't useful, he wouldn't have done this. He wasn't like Feng Jin; he wouldn't do anything out of compassion.
"I knew you wouldn't suddenly become benevolent. See? You still have your own motives."
Feng Jin waved her hand helplessly. She shouldn't have thought that Ling Mo Han was acting out of sudden benevolence. It was because he had his own purposes that he acted this way.
Ling Mo Han gave her a look that said "of course." If there weren't a reason, he wouldn't have kept them.
"I am also doing this for their own good. If we release them now, Chu Yan Xi will certainly not let the matter rest and will relentlessly pursue them. It would be safer for them to remain in the capital for the time being."