"It’s just a careless mistake."
Qin Yi didn’t explain the origin of his wound, but picked up his clothes from the side and put them on.
Seeing that Qin Yi didn’t want to talk about it, Ye Han deftly steered the conversation.
"What actually happened? I heard that there was a bearing rupture, have you found the carriage?"
"We’ve found it, but the coachman is already dead."
Qin Yi reported it simply, but the truth was that the carriage was indeed found. However, by the ti they found it, the carriage had already fallen apart, leaving pieces scattered along the way. The coachman’s clothes had gotten caught in the axle bearing of the carriage, dragged for miles until he was long dead.
As soon as he received Uncle Xiao’s report, Qin Yi ordered that the coachman be given a grand burial and his family be cared for well.
Upon learning the details about the previous night, Ye Han fell silent.
"The number of people who could tamper with or even access the carriage bearings is probably very few. Have you investigated each one to find the mastermind behind this?"
Qin Yi looked sowhat weary, his hand covering his forehead, and he coughed lightly.
"I’ve already arranged for it to be thoroughly investigated! The elite soldiers I brought back from the river, those who have been with for many years, the ones who want to target and Pan’er, can only be them. If this plan fails, they’re sure to co up with another, all we need to do is wait for their move."
"You an... "
Ye Han’s eyes flashed, revealing his surprise! He glanced at Su Pan’er doubtfully, then stared at Qin Yi for a while before hesitating, "Do you have any basis for this guess?"
Su Pan’er sat quietly on the side, neither speaking nor moving, as if she were invisible.
"Brother Ye, I’m going to say sothing I shouldn’t."
Qin Yi propped himself up from the head of the bed, put on an outer garnt, and reawakened the pain of his wounds, causing him to draw a sharp breath.
Then he lowered his voice, "This is not re alarmist talk, but so plain truths. I captured Zhou Zhenchao alive, took more than ten thousand soldiers captive, and achieved such a great accomplishnt. I have solidified His Majesty’s foundation, receiving his imnse and continuous grace, truly thriving and possessing Rainbow montum. But do you know, Brother Ye?"
"Mmm, you’re only half right."
Ye Han nodded and then shook his head, glancing at Su Pan’er: "Your victory certainly did solidify His Majesty’s reign. However, if you had been defeated, rely the charge of Zhou Zhenchao’s flooding of the thirty-two counties downstream of Fengdu Ancient City would be enough to place on your shoulders! There are quite a few ministers in the court who have criticized His Majesty for favoring his relatives, thus pushing him to abdicate."
"If you hadn’t taken a risky military action, stayed within the city and didn’t venture out, the national finances would have been unable to support it, and the final result would either have been you being besieged by Zhou Zhenchao’s Great Army after a year or half a year, or being forced to surrender the city!"
"As such, His Majesty would first lose the region of the river, then lack financial support—combined with the Empress Dowager’s influence, the rumor that His Majesty is not the real son of the previous Emperor would gain traction. Can you guess the consequences? I suppose you could!"
If Su Pan’er was taken aback, she imdiately straightened up.
Qin Yi, listening, kept nodding: "I understand what you’re saying. It’s precisely because His Majesty’s position is precarious that he is going all out to support us. But now, with both internal and external worries—once the external threat is removed and if I still stand high... There’s an old saying ’The sly rabbit dies, and the hound gets cooked.’ I, a living target, feel like I’m treading on thin ice with every step I take!"
"Hmm, it’s good that you see things clearly."
Seeing that Qin Yi understood, Ye Han breathed a sigh of relief.
He was worried that Qin Yi wouldn’t see the big picture, would beco drunk on victory, and blindly rush into traps.
"Liu Yankang suddenly coming to Chang’an at this ti, who would believe there’s nothing more to it? Why do you think he’s here? Have you really thought about it?"
"Probably still chasing his grand unrealistic dreams, intending to use and Pan’er. We understand all of this."
Qin Yi squinted his eyes.
"Even though he knows that coming now won’t end well, he still ca!"
Ye Han lightly tapped on the tabletop: "Liu Yankang is best at not giving up until he reaches his goal, just like a persistent plaster that you can’t shake off. Just wait, he certainly has other tricks up his sleeve!"
Seeing that they had mostly finished discussing their affairs, Su Pan’er, who was on the side, got up: "It’s getting cold, why don’t we move to the parlor? We can have so warm food and chat casually?"
Having finished discussing the main issue, Qin Yi also relaxed, quickly standing up and bowing towards Ye Han.
"Brother Ye rarely visits, so we must celebrate tonight with a candle-light vigil, drinking three hundred cups!"
"With all your wounds, forget about drinking! Especially three hundred cups!"
Su Pan’er’s eyes widened and she vetoed it directly.
Qin Yi frozen in place with a smile on his face, completely unsure of how to respond.
However, Ye Han let out a hearty laugh, walked over and patted Qin Yi’s shoulder: "Isn’t my sister fierce? How about it, have you considered what it would be like to live a lifeti under her thumb?"
Su Pan’er also turned to look at Qin Yi, seemingly waiting for his answer as well.
Qin Yi glanced at the two of them, acting scared. Then he thumped his chest, putting on a flattering expression: "To marry Pan’er, such a wonderful wife, even if I were suppressed for a lifeti, I would be more than willing! Pan’er, don’t you think what your husband is saying is true?"
"Always using these tricks, just you? I’d be lucky if I could control you, you never listen to !"
Even Su Pan’er pouted and put on a dissatisfied face.
"When have I ever not listened to you?"
"Well, since you’re so obedient, rember this: you’re not allowed to drink tonight!" Su Pan’er burst into a chuckle, looking like a fox that had just succeeded in her sche.
Only then did Qin Yi realize that he had been played, and his face fell.
"Alright, whatever my wife says, I will do... " He turned back to Ye Han: "Brother Ye, have you ever seen a tigress so fierce?"
Ye Han shook his head with a poker face: "A tigress? I didn’t see one."
Su Pan’er imdiately let out a bright laugh and headed outside.
"You sit down, I’ll go and tell the kitchen to make so special dishes."
"Rember to bring my little niece out!"
Ye Han quickly shouted at her retreating figure.
"I know!"
The sound of Su Pan’er’s voice had already echoed from the outside corridor.
Qin Yi pretended to be disheartened and shook his head: "It seems I’m destined to be devoured by her in this lifeti. Alas!"
"Can it, don’t think I can’t see through you, you’re probably looking forward to being tornted by her, aren’t you?"
Ye Han tried to keep a smile on his face, but in his heart, a surge of pain ca and went. How he wished he was the one being tornted by her!
"Indeed! No one knows better than Brother Ye, Ye Han!"
Qin Yi laughed loud!
Ye Han also started laughing, but soon, he clutched his chest and let out a series of painful, stifled coughs.
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