Xie Yi had already sensed something was wrong earlier.
The initial crossbow-wielding assassins were indeed targeting Liu Muzhi.
But the later group completely ignored Liu Muzhi and instead went straight for him.
He had ordered an investigation. After Song Lü and the others interrogated the captives and examined the bodies, the problem quickly became clear.
Luo Zhitang pointed at the tray on the table. “Master, please look. These two groups differ greatly in clothing and weapons. The first group even carried poison in their teeth—clearly death warriors. The second group, according to confession, were Jianghu fighters hired through an intermediary. They did not know each other and were gathered by a middleman…”
He paused, glancing at Xie Yi’s expression.
“They said they had been waiting in Qingxi City for half a month, all for you. They only acted early because the death warriors disrupted their plan.”
“However, they still do not know who hired them. Even the middleman only met their employer a few times. Should we continue interrogation?”
Xie Yi’s gaze rested on the poisoned hidden weapons on the tray.
Every one of them was coated in toxin. It was clear how strong the intent to kill was.
He gave a cold laugh. “What do you think?”
Luo Zhitang hesitated. “This subordinate believes… the mastermind should be someone within Jiangnan’s officialdom.”
“Continue.”
“Previous governors only died after arriving and clashing with local interests—usually through planted evidence forcing them into ‘illness’. But this time, they could not wait for you to even take office and directly sent assassins. It seems they understand you and know you will not compromise.”
“However… would they not fear provoking the court?”
That was what Luo Zhitang could not understand.
Even if the court was divided and distracted, it would not ignore such blatant provocation unless it intended self-destruction.
Xie Yi tapped the table lightly. “What if the court does not know?”
Luo Zhitang froze. “Your meaning is—?”
“Qingxi City was not originally in our route. Yet even here there are so many assassins waiting. Then what about the larger cities ahead—Danzhou, Yuetang, Jiangcheng… would there not also be people waiting?”
Luo Zhitang’s expression changed.
“They… they are too bold!”
He had known Jiangnan was dangerous, but had assumed the danger lay in official politics, not direct assassination until reaching Jiangcheng.
And they had placed assassins inside cities instead.
Clearly they had learned from Qingzhou, knowing Xie Yi was from the military and more alert in the wilderness.
But in cities, people naturally relaxed.
If not for the early exposure of the death warriors targeting Liu Muzhi, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Such ruthless planning, and such enormous resources.
It was clearly an attempt to kill Xie Yi at all costs.
But what did they gain?
Without Xie Yi, there would still be another Jiangnan governor. Could they keep killing every successor?
“Why not?” Xie Yi countered. “If the cleanup is clean and someone in court covers it up, they can maintain Jiangnan’s status quo while striking political enemies. It is mutually beneficial.”
Luo Zhitang suddenly understood. “So Yan Huixian did not return to the capital because he discovered changes in Jiangnan… he returned with a token of loyalty to Prince Qi!”
Xie Yi nodded. “Have you not noticed? The two dead are core members of the Crown Prince’s faction.”
Because of Yan Huixian’s position, the Crown Prince’s side would never suspect him—only blame their own incompetence.
Luo Zhitang felt increasingly alarmed. “But if Prince Qi does this, is he not afraid of raising a tiger only to be devoured later?”
The corruption of Jiangnan had existed since the previous emperor’s reign, worsening across two generations.
Prince Qi was essentially undermining his own foundation.
No wonder they had not thought of it before.
He must have kept it tightly concealed, known only to himself and Yan Huixian.
Even strategists like Shen Xian would not have heard a whisper.
It was Liang Wenshu’s sudden move that disrupted everything.
Otherwise, in another year or two, Jiangnan would have become an irreparable swamp.
Now, despite appearing a deadly trap, it was actually the best moment to intervene.
After finishing the discussion, Xie Yi returned to the room.
He found Lin Zhiji still awake, sitting at the table with his head propped up, nodding off.
Xie Yi frowned slightly and walked over, picking him up. “Why are you not in bed?”
Lin Zhiji, half-asleep, instinctively wrapped his arms around his neck.
“I was… waiting for you.”
Ever since learning about Xie Yi’s childhood, Lin Zhiji had not felt at ease.
The Xie Yi he knew was strong, calm, seemingly all-powerful.
But he had not always been that way.
He could not imagine how a twelve-year-old Xie Yi defeated someone bigger, stronger, and armed.
He only knew that Xie Yi bore many scars—old and new.
Some were clearly very old, yet still visible enough to show how severe they had once been.
When he first bound himself to Xie Yi, he had even thought those scars were… attractive.
Now, thinking of how they had formed, all that remained was heartache.
His face was pressed against Xie Yi’s chest. Through the thin fabric, he could clearly feel the raised scar beneath.
He had seen that scar before.
It ran across Xie Yi’s chest—just a fraction away from the vital point.
Xie Yi felt Lin Zhiji clinging to him more than usual tonight. His gaze deepened.
“Feeling sorry for me?”
Lin Zhiji: “Mm…”
Xie Yi let out a soft laugh, then held his hand and guided it downward.
“Rather than feeling sorry for this old scar… you should feel sorry for this instead…”
Lin Zhiji: !!!
He instantly pulled his hand back and glared at Xie Yi in anger.
All the pity and tenderness in his heart vanished in an instant.
Xie Yi pinched his cheek. “Alright, stop thinking nonsense. Go to sleep.”
But Lin Zhiji was suddenly wide awake. Thinking of the assassins, he quickly asked, “Did you get anything out of them? Who exactly is trying to kill you?”
Xie Yi briefly told him the results.
Lin Zhiji’s expression grew more and more shocked. “So from the moment we entered Jiangnan, every city was a trap?”
“Correct.” Xie Yi smiled lightly, his tone relaxed. “This time, we even have you to thank for exposing them early.”
Lin Zhiji was nowhere near as relaxed. His brows furrowed tightly.
“But even if we know, it doesn’t change anything, does it? We can’t just avoid cities forever. And leaving everything else aside, the provincial governor’s office is in Jiangcheng—we can’t just not go there.”
“Then we won’t go to Jiangcheng,” Xie Yi said casually.
Lin Zhiji froze.
“Let them come to Qingxi City to pay respects to the new governor.”
Xie Yi spoke as if it were nothing.
Yet those words struck Lin Zhiji like a thunderclap.
He looked up at him.
Only then did he realize that, without noticing, Xie Yi already carried the aura of a future power that could dominate the court.
A little… handsome.
Seeing his dazed expression, Xie Yi brushed his cheek. “What is it?”
“Nothing.” Lin Zhiji quickly lowered his head, hiding the faint redness on his face. “Just… even if they come here, that doesn’t solve the problem, right? You must have another plan…”
“Mm.” Xie Yi said, “Kiss me, and I’ll tell you.”
Lin Zhiji: !!!
After much internal struggle, he finally grabbed Xie Yi’s collar and pressed a kiss onto his lips.
But the moment he tried to pull away, Xie Yi held the back of his head and deepened the kiss, invading without restraint.
When he was thoroughly kissed until he was dizzy and breathless, he was pressed back onto the bed, still stubbornly trying to ask for the answer.
Xie Yi said casually, “Make things bigger.”
Seeing that Lin Zhiji still wanted to press further, Xie Yi rubbed his swollen lips and said in a low, husky voice, “If you’re not sleepy, we can do something else instead.”
Lin Zhiji immediately closed his eyes.
Only a soft chuckle lingered in his ear before he drifted into sleep.
When he woke up, it was already morning.
Still half-dazed, he sat up in bed and heard knocking at the door. Outside came Liu Muzhi’s voice: “It’s me, Liu Muzhi.”
Lin Zhiji got up and dressed. When he opened the door, Liu Muzhi looked confused.
“Brother Lin, why is it you?”
Lin Zhiji was equally confused. “Of course it’s me. This is my room.”
Liu Muzhi hesitated. “I asked Brother Song, and he said this is Young Master Xie’s room…”
Only then did Lin Zhiji remember that Liu Muzhi did not yet know about his relationship with Xie Yi.
Before Liu Muzhi could continue puzzling over how the two of them were sharing a room, Xie Yi’s cold voice came from behind.
“What are you doing here?”
Liu Muzhi used to think Xie Yi was cold and unfeeling.
But after being saved by him last night, he had already concluded that this was just a cold exterior hiding a warm heart.
He scratched his head. “I came to say goodbye.”
Lin Zhiji: …
He had assumed that after Xie Yi’s words last night, Liu Muzhi would have dropped the idea.
But Xie Yi only said indifferently, “Whether you stay or leave is your choice. However, there is something you should know.”
Liu Muzhi looked at him.
Xie Yi led them into the room where the evidence was stored.
He showed Liu Muzhi the items left by the black-clothed attackers.
Liu Muzhi frowned. “These things… what’s wrong with them?”
Xie Yi said calmly, “The crossbows they used are finely crafted, not ordinary weapons. Their inner garments are made of silk. And we also found poison hidden in their teeth.”
Liu Muzhi’s expression slowly changed. “W-who are they?”
“Death warriors,” Xie Yi replied. “Only noble clans or the royal family can train them. Tell me—who have you offended?”
Liu Muzhi was stunned. “My father was just a merchant, my mother the daughter of a scholar. We have nothing to do with noble clans or the royal family, let alone offend them!”
Lin Zhiji and Xie Yi both knew the truth—because his real identity was the Seventh Prince.
But they could not tell him that.
Xie Yi said lightly, “Last night I killed those death warriors. That means I’ve already crossed the other side. Since you have no clues, why not stay? Perhaps we can lure the snake out of its hole. You get your revenge, and I resolve my own danger.”
Liu Muzhi was both moved and guilty.
Xie Yi had clearly killed those men to save him, yet he did not blame him at all—instead, he wanted to help him take revenge.
Liu Muzhi was so moved he nearly cried. “Brother Xie! I will never forget this kindness!”
Lin Zhiji: …
Truly the definition of being sold and still helping count the money.