Chapter 201
Xun Lang did not immediately answer Xu Heming's question, instead taking a moment to think carefully.
Back then, that person had come to see him wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
He hadn't gotten a clear look at the visitor's face. Moreover, in their line of work, as long as they were paid, they would take the job.
His personal bottom line was not to kill innocent people. When that person had asked him to kill Li Zhiwei, he hadn't agreed right away.
However, at the time, he was only focused on the target the client wanted dealt with. Besides, in their profession, they had to respect privacy. Few employers would openly seek them out.
"I didn't notice what that person looked like. I only know it was a man," Xun Lang said truthfully.
A man?
Xu Heming carefully considered the men in the capital who had dealings with the Li family.
The only one he could think of was Lin Jitong.
But the current Lin Jitong shouldn't be capable of making any waves, right?
Let alone hiring an assassin to kill someone in Li'an County.
Thinking of this, Xu Heming frowned. Who on earth could it be?
In the evening, Lady Yao sat down with Li Zhiwei, Xu Heming, and Xu Qingshi to properly give Yao Qisheng a farewell dinner.
When Yao Qisheng saw Xu Heming, he felt inexplicably flustered.
He didn't know if Xu Heming was aware of what his son had done to his niece, but as the father, he felt somewhat afraid, worried that Xu Heming might suddenly fly into a rage and kill him.
Thinking of this, Yao Qisheng deeply regretted his past actions. If he had known it would come to this, he never should have allowed his son to entertain such thoughts.
Then his son wouldn't have been able to commit such a foolish act.
With this in mind, Yao Qisheng stole a glance at Xu Heming.
"Great-uncle, why do you keep looking at my father?" Xu Qingshi asked, looking at Yao Qisheng with confusion.
"Little child, don't speak nonsense," Li Zhiwei said somewhat awkwardly, quickly putting a meatball in Xu Qingshi's bowl.
She knew her uncle might feel uncomfortable with Xu Heming present.
After all, Xu Heming's status was what it was, and she didn't want any unpleasantness between them.
"You jest, Young Master," Yao Qisheng said with an awkward laugh.
He felt like he'd been caught doing something bad.
"Elder Brother, Heming is not an outsider. Don't treat him as a prince; think of him as your niece's husband-to-be," Lady Yao said, trying to smooth things over with a smile, worried that Yao Qisheng felt uneasy.
"That's right, Uncle. Don't let his stern look fool you; he's not scary at all," Li Zhiwei chimed in quickly.
Lady Yao gave her daughter a look that was half-amused, half-exasperated. No wonder her daughter said whatever came to mind, appropriate or not, to him.
It was fortunate this future son-in-law didn't hold it against her.
In a way, her daughter had found fortune in misfortune, gaining a husband-to-be like Xu Heming who indulged her little whims.
Thinking this, Lady Yao's gaze towards Xu Heming softened a few degrees.
"Your Highness, Zhiwei has been spoiled by her father and me. She has her little quirks. Please be patient with her in the future," Lady Yao said quietly to Xu Heming beside her.
Xu Heming had been raised with the principles of "no talking during meals, no speaking in bed." It was the first time his future mother-in-law had spoken to him like this at the dining table.
However, this wasn't the capital, and there weren't so many rules here.
"You are right to instruct me, Mother. Zhiwei is wonderful," Xu Heming promptly replied.
Yao Qisheng, sitting nearby, was somewhat shocked. Was the prince this easy to talk to?
"Great-uncle, you seem to disagree," Xu Qingshi said, noticing Yao Qisheng's expression.
"Not at all. We—my sister and I—are both very happy that Zhiwei and His Highness will be together in the future," Yao Qisheng said, afraid that if he didn't say something, Prince An might think he had ulterior motives.
"Then I shall take your auspicious words, Uncle. When Zhiwei and I hold our wedding ceremony, you must bring Aunt and Cousin to the capital to drink to our happiness!" Xu Heming said, deliberately emphasizing the word "Cousin."
After all, back then, Li Tianyou had wanted to marry Li Zhiwei off to that so-called cousin of hers.
He rather wanted to see just how outstanding this cousin could be.
Hearing this, Li Zhiwei looked at Xu Heming strangely, wondering what nerve he had touched now.
This was her uncle, not Yao Shuxi.
"Your Highness is absolutely right!" Yao Qisheng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. He thought, 'Prince An probably knows about the foolish thing Shuhang did. He's hinting at me, isn't he?'
Thinking this, Yao Qisheng quickly handed another box to Li Zhiwei, saying, "Zhiwei, these are from your uncle. They're not valuable things, but they represent the sincere wishes of your uncle and aunt."
Li Zhiwei hesitated because her uncle had already brought her many gifts when he arrived.
Could it be that because of Xu Heming's few words, he was giving her more things?
"If your uncle gives it to you, you should accept it," Lady Yao said, momentarily taken aback. The box looked somewhat similar to the one she had received.
She was also curious about what was inside her brother's box.
"These are some items left behind by your grandmother. I originally intended to keep them as mementos," Yao Qisheng said with a self-deprecating smile.
He might as well give these things to Li Zhiwei.
No matter what, he hoped she would be well in the future.
Hearing this, Li Zhiwei was also stunned. When she was very young, she had seen her grandmother a few times. Each time, her grandmother would hold her and call her 'precious.'
Li Zhiwei took the box, feeling sad. Her grandmother wouldn't be able to see her get married.
"In the future, I'll take you to visit your grandmother's grave," Xu Heming said, comforting her as he saw Li Zhiwei's sadness.
"Mm," Li Zhiwei nodded.
"Elder Brother, you must definitely come next time for Zhiwei's wedding," Lady Yao instructed again.
As she said this, she glanced at Xu Heming beside her, implying she wanted him to say a few words.
"Uncle, when the time comes, I will send someone to Qujing to fetch you," Xu Heming stated directly.
"There's no need for such trouble. We can make our own way there," Yao Qisheng waved his hands repeatedly, afraid that Xu Heming would actually send someone for them.
Just as Xu Heming was about to say something more, Qingsong hurried over, leaned close to Xu Heming's ear, and whispered a few words.
Upon hearing it, Xu Heming abruptly stood up.
Li Zhiwei only faintly heard something about 'the person has been caught.'
She guessed it was probably the person who had released the arrow that day?
"What's the matter?" Lady Yao frowned.
She felt somewhat displeased. She had originally hoped to have a proper meal with her brother during this family dinner.
"My apologies, Mother, Uncle. I have a matter that requires my immediate attention. Zhiwei, you and Qingshi accompany Mother and Uncle for the meal," Xu Heming quickly explained, then followed Qingsong and left.
"Ah..." Lady Yao thought, what matter could be so urgent that it had to be dealt with right now?
"It's alright, sister. His Highness is a man. It's understandable that he's busy," Yao Qisheng said, actually feeling relieved. With Xu Heming gone, the oppressive feeling he had just now lifted.
"Elder Brother, I'm truly sorry. I had hoped we could all eat together," Lady Yao said apologetically.
"Mother, Uncle, His Highness probably went to apprehend the person who released that arrow," Li Zhiwei explained hastily, fearing that Lady Yao and Yao Qisheng might misunderstand.
