After a moment of stalemate, Lan Xi spoke solemnly, "I will definitely confirm today's matter with the County Princess. What is his name?"
Unable to reveal Huo Chong's true identity, Qu Ya casually made one up.
"His surname is Gou. He is the son of a deceased old friend of Old Guan and me. Just tell the County Princess and she will understand."
Song Jinzhao knew their identities. Mentioning a deceased old friend would most likely make her think that Huo Chong was the son of some soldier from the Wu family army, and this matter could be glossed over.
Lan Xi tightly gripped his dagger and backed out of the thatched cottage.
After he had gone far, a bewildered Huo Chong immediately asked the two, "What do you mean 'one of our own'? It didn't sound like it just now."
Guan Nianshan's eyebrows knitted together like a tangled mess of hemp that couldn't be untied.
"Manager Lan is County Princess Linghui's man. He cannot die on the estate, nor can he even go missing."
"Why?" Huo Chong's face was full of confusion.
Guan Nianshan answered in a deep voice, "Because once someone has an accident on the estate, the County Princess will be the first to suspect us, and it will implicate everyone else on the estate."
Qu Ya explained, "Back when the Emperor bestowed the Daohua Estate and Shiquan Estate to County Princess Linghui, she had already discovered our identities."
"Perhaps out of pity, she didn't inform the imperial court, nor did she drive us away. Later, she opened a farm and planted flower fields, even hiring us to work for her. Everyone's lives are much better now than before, so no matter what, Manager Lan cannot be killed."
Hearing that Qu Ya and Guan Nianshan had already been exposed, Huo Chong's eyes widened larger than a bull's.
Seeing him stay silent, Guan Nianshan took over and continued, "Since the County Princess chose to hide it, even if Manager Lan tells her about this matter tomorrow, she will pretend not to know. But once a murder occurs, things will blow up."
"The County Princess would also suspect your identity. After all, killing someone over something that was tacitly accepted long ago just doesn't make sense no matter how you think about it."
Qu Ya lowered his head and cupped his hands. "A while ago, when my son was sick, it was Manager Lan who begged Second Miss Song to come and treat him so he could recover. In terms of both reason and emotion, I couldn't just watch him die. Please forgive me, Young Master."
Huo Chong quickly shook his head and reached out to help him up.
"I didn't know about these things, which is why I acted so rashly. According to what you said, if I had really killed him, I would have caused a massive disaster."
After entering the capital, he had heard of this County Princess Linghui.
Someone who could overshadow all the military generals of the Dongzhao Kingdom at a birthday banquet and defeat Gong Linjue was definitely not someone to be trifled with.
It would have been one thing if she didn't know Qu Ya and the others' identities, but since she knew, they couldn't afford a conflict.
He could leave, but the over two hundred households on the estate could not. Once exposed, everyone would die.
"I've only been in the capital for a few days and haven't met this County Princess yet. What kind of person is she?"
Knowing oneself and one's enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles. He had to be prepared in case they crossed paths.
Qu Ya pondered for a moment before speaking, "To rise from a commoner to a County Princess in just five short years, she is a very extraordinary woman."
Guan Nianshan counted on his fingers, "Song Jinzhao has exquisite medical skills, superb martial arts, and she also knows how to do business."
"She is very smart and quite bold. However, she doesn't come to the estate often, so we aren't entirely clear about her temperament."
Seeing the two full of praise for Song Jinzhao, Huo Chong's heart was filled with a lot of curiosity in addition to his worry.
He would have to take a peek at her another day. At the very least, he needed to know what this incredibly capable woman they spoke of looked like.
It was getting late and the city gates were closed. Lan Xi stayed awake all night and rode away from the estate early the next morning.
Staring at his gradually receding figure, Qu Ya said to Huo Chong, "If the Young Master has no other business, it would be best to return to the Southwest early."
Guan Nianshan added, "The County Princess might call the two managers in for questioning. Qu Ya and I need to go and brief them."
Huo Chong nodded. "I will leave once I'm sure you guys are alright."
With his face wrapped, Lan Xi hurried back to the County Princess's mansion.
As soon as he entered, he asked a maid, "Is the County Princess awake?"
The maid holding a copper basin stopped in her tracks and nodded at Lan Xi. "She just got up and is preparing to have breakfast."
Lan Xi turned sideways and quickly walked towards the main courtyard.
Hearing a series of rapid footsteps approaching, Song Jinzhao looked up towards the door.
Seeing Lan Xi walking over with the wind in his steps, she slowly put down the porcelain bowl of milk in her hands.
"Lan Xi? When did you get back?" Song Shixue looked at the door in surprise, still holding half an unchewed wonton in her mouth.
He hadn't been here yesterday.
Lan Xi stepped over the threshold and bowed to the three masters sitting on stools eating breakfast.
"This servant just returned. I have an urgent matter to report to the County Princess."
Song Jinzhao took the handkerchief handed by a maid and wiped her mouth. "To the study."
Lan Xi kept his back bent and immediately followed.
Seeing Song Shixue constantly looking at the door instead of eating, Song Anhao, who was holding half a tea egg, urged, "Second Sister, hurry up and eat. You promised to take me to the academy today."
Snapping out of her thoughts, Song Shixue hurriedly replied, "There are only a few left. I'll be done eating right away."
She picked up her spoon and quickly ate the remaining three wontons in her bowl.
"Finished eating. I'll take you."
Not expecting her to be so fast, Song Anhao climbed down from the chair while stuffing the remaining bit of egg white into his mouth.
"Yao Ying, quickly go to the kitchen and grab the tea eggs. Remember to pour a little bit of the broth over them."
Song Shixue, who was tying her cloak, asked in confusion, "Why are you bringing tea eggs? If you're not full, just eat a few more bites. We have plenty of time anyway."
Song Anhao shook his head and explained, "I'm full. The tea eggs are for Dongfang You. He said our family's tea eggs are delicious and insisted I bring some for him."
Dongfang You was the youngest grandson of the Dongfang family's second branch, and also Song Anhao's best friend at the academy.
Song Shixue blinked. "Then remember to wrap the lunchbox holding the eggs with a cotton cloth, so they don't get cold and taste bad later."
Song Anhao put on a velvet hat that completely covered his cheeks and ears, and said in a milky voice, "There's a charcoal basin in the academy. If they get cold, I can heat them up on it."
Inside the study, Lan Xi stood before the desk and carefully recounted everything that had happened last night to Song Jinzhao.
"That man possessed extraordinary skills. This lowly one was no match for him."
"He looked to be around thirty years old. He wore a mask over the upper half of his face, and since it was night, I couldn't really see his appearance clearly."
Tapping her fingertips on the desk, Song Jinzhao thoughtfully lowered her eyes.
Could there still be surviving members of the Wu family army who were not on the estate?
If it was a descendant, why would he go to the estate to look for people?
"What was Qu Ya and Guan Nianshan's attitude toward him?"
Lan Xi tilted his head up at a forty-five-degree angle, recalling Qu Ya and Guan Nianshan's reactions from the previous night.
After a long while, he said hesitantly, "They were very protective of that man, and their attitude carried a trace of respect. They shouldn't be relatives or friends."
Seeing Song Jinzhao deep in thought and silent, Lan Xi couldn't suppress his curiosity. After struggling with himself for a long time, he finally asked.
"County Princess, what exactly is going on with those tenant farmers on the estate? Who are they?"
Song Jinzhao looked up at Lan Xi, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on him.
"The diplomatic mission from the Shuobei Kingdom has already left. Who exactly are you?"
