"Does this matter have any connection to your uncle's search for the Jade Butterfly?" Leng Ruoli asked, lost in thought.
Ji Wang, reminded by Leng Ruoli, also felt it was related to the woman's poisoning.
"It's possible," Ji Wang agreed.
Otherwise, why would his uncle go to such lengths to find the Jade Butterfly?
Perhaps his uncle knew that the Jade Butterfly could cure the woman's poison. To repay the woman for saving his life, his uncle sought this Jade Butterfly for her. Otherwise, he couldn't understand his uncle's actions.
"Alright, Lier, this matter is not to be discussed further. Let's stop here. If this matter is leaked, it will be very disadvantageous to us," Jun Mohan, who was sitting beside her, reminded her.
"Very well, Prince Ji. We will conclude our discussion on this matter. If I have any further questions about it in the future, I will seek you out," Leng Ruoli said with a sudden sigh.
Ji Wang also readily agreed.
Such matters were indeed not to be spoken of, lest they attract more trouble.
However, at this moment, Ji Wang remembered something.
"King Leng, Consort Leng, Prince Kang has also accompanied me to the capital. I suspect he may make some moves here, so I'm warning you to be wary of him," Ji Wang said earnestly.
"Prince Kang?" Leng Ruoli asked faintly.
"Yes, Prince Kang. This man is extremely cunning and ruthless. I suspect he had a hand in my son Xu's disappearance."
Ji Wang's brows darkened as he spoke these words.
"Prince Kang made his move a few days ago. Didn't Xiao Liuzi tell you about this?" Leng Ruoli said, glancing at Xiao Liuzi.
"What exactly is going on, Consort Leng?"
Ji Wang and his consort, Ji Wangfei, looked at Ling Xuanyuan simultaneously. Ling Xuanyuan lowered his head, remaining silent. Ji Wang and his consort then turned their gaze to Leng Ruoli.
"A few days ago, Prince Kang sent a group of people to assassinate Xiao Liuzi and even burned down the shop of the boss who was harboring Xiao Liuzi. Fortunately, I had arranged for several hidden guards to stay with Xiao Liuzi, otherwise, Xiao Liuzi and Boss Guo would have likely perished in the fire. However, after Xiao Liuzi and the others escaped, they were surrounded by those masked figures in black," Leng Ruoli recounted truthfully.
Upon hearing Leng Ruoli's words, Ji Wang and his consort felt a chill of fear.
"Xu'er, why didn't you tell your father and mother about these things earlier?"
Ji Wang and Ji Wangfei asked Xiao Liuzi (Ling Xuanyuan) with their eyes full of concern.
Xiao Liuzi (Ling Xuanyuan) replied with his head bowed, "This child did not want his father and mother to worry. Moreover, this child is fine now, so this child does not wish to bring up this matter again."
"Silly child, you must tell your father and mother about such matters so that we can devise future strategies," Ji Wangfei said with both heartache and sorrow.
If she hadn't been jealous of Wen Yuerou back then, suspecting Ji Wang and Wen Yuerou of having some unspeakable relationship, she wouldn't have argued with Ji Wang and consequently neglected her son, giving the bad guys an opportunity.
When she discovered that Xu'er had been kidnapped, she was on the verge of collapse. She had been living in regret for years.
Ling Xuanyuan saw the worry on Ji Wang and Ji Wangfei's faces and immediately assured them, "Father, Mother, this child promises that from now on, no matter what happens, this child will tell you everything truthfully, and will never hide anything."
Ji Wang and his consort nodded in satisfaction at Ling Xuanyuan's words.
"Prince Ji, what do you think Prince Kang's purpose is in attending the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet in the capital this time?" Jun Mohan suddenly asked.
"According to the tidbits of information I've received, Prince Kang has three objectives for this trip to Tianwu. The first is to kill me and Xu'er, to prepare for his ascension to the throne of Nanzhao. The second is to collude with the people of the Dark Night Pavilion, attempting to scheme for some unspeakable matters. The third objective is reportedly aimed at you two. As for what exactly he intends to do, I am not privy to that," Ji Wang replied calmly.
"Very well, I thank Prince Ji for your good intentions. However, Prince Kang does not have the capability to stir up major trouble in the capital."
Jun Mohan said with confidence.
Not to mention whether he, Jun Mohan, would intervene, his father’s methods were not to be underestimated. He was not like the Nanzhao King, who was incompetent and easily manipulated.
If Prince Kang wished to create bloodshed in Tianwu, he would meet a tragic end.
"Then I am reassured."
Ji Wang smiled with relief.
Afterward, Ji Wang and his consort chatted with King Leng and his consort about many pleasant topics before leaving King Leng's courtyard.
After Ji Wang and his entourage departed, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan quickly returned to their residence to change into clean clothes and hurried to General Leng's mansion.
...
At General Leng's mansion, Leng Jinyu had gone to the military camp outside the city early that morning to inspect. Therefore, when King Leng and his consort arrived at General Leng's mansion, only Steward Qi and the servants were present.
Upon hearing from the guards at the gate that King Leng and his consort had arrived, Steward Qi rushed out to greet them.
"Your subordinate greets King Leng and Consort Leng!" Steward Qi said respectfully as he knelt on the ground at the mansion's entrance.
"Uncle Qi, please rise quickly. There are no outsiders present, so you do not need to be so formal." Leng Ruoli said, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Consort, this is absolutely not permissible. You and the King are the sovereigns, and I, Fu, am merely a servant. This greeting is essential," Steward Qi said with a solemn expression.
"Alright, Uncle Qi, I cannot change your mind anyway, so do as you please." Leng Ruoli said helplessly.
Upon hearing this, Steward Qi's face broke into a smile. He then invited King Leng and his consort into the inner hall to be seated and arranged for the servants to serve them two cups of tea.
"Your Highness, Consort, the Great General went to the military camp outside the city this morning. You have arrived a moment too late."
"Uncle Qi, I haven't come back to see Father, but to ask you about some matters that happened during my childhood," Leng Ruoli said directly.
"Consort, you've returned to see this subordinate?" Steward Qi asked, looking puzzled.
"Yes, Uncle Qi. Please have a seat as well." Leng Ruoli nodded.
"What is it, Consort? Why are you suddenly asking about your childhood? However, if there is anything you wish to know, this subordinate will certainly tell you if I know," Steward Qi said, his brows furrowed slightly.
Leng Ruoli looked at Steward Qi and nodded appreciatively.
"Uncle Qi, when I was a few years old, did I fall into the lake in the mansion's garden?"
"Yes, when you were just a few years old, in a spring when the ice had just begun to melt, Leng Ruoshuang, who was a year younger than you, tricked you to the lake in the garden and pushed you into the icy water. Fortunately, someone discovered it early, and this subordinate managed to rescue you in time, otherwise... alas... you fell gravely ill afterward."
As Steward Qi spoke of this matter, he stomped his feet in anger.