Chapter 141
Book 13 Chapter 08 – Deeply Intertwined
In the Wu Residence, Teng Yi bandaged his wound personally and observed: "If the arrow is shot an inch higher, Third Brother would not be able to come back alive."
At this juncture, Jing Jun came back and reported: "I finished my checks. Dan Chu has yet to come back and the two stubborn girls are safely home."
Xiang Shaolong frowned and thought aloud: "I am dead sure one of the Qin Court officials tipped Tian Dan off. Otherwise, he would not have found such an excellent opportunity."
Beside him, Tao Fang nodded: "If Shaolong is killed, everyone will suspect Lu Buwei. Qin will be in chaos."
Jing Jun interrupted: "Will it be Lu Buwei who wanted to kill you through Tian Dan? After you are dead, he will push the blame to someone else!"
Teng Yi countered: "Not likely. The attackers would have killed Ying Ying and Lu Dan’er as well. It is lucky that they left earlier and were not ambushed!"
Xiang Shaolong sighed coldly. His earlier ambush and escape is an once-in-a-lifetime experience. If not for the girls laying the tripping ropes and caused the enemies to lose their footing, he will not be able to survive.
Tao Fang added: "We should count our blessings that the arrows are not lace with poison. It must have been a hasty decision and they did not have much time to prepare. Otherwise, the consequences might be different."
Pausing, he continued: "We must investigate and find out which high-ranking official went to see Tian Dan after the Court was dismissed. We must know who the spy is or we will continue to suffer in his hands."
Xiang Shaolong advised: "It will not be easy! To conceal their secret relations.h.i.+p, they will have a covert communication method that will not be easy to discover."
Teng Yi cut in: "Based on the fact that they managed to guess that Ying Ying and Lu Dan’er will bring you out of the city, this spy has a deep knowledge of Xianyang City affairs and may even be someone close to them. From this deduction, your a.s.sa.s.sins are neither Lu Buwei nor Meng Ao."
Jing Jun was about to voice his opinion when Wu Shu came running in and reported: "There is a letter from the farm!"
Xiang Shaolong was elated and took the bamboo container from him. He opened up the lid and withdrew a letter. As expected, it was the forged letter from Lord Chunshen to Li Yuan.
As everyone scrutinized the letter, they were awe-struck.
Tao Fang inquired: "How does Shaolong plan to hand this letter to Li Yuan?"
Xiang Shaolong smiled: "Prepare the carriage. I have to trouble you people to support me to visit Lu Gong."
When he got down the carriage and his injured foot touched the ground, sharp pain shot right into his heart. Xiang Shaolong kicked himself for being too complacent.
Wu Yan Zhu and another Guardian Jing Bieli hurriedly supported him on both sides. Together, they slowly moved towards Lu Gong’s main hall.
The gatekeepers looked at him with astonishment.
With a bitter smile on his face, Xiang Shaolong crossed the door ledge and sat down in the inner hall. The two Guardians left and waited for him beyond the doors.
A servant girl served tea and secretly peeped at him, wanting to say something but held her tongue at the last moment.
Xiang Shaolong was curious and wanted to ask her what she wanted to say. A yellow silhouette flew in suddenly like the wind and sat down opposite him with a complacent look on her face. Of course it is Lu Dan’er.
Her lips were curled up and she proudly teased: "To think the high and mighty Imperial Cavalry Commander had a simple fall but broke his leg. What a joke and an embarra.s.sment."
Xiang Shaolong gazed at her arrogant face and bitterly smiled: "Didn’t you girls decide to leave me alone? Why is Miss Dan’er so interested in me now?"
Lu Dan’er was slightly stunned and countered: "Who is interested in you? It is you who come over to my house and yet you dare to sprout such nonsense?"
Xiang Shaolong smiled: "It is my fault. Miss Dan’er, please do not be angry anymore."
Lu Dan’er was boiling mad and stared viciously at him. To the maid who was giggling at the side, she barked: "What are you looking at! Get lost!"
The servant girl panicked and quickly left in a fl.u.s.tered manner.
The atmosphere became awkward as neither of them knew what to say. Lu Dan’er is speechless for a while when Xiang Shaolong’s heart softened and started another conversation: "The day after tomorrow is the hunting fair. Has Miss Dan’er finished your preparations?"
Lu Dan’er acted as if she cannot be bothered: "Who are you to mind my business? Hng! You do not know what is good what for and even made Sister Ying cry. I will never let you off."
Xiang Shaolong exclaimed: "What?"
Lu Dan’er is even angrier: "What what? Who do you think you are? Must we come and beg you? How I wish I can kill you with one stroke."
Xiang Shaolong was secretly shocked. Like Qin Qing the untouchable beauty, Lu Dan’er is also untouchable as she is shortlisted to marry the Crown Prince.
The opposite of love is hatred.
For these proud girls from prestigious families, they cannot tolerate people being indifferent towards them, especially people whom they admired.
He was dumbfounded for a moment when Lu Gong came in.
Lu Dan’er whispered: "Xiang Shaolong! You’ll pay for this!" and slipped away.
Lu Gong sat down on the host chair and shook his head, sighing: "She is a difficult child and sometimes even I cannot control her."
Xiang Shaolong can only smile weakly in reply.
Lu Gong solemnly implored: "What happened to your leg? Did Dan’er injure you?"
In a low voice, Xiang Shaolong disclosed his a.s.sa.s.sination.
Lu Gong blew his top: "How dare Tian Dan try to kill someone in Qin? Are Qin people meant to be bullied by rascals like him?"
Xiang Shaolong added: "It is hard to link this case to him. Moreover, Lu Buwei will s.h.i.+eld him." From his bosom, he retrieved the forged letter and handed it to Lu Gong.
After Lu Gong finished reading, he nodded: "Leave this to