The Prodigal Son

"What are you doing?"

As soon as she got back inside, Jiang Ci asked Qin Yu questions with great curiosity.

"What else can we do? Pick people, of course!"

Qin Yu smiled helplessly, "I will be holding talks with the people of Yan at the border between our two countries in a few days. His Majesty has ordered me to select some suitable people to take with me for training and development..."

"You...are you leaving the capital again?"

Jiang Ci's expression darkened, as if she was very reluctant to part with Qin Yu.

Qin Yu nodded slightly, and said with a wry smile, "I don't want to go either, but I'm the only one in the court who's even slightly familiar with Yan Li..."

As he spoke, Qin Yu sighed repeatedly.

It seems they are very reluctant to leave.

However, he really didn't want to leave, but he had no choice; business had to be done!

At this point, all matters of personal feelings must be put aside.

Jiang Ci was surprised, then quipped sadly, "You used to say I was a very busy person, but I think you're the really busy one."

Hearing Jiang Ci's words, Nan Que'er and Luo Qingyi nodded in agreement.

"Do you think I want to be busy?"

Qin Yu rubbed his head, feigning exhaustion. "I'd love to sleep until I naturally wake up every day and count money until my hands cramp, but His Majesty won't allow it!"

"Who wouldn't want a life like yours?" Jiang Ci was amused by Qin Yu's words.

"that is!"

Luo Qingyi nodded and smiled, "I also wish I could do nothing and have money come pouring in."

As they were talking, a servant brought Lü Si in.

"Why are you here?"

Qin Yu looked at Lü Si with surprise.

He hadn't seen Lü Si for quite some time.

I've heard that Lü Si is a very busy man these days.

However, Lü Si's busyness was different from that of others.

Lu Si was busy attending various dinner parties every day.

Ever since the Empress Dowager adopted Lü Si as her godson, people have been sending invitations to the Lü residence every day.

"Why can't I come?"

Without waiting to be greeted, Lü Si walked over and sat down next to Qin Yu and the others as if they were old friends. "I saw you chasing a bunch of people like ducks at the teahouse. I called out to you and Da Chui, but you didn't react. I thought you were going to get into a fight, so I came to check, but I didn't see anything! By the way, what are you and Da Chui doing?"

As Lü Si spoke, he even showed a regretful expression.

He was clearly somewhat resentful that he missed the excitement.

"You're just bored out of your mind!"

Qin Yu glared at him and repeated what he had just told Jiang Ci to Lü Si.

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Lü Si immediately expressed his dissatisfaction: "Why didn't you ask me about this?"

"What do you want me to do?"

Qin Yu was speechless. "If I, Big Hammer, ever really pick a fight, I'll definitely call you in! Just make sure you're not afraid of getting beaten up!"

"Go away! That's not what I meant!"

Lu Si waved his hand, then looked at Qin Yu suspiciously, "Don't you know I'm going to Dingzhou with you too?"

"Are you going too?"

Qin Yu's voice suddenly rose eight octaves.

He really didn't know that!

They claimed they were going to hold talks, but in reality, they were going to fight!

Lu Si is not cut out to lead troops, so what is he going to do?

What, you want him to take the bullet for you?

The Empress Dowager can't help Lü Si gain some merit in this way!

If she were to lose the life of her newly adopted son, people would probably say she's cursed to bring misfortune to her children.

"yes!"

Lu Si chuckled, "My godmother mentioned this to me yesterday, saying I should also get some training. I thought you knew!"

"I……"

Qin Yu's face twitched slightly, and he looked at Lü Si with obvious displeasure. "Why the hell are you so persistent?"

Hmm, I'll talk to the Empress Dowager and Zhao Luan about it later.

It's best to avoid going if possible.

It wouldn't hurt to let Lü Si go along and get some credit for other things.

But on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; if a real fight breaks out, he has no intention of protecting Lü Si.

"You're the one who's relentlessly haunting me!"

Lu Si curled his lip and snorted, "I met a fortune teller a few days ago, and he said I'm a born lucky general! I'd rather give up my life of luxury in the capital and run off with you to that godforsaken place, Dingzhou. You should be secretly thrilled!"

"Go away, go away!"

Qin Yu waved his hand impatiently at Lü Si.

Returning good fortune?

That grandson didn't become a cursed lone star only because he's the chosen one!

At noon, Jiang Ci and Lü Si both had a meal at the Qin family's house.

After the meal, Jiang Ci chatted with Luo Qingyi and Nan Que'er for a while before leaving the Qin residence.

As soon as she got home, Qu Da came looking for her.

Jiang Ci knew from Qu Da's eyes that he wanted to talk to her, so she immediately led Qu Da to the secret room.

As soon as the two entered the secret room, Qu Da silently took out a small porcelain bottle and handed it to Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci frowned slightly, looking at Qu Da with a puzzled expression. "What is this?"

"poison!"

Qu Da emphasized: "A highly poisonous drug!"

Jiang Ci's heart skipped a beat, and she frowned, asking, "Why are you giving me this?"

Qu Da didn't beat around the bush with Jiang Ci and went straight to the point: "Orders have come from above, ordering you to find an opportunity to poison Qin Yu!"

"Poisoning... Qin Yu?"

Jiang Ci's expression changed, and she stared at Qu Da with amusement. "Where did you get the idea that I have the ability to poison Qin Yu?"

Qu Da stared at Jiang Ci with a scrutinizing gaze. "You're getting so close to Qin Yu now, finding an opportunity to poison him shouldn't be difficult, right?"

You're probably overthinking it.

Jiang Ci pushed the porcelain bottle back. "I advise you not to even consider it. I could poison Qin Yu, but the chances of success are almost zero! You need to understand, once I'm exposed, neither of us will survive!"

Are you threatening me?

Qu Da's face suddenly fell, and his sharp gaze stung Jiang Ci.

As the head of Beiqi's intelligence network in Da Ning, he would never allow Jiang Ci to escape his control!

He would not tolerate Jiang Ci challenging his authority!

Facing Qu Da's cold, stern gaze, Jiang Ci forced herself to remain calm and said in a deep voice, "I'm saving your life! Qin Yu is always accompanied by Nan Que'er and Qi Dachui. Do you think I would have the opportunity to poison Qin Yu under their noses? Besides, Qin Yu is about to head to Dingzhou soon; I have no chance to poison him!"

Qu Da's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked, "What is Qin Yu doing in Dingzhou?"

"It is said that he went to have talks with the people of Yan."

Jiang Ci briefly told him the information she had obtained from Qin Yu, then looked coldly at Qu Da: "If you really want Qin Yu dead, his trip to Dingzhou might be an opportunity."

"Just do your own thing; you don't need to tell me what to do!"

Qu Da coldly replied, "Let me remind you again, you'd better not develop real feelings for Qin Yu! Don't be fooled by how close Qin Yu is to you now; once he finds out your identity, no one in the Jiang family will survive!"

Jiang Ci nodded absentmindedly, chatted briefly with Qu Da for a few more minutes, and then left the secret room.

Back inside, Jiang Ci sat there, feeling utterly agitated.

Even knowing that all the warmth she felt was just a temporary illusion, she was still unable to extricate herself from it.

Sometimes when she was playing around with Luo Qingyi and the others, she would forget her own identity.

Perhaps, she had truly fallen in love with Qin Yu.

What should I do?

What should I do now?

Jiang Ci scratched her hair in anguish, her mind a complete blank...