It is almost completely edited (until XJX left SM room)… Will update it when it is ready later

After Shen Miao thought for a while, she then asked Xie Jing Xing, "How do you plan to handle Princess Ming An and Xie Chang Wu?"

Even though she had repeatedly warned herself not to be curious about all things related to Xie Jing Xing, at the end Shen Miao could not hold it back. At that time when Xie Jing Xing took away Xie Chang Chao"s corpse, it made her very puzzled. She asked, "You plan to kill Xie Chang Wu?"

"Else wait for him to scheme me behind my back?" Xie Jing Xing retorted.

Shen Miao rolled her eyes. Even if Xie Chang Wu really wanted to scheme against Xie Jing Xing, he had to start scheming for it to be considered. Not to mention that now Xie Jing Xing was holding the n.o.ble and greatly respected ident.i.ty of Prince Rui of the Great Liang, even when he was the Little Marquis in the residence of the Marquis of Lin An, the Xie brothers" duels with him failed, and even the highly skilled Madam Fang could only watch openly as Xie Jing Xing grew up arrogantly for all the years.

"Actually you do not need to kill him. You did not have to kill Xie Chang Chao too." Shen Miao said, "Your Fa… For the Marquis of Lin An to lose sons in succession, he would definitely investigate the matter. Perhaps you have other means that would reduce some other unnecessary trouble."

Xie Jing Xing"s eyes were slightly cold, "I have the final say to kill them or not." He suddenly shot a glance at Shen Miao and his lips hooked up, "You are now seemingly caring about an ally"s feelings. Why? Worried about me?" His tone suddenly became a little frivolous. Compared to the cynical youth two years ago, for Xie Jing Xing who had gotten more handsome in appearance to do this, it made one unable to look away. One clearly knew it was dangerous but it seemingly made one fascinated and could not help but be closer.

Shen Miao looked away without an expression, "I am worried you will implicate me."

Xie Jing Xing laughed and there was some playfulness in his smile, "Do not need to worry. I have ways to protect you, and also have ways to protect myself. One will not give trouble to others."

Shen Miao felt a little weird in her heart, as she felt that Xie Jing ing"s remarks were alluding to something. However there was only the two of them in the room and if there was innuendo, one did not know who was he shooting it to. Shen Miao thought that she was oversensitive and just went along with his words, "Your Highness Princes Rui naturally possess remarkable abilities."

"But there are things that one cannot be compared with." Xie Jing Xing said lazily, "One do not know the trick of injuring oneself for gain."

Shen Miao said, "What did you say?"

"Never mind." Xie Jing Xing stood up and walked to Shen Miao. His stature was tall thus when he stood shoulder to shoulder with Shen Miao, there was an involuntary pressure. Normally when he talked to Shen Miao, he would either be indifferent or frivolous, and that helped to dilute the pressure but one did not know why, or was it Shen Miao"s incorrect illusion, she felt that Xie Jing Xing"s gaze was much more sharper than in the past.

"How do you want me to handle Ming An?" He leaned closer to Shen Miao and whispered into Shen Miao"s ears.

Shen Miao unconsciously took a step back, but her shoulders were held down by Xie Jing Xing. His expression was somewhat strange, seemingly like he was repressing something. He then abruptly let go of his hands before turning around and said coldly, "What are you thinking?"

"Why ask me?" Shen Miao said, "Do not you already have plans?" Xie Jing Xing had taken away Xie Chang Chao"s corpse, thus Shen Miao thought that Xie Jing Xing had already thought of what next steps to take. Why now ask her about it?

"This depends on you." Xie Jing Xing did not turn back his head.

"If Prince Rui take action, how much can it be accomplished?" Shen Miao"s brain quickly calculated, "I am saying that if you kill Princess Ming An, can you guarantee that others will not be able to gain information that could be used against you?"

Xie Jing Xing paused and turned around to stare at Shen Miao for a while before laughing, "Little Shen girl, you really do business too well."

Shen Miao was slightly surprised as Xie Jing Xing had not called her "little Shen girl" for a very long time. Now that he said that, it made her dazedly thought that it was still two years ago when she just met Xie Jing Xing. At that time both of them were afraid of being each other chess pieces, and thought that each other would not meet the other for the rest of their lives. Who knew that just two years later, they would be sitting down and discuss calmly about the shady business of murdering and silencing people.

Life was indeed full of twists and turns.

Seeing Shen Miao in a daze, Xie Jing Xing said, "You want to kill her?"

Shen Miao recovered to her senses, "She conspired with the two Xie brothers to scheme against me, and planned to sell me off to a low grade brothel, so that I will forever be on the road of living no better than dying. And to also secretly harm my Eldest Brother. I am not a sage and would not return good for evil and only want her life. As compared to the things she want to do to me, this is already considered kind."

"Vicious and merciless girl." Xie Jing Xing smiled uncaringly, as if he had not thought of how inconceivable it was for Shen Miao to talk about killing a Princess of a country. He looked at Shen Miao with a sly look and crossed his arms in front of his chest, "But why should I do this?

Shen Miao, "…"

One had always heard that when a female was having menstruation, one"s personality would become somewhat moody, and currently Shen Miao could not help but wonder if males would have menstruation. Else why would Xie Jing Xing be so moody today and make others completely confused? A few days earlier when Xie Jing Xing was attempting to tie Shen Miao and him together and was taking initiative in all aspects. But now when one let him show initiative, he started to put up on airs. Even those sly veterans in courts would not be like this youth in front, making one"s heart full of jittery.

She said, "Did not you already take me as your ally? Is not it a matter of fact to stick out for an ally?" Shen Miao at last saw that Xie Jing Xing was not one who would follow the rules to deal his cards. Pei Lang had already experienced Fu Xiu Yi"s techniques and if there was an official with eccentric temperament, when he was shameless, one have to be more shameless that him. Might as well use Xie Jing Xing"s own words to block him.

Xie Jing Xing froze for a moment before looking at Shen Miao. His eyes slightly moved as he said lowly, "Though that is said, not only have one saved you and ended an official"s life, now one still have to help you a.s.sa.s.sinate a Princess of a country. Allies are all mutually beneficial but you do not do anything at all. To help others unconditionally is for spouses. I see that you do not treat me as an ally but a husband."

Shen Miao was exasperated and sneered, "Your Highness Prince Rui is as respected as gold and n.o.ble as jade. It is alright if one is unwilling and I would not be insistent. With regards to the matter of Princess Ming An, I will think of a way."

"Think of what way?" Xie Jing Xing said indifferently, "Ask your Older Biao Brother for help?"

Shen Miao said, "What does this got to do with Older Brother Ling?"

Xie Jing Xing said, "What are you anxious about? I did not say that I do not agree. Since one is an ally and it is not of a difficult matter, this Prince will lend a casual hand. But what can you do for this Prince?"

Shen Miao glared at him.

"See, one cannot think of anything. Xie Jing Xing raised his brows and sighed, "Then just make two baskets of pastries for this Prince first. During the journey of a.s.sa.s.sinating, one fear one will be hungry.

Shen Miao, "…"

Only after Xie Jing Xing left, then Shen Miao sat on the bed but this time there was no sleepiness at all. She did not know what kind of methods Xie Jing Xing would use to "a.s.sa.s.sinate" Princess Ming An but her heart felt surprisingly rea.s.sured. One thought that since Xie Jing Xing had eyes and hands everywhere that even when changing to an hidden ident.i.ty, he would dare to outright swagger under the eyelids of Emperor Wen Hui, from how casual he said to just take a Princess"s life, it was something that was as easy as reaching out to take.

But… Today Xie Jing Xing was really in a bad mood. Shen Miao took the cup from the side and started thinking. The atmosphere became somewhat moody.

After a few days of sun in Ming Qi"s Ding capital, it started to snow again. The n.o.ble Furens and Young Ladies were all delicate and was not willing to go out as the roads were slippery on snowy days. Even those who went out would strictly cover up and bring along a few hand warmers, to refrain from catching a cold. The water in Wan Li Lake were all frozen. Even if there were people who came to fish, they would drill a hole into the lake before fis.h.i.+ng. But on the next day, it would definitely be filled with ice again and would be very stable when one walk over it.

This was also true for the residence of Prince Rui.

Early in the morning Ji Yu Shu slipped and fell at the doors and complained loudly that the ice in the courtyards were dirty. Ever since Xi Jing Xing bought large plots of lands in Yan Qing Lane, other than the times Ji Yu Shu go to Feng Xian p.a.w.nshop so that Hong Ling could show him the accounting books, most of the time he would be in the residence of Prince Rui, playing with the big cat.

Upon seeing Xie Jing Xing walking over from afar, Ji Yu Shu called out, "Third Older Brother!"

Xie Jing Xing could not be bothered about him. The white tiger broke free from Ji Yu Shu"s handstand quickly ran towards Xie Jing Xing"s side. Gao Yang came out from the other side as he did not return to the Palace yesterday and stayed in the residence of Prince Rui.

"You went to the Shen mansion to treat that Young Lady Luo again?" Ji Yu Shu asked.

Speaking of that matter, Gao Yang felt his head hurting. He had treated so many people, be it the Ladys.h.i.+ps in the Palace or the Emperor, or even the Furens and Young Ladies of high ranking officials, it was the first time he had seen a patient like Luo Tan. It was evident that she was so weak a few days back that she almost died and had barely gotten back her life but now that she had gotten a little better she started practicing martial arts in the Shen mansion"s courtyard. She said that during the matter of Shen Miao"s she had a realisation that only by practicing martial arts could one protect the people by one"s side.

But she did not look at what kind of condition she was in.

How could her wounds heal quicker with her self-torment? Once the wound heal slower, Luo Tan would give a skeptical look to Gao Yang, "Are you really a doctor from the Palace? Why is it that you are not even comparable to the apprentice in Xiao Chun City"s medical hall? When one knocked one"s head, the next day one can still go up the mountain to cut firewood."

To actually compare a medical hall apprentice with him, an Imperial Physician and moreover Luo Tan was not a patient that fell down and it was an injury that one could almost lose one"s life! Gao Yang had never encounter such an uncooperative patient in his life and also not at all respectful to him. If he had not used the matter of Luo Tan sneaking out to look for Prince Rui as leverage, Luo Tan would have gone up to his head and pee there.

As one had rarely seen Gao Yang losing his thoughts, Ji Yu Shu jabbed his shoulders, "Dreaming in the middle of the day? Treat until one gone silly?"

Gao Yang recovered to his senses and looked at Ji Yu Shu in despise, "You think everyone is like you?"

Xie Jing Xing who was at the side suddenly said, "How is Luo Ling?"

Gao Yang was slightly startled, skeptical of why Xie Jing Xing would ask about Luo Ling without any rhyme or reason and said, "He did not suffered any serious injury and is the same."

"How"s the hand?"

"Hand?" Gao Yang said, "The right hand cannot be used. Are you doubting my capabilities?"

Xie Jing Xing turned around and looked at Gao Yang annoyed, "Can not you just heal his hand?"

"Even though my medical skills are very high, I am not a divine physician." Gao Yang said helplessly, "The wounds on his hand were deep in his muscles and bones. Moreover there were old injuries on top thus I could not do anything. Without any rhyme or reason how do you have a friends.h.i.+p with him? Even if one treat the Shen family well, Luo Ling is considered as a Biao relative. Even the Biao relatives have to be taken care?" Gao Yang said incredibly, "You might as well aid everyone under Heavens."

Xie Jing Xing raised his brows, "Who want to take care of him?"

"Then why are you so concerned about his injuries?" Gao Yang was unable to make head or tail of it.

"I know this!" Ji Yu Shu, who was being left cold at the side, finally found a topic where he could speak and quickly inserted himself in, "I know! I know!" He touched his chin proudly and put on a profound look on, "Young Master Luo is injured because of Fifth Shen Young Lady so if Young Master Luo"s condition remained as such, then Fifth Shen Young Lady would inevitable feel remorse in her heart. Third Older Brother"s and Fifth Shen Young Lady"s friends.h.i.+p is not at all shallow so naturally one would not be willing to see Fifth Shen Young Lady upset. Correct Third Older Brother? Did I say correctly?"

Xie Jing Xing looked coldly at him. Ji Yu Shu touched his nose and said in small voice, "I think that it made sense."

However when Gao Yang thought through about Ji Yu Shu"s words, he seemed to have understood something. When he looked at Xie Jing Xing again, his eyes was a little puzzled, "If it is really the case then it is a good thing that Luo Ling injured his arm. Like this, in front of you, he would be inferior."

"What a joke." Xie Jing Xing did not get angry but laughed instead, "Even if he grew another arm, he would still be inferior in front of this Prince!"

Ji Yu Shu and Gao Yang, "…"

Did they say something wrong? Why did it feel like Xie Jing Xing seemed to be even angrier?