Chapter 383: Killing Intent

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“In-law, have mercy on us with your words.”

“The words may not be pleasant, but that’s the idea. Can you understand it?”

“Pfft, haha.’

Yuan Jiaqi and the empress couldn’t help but laugh. The old emperor’s face turned red, and he quickly sipped his cold drink.

“Ling’er is pregnant. In-law, would you like to showcase your skills?”

“What would you like to eat?”

“Something light. The sashimi we had at the Rong family the other day was pretty good.”

“Do you like raw and marinated dishes?”

“No. Sashimi was good, but the other raw and marinated dishes are too fishy for our taste.’

“Alright, wait a moment.”

Qiao Mai went into the inner room, leaving them outside. Yuan Jiaqi and the emperor tidied the table and waited for the dishes.

Soon, Qiao Mai brought a large plate full of various fish slices, showcasing exquisite knife skills and presentation that amazed them.

“Beer, beer. In-law, chilled beer!”

The emperor had turned into a bonafide foodie and would call for beer whenever he saw something delicious.

The four sat by the window, drinking beer, eating fish slices, and chatting leisurely. Just then, there was a commotion outside.

A group of soldiers appeared, surrounding the entire inn.

Shortly after, some soldiers rushed upstairs and entered Qiao Mai’s room despite the guards’ attempt to stop them.

Seeing such a scenario, they, seasoned individuals, stayed put and confronted the soldiers.

“Are you guys from out of town?”

“Yes.”

“We received a report that foreign spies have infiltrated Luzhou.”

“From the South Gate?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry, we’re from the North. We have all the customs documents from our journey.”

Yuan Jiaqi took the documents from his pocket and handed them to the leading soldier. “You are from the capital?”

“Yes, our families are from the capital. We’re just traveling together. Is there a problem?”

“No, sorry to disturb you.”

After the soldiers apologized, they quickly left. Yuan Jiaqi closed the door and smirked.

“They were here to investigate openly. Luckily, we were well-prepared.” “Just a bunch of clownish acts. Let’s not bother about them.”

As they spoke, an attendant knocked on the door. “Master, the Magistrate of Luzhou is here to pay his respects.”

The four exchanged glances. The emperor suppressed his anger. “Please, let him in.”

With an attendant, Magistrate Liang entered the room with a nervous heart, seeking to confirm something.

But what he saw was two middle-aged couples, slightly plump, and one of them looked vaguely familiar.

He didn’t recognize the other three, so his anxious heart calmed down.

“Welcome to Luzhou, everyone. I am the Magistrate of Luzhou, named Liang

Zhiqiu. ”

“Oh, it’s Mr. Liang. Nice to meet you.”

After some polite exchanges, Yuan Jiaqi invited the magistrate to take a seat.

“I heard you’re currently investigating spies?”

“Yes, there’s information that several foreign spies infiltrated through the South Gate.”

“Do you need to check our customs documents?”

“No need. You all seem to be from the Great Ming Dynasty, and your accent is quite authentic. I believe you’re not spies. Are you here for business or leisure?” “Leisure. We’re passing through Luzhou, nothing more.”

“Well, there are many interesting places in Luzhou. Would you like me to arrange a guide for you?”

“No need. We prefer exploring on our own.”

Magistrate Liang scrutinized the four individuals again and concluded they were wealthy and influential. He could not offend them.

So, he kept his words brief, exchanged some pleasantries, and left.

The four enjoyed their meal. However, as they settled down, another group arrived.

Naturally, it was the Five Young Masters of Luzhou, with the eldest son of the Rong family and the magistrate’s son. There were three more young men with influential connections even in the capital city.

Qiao Mai wasn’t in the mood to entertain them and went to rest, while Yuan Jiaqi followed his wife’s lead.

It she was not present, he did not show himself either. He returned to his room to hug his wife to sleep.

The emperor instructed the guards to leave them alone and declared they were all to rest.

The Five Young Masters were left waiting outside the inn, encountering an unexpected obstacle in their otherwise smooth life.

With each of them having ulterior purposes for coming, they were unwilling to give up easily. Consequently, they waited patiently inside the inn.

Their patience paid off when lunchtime arrived. Humans need three meals daily, especially after consuming a bellyful of beer at noon. The emperor grew hungry.

Observing the activities upstairs, the Five Young Masters all stood up. The maids and servants moved efficiently, well-trained, and disciplined. Each one focused on their duties, especially the guards, whose alertness and demeanor set them apart from the ordinary guards of common households.

After observing for a while, Young Master Rong took the initiative to approach.

“Excuse me, Brother Guard, please inform Mr. Huang and Mr. Yuan that the

Five Young Masters of Luzhou are here to visit.”

“Wait a moment.”

With a stern expression, the guard went inside and soon returned.

“My master invites you all inside.”

“Thank you.”

When the Five Young Masters entered the room, Qiao Mai and the others were gathered around a round table, preparing to eat.

Seeing this, the five visitors felt a bit awkward. “Sorry for the disturbance.”

“No need to be polite. Please have a seat.”

The five of them sat, and the emperor put down his chopsticks.

“I heard you arrived at noon?”

“Yes, my father wishes to make friends. You are welcome to visit our house.”

They took invitation cards from their pockets and placed them on the table. The emperor glanced at them and said, “We are just passing through and will leave in a few days. We won’t disturb you.”

“Esteemed guests are rare in Luzhou. We would like to extend our hospitality.” “No need. We prefer a quiet environment.”

“Well then, we have arranged a banquet at Tianxing Restaurant tomorrow at noon. We hope you can grace us with your presence.”

With such enthusiasm, it was challenging to decline. Qiao Mai nodded on their behalf.

It seemed this lady made the decisions. It was she who brought out the tea bags and ice cubes. It appeared that this woman was not simple.

Finally getting rid of the guests, the old emperor sighed. “What a scheming meal!”

“And we don’t even know who’s plotting it.”

“At first glance, these people seemed fine, but the more I see them, the more repulsive they become.”

“Indeed, people are not as simple as they seem. Surface appearances are always unreliable.”

For every sentence the emperor uttered, Qiao Mai would strike him lightly.

The moonlight was beautiful tonight, with the stars seemingly cradling the moon. The enchanting scene sparked everyone’s interest. They sat in a sightseeing carriage, leisurely strolling through the streets.

“If only we didn’t have these troubling matters.”

“Yes. We came here for leisure, so let’s focus on that. The rest is secondary.”

The emperor glanced at the empress. “Even if the Rong family has fallen, there are still people accompanying you. Empress, you don’t have to be too sad.”

Just as they spoke, a gust of wind blew through, but strangely, it couldn’t reach the inside of the carriage. However, Qiao Mai’s eyes narrowed.

“Blackie.”

It barked twice from the roof. “Master, I’m ready.”

“I cast a barrier around the carriage. I’ll leave them to you.”

“Master, you’re so mean, only caring about yourselves and not about me.” “You’re capable enough, so stop talking nonsense.”

At this moment, Dong Zhao and Dracaena had halted their steps, and the carriage came to a stop in the middle of the street, bathed in moonlight. The emperor sensed that something was amiss. “In-law, are there assassins?” “There’s killing intent, but it seems nonexistent. The scent is off, though.”

Qiao Mai sniffed lightly, and the black-clad figures appeared on the rooftop.

They leaped down, wielding knives, directly attacking the people inside the car — the emperor, the empress, and Yuan Jiaqi.

Surprisingly, none showed any fear; they all widened their eyes, attentively observing their surroundings.

Qiao Mai sipped juice and said, “Don’t worry; none can get in. Let Blackie handle them. Watch closely to see how it deals with them.”

The emperor swallowed hard, pointing outside.

“Is it that little dog lying on our roof?”

“Yes.”

“Damn, this little guy is vicious!”

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