140 Return 4 (2/2)
”I believe that Lady Xie has a better idea of what was involved than I do.”
Xie Nianxue laughed, as soon as he finished. And nodded at him in apparent approval. ”Ah! They have made you swear not to speak about their involvement no doubt. And how they had killed Mu Yang. That's the old pervert who had been wielding the Green Shadow Saber for the last twenty years or so.
”He is ... No. He was in the service of the Duke of the North, which puts him in opposition to my son-in-law. No doubt, that scoundrel was behind this little scheme, to send the Barbarians against us, earlier than they were expected. The surprise attack was no doubt meant to destroy some of our defenses here in the South. And perhaps, to lay siege to Changqing City.
”That would please the old bastard Duke!”
Qin Feng held his tongue, although he could not prevent his lips from twitching, the moment that he heard that. It seemed somewhat confusing, to hear the woman say something like that. But it was clear that she was referring to the Northern Duke, rather than her son-in-law.
After all, she wasn't likely to be calling her grandson's father names, was she?
But Lady Xie said nothing further about the schemes of the Northern Duke, and turned back to point a finger at his hands, which were still cradling the Green Shadow Sabre.
”You were saying that you would sell that sabre to our Sanlang? Well, I would agree that it would make a fitting present to his father. Not to mention the fact that it would also hint at the dangers that he would be facing in the future, if he knew that it came from the hands of those from the Snow Swallow Palace.
”Of course, we will keep your involvement in the ... in how you obtained that weapon quiet. I would appreciate it if you were to accompany Sanlang to the festivities at Yanyun City, the stronghold of my son-in-law, the Westlands Duke. So that you can offer a hint or two, with regards to who was last using the saber?”
Qin Feng gave a slight smile as he bowed again. ”I have no complaint regarding your arrangements, Lady Xie. And I believe that I am not constrained in any way when it comes to speaking about this Mu Yang fellow. My promise only involved not speaking of the parties involved in his death.”
”Then let us pretend that I was the one who killed him. Given the conflict between my husband's faction and that of the old scoundrel in the North, that should not surprise anyone. Are we agreed? To make up some story about a fight in the woods, and how Mu Yang perished under my hand?”
Qn Feng naturally agreed at once. It was a far better story than anything that he could come up with, on his own, after all.
”In that case, this one would be more than pleased to share that tale, and to accompany the Second Ducal Prince to his father's birthday celebrations in Yanyun City, Lady Xie.”
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