Suspicions 3

For a moment, Li Changhai was too caught up in his own thoughts, and let his mother's words slip by him. This was terrible news after all. And something that was certain to see Qin Feng cutting all ties with him, if the young man came to know the truth. The only question was, would Li Sanlang, and his father's people, be able to hide it from the youth?

A loud sniff from his mother brought the Second Ducal Prince back to the table, and he dipped his head in an apology to the Duchess, even as she reached out to smack him on his forearm.

"You are not paying attention. Proper attention, I mean. I was just saying that this has more implications than you can guess at," she growled at him as soon as she did that, and was certain that he was focused on her words.

The Ducal Prince nodded at his mother, to show that he was listening, and that he agreed with what she was saying. "That is the truth. I had not expected that she would make a move like that. And against Qin Feng too. This is too much!"

The Duchess made a noise in her throat at that. And her scowl at him, when he looked up to meet her eyes, told him that he had missed something. But she caught his puzzled frown and simply rolled her eyes at him immediately.

"You are missing the point. The fact that your sister is targeting your companions is more worrisome than what I had expected of her. She is an idiot, as I had said frequently enough. But I fear that she is more astute when it comes to this sort of matters than I had given her credit for."

"What do you mean?"

The look that Feng Xueli wore on her face seemed heavier than what Li Sanlang had ever seen in his limited experience, as she stretched out her right index finger:

"First of all, she had sent her man against Qin Feng, who we all know has no powerful relations and no Sect or School backing him. And he has no formal ties with your grandmother's family either. So that makes him the most vulnerable of all your companions, doesn't it?

"Lin Liushui has a large family that spans three or four Kingdoms, and it is well-known even in the Empire. As for Du Yan, his family has supplied weaponry and armour to the armed forces of our Shi Kingdom, as well as a good number of famous martial practitioners. Several of them are also known to be hangers-on, there at the Royal Court. So she would definitely not dare to make a move against the two of them."

Li Changhai's scowl deepened at once. "But Qin Feng is different? So she did not hesitate to eliminate him? She would go that far? Just to get at me?" he asked, even as he warned himself that he had to reconsider his sister's level of scheming. Perhaps, like his mother had said, she was not the utter imbecile that he had thought her to be. That was a rather rude shock, to be honest.

Had he been underestimating her, all this while? She had always behaved in such a stupid manner, every time that she visited the Ducal Palace, that he had forgotten that she had the support of her husband. And the Zhao Family was rather well-known for their schemes, there in the Kingdom. Perhaps she had picked up a few tricks, from that association?

"So ... You believe that I should be more cautious? Around Eldest Sister?"

His mother sniffed again, and stretched out her middle finger, next to her first. Clearly, she was going to go on with her spiel, and was ignoring what he had to say for the moment.

"Second, did you even know that Zhou Jinhu was that accomplished a martial artist? That he could go up against Lin Liushui and Du Yan and not lose his composure? Even if we take into account that he was striking from a hidden position and not challenging Qin Feng up front? Well, that is the sort of move that you should be familiar with. It is not the first time that you have had to deal with your half-sister's people. So you should have some idea of their calibre by now."

The Second Ducal Prince gave out a grunt at that. To be honest, that particular revelation had driven the air out of his lungs for a moment, as startled as he was to learn that he had been played for a fool. And for a good while too.

It looked like he would have to be more careful regarding his sister and her antics hereonafter. As well as the Zhao Family, who may be behind her.

Something that his mother had obviously not forgotten, as she pushed out her ring finger:

"Third, and this is the last one. You should not forget who Zhou Jinhu is working for, despite the fact that he is always hanging about your sister. The Zhao Family had hired a good number of other martial practitioners as well, so he may not be the most powerful among them. In fact, I believe that you should accept that as a fact. And take precautions suited for enemies that are at least a whole tier above that fool."

A whole tier? Wasn't that overestimating the forces that the Zhao Family could afford? Even the Duchy could barely afford to 'invite' two Elders who were in the Grand Manifestation phase. And both of them were taking turns to guard his older brother, the Ducal Heir!

"And you should not forget that Zhou Jinhu has an older brother as well. And that one's martial arts is on a much higher level than his foolish younger brother! I am certain that he would be heading this way, to make trouble for us, if we find a way to deal with Zhou Jinhu without digging ourselves into a pit. And quickly too!"

Li Changhai's eyes widened as he received that reminder from his mother. He had certainly forgotten all about that, and had been caught by surprise. Clearly, she knew all about Zhou Jinlong, who was a Captain in the Royal Guard in Shu Jing!

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