Motives and Speculations - 32.2

Is the information here reliable?" Jin Fa Chung asked when Wu Zhang He handed him several scrolls after Han Ling finished talking.

"It should be but I am having people confirm it and gather more information although this might take a while." Wu Zhang He replied in a serious manner.

"That's fine. Although having more information at this time would be invaluable, it's not our top priority." Jin Fa Chung stated before his eyes landed on Fang Ting Feng.

"General Fang..."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Gather your men and make sure the capital is completely secure. Make sure you're able to quickly find any suspicious movements or individuals. You may cooperate with Bai Nian Zu should there be any need. I want this done within five days."

"Understood, Your Majesty. Commander Bai and I would do our best." Fang Ting Feng nodded.

"Good... Also I heard that your son was inspecting our borders? Is that right?"

Startled at the sudden question about his son, Fang Ting Feng only nodded in answer to the question.

"Hmm... Then also send a message to your son and have him tighten our defenses at the borders. Send him some men if need be." Jin Fa Chung ordered after some contemplation.

"Commander Bai, you'll have to divide your attention on securing the capital with General Fang as well as making sure the imperial palace is safe."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bai Nian Zu acknowledged his orders while keeping calm and serious.

Shooting his friend a glance, Fan Hui Zhong opened his mouth and said, "I'll assist Bai Nian Zu in securing the palace."

Nodding his head in assent. Jin Fa Chung continued mulling things over as his fingers rhythmically tapped against the wood of the desk table in front of him.

"If I may speak?" Fan Song Xue suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Please, go ahead." Jin Fa Chung said as he gestured for Fan Song Xue to continue.

"This old man suggests that everyone here should tighten their security as well. Based from the attack earlier, they were particularly aggressive towards us military families and military officials. Although they did target others like the Fu Family but their main focus was still a bit obvious. If the information we got earlier was accurate then the group responsible might be aiming to weaken our country's military might. It may not be beyond them to send skilled assassins to target key people to either kill them or do something to get a handle on them. We've had an assassination attempt on my life recently and if we didn't have extra precautions at the time, I might not even be standing here."

"Is it done by the same group?"

"If the information Han Ling got was accurate and that the attack on our family years ago had the same culprit then there's a high chance it's the same group. From what we've gathered when we captured tee assassin, he may have come from a small clan specializing in assassinations and poisons. The reason why I haven't appeared all these years is because I was in comatosed state due to a highly toxic poison and I only recently recovered."

A lot of them wanted to ask how he managed to cure the poison and wanted to ask if he has any more antidotes just in case when a knock sounded on the door.

They knew that the room had seals on it to ensure utter privacy and security to avoid any eavesdropping but they were still surprised at the sudden interruption.

All of them turned to look at the emperor since he was the one in control of the seal and it was also up to him whether the person on the other side may enter or not yet when their eyes landed on his face, all they could see was a deep, heavy frown filled with dissatisfaction as he shot a look towards the door.

Because of his control over the seal, this also gave Jim Fa Chung a way to find out who was standing outside his study and if one purely based it on his reaction, you would know that whoever it is, isn't welcomed.

Schooling his features, Jin Fa Chung hid his annoyance and all you can see from the emperor was his dignified and imposing momentum as a ruler and no trace of his annoyance nor dissatisfaction could be found.

"Enter."

As soon as Jin Fa Chung gave his permission, the door opened and an old servant walked in before bowing respectfully.

This old servant was precisely the old man that usually shadows and acts as the personal guard of the princess of Spirit Valor Country; Ning Yan Mei.

"Zeng Chang, what is it?" Jin Fa Chung asked him as soon as he straightened out.

"Apologies for the interruption, Your Highness but this old servant is here on behalf of Princess Ning to inform you that the princess wishes to return home and would like to request His Majesty to allow an escort be arranged for her return since the princess worries about the lack of guards she has."

Hearing Zeng Chang's words, Jin Fa Chung's calm expression had flashed slight annoyance before it quickly disappeared like a passing cloud and only those who truly knew him would have noticed.

"This Emperor understands. Please convey my apologies and concern to Princess Ning. The matter about the escort can be arranged. When will you be leaving?"

"If possible, within three days Your Highness."

"Very well... Anything else?" Jin Fa Chung asked.

Just before he opened his mouth to speak, Zeng Chang subtly darted a glance towards the Fan Family which Fan Song Xue noticed, making him frown.

"Yes, Your Highness. The princess hopes that Young Master Fan Li Jie may be included in the escort since she knows him and would feel more comfortable with him around."

The request of the princess seemed understandable and simple enough but Zeng Chang's next words made the faces of the Fan Family go dark.

A tense atmosphere descended in the room and everyone could feel the dissatisfaction coming from the Fan Family.

"For my nephew; Li Jie, he is currently at the infirmary and might not be suitable to escort Princess Ning but since she is worried, This King will send some of my men to go along with your escort." Fan Hui Zhong stated flatly.

Seeing that Zeng Chang looked as if he wanted to argue, Fan Hui Zhong shot him a cold smile.

"Please understand, my nephew; Li Jie is the heir of our Fan Family and will be the next head. Should anything happen to him, it's a loss we couldn't possibly take but since the princess trusts in our Fan Family so much, how about sending Yong Rui?"

When Fan Hui Zhong said this, his eyes met his father's and brother's who both nodded imperceptibly which Jin Fa Chung witnessed.

"This One thinks that's a perfect idea! Fan Yong Rui may lead the men that you'll be sending, Hui Zhong... This One has heard that Yong Rui has spent more time traveling outside the capital than Li Jie and he is also quite skilled in fighting. He should be good enough."

Knowing that they have decided and that there's no way that the emperor will side with him over Fan Hui Zhong, Zeng Chang could only nod.

"As you say, Your Majesty. If His Highness will excuse this old servant then..."

"Go."

When he left, the atmosphere in the room was a bit off and Jin Fa Chung was looking at the Fan Family with a curious smile.

"Care to explain?"

Shooting an annoyed glare at Jin Fa Chung, Fan Hui Zhong then rolled his eyes before he uttered one sentence that surprised everyone there.

"That brat from Spirit Valor Country is eyeing my nephew like a piece of meat."

A moment of silence settled before everyone there burst into laughter, including the emperor.

"Ahhh, so it would seem as though young Li Jie has attracted a persistent butterfly." Jin Fa Chung said with a laugh.

"More like an annoying fly." Fan Hui Zhong retorted, eliciting another round of laughter.

After a couple of minutes everyone settled down once more and started discussing serious matters once more. The only good thing about it is that although everyone was still serious, the atmosphere wasn't as tense and stifling as before.