Zhao Yu didn't speak. After a long moment, he seemed to think of something and asked Zhao Shan anxiously, "Shan'er, are you absolutely sure that among the people who accompanied Pan Shulin to confront Xi Yao today, there were no beastman guards from our Zhao family?"
Zhao Shan shook his head. "No. Before we departed, I made sure. They were all sons from rich or noble families that we had invited from various places. None of the beastman guards from our Zhao family took part."
Hearing this, Zhao Yu relaxed. "That's good. That way, even if Xi Ning holds us accountable and punishes us, he'll have to think twice because of the guards who are loyal only to us. These guards are our Zhao family's final lifeline. If we face real danger, we can still rely on them to fight. We must never let anyone else take them away."
"Don't worry about that, I understand," Zhao Shan said.
"Good." Zhao Yu responded, then sighed. "You are much more reliable than Xiang'er."
"Actually, second brother Zhao Qi is quite reliable too, father," Zhao Shan said, pursing his lips.
Hearing this, Zhao Yu became furious. "Don't mention Zhao Qi! That person has been tamed by the Cheng family. Everything he does is for the Cheng family and for Xi Ning. He has nothing to do with our Zhao family."
"..." Zhao Shan said no more.
After waiting a while longer, there was still no sign of Xi Ning. Zhao Yu stood up and sat on the floor, rubbing his sore legs, his expression growing darker. Seeing this, Zhao Shan looked outside a few times. Seeing the guard wasn't strict, he leaned close to Zhao Yu and whispered, "Father, how about I slip out quietly to see what Xi Ning is discussing, to see how he plans to deal with us? Then we can prepare a countermeasure."
"Fine." Zhao Yu looked at the guards outside and nodded.
Zhao Shan stood up, stretched his limbs a bit, and nimbly slipped out through a nearby window.
Before Xi Ning took power, the Zhao family had managed the city's affairs and were very familiar with this palace.
Zhao Shan knew Xi Ning should be in his study reviewing documents at this time. He wound his way through twists and turns until he reached Xi Ning's study. At one side of the study, he quietly pushed open a crack in the window and peeked inside.
Xi Ning was indeed inside. Apart from Xi Ning, there was also a person dressed in a long black robe, wrapped tightly from head to toe.
The back looked somewhat familiar, but because the man had his back turned, Zhao Shan could not see his face.
"What are you worrying about now?" The person's voice was clear and cold, like a mountain stream, pleasant to hear.
Xi Ning extended his hand toward the man. Understanding the gesture, the man placed his own hand into Xi Ning's. Xi Ning then pulled him gently into an embrace.
"!" Zhao Shan was stunned, and in that moment, he finally saw the man's face clearly.
The man had narrow, elongated eyes with rare vertical pupils that held a somewhat fierce glint. His lips were pale, nearly blending into the surrounding skin. While none of his individual features were particularly remarkable, together they created a startling and arresting appearance.
Zhao Shan stared, utterly captivated, as he heard Xi Ning say, "Qian Sheng, I am concerned about Yao'er."
Qian Sheng? He's that mysterious elder?!
So this is the Snake tribesman? But isn't he a beastman? Why are he and Xi Ning acting with such ambiguous intimacy...?
Zhao Shan watched intently, then heard the snake beastman ask, "Your precious younger brother already has a home to return to. What are you still worried about?"
"Precisely worried about that home he's returning to." As Xi Ning spoke, his hand naturally rested on the other's waist, his head lightly resting on the other's shoulder, as familiarly as if he had done it a thousand times.
"That ancient beastman is good, of course, but after all, he hasn't been in Ning'an City for long. He has no property, no wealth. I'm afraid Yao'er will be laughed at if he follows him."
"..." The the snake beastman's voice was soft. "Your younger brother is an adult now. I don't think he fears being laughed at."
"..." Xi Ning fell silent for a moment, then buried his face in the other's shoulder and said in a muffled voice, "I know you're laughing at me for worrying about Yao'er like an overprotective old father. But I neglected him too much when he was young, and I always want to make it up to him. Besides, he's pregnant now."
Xi Yao is pregnant?
Zhao Shan lowered his gaze, Zhao Shan lowered his gaze, his eyes turning deep and unreadable.
Silence hung in the room for a time. Suddenly, Xi Ning straightened up and said, "I've got it. How about I appoint Yuan Heng as deputy city lord? After all, aside from Zhao Qi, I haven't wanted to keep Zhao Yu and the rest of the Zhao family in their posts for a long time. Now that they've made a mistake, I have a perfect excuse to strip them of their positions."
"!" Hearing this outside, Zhao Shan was so startled his hand trembled, almost losing his composure, but he managed to hold on.
The snake beastman said, "I don't involve myself in city affairs. You've always had your own ideas. You decide."
"Mmm." Xi Ning responded, then said, "By the way, did you feel unwell during your divination this time? Last time you were unconscious for several days, it really frightened me."
"It wasn't severe this time, but I still need to go into seclusion."
"Seclusion again?!" Xi Ning was taken aback. "You just came out of seclusion not long ago. I was thinking of finding a time to introduce you to Yao'er. We should let Yao'er know about us. Before, I was always concerned that the Xi family must have an heir. You and I cannot have children. Now that Yao'er is with child, we no longer have to worry about that matter."
Hearing this, the snake beastman let out a cold snort. "If your younger brother were not pregnant, would you still be hesitating to be with me?"
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