"Xiao Qian came from your Marquis of An's Residence. That much is true, is it not?" Yang Qing asked Jiang Zhizhou.
"Of course it is."
"For him to leave your household and rise to Left Cavalry General, he must naturally possess exceptional abilities."
Yang Qing picked up a small teacup from the little table inside the carriage and drained the half-cooled tea. Jiang Zhizhou tried to snatch it away, but he was already too late.
"You only told me where Xiao Qian came from. You did not mention that he has held the post of Left Cavalry General for more than a decade."
At this, Yang Qing fixed his gaze on Jiang Zhizhou once more. "Do you understand what that means?"
Jiang Zhizhou's eyes darkened. "I understand perfectly."
"Back then, Duan Hongzhuo wanted to use him to keep the Marquis of An's Residence in check, making my parents believe he had sent Xiao Qian to protect me in secret."
"But now they understand that Xiao Qian is merely a blade in Duan Hongzhuo's hand, poised according to whether I behave myself here in Western Chu."
At this, Jiang Zhizhou suddenly smiled. "From the look of things, they are already prepared to kill me and be done with it."
After all, if a sharp blade that had slipped its master's control could not be reclaimed, the only course left was to destroy it.
Yang Qing wanted to say something, only to realize he had no words. All he could do was reach out and pat Jiang Zhizhou's shoulder.
Jiang Zhizhou smiled at Yang Qing. "It is nothing. I have long wanted an opportunity to get rid of Xiao Qian! Since he has delivered himself to my door, how could I refuse such a generous gift?"
"But Xiao Qian is cunning by