As Jiang Zhizhou shook his head and sighed again, Yang Qing watched him with an unchanged expression. "Xiao Zhou, you used to take everything in stride, no matter what happened. Why are you so uneasy today?"
Jiang Zhizhou said nothing, merely handing Yang Qing the sheet of paper he held.
Yang Qing took it and skimmed it, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. "Are these findings accurate?"
Bitterness crept into Jiang Zhizhou's eyes. "I wish I had read it wrong."
"I certainly didn't expect this. Your Marquis of An's Residence has produced another talented man, though his ambitions seem quite different from yours and the Marquis's."
Yang Qing tossed the paper into the stove in the corner, watching the tongues of flame curl upward and swallow the little sheet in an instant.
Only after it had turned to ash did he turn back to Jiang Zhizhou. "What do you intend to do next?"
The note had stated clearly that the two men who had provoked the Northern Hawk members had acted on the orders of Jiang Zhihuai, the Marquis of Anguo's second son.
But how had he known what set the Northern Hawk apart from other people?
Had it been deliberate, or merely a coincidence?
Having spent so long amid turmoil, neither Jiang Zhizhou nor Yang Qing would believe this was pure coincidence.
Since Jiang Zhihuai had set his sights on the Northern Hawk, what was his purpose?
Had he uncovered some of their hidden secrets, or learned of their connection to Yang Qing and Jiang Zhizhou?
The former would be somewhat less troubling, but if it was the latter...
The consequences were unthinkable.
"Let's find out what he wants before deciding what to do."
Only after a long silence did Jiang Zhizhou let out a deep sigh.
He