After seeing him out, Xue Lingjun returned to the tearoom and found Li Chenzhou already out, sitting where Yuchi Chong had been. She went over and nestled beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "What did you discover?"
Li Chenzhou said, "He's retreating to advance, fortifying his position at every step. Do you really think he knows nothing about what happened in the palace?"
Xue Lingjun draped both hands over his shoulders and tilted her lovely face up toward him. "How are you going to deal with him?"
Li Chenzhou said, "Does he really think he's irreplaceable? Flaunting his achievements and using them to hold us hostage?"
Xue Lingjun said, "He has indeed won many hard-fought victories for Great Yong. If you eliminate him, wouldn't that grieve our friends and delight our enemies?"
Li Chenzhou chuckled and turned toward Xue Lingjun. "Who said I wanted to eliminate him? This sworn brother of yours is no simple man, either. How much of what he said was true? If someone really tried to assassinate him on the road, how could he be certain who they were? Would the Black Hu people attempt an assassination without disguising themselves at all? If he never established their true identities, he might suspect us, too. Otherwise, why hint to you that he wanted to retire?"
Xue Lingjun's beautiful eyes lit up. "He wanted to convey his intentions to you through me?" After a pause, she added, "How would he know about our relationship?"
Li Chenzhou smiled. "What relationship?"
Xue Lingjun pressed a finger against Li Chenzhou's chest and pushed him down onto the floor mat. "You dared do it, but you don't dare admit it?" she asked coquettishly.
Hu Xiaotian returned to the Yong Capital at the same time as Yuchi Chong. The wounds on