This was the first time Xie Huizhou had been invited anywhere by someone other than his few close friends, and he found it rather novel.
The Spring Hunt the Eighth Prince had arranged to target him, a banquet concealing murderous intent, did not count. That had been an assassination notice.
Xie Huizhou tried to summon the Shadow Guards to ask them about Fang Yuanke.
"Come out. I have something important to ask you."
Fang Yuanke had always regarded him as a romantic rival. Being hated by the protagonist was hardly a good thing, especially as a romantic rival.
Throughout history, how many of a protagonist's romantic rivals had ever met a good end?
The old marquis of the Anping Marquis Residence had reportedly died of illness at a very young age. Fang Yuanke, the Young Marquis who had not yet come of age, had inherited the Marquisate while surrounded by wolves and had kept a low profile, living the life of a wealthy young master.
No one knew that this seemingly unremarkable Young Marquis secretly maintained an army and a host of death sworn fighters, waiting for an opportunity to storm the Imperial Palace.
Xie Huizhou was not foolish enough to think Fang Yuanke would raise an army and seize power simply because he was blinded by love. Most people capable of lying low for so many years were deep schemers, adept at plotting against others.
One wrong move, and Xie Huizhou would trigger a death ending at his hands.
Unfortunately, the original novel had devoted little space to his secret activities, so there was no telling how he had managed it.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you would win every battle. He needed to prepare ahead of time and avoid every possible death ending.
"The Imperial Preceptor dies