Yang Zhengshan hurried to Yang Wanqing’s courtyard, where several young maidservants were chattering away. Seeing him arrive, they quickly stood up to greet him.
"Greetings, Marquis!"
Yang Zhengshan smiled and nodded, his gaze first falling on Yang Wanqing. Seeing that she had indeed not been injured, he then looked at the others.
He recognized Liang Qiuyue and Lv Ningke, as he had met them a few times and had a fair impression of them.
However, this was the first time he saw Qu Shaoshang. The young girl appeared dainty and cute, with a pair of bright and lively eyes.
"Grandfather, this is Princess Nanhua!" Yang Wanqing introduced.
Qu Shaoshang curtseyed, "Shaoshang pays respects to the Yang family’s grandfather!"
"So, it’s Princess Nanhua. It’s all right as long as you’re safe!" Yang Zhengshan said cheerfully.
Although he had no particular connection with Duke Xing, guests must be welcomed warmly, and Yang Zhengshan naturally greeted them with a smile.
"Today’s incident happened abruptly, leaving Shaoshang with no choice but to impose on the Yang family’s grandfather. I hope for your understanding!" Qu Shaoshang said politely.
Yang Zhengshan chatted with her briefly and told Yang Wanqing to entertain her properly before he left.
A group of young ladies chatting wasn’t a place for him to linger.
About two hours later, Ding Qiu returned from Cangyuan Lake.
In the study, Ding Qiu reported to Yang Zhengshan, "People from the Martial Arts Temple have already been there, and besides injuring a dozen or so people, not much trace was left at Cangyuan Lake!"
"No identification of the assassins?" Yang Zhengshan asked, surprised.
Ding Qiu shook his head, "None, the assassins only left behind some arrows, nothing else, and they took the bodies of the few killed with them!"
Yang Zhengshan pondered deeply.
The attempted assassination of Qu Shaogong was no trivial matter.
After all, Qu Shaogong was the heir of Duke Xing and also the only grandson of Duke Xing Qu Changkong. If Qu Shaogong had died, the Duke Xing Mansion would fear they would end their lineage.
As for who might want to assassinate Qu Shaogong, that was not so easy to determine.
The Duke Xing Mansion had been defending the Southern Border for six generations, approximately more than two hundred years ago. From then on, the Duke Xing Mansion had been in charge of the Southern Border Town, and now the title of Duke Xing had been passed down for six generations.
The main enemy faced by the Southern Border Town was the Jinlong Dynasty, and the enmity between Duke Xing Mansion and the Jinlong Dynasty was like an ancient vendetta. The possibility that the Jinlong Dynasty had sent people to assassinate Qu Shaogong was not out of the question.
As for other possibilities, Yang Zhengshan couldn’t think of any at the moment.
However, it would still be better to investigate this matter, especially since Yang Wanqing had been involved.
"Have Wu Zheng look into it, see if he can find some clues!" Yang Zhengshan instructed.
"Yes!" Ding Qiu responded.
As evening approached, Qu Shaogong visited the Yang family.
In the front hall, Yang Zhengshan personally received Qu Shaogong.
It wasn’t necessary for Qu Shaogong to be personally received by him; Yang Mingcheng and Yang Chengye would have sufficed, but Yang Zhengshan wanted to understand the Cangyuan Lake assassination, so he took the initiative.
"The grandson of Duke Xing, Qu Shaogong, pays his respects to Marquis Jing’an!" Qu Shaogong said, bowing.
"No need for such formalities, Princely Heir, please take a seat!" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.
As they sat down and tea was served, Yang Zhengshan looked over Qu Shaogong.
This heir of the Duke Xing Mansion had a pleasant appearance, somewhat slender, but he had a rugged temperament and didn’t come across as a yes-man.
While Yang Zhengshan sized up Qu Shaogong, Qu Shaogong was covertly sizing up Yang Zhengshan.
He didn’t know much about Yang Zhengshan since he had always been at the Southern Border and had only been in the Capital City for half a year. Although he had heard of the new noble Marquis Jing’an Mansion in the Capital City, this was his first interaction with it.
"Have the identities of those assassins been uncovered?" Yang Zhengshan inquired.
Qu Shaogong set down his teacup and spoke earnestly, "Not yet, but presumably, they must have been dispatched by the Jinlong Dynasty."
"Oh! The Jinlong Dynasty dares to be so audacious?" Yang Zhengshan was slightly surprised.
Qu Shaogong explained, "Marquis Jing’an might not be aware, but my grandfather and the Jinlong Dynasty’s royal family have deep grievances. Thirty years ago, the Jinlong Dynasty once raided the Southern Border Town, and my grandfather fought a great battle with them, even slaying their Princely Heir at that time!"
"Over ten years ago, the Jinlong Dynasty attempted to assassinate my grandfather but fell into a trap he set, leaving a member of the Jinlong royal family, an Innate Martial Artist, stranded in Nanhua City."
"Since then, the Jinlong royal family’s influence has waned, and the Dynasty itself has become increasingly chaotic."
"After the old king passed away, the new king took the throne, but his resentment towards my grandfather has intensified. In these past two years, I have been targeted multiple times by assassins from the Jinlong Dynasty, leaving my grandfather with no choice but to send me to the Capital City!"
Understanding dawned on Yang Zhengshan; no wonder Duke Xing left his grandchildren in the Capital City earlier this year—it was because of the Jinlong Dynasty’s assassination attempts.
"In that case, the Jinlong Dynasty is indeed quite despicable!"
With a gentle smile, Qu Shaogong said, "The Jinlong Dynasty is despicable indeed, daring to commit crimes near the Capital City. However, this time they have also angered His Majesty, who has already ordered the Secret Martial Guards and the Martial Arts Temple to thoroughly investigate the Jinlong Dynasty’s assassins."
"This time, I owe a debt of gratitude to Miss Wanqing. Had she not bravely intervened, I would have likely lost my life at Cangyuan Lake!"
As he said this, he stood and bowed to Yang Zhengshan, "I will forever remember this life-saving grace. Should I be of any assistance in the future, I will not refuse!"
Yang Zhengshan smiled and waved his hand dismissively, "It was a simple gesture of aid, no need for thanks. Duke Xing defends the Southern Border for the court, securing peace and stability for the nation, a commendable effort. Wanqing only did what she felt was right, it’s nothing significant!"