Chapter 126: Are They Here?

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Tan Qingjiu finished preparing the prescription and handed it to Qingdai to gather and brew the medicine, then she left the courtyard with Zisu.

Just as she stepped outside, she saw Xing Qi and Xing You peeking anxiously at her from the doorway.

Tan Qingjiu curled her finger and tapped their heads gently. “What are you two standing there for?”

Xing Qi and Xing You quickly made a shushing gesture, then followed closely behind her as they left the courtyard. “Has he agreed to let you cure his poisoning?”

“Of course.”

Xing You chuckled, “I knew it.”

Then he looked at Tan Qingjiu again. “Master, is there anything you need us to do?”

“Naturally.”

“After Qingdai feeds him the medicine, he’ll need to start training—martial arts, horseback archery, running. Training isn’t like reading or writing; one exhausts the mind, the other the body. He’ll most likely give up. You two keep a close watch.”

Hearing this, Xing You grinned, “Don’t worry, Master. We're experts at this. A little provocation…”

Xing Qi thought for a moment. “Verbal provocation only works once or twice. If it happens too often, he’ll grow weary of it.”

Xing You blinked. “Then what should we do, brother?”

Xing Qi pondered briefly. “Simple. We first ask the martial instructor what they plan to teach Shen Zijiao this afternoon. Whatever they teach him, we prepare the same. When he does something, we do it too—but better and for longer.”

Xing You immediately understood, his eyes lighting up. “I get it. We’ll do better and make it look easier. That way, he’ll feel challenged and naturally compete with us.”

Xing Qi nodded.

Tan Qingjiu chuckled softly and let them plan as they wished. “It’s up to you two. I’m entrusting this to you.”

“Think of more ways. Don’t let him slack off this month.”

“Master, rest assured. We know how to play the stern role.”

Tan Qingjiu left the courtyard, vaguely sensing a gaze flickering faintly upon her.

Her steps faltered slightly—was someone following her?

She didn’t stop, returning indoors instead.

About an hour later, Qingdai returned to the courtyard.

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Tan Qingjiu looked up at Qingdai. “Did he take the medicine?”

“Yes.”

“Did you watch him drink it?”

Qingdai understood the meaning behind the question. “Master, rest assured. From gathering the herbs to brewing, and all the way until young master Zijiao drank it, I didn’t hand off the task to anyone else.”

Tan Qingjiu gave a low acknowledgment, then said, “When I returned earlier, I had the feeling someone was watching me.”

“Someone watching you, Master?”

“Mm.”

After a moment’s thought, Tan Qingjiu continued, “It’s likely someone sent to keep an eye on me. Either someone who’s been watching Shen Yingjue all along, or it’s Tan Yunge.”

Qingdai was surprised. “Isn’t Tan Yunge currently confined in the heir’s mansion? Under house arrest in her own courtyard?”

“She’s probably struggling to keep herself safe right now. How could she have the time or resources to bribe people to watch you?”

Tan Qingjiu smiled slightly. “Tan Yunge has been the heir’s wife for eight years.”

“Eight years… she’s no fool. She must have already gathered some allies.”

“Though she’s under house arrest, bribing people in this Duke’s residence isn’t impossible.”

“After yesterday’s incident, Tan Yunge will surely blame everything on me. She won’t let this go easily…”

Tan Qingjiu considered quietly. “After several confrontations with me, she must have realized that facing me head-on gains her nothing. This time, she’ll likely resort to more indirect methods.”

“The best way is to act through Shen Zijiao.”

“Through young master Zijiao? How would she do that? Didn’t she already poison him once?”

Tan Qingjiu smiled. “She knows Zijiao is my son. I most likely won’t be guarded against him. She can use this fact to harm me through him.”

“Although Xing Qi and the others tricked Shen Zijiao into hearing about Tan Yunge’s poisoning, Zijiao has regarded Tan Yunge as his mother for six years. She’s cunning—she might play the victim to him, and he could forgive her again.”

“Even if Zijiao refuses to forgive her, all those who have cared for him before were sent by Tan Yunge. It won’t be easy to tamper with him unnoticed.”

Qingdai frowned briefly but quickly regained composure. “So Master wants…”

“You want us to assign people to watch young master Zijiao closely, so closely that not even a fly can get near him?”

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Tan Qingjiu smiled, the corners of her mouth lifting. “A thief can only steal so many days; a guard can’t watch every day. No matter how tight the security, there’s always a loophole.”

“Instead, I’ll take the initiative and walk the path Tan Yunge plans to take.”

“I’ll put on a play for Shen Zijiao, pretending everything has already happened. I’ll follow Tan Yunge’s path and leave her nowhere to turn.”

Tan Qingjiu’s lips curled slightly. “Only by letting Shen Zijiao be wary of Tan Yunge and her people, preventing them from getting close, can we ensure absolute safety.”

Qingdai blinked, roughly understanding Tan Qingjiu’s plan.

“When does Master plan to perform this play?”

Qingdai considered. “Better to strike while the iron’s hot—why not today?”

Tan Qingjiu shook her head; no need to rush.

Her eyes flickered faintly. “First, assign people to watch Shen Zijiao.”

“I need to build a relationship with him, so he gradually accepts me. Only when he starts to accept me will this play have the best effect.”

After a pause, she asked, “What has Shen Xiao been up to lately?”

Qingdai pursed her lips. “What else? Living a life of debauchery, surrounded by women.”

She frowned deeply. “It’s strange that although the heir is so fickle, he somehow always seems aware of our planted spies. Every time he visits the brothel, he manages to avoid the people we placed there.”

“One or two times might be coincidence, but if it happens every time, it’s worth investigating.” Tan Qingjiu lowered her gaze. “Let them keep working on it.”

“Yes.”

Speaking of brothels, Qingdai suddenly recalled something. “By the way, our people reported seeing the Fourth and Fifth Martial Masters at the Mingyu Pavilion in the city.”

“The Fourth and Fifth Martial Masters?”

Tan Qingjiu’s eyes widened. “They’re here?”