Fortunately, Li Maner's thoughts soon shifted from this matter, and A Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Maner was lost in thought and remained silent for a long time. A Qi did not dare to disturb her, so he simply sat beside her.
Since she needed his help, he had to maintain the right attitude. Perhaps the young lady would ask him something else soon, after all, he had done some research.
Among Xiao Xiang's four sons, the legitimate eldest son, Xiao Rudao, was ruined, and the second son died in battle. Only the good-for-nothing third son and the cunning fourth son remained.
It seemed that Xiao Si was also not an easy person to deal with. The leading figures of the Xiao family's second generation were incompetent, but the third generation could not be underestimated.
Back then, Master Xiao brought his illegitimate son Xiao Yu to the capital, but left Xiao Si in Mobei. This intention was worth pondering deeply.
The Xiao family was truly blessed with many descendants.
"Thank you for telling me this. I plan to go to the yamen tomorrow. Your injuries will likely take a few more days to heal. Do you want to stay here to recover, or handle your own affairs?"
Speaking of this, A Qi rarely put away his playful smile and became serious.
"Miss saved A Qi's life, so I should tell you everything I know. However, this matter is of great importance, and A Qi cannot reveal it to you. Since you are leaving tomorrow, I will go with you!" A Qi only said, "Miss, please take care. We will meet in the capital after the Mobei affairs are settled."
If the nobles in the capital heard A Qi's words, they would probably say he was out of line. But to him, Li Maner was his savior. They both had things to do, and both carried a certain degree of danger. If they could miraculously return to the capital safely, they would naturally stay in touch.
Although he was only a guard, he represented the Ninth Prince, and might be able to help Miss Li in the capital. Moreover...
Oh dear, this thought of his was too dangerous, too dangerous.
"Alright, since you have your own business to attend to, I won't keep you. However, take this with you when you leave." Li Maner got up and went to the back room, taking out a bundle and handing it to A Qi.
"What is this?" It couldn't be money, could it? He didn't need that.
"Open it and see."
A Qi opened the bundle.
On top was a thick fur coat. This coat was not in the style of the south or the capital; it looked somewhat like the style from Mobei.
"The fur coat isn't the main thing; look inside."
A Qi opened the fur coat and found two porcelain bottles inside, as well as a dark, cold-looking object.
A Qi, being a martial artist, felt that this crossbow was a weapon the moment he saw it, but he really didn't know how to use it.
If you say it's a weapon, it seems a bit strange. There's no blade, and using it to fight, wouldn't it be for smashing? How likely is it to kill someone by smashing them?
If you say it's a bow and arrow, it doesn't look like it either. A hidden weapon? It's a bit too big...
"Miss, what is this used for?"
Li Maner picked up the crossbow, took out an arrow from the quiver, and explained to him, "This is equivalent to a bow and arrow, but with a longer range. In general, it consists of a stock, a bow, and a trigger mechanism. The place where the string is hung is the nut, and the part for aiming is the sight. You just need to do this, then pull the trigger, and you can shoot an arrow. Most importantly, this can fire multiple arrows at once, three arrows simultaneously."
Li Maner then demonstrated it in front of A Qi.
With two "swish" sounds, two arrows were shot out successively and firmly embedded in the window frame.
A Qi's eyes lit up with excitement, "This is a good thing, a really good thing." He could see that this thing was much easier to use than a bow and arrow, and its lethality was strong, saving time. If the archers in the army were all equipped with this, they would be invincible on the battlefield.
"This is for your self-defense. If you are in danger, you will have an additional means of protection. As for the medicine, one is for oral administration to treat your internal injuries, and the other is for external application to treat external wounds. You know how to use them, so I don't need to explain further. Even if you can't rest fully, don't stop taking the medicine."
A Qi solemnly stood up, clasped his fists, and bowed, "Miss, A Qi remembers this kindness."
That evening, after dinner, Li Maner had a private conversation with Li Nian.
The uncle and nephew originally intended to discuss the matter of going to the yamen tomorrow. However, after much deliberation, they were still stuck with the same old problems and methods, and couldn't come up with anything new.
Li Maner noticed Li Nian fidgeting, wanting to speak but hesitating. She immediately understood a bit.
"Third Uncle, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Ah? You can tell?"
Li Maner smiled, "Third Uncle, just say what you want to say!" Li Nian sat on the stool, twisting and turning anxiously, like a possessed spinning top. Only a blind person wouldn't notice.
"That..." Li Nian rubbed his hands, and finally seemed to have made up his mind, "Maner, that A Qi you saved..."
"A Qi? What about him?"
Li Nian's old face flushed. He didn't know if Li Man was playing dumb or genuinely didn't understand. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "What is A Qi's background? Do you, do you... have any intentions towards him?"
Background? Intentions?
Li Maner suddenly understood, "Oh, Third Uncle, you think I have romantic feelings for that A Qi?"
"You don't?"
"Of course not!"
Li Nian breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you... You saved him, and you gave him things. I just misunderstood."
Li Maner thought for a moment and said, "I knew this A Qi before. He's from the capital, a guard for the Ninth Prince."
She originally didn't want to reveal A Qi's identity, but to put Li Nian at ease, she had to tell the truth.
"I didn't know it was him when I saved him," Li Maner told a well-intentioned little lie. "After I rescued him, I realized he was someone from the Ninth Prince's household."
Li Nian almost dropped his jaw. He couldn't say whether he was happy or worried. A figure like the Ninth Prince was hard to say. It was difficult to tell whether being associated with him was good or bad.
It's best to avoid it if possible!
"Well, it's good that it was just his guard," Li Nian said. "Forget it, Maner. You should focus your energy on dealing with the Xiao family. I heard from Zuo Cheng that the Xiao family has a seventh young lady who is very powerful and overbearing. When you go to the yamen this time, since the men of the Xiao family can't handle you, it's likely this seventh young lady who will want to meet you."
"Xiao family's seventh young lady?" Li Maner was taken aback. A Qi hadn't mentioned this. He was unreliable. She thought she had figured out the Xiao family almost completely, but she didn't expect to have missed someone.
"Is this lady addressed as 'seventh'? The Xiao family is truly prosperous!"
"It's not about being addressed as seventh," Li Nian said. "This seventh young lady's name is said to be chosen according to her fate, but what kind of fate it is, they wouldn't tell anyone!"
A person's birthdate and fortune-telling are very important matters, not to be revealed.
"That's true," Li Maner said. "Third Uncle, don't worry! I'll be fine. I'll play it by ear then and respond to changes as they come."