TNIBFT -Chapter 197 Important Things Should Be Said Three Times

“I…”

Tao Ling’er wanted to explain, but when she met Shangguan Ning’s fierce gaze, her mind suddenly went blank, and she didn’t know how to respond.

Lowering her head, biting her lip, Tao Ling’er said softly, “I just want to help Brother Ye Tian. And the children—I only want them to be safe.”

She looked gentle and fragile.

How could she possibly compare to their own Empress?

Shangguan Ning cast a cold glance at Ye Tian, crossing her arms over her chest. “You don’t need to worry about what happens in three days. I’ll deal with Gao Defu.”

“As long as the city guards of Sifang City don’t get involved, we’ll all be able to get away.”

“Gao Defu brought seven or eight imperial experts with him. Even if you try to run now, you won’t get far,” Shangguan Ning said, then added, “In three days, lend Duan Qingshan to me. I have my own way to kill Gao Defu.”

Ye Tian nodded.

Tao Ling’er frowned, unable to get a word in.

With the matter settled, no one seemed willing to leave. Tao Ling’er looked at Ye Tian, hesitating as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Shangguan Ning kept her eyes fixed on Tao Ling’er, full of vigilance.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Ye Shuangxue stretched lazily. “Ha…”

“I’m so sleepy!”

“I’m going to find Master.”

Ye Yunting glanced at Tao Ling’er, then at Shangguan Ning, silently put away his book, and said to Ye Tian, “Father, you should rest early too.”

“Do you still have something to do?”

Ye Tian looked at Shangguan Ning speechlessly.

Shangguan Ning uncrossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I stay in the hall if there’s nothing to do?”

“Isn’t this Miss Ling’er still here too?”

“It’s so late—how about I escort Miss back home?”

Her expression was teasing, as if she were deliberately trying to break up a pair.

…

“Shuangxue!”

Hearing Ye Yunting’s voice, Ye Shuangxue turned around and waited for her older brother in the courtyard. He quickly walked over, exhaling warm breath, and when he saw snowflakes on her hair, he smiled and gently patted her head.

“Did you hear what the adults said?”

“These next few days aren’t safe. You must stay close to Grandpa Sun. Don’t be willful or go off to play.”

Ye Shuangxue protested, “I’m not a child anymore!”

“You’re only a little older than me…”

Ye Yunting smiled helplessly. The siblings stood in the courtyard, looking at the snow-covered roof and the dimly lit windows. Suddenly, Ye Yunting said, “I still miss how things used to be. Back then, we had just managed to eat our fill. Ye Tian would take us out every day, and the four of us were always together.”

“Now everyone has endless things to do.”

“We’re busy growing up, and Ye Tian is busy becoming stronger to protect us.”

Ye Shuangxue said, “I can protect Ye Tian too!”

“I can do it now!”

“He’s my father—no one is allowed to hurt him!”

After saying that, the little girl puffed up her cheeks and ran toward Sun Wuji’s room.

Watching his sister’s back, Ye Yunting shook his head and smiled.

At this moment, Sun Wuji was leaning back in his chair, sleeping soundly with his mouth wide open. Drool ran from the corner of his mouth down his neck. Feeling uncomfortable, he didn’t even open his eyes—he just wiped it with his hand, changed his position, and continued sleeping.

Bang!

A loud crash rang out.

Sun Wuji was so startled he nearly jumped out of his chair.

Before even opening his eyes, he shouted, “Who’s there?”

“Who?!”

“Show yourself!”

A cold wind swept in, and snowflakes drifted into his collar. Only then did he open his eyes.

At the doorway stood his little disciple, hands on her hips.

She was still holding her small wooden sword.

Her little face was filled with killing intent.

Sun Wuji rubbed his eyes, bent forward, and said, “My dear disciple, don’t tell me you still want to practice swordsmanship at this hour?”

“Relaxing once in a while is fine.”

“Come, Master will help you put that away—how about you tell me a story?”

Sun Wuji pulled Ye Shuangxue toward the room.

Ye Shuangxue frowned, gripping her little wooden sword. “I didn’t come to practice swordsmanship. I’m going to kill someone!”

“Kill someone!”

“Kill the big bad guy!”

Afraid her master wouldn’t understand, Ye Shuangxue repeated the important matter three times.

Kill someone?

The moment he heard that, Sun Wuji’s eyes lit up, and he instantly became fully alert. Curious, he asked, “Who do you want to kill?”

“Who made you angry?”

“Daring to upset my disciple so late at night—he deserves to die,” Sun Wuji said. Then his eyes rolled as a thought struck him, and his face fell. “It’s not Ye Tian, is it?”

“Killing Ye Tian is absolutely not allowed. He’s your biological father! One must not betray one’s teacher or ancestors, nor turn against one’s own kin!”

Ye Shuangxue was speechless.

“It’s not Ye Tian!”

“It’s the grand eunuch we met this morning. He’s a pervert—he wants to kill Ye Tian!”

Kill Ye Tian?

Sun Wuji frowned, nodded, his reaction calm.

Ye Shuangxue continued, “So tonight, the two of us will go and kill him first.”

“He even wants Ye Tian to bring me to the welcome banquet in three days, and then kill me. Master always says strike first, so we’ll send him on his way now.”

“If I knew the way, I would’ve gone by myself already.”

That was… a lot to take in.

Sun Wuji blinked, taking a moment to process. “That damned eunuch dares set his sights on my disciple? Let’s go—right now we’ll find him.”

“And listen here, little ancestor, you absolutely must not go out on your own…”

Sun Wuji clutched his chest in fright.

Master and disciple hit it off immediately.

The two put on black night outfits—one big, one small. The elder had a head full of white hair that gleamed like a fuzzy egg, while the little one followed beside him like a tiny potato, her big bright eyes darting around alertly.

“No one’s here…”

“We can move!”

Sneaking around, the two slipped out of the room. Sun Wuji poked his head out to look around before waving behind him.

Ye Shuangxue crouched low, following behind him. “Master.”

“Master, you forgot your sword.”

Holding up her little wooden sword, she called out to him in a low voice.

Sun Wuji turned back into the room.

After half an hour of secret planning, confirming they had everything, the master and disciple sneaked out once more.

…

At this moment, inside Gao Defu’s residence, security was extremely tight.

Teams of guards patrolled back and forth through the courtyard. Several men with long swords stood around the room where Gao Defu was staying, watching for any movement.

“Now that we’ve brought in the household troops, we don’t have to work so hard,” someone said.

Another raised a wine jug, took a swig of strong liquor, white vapor puffing from his mouth. “This damn place is too cold. Standing night watch every night is really tough.”

“Come on, even in the capital no one would dare break into Chief Gao’s residence—let alone this backwater like Sifang City. Don’t worry!”

After saying that, he took another big gulp and handed the jug to his companion.

Ye Shuangxue and Sun Wuji hid behind a rockery, watching everything ahead. In a low voice, Ye Shuangxue asked, “Master, what do we do now?”

“Who’s going to lure them away?”

Lure them away?

Sun Wuji frowned, thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t know how.”

“You don’t know?”

Speechless, Ye Shuangxue gritted her teeth and dashed out…

The two men drinking only felt a blur pass before their eyes, as if something had flown by.

“Did you see something?”