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Then he sighed, as he considered the whole logistics of the matter. "I don"t think that I"ll be able to convince my mother - my parents, I mean! I don"t think that they would be very comfortable with me leaving the Duchy at this time. Not when we aren"t sure that there aren"t any more a.s.sa.s.sins after me," he said softly.

While he was more than aware that the whole attack on him earlier, in Yanyun City, was actually targeted at Qin Feng instead, he knew better than to tell the others that. And he was not exactly lying, was he? The Duke and the d.u.c.h.ess were definitely not going to let him get out the Duchy for the moment. In fact, he wasn"t even allowed to head into the City itself, not without a proper escort!

"It only takes about ten to twelve days. Less, if we really press ourselves and our mounts. So if we stick to the main roads, and the towns and cities along the way ..."

Qin Feng frowned as soon as he heard that, and interrupted by raising a hand. "Is it really necessary to rush like this? I thought that we have twenty days or more, before they will present themselves thereabouts. That was what you had said earlier, wasn"t it?"

The Second Ducal Prince turned to Lin Liushui at the last, and the handsome man nodded his agreement at him with a soft sigh. "That is true. But I am certain that Du Yan would not wish to make our journey more leisurely. He is a little more anxious about the whole matter than you can imagine, you see? This involves his marriage partner, after all."
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"That is, provided that all of this nonsense about his withdrawing from the match is nothing more than a ruse. Indeed, I have never heard him speaking out against his betrothal or the girl," Li Changhai added then, turning to look at Lin Liushui as he did so.

Who gave out another of his heart-rending sighs as he gestured at the entrance to Qin Feng"s courtyard. Which the Second Ducal Prince took to indicate where Du Yan was located at the moment. Lin Liushui had the propensity for such gestures and it was difficult to keep track of what he was trying to convey at times.

And Qin Feng was wearing a frown at the man, which seemed to indicate that he found the same just as irritating as Li Changhai did. Fortunately, the handsome fellow soon spoke, and revealed what he really thought about the matter:

"Well, she is a good deal younger than he is. She"s even younger than you, if I do not mis-remember her age. Thirteen or fourteen, I believe. That was why Du Yan had decided to delay the wedding for a bit. She is a little too young. And still looks like a doll, if that is what I recall him saying, back when we were talking about her," Lin Liushui said, with a slight frown that hinted that he was searching his memories diligently.

That was rather young, Li Changhai had to agree. But from what he could remember of that night in question - which was a bit of a blur since the three of them had drunk far too much! Well, he remembered that Du Yan was rather fond of the girl, from all that he said.

So, all this nonsense about him losing interest in her, and no longer wishing to marry her ... That was just made-up, wasn"t it? By people who were out to besmirch his good name? Or who wanted to drag Du Yan into the open, so that they can strike at him directly?

Or was this just another elaborate scheme, to get him involved? After all, they should know that he would not let his Sworn Brother face something like this on his own. So perhaps, they are actually aiming for him? For this Second Ducal Prince?

For a moment, Li Changhai froze. Where had that last thought come from? He would not have thought of something like that, if it had been in the past. Was all this intrigue, and his discussions with his mother, affecting how he was looking at things now? Had he become more suspicious?

And, more importantly, was it really a good thing?

But he forced himself away from that, and tried to concentrate on what Lin Liushui was telling Qin Feng at the moment. This was not a fitting suspicion, for someone of his stature!

"... think he treats her more like a younger sister than as a potential wife. And that is why he had fled from his home at the Capital. Not something that we can refute, if he does not show up and upset their plans. For that reason alone, we have not interfered with his arrangements," the good-looking man confided.

"Then he has not spoken? To either of you? Do we even know what he intends to do, when he gets back there?"

Qin Feng"s question rocked Li Changhai back onto his heels. He had never considered that, to be honest. Then again, Du Yan had not been the talkative sort. Not like Lin Liushui.

His eyes flickered over to the handsome man, who frowned as he considered Qin Feng"s supposition. "I had not considered that. But ... I doubt that Du Yan would go to that extreme. Not without discussing it with us."

"Yet, this is his personal matter. So he might not speak," Qin Feng reminded him, "So ... What if he decides to break off that arrangement with the girl? And breaks her heart doing so? That would be rather awkward, wouldn"t it?"

The Second Ducal Prince winced as soon as he heard that. And turned to Qin Feng without thinking. Then he blinked at how he had reacted. Was it because Qin Feng was the one who suggested that they head off to show their support for Du Yan? Or did he really expect the younger man to have an opinion with regards to something like an arranged marriage?

"That is something that he will have to decide for himself. As his friends, his brothers, we can only stand beside him and support his decision!"

Lin Liushui"s declaration got an answering nod from Qin Feng. In the end. The youngest among them had thought for a moment before he gave that signal. And the latter"s stern expression made it rather clear that he was not going to be deterred from showing that same support by joining Du Yan on his journey to the East.

Which was enough to make the Second Ducal Prince grit his teeth. Well, if the others were going to do that, how could he do anything less? Whatever the risk!

"In that case, I will speak to Captain Wen Xuanran, and have him arrange for a small contingent of guards. I think I might be able to get away with that, for all that my parents aren"t going to let me travel out of the Duchy unescorted. It is going to take a little longer though, if we are dragging a squad or two along with us."

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