“But perhaps because their several battles were fought on Rongdi territory, Great Yan’s fierce generals often aren’t as familiar with the terrain as the Rongdi generals,” Dong Changlan said.

Bai Qingyan nodded, but there was still an indescribable sense of familiarity in her heart.

Since he had clashed with Great Yan before, asking Xiao Rongyan would probably yield more information than asking her uncle.

“How did that Master Xiao become involved in this? Have you asked?” Dong Qingyue asked Dong Changlan.

Dong Changlan nodded: “That Master Xiao said that after concluding his business in Northern Rong… he originally intended to accept his son’s invitation to come to Dengzhou to see if he could help with the mutual trade arrangements and profit from it. But he encountered Nanrong intercepting Great Yan’s marriage escort. He originally wanted to rescue the Great Yan marriage princess to make future business dealings in Northern Rong more convenient, but who knew he nearly died in the process.”

Bai Qingyan picked up her teacup, lowering her eyes without speaking.

After Dong Changlan finished speaking, he rubbed his fingers together: “But your son feels there are loopholes in this story. He’s a merchant… merchants are best at distinguishing between profit and harm. Since he saw the Nanrong Ghost-Faced General leading a large army to intercept them, how could his few guards match three thousand soldiers? He should have been too busy escaping… yet he rushed to rescue people? Pursuing trivial profits while endangering his own life—isn’t this greatly mistaken?”

Although Dong Qingyue appreciated Xiao Rongyan, he wouldn’t be vague about matters concerning family and Kingdom. Considering that Xiao Rongyan had once shown kindness to the Bai family, Dong Qingyue said: “For now… let Master Xiao stay in the mansion, and we’ll question him carefully later! If he’s a fox… he’ll eventually show his tail!”

“Your son thinks the same!” Dong Changlan said.

“In that case, report this matter truthfully to the court and wait for His Majesty’s decision!” Dong Qingyue made the final call.

·

Xiao Rongyan sat restlessly, not knowing Princess Mingcheng’s condition, but also not daring to inquire rashly.

Yue Shi and the others were being detained. Once the interrogation was clear, they could probably be sent back to his side…

Xiao Rongyan took from his bosom the twin lotus pouch stained with Princess Mingcheng’s blood. He knew this was what Princess Mingcheng had entrusted him to give to Xie Xun.

Previously, Xiao Rongyan had never understood matters of love and affection. Only after meeting Bai Qingyan did he learn what emotion was.

He also understood that when family and Kingdom were at stake, good sons and daughters all needed to sacrifice personal feelings for the nation.

But originally he had a way to resolve this—why was a Great Yan marriage alliance necessary? But he knew… his elder brother knew, but Princess Mingcheng didn’t know, which led to Princess Mingcheng volunteering for the marriage alliance in the great hall.

In the end, it was still because Yan Kingdom was too weak, so weak that… Princess Mingcheng didn’t believe Yan Kingdom could protect itself; otherwise, why would she sacrifice herself for the Kingdom?

Xiao Rongyan stared at the flickering candlelight. Hearing footsteps outside the courtyard, he quickly hid the sachet in his sleeve and picked up the bamboo scroll placed on the desk, pretending to read it carefully.

Soon, a servant came forward to knock on the door, saying in a low voice: “Master Xiao, our young miss requests an audience.”

Bai Qingyan?

Xiao Rongyan quickly set down the bamboo scroll and stood up, personally going to open the door.

Bai Qingyan had changed into a frost-colored robe with silver-embroidered auspicious clouds and wide sleeves. She stood with her hands behind her back, accompanied by her maidservant Chun Tao, standing under the bright moonlight. Her features were crystalline as jade, stunningly beautiful.

Xiao Rongyan smiled at Bai Qingyan, stepped across the threshold, and bowed deeply to her: “Yan… greets Miss Bai. We haven’t seen each other for a long time. I never expected that when we met today, I would be saved by Miss Bai. Yan is deeply grateful.”

The wound on Xiao Rongyan’s face was minor, treated with medicine but not bandaged, which added several degrees of masculine vigor to his already distinct features.

Bai Qingyan’s expression was calm as she said, “Bai Qingyan has come because there are important matters to ask Master. I hope Master will answer truthfully.”

“Miss Bai’s life-saving grace, Yan will never forget. I will certainly speak truthfully and hold nothing back…” After Xiao Rongyan finished speaking, he stepped aside and made a gesture of invitation. “Miss, please!”

Bai Qingyan followed Xiao Rongyan into the room. The door remained open, with Chun Tao standing guard outside so that Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan could speak freely.

Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan sat facing each other. A servant served tea and then withdrew…

In the room, a lifelike bronze sparrow lamp flickered with dancing flames.

Bai Qingyan sat under the lamp, her calm eyes like water, gazing at Xiao Rongyan as she asked: “Why did Great Yan abandon the shorter route and instead make a detour through Nanrong? Can Master speak truthfully?”

“Princess Mingcheng and the Great Yan fierce general Xie Xun, stationed in Northern Rong, are childhood sweethearts who love each other,” Xiao Rongyan looked directly at Bai Qingyan. “If they had passed through territories under Northern Rong garrison control, there would inevitably be some disturbance!”

Bai Qingyan’s lips curved in a low laugh: “Surely Master doesn’t intend to use romantic sentiment to placate me? For fear that a fierce general might cause trouble, they let the princess risk traveling along enemy borders, inviting enemy interception. I… cannot comprehend what kind of strategy this is.”

Xiao Rongyan knew he couldn’t deceive Bai Qingyan, so he said: “This action… was to record detailed mountain and terrain features along the route, finding the fastest path from Great Yan to Nanrong.”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t tell Bai Qingyan that the Middle Army Marshal Peng who escorted the marriage was an expert at drawing maps.

Sending envoys to Jin under the pretense of escorting a marriage, boldly surveying Jin Kingdom’s terrain and drawing detailed maps—truly a skillful stratagem…

Bai Qingyan raised her eyes to look at the calm-gazed Xiao Rongyan and asked again: “Why did Master appear at the border between Nanrong and the Jin Kingdom?”

“This was a coincidence. Yan originally intended to come to Dengzhou. Unfortunately, the scouts sent ahead returned to report seeing Yan Kingdom’s marriage escort, so I went to take a look. I never expected to encounter Nanrong’s ambush.”

Xiao Rongyan spoke the truth here.

Speaking of Nanrong, Bai Qingyan thought again of that Ghost-Faced General. She frowned and looked up at Xiao Rongyan: “Great Yan has fought Nanrong several times. Do you have any understanding of that general wearing the ghost mask from Nanrong?”

Xiao Rongyan hadn’t expected Bai Qingyan to ask this. Today was his first time dealing with this Ghost-Faced General, but Xie Xun had indeed fought him several times and repeatedly suffered losses at this Ghost-Faced General’s hands.

Logically, Nanrong’s military strength was inferior to Northern Rong’s, yet they had beaten Northern Rong so badly that the latter sought aid everywhere. After Great Yan sent Xie Xun to lead the main force to Rongdi territory, his several encounters with this Ghost-Faced General mostly resulted in losses. Even when he won… it was a pyrrhic victory with enormous costs. Even when the Ghost-Faced General was defeated, he retreated with gains, which infuriated Xie Xun, who swore to compete with this Ghost-Faced General.

“This Ghost-Faced General of Rongdi was reportedly encountered by the Nanrong King during a hunt. He’s not of Rongdi noble birth. This person is extremely skilled at military campaigns and warfare. Unlike the typical Rongdi fighting style of competing in courage and ferocity, he’s quite strategic, with a very methodical offense and defense that’s also ever-changing. The Nanrong court now relies on him heavily!”

After Xiao Rongyan finished recounting what he’d heard, he thought for a moment and added: “Today I was fortunate to see that Ghost-Faced General. I felt this general seemed to have studied the Yan Kingdom and the Jin Kingdom military tactics. Moreover, while Western Liang and Rongdi people mostly use curved sabers, this Ghost-Faced General… in Yan’s view, his swordsmanship is unparalleled—even in Yan Kingdom and Jin Kingdom, few could match him.”