Bai Qingyan had over a hundred thousand troops with her, and she also had to settle the sick, attack cities, and seize territory. Moreover, before departing for the next city, she needed to make detailed plans. Naturally, she couldn’t come and go as freely as Xiao Rongyan. If Xiao Rongyan followed the Jin army, it would likely delay time.
“We’ll rest in Daming Prefecture for one day and set out for Han City early tomorrow morning. When the Western Huai Prince sent someone to summon me, he said… that masked general from the barbarians would probably arrive in Han City around late March or early April. He wants to arrive early so he’ll have enough time to make arrangements with various officials, allowing him to meet with that masked prince.”
Bai Qingyan nodded. Xiao Rongyan also needed to rush to Han City to arrange various matters.
If A’Yu arrived in Han City around late March or early April, then there truly wasn’t much time left for Bai Qingyan. She had originally planned to accommodate Bai Jinzhi’s timeline and capture Han City in June this year, but it seemed… that wouldn’t be possible now.
“Please invite the Western Huai Prince over.”
Bai Qingyan straightened her sleeves and stood up, but was pressed back down onto the bedside by Xiao Rongyan’s hand on her shoulder.
He leaned down to look at Bai Qingyan’s eyes full of red veins, squeezed her shoulder, and said, “Rest a while longer. I’ll go speak with the Western Huai Prince. What he’s asking for is hopeless anyway. You don’t need to waste time on this—sleep a bit more.”
Xiao Rongyan’s voice was gentle. He crouched down respectfully to remove Bai Qingyan’s shoes, then instructed Shen Qingzhu to bring the chicken soup the small kitchen had stewed for Bai Qingyan before rising to deal with the Western Huai Prince.
Shen Qingzhu already knew Xiao Rongyan’s identity. Seeing how Xiao Rongyan showed no airs at all before their young miss… though they weren’t formally married yet and this was somewhat improper, his genuine care for their young miss made her very happy for Bai Qingyan, though also worried.
Bai Qingyan’s ambitions lay in all under heaven… in the future, if she stood in opposition to Great Yan, wouldn’t that put the young miss in a difficult position?
After Xiao Rongyan left, Bai Qingyan didn’t rest. She stood up and asked Shen Qingzhu, “Has Xiao Si sent any letters?”
“No…” Shen Qingzhu shook her head, following behind Bai Qingyan. Seeing Bai Qingyan sit down at the desk and pick up a brush, Shen Qingzhu knelt beside her to grind ink. “Has something changed?”
Xiao Si was impulsive and warlike… Cai Ziyuan could plan the overall situation. If Xiao Si and A’Yu really encountered each other, since Xiao Si and Cai Ziyuan didn’t know A’Yu’s identity, if A’Yu brought troops on this journey, they would definitely first try to cut off the barbarian reinforcements helping Liang, thinking that even if they fought with all their might and were completely annihilated… there would still be Liu Hong or Bai Qingyan to take down Great Liang.
If A’Yu hadn’t brought troops, with Cai Ziyuan’s perspective… he would definitely regard the barbarians’ masked general as a future formidable enemy and eliminate him quickly.
But having already picked up the brush, Bai Qingyan still didn’t dare use such a risky method as sending a letter to tell Bai Jinzhi that the masked general was A’Yu, lest it bring trouble to A’Yu.
Bai Qingyan mentally calculated the route Bai Jinzhi’s troops had taken, then calculated where A’Yu should be now if he arrived in Great Liang at the end of March. She put down her brush and said to Shen Qingzhu, “Calculating the time, Xiao Si should have already reached Fu Domain. You set out immediately and ride swiftly to Daquan, wait for Xiao Si in Daquan… tell Xiao Si that the barbarians’ masked general is one of our own, and absolutely must not make a move!”
Shen Qingzhu looked completely surprised.
This masked general from the barbarians had gained great fame since pacifying the barbarian lands. She hadn’t expected him to be one of their own.
Bai Qingyan didn’t explain in detail to Shen Qingzhu, only saying, “Writing a letter about this matter is too risky. Only if you personally make this trip can I feel at ease!”
Shen Qingzhu cupped her fists and solemnly responded, “Young miss, rest assured. Qingzhu will set out immediately! Please take good care of yourself, young miss!”
Just as Shen Qingzhu was about to rise, Bai Qingyan grasped her wrist, “After delivering the message, stay by Xiao Si’s side. She’s reckless and impulsive… I’ll feel more at ease with you there.”
“Yes! Young miss, don’t worry!” Shen Qingzhu stood up and bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan before turning to leave.
Timewise, Shen Qingzhu would definitely be able to inform Xiao Si of this matter before A’Yu and Xiao Si encountered each other.
But how did the Western Huai Prince learn of A’Yu’s specific itinerary?
That the barbarians had Wei spies and agents didn’t surprise Bai Qingyan at all—which Kingdom hadn’t planted agents in other nations?
But for Wei’s intelligence to be so specific as to know A’Yu’s arrival time in Great Liang meant… there were Wei agents right beside A’Yu.
Bai Qingyan’s palms tightened. Xiao Rongyan was close to the Western Huai Prince and supremely intelligent—he definitely knew about this.
Last time, Xiao Rongyan had told Bai Qingyan that he also wanted to meet the masked prince to discuss the matter of captured Yan soldiers.
If Bai Qingyan’s guess was correct, Xiao Rongyan perhaps wanted to use the spy as a bargaining chip to make a deal with the masked prince.
It wasn’t that Bai Qingyan had a petty mind—perhaps when necessary, Xiao Rongyan might even use A’Yu’s identity as a member of the Bai family as leverage.
Xiao Rongyan currently needed the Wei spy beside A’Yu to relay messages to the Western Huai Prince, but she couldn’t tolerate any threat beside A’Yu.
Bai Qingyan clenched her fists, made her decision, and called loudly, “Someone! Prepare a horse!”
“Yes!”
Xiao Rongyan knew that the barbarians’ masked prince was her brother, yet still concealed this from her, even wanting to threaten her brother. Was she angry?
Yes, she was.
When she had worked hard to have Physician Hong treat the Yan Emperor, it could be said she did it for Xiao Rongyan.
Yet this lover who was so compatible with her, who had just been intimate with her, turned around to make things difficult for her brother, even to manipulate her brother. She couldn’t remain indifferent.
But she also understood that as Yan’s Ninth Prince, Xiao Rongyan considering Yan’s interests was absolutely right.
Moreover, they had agreed on this beforehand.
Bai Qingyan had long known that everything in this world could be reasoned with, except emotions couldn’t be reasoned with.
Rationally, she understood and even approved of Xiao Rongyan’s approach. If it were her… she would do the same.
But emotionally, she still felt somewhat sad.
In the small courtyard of the inn in Daming Prefecture, the anxiously waiting Western Huai Prince had none of his former illustrious pomp from his days in Wei. He sat restlessly, not knowing whether he could successfully meet Princess Zhenguo through Xiao Rongyan’s connections this time.
Last time when Wei sent envoys to Jin seeking Jin’s assistance, the Jin Crown Prince had claimed that Jin’s main forces were currently campaigning in Liang and couldn’t spare troops.
However, Wei’s secret envoy had reported back to Wei that the Jin Crown Prince almost obeyed Princess Zhenguo’s every word. If he could persuade Princess Zhenguo to agree to help Wei this time, there was no need for a real large-scale attack on Yan—just deploying troops at Yan’s borders to harass them and put on a show to make Yan wary would suffice.
The Western Huai Prince believed that as long as Wei offered rich treasures and gold, put on a smiling face, spoke pleasantly, and added to that the bond between Princess Zhenguo and Xiao Rongyan, it should work!
After all, Princess Zhenguo and Xiao Rongyan were engaged. Women… mostly liked to hear nice things.