Of course Madam Situ knew where Yelu Qianqian was — otherwise, she would never have said such a thing.

She knew where Yelu Qianqian was, and she knew Yelu Qianqian couldn’t leave the northern steppe region for the time being, which was exactly why she had no choice but to come beg the head of Nangong City for help.

Jun Beiyue’s shadow guards, together with the western border’s forces, had secretly encircled the entire northern steppe. The western border troops knew this terrain, and its taboos, far better than her own Situ City forces did.

Given Nangong City’s delicate relationship with the northern steppe peoples, she didn’t dare act rashly, didn’t dare move to help Nanny Qin and the others break free on her own — which was why she’d had no choice but to come beg the head of Nangong City.

With the influence the head of Nangong City held in the northern steppe, quietly smuggling someone into Xiliang would be no difficult task at all.

Seeing Madam Situ fall silent, the head of Nangong City pressed further. “How do you know all this?”

Madam Situ pursed her lips and simply sat herself down. “The one leading them, Nanny Qin — she’s the Empress of Dong Qin’s person. She came to Situ City for help.”

“The Empress of Dong Qin’s person… how does she know you?” the head of Nangong City asked further.

“Oh, Father, just trust me on this. This time, as long as you help me get Yelu Qianqian into Crown Prince Lie of Xiliang’s hands, I swear on my honor — the moment Situ Haonan comes home, we’ll hand over every position of power to him!” Madam Situ was practically swearing an oath.

Like her husband, she had always doted on her daughter — and by extension, Situ Haonan, who had grown up in Nangong City, had essentially been raised by Nangong City itself. His principles, his values, closely resembled those of the head of Nangong City, which created no small conflict with Lord Situ.

That was why Situ Haonan, who hadn’t grown up by his parents’ side, had never been particularly favored by his father.

The head of Nangong City, meanwhile, had always fought hard to secure Situ Haonan’s interests.

He was simply afraid that if Lord Situ played favorites, all the family’s power and authority would end up going to that uncouth wretch of a daughter, Situ Xin’er.

“Tell me, then — where is she now?” The head of Nangong City finally allowed himself a smile.

He was her father, after all, and Madam Situ understood his mind better than anyone. She’d worked hard enough already to convince her own husband.

In any case, whatever means it took, court affairs weren’t her concern, the safety of the common people wasn’t her concern — she just wanted her son home.

“Agree to it first! Put it in writing!” Madam Situ said firmly.

The head of Nangong City smiled broadly. “Fine. Then you put it in writing too — that once Haonan returns, Situ Yibo hands over the position of alliance leader to him immediately!”

Madam Situ agreed without hesitation. The two written agreements were drawn up quickly, father and daughter each keeping their own copy. Only then did Madam Situ lean close to the head of Nangong City’s ear and whisper Yelu Qianqian’s location.

“So that’s it!” The head of Nangong City frowned slightly, somewhat astonished. That Nanny Qin really knew how to hide — no wonder even Jun Beiyue’s men couldn’t find her.

“Let’s go, right now!” Madam Situ urged. The head of Nangong City stopped her. “Let your two brothers go with you. It wouldn’t be convenient for this old man to show his face.”

“What could they possibly accomplish, Father? You should go yourself! Once you’re past the small northern town, it won’t be far — just a few days’ journey, that’s all!”

Unable to talk Madam Situ out of it, the head of Nangong City had no choice but to go along. The moment they stepped outside, they set off toward the small northern town.

Nangong City lay to the northwest of the small town, while Nanny Qin, holding Yelu Qianqian captive, had actually retreated into the woods to the southeast of the town, close to the edge of Xijing’s desert.

The shadow guards and Xijing’s forces were all concentrated to the northwest — no wonder they hadn’t been able to find her.

Yet this plan hadn’t been Nanny Qin’s idea at all — it belonged to someone else entirely, someone no one could have ever expected: Baili Weisheng.

In a hidden cave, with snow piled more than a man’s height at its mouth, Yelu Qianqian was trapped deep within, guarded closely by soldiers. These past days had worn her down considerably — from her initial crying and raging, she had fallen into a lifeless, listless state, like a walking corpse, not uttering a single word for days on end.

Outside the cave, Nanny Qin leaned against a rock, watching Baili Weisheng, who sat perched in a tree, with cold eyes. He was dressed in black, his face covered, his identity still unrevealed to this day.

“You’re so certain the head of Nangong City will show up himself?” Nanny Qin asked coldly, still quite wary of this mysterious man in black who had suddenly appeared to help her.

“I’ve calculated it — he’ll be here any day now! Once he arrives, I guarantee you won’t need to lift a finger — within three days, you’ll be out of the northern steppe, and within ten, you’ll be in contact with Wanyan Lie!” Baili Weisheng said, putting on an aged voice, playing the part of a fortune-teller, counting on his fingers with great flourish.

“Who exactly are you, and why are you helping me?” That was what Nanny Qin truly wanted to know.

“Because… I’m Jun Beiyue’s enemy! I want Da Zhou and Xijing to be enemies forever!” Baili Weisheng said through gritted teeth, as if he truly harbored some deep, bitter grudge.

Just then, a guard emerged from the cave. “Nanny, Yelu Qianqian seems to have fallen ill — she won’t wake up.”

Nanny Qin was alarmed and rose at once, but Baili Weisheng only chuckled. “What’s the rush? I have an even faster method, if you’d like to hear it.”

“What method?” Nanny Qin asked. She’d been closely following the situation in Dong Qin — central Dong Qin was now like fish on the chopping block, entirely at Jun Beiyue’s mercy. She had to get Yelu Qianqian to Xiliang as soon as possible, or Dong Qin truly would be beyond saving.

“Kill her. Cut off her head and throw it to the Xijing soldiers. I guarantee the Emperor of Xijing will break the alliance on the spot!” Baili Weisheng said, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his dark eyes, deep and cold as a demon risen from hell.

Even Nanny Qin couldn’t help a chill running down her spine. This young man, joking and carefree on the surface — his heart was ruthless beyond measure.

Working with him would require great caution.

Nanny Qin hesitated a moment. “That… that’s not a bad idea, actually, only…”

She didn’t finish the sentence, turning instead to head into the cave.

She had her own reasons for keeping Yelu Qianqian alive — she meant to use her as leverage in negotiations with Crown Prince Lie of Xiliang.

The crown prince had been publicly humiliated by her; he would surely want to make her suffer thoroughly, to reclaim his pride.

If Yelu Qianqian died, what would Nanny Qin have left to bargain with?

The Emperor of Xijing hated Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing to the bone, but he was, after all, growing old, and the crown prince of Xijing had tragically died in Nanzhao. Only Wanyan Lie — young, hot-blooded, savage as the people of Xiliang were — had the sheer audacity to charge recklessly from the western border all the way to Da Zhou’s capital, consequences be damned.

Nanny Qin’s ambitions ran far deeper than merely using the western border to pin down Jun Beiyue — she meant to use this opportunity, using both Xijing and Xiliang as her tools, to destroy Da Zhou entirely.

This, too, was surely Crown Prince Lie’s lifelong ambition.

Baili Weisheng watched Nanny Qin head inside, then leaned back lazily against the snow-covered tree trunk. He’d only been joking a moment ago — of course he knew exactly what Nanny Qin’s ambitions were.

But none of that concerned him. Once the head of Nangong City arrived, he intended to retreat — retreat all the way to the foot of Mingsha Mountain, to hibernate peacefully through the winter, safely out of reach of that terrifying old Xiongnu hag.

Yet he hadn’t noticed that danger was drawing closer to him with every passing moment. At this very instant, the Gu Nanny had circled back from the northwestern forest, and was now right there in the small northern town…

……