Chapter 69: Putting on a coat, Xiao Xie is angry + His Majesty calls out by his nickname...

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"His Majesty……"

The small boat was noisy.

The orange-red light of the torches illuminated the nearby waters.

Ying Xi emerged from the water. Despite it being early summer, falling into the river late at night left her feeling icy cold. Once ashore, the river breeze intensified her chill.

With the Emperor's carriage in front, and many people standing on the small boat, it was inconvenient for everyone to bow properly, so they all clasped their hands in a fist salute to Ying Xi.

Ying Xi waved her hand and stood still, not making a fuss about it.

As the boat approached the riverbank, within range of the bows and arrows, the archers unleashed their arrows. The rebels screamed in agony as the arrows were fired, and after struggling for a short while, they all fell into the river.

At this moment, a fast boat approached from the diagonal rear, and a hearty voice said, "Hahaha, as expected of the Dragon Martial Army after its reorganization, its power surpasses that of my time in Chang'an. Your training of troops has the style of your father. Like father, like son. If your uncle knew this, he would surely be smiling in the afterlife."

Dressed in the armor of the Jingzhou navy, Xie Meng was over nine feet tall with a loud voice that could even drown out the sound of the river. He approached the small boat and said to Ying Xi, "Commander of the Jingzhou Navy, I am grateful to His Majesty for appointing me as the commander of the southern expedition. I pay my respects to His Majesty!"

The Xie family members are all very tall.

Xie Meng was a rugged man, and Ying Xi didn't bother with his literary flair, saying simply and forcefully, "I know you are brave and skilled in battle, and I hope you will not disappoint me."

Xie Meng was extremely grateful.

Xie Meng thought that their Xie family had been important military officials for generations and had often married into the royal family, enjoying immense favor in the past.

However, since the death of his uncle Xie Ji, there have been many rumors that the new emperor is targeting the Xie family. Now that he has seen the new emperor with his own eyes, the rumors need to be considered.

And then... Xie Meng smacked her lips without anyone noticing.

The emperor has gone missing tonight. Xie Qianli hastened to the water fortress by boat and ordered dozens of fast boats to be dispatched immediately to search along the river.

His cousin was always impeccably dressed. But just now, when the brothers met, Xie Qianli didn't even bother to put on his armor, hastily tying up his hair. During the search, he was preoccupied and didn't exchange a word with him, which seemed to reveal the state of their relationship as ruler and subject.

Xie Meng was naturally pleased that the Xie family could continue to enjoy the emperor's favor.

However, there was something Xie Meng couldn't understand, which puzzled him greatly.

When Xie Qianli actually found the emperor, his expression became even colder.

Shouldn't this be a time for ruler and subject to meet and pledge their loyalty?

Xie Meng felt that her cousin was behaving strangely.

On another small boat, Ying Xi anxiously watched the battle unfold, having jumped into the water to draw away all the rebels. The hostages were unharmed.

The fast boats reached the shore, the rebels were wiped out, and the people were rescued.

Lian Qing almost burst into tears: "General, you've arrived just in time, General... General—"

Lian Qing immediately stopped speaking.

Lian Qing met Xie Qianli's gaze, which felt like it was filled with icy needles, sending a chill down her spine, yet the other party remained silent.

The pressure of silence made Lian Qing feel increasingly guilty.

Lian Qing finally realized, rather belatedly: The general... is angry? Sulking?

The decision to lure the enemy alone was made by the emperor, and as a subject, one could only obey. So where did the general's anger come from?

That dangerous thought swirled in his mind again. Sweat beaded on Lian Qing's forehead, and he quickly returned to the crowd.

At this moment, four or five soldiers escorted Shadow over and shouted sternly, "Kneel down!"

The shadow was pressed down firmly.

With his straw hat hanging low, he burst into a sinister laugh, his shoulders shaking as he laughed, making those present very uncomfortable!

Ying Xi lifted the bamboo hat!

The shadow raised its eyebrows and eyes. It was not the assassin on the dragon boat, but only someone with similar physical characteristics. No wonder it had been facing away from them the whole time!

Fake.

The soldiers drew their gleaming broadswords, and Xie Meng grabbed the imposter by the collar, lifting him up and demanding, "Where is Jia Ruzhen?"

“Master… ha, haha…”

"Master said you all have to die!!!"

A trickle of black blood slowly flowed from the corner of the fake's mouth.

He took poison.

Xie Meng was furious when he saw this. The governor of Guangling County was putting up a stubborn resistance, and the treacherous and vicious Jia had come up with many schemes. He had already suffered a lot of losses in silence.

Xie Meng threw the fake item away, her chest heaving.

Xie Qianli then reminded Xie Meng: "Jia Ruzhen may have seen the strength of the imperial army and abandoned his comrades to flee quickly. It is also possible that he is not here at all tonight. If he is in Guangling City, I will take my brother to the Han River, for fear that he will launch a surprise attack tonight."

Xie Meng nodded and said, "We'll split up. You continue the search along the Han River, while I'll lead the navy to besiege Guangling. I want to see which side a mere bandit can possibly have on his hands."

Xie Meng took the lead and disappeared into the river mist in an instant on a speedboat.

Xie Qianli is to carry out a search and arrest mission.

His gaze lingered on Ying Xi for a moment, then his lips tightened even more, as if he were desperately suppressing words he shouldn't say, worries and reproaches that he couldn't voice simply because of his status as a subject.

Xie Qianli's breathing was heavy.

He ordered his men, "Send His Majesty back to the camp."

"yes."

Several soldiers approached Ying Xi. Lian Qing had already committed the grave mistake of not reporting what he knew, so he dared not get any closer.

Ying Xi had been up all night and had finally come to a temporary halt, but water droplets were still dripping down his sleeves, hair, and robe hem. The weight of the water made his clothes cling tightly to his skin, making them wet and heavy.

Even though Ying Xi still wanted to follow the Dragon Martial Army to track down Jia Ruzhen's whereabouts, he was in too much of a sorry state, and he knew his own body.

Ying Xi's steps were heavy.

He followed a few young officers from the Dragon Martial Army towards the rescue boats on the water's edge, deciding to return to camp to rest. But then, a gust of river wind made him sneeze.

Ying Xi paid attention to Rong Zhi and only made a very slight noise.

Achoo!

"His Majesty."

Ying Xi stopped.

The soles of the boots rubbed against the sand and gravel on the river surface.

At this moment, Ying Xi realized that she was somewhat in the wrong.

He appointed Xie Qianli to protect him, but he thought he was quite sensible and acted on his own, never telling Xie Qianli about his plan.

If Xie Qianli had actually drowned in the Han River, he would have been held responsible.

As an emperor, one cannot easily admit mistakes, but Ying Xi is reasonable.

Imagine how troubled Xie Qianli must have been, and witness firsthand how he was so desperate to save the emperor that he only wore a robe and tied his hair.

Ying Xi decided that if Xie Qianli intended to stop and offer advice, then the emperor could make an exception, humbly accept the advice, and soften his attitude.

He waited.

Close your eyes.

What awaited her was a comfortable warmth surrounding her, as the cool breeze from the river was blocked out.

He felt as if he had become a silkworm, wrapped in a soft cocoon. The sensation was so intense that he couldn't control himself, and a heat surged up his nose.

Ying Xi opened his eyes, and Xie Qianli took off his battle robe and wrapped it around him.

The gesture of putting on the robe resembled an embrace. Ying Xi's body trembled slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Xie Qianli tightened the sash around his neck.

When he grips the gun, his powerful fingers move with extreme care, as if he is controlling the immense power within his body.

Ying Xi's sense of guilt multiplied several times over.

The painful memories that belonged to Fanglan Palace at that moment were all right in front of this person, evolving into an emotion that made one's throat tighten.

Although it was still a deep night, Yingxi seemed to see brilliant rays of light behind the magnolia trees again.

Ying Xi lowered her eyes, her nose trembling slightly.

Xie Qianli, with a stern and handsome face, said, "Your Majesty, please take care. I will be right back."

The emperor nodded.

At this moment, Yingxi added in a low voice, "Good steed."

The sound was audible to only two people.

Xie Qianli froze instantly!

His sullen mood was dispelled by Ying Xi's unreasonable behavior.

He was momentarily stunned, realizing that the high and mighty moon was actually trying to mislead him.

That was a uniquely Ying Xi-style apology.

In Xie Qianli's field of vision, only Ying Xi's thick eyelids could be seen.

Perhaps he held a special place in the emperor's heart. Xie Qianli couldn't suppress his excitement; the corners of his mouth were turning up in a smile. But he immediately turned and strode away.

He swallowed his overwhelming joy alone. Xie Qianli led a contingent of the Dragon Martial Army on horseback!

***

The boat sailed on the river, amidst rolling waves.

The emperor sat in the boat.

The small boat was open to the elements, surrounded by the deep blue of the river at night. The river breeze made Ying Xi wrap her cloak tighter, and then she felt warm all over. There was a familiar scent in her nose.

That day in the cabin, he had deeply felt Xie Qianli's scent.

Lifting up the cloak and bringing it to her nose to sniff, Ying Xi thought of a gentle male beast lurking among the grass and trees.

His movements were so subtle that no one noticed.

Ying Xi's dark gray eyes welled up with tears.

thump.

“Your Majesty,” said the soldier escorting him, “General Xie and General Xie Meng have joined forces. Their camp is backed by Guiyang. Your Majesty can rest there temporarily. After capturing Guangling County, you can march with the Southern Expeditionary Army to besiege the enemy capital.”

Ying Xi nodded; his imperial expedition was not about personally fighting. He was self-aware.

"What is the current situation of the battle?" Ying Xi asked.

The sergeant replied, "The eastern front has captured Huainan and Danyang prefectures. On the western front, General Xie Meng has just captured Yuzhang and is lingering at Guangling. The two fronts have been locked in a stalemate for several days and cannot converge."

Ying Xi calculated the time it took her to come out.

"We need to do it as soon as possible."

The soldier nodded, and the water became wider.

The boat traveled for about the time it takes to drink two or three cups of tea.

In the river mist, a tall ship appeared opposite the small boat. Instantly, the entire army went on high alert, mistaking it for an enemy vessel.

But the no-navigation order here is the strictest, so how come this ship wasn't spotted by the patrol soldiers?

Ying Xi stood up.

The large ship is getting closer and closer.

The boat has two decks, its lanterns are red, and its hull is draped with flowing gauze curtains. Dancers sway gracefully on board, and their songs carry far.

"Everyone says Jiangnan is beautiful, and tourists should only grow old in Jiangnan."

"Spring waters are bluer than the sky, painted boats sleep in the rain. The woman by the wine shop is like the moon, her fair wrists like frost and snow."

"Do not return to your hometown when you are old, for returning home will break your heart."

The soft, melodious Wu dialect is captivating, and the final two words, "heartbreaking," seem to carry a hook, as if filled with a plea for the traveler to stay, leaving one with endless longing.

The soldiers of the Longwu Army are disciplined and wouldn't stare so intently as to be blinded by their gaze.

The soldiers gripped their swords, slightly bent their backs, and assumed a ready-to-go stance.

What kind of audacity and powerful backing does a merchant have to dare to drive this thing into the river?

“Your Majesty, please be careful,” a junior officer beside Ying Xi warned. “Tonight’s search for Your Majesty is a secret operation, and Your Majesty’s identity should not be exposed. The origin of this large ship is unknown, and Your Majesty’s health is of utmost importance. We should bypass this pleasure boat and investigate its origins after escorting Your Majesty back.”

Ying Xi nodded. He didn't want to cause any more trouble tonight.

The young soldier raised the flag, which fluttered loudly in the wind.

Upon receiving the signal, the remaining small boats dispersed, preparing to circumvent the pleasure boat, much like a school of fish circling around rocks.

But to everyone's surprise, the huge pleasure boat slowly turned sideways.

The large ship blocked Ying Xi's main ship, casting deep red and light red shadows on the smaller ships. This provocative act naturally made everyone in the fleet feel threatened.

The young general of the Dragon Martial Army ordered, "Fire the arrows first!"

The bowstring twanged. The crackling sound was like thunder rumbling on the river.

The dancers and entertainers on the pleasure boats, knowing that war had broken out between the North and the South, had long since stopped their nighttime entertainment business. They had never seen such a scene before.

The dancers ran away screaming, the lanterns fell and rolled into the river, rising and falling with the waves.

The river was immediately filled with cries of pleas for mercy.

"Help!"

"Stop firing the arrows! Stop firing the arrows!"

"Sir, we're on the same side!"

They didn't fight back, and their delicate screams were so pitiful that they made one want to pity them.

The soldiers did not want to kill innocent people indiscriminately, nor did they want to fall into the trap set by a beautiful woman.

Then the young general of the Dragon Martial Army shouted, "Get your manager out here!"

The dancers grew increasingly frightened, and said in soft voices, "The ship owner is of noble status, has a powerful background, and is very generous. He is resting on the ship, and we maids would never dare to disturb him..."

It would have been better if they hadn't said that.

The moment the words left his mouth, the soldiers of the Longwu Army were filled with righteous indignation.

It's not that I don't know that there are many wealthy merchants in Jiangnan.

However, during the war, these wealthy people not only did not think of serving their country, but also dared to obstruct military affairs, and even endangered the emperor. This was simply intolerable!

The young general roared, "I don't care how powerful his backing is, make him come out here right now!"

The dancers hurriedly dispersed.

The light gauze curtains are soft, like the breath of a graceful woman.

A figure carrying a wine jug swayed and walked from the depths of the pleasure boat to the deck railing.

Prince Yong must have been drunk; his phoenix eyes were glazed over as he leaned against the railing, gazing down in a daze.

Upon seeing Ying Xi, Prince Yong's lips curled slightly, his eyes suddenly brightened, and then he revealed a wicked, pale smile before throwing the wine jug into the water.

"Brother. *hiccup*"

It was as if I could smell the alcohol.

The Prince Yong, drunk and slurring, said, "The dogs in Fangzhi Palace... weren't fierce enough... Your Majesty, I've come all the way to the south to reunite with you..."

"Brother...Brother..."

Are you hiding something from me?

"Brother..."

The river wind was too strong, making it difficult to understand what he was saying.

Ying Xi felt a headache coming on. He had no energy left to deal with Prince Yong, so he ordered, "Let's go around the big ship first."

The soldiers were about to row backwards.

At that moment, a golden light flashed before my eyes.

The love system, having just unleashed its full power, unfolded its interface trembling before Ying Xi's eyes.

Sweet Tong called out weakly, "Your Majesty."

System task: Please praise and reward Prince Yong (0/1)

The system energy is extremely low. Please execute immediately!