Chapter 145 The Beauty's Charm

Under the cover of night, the two ships, on the verge of battle, passed each other.

Xiao Cong's door was tightly shut. An aide knocked anxiously, but was stopped by Old Xu, who was guarding the door.

The aide hurriedly said, "We haven't left Qizhou yet. His Highness has an imperial edict in his hand, and he has Marquis Lin, Commander Chen, and others backing him up."

"We can immediately have the armies under the jurisdiction of Linyan and other cities on the south bank of the river intercept Lady Zhou!"

"If they disobey the Emperor's order, they will be executed immediately, and we can then replace them with our own people!"

"Using this as a plan, and with Madam Zhou as bait, the entire territory of Qizhou will be under my control within two days!"

"Then we can seize Madam Zhou and negotiate with Lord Zhou to exchange territory for her, which would be the best of both worlds!"

"This is an opportunity we must seize!"

This plan is extremely cruel to the women; it's obvious His Highness will not agree to it.

Old Master Xu waved his hand, saying, "Your Highness knows what's going on."

"Master Xu, you have always been highly regarded by His Highness. At this critical moment, how can we allow His Highness to act recklessly!"

The staff were heartbroken.

"We should speak frankly and offer advice, and do our best to serve Your Highness and the nation!"

Old Xu was quite helpless.

The advisor pounded his chest and stamped his feet: "If Your Highness had gone to Hejian, with the support of the Duke of Protectorate's troops, you could have entered Xianzhou with the imperial edict and seized military power in Xianzhou without losing a single soldier!"

"Now, the chances of success in Xianzhou are only 50%!"

"While His Highness personally oversees the affairs of Qizhou, he has allowed Lady Zhou to travel south."

"If you lose on both fronts, why bother?"

Why look back?

Old Xu: "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman."

The aide sighed, looking regretful.

Old Master Xu: "His Highness is usually self-disciplined, and it's rare for him to be so willful. Let him be!"

The aide glanced at the closed door and sighed.

The door was suddenly opened, startling the staff member who was still sighing at the door.

Xiao Cong appeared inside the door.

Old Master Xu bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness."

The staff and others quickly bowed their heads and greeted him: "Your Highness."

Xiao Cong had perfectly concealed his emotions.

He turned and walked into the house, saying in a deep voice, "Reach the shore and take the entire territory of Qizhou."

Old Xu and his group followed him into the house.

An aide, unwilling to give up, pushed forward: "Over there with Madam Zhou..."

"Let her go."

He instructed: "Send word to be wary of Lin Xiaocong."

“It will surely bring me disaster.”

Someone will go and deliver the order.

Once inside, he sat in the main seat, his gaze falling on the map hanging on the wall.

The only opportunity to expand the territory was after receiving the imperial edict but before ascending the throne.

"It is imperative to seize..."

*

The flickering candlelight in the room illuminated the young emperor's tall and imposing figure.

Chen Gao, who was responsible for protecting Xiao Cong on the deck, glanced at the scene of his staff sitting in the room and tightened his grip on the sword at his waist.

A relaxed expression, unseen for a long time since the late emperor's passing, appeared on his face.

He was ordered by the cabinet to rush to deliver the imperial edict with his men.

As the emperor's personal guard and the commander of the Northern Imperial Guard, I knew a little about the new emperor.

The saying "beautiful women bring ruin to a country" has been a laughing stock since ancient times.

When Xiao Cong wanted to board the Zhou family's ship alone, he remonstrated against it to the death.

The new emperor, who was only one step away from his coronation ceremony, calmly ordered his men to block the ship and protect him with crossbows, and left without looking back.

He had no choice but to accept the order, though he was filled with anxiety.

Seeing the changes happening to Zhou Chuan, his heart jumped into his throat.

I'm afraid Zhou is using a honey trap, and she's willing to risk the beauty's safety to take Xiao Cong's life.

Seeing Xiao Cong return, he breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Xiao Cong was not in good condition when he returned.

The moment he saw Xiao Cong lock himself in his room, he was genuinely worried for Xiao's family.

The Xiao family's empire is in grave danger. If the new ruler is unwise, and the south is lost, the north may also be lost.

He thought he would be drifting on the river until dawn, and that his work for the next two days would be difficult.

Unexpectedly, after only the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, Xiao Cong opened the door and invited people in to discuss matters.

Chen Gao gazed into the distance, head held high and chest out.

The closest Zhou's personal guards' arrows came to Xiao Zhu was just now.

Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman.

Tonight, isn't it also a loss for the Zhou family?

*

No one on Zhou's ship dared to have this idea.

They were all relieved that Li Qu was safe and sound.

Fan Zhuo and Gong Pin knelt before Li Qu.

Any reason seems weak.

Li Qu was already dressed and was sitting in the main seat.

"Five hundred guards, four ships protecting the ship, yet the thieves still managed to board and nearly kidnap me to threaten my husband. Where is the loophole?!"

Fan Zhuo pressed his forehead to the ground: "We didn't expect that Young Master Lin would put poison in the drinking water."

"The guards were suffering from severe abdominal pain and took turns running to the East Division... which disrupted the order."

"Report this to my department, and I will immediately assign someone to fill the gap..."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Cong and Lin Xiaocong still managed to sneak into the women's quarters.

He dared not say that.

If the lady makes a mistake, he bears the primary responsibility.

Gong Ping chimed in, "Both Lord Xiao and Young Master Lin are no ordinary people. They came prepared, so it's really difficult to guard against them."

"Commander Fan has made a mistake, but his crime does not warrant death."

Fan Zhuo continued, "At that time, I went around inquiring about your well-being."

"Upon reaching the lady's place, the large ship was stopped."

"I ordered the entire ship to be under martial law. Xu, the old woman outside the lady's door, said that the lady is unharmed."

At that time, Granny Xu had already discovered that Xiao Cong was in the room.

She didn't know what was inside the room and didn't dare let anyone in.

"The girl named Orange, who is by the Second Miss's side, said that the Second Miss is unharmed."

Cheng Guo also discovered Lin Xiaocong in Li Rong's bed, and that's all they could say.

And since the ship might be attacked by the enemy, she dared not leave.

They feared someone would break in and ruin Li Rong's reputation.

He then sent a maid to inform Li Qu.

Therefore, he did not see Li Qu.

Even after receiving the notice, Granny Xu dared not make a decision on her own and sent someone to break into the second young lady's room to arrest Lin Xiaocong.

By a twist of fate, this gave Lin Xiaocong time to persuade Li Rong.

Fan Zhuo continued speaking.

"When news arrived that everything was unharmed, I went to the deck to be on high alert against a sudden attack."

"Five soldiers who had been drugged and were covered in blood have now been found in concealed locations such as the clipper compartment."

"It is said that they were all attacked by a dark figure who flicked a pinch of powder in front of their eyes."

"When I woke up again, I saw my subordinates and others."

"It was not yet midnight."

"It must have been a moment of disorder in the guard that allowed the thieves to take advantage of the situation."

"Please, Madam, have mercy."

Gong Ping chimed in at the opportune moment: "Xiao Yi intended to kidnap the lady to force us to the south, but fortunately the lady was quick-witted and called for help in time, so there was no disaster."

The key point is 'never lost'.

This would both protect Li Qu's reputation and plead for Fan Zhuo's life.

Li Qu: "Are there any spies to meet them?"

"none."

Li Qu ended the topic; "Today's events were extremely dangerous, but fortunately Commander Fan returned to provide timely assistance. The merits and demerits cancel each other out. As for Third Master, I will speak for myself."

Fan Zhu kowtowed, expressing his gratitude to Li Qu.

Li Qu asked the two to stand up.

Just as Fan Zhuo was about to bow and leave, Gong Pin beat him to it and, in front of Fan Zhuo, changed the subject to politics.

"I have already sent a letter to the Third Master. Does Madam have any insightful opinions on the current situation?"

"Would you hire me for a civil service exam?"

"I dare not hire you."

Li Qu: "There's no need to take a detour; it's best to return to the heart of the south as soon as possible."

She paused for a moment.

I understand why Zhongzhou urgently urged Zhou Jin a few days ago.

"From the time the Duke of Huguo went to Hejian, the Marquis of Lin entered Qizhou, and the Crown Prince in the capital died."

"When Xiao Zhu took back Qizhou from her husband."

“Its layout started from the capital and extended to Qizhou, step by step, with each step linked to the next.”

"She does not want to fulfill the covenant she made with her husband in the capital."

"After the Zhou family lost Qizhou, it will take some time to cut through the gap in the north."

"They want to take advantage of this opportunity, use their position to undermine our foundation, remove our key personnel in the South, and seize our land without bloodshed."

The Xiao family's disadvantage was reversed when Xiao Cong took Qizhou.

"Unless the southern lands immediately declare independence and engage in armed conflict with Lord Xiao, thus preventing Lord Xiao from advancing south."

However, the reason why the Zhou family lay low for three hundred years was that they did not want to be labeled as traitors and rebels.

Zhou demanded a winning bargaining chip to force Xiao Cong to acknowledge the old treaty.

Gong Pin spoke up: "Madam, there is no need to worry."

Li Qu: "But in this round, we're one step behind."

"There is always a sequence in a game of chess."

"Third Master will personally take Zhongzhou, and wait for Zhongzhou to change hands."

"Zhongzhou and Fengxiang Prefecture guard each other, which can cut off the southward advance of the Yan cavalry in the north and directly enter the capital's supply lines in the east."

"The outcome is still uncertain."

Is it faster than Zhou Jin to take Zhongzhou, or is it faster for Xiao Cong to revitalize the Southern Lands?

For reasons unknown, Li Qu spoke up: "If Lord Xiao kidnaps me, Third Master, could you leave a plan?"

Gong Pin quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Third Master's order: if the lady is in any danger, raise the flag immediately and punish the tyrannical emperor!"

He was far away from her, yet it felt like he was always standing behind her.

For some reason, Li Qu felt a sense of security.

Xiao Cong's decision to let her go south unharmed today may well have been partly due to his desire to immediately break ties with him.

She waved the two men away: "Anyone who dares to discuss today's events will be killed without mercy."

Gong Pin bowed and withdrew, leaving Fan Zhu somewhat bewildered.

The lady is actually knowledgeable in politics?

As they were leaving, Gong Pin nudged Fan Zhuo with his shoulder with a smile.

"Fan Tong, how about considering working under Madam?"

A qualified advisor must always have the lord's best interests at heart.

What the lady is lacking now is manpower.

Fan Zhu frowned: "Please address me by my name."

He disliked the title 'Fan Tong'.

Gong Pin laughed: "That's a nice title!"

Fan Zhuo couldn't help but reveal his vulgar side: "Nice to hear, my foot!"

Li Qu went out to look for Li Rong and happened to overhear their last two sentences.

Fan Zhuo noticed Li Qu's figure first and awkwardly bowed.

Gong Pin smiled and bowed.

Li Qu calmly led her entourage past the two men.

Having lost his composure in front of the lady, Fan Zhuo glared at Gong Pin in shame and anger before striding away.

Gong Ping followed closely behind: "Fan Tong, please listen to what I have to say."

Fan Zhuo: "Get out!"

*

When Li Qu arrived at Li Rong's place, Lin Xiaocong had already left.

His unwillingness to deal directly with Li Qu was disadvantageous to him.

He left Li Rong eleven pieces of gold jewelry.

It has been exactly eleven days since Li Rong left Beijing, past midnight.

When Li Qu entered, Li Rong was resting her chin on one hand, leaning on the table and fiddling with a beautiful gold bracelet.

Upon seeing Li Qu enter, Li Rong quickly stood up: "Third Sister, he wants to take the Prince's life and surrender to you."

Seeing that Li Rong was in good condition, Li Qu felt relieved.

"After he leaves you today, I'm afraid he will never be able to get close to Xiao Cong again."

"Why?"

Because everyone here is intelligent.

The sisters are lying together today, chatting idly.

It was mid-November when we arrived in Hezhou.

Li Qu had just arrived in Hezhou when he received news that Zhou Jin had already captured Zhongzhou.

During this time, Xiao Cong had already pushed the northern and southern borders to the banks of the Huai River.

The power struggle, which had only an impact on the upper class, has reached a point where it could erupt at any moment and affect ordinary people.

Li Qu watched as the tide of the times surged forward, yet he could not control it.

The sachets she embroidered for Zhou Jin were all decorated with patterns symbolizing peace and safety.

My longing for you is endless, keeping me awake at night; I eagerly await your return.

She missed him and hoped he was safe.