Chapter 88 Please Take Me In, General: The General's Romantic Debts

With everyone gone, Xi Congshuang realized how difficult her current situation was.

From the perspective of their respective identities, Xi Congshuang was seen as a lackey of Prince Xin by the Thirteen Camps of Northern Yan, and was considered to be from the same country as Prince Xin.

They wouldn't use the insults of the underworld to call her a lackey of the imperial court, because they were also paid by the government and it would be easy to implicate themselves in the insults.

However, the court was also rife with factionalism and infighting. Without much thought, Xi Congshuang knew that she was in her current predicament because Xun Suihuang was caught between two sides.

He cared neither for the King of Xin's attempts to win him over, nor for the King of Wu's flattery, let alone for the deposed King of Qin, the son of the deposed queen whom no one paid any attention to. He was a pure minister who stood independently outside the court.

If he were a loyal minister, that would be fine, but the problem is that Xun Suihuang's reputation is too prominent. There are already rumors in the capital that the people of the north only know the Marquis of Pingding and not the emperor.

Last year, we resisted the thirty-six tribes of the Yeman, forcing them to retreat thirty miles away from Jiashan Pass. The people were so grateful that they spontaneously built a shrine in their honor.

Fortunately, Xun Suihuang suppressed it and personally demolished what was still a foundation of the shrine.

How could a general who commands hundreds of thousands of troops and is revered by tens of thousands allow Emperor Jianxing to have sweet dreams every day?

She woke up briefly last night and felt so unwell that she couldn't fall back asleep. She woke up Hongdou and asked her to find some records of the current dynasty. She discovered that the Yong Dynasty had produced an empress.

If we're talking about relationships, Xun Suihuang was Emperor Jianxing's cousin and the aunt of several princes.

This discovery made Xi Congshuang understand why the Zhong royal family was so wary of Xun Suihuang, not only because his achievements threatened the emperor, but also because Xun Suihuang's position was "legitimate".

As she continued scrolling down, Xi Congshuang discovered something interesting.

The old Marquis of Pingding was the younger sister of the Holy Ancestor Empress. In her youth, she was given the title of Princess Changping. When the Holy Ancestor Empress first ascended the throne, the country was unstable and she wanted to use a marriage alliance to quell the rebellion.

Princess Changping volunteered to go and marry into the royal family to quell the unrest and bring peace to her elder sister.

Yeman and Yongchao were sworn enemies, and everyone knew that Princess Changping was likely to never return. Emperor Shengzu was reluctant to let her go, so he added a lot of people to her wedding procession and sent a general to escort her all the way.

Who knew they were so greedy? In the past, their scale was even larger than it is now. There were thirty-six kings in the thirty-six tribes. Even if Yongchao had thirty-six princesses, it would not satisfy their appetite.

Before the wedding procession had even passed Jiashan Pass, the bride couldn't contain herself and broke open the city gate, preparing to burn, kill, and plunder. By sheer coincidence, she ran right into the wedding procession.

Historical records at the time state: The princess was furious and ordered her generals to fight the enemy. She melted down her phoenix crown and cast it into a dagger to show her determination to fight to the death.

Originally a wedding procession, Princess Changping commanded it to repel the enemy and then return to the capital.

Despite opposition, the Holy Ancestor Emperor granted him a title for his military achievements. This was the first time the Holy Ancestor Emperor had personally issued such an order, and from then on, she held power and ruled in her own right for thirty years.

Later, Emperor Shengzu entrusted the command of troops to Marquis Pingding, who then established the Thirteen Camps of Northern Yan.

Xun Suihuang was the daughter of the former Marquis of Pingding and Princess Changping. After the Marquis of Pingding passed away, she inherited the title and took over the power.

Nine years have passed since I was seventeen.

Xun Suihuang may seem to be at the height of her power now, but in reality, she is like oil on a hot stove; once the war is over, there is no more title she can bestow.

Above that is being granted the title of king, who is praised and worshipped without being named, enters the court without having to bow, and is allowed to wear a sword and shoes in the palace.

The ultimate dream of a powerful minister is not something that ordinary people can bear. Red Apple has less energy and less information to obtain. She still doesn't know why she has taken the step of rebellion and beheading.

Xi Congshuang's teacup gradually cooled down. Hearing voices coming from the courtyard gate, she turned her head to look, and Hongdou also looked over.

A maidservant came to announce that the steward of the prefectural government had arrived and, having heard that Master Xi was unwell, had come to deliver a thousand-year-old ginseng.

Unable to cope, Xi Congshuang released Hongdou to spout nonsense, instructing her to fool the prefectural steward away.

The red bean that can be kept by one's side is not just for serving tea and water. Its tender shoulders also bear the responsibility of protecting Xi Congshuang's health, and it occasionally has to play the role of dismissing guests.

Hongdou returned quickly, and Xi Congshuang put down her empty medicine bowl, dabbing her lips with a handkerchief.

"Let's go," Xi Congshuang said.

Hongdou just returned: "Where did you go?"

Xi Congshuang looked outside and saw that it was already bright outside. The wind and sand in Fuzhou were strong, and everything looked yellowish. The wind felt like a knife cutting into people.

It's also because the location of her courtyard is not good. Unlike the main courtyard, which is sheltered from the wind and offers views of the Jiangnan scenery as soon as you open the door, the scenery is vastly different depending on the location, even though they are in the same mansion.

Xi Congshuang said, "Go talk to the military supervisor and change your clothes."

Hongdou stopped asking questions, closed the door, and found a set of clothes she had packed yesterday. It was at this moment that she saw the bloodstains that Xi Congshuang had vomited by her bedside, and she became worried again.

"Once we return to the capital, I will not let Prince Xin off the hook."

Xi Congshuang remained silent as she sat in the chair, letting the little girl mutter to herself as she searched for something.

After Xi Congshuang finished packing, she went to the main courtyard where the military supervisor lived and began to deceive both sides.

Fortunately, the prefect was alert and ordered his men to keep quiet, preventing the news from reaching the military supervisor's ears.

Even though we'll find out eventually, it's better than finding out now. Who wants to talk to someone who's grumpy in the morning?

The supervising eunuch rarely got up that late. Back in the palace, he had to take turns on duty with the chief eunuch, who was also his godfather who had promoted him. He had to be there immediately when the emperor summoned him to share the emperor's burdens.

He was still too tired from the banquet last night. He thought he had gotten up early, but when a servant came to tell him that the sickly man next door had gotten up even earlier and was already drinking tea in the front hall waiting for him to come over.

"Hmph, people from the martial world are still the most sensible." The supervising eunuch slowly raised his head and let the young eunuch tie his hair up.

His words were veiled in sarcasm, and no one dared to answer. The supervising eunuch didn't think anyone could answer him either, so he added, "She got up quite early. Did she say she wanted to see me about something?"

The young eunuch handed him a hot towel: "The sickly woman couldn't sleep well, so she got up early. She didn't say anything, only that she had important matters to discuss with the military supervisor."

In the front hall, Xi Congshuang drank most of a bowl of tea before finally seeing the splendid-looking supervising eunuch.

She sat steadily in her seat, never having seen such an arrogant person walk like a duck. She watched curiously for a while, unaware that the supervising eunuch was beginning to displease her for her lack of manners.

But then he thought about it again and realized that Xi Yan didn't even bow properly at the Prince Xin's residence. So, let alone the princess who had saved his life, even the young prince would be punished if he said something wrong. So he felt much better.

The supervising eunuch sat down in the main seat and said in a high-pitched tone, "What brings Military Advisor Xi here so early in the morning? What brings you here?"

Xi Congshuang was impatient to argue with him, even about seniority. She said, "I came here because of the matter of 'the Northern Yan commander-in-chief disrespecting the monarch'."

The supervising eunuch burned his lips and almost dropped his hand on his thigh: "'Disrespect for the monarch'?"

Xi Congshuang looked at him strangely: "Why is the supervising officer reacting like this? If you can hold the tea properly, then the Northern Yan commander-in-chief has done far more than just this one thing."

Sensing an atmosphere of collusion, the supervising eunuch immediately put down his teacup, bowed, and plotted: "What do you mean by that?"

Throughout the journey, Xi Congshuang had been sickly and hadn't uttered a single word, which made the supervising eunuch quite disdainful of her.

What's the point of this sickly girl who can't do anything showing off? She'll only make everyone else have to take care of her. It's likely that Prince Xin's trustworthiness is just a name, nothing more.

Now that I hear it, perhaps there was a reason why Prince Xin dismissed most of her useless retainers.

Xi Congshuang confirmed her suspicions step by step: "Within the four seas, all are subjects of the king. When the officials in the court receive the imperial decree, which one of them doesn't bathe and burn incense, set out a table, and respectfully invite you into their home? The court has already been lenient enough towards her, giving her a month's notice, yet she still left on the very first day you arrived. What is this if not contempt?"

Putting everything else aside, Xi Congshuang's words struck a chord with the supervising eunuch, who was thinking exactly the same thing.

Xi Congshuang patiently explained, "Before his departure, Prince Xin instructed that the ruler is the guide for his subjects, and the most important thing for a subject to do is to share the burdens of His Majesty. Therefore, His Majesty's meaning is Prince Xin's meaning, and your meaning is my meaning."

Whether it is true or not, this is indeed the truth. The supervising eunuch's expression softened slightly, and he seemed quite pleased.

Xi Congshuang said calmly, "But the commander-in-chief of Northern Yan has made great achievements. If he had realized his mistake in time and stopped while he was ahead, he could have left a name for himself in history. The problem is that she is unwilling to let go and is too greedy."

"..."

The eunuch's expression completely confirmed Xi Congshuang's guess.

These people not only came with the aim of seizing credit, but also wanted Xun Suihuang to relinquish his military power, retreat to his residence, and no longer concern himself with worldly affairs.

But given the current situation, even if Xun Suihuang were willing to let go, there's no way she could give up easily.

Many things cannot be avoided simply by wanting to.

The supervising eunuch indeed asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Xi Congshuang gave the answer: "Now the general's name is known throughout the land, but for this one act of disrespecting the emperor, I'm afraid it's impossible to punish him. If the supervising officer sends a letter back to the capital to punish him, it will only make things worse."

The military supervisor asked, puzzled, "How did things go wrong?"

Xi Congshuang pointed in the direction outside the city: "With the general gone, the thirteen battalions of Northern Yan will surely mutini, and the thirty-six tribes of Yeman will be the first to tear up the ceasefire agreement and march south. At that time, won't the supervising officer be implicated and become a sinner for all time?"

The eunuch in charge of the army was terrified at the thought of this possibility. She was right; they really couldn't touch Xun Suihuang now.

We must at least leave Fuzhou.

On the other side, Xi Congshuang's voice rang out: "I wonder if you've considered that Xun Suihuang might not actually be a perfect person?"

The military supervisor had a vague idea, but he wanted to hear Xi Congshuang say it herself: "What do you want to say?"

Xi Congshuang: "We have found evidence that His Majesty had no choice but to issue a decree to punish her. Yesterday's disobedience to the decree can be considered a net of merit and demerit, and it will not damage her foundation."

The military supervisor spoke faster than he thought: "What words could possibly harm her foundation, embezzlement?"

Xi Congshuang was momentarily speechless at the eunuch's self-introduction, then said, "Whatever Your Majesty cares about most is what matters."

The supervising eunuch: "..."

He left the capital this time to suppress the arrogance of the Thirteen Battalions of Northern Yan, but little did he know that the person sitting in front of him was a master of framing.

Without lingering, Xi Congshuang got up and left.

Hongdou, who was waiting outside, came to greet her. As Xi Congshuang looked at her, she approached her and whispered, "I've checked, no one is coming near."

Xi Congshuang gathered her wide sleeves and nodded, saying, "Okay, let's go, let's pack our things."

Red Bean asked, confused: "Why are we packing?"

Before Xi Congshuang could answer, a teacup shattered on the steps the two had just crossed, and someone inside cursed, "You traitor! I must send a message back to the capital to report to His Majesty!"

Hongdou couldn't stand anyone slandering the sect leader, and without saying a word, she was about to pull out her whip from her sleeve to have a good talk with this damned eunuch, but Xi Congshuang grabbed her hand instead.

"Why is the sect leader stopping me?" Hongdou was so angry that she spoke without thinking and forgot to change her form of address.

"I...cough cough cough..." Xi Congshuang's face grew paler and paler. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, said nothing, shook her head, and was about to leave.

Unable to disobey the sect leader, Hongdou had no choice but to help him walk, and from afar they could still hear the eunuch supervising the army jumping up and down.

The entire prefectural government was filled with curiosity. What could this perfectly normal person have done to make the supervising eunuch so angry?

Xi Congshuang didn't have much to pack, just one big box containing packaged medicine and clothes.

She wore a sable cloak, but fortunately, her tall figure prevented her from being overshadowed by the luxurious cloak, instead making her appear exceptionally noble.

The prefect, holding his official hat, hurried over and saw Hongdou directing the grooms and hired helpers to carry the goods away.

That was quite a swift move. If he hadn't overheard the two big shots arguing and heard the servants talking about how the little girl Xi Congshuang brought was scolding and tidying up at the same time, he would have thought that Xi Yan was prepared.

Prefect: "What, what is this all about...?"

Xi Congshuang lowered her eyes, seemingly forlorn: "The military supervisor is unwilling to keep me here, so I will not stay in the manor. Thank you for taking me in, Prefect. If there is anything I can do to help, just send a signal with smoke, and someone will come."

Hongdou stepped forward and handed over the cigarette lying in her hand.

The prefect put it away in a daze, watching the person leave in a daze, and the courtyard became empty again.

He scratched his head, not quite understanding for a long time: "She just left like that? She didn't even say where she was going!"

After being helped into the carriage by Hongdou, Xi Congshuang immediately regained her composure and sat up straight. Hongdou then asked, "Sect Leader, where are we going now? Are we going back to Bingzhou?"

Bingzhou is the territory of Yihaotang. Hongdou doesn't like it here, nor does she like the bustling Yongdu. She just wants to go back to Bingzhou where there are medicinal springs to soak in.

Xi Congshuang shook her head: "I'm not going back, I'm going to the General's Mansion."

Red Bean: "Huh?"

Xi Congshuang nodded: "Mm."

The carriage didn't move. Xi Congshuang opened her eyes and stared at Hongdou. She asked, "Which general's mansion?"

Xi Congshuang knew she didn't want to go, and cruelly pointed it out: "How many generals' mansions are there in Fuzhou?"

"..."

What was bound to happen has finally happened.

Hongdou went to inform the coachman, looking dejected, but returned after lowering the curtain. "Why do we have to go there?"

Xi Congshuang: "We need to see her because we were kicked out by General Xun, and we should go find her to collect our debts."

Hongdou always felt that the sect leader's tone was strange, without a trace of sarcasm, but rather extremely happy. She didn't understand, and after just one night, it was as if she had lost several months of life and still couldn't comprehend it.

She could handle dealing with the steward, but now she had to fool the Northern Yan commander-in-chief, which was completely different from the people she had fooled before.

Hongdou asked nervously, "What should I do then?"

Xi Congshuang said, "You don't need to say anything then. Just look at them with displeasure, and they'll feel guilty on their own."

Hongdou was shocked: "These loud, rough women can feel guilty too?!"

When they arrived at the destination, Hongdou realized that it was incredibly powerful.

A gray cloth carriage was parked in front of the majestic general's mansion. The carriage was unremarkable, not only because the horses pulling it were old, but also because the driver was a mute.

The gatekeeper waited a while longer, and a woman in white, exuding a strong medicinal aura, got off the car. She was wearing a cloak and was accompanied by a little girl in a pink dress.

It seemed that the person in the middle could make the decision. The doorman, who had a limp, staggered down the steps: "Who is this person looking for? Do you have a visiting card? This is the residence of the Northern Yan General."

Xi Congshuang smiled in the dim sunlight: "The place we're looking for is the Northern Yan General's Mansion."

"Achoo!" Xun Suihuang, who was watching the sparring, sneezed, and had a bad feeling.

Her premonitions have always been very accurate. Since she went to the battlefield at the age of fifteen, her premonitions have saved her no less than ten times, and now that premonition has come again.

Before she could figure out who else was plotting against her, someone came to report that a woman surnamed Xi was requesting an audience.

There are so many people in the world who want to see her. Xun Suihuang was still wondering what was going on with that sneeze today, and subconsciously wanted to refuse.

Xun Suihuang waved her hand and said, "I'm busy now, I can't see you. Tell him to come early tomorrow morning."

Everyone knows that even if you come early, you won't see her; the general doesn't like to see anyone who disturbs her sleep.

The servant responded, thinking to himself that the general was indeed nowhere to be found, and that man had made such a solemn vow.

After walking a few steps, Xun Suihuang's voice came from behind: "Wait a minute, what did you say she called herself?"

The servant replied, "His surname is Xi."

The people in front of the door didn't have to wait long; in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a figure dressed in different clothes appeared behind the door.

Holding a long spear, she strode over: "The world is vast and there is nowhere I cannot go. How could Sect Leader Xi grace my General's Mansion with his presence? It is a pity that my humble abode is too simple to welcome you. I am afraid I will have to be negligent."

Others might say this as modesty, but only Xun Suihuang could convey a sense of cynicism.

Xi Congshuang sighed helplessly: "Alas, because I spoke up for the general, the military supervisor was barely appeased, but he was unwilling to live with me, a traitor, and kicked me out of the prefectural government."

"Now I am homeless and destitute. I beg the general to have mercy and give me a roof over my head."

Xun Suihuang thought she had misheard: "What?"

Hongdou was staring at her angrily, but judging from her eyes, she didn't seem to be lying.

Xi Congshuang stepped into the sunlight and raised her voice: "I say, I have nowhere else to go, please take me in, General."

Xun Suihuang: "..."

The subordinates who followed to join in the fun: "..."

What? What did she say?

Each word in the export is understandable individually, but when put together, they become incomprehensible.

Does Xi Congshuang even know who she is? Has she delivered herself into the lion's den?

No, she was a retainer of Prince Xin, so she should have walked right into his trap.

Xun Suihuang threw her spear, which was caught by Gu Daifang. She stepped over the high threshold and descended the steps.

A surprised and faint murmur arose behind me.

"What's going on? Who is that?"

"Could it be that the general has some romantic entanglements? He doesn't seem to be in good health, so he's traveled all this way with his maid to come to our door?"

"Bullshit! What 'peach blossom debt'? Look closely, that's a retainer of Prince Xin. That little girl looks like she knows martial arts."

"Indeed, she walks with a steady gait, much more steadily than her master who seems to run away in the wind."

A woman in a dark blue robe with her black hair tied up high approached step by step. She had been training her troublesome subordinates early in the morning, and had hurriedly changed her clothes before coming here, but she carried a faint fragrance on her body.

She was, after all, a young lady who grew up in a brocade garden, and still retains a bit of the romantic habit of incense burning.

Xun Suihuang: "Sect Leader Xi, I don't understand what you're saying."

Xi Congshuang did not shy away from the question: "What do you not understand? Supervisor Wang will not send a letter back to the capital in the short term, and you don't need to bother to 'apologize'. I have already fulfilled my promise to the general. It's just that the supervisor is unwilling to tolerate me any longer and has driven me out of the prefectural government."

Xun Suihuang was already having a headache from being annoyed by her subordinates, and now seeing Xi Congshuang's matter-of-fact attitude, she had an even bigger headache: "So you came to find me?"

Xi Congshuang nodded: "Yes, my people are in Yongdu and Bingzhou. There's no one here to help me, so I had to come to you."

Xun Suihuang: "Let's go to the inn."

Before Xi Congshuang could speak, Hongdou objected first: "No, the inn is uncomfortable and unsafe, Miss will get sick."

Xi Congshuang covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve and coughed softly, looking very weak.

Xun Suihuang: "…………"

And I almost forgot, this is a walking medicine cabinet.

The medicinal smell on her wasn't from incense; it was from years of drinking it.

If she had known she would get herself into such big trouble, she would have dragged Gu Daifang back, even covered in blood, and woken up Eunuch Wang to explain the situation. As for the rest, she would deal with it when they returned to the capital.

In her mind, Sect Leader Xi was much more troublesome than Eunuch Wang. How could an old bird raised in the palace be compared to a rabbit that had grown up in the martial arts world?

Xun Suihuang turned around and pointed to the gate of the General's Mansion: "Have you thought this through? My General's Mansion has nothing, and not just anyone can enter. If you're not afraid of death, then come on over."

Hearing this, Hongdou wondered to herself, "Is this the General's Mansion or the Underworld?"

Xi Congshuang insisted on venturing into hell, lifting her skirt to enter.

"Alright, I was afraid the general wouldn't let me stay, and I'd freeze to death in Fuzhou at night."

Hongdou, who was in charge of the cleanup, hurriedly said, "Everything is in the car, everything is prepared. When we move the fox fur, we'll take it directly to the room. Miss is afraid of the cold and needs the fox fur to keep warm."

Seeing that the general did not object, the hesitant servants of the general's mansion had no choice but to step forward and help the groom carry things.

The female generals standing in a row behind the gate of the General's Mansion watched in shock as the figure slowly approached, then looked at Xun Suihuang, their eyes filled with awe.

Are you really letting him in, General?

Xun Suihuang crossed her arms and followed slowly behind her. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw Xi Congshuang's white gloves under her wide sleeves.

I remember seeing her hands yesterday; they had no scars whatsoever, and putting everything else aside, they were quite beautiful.

Why would she wear gloves out of the blue?

The way they're trying to hide it suggests they might have some hidden illness.

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It's hard not to be curious [glasses]