Chapter 235 Negotiation

In no time at all, the scout returned with the news.

The massive vermilion carriage started moving again.

Ultimately, Mu Xi's information about Shen Pingting's whereabouts last night was inaccurate, and she took a back road today.

Princess Qingyang alighted from the carriage, mounted her horse, and, accompanied by Mu Xi, Physician Luo, and Bao Fan, led a group to change course and pursue the enemy.

However, after finally catching up with Shen Pingting's convoy and conducting a forced search, they couldn't find any trace of Mu Xun.

Was it moved again by Marquis Shen Lun of Yong State?

Mu Xi was increasingly anxious, her face growing even colder: "Princess, please bring your men and come with me to the Marquis of Yong's camp."

Princess Qingyang readily agreed: "Let's go."

Mu Xi thought for a moment, then pointed at Shen Pingting: "Take her with you too."

Shen Pingting's expression changed: "You dare?"

There's nothing I wouldn't dare to do.

Princess Qingyang had no qualms; with a wave of her hand, her guards easily subdued Shen Pingting.

The group returned to the Yanshan camp in a grand procession.

The convoy and guards left behind by Shen Pingting had no choice but to chase after them from a distance and then return.

When they returned to the Yanshan camp, the morning mist in the mountains had already dissipated, and the sun had risen high in the sky.

The air was still filled with the lingering smell of last night's campfire and the cold scent of metal.

Many things should not be publicized, as a direct confrontation would alarm King Yu Muji.

Mu Xi could only lead Princess Qingyang and Shen Pingting, along with Princess Qingyang's personal guards, into the Yongguo Marquis's camp.

"Uncle, where exactly is Mu Xun?" Mu Xi's voice unconsciously turned cold and hard.

The anger at being offended flashed across Shen Lun's face, but it was fleeting. He quickly regained his refined scholarly demeanor, his long, willow-leaf eyes sweeping over the group, his imposing presence radiating authority: "Xi'er, what do you mean by this?"

Mu Xi, too lazy to beat around the bush, said, "Uncle, let's not beat around the bush. Where is Mu Xun? Please return him to me."

Shen Lun's smile deepened, carrying a hint of the tolerance of an elder watching a younger person's folly: "You know that's impossible."

After speaking, he gracefully gestured to Princess Qingyang to "please sit down".

He then ordered outside, "Someone, bring tea."

Princess Qingyang casually went over and sat down.

Mu Xi couldn't hold back any longer: "If Uncle doesn't agree, then Cousin Pingting will have to go to the East Sea with me."

Shen Lun didn't even lift his eyelids: "If that's the case, it's fine. You're her cousin. If you're willing to take your cousin to see the world, what's wrong with that?"

"Father." Although Shen Pingting was not particularly afraid, she still managed to call out to him.

Mu Xi was surprised that Shen Lun didn't care about his only legitimate daughter, and was at a loss for what to do next.

Shen Lun then looked up at his daughter: "Ting'er, just stay with your cousin. What are you worried about? Would they harm you?"

Having grown up in wealth and privilege, Shen Pingting had never experienced danger before. Hearing her father speak so calmly, she felt much more at ease.

Just then, a servant brought in hot tea.

Shen Lun personally poured two cups of tea for Princess Qingyang and himself. After taking a sip, he suddenly shook his head at Mu Xi: "You have disappointed your elders too much. Look how sensible Ting'er is, while you are so sentimental and indecisive, and your actions are so womanly. You simply don't care about the big picture..."

Pooh……

Who needs your satisfaction?

However, there are some things that cannot be said openly in front of Princess Qingyang.

Mu Xi suppressed her anger and tried to think of another way.

Shen Lun sighed again: "Alas... Since you have met Princess Qingyang, it must be fate. Why don't you go with her? As for Mu Xun, I am his uncle. Would I mistreat him? As long as you go to the East Sea with the princess safely, I will take good care of him."

Is that a threat?

While Mu Xi was filled with doubt and uncertainty, still trying to think of a solution,

Shen Lun turned to Princess Qingyang with an apologetic smile: "Oh, Princess, I'm so sorry to have pleased you. My nephew is, after all, a noble prince, and his temperament is inevitably proud. He is unwilling to marry into the family, and I'm sure you know that. Please forgive him on this trip."

Li Li, who had been observing from the sidelines with his arms crossed, naturally knew that Mu Xi was still unwilling to marry into the family. At this moment, he simply smiled slightly: "Don't worry, my lord. This princess may not have many other skills, but when it comes to managing men... hehe..."

If Mu Xi were a man, she would surely be filled with shame and indignation at this moment, but since she was a woman, she didn't get angry.

But after Shen Lun finished speaking, he ordered outside, "Bring in the maidservant who serves the Crown Prince."

Mu Xi was taken aback.

Soon, Zhelan, Tao'er, and Cao Pan'er were brought in.

When the three of them saw Mu Xi, their eyes showed a mixture of surprise and worry.

Tao'er opened her mouth as if to cry: "Waaah... Your Highness..."

Before he could say anything, he was silenced by Shen Lun's guards.

Shen Lun pointed at Tao'er and the other two maids, but addressed Li Li: "Princess, the young master is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. These three maids have grown up with him since childhood and are like family. Now that the young master is about to go with you, Princess, we entrust them, along with his belongings, to you. As for my daughter, she is spoiled and pampered, unlike you, Princess. If you insist on taking her to the East Sea to broaden her horizons, wouldn't that be causing you trouble?"

"So," Princess Qingyang glanced at Mu Xi, her lychee-shaped eyes blinking as if asking a question.

Mu Xi knew that Shen Lun wanted to exchange three maids and luggage for Shen Pingting.

On the surface, let alone three maids, even thirty or three hundred maids could not compare to Shen Pingting's worth.

But as Shen Lun said, kidnapping Shen Pingting wouldn't really do anything to her, but it would still require manpower and resources to take care of her, otherwise, would they really kill her?

If the daughters of dukes and marquises were killed without hesitation, they would likely become public enemies in an instant.

But if Shen Pingting can't blackmail Shen Lun, then how else can she rescue Mu Xun?

As Mu Xi was pondering rapidly, she heard Shen Lun continue speaking to Princess Qingyang: "Your Highness was determined to choose my nephew as your consort before, presumably because you reached some kind of cooperation with Queen Gao and Grand Marshal Gao Quanfang?"

Princess Qingyang smiled but remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“What happened before must have been an unintentional scheme by the Gao family.” Shen Lun was quite certain, but not particularly concerned. “The princess is far away in the East Sea, and this is her first time coming to the Yanshan inland area. It is understandable that she would trust the Gao family. However, it would be like the princess asking a tiger for its skin to cooperate with the Gao family. It would be much better for her to cooperate with me than with the Gao family.”

“Lord Marquis?” Princess Qingyang’s fiery red eyes deliberately glanced at Shen Lun, her meaning all too clear.

Whether it was the Li clan of Donghai or the rulers of the Yansheng dynasty, they all tended to value martial prowess over literary pursuits.

Even if a scholar like Marquis Yongguo had a great reputation, he was not very important in the eyes of a martial artist like Princess Qingyang.

Shen Lun's all-knowing eyes remained unconcerned, and his smile became even more amiable: "Does the princess really think that by marrying the Prince of Jin Fang and cooperating with the Gao family, she can firmly control the Western Border troops?"