Chapter 989 I'm Going to Relieve the Crisis in Xia Prefecture

Accompanied by Madam Yu, Shang Ruyi slowly walked along the bluestone path in the backyard to the courtyard. It was still surrounded by green bamboo and filled with mist. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she smelled a familiar fragrance.

Yu said in a low voice, "I won't accompany the Princess."

She could clearly see that Shang Ruyi's trip, besides bringing Sun Xianyue, also seemed to genuinely want to see Lüxiao, so she didn't disturb them. Shang Ruyi nodded, watched her aunt turn and leave, and then pushed open the door and walked into the quiet and elegant residence.

As soon as I entered, I saw Lvxiao sitting at the table in the center of the room, drinking something from a cup.

Seeing her posture, Shang Ruyi thought she was drinking wine, but when she got closer, she smelled a faint aroma of tea, and realized that she was drinking tea.

But when Lüxiao looked up at her, her eyes were alluring and seductive, as if she were really drinking, and was drunk and tipsy from the alcohol. Even as a woman, Shang Ruyi was captivated by the natural charm of Lüxiao, and her breath caught in her throat.

But she quickly calmed her breathing and slowly walked in.

Upon seeing her, Lüxiao seemed to hesitate for a moment before slowly standing up and bowing to her: "Your Highness."

That's quite rare.

Although Lüxiao had helped her a few times, their relationship had always been a subtle antagonism—of course, because Xiao Yuansui had been hostile to them from the beginning, so Lüxiao had never been humble when she saw her. But now that they were alone together, Lüxiao bowed to her, a gesture that surprised Shang Ruyi.

However, she immediately understood.

With a smile, he gently raised his hand and sat down at the table, saying, "It seems you already know about the King of Qin's winning streak on the eastern front."

After bowing, Lüxiao sat down opposite her and said, "Yes."

"Do you know why I came to see you today?"

"..."

Green Silk glanced at her with her soft, alluring eyes, her expression grave but she said nothing. She was clearly somewhat surprised that Shang Ruyi would take the initiative to see her; after all, given her status as the Princess Consort of Qin, she should have sent someone in to deliver a message, summoning her to come out and see her.

Green Silk cautiously said, "Perhaps you have news from the east to tell me."

"..."

"Is it about him?"

Although she tried her best to control her emotions, when she spoke, especially when she said the last few words, her body involuntarily leaned forward slightly, revealing her anxious anticipation. Shang Ruyi sighed inwardly and then said, "I have no news of him."

"..."

"The King of Qin has fought several battles in the past, but he has never encountered him. Nobody knows where he is now."

Upon hearing this, Green Silk's face revealed an undisguised disappointment.

She said softly, "Oh."

Shang Ruyi looked at her, then said, "You want to see him, don't you?"

Green Silk looked up at her again, a wry smile tinged with mockery, and said, "Why does Your Highness have to play tricks on me like this?"

Her past thoughts were always hidden beneath her cynicism and affected mannerisms, but the words Shang Ruyi and Madam Yu said to her last time made her realize that she couldn't hide anything at all. Everyone could see right through her, everyone knew what her weakness was, and everyone knew that she was following that man with her life, until death.

So, when Shang Ruyi asked her if she wanted to see him, what else could it be but a joke?

Seeing her like this, Shang Ruyi sighed inwardly again, and then said, "What if I take you this time?"

"...!?"

Upon hearing this, Lüxiao almost instinctively gasped, staring wide-eyed at Shang Ruyi in astonishment, stammering as if in disbelief, "You, you take me, take me to Luoyang?"

Shang Ruyi nodded: "Go see him."

"..."

"Of course, we may not be able to see him, but if we want to see him, we can only go to Luoyang."

"..."

"You're willing—"

"willing!"

Before the word "ma" could even be uttered, Lüxiao couldn't wait to speak, leaning forward so much that she almost leaned over the table beneath her, looking at Shang Ruyi with great eagerness. But seeing her burning gaze, Shang Ruyi felt a chill run down her spine.

She laughed and said, "Asking you is pointless."

Her words were even more sarcastic than when she had asked Lüxiao if she wanted to see Xiao Yuansui. But Lüxiao didn't care at all at this point. However, she was still quite clear-headed and, after a moment's thought, immediately said, "But how will you take me to Luoyang?"

"..."

"Are you going to Luoyang?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi said calmly, "My main purpose for this trip is not Luoyang, but if I achieve my goal, I can go there."

"..."

"Of course, it all depends on whether I have the ability."

"..."

"And if you come with me, it's like taking a gamble, aren't you? Do you dare?"

Green Silk didn't answer her question about whether she dared or not, but stared at her with a serious expression: "Where are you going on this trip?"

Shang Ruyi said, "Xia Prefecture."

"Xiazhou?"

This somewhat unfamiliar place surprised Lüxiao slightly, but she quickly came to her senses and said, "I heard that a few days ago, the newly appointed Turkic Khan Zhuxie led his troops south to besiege Xia Prefecture on the border of the Eastern Turks. Moreover, Princess Qiancheng has sent letters one after another requesting the emperor to send troops to help."

Shang Ruyi smiled, not entirely surprised, and said, "So, you're not completely indifferent to what's happening outside after all."

Green Silk straightened her face slightly: "I'm not someone who lives on air and dew."

But after saying that, she immediately looked at Shang Ruyi with a serious expression: "But, the imperial court is sending troops—why are you going?"

"..."

"Could it be that the imperial court has sent you to lead troops to provide reinforcements?"

"..."

"How...how is this possible?!"

Hearing her completely disbelieving tone and words, Shang Ruyi smiled faintly—letting the Princess of Qin lead the army against the Turks was something that not only Lüxiao didn't believe, but no one else would believe either. So she simply smiled and said, "Me, lead the army? Who would dare entrust their troops to me? Especially to face the main force of the Western Turks led by Ashina Zhuxie, those are invincible heavy cavalry. Isn't that just courting death?"

Hearing this, it wasn't unexpected, but the suspicion in Green Silk's eyes deepened. She frowned and looked at Shang Ruyi: "Then, why did you say you were going to Xia Prefecture?"

"..."

"Also, you said that after achieving your goal, you might go to Luoyang. What is your goal?"

"..."

What exactly do you want to do?

Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "I am going to relieve the crisis in Xia Prefecture."