Chapter 3 "Naturally, it's about being prepared."...

Bai Shan's eyes flickered slightly, but his expression remained calm. He looked at Bai Xue Rou with a hint of surprise, and only when he saw the calmness and composure in her eyes did his expression gradually change.

"Where did you find out, Master?" he asked.

They actually admitted it right away.

Now it was Bai Xuerou's turn to be somewhat surprised.

Bai Shan felt helpless. After spending several years together, he believed he understood Bai Xue Rou well. Her expression just now clearly showed that she was serious and not trying to trick him.

If that's the case, why should he continue to make excuses and deceive?

"I thought I had handled my identity quite discreetly, but I didn't expect that the first one to expose me would be my master. That makes me curious," he said.

Bai Xuerou calmed down and listened to his words, her smile tinged with bitterness and disorientation.

She wouldn't have known if she hadn't read that novel.

It's actually true...

Bai Xuerou did not hide her dazed and confused state.

Bai Shan, who had been watching her, found it hard to describe Bai Xuerou's expression at this moment. It wasn't one of sudden realization or shock, but rather a complex mix of emotions, an unresolved worry and distress.

"Master, what happened? Has someone known my identity and threatened you?" Bai Shan asked immediately, his dark eyebrows furrowing slightly.

More than ten years ago, the late emperor was extravagant and tyrannical, imposing heavy taxes and levies, causing the people to suffer greatly.

Those who could no longer survive rose up in rebellion, and were later gathered together to form a righteous army. At that time, the righteous army was very powerful, but the Great Qi Dynasty had a foundation of several hundred years and still had virtuous ministers and capable generals, and successfully suppressed the rebellion.

As a result of this battle, various forces saw the weakness of the Great Qi. Some people took advantage of the situation and rose up. Various forces held military power and became powerful, with the Prince of Zhenbei being the most powerful among them.

Wei Yi was a well-known figure among the rebel army.

He was the adopted son of the rebel leader, who once commanded a region but was unfortunately defeated by the Prince of Zhenbei. It was because of this battle that the Prince of Zhenbei was granted the title of king.

Even today, a large reward is still offered for Wei Yi in Yandu.

Who would have thought that after his defeat and death, Wei Yi did not flee, but instead hid in Yandu, right under the nose of the Prince of Zhenbei.

A few years later, he even entered the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion openly and legitimately, along with Bai Xuerou.

Even so, these things were not something that Bai Xuerou, a noble lady who did not care about outside affairs, would know.

She genuinely didn't know, provided she hadn't read the novel.

In the novel's plot, after she was poisoned and disfigured, the reason she was able to escape was because Wei Yi rescued her.

Therefore, after Ling Zheng found her, his first act was to lead his troops to capture her, torture her in every way, and then kill her. It was during this time that Ling Zheng revealed her true identity and background.

The purpose, however, was to provoke, intimidate, and torment the female protagonist.

It's true.

If Bai Shan's identity is real, does that mean that everything written in the novel is also true?

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Bai Xuerou murmured in a daze.

But she didn't seem to be alright. After saying those words, she appeared even more listless, which made Bai Shan worry.

“My lord, if there is anything you need, please speak frankly. I will do my utmost to help you.” He said in a deep voice.

Bai Xuerou couldn't help but shake her head.

How can one share someone's burdens?

How could she dare, how could she, how could she tell anyone about such a bizarre thing?

“Master…” Bai Shan noticed her attitude and became even more worried.

"It's nothing. No one threatened me. I only found out by chance. As for the reason, that's a secret. Guard Bai, please don't ask." Bai Xuerou calmed herself down.

Bai Shan was unwilling, but since she said so, she had no choice but to agree.

"Guard Bai, there's something else I need to trouble you with."

"Just give the order, Master," Bai Shan said loudly without hesitation.

Bai Xuerou smiled, turned around and walked into the courtyard, with Bai Shan naturally following.

"Does Guard Bai know anything about the Gu poison of Miao territory?"

I know a little bit about it.

Tell me about it.

Bai Shan then slowly recounted that he had been roaming the martial arts world since he was a teenager, and had naturally come into contact with Gu poison.

He was not afraid of a direct confrontation, but the Gu poison was mysterious and often killed people invisibly. They were so poisoned that they didn't even know they had been poisoned, and in the end, they didn't even know how they died.

They are one of the most troublesome entities in the martial arts world.

"If we send Guard Bai to find a master of Gu poison, can he escape unscathed?" Bai Xuerou listened quietly, and then asked.

"If we are prepared, there will be no problem." Even after hearing Bai Xuerou mention the word "powerful," Bai Shan still spoke with great confidence.

Just as he said, if someone is aware of the danger and takes precautions, even if someone is poisoned by Gu, he has a way to force the Gu master to produce the antidote.

Bai Xuerou felt a sense of relief.

These days she has been thinking about how to get close to Aunt Ge, but no matter what she thinks, approaching her rashly will only arouse her suspicion.

If someone suddenly appears and says they know your secret, the kind that can't be known by anyone else.

If you were in her shoes, even she would have thought of killing him to silence him.

But Aunt Ge's secret is even more deadly; it involves poisoning the Prince of Zhenbei. As long as she doesn't want to die, or even worse, suffer a fate worse than death, she will naturally try her best to cover it up and eliminate any potential threats.

"Then I'll trouble you, Guard Bai Shan, to deliver this letter..." She beckoned Bai Shan closer, hesitated for a moment, and as Bai Shan approached, he felt Bai Xue Rou's presence and her soft fragrance wafted towards him. He unconsciously held his breath, and the heartbeat in his ear became exceptionally clear.

Bai Xuerou's fragrance always changes with the seasons; today, she smells like apricot blossoms.

"...entrusted to Aunt Ge in the backyard..."

He heard Bai Xuerou speak in a soft voice.

Aunt Ge, Bai Shan, who was somewhat absent-minded, quickly calmed down, and was even a little surprised.

Having followed Bai Xue Rou for years, Bai Shan had naturally met Aunt Ge, but he had always thought of her as an ordinary woman. However, according to Bai Xue Rou, she was skilled in Gu poison.

He had indeed heard that the Prince of Zhenbei and the other party met in Miao territory...

"Please be careful," Bai Xuerou instructed.

Bai Shan took the letter from her hand, put it away, immediately stepped back, and replied in a deep voice.

He glanced at it; the handwriting had changed, it wasn't Bai Xuerou's usual style. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile; Bai Xuerou was always clever.

However, there were some oversights.

"The letter smells nice, should I get rid of it?" he said.

When traveling the martial arts world, even a scent can reveal a lot of information; someone might discover Bai Xuerou's traces in that scent.

"I hadn't noticed that. Thank you for the reminder, Guard Bai. Please dispose of it." Bai Xuerou reflected to herself that she would have to be more careful in the future.

"Your Highness is intelligent, but lacks experience. Just be careful in the future." Bai Shan offered this advice intentionally. He couldn't be by Bai Xue Rou's side every moment, so she had to be careful about these things herself.

It should be Bai Xuerou.

Having received the instructions, Bai Shan, though still harboring many doubts, was in no hurry to ask. Just as he was about to take his leave, he saw Bai Xue Rou turn to look at the apricot tree and ask:

"Bai Shan, have you ever thought about joining the army?"

"Join the army?" Bai Shan's heart stirred slightly. He abandoned his thoughts of taking his leave, stood still, and asked instead of answering, "Does Master want his subordinate to go?"

Bai Xuerou hummed in agreement.

"It's just an idea, and it depends on your wishes. If you don't like it, then forget it." She didn't want to force the issue.

"Is it the Zhenbei Army?" Bai Shan asked again.

"Yes," Bai Xuerou replied affirmatively.

Bai Shan frowned slightly and pondered, "Although I have some grudges with the Prince of Zhenbei, they are not insurmountable. Joining the Zhenbei Army is not a problem. But what identity does Master want me to join the Zhenbei Army?"

If it were Bai Shan, the Prince of Zhenbei might think more highly of Bai Xue Rou in the future.

"Just be yourself." Bai Xuerou understood what he meant and explained, "It's not a big deal for me to be in the inner quarters. If people find out about our relationship, it will only cause more trouble."

"In that case, I have one last question."

"you say."

"May I ask why you have this idea, Master?" Bai Shan looked at Bai Xuerou.

Bai Xuerou was acting particularly strangely today. First, she asked about his identity, and then she brought up this matter, which made him very worried.

Bai Xuerou paused for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"Of course, it's about being prepared for a rainy day."

“Ling Zheng and I have a good relationship now, but I dare not gamble on the future. If the Prince of Zhenbei takes a liking to me, he might inherit the title. If he has other ideas then, I fear I will have nowhere to stand.”

“But if you can make some progress, I think you can help me in the future. I just don’t know if Guard Baishan would be willing?” She looked at Baishan.

These words were half true and half false.

The concerns were real, but not entirely; it was more about guarding against the future depicted in the novel. However, these words were enough to deal with Bai Shan.

"Of course I'm willing." Bai Shan blurted out these words almost immediately, then belatedly tried to make amends, saying, "Master saved my life, but such a small matter is hard to repay even a fraction of."

Bai Xuerou felt relieved and said, "Guardian Bai, please don't say that. It was just a matter of course. You have protected me for many years, which is more than enough."

Seeing that Bai Shan was about to speak, she gently shook her head and smiled, "Don't say such things again in the future."

"I'll leave this matter to Guard Bai."

"No need for that," Bai Shan said first, then smiled, "but I still have to say something. Protecting my master all these years has only been my duty. I feel that my life is very precious and I still want to repay him properly."

"Your subordinate takes his leave." He bowed his head, took a few steps back, then turned and strode away.

This time, Bai Xuerou's words were interrupted. She looked at Bai Shan's back and couldn't help but smile softly.

Although people's hearts are unpredictable, there are still kind-hearted people among us.

While she had her own selfish reasons for sending Bai Shan into the army, she also wanted to give it her all.

If everything in that novel is true, I hope that doing so can change her and his future.

At least, don't end up like that.

That night, the lights in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion gradually went out, and it slowly quieted down.

The Xiefang Courtyard to the west is where Aunt Ge lives. There is a jacaranda tree in the courtyard, which is now taller than the house. When it blooms, the tree is covered with blue flowers, which bloom like clouds and mist. It can be seen from afar and is a beautiful sight in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. It is famous in Yandu.

This flower is extremely rare in the north, and it has only been discovered once before. It is said to have been planted by the Prince of Zhenbei and Consort Ge.

Jacaranda trees bloom in summer, but now in spring, only tender leaves that have just sprouted are visible on the trees.

Aunt Ge was favored in her early years, and her courtyard was large and full of servants, making it very lively.

But as he fell out of favor, the servants all found good futures, and now only a few people remain in the courtyard. They are very calm, and once night falls, there is even less activity.

The maidservant helped Aunt Ge to bed and then left.

Logically, she should have kept watch at night, but Aunt Ge was a light sleeper and didn't like having someone watch over her, so she slept in the next room.

Ge Lan lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time due to her illness. Most people who raise Gu poison are in poor health, but there are not many as sickly as her.

She knew perfectly well that this was because she had concocted the forbidden drug, using herself as a catalyst; the poison had already seeped into her lungs and internal organs. Now, the person she had been desperately trying to kill was still alive and well, while she herself was on the verge of collapse.

But it's okay, he'll go down and keep her company sooner or later.

She chewed on the hatred of betrayal—

Ling Ji'an said he loved her, and his love was indeed passionate enough to make her lose her mind. She disregarded everything and was willing to become his concubine and follow him to this unfamiliar northern land.

They did indeed enjoy several loving years together, but everything changed with the arrival of the new wife, Madam Wu.

The Wu family of the Northland has produced beauties for generations, and this new queen is even more beautiful and charming, otherworldly and ethereal like a fairy or a goddess. When Ling Ji'an saw her, he gradually forgot about their past relationship.

This is betrayal.

Ge Lan will never forgive.

Amidst the burning hatred that seemed to sear her heart, she finally managed to fall asleep, but after an unknown amount of time, she suddenly awoke with a start.

The little guy in the yard told her that someone had come.

A master, very strong.

Several small creatures that got close were killed.

This made Ge Lan's heart sink.

The other side came prepared!

A note from the author:

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