Chapter 38 Business

To reach the Huo family army's garrison, one must first pass through the northern suburbs and sneak along the border to the military camp.

Liu Xi and Xia Xia rode at breakneck speed, galloping from night into day, barely having time to eat or drink, only stopping when their horses needed rest.

As they got closer to the northern suburbs, Liu Xi's initially anxious heart calmed down, and she could even exchange a few words every now and then to soothe Xia's emotions.

She inquired along the way and heard a lot of news about the Fifth Prince Liu Yan's collusion with the Northern Faction. It was said that he was being treated as an honored guest by the Northern Faction at the moment.

But based on Liu Xi's understanding of Liu Yan, even if he had ten times the courage and five times the brains, he wouldn't do something like colluding with the Northern faction.

Could it be that He Qing kidnapped Liu Yan and sent him to the Northern Faction as a pledge of loyalty?

Liu Xi had a headache and couldn't come up with a practical idea after thinking for a long time.

Overthinking was useless. After the horse finished eating its fodder, Liu Xi mounted it again and continued on her way. However, she did not expect that this time the destination would not be the Huo family army's camp.

An army that appeared out of nowhere surrounded Liu Xi and Xia Xia. They were obviously lying in ambush for others, but by some twist of fate, they captured Liu Xi and brought her back to the camp.

Liu Xi gave Xia a wink, and the two prepared to conceal their identities and pretend to be merchants who had gotten separated from the caravan.

But as soon as Liu Xi was pushed into the commander's camp, the excuse she had prepared turned into a subconscious gasp of surprise that slipped from her tongue.

The general in armor standing before her was none other than Murong Xiaohe, the third prince of the Northern Faction, whom she had met a few times before.

It was like meeting an acquaintance. Xiao He's eyes lit up, and he walked up to Liu Xi with great interest.

"Isn't this Her Highness the Fourth Princess?"

Oh no, this is truly a case of lambs to the slaughter.

Liu Xi chuckled awkwardly, "The Third Prince is entertaining an old acquaintance, so he should treat him with courtesy."

Xiao He narrowed his fox-like eyes and teased with a smirk.

"Isn't the princess herself the greatest gift? I didn't expect the Celestial Empire to be so generous, actually wanting to end the battle prematurely in this way."

Liu Xi's face turned cold, and she glared at him fiercely.

"I originally planned to discuss a business deal with the Third Prince, but since he has this attitude, I don't care anymore. Do whatever you want with me."

Xiao He tilted his head back and burst into hearty laughter.

"So, what is the princess's true purpose in coming to see me in person?"

Adhering to the principle of saying less to avoid making mistakes, Liu Xi stared at Xiao He expressionlessly.

"Didn't I say I wanted to discuss a business deal with the Third Prince?"

"It seems that you and your brother both enjoy doing business. Before you, your beloved younger brother had already spoken with me."

Liu Xi frowned. "The Fifth Prince?"

Murong Xiaohe shook his head. "Seventh Prince."

Liu Xi couldn't hide her surprise at all. Xiao He seemed to have discovered something particularly interesting, his fox-like eyes widening in astonishment.

"It seems that the Seventh Prince even schemes against his own sister?"

Liu Xi was speechless for a moment. She had seen Liu Yu several times before leaving the palace, but he hadn't mentioned him at all.

"What did the Seventh Prince exchange with you?"

Murong Xiaohe tilted his head, pretending to think, "Why should I tell the princess?"

“If the Third Prince really didn’t want to tell me, he wouldn’t have mentioned it to me at all.”

That makes sense. Xiao He stretched out his hand in front of Liu Xi and snapped his fingers.

"He gave me the Fifth Prince and offered to help me hold off the Dingyuan Army, on one condition."

Liu Xi quickly pressed for details, "What are the conditions?"

Murong Xiaohe stated bluntly, "The Huo family army will be completely annihilated before this battle ends."

Liu Xi, with a strength she didn't know she possessed, managed to break free of the ropes binding her hands, and then took a few steps forward, grabbing Murong Xiaohe's collar.

"What did you say?"

Murong Xiaohe smiled without any tension, spreading his hands without any intention of resisting.

"The princess seems quite nervous; it appears her purpose in coming here is to take over the Huo family army."

Rather than saying Liu Xi was filled with anger, it would be more accurate to say she was terrified.

She had considered that Liu Yu might have his own schemes, but she never imagined that he would be so ruthless towards those around him.

Liu Xi thought that his dislike for Huo Lin was just a childish thing, but when Liu Yu made his move, he wanted Huo Lin and even the entire Huo family army dead.

"If I'm not mistaken, the Third Prince is telling me all this because he needs something from me, right?"

Murong Xiaohe stopped beating around the bush and stated his thoughts directly.

"The Northern Faction has no intention of competing with the Celestial Empire. Moreover, with its current military strength, the Northern Faction is simply not strong enough to annex the Huo Family Army."

"The reason why this war was started is well known to both the princess and the king. But no matter how strong the Celestial Empire is, it does not have the capacity to swallow the Northern Faction whole. This war will not benefit either of our two countries."

"As long as the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty is willing, the Northern Faction can agree to any conditions, such as ceding territory, increasing the annual tribute, or making peace through marriage. The premise is that at the same time as reaching a truce agreement, you, the Fourth Princess, will be married to our Northern Faction."

Liu Xi suddenly released her grip on Murong Xiaohe's collar and subconsciously took two steps back.

"You want me, the princess?"

Murong Xiaohe crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking confident and composed.

"With you, a princess of the Celestial Empire, as my queen consort, I will be the only one to sit on the throne of the Northern Faction in the future."

Liu Xi remained silent and did not speak further.

"As long as the princess agrees, I can immediately send someone to safely escort her to the Huo family army's garrison and order the troops to retreat a hundred miles."

"Well, isn't my sincerity enough?"

To exchange the rest of her life for the safety of the Huo family is indeed a huge price to pay.

But now, agreeing to Murong Xiaohe's request has become her only remaining trump card.

Liu Xi steeled her resolve and closed her eyes.

"Alright, this princess agrees."

"A promise made cannot be taken back."

A gentleman's word is as good as his bond.

Liu Xi sounded a little guilty, but she still gritted her teeth and agreed.

"The princess is so generous! Someone come here!"

Murong Xiaohe was quite straightforward. He said, "Send Her Highness the Princess to the Huo family army's camp and have the three armies prepare to break camp and rest, then retreat 100 li."

Xia was invited to the next tent and forced to drink two pots of tea. Suddenly, she saw Liu Xi being respectfully escorted out by soldiers, and a lot of curious questions welled up in her mind.

He looked at Liu Xi, but saw that her expression was not good, and she only said a cold sentence.

"I'm going to be in big trouble."

The two mounted their horses and, escorted by the Third Prince's guards, headed south. Before long, they could see the Huo family's military flag fluttering in the air.

Liu Xi stared at the character "Huo" and suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

The messenger's words, "Her Highness the Fourth Princess has been taken hostage by the enemy and is challenging them at the camp gate," startled Huo Lin so much that he dropped the military report in his hand and rushed out of the tent without even bothering to put on his armor.

When he ran quickly to the entrance of the camp, the Third Prince's personal guards had already left. Liu Xi leaped off his horse and galloped towards Huo Lin.

Just as Huo Lin opened his arms to pull her into his embrace, a fist suddenly landed on his shoulder.