Chapter 294 Prisoners
Xiahou Yin was standing behind his father at this moment. After hearing what the Qilin Guard had to say, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
He had met that guard Ren last time in Longxi.
No wonder he was somewhat resistant to the fact that the princess had such a guard. Now he has the audacity to kidnap the princess!
If it weren't for the somber expressions on his father's and General Duan's faces, Xiahou Yin would have almost impulsively led a search party himself. But remembering that he had come to the border to fight against Nan Yue, he couldn't abandon his post.
While the Qilin Guards were frantically searching for people, Ren Shun had already led his men to the flank of the Yue army.
"Who goes there?!"
The Yue guards spotted the approaching figure on horseback immediately, but after looking around, they couldn't tell that the person was dressed like a Yue soldier, let alone a scout—after all, there were clearly two people on horseback.
The horse did not slow down at all; in fact, when the rider squeezed its belly, the horse ran even faster.
The guards panicked instantly, and the archers beside them had already nocked their arrows, aimed at the cold-faced man on horseback, and shouted angrily:
"Who goes there? State your name immediately! Take another step and you will be killed without mercy!"
Ren Shun raised the golden token symbolizing the royal family of Nanyue, his voice cold and solemn: "I am ordered by the Prince of Xiaoyao to bring back the hostages from Qi to the camp!"
The Carefree King?!
The guards and archers immediately lowered their guard.
The carefree king only returned to court last year. Although he has not yet ascended the throne, in the hearts of the people of Yue, he is already an emperor in name only. Seeing that token, no one dares to refuse to let him pass.
But a prisoner? The guard looked at the figure in the man's arms with some curiosity. Judging from her figure, she was clearly a girl... Could she be someone important?
Ren Shun carried the person and entered the commander's tent without any hindrance.
The soldiers passing by also noticed this strange sight. Although they couldn't openly look at it, they glanced at the girl's veiled face for a long time but still couldn't tell what kind of hostage she was from the State of Qi.
It seems that although the carefree king is far away in the capital, he is still able to see what is happening thousands of miles away, and has even sent people to the State of Qi to capture hostages!
The Yue army, which was initially somewhat discouraged because the Qi state had somehow learned of their tactics, was immediately boosted by the hostage.
The commander-in-chief of the Yue Kingdom was surnamed Li. He was highly respected in the Yue Kingdom and was also one of the earliest forces to support King Xiaoyao.
He was not tall, with snow-white hair and beard. He was looking at the sand table with several trusted confidants when he saw Ren Shun carrying someone in. He simply sat down and slowly took a sip of tea, displaying a rather scholarly general demeanor.
“I have not received any news of the Prince of Xiaoyao taking hostages. You are spreading false orders.”
Judging from his tone, General Li clearly recognized the young man. Several of his confidants exchanged a silent glance and continued to stand silently behind General Li, not making a move rashly.
Ren Shun: "Just because it didn't exist before doesn't mean it doesn't exist now."
General Li put down his teacup and chuckled, "Ha, what a boastful tone. You must be the younger brother of the carefree prince when he was living in exile?"
Ren Shun held the person in his arms tighter, his voice somewhat cold, and instead of answering, he asked, "Where is the shaman? Bring him here."
General Li glanced up at him and then saw that the so-called hostage in his arms was unconscious, and that he treated this hostage with such care, suggesting that he was not an ordinary person: "Who is this?"
Ren Shun: "Daughter of the eldest princess of Qi, Princess Chang Le."
The Yue generals all wore thoughtful expressions, but none of them could connect the name with the person. What did this person have to do with the war between the two countries? But if there was no connection, why would Ren Shun go to the trouble of kidnapping someone? Could it also be at the behest of the Carefree King?
General Li also asked the same question.
Ren Shun: "You don't need to ask questions you shouldn't ask. Summon the shaman."
He knew that the Yue army had brought with them a high-ranking shaman who had been out of the mountains for a long time. The poison on those needles was from her, and she was Yue's last weapon, accompanying the army to the front lines.
If the siege drags on and fails, even if it means massacring the city with poison and sacrificing lives, we must conquer the State of Qi.
Everyone fell silent. General Li said, "She's been poisoned by the Yue Kingdom? But the sorcerer isn't in the camp right now..."
"What did you say?!" Ren Shun tightened his grip on the person, feeling as if his heart was being squeezed tightly, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Looking at everyone's expressions, he realized they were telling the truth. The hostages were not important to them. After all, the Prince of Xiaoyao had given a death order that their only purpose was to attack the city and they would never negotiate peace. So there was no need to make fun of Ren Shun.
After a long pause, he asked with difficulty, "Can the shaman return to camp within three days?"
General Li's brow furrowed slowly, forming several deep lines. "We are not sure... The sorcerer left the military camp two days ago and returned to the capital."
It would take four days to get to the capital from here, even without rest on horseback. Because the shaman was at the front, Ren Shun hadn't chosen to go to the capital. But now, they had missed it.
General Li: "We can send a message to the shaman by carrier pigeon, and it will arrive within half a day. However, her temperament is unpredictable, and we are not sure if we can get her to come back immediately after receiving the message."
Ren Shun: "Write a letter."
Even if there's only a sliver of hope, he'll give it a try.
The carrier pigeons quickly flew away following the scent of the shaman, and Ren Shun also escorted the person to the new camp.
He stayed by Qi Yuxuan's side, tucking the corner of the thin blanket around her.
It was the height of summer, and the southwest was much hotter than the north garden, but she was currently in a state of suspended animation, her body so cold it was alarming. He could only cover her with a blanket to preserve her meager body temperature.
Tired of standing, Ren Shun slowly sat down, leaning against the simple bed, staring intently at the quiet face of the little girl on the bed.
He had never, ever looked at her so intently.
Even when she first ordered him around and glared at him, and he bluffed and provoked her, he never dared to look directly at her face for such a long time.
Her skin was so white and soft that he was afraid he might accidentally bruise her. She had a full and delicate forehead, beautiful eyebrows and eyes, a straight nose, and lips that were only a faint cherry pink due to prolonged hypothermia.
Ren Shun's heart was beating faster and faster.
He didn't even know why he liked a woman like Qi Yuxuan.
She's audacious and willful in private, pretentious in public, sometimes excessively kind, and sometimes excessively indifferent to him...
Lost in thought, he leaned against the edge of the bed, slowly tilted his head, and fell asleep.
**
Qi Yuxuan woke up with a sharp pain in her forehead.
Her eyelids felt heavy, and she couldn't open them no matter how hard she tried. She tried to move her eyes in vain, but all she felt was a dry, painful feeling in her eye sockets.
"Don't move, I'm healing you. You're too weak right now, you need to sleep a little longer."
The woman's voice was gentle yet decisive, a very convincing tone.
No sooner had she finished speaking than something cold and hard pierced Qi Yuxuan's forehead, and she lost consciousness once again.
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