Chapter 45 Hiding Herself: She Will Still Be My Wife
As Bai Ziyuan followed Han Luliu through the familiar forest path, his steps unconsciously became heavy.
The wooden house hidden deep in the bamboo forest gradually came into view, still looking exactly as it did when they left in haste, like a corner forgotten by time, sealing away a period of desolation they were unwilling to look back on.
Bai Ziyuan pushed open the door, and with a laborious creaking sound, slowly walked into the room.
Inside, Galorin was already seated at the simple tea table, holding a cup and gazing at the swaying bamboo shadows outside the window, as if he had been waiting for a long time. The dim light outlined the contours of his profile, adding a touch of unfathomable depth.
Upon seeing Bai Ziyuan enter, Jialuolin did not rise. Instead, she silently poured a cup of fresh tea and pushed it to the opposite side of the table.
His gaze remained fixed on the view outside the window, a complex smile playing on his lips, tinged with self-mockery: "It was right here that I used a few empty words to take Lian'er away."
Bai Ziyuan silently gazed at Jialuolin. This was their first truly private meeting.
A subtle tension permeated the air, a mixture of past entanglements and present caution.
"Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Bai Ziyuan bowed respectfully, his voice steady.
“No need for formalities.” Galo Lin turned her gaze back, her expression returning to its usual calm. “I invited you here tonight because I have important matters to discuss. I suppose Green Willow has already told you on the way that my long-lost younger brother, Galo Xuan Yu, has recently reappeared.”
Bai Ziyuan's heart sank suddenly. Jia Xuanyu... this long-lost name.
They were once close friends and classmates, and he even spent his childhood with Jia Xuanyu as his study companion.
After that upheaval, Jia Xuanyu's fate was unknown, and there was no news of her, which caused him great regret for a long time.
Later, he married Shuli, which, to some extent, was also a way of entrusting his unfinished feelings for his old friend to protecting his sister.
He never imagined that Jia Xuanyu would reappear...
Galorin keenly caught the shock, confusion, and a barely perceptible hint of reminiscence that flashed across Bai Ziyuan's face. Sure enough, his intuition told him that Bai Ziyuan was a person of deep affection and loyalty.
Galo Lin continued, "He did not return to Phoenix Dance City, but instead changed his identity and started a money exchange business in Luoyang City."
"Why would he do that?" Bai Ziyuan blurted out, his brows furrowed.
“This is precisely the crux of the matter.” Galo Lin stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and said in a low voice, “He abandoned his princely title, hid for many years while wounded, and now he has disguised himself and infiltrated the capital… I am also very curious about his intentions. I have not yet informed my father about this matter, and I am worried that it involves many powerful figures, and I do not want to alert them.” He turned around and looked sharply at Bai Ziyuan, “Therefore, I hope that you can use your authority as a Lieutenant General to investigate this matter thoroughly in secret.”
Bai Ziyuan fell silent. He understood that this matter was of great importance, far more complex than a prince's willful and reckless behavior; there must be a deeper scheme behind it, and it might even involve... an opportunity he had been waiting for.
After a moment, he looked up and met Galo Lin's gaze, and cautiously replied, "I have recently heard from merchants that a mysterious wealthy merchant is disrupting the Luoyang market, and I am about to send someone to investigate his background. But I wonder... how far does Your Highness expect me to investigate?"
“Find out who’s behind him, then observe the situation and wait for him to come to you.” Galorin said in a deep voice, “His appearance this time may have been an attempt to attract my attention. Let’s see where he intends to go next.”
"Your subject obeys," Bai Ziyuan replied, bowing respectfully with a solemn expression.
"Also," Galorin instructed, "protect Shuli, don't tell her about this, and don't let her get involved in the conflict."
"Your Highness, rest assured," Bai Ziyuan replied resolutely, "She is my wife, and I will do everything in my power to ensure she is not exposed to any danger."
"That's good then." Galo Lin nodded and got up to leave.
"Your Highness!" Bai Ziyuan suddenly called out to him urgently.
Galo Lin stopped and turned around, only to see Bai Ziyuan's eyes burning with unprecedented earnestness, "No matter how the situation changes in the future, I implore Your Highness... to remember your past relationship with Lian'er and protect her at all costs."
Galorin gazed at him for a moment, a subtle, indescribable emotion flickering in her deep eyes:
"Of course, she will still be my wife, my only wife, Galorin."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and stepped into the deepening night. The bamboo forest concealed his figure, leaving only the cold moonlight and Bai Ziyuan, who remained in the house, deep in thought.
-
Bai Lian, dressed in standard light armor and covered with a black cloak, stood on the high platform of the Beiting Protectorate.
Below the stage, the sounds of thousands of soldiers training shook the heavens and the earth. She had been in the northern frontier for over a year, and the former noble lady from the capital now had an inescapable air of coldness and decisiveness between her brows.
With several clean and decisive counterattacks and strict military discipline, she, the parachuted deputy commander, has initially established herself in the army, especially among the lower-ranking soldiers and junior officers, where she enjoys a high reputation.
On this day, in the main hall of the Protectorate, a military conference had just ended. Fan Wu dismissed everyone except Bai Lian.
Fan Wu, around fifty years old, with a weathered face, was a veteran who had guarded the border for many years. He personally poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it towards Bai Lian, saying with the concern of an elder, "Deputy Commander Bai, the army has been in excellent spirits lately, and you have made a great contribution. This time, you repelled the enemy squad's harassment with such flexible tactics that even I admire your skill."
"General Fan, you flatter me. I was merely doing my duty." Bai Lian accepted the tea but did not sit down. Her posture was respectful but distant, and she saw the scrutiny in Fan Wu's eyes.
She was well aware of Fan Wu's complex feelings. Fan Wu was loyal to the court and cared for his soldiers, but having lived on the frontier for a long time, he was also well-versed in the ways of the court. He wanted to use her former status as a "protective shield" to connect with the central government and consolidate the Northern Court's position; yet he also worried that she would become too prominent and take all the credit, ultimately making him, the commander-in-chief, pale in comparison, and even drawing criticism from the court for his "ineffective management of his subordinates" or "being too old and conservative."
Fan Wu strolled to the window, gazing at the soldiers drilling on the drill ground, and sighed, "Although the Northern Barbarians have temporarily retreated, their wolfish ambitions remain. In the court... alas, the allocation of provisions and pay has been disrupted again. If it weren't for His Highness the Crown Prince's keen interest, the soldiers would likely have suffered from cold and hunger again this winter." He subtly shifted the credit back to Bai Lian, both as a gesture of goodwill and a test.
Bai Lian remained calm and said, "The stability of the northern border is crucial to the foundation of the nation, and it is not due to my efforts. However, I feel that the Di people have recently begun to frequently probe our territory again, which may be more than just ordinary harassment."
Fan Wu turned around, his brows slightly furrowed: "Oh? What's your opinion?"
"They harass us without engaging in battle, and retreat without causing chaos. It seems they are testing the strength of our army's defenses, or perhaps... they are waiting for some opportunity." Bai Lian pointed out her doubts. She had received the most rigorous assassin training, and her intuition for danger far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Fan Wu pondered for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Perhaps you are overthinking it. I don't think those Di people will amount to anything. I have already increased the number of patrols and will be on high alert. You have been working hard these past few days, so go back and rest early."
Bai Lian said no more, bowed, and took her leave. She knew that without solid evidence, it would be difficult to persuade the veteran to take more proactive action.
That night, Bai Lian polished her sword under the lamp, the blade reflecting her calm eyes as she gazed at the letters on the table, lost in thought.
Since Jialuolin left, her secret guards would deliver confidential letters to Bailian every few days, keeping her informed of the happenings in Fengwu City. This letter even mentioned the undercurrents in the capital, Han Liuyue's recent favor with the emperor, the sudden appearance of the Third Prince, and the apparent unusual movements of his former subordinates, reminding her that the Northern Frontier was not entirely peaceful and that she should be careful in everything she did.
Bai Lian looked at his rambling several pages of paper, but at the end of the letter were only a few brief words of concern.
"Those supplements can be taken occasionally; they're good for your health."
"If you don't like the style of the clothes, send something more practical next time."
"The people I've arranged will all be your helpers, don't worry."
Bai Lian lit the letter she had just finished reading, wiped away the traces, and felt a slight ripple in her cold heart as the firelight warmed it.
At that moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats and commotion suddenly came from outside the tent!
"Report!" A soldier, covered in blood, staggered in. "Urgent report! The Di people... the Di army has launched a surprise attack on Black Stone Pass! The vanguard has breached the first line of defense!"
The military situation was dire! In an instant, the entire Beiting Protectorate was awakened, and war drums sounded!
Bai Lian hurriedly rose and donned her armor, the clatter of the armor echoing crisply, her eyes gleaming with a cold, sharp light.
The crisis has indeed arrived, and it has arrived so swiftly!
Upon hearing the news, Fan Wu rushed to the council hall. All the generals were already present, and the atmosphere was heavy. Black Stone Pass was the gateway to Beiting; if it fell, the Di cavalry could easily sweep in.
"All generals, heed my command!" Fan Wu quickly deployed his troops, ordering, "Li Bingma, lead your forces to reinforce us immediately. Zhang Canjun, you lead your men to prepare provisions and weapons. The rest of the units, guard your respective defense zones strictly to prevent the Di from launching a surprise attack!"
His response was a conventional defensive counter-attack, but whether the reinforcements he sent would arrive in time, and how long Black Stone Pass could hold out, remained uncertain.
Bai Lian gazed at the location of Black Stone Pass on the sand table, then suddenly spoke, her voice firm and resolute: "General Fan, this humble general believes that the Di people's attack this time is by no means a test. They chose to attack the pass at night and launched a fierce assault, intending to achieve a quick victory and disrupt our army's deployment. If we rush to their aid in the usual way, I'm afraid it will be too late."
"Oh? What brilliant idea does Deputy Commander Bai have?" Fan Wu looked at her, his tone filled with anxiety and impatience under pressure.
Bai Lian pointed to the other side of the sand table: "Since the main force of the Di people is concentrated at Black Stone Pass, their flanks must be vulnerable. I am willing to personally lead a team of elite light cavalry, not to rush to their aid from the front, but to bypass Eagle Beak Cliff and strike directly at Wild Wolf Valley, where the Di people's logistics and supplies are located. Cut off their food supplies, burn their camps, and the enemy troops in front will be thrown into chaos. At that time, Li's troops will then press forward from the front and annihilate them in one fell swoop!"
These words caused an uproar among the audience.
Every general knew that Eagle Beak Cliff was a treacherous place with rugged roads, impassable on horseback and extremely dangerous for pedestrians who could easily fall off the cliff. Wolf Valley was also deep within the territory of the Di people, making the journey extremely risky.
"Absurd!" Fan Wu categorically rejected the idea. "How can we march into Eagle's Beak Cliff? If we venture so deep into enemy territory alone and suffer a loss, wouldn't it be a pointless loss of our elite troops? Besides, you are the deputy commander. How can you personally risk your life?" He could not accept Bai Lian's risky plan, nor could he bear the immense responsibility if something happened to her.
If this plan succeeds, Bai Lian will naturally be the one to deserve the credit; if it fails, Fan Wu will also be guilty of mismanaging the troops.
Bai Lian's eyes were piercing as he clasped his hands and said, "General, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! I have surveyed the terrain. Although Eagle Beak Cliff is treacherous, there is a path for herb gatherers that can pass through. The Di people would never expect our army to dare to launch a surprise attack from here. As for our safety, I know what I'm doing!"
The room fell into a stalemate, with a seemingly solid traditional plan on one side and a radical and unconventional scheme on the other.
All the generals' eyes were focused on Fan Wu and Bai Lian.
Fan Wu's face turned ashen. Bai Lian's suggestion was a hot potato for him, leaving him in a dilemma.
Agreeing would be extremely risky; rejecting it would mean he would also be held responsible if Black Stone Pass fell. More importantly, Bai Lian's eyes were too resolute, as if she had already seen through his inner struggle.
“Deputy Commander Bai,” Fan Wu took a deep breath, trying to stabilize the situation, “your courage is commendable, but this matter concerns the lives of thousands of our soldiers, and even the survival of Beiting. How can we treat this lightly? Tell me, how can we ensure passage through the treacherous Eagle Beak Cliff? How can we ensure a successful attack when the enemy situation in Wild Wolf Valley is unclear?”
Bai Lian seemed to have been prepared. She walked to the sand table and traced the hidden path with her fingertip: "This humble general has sent people to secretly investigate, and Eagle Beak Cliff is not a dead end. As for Wolf Valley," she paused, her gaze sweeping over the generals, "among the Di prisoners we captured, some revealed its approximate location and defenses. Based on information from all sides, this humble general can judge that there is a greater than 70% chance that its supplies are stockpiled here."
Bai Lian has a wealth of intelligence sources, including assistance from Jia Luolin, so she is quite confident about this.
This well-reasoned analysis caused even the generals who initially thought her ideas were far-fetched to begin to waver.
“But…” Fan Wu hesitated upon hearing this.
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