Chapter 339 Xiao Yan: My wife has sent me a letter
"Master, the Di family is watching you."
"I know."
Xiao Yan didn't care. He couldn't tell whether he liked or disliked the Di family at the moment. However, after meeting Di Tao and the others, he gave up the idea of taking the dragon-patterned pendant and going directly to the Zhen'an Army and Longting Guards.
He never thought that a token alone could command hundreds of thousands of troops, not to mention that his father had been dead for many years, and the people left by Taizu had been replaced several times. Even if they still recognized the token, no one knew how many of them were still loyal to the former "king" and how much loyalty they had.
Xiao Yan originally wanted to go to the northwest and find a way to infiltrate the Zhen'an Army and Longting Guard. He didn't want to subjugate them directly, but just wanted to find out whether the dragon-patterned pendant was the token in his father's hand that mobilized the Zhen'an Army.
But now that I have met the Di family, I can save a lot of effort.
"Have all the people just now retreated?"
"Reporting to the Governor, they have retreated. Except for Xu San and his men who were slightly injured, everyone else is fine."
Those who wanted to put on a show to deceive the Di family naturally could not remain completely unscathed. Most of those who dealt with Xiao Yan and the others pretended to be dead, but those who attacked the Di family were more or less injured.
Xiao Yan said, "Leave the injured to recover, and the rest of you spread out and find a way to eliminate Beiling's spies." He paused and said, "Don't eliminate them too completely."
The people of the Di family must know how difficult it was for him to protect them and return to the northwest.
Tu Bai nodded: "I understand."
Xiao Yan rode in front, keeping a long distance from the carriage behind on the pretext of exploring the way. The two of them were not afraid of being overheard by anyone behind them when they talked.
When it got dark, the group still hadn't found a town to stay in, so they lit a bonfire in the wild for the night and continued on their journey at dawn the next day.
The Di family attracted too many spies from Beiling. Even though Xiao Yan eliminated some of those who wanted their lives, they were still attacked repeatedly in the next few days.
Three days later, a group of sneak attackers were killed.
Xiao Yan stopped thinking about moving forward and called the three people from the Di family.
"This isn't a solution. I only brought this many people with me to the northwest this time. We can't afford to lose any more people if we continue to kill like this."
In the past few days, several people around him "died", and one of the Di family's guards was also killed.
Xiao Yan looked at the three members of the Di family and said, "You three's appearances are already known to everyone. If you continue forward, there may be a fatal attack waiting for you. You must find a way to change your identities and avoid Beiling's detection."
Di Tao was exhausted from being hunted down these past few days. "How do I change?"
"I have some pills here that will cause a rash on your face. Applying herbs on your face will barely cover it up."
Xiao Yan glanced at the three members of the Di family and said, "You are seriously injured and cannot travel quickly. So, I will pretend to be a seriously ill young man. I am your brother. We were originally going to Fengcheng to do business, but unexpectedly, you fell seriously ill on the way. I will take you along to find a doctor."
"What about my mother and sister?"
"The three of you together are too conspicuous. You've never been able to escape the spies of Beiling because you're too conspicuous. I'll have your guards take Madam Di and Lady Di and leave separately. I'll have people secretly protect them and reunite with us in Fengcheng."
Fengcheng was already close to Luoyan Pass and would be safe once he reached Fengcheng.
Xiao Yan risked his life to save Di Tao several times when they were in danger in the past few days. Di Tao no longer had any doubts about him. Moreover, it was indeed safer to go separately. Even if one side encountered danger, the other side could return safely. He was about to agree.
Di Fangyun said hurriedly: "I won't leave my brother!"
Seeing that everyone around the fire was looking at her, Di Fangyun pinched her fingertips and said, "Brother is seriously injured. Someone must stay by your side to take care of him. Besides, you have a fever. I can't just leave with my mother and everyone else and then have to trouble Brother He again."
Mrs. Di also reacted: "Fang Yun is right, Tao'er needs someone to take care of him. I will stay to take care of Tao'er, and let Fang Yun go alone."
"No, mother, you're not in good health to begin with, and you've been worried and frightened lately. You and Brother Li and the others should go alone, and I'll stay and take care of my brother."
Seeing Madam Di's hesitation, Di Fangyun said, "Brother and Big Brother He are pretending to be brothers. Even if something really happens, I can pretend to be their wife. But as for my mother, how can she bring an elder from the mansion with her when she's traveling for business?"
"I can take care of my brother and won't be a burden to Brother He."
Mrs. Di hesitated, and Di Fangyun continued, "The people in Beiling want to capture us to threaten father. Their target is me and my brother. If mother were alone and changed her identity, it would certainly not arouse suspicion."
"Brother Li and the others are protecting you so you won't be assassinated. If you can get to Fengcheng sooner, you can also inform father and ask him to send someone to rescue my brother and me."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Xiao Yan and whispered, "I'm going the same way as my brother and the others. If anyone really asks, just say I'm Brother He's wife..."
Bang.
A wooden stick fell into the fire, sending up a shower of sparks. Xiao Yan raised his eyes and said, "I have a wife."
Di Fangyun blushed: "Just pretend..."
"My wife is narrow-minded and won't tolerate anyone coveting me." Xiao Yan said coldly, "Even fake ones are not acceptable."
Di Fangyun's originally somewhat shy mood was instantly dashed as if by a splash of cold water. She looked at Xiao Yan's handsome profile, quickly lowered her eyes to hide the disappointment in them, but pretended to be relaxed on the surface.
"That's right, Brother He is really good to my sister-in-law. Then I will pretend to be your wife, but it's a bit weird to call you husband."
Di Tao didn't think much of it. He also thought it was a bit awkward to pretend to be a couple with his sister, but everything else was trivial in the face of life and death. He patted Di Fangyun and said, "It's nothing, just pretending. As long as we can fool those people in Beiling, it's fine."
"Mother, you and Li Yong go first. Fangyun and I will go with Brother He."
Although Mrs. Di was worried when she heard this, she also knew that it was too dangerous for the three of them to travel together, and her son was injured and could not walk fast. If she could go back earlier, the sooner her husband could send someone to pick up her son and daughter, so she agreed after only a moment's hesitation.
Xiao Yan instructed Tu Bai, "There's no time to lose. Take the three of you and escort Madam Di away first. Even if we have to take a detour, remember to keep Madam Di safe."
Tu Bai understood: "Don't worry, my lord, I understand."
The three members of the Di family said goodbye in a low voice, and Mrs. Di was taken away first. After dawn, the Di brothers and sisters, who had smeared something and changed their clothes, were taken on by Xiao Yan, who had also covered his face, to continue their journey.
Perhaps the disguise and separation really worked, the continuous ambushes became less frequent, and there were no more for two consecutive days.
After finding a town to stay in, Xiao Yan led the Di brothers and sisters into the city safely, and found a doctor to treat Di Tao's injuries. The Di brothers and sisters finally felt alive.
The doctor had been paid a large sum of money, so he didn't ask any questions that he shouldn't have asked. After he wrote the prescription, boiled the medicine and left, a secret guard came in quickly, walked to Xiao Yan's side, and whispered in his ear.
The Di Tao siblings saw that Xiao Yan, who had a stern face just now, softened visibly.
"Brother He, is there any good news?"
Xiao Yan raised his lips: "My wife has sent me a letter."
When he took the letter handed to him by the servant beside him, his phoenix eyes were filled with a faint smile, and his originally calm face melted like an iceberg, overflowing with tenderness.
Di Fangyun bit her lip. It was just a letter. Was she so happy?
Di Tao had been traveling with Xiao Yan for the past few days and knew how affectionate she was. He smiled and said, "So she's my sister-in-law. No wonder Brother He is so happy."
Xiao Yan really liked the phrase "sister-in-law" and was unusually gentle to Di Tao: "You should take good care of your injuries. Rest for half a day today and leave tomorrow."
Looking at Xiao Yan walking out with the letter, his back was filled with happiness.
Di Tao sighed, "Brother He and his wife have such a good relationship... Hmm!"
There was a pain in his shoulder, it was because the wound was touched. Di Tao groaned in pain: "Sister, be gentle."
Di Fangyun: "Brother, stop talking about other people's affairs."
Di Tao: “?”
What did he say?
…
Xiao Yan was unaware of the commotion of the Di brothers and sisters behind him. After he left the room and returned to the side room, he took out the letter. Before he could read the contents of the letter, he saw a small branch of jasmine stuck in the paper, which had dried up but still exuded fragrance.
I lowered my head and sniffed it. The faint fragrance was tainted with a hint of ink, just like a frank yet shy little girl.
Jasmine.
Mo Li?
Even though the little girl didn't say anything, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh softly.
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