Chapter 244: Dividing the Forces
Xiao Beiheng picked up the bowl of porridge on the tray, waved his hand to let the maid go, and personally carried the bowl of porridge to Su Mo's back.
"Momo, you haven't eaten or drunk anything for a long time. I've already heated up the porridge for the third time..."
Su Mo turned her back to him, without looking back or speaking.
She was angry that this man had been lying to her all along. She was his legal wife, and he had even lied to her.
Xiao Beiheng placed the porridge on the table: "I know you blame me for killing Leng Shuang. But no matter what, she was just a servant. Not only did she make a mistake, she also tried to escape with that Shen Yuexi. I was so angry that I accidentally shot her to death..."
Su Mo still ignored her.
She didn't know which of his words were true and which were false. Maybe they were all false.
Xiao Beiheng put his hand on Su Mo's shoulder, but as soon as his fingers touched Su Mo's shoulder, Su Mo twisted and shook off his hand.
"Momo, it's not worth it to hurt our relationship just because of a few servants," Xiao Beiheng said with a wry smile, "You are obviously an intelligent woman, why are you so stubborn?"
"Leng Shuang is not a servant. She has served you and me for many years," Su Mo said. "Kill her if you say so. Is your heart made of ice?"
Seeing that Su Mo finally spoke, Xiao Beiheng smiled and said, "Didn't I explain it? I was angry at the time. You know, when people are angry, they will do some extreme things. In fact, I also regret it very much."
"Really?" Su Mo's tone softened slightly.
"Of course, I often dream about Leng Shuang. Momo, you heard it too." Xiao Beiheng put his hand on Su Mo's shoulder again, "If you are still angry, I will kneel down and apologize to you."
Su Mo shook her head and said, "No, you are the prince of Qi, not a country bumpkin."
Xiao Beiheng smiled and said, "As long as Momo is no longer angry, I won't mind kneeling for a whole day. Even if I become a prince or an emperor in the future, as long as Momo glares at me, I will beg for mercy obediently."
Su Mo turned around and rolled her eyes at him: "You only say nice things and your mouth is full of lies."
"Who says I only know how to say nice things?" Xiao Beiheng lifted the hem of his shirt and pretended to kneel down. "I always keep my word."
Su Mo quickly stretched out her hands to hold Xiao Beiheng's arms: "Don't let the servants see. If you kneel down, I won't be able to pull you up, and it will make me even angrier."
"Then do you forgive me?" Xiao Beiheng stood up and asked.
"You are my husband after all," Su Mo nodded. "Besides, what you just said is the truth. You called out to Leng Shuang in your dreams several times... She has been with us for many years. People are not plants or trees. Even cats and dogs will develop feelings for their owners after being together for a long time."
Several times, Xiao Beiheng woke up from his dream and sat up with cold sweat on his forehead.
"These are all minor matters. The Western Rong have seized Nanping and are attacking Zhangwu. I must first resolve this threat," Xiao Beiheng said. "Once we've dealt with the Western Rong, we must immediately head to the capital. Father is being held up forty miles outside the capital by Emperor Yongde's army. The situation is stalemate, and he still needs my help."
"Beiheng, I'm a little worried..." Su Mo glanced at him and hesitated to speak.
"Are you worried that your husband can't defeat the Western Rong? Haha." Xiao Beiheng didn't even listen to her finish before hugging her in his arms. "I've already achieved my goals in this western expedition. A mere Western Rong is no problem."
"What about the Xiliang Army?" Su Mo leaned against Xiao Beiheng's chest when he mentioned the military. "I heard that the Xiliang Army was defeated by the Xirong and fled to the east."
Xiao Beiheng smiled and said, "They're just a bunch of rabble. Originally, after the army rested, I wanted to lead the army north and wipe out the Xiliang army in one fell swoop. I didn't expect the Xirong to strike south first. Now those remnants of the Xiliang army have no leader, so I guess they will soon disperse and become bandits."
Su Mo said, "I heard that Mei Dai is in the Xiliang army, and she seems to be the commander."
"With her father and brother dead, she's the only one left serving the emperor all day. What can she do?" Xiao Beiheng stood up and went to the table to get some porridge. "She's not as much of a threat to me as Shen Yuexi. Come, I'll feed you some porridge."
"It's not like I don't have hands." Su Mo smiled and stretched out her hands to take the bowl.
Xiao Beiheng moved the bowl aside and said, "Let me feed you so that you can calm down faster."
After saying that, he scooped a spoonful of porridge with a spoon, blew on it, and brought it to Su Mo's mouth: "Xiao Zhuo ran away again this time. My only regret is that I couldn't kill him."
Su Mo swallowed the porridge and said, "He ran away again?"
"That's what I'm saying. It feels like as long as Shen Yuexi is around, Xiao Zhuo is like someone covered in oil, impossible to catch."
"Are we riding a hot air balloon again this time?" Su Mo seemed to be in a better mood and smiled.
"Not really. The cavalry chasing them ran into the Xirong cavalry, and I don't know what happened after that." Xiao Beiheng smiled bitterly, "But from my hunch, they must have escaped."
"So what are you going to do next?"
"Once I find out where Xiao Zhuo is, I will naturally go and kill him. For now, let's solve the problem of Xirong first," Xiao Beiheng scooped another spoonful of porridge into Su Mo's mouth, "and then go to help father attack the capital."
The maid entered the tent and said to Xiao Beiheng, "Your Highness, Song Zhen is waiting outside the tent."
Xiao Beiheng placed the bowl of porridge in Su Mo's hand and said, "Momo, I'll be back to accompany you in a moment."
Su Mo said, "No need, I'm fine now. You should focus on the important things."
Xiao Beiheng left the tent. Song Zhen was already waiting outside. He saluted and said, "Your Highness, the vanguard has arrived at Zhangwu, and the vanguard officers are engaged in battle with the Western Rong."
"This prince is anxious to go to the capital. Pass the order," Xiao Beiheng said to Song Zhen, "Instruct the vanguard to defeat the Western Rong within three days. I want to advance to the gates of Nanping City within a week."
"Your Highness," Song Zhen gently waved his feather fan, "In my opinion, the real business now lies in the capital. Even if the Western Rong are defeated this time, they will attack again. It would be better to leave an army behind to join the defenders in Zhangwu. Led by a trusted confidant, they can engage the Western Rong here. Your Highness can lead the army to the capital to join the King of Qi."
Xiao Beiheng thought for a moment and nodded, "Yes, I think your suggestion is feasible. Then, in your opinion, who should be left behind to confront the Western Rong?"
"To command tens of thousands of troops, one must be a close confidant of His Royal Highness. I think Mr. Lin is very suitable."
Xiao Beiheng shook his head: "Lin Kui? He doesn't know how to lead troops in battle."
Song Zhen smiled and said, "Of course, we can't just leave Mr. Lin here. I suggest that we leave behind a few generals, with Mr. Lin as the military supervisor, taking charge of the overall situation. This way, the western frontier will be supervised by someone trusted by His Highness, and His Highness will have no worries. You can lead the army to the capital without worry."
"Very good, let's do as you say." Xiao Beiheng hung the Yanque sword around his waist and strode out of the tent.
Song Zhen clapped the feather fan in his hand, a smile appeared on his face, and he followed Xiao Beiheng.
Under the shining midday sun, the huge army of Dingbei stretched as far as the eye could see, with its flags stretched straight in the wind, like a long dragon marching towards the north.
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