Chapter 295: Jiliwahua
After talking with Mei Dai, Shen Yuexi completely understood the strategy to deal with Xiao Beiheng.
That is, you must be on guard against others, but you must not have the intention to harm others. What Xiao Zhuo repeatedly said was very correct. Xiao Beiheng was his younger brother after all.
This way, she had nothing to worry about and had more fun.
If it weren't for the Xirong cavalry causing trouble in the four counties of Xiliang, Mei Dai could have taken her to various scenic spots. Now, for safety reasons, she stayed in Yongwei City.
After breakfast, Ji Yunyan accompanied him to Yongwei's street market for some snacks. They strolled around until noon, then went to a restaurant to enjoy local specialties. In the afternoon, they looked for delicious pastries and tried a piece of each. If they were delicious, they would pack some up and bring it back for Xiao Zhuo to try.
During this period, Mei Dai and Shen Lan fought several battles against the Western Rong, with Xiao Zhuo leading the cavalry in support. They won consecutive battles, annihilating all the Western Rong cavalry roaming within the territory, driving the remaining troops past Zhangwu and into Nanping. Even Xiao Zhuo praised Shen Lan's strategy.
After a week of crazy fun, in late July, a messenger arrived in Shengjing, bringing a letter from Mrs. Li. The content of the letter was simple, but it made her overjoyed.
The thrush flew away and flew back again.
After hearing the news, Shen Yuexi suddenly lost her appetite and told Xiao Zhuo that she wanted to go back to Shengjing.
Xiao Zhuo was a little embarrassed.
The Western Liang army had already driven the Western Rong back to Nanping. Another battle and the capture of Nanping would completely drive the Western Rong back north. But now Shen Yuexi was returning to Shengjing.
Shen Yuexi is not a willful woman. She suggested that Xiao Zhuo stay here to help Mei Dai while she goes back first.
Xiao Zhuo assigned a thousand cavalrymen to escort her. Shen Yuexi bid farewell to Mei Dai and others and went to Shengjing under the escort of the cavalrymen.
It was noon when she returned to Shengjing. When she reached the palace gate, she excitedly dismounted and threw the reins to a servant. A wailing sounded behind her, followed by a pair of arms hugging her tightly.
"Yuexi, you're back now. You have to make the decision for your aunt."
Shen Yuexi finally turned around, and in front of her was Madam Li's face, crying loudly, even her snot was blowing bubbles.
"Aunt, what's wrong with you?" she asked in confusion.
Xia Lan ran over and wiped Madam Li's tears with a handkerchief. She said to Shen Yuexi, "Master, please try to persuade the old lady. She hasn't even eaten in the past few days. No matter how I persuade her, she won't listen."
Shen Yuexi comforted Madam Li and said, "Aunt, if you have anything to say, let's go inside and talk."
She helped Madam Li into the palace, sat down in the hall, and said to Xia Lan, "Quickly bring a pear to your aunt."
Shen Yuexi was away, and Xia Lan had forgotten that Madam Li loved to eat pears. Hearing Shen Yuexi's instructions, Xia Lan remembered and quickly took out a snow pear and stuffed it into Madam Li's hand.
Mrs. Li held the pear and stared blankly at the ground.
"Auntie, have a pear."
Just as Shen Yuexi finished speaking, Madam Li turned around and saw her. Tears fell again, and she said, "Alas... I only have this one precious daughter."
She was rambling there, and Shen Yuexi didn't understand at all. She had to interrupt Madam Li and said, "Aunt, you have to tell me what happened first, then I can help you."
"That Commander of your Hissing Guards, he...he kidnapped Wan'er!"
"Ah?" Shen Yuexi was surprised. "You mean Qiang Lin... kidnapped my cousin?"
"Yes, that's what he did. Damn it, Wan'er... woo woo."
After Mrs. Li finished speaking, she started crying again while holding the pear.
Shen Yuexi stood up subconsciously and shouted to the outside of the hall: "Qiang Lin, come here immediately."
She couldn't believe Qiang Lin would do such a thing. How could a man who risked his life for her, who guarded her all day, be such a despicable person?
Xia Lan reminded: "Master, didn't Commander Qiang Lin return to the north?"
Shen Yuexi then remembered that Qiang Lin had asked for leave before, saying that he wanted to go back to the north to visit the seriously injured king. She generously agreed and gave leave to all the secret guards.
Could it be that when Qiang Lin left, he took Li Wan with him?
She turned to Madam Li and asked, "Aunt, you said Qiang Lin kidnapped Li Wan. How did you know that?"
Madam Li cried, "After you left, that Qiang Lin left a few days later... He was going to leave even if he didn't want to, and I didn't act like a sir either. And then after he left, I discovered Wan'er was missing too. I couldn't find her anywhere, but Wan'er never wanders around. Who else could I have found besides Qiang Lin? My heart is broken..."
As she spoke, she hit her chest with a pear, appearing to be in great pain.
Shen Yuexi asked, "So that's why my aunt called me back?"
Madam Li raised her head and wiped away her tears. "Qiang Linshi, your men! You're asking me, an old woman with limited mobility, to go to Xirong to look for them?"
Shen Yuexi stood up and said to Xia Lan, "There's no time to lose. Take good care of your aunt. I'll go find Miss Li right away."
She ran out of the palace, mounted her horse, and ran towards the north of the city.
It was impossible for her to go to see Qiang Lin's king. Firstly, she didn't know the place, and secondly, it would be troublesome if she ran into hostile Western Rong soldiers. But Qiang Lin's mother lived in the north of the city. She and Xiao Zhuo had previously returned here by boat and met Qiang Lin's mother.
Qianglin's mother must know something.
When he arrived at the north of the city, he met General Qiu Liming who was training his soldiers.
Before Xiao Zhuo left, he specifically instructed Qiu Liming to recruit soldiers and train them diligently. During this period, Qiu Liming had already recruited hundreds of new soldiers.
Shen Yuexi and Qiu Liming brought up the matter. Qiu Liming was shocked and said to Shen Yuexi, "Madam, if it is true as Madam Li said, that the Western Rong people have kidnapped Miss Li, you cannot go alone. I will lead the soldiers to escort you."
Qiu Liming was worried and called up three thousand elite soldiers. Upon seeing this, Shen Yuexi quickly stopped him and said, "There's no need to mobilize so many troops."
If several thousand soldiers rushed over aggressively, the Xirong people in the north of the city would probably think they were coming to call for punishment. The two tribes were getting along very peacefully now, so they couldn't act recklessly.
She only let Qiu Liming follow her, and the two of them left the city.
White tents dotted the lush green grasslands, wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys. A warm breeze blew through, revealing herds of cattle and sheep amidst the sea of grass.
Shen Yuexi rode along the path between the tents, and the Xirong people on the road all smiled and saluted her. A group of Xirong children dressed in Dayan clothes ran and jumped behind her horse, shouting in Xirong language.
When she arrived at the area where the tents were most densely packed, a large group of Xirong people had gathered there, all their eyes fixed on her.
As soon as she jumped off the horse, an elderly man walked out of the crowd, bowed to her respectfully, said a few words in a gibberish, and made a gesture of invitation by turning sideways.
Shen Yuexi didn't understand what the old man said, so she turned around and looked at Qiu Liming, who also shook his head.
There was no other way, so she had to turn around and think about it. She first knelt on one knee, imitating Qiang Lin's oath of allegiance, and stroked her hair with her fingers. Then she stood up, pointed at herself with her backhand, and looked inquiringly.
She meant to find someone who would swear allegiance to her.
The elderly man said "oh", raised his right hand to point to the north, pointed two fingers of his left hand to the ground, and moved his fingers quickly, as if a person was walking on two feet.
"Madam, I understand," Qiu Liming said beside her, "He means that all the secret guards have gone north."
Shen Yuexi was a little disappointed. It would be great if there was a secret guard here who understood the Dayan language.
She used hand gestures to ask if Qianglin's mother was there. After trying several times, the old man finally understood and led the way, bringing her to a tent.
Several Western Rong women were busy applying seasoning to the prepared raw lamb legs. Shen Yuexi recognized Qiang Lin's mother at a glance.
Qianglin's mother also recognized her. She stood up, wiped her hands, and said a lot of things to her with a smile...
Shen Yuexi didn't understand a word, but Qiang Lin's mother kept talking. She seemed to have a lot to say, and as she spoke, she wore a happy expression, her arms folded over her chest. The women nearby nodded repeatedly.
The old man interrupted Qiang Lin's mother with a smile, pointed at Shen Yuexi and shook his head.
Qiang Lin's mother showed a look of coming to her senses. She patted her head, put her hands behind her neck, took off a beautiful white pearl necklace and showed it to Shen Yuexi.
Shen Yuexi recognized that the necklace belonged to Li Wan.
Emperor Ming of Qi had previously issued an edict appointing Xiao Zhuo as Prince of An and bestowing upon him a large amount of gold, silver, and jewelry. However, Xiao Zhuo had not questioned the matter and had simply asked her and Li Wan to handle it.
She was a little money-grubber and had long wanted to try the feeling of sleeping on gold. She simply made a bed out of it and experienced what it meant to be extravagant and extravagant. Li Wan, who came from a marquisate and had no feelings for money, chose this pearl necklace.
Now this necklace is actually in the hands of Qiang Lin's mother. It seems that what Mrs. Li said about Li Wan being taken away by Qiang Lin is true.
But looking at the happy expression on Qianglin’s mother’s face, I’m afraid Mrs. Li didn’t tell the truth.
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