Chapter 257: Quick Thought
After the convoy entered the border, it still had to travel several miles before reaching the border garrison.
Shen Yuexi took advantage of this break to do her homework with a small piece of paper in her hand.
"...Zhao Mu is the commander-in-chief of the Yan Dynasty's border defenses. He enjoys drinking... He commands an army of 100,000 soldiers, responsible for defending the interior from invasions by foreign tribes like the Western Rong and Northern Di. He has a very good relationship with Prince Xiao Ming of Qi. When the capital was under siege, Zhao Mu remained silent, demonstrating that in his heart, the Prince of Qi is as important as even the Emperor. The most important task of this trip is to understand Zhao Mu's intentions. If we can get him to agree not to aid the Prince of Qi, that would be a great achievement."
These words were said by Xiao Zhuo. She was afraid of forgetting them, so she took a piece of paper to write them down. She also drew two wavy lines under the four words "a great achievement" to indicate the key points.
Xiao Zhuo didn't ask her to do her best, as long as she could figure out Zhao Mu's thoughts.
If they met, should she give Xiao Zhuo's letter to Zhao Mu first, or should she exchange pleasantries and chat about family matters first? It would be too direct to give Xiao Zhuo's letter directly. She and Zhao Mu hadn't officially met before and weren't familiar with each other. It would be better to chat first...
While I was thinking, I suddenly felt a pain in my arm, as if it was bitten by a puppy.
Shen Yuexi turned her head and found that it was Xia Lan's hands holding her upper arms. It was almost June now and the clothes were not so thick. She could feel Xia Lan's nails digging into her through the clothes.
"Xia Lan, don't grab me so hard."
Shen Yuexi put down the note and patted Xia Lan on the shoulder. However, Xia Lan stared blankly at the gap in the car window, as if she had turned into a piece of wood, without even a reaction.
Shen Yuexi looked sideways out the window curiously: "What's wrong?"
The convoy had reached the gates of the border garrison, its wheels rumbling across the mossy, uneven flagstones. A patrol of Yan soldiers had just passed. The only other sight was the large flag at the garrison's gate, lashed upright by the strong wind. Next to the flagpole was a lavishly decorated carriage. A few soldiers stood before it, but that was all.
"He...he's here."
Xia Lan stared at the carriage at the gate, her voice so soft that it was almost like a mosquito's hum. After she said these words, her teeth began to chatter.
"Who?" Shen Yuexi asked.
Before Xia Lan could answer, Shen Yuexi felt a chill running up her back, and she knew who Xia Lan was talking about.
There could only be one person who could scare Xia Lan like this.
This person was also someone she was extremely afraid of.
Xiao Beiheng.
"No... no way," Shen Yuexi also grabbed Xia Lan's arm, "Are you sure?"
"That's his car, there's no way I'm mistaken."
Xia Lan turned around and looked at Shen Yuexi with horror: "Quick...quick...quickly leave. Tell the driver to turn around..."
Her teeth kept chattering and she even stuttered.
Shen Yuexi suddenly had the urge to run away immediately.
Having experienced the time when she was under house arrest by Xiao Beiheng, her fear of Xiao Beiheng was no less than that of Xia Lan, who had always been his maid.
Although they were protected by the fifty secret guards led by Qiang Lin, they were likely to be in vain before Xiao Beiheng, who possessed the Yanque Sword. Xiao Zhuo was the only one who could make Xiao Beiheng feel safe. However, he had to command the entire army and could not leave.
It wasn't impossible to turn around and run now. Wei Liang had a good relationship with her and wouldn't stop her. But what about the mission Xiao Zhuo had assigned her?
In her mind, this matter was not as simple as just chatting with Zhao Mu.
Zhao Mu's decision involves the victory or defeat of both sides.
"No... No," she took two deep breaths, "I can't leave."
Since Xiao Beiheng was here, he must have come to Zhao Mu to persuade him to help them attack Xiao Zhuo. Zhao Mu now had an army of 100,000. If Zhao Mu agreed, Xiao Zhuo would be in danger of being attacked by an army of 200,000.
The King of Qi is not Xiao Kai, and Xiao Beiheng is not Lin Kui. Xiao Zhuo can defeat Xiao Kai's 200,000-man army, but facing these three people, the chances of winning are definitely much lower.
Once Xiao Zhuo fails, the city at Langya Pass will be lost, and that is her hard work.
Whether for Xiao Zhuo or for her city, she cannot leave.
"He will kill us," Xia Lan said, his face pale. "Let's run away quickly. The lord will never blame us."
Shen Yuexi turned around, picked up a handkerchief, folded it several times quickly, and put it to Xia Lan's mouth and said, "Bite it."
Xia Lan opened her mouth and bit the handkerchief tightly. As expected, the chattering sound stopped.
"Hide in the car and don't make any noise," Shen Yuexi hugged Xia Lan's trembling shoulders, "I'm going to see Zhao Mu and Xiao Beiheng."
Xia Lan nodded vigorously at first, then shook her head vigorously, pulled the handkerchief out of her mouth and said, "Madam, aren't you afraid?"
"I'm afraid, but I have to go."
Shen Yuexi closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and then pounded her shaking legs.
Xiao Beiheng was an arrogant person, and he would not attack a woman like her in front of Zhao Mu. Besides, Zhao Mu was the host and she was the guest, so Zhao Mu would definitely not agree to such a thing happening. This way, she could finish the matter.
If he attacks after we leave the border, have Big Bear destroy the Yanque Sword. If they fight barehanded, the fifty secret guards are elite Western Rong soldiers after all, and won't be defeated so easily. She took the opportunity to have the coachman drive the carriage away.
After figuring everything out, she became much calmer.
The carriage stopped, and Wei Liang's voice rang out from outside: "Princess Zhao, please wait here. I will go in and report to General Zhao first."
"Thank you, General Wei."
Shen Yuexi replied to Wei Liang, then turned to Xia Lan and said, "Xia Lan, see if there's anything inappropriate about me."
She was about to meet Zhao Mu, but she was coming on behalf of Xiao Zhuo, so her dress could not be any wrong.
"The mistress is fine in every way, except...her face is very pale." Xia Lan whispered and bit the handkerchief again.
Shen Yuexi didn't believe it and took a mirror to look at herself. It was just as Xia Lan said. She knew she was frightened. She couldn't go to see Zhao Mu like this. She would lose the upper hand in terms of aura. She didn't come here to do her job.
She rummaged through the cabinets in the carriage and found a bottle of wine. She pulled out the cork and sniffed the bottle. A pungent and pungent smell hit her nose, which was not pleasant at all.
There was no time to hesitate. She frowned, raised her head, put the bottle to her lips, and gulped down the wine in one breath.
After drinking it, she felt a burning sensation in her throat, as if she had drunk a ball of fire. From her throat to her stomach, it burned. She covered her mouth and coughed several times. Almost instantly, her face turned red.
Xia Lan stared at her in amazement, her handkerchief falling out of her mouth: "Madam, you..."
"Okay, your complexion is back to normal now," Shen Yuexi turned around and smiled at Xia Lan, "I'm getting off the car."
Xia Lan opened her mouth wide as she watched Shen Yuexi get out of the car, forgetting even to pick up the handkerchief that had fallen on her legs.
She had served Xiao Beiheng for many years and knew all too well about drinking. It was obvious that the mistress didn't drink, so how could she just chug a bottle of wine?
Drinking so quickly without eating anything, any man would get drunk.
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