Chapter 127 Sunny Street Snowstorm Begins
Lu Qi, carrying a fan, saw Yang Xiao and Yang Song out of the room, then turned back and smiled at Xiao Yan, "I really didn't expect General Yang to make this move."
“She’s really smart,” Xiao Yan said, examining Yang Xiao’s map. “But too much talk leads to mistakes. Look at this map,” Xiao Yan called Lu Qi over, “She did all this in such detail by herself. With that kind of skill, how could she not know the way?”
Lu Yong pointed at the picture with his fan and laughed, "In that case, she is truly hiding her true abilities. It seems that she has used up all the benefits that being 'directionally challenged' brought her, so she no longer needs to hide anything."
This must be part of Yang Xiao's skill; the fabricated maps appear perfectly reasonable to outsiders, with every detail looking incredibly real.
“This map is obviously a decoy,” Xiao Yan said, seemingly noticing something. She leaned back in her chair and placed the map on the table. “Anything that can be covered up with a map must also be a map. Judging from this, this map, like the bone flute, has already reached its destination.”
"Oh?" Lu Qi sat opposite Xiao Yan, twirling his fan. "Is Your Highness impatient? Didn't you help her break the formation with a chess game a while ago? But judging from her expression, it seems you told her everything."
"Why should I be in such a hurry?" Xiao Yan took a sip of tea and smiled. "Breaking this formation is her own skill. How could an ordinary person comprehend the formation from a mere chess game, put it onto a blueprint, and then transmit it successfully under such difficult circumstances?"
Lu Qi pinched the tip of the fan, smiled, and said, "Her move today was truly brilliant." He gathered his sleeves that had fallen to the ground, unfolded the fan, and fumbled with it for a moment. "Although Xiao Yun was stunned by her, how could his henchmen let it go so easily?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan put down his teacup and sighed, "Xiao Yun is anxious, but his men are even more anxious. With Yang Xiao's arrival, they are completely at a disadvantage. They have no reason to confront Yang Xiao directly, so they will definitely try to cause trouble for others indirectly. I've seen this kind of tactic many times, so you and I should be careful."
Lu Qi nodded. "So what are your plans next?"
"All we need to do is muddy the waters. As for completely throwing this dirty water out, that's for someone else to do." Xiao Yan rested his head on his hand, his fingertips lightly tracing the lid of the teacup. "According to Yang Xiao, the bone flute is already in the hands of the Qiang King, and Xiao Yun also intends to win him over. So let's drag the Qiang King into this as well and see what choice he makes."
"As for the court, we only need to secretly mobilize the troops led by General Yang Zhen, and then wait for Xiao Yun's next move."
Lu Qi closed his fan, nodded, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Yan, "So what are your plans after all this is over?"
Xiao Yan smiled upon hearing this and looked up at Lu Qi with a smile as well, "Judging from your words, do you perhaps think I can continue to live?"
“Zhong Li’an is not a coward, why would he hold onto you?”
"Shouldn't I, a treacherous member of the clique who overturned the world, atone with my death and restore justice to the world?"
"Justice resides in the hearts of the people; why should you seek it out?"
Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Rather than living on with a thousand years of infamy, it's better to die cleanly at Yang Xiao's hands. At least, the person who ends my life can understand all my feelings and has the journey I've always longed for."
Lu Qi nodded slightly and said no more.
-
The weather grows colder day by day, and another year is drawing to a close.
The long-awaited warm sun shone over the capital city, and the wet snow in the city was dried up by the sun. The streets and alleys were bustling with people, and every household was preparing for the New Year.
Lu Qi was still dressed in white, the fox fur draped over his shoulders shimmering like ripples in the sunlight. He twirled his fan, pretending not to notice the gaze behind him, and strolled along the street, looking around.
He smiled, unable to wait any longer.
After turning three alleys, the person behind him kept getting closer and closer. Lu Qi frowned slightly, then smiled and asked the pastry shop next to him about the price, as if trying to lure the person out.
Sure enough, in the blink of an eye, the person disappeared.
"Oh, it's Lord Lu! What would you like to pick out?" The man selling pastries greeted him while busy with his work. "Take a look at this new osmanthus cake. I specially asked an old lady from Jizhou in the east of the city for the recipe."
“Alright,” Lu Qi said with a smile, holding the fan ribs, “then weigh a few pounds for me, pack them up, and I’ll take them to the palace for my friends to try.”
"Alright, thank you for patronizing my business. However, neighborhood snacks can never compare to a royal banquet. Please don't be offended, just try something new."
Lu Qi smiled upon hearing this, fanning himself, and said, "Since Your Highness took power, the palace has been much more frugal with its food, clothing, and daily necessities. Moreover, how can those dishes that look good but don't taste good compare to the old-established restaurants in the neighborhood?" He smiled and took out a money pouch from his pocket, "How much? If it tastes good, I'll buy more next time."
"Oh," the shopkeeper said, waving his hand at Lu Qi as he finished packing the pastries. "It is an honor for Lord Lu to visit our shop. How could we let you spend money? These are just a few small snacks, please accept them."
Just as Lu Qigang was about to say something, someone patted him on the shoulder a few times.
"Shopkeeper, it's not easy for you to run a business, so please accept this money and prepare well for the New Year." The man smiled and put his arm around Lu Qi's shoulder, placing a few taels of silver in the shopkeeper's palm. "Lord Lu, consider these pastries my treat. Hope you've been well."
“It’s Lord Li,” Lu Qi said, smiling and cupping his hands in greeting. “Then I’ll gladly accept your offer. I owe you a favor this time.”
After saying that, Lu Qi took the snacks from the vendor's hand and tilted his head at Li Xing, "The matter of the bone flute has not yet been resolved, but Lord Li, you seem to have quite the leisure to enjoy it."
“Lord Lu, what are you saying?” Li Xing waved his hand. “After General Yang threw away his bone flute, General Xiao first dragged Song Lan out and beheaded him, saying that he had made a mistake in choosing his subordinates. He also ordered us subordinates not to be careful enough and even sent someone to the Northern Qiang to invite the Qiang King. To be honest, I have been extremely busy lately.”
Lu Qi smiled slightly, fanning himself with his fan, "It seems that it's still better to stay with Her Highness. Every day, I can drink tea, read books, and play chess. She's not interested in power struggles and often invites General Yang and me to have a drink and chat. It's quite pleasant."
“You,” Li Xing shook his head and smiled, “Although we hold opposing views and refuse to compromise in the officialdom, I personally admire you greatly. To meet you again in the marketplace today is quite a coincidence. Why don’t you invite Lord Lu to my humble abode for a chat and a few drinks?”
Lu Qi crossed his arms, glanced at him sideways, as if he already knew his intentions, and teased with a smile: "No wonder you were vying to buy me pastries, so that's what you really wanted."
“I sincerely invited you, how could you assume such a thing of me, sir?” Li Xing frowned, feigning displeasure. “I even prepared some fine wine…”
"You've prepared some good wine?" Lu Qi pretended to suddenly become interested. "It seems that today's chance encounter was premeditated. Well then, if there's anything I can do to help you, please feel free to ask. As you said, we just have different positions, not any deep-seated hatred."
Li Xing nodded with a smile, "Come, Lord Lu, this way please."
-
The two walked on and on, going further and further astray, until they finally stopped in front of a dilapidated hut.
Lu Qi gripped his fan tightly, frowned slightly, and looked at the bare room. Then, he pretended to be calm and looked at Li Xing. "Lord Li's house is so austere. He must have distributed all his salary to the people." He put the fan behind his back and clicked his tongue in admiration. "No wonder others respect Lord Li so much. It seems that this is not something that can be achieved overnight."
"Lord Lu, what are you saying?" Li Xing waved his hand in embarrassment. "This is not the Li residence, but just a secluded place. General Xiao is currently busy with the bone flute matter, and he will inevitably send people to look for me. I can only come here to find some peace and quiet. Please forgive me for any lack of courtesy."
"It's alright, it's alright." Lu Qi stepped into the room, holding a fan, and watched as Li Xing locked the door. Then he and Li Xing took their seats as host and guest, respectively. Lu Qi didn't care at all that his white clothes would get dirty. He sat directly on the dusty stools and smelled the cold, damp air in the room.
Only a sliver of sunlight could seep into the entire house through the window, causing dust to swirl and dance inside. In the cold, sterile room, only a pot of tea simmered on the stove, its spout continuously emitting steam.
"Lord Lu," Li Xing handed Lu Qi a cup of hot tea, "in your opinion, if General Xiao were to ask the Qiang King for help, what are the chances of success?"
Lu Qi smelled the tea, which was sweet to the point of being bitter, and couldn't help but frown.
He gritted his teeth secretly, covered the teacup with his sleeve, and almost imperceptibly spilled a few drops of tea onto the hem of his robe.
"If we can find the bone flute, the Qiang King will surely lend a helping hand; if we can't, I'm afraid it will be difficult." Lu Qi slammed his teacup on the table and tilted his head back at Li Xing, "Why isn't Lord Li drinking?"
"Though there is fine tea, I have no heart to savor it." Li Xing shook his head, feigning distress. "Without the bone flute, I'm afraid only if the Chixiao Palace sends someone in person can we invite the Qiang King out."
"Chixiao Palace?" Lu Qi looked out the window, holding a folding fan. "Losing the bone flute, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the Qiang King, won't it?"
"Could it be that even a close relative is less important than an object?"
"You've seen the expressions on the faces of the Yang siblings after the bone flute was thrown away, which shows that this item is no ordinary token and is very precious." Lu Qi raised his eyes to look at Li Xing. "Could it be that Lord Li intends to send someone from the Chixiao Prefecture to the Northern Qiang to request reinforcements?"
Li Xing pressed the sword at his waist. "This is probably the only way to persuade the Qiang King."
"The Qiang King tearfully married his princess to General Yang Zhen. Years later, the princess was oppressed to death by the royal family, and the only things she left behind, the bone flute and the blood-written letter, have disappeared. If the Chixiao Palace sends someone to retrieve them now, wouldn't they be walking right into his trap?" Lu Qi sneered, cautiously staring at him. "In that case, not only will they fail to move the old general, but the Chixiao Palace will also lose a life for nothing. If that happens, isn't the only one who truly benefits General Xiao?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xing's expression darkened. "Lord Lu, what do you mean by that?"
"Currently, there is no emperor in the court, only Your Highness and your siblings checking and balancing each other. The Chixiao Prefecture is very close to Your Highness, and even General Yang Xiao, whom you brought back by chance, is a member of the Chixiao Prefecture." Lu Qi rose slightly, his gaze passing over Li Xing and looking at the dark room behind him, separated by a wooden wall. "The Chixiao Prefecture has a founding veteran, two spirited generals, and even the servant Fan Kun is no ordinary person. If any one of these four were to be lost, Your Highness's career would be secure, wouldn't it?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xing lowered his eyes and sighed, "Nothing can be hidden from you, Lord Lu." He then looked up at Lu Qi, "His Highness is never short of capable people. What you said is true. If His Highness loses even one person, our future will be secure. This person could be from the Chixiao Mansion," he smiled and looked at Lu Qi, "and why couldn't it be you, Lord Lu?"
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