Xiao Zhun was still wearing court clothes. The crimson gauze robe with wide sleeves and a narrow waist made him look particularly tall and straight. When he heard Xiao Nan calling him back, he responded faintly and then looked at Xu Shu.
"Shu Gang was promoted to Guard Commander, so he must have been transferred to the palace to serve. Why is he still wandering around my camp?"
What? She hadn't replied in just a month, and this annoying guy had actually gotten a promotion?
Xu Shu had already put on a respectful expression. He bowed and said, "Greetings, General. I just received the transfer order today, so I'm heading back to camp to take care of some matters and pack up my belongings. I didn't expect to run into Nan Hui just now. It's been so long since we've seen each other, I didn't know what to say. I meant to make a joke to get closer, but I ended up hitting him a little too hard." He then looked at Xiao Nan Hui sincerely, "Captain Xiao, are you all right? I'd be so sorry if you hurt me."
Xu Shu was most likely an actor in his previous life. Even if he was reincarnated now, he couldn't change his habit of changing his expression in an instant.
Xiao Nanhui squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "Not bad."
Xiao Zhun, on the other side, only took a glance at the marks on the ground and knew what was going on. He said calmly, "If it's a misunderstanding, then there's no need to delay any further. We just happened to meet now. Guard Xu ordered that you hand over the badge now to avoid any misunderstandings in the future."
The rule of the four major camps: people leave but the signs remain.
But nowadays, no one would believe that this method of driving people away is like robbing without any punishment.
Xiao Nanhui could hardly hide the smugness on his face. He felt even better when he thought that he would no longer have to see this guy in the camp every day.
"Congratulations, Brother Xu, on your promotion. I don't think it'll be easy to run into each other again in the future. You better take care of yourself."
Xu Shu, worthy of being the ever-victorious general who had battled openly and covertly with Xiao Nanhui for years, froze for a moment before he readily took off his badge and respectfully handed it over. "I was inconsiderate. Thank you, General, for reminding me."
After he finished speaking, he stepped back and bowed, saying, "It's getting late, so I'll take my leave first. When we have time to talk again in the future, I hope Captain Xiao will have been promoted and made a fortune so that we can have fun together." After speaking, he turned and left, giving Xiao Nanhui a provocative look.
Xiao Nan glared back, and then he heard Xiao Zhun's voice.
"Xiao Nanhui, I didn't call you here to watch you fight."
Xiao Nanhui instantly wilted and nodded weakly: "Oh."
Xiao Nanhui walked back to the tent with her head down. Xiao Zhun's back seemed to emanate an aura that frightened her, instantly reducing the relationship between them to that of elder and junior.
She wanted to bring up the murder of Prince Kang to lighten the mood, but she felt it would only add to Xiao Zhun's worries. She kept stealing glances at his face, wondering how much he knew about the events in Huozhou. She wondered if that damned girl, Shrike, had already been questioned. With her servile manner, calling him "Lord," she'd most likely already reported everything they'd eaten that day.
Before he knew it, Xiao Zhun had already removed his military uniform. His raised eyebrows and eyes carried a fierce expression, and he got straight to the point: "I just came out of the palace. I've heard about the secret seal."
Huh? How did this spread so quickly? Did you hear about it? Who told you? That Zhongli Jing guy?
No, no, he is a retainer of the Prime Minister's Mansion, so he should not be qualified to enter the palace, right?
Did the Prime Minister tell her? Then who did the Prime Minister tell her? She had been on guard all night last night, and no outsiders had ever entered the Prime Minister's residence.
"The Emperor told me this in private."
Xiao Nanhui choked on his own saliva and asked like a fool, "What else did the emperor say?"
Xiao Zhun glanced at Xiao Nanhui and found her expression somewhat amusing. "Why are you so curious about what the emperor said? Are you still waiting for him to reward you for your merits?"
Xiao Zhun's words made Xiao Nanhui feel a little aggrieved, but more of a loss of face.
Yesterday, she'd been riding in the same carriage with the secret seal, only to have lost it all due to a moment's negligence. She'd vowed to do something for Xiao Zhun, but in the end, it was all in vain. Now that the seal was in the emperor's hands, there was no chance for her to act privately. Thinking of this, Xiao Nanhui couldn't meet Xiao Zhun's eyes. Was he disappointed in her? Did he find her ridiculous?
"Now that the secret seal has been recovered, I won't pursue the details. This time, you left your post without permission and went to Huozhou. According to military regulations, you will be punished. Do you accept the punishment?"
Xiao Nanhui was mentally prepared and knelt on one knee: "Xiao Nanhui accepts the punishment."
"Okay, go get the twenty military sticks later. I'll send someone to take you back later. Don't do such risky things on your own in the future. It's a thankless task."
She was willing to be beaten, but when Xiao Nanhui mentioned this, she still felt a little dissatisfied. She still wanted to prove herself in front of Xiao Zhun: "The world is dangerous, and so is the battlefield. Did my adoptive father train me to be a coward?"
Xiao Zhun rubbed his brows and said, "What does this have to do with being afraid of death?"
Xiao Nanhui struggled for a while before speaking: "Foster father, the emperor doesn't know the truth, and I don't want you to think that. I have made up my mind to pursue the imperial seal..."
She wanted to describe her thrilling experience atop the Pingxiao Tower, the perilous situation at the Zhuming Festival, the hardships she endured in the icy swamp, and the life-or-death struggle on the cable bridge, but in the end, she could only say, "In short, if I hadn't been tricked by someone using despicable tactics, the jade seal would be in my hands right now."
Xiao Zhun didn't notice the expression on Xiao Nanhui's face. He simply helped her up from the ground. "If it's true as you say, regardless of whether he's the Prime Minister's man or not, the Imperial Seal will ultimately fall into the hands of the Emperor. It's just a matter of someone seeking credit and reward. If you had no selfish motives from the beginning, you wouldn't have taken it to heart."
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