By the time Xiao Nanhui caught up with Su Pingchuan, the team had already penetrated deep into the heart of Bijiang under the bitter winter.
Daybreak had already broken, but the road ahead was still too dark to reach its destination. Shrubs of varying heights, interwoven with hills and streams, cut the terrain into fragments, leaving only natural gravel paths scattered throughout. Instead, there was no "road" to speak of.
Jixiang hadn't been out for a long time, so he was running fast. Huaqiu, fatter than Hao Bai, was struggling with his four hooves, and fell slightly behind. The two horses galloped past, one in front and one behind, attracting the attention of the cavalry.
Xiao Nanhui did not go directly to find Su Pingchuan, but first chatted with his deputy general.
The deputy general looked young, yet he carried himself with great dignity. Initially, he thought Xiao Nanhui was a subordinate delivering military reports. Upon learning that he was the Right General who had fought his Left General for three hundred rounds, his expression shifted so complexly that even his armor couldn't conceal it. After repeatedly confirming his badge, he slowly asked, "Right General, why are you here? Do you have any military orders?"
Xiao Nan evaded the point by answering, "I've been here for a few months before, so I can offer some assistance. Besides, General Zuo is my colleague, so it's only natural for me to lend a hand."
The deputy general's mind once again flashed with the rumor of "a three-hundred-round battle". His brows furrowed even more tightly, and after a long while he hesitated, he explained the situation.
The Guangyao Battalion's dispatch was indeed sudden. It was triggered by a report that an oversized stockade had been discovered, and that a key Bai clan member had been seen entering and leaving it, leading to suspicions that it was a hidden stronghold.
The villages in the Bijiang area have inherited the construction techniques of nomadic peoples. Apart from the necessary migration during the change of seasons, they can also migrate overnight if they encounter external enemies.
She was well aware of the reason, so it was not difficult for her to understand Tiancheng's hasty decision to send troops.
Just as he was thinking about it, Su Pingchuan's voice suddenly rang out.
"Why are you here?"
The deputy general seized the opportunity and retreated quickly. Xiao Nanhui simply got straight to the point and asked instead of answering.
"You should know that you shouldn't underestimate the enemy, so why did you bring these few people with you?"
Su Pingchuan didn't say anything, turned his head and looked straight ahead, as if he didn't intend to answer the question.
Shrike turned around and looked at the expressions of the cavalrymen behind him, and he already understood about 70% of the situation.
"Since they are unwilling to fight alongside you, why force them?"
Su Pingchuan's face was exposed, and he felt a little embarrassed: "Military orders are like mountains. How can there be such a thing as willingness or reluctance?"
Xiao Nanhui finally understood a little.
Su Pingchuan was being ostracized.
He was the only son of King Xuanyuan. Although his position in Guangyaoying seemed glorious, he was actually in an unspeakable predicament.
The military valued military merit and disdained those who relied on family connections to secure positions. Even in the Guangyao Camp, where noble families gathered, royal sons like Prince Xuanyuan Su Che and General Su Yuanxiu were all accomplished warriors. Su Pingchuan, standing among such a group and bearing the title of Prince Xuanyuan's son, undoubtedly felt immense pressure.
What's worse is that he submitted a terrible answer before he had the chance to prove his ability.
In the Battle of Damangling, 3,000 elite soldiers of Guangyao Battalion were almost wiped out because of the failed surprise attack. As the leading general, he was captured and stayed in the enemy camp for several months. No one knew what happened during this period, and many suspicions and speculations naturally emerged. Even though it was later found out that the incident was indeed caused by a traitor, this almost shameful experience was still deeply engraved on his sword and armor, giving rise to a crack that was enough to destroy his dignity.
She thought back to how he'd been imprisoned in that cramped cell in Bijiang, at the mercy of others, his life in limbo, his pride trampled upon. She'd thought she'd understood everything after rescuing him, but now she realized his ordeal was far from over.
Gently squeezing the horse's belly, she urged Jixiang to move closer to Su Pingchuan, lowering her voice.
"Most of the soldiers are rough men from the military, so they tend to be straightforward in judging people and things. They don't know the truth, but I do. You are innocent and have done nothing wrong, so don't take it to heart."
Su Pingchuan remained silent. She could only see half of his face from the side, and for a moment, she couldn't judge his emotions. She could only continue to persuade him, "You are so young and come from such a good family, it's inevitable that you will be talked about a lot..."
"I'm used to it."
The other party suddenly replied, and his tone sounded relatively calm.
Xiao Nanhui calmed down and thought about it, and felt that he might not be that fragile.
After all, she was a child who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. How could she, a weed, compare with her in terms of social experience? But she was happy to be free and never had such troubles.
"Well, as the saying goes, every family has its own problems..."
Su Pingchuan glanced at her and asked, "Which sutra is the most difficult to recite in the Right General's family?"
Xiao Nanhui was stunned, and suddenly felt like he was being ridiculed for meddling in other people's business. He said unhappily, "I was just making an analogy. Do you understand?"
"Thank you for Zhu Tingmao's matter."
The other party changed the subject, and she felt embarrassed to continue getting angry, so she said a few polite words.
"I just delivered the message. The rest is indeed the decision of Your Majesty."
When mentioning the emperor, Su Pingchuan could hardly help but look at her again. For some reason, this look had an awkward expression on his face, as if he wanted to smile but didn't.
"Aren't you supposed to accompany His Majesty? What are you doing here with me?"
Of course, she was afraid that the idiot she had rescued from the village with so much difficulty would make another mistake and be captured? Wouldn't her efforts be in vain then?
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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