plot
*
At midnight, Xiao Zhouyan scaled the high wall of the Prince's mansion, his figure flashing past the eaves like a ghost.
He calculated the intervals between the guards' patrols with precision, stepping in the shadows with every step.
"Click".
He pried open the carved wooden window and leaped lightly into the inner room.
The room was dark, with only moonlight filtering through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on the floor.
Xiao Zhouyan had just taken a step when he suddenly felt a chill on his neck—a curved blade was silently pressed against him.
“There is no rule for Persian carpets delivered by caravans in the middle of the night.”
A deep voice came from behind me, tinged with a hint of mockery.
Xiao Zhouyan remained calm: "Is this how the Sixth Prince treats his savior?"
The blade paused slightly.
Yuwen Heng chuckled and sheathed his sword: "I wondered who could evade the Eighteen Dark Guards—it turns out to be General Xiao."
The candlelight illuminated the sixth prince's handsome yet sinister face. The wound on his shoulder had not yet healed, and his white robe was slightly open, revealing the fine bandage underneath.
"What brings you here, General?" Yuwen Heng leaned back on the couch, toying with a silver bell between his fingers. "Let me guess..."
"I heard the general got married a little over a month ago. Why did you leave your beautiful bride at the Marquis's residence to come and catch up with me?" Yuwen Heng gave him a disgusting wink. "Oh dear, could it be that the bride ran away?"
Xiao Zhouyan glanced at her coldly and said indifferently, "I will repay the favor she owes you."
"she?"
“Xu Qingyao?” His expression changed. “Her… she is my runaway bride. If the general knows the whereabouts of my queen, he must tell me…”
"What a pity..."
Before he could finish speaking, a cold sword was placed against his shoulder.
Yuwen Heng raised an eyebrow. "Then how does the General intend to repay this?"
"Is Mu Kun's life enough?"
The room fell silent.
After a long pause, Yuwen Heng suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! No wonder Xu Qingyao has chosen this man!"
He suddenly leaned closer, his gray-blue eyes sharp as a wolf's, "However... I want more than just Mu Kun's life."
He pulled a sheepskin map from under his pillow and slowly unrolled it—
Border defense deployment map between Tibet and Gaochang.
"I need your help to conquer Tibet."
The candlelight flickered, and the ink lines on the sheepskin map looked like coiled venomous snakes in the dim light.
Xiao Zhouyan's gaze swept over the marked troop deployments, and his fingertip gently tapped the canyon on the border of Tibet.
“The second prince, Mukun, has long been in cahoots with the Tibetans,” Yuwen Heng sneered. “He promised to cede the Bailongdui Salt Lake in exchange for Tibetan troops to help him seize the throne.”
Xiao Zhouyan raised his eyes: "So you deliberately allowed yourself to be captured, just to uncover this secret plot?"
Not entirely.
The candle flame popped and flickered, and Yuwen Heng gripped the sheepskin map tightly, his knuckles turning white.
“Three years ago, my mother’s carriage was attacked in White Dragon Canyon.” His voice was hoarse, and bloodshot eyes churned in his gray-blue eyes. “She was clutching the snow lotus sachet she embroidered for her maternal grandfather until her death. The stitches on the sachet were still in place. The arrow was shot in from behind.”
Xiao Zhouyan's gaze sharpened. He had met Princess Yuwen Yue before.
When the Central Plains made peace with Tibet through marriage, she was given the surname "Yuwen" as the daughter of a hostage. When she married into Gaochang, the entire city of Chang'an was deserted.
Are you sure it was the Tibetans who did this?
Yuwen Heng sneered and took out an arrowhead from his pocket—a wolf-tooth arrowhead, used exclusively by the Tibetan royal guards.
“The knife handed by Mukun, the arrow fired by the Tibetans.” He ran his fingertips over the Tibetan script engraved on the arrow’s fletching. “It says ‘The will of the gods.’”
A sudden gust of wind swept in from outside the window, making the map rustle loudly. Xiao Zhouyan pressed down on a corner of the map and caught a glimpse of a vermilion circle marked on the border of Tibet: "Snow Lotus Terrace".
That was the place where Yuwen Yue was attacked back then.
"Your mother..." Xiao Zhouyan pondered, "did she ever mention any secrets of the Tibetan royal family?"
Yuwen Heng closed his eyes briefly: "She only said that there was a painting called 'Twin Lotuses in the Snowy Land' hanging in the study of the Tibetan king. The painting depicts two lotuses, one withered and one flourishing."
Twin lotuses, flourishing and withering side by side.
Xiao Zhouyan's pupils contracted sharply. The Central Plains secret archives recorded that the succession to the Tibetan throne was considered inauspicious for twins; if twins were born, one would be abandoned.
"Your maternal grandfather..."
“Still alive.” Yuwen Heng sneered. “Imprisoned in the dungeon of Hongshan Palace. My ‘good uncle’ claims to the outside world that he is in seclusion for cultivation.”
He slowly took out a secret letter from his sleeve and handed it to Xiao Zhouyan.
“Mukun not only colluded with Tibet, but also secretly interacted with the Western Turks.” Yuwen Heng’s voice was low. “He promised the Western Turks that if they helped him ascend the throne, they would cede the three northwestern prefectures of Gaochang.”
Xiao Zhouyan unfolded the secret letter, his gaze sweeping over the familiar Turkic script, his brows furrowing slightly: "The Western Turks have repeatedly invaded the border in recent years. If they gain control of the three prefectures, they will surely become a major threat."
“Therefore, neither Tibet nor the Western Turks can be spared.” Yuwen Heng traced the Tibetan capital on the map with his fingertip. “My mother married far away for the sake of peace between the two countries, but she ended up like this. I will make them repay this debt tenfold.”
Xiao Zhouyan remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Yuwen Heng: "What do you intend to do?"
"Using someone else to do the dirty work." Yuwen Heng's lips curled into a cold smile. "Since Mu Kun has colluded with the Western Turks, we will let the Tibetan king know about this. When they are in internal strife, the Gaochang army will press on and annex Tibet in one fell swoop."
Xiao Zhouyan pondered for a moment and said, "The Western Turks..."
“I have already sent people to spread the news that Mukun is secretly plotting with the Tibetan king to destroy the Western Turks first.” Yuwen Heng’s eyes were sharp. “The Khan of the Western Turks is suspicious and will surely strike first.”
Xiao Zhouyan chuckled lightly, "Killing two birds with one stone, that's a good plan." He put away the map and said seriously, "I will mobilize my elite forces to help you succeed."
Yuwen Heng bowed deeply: "Thank you."
The wind picked up outside the window, whipping up clouds of yellow sand. Xiao Zhouyan gazed at the faint outline of the snow-capped mountains in the distance and said calmly, "The army will set off in half a month."
Yuwen Heng nodded, a resolute glint in his eyes.
The hatred for his mother and the debt owed to Tibet will finally be settled in this battle.
***
Xu Qingyao stared at the flashing red dot on the virtual screen, her fingertips tapping lightly.
"System, what is Xiao Zhouyan doing in Gaochang?"
[They were plotting with Yuwen Heng how to annex Tibet.]
"Um???"
Xu Qingyao looked completely bewildered.
"Didn't he just arrive in Gaochang? When did they become so close?"
What exactly did they talk about in those few short hours?
Please watch the video...
As the images on the screen changed continuously, the entire process of Xiao Zhouyan and Yuwen Heng's conversation was presented on the screen.
After watching, Xu Qingyao slowly gave the two a thumbs up.
Wow! A few words can determine the fate of a nation.
"Xiao Zhouyan should know that doing this will strengthen Gaochang's power. What should he do then?"
Xu Qingyao looked at the moon, which seemed so close at hand, and yawned.
[This does not involve the main storyline and has little impact.]
Xu Qingyao nodded groggily, returned to the bed, and fell asleep.
At dawn, when the sky was just beginning to lighten and the thin mist had not yet dissipated, there was a gentle knock on Xu Qingyao's door.
"Miss Xu, are you getting up?" A respectful voice came from outside the door.
"What is it?" A sleepy voice came from inside the door.
"His Highness the Second Prince has sent me to invite you, young lady. Recently, some people near the capital have contracted a strange illness, and the doctors are helpless. His Highness knows of your excellent medical skills and wishes to ask for your assistance. You will certainly not be shortchanged on your treatment fee," the maid said respectfully outside the door.
Xu Qingyao slowly opened her eyes. The morning light from outside the window shone through the gauze curtains, casting dappled light spots on the bedside.
She raised her hand and pressed her temples; the grogginess from last night hadn't completely dissipated.
"Okay, I'll be right back in a minute." Her voice was slightly hoarse as she got up and put on an outer garment.
The maid waited quietly outside the door until Xu Qingyao pushed the door open and came out, then she lowered her head and led the way.
As Xu Qingyao walked through the corridor, she discreetly observed her surroundings. Several unfamiliar guards had appeared in the courtyard; they seemed ordinary, but their positions subtly blocked several possible escape routes.
It seems that the second prince not only wants her to cure his illness, but also wants to test her background.
Upon arriving at the side courtyard, several pale-faced villagers huddled on straw mats, while the doctor beside them shook his head and sighed.
Songtsen Lobsang stood to the side, and when he saw Xu Qingyao arrive, a gentle smile appeared on his lips: "Miss Xu, thank you for your trouble."
Xu Qingyao nodded slightly and squatted down to examine the patient. The moment her fingertips touched the pulse, her eyes narrowed.
She recognized the poison.
The rare poison from the Western Regions, "Blue Silk Entanglement," causes gradual stagnation of the meridians in the victim, eventually leading to suffocation and death. However, this poison is so rare that ordinary doctors cannot diagnose it, let alone find an antidote.
She looked up and met Songtsen Losang's meaningful gaze.
"Does the young lady have a solution?" he asked.
Xu Qingyao withdrew her hand, her tone calm: "It can be cured, but it requires a few special medicinal herbs."
Songtsen Lobsang's smile deepened: "Just ask if you need anything."
She named several medicinal herbs, including one completely unrelated one called "Snow Lingzhi"—a rare item only found in the secret treasury of the Tibetan royal family.
If Songtsen Lobsang really gave it to him, it would prove that he knew about the poison all along, and might even be the one who poisoned him.
The maidservant hurried off to fetch the medicine. Songtsen Losang suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Miss Xu's medical skills are indeed extraordinary, but..."
Before he finished speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the courtyard.
A guard rushed in, his face filled with alarm: "Your Highness! The Western Turkic envoy has arrived unexpectedly and is already at the palace gate!"
Songtsen Lobsang's smile suddenly turned cold.
Xu Qingyao lowered her eyes to hide the probing look in them.
Watching Songtsen Lobsang's departing figure, she thought to herself, "It's easy for Tibet to come in, but hard to get out."
The maid quickly brought the medicinal herbs, which indeed included the "Snow Lingzhi".
"Miss, all the medicines are ready." The maid respectfully presented the brocade box.
Xu Qingyao took the medicinal herbs, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Thank you for your trouble."
As she turned to prepare the medicine, she caught a glimpse of two guards secretly observing her every move. With a flick of her fingertips, a wisp of colorless and odorless powder quietly dissolved into the decocted medicine.
"Have them drink the medicine; their symptoms will subside in half an hour." Xu Qingyao handed the bowl of medicine to the maid and asked casually, "The Western Turkic envoy arrived so suddenly; is there something important?"
The maidservant looked flustered: "This servant doesn't know..."
Just as Xu Qingyao was about to question the maid about the Western Turkic envoy, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the palace, followed by a guard rushing into the courtyard in a panic.
"Report! Something terrible has happened! There's been an accident at the horse stables!"
The medicine bowl in the maid's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" and shattered into pieces, splashing brown medicine onto the bluestone slab.
Xu Qingyao lightly traced the rim of the medicine bowl with her fingertips, then suddenly looked up and smiled: "The Second Prince must be receiving the Western Turkic envoys in the Zichen Palace right now, right?"
Before the words were finished, the spear in the guard's hand clattered onto the bluestone slab.
Suddenly, a series of neighing sounds came from the direction of the stables in the distance, interspersed with curses in Turkic.
Xu Qingyao's ears twitched slightly—it was the distinctive whistle of the Western Turkic cavalry.
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