Chapter 100 The Dust Settles
Through the screen, Chu Jiubian could clearly see every change in Qin Xiao's expression, and naturally he also saw the handkerchief in his hand.
On a corner of the pure white silk, lifelike jasmine flowers are embroidered.
Chu Jiubian pursed his lips, then looked up and saw the smile on Qin Xiao's face that didn't reach his eyes.
Chu Jiubian almost laughed.
"Your Excellency, I am indeed a follower of the High Priest."
Qin Xiao had a fearsome reputation and a powerful aura. Lü Liangcai didn't even dare to look him in the eye. Now, hearing him laugh, he assumed that the other party was in a good mood and relaxed a bit.
"What business do you have with me?" Qin Xiao asked calmly.
"Your Excellency," Lü Liangcai said, "the High Priest summoned me to your side so that messages could be relayed promptly and information could be exchanged with those in the capital."
Qin Xiao stared at him intently, his expression becoming serious.
"What else did he say?"
"That's all for now, but the High Priest might appear in my dream tonight to tell me about what's happening in the capital. If you have any instructions, I can pass them on to you."
Lu Liangcai replied earnestly and cautiously, his attitude as respectful as could be.
Qin Xiao lowered his eyes to look at the handkerchief, his fingertips gently caressing the jasmine flower.
However, his attention was actually on Lü Liangcai's back.
He could sense a prying gaze from there, faint but unmistakable, yet he could still feel that someone was watching him.
I've had this feeling before.
After he conquered the Sai Kingdom, Chu Jiubian performed magic and displayed a miracle on the summit of the sacred mountain.
When he looked up, it seemed as if he met Chu Jiubian's gaze.
But today's gaze must have come from the high priest.
The other person was observing him.
This method, which was the same as Chu Jiubian's, made Qin Xiao feel uneasy, and also brought with it a deep sense of crisis.
Lu Liangcai lowered his head, and the tent grew even quieter, making his heart, which had just settled, rise again.
After a long pause, Qin Xiao finally spoke again, his tone surprisingly gentle: "Then I'll have to trouble you."
"It's not hard work. It's my good fortune to serve the High Priest and the court."
Qin Xiao smiled and said, "Then I'll trouble the High Priest to tell Chu Jiubian that I am well, but I miss him day and night. I wonder how he is doing? Does he miss me?"
Chu Jiubian: "..."
Everyone could tell why he was saying these things to the "High Priest".
Previously, he wasn't quite sure if Qin Xiao was really jealous of the High Priest, but now it's confirmed.
Qin Xiao has created a hypothetical enemy for himself.
Lu Liangcai's expression changed repeatedly as he listened to Qin Xiao's words.
How could he say these things to the high priest?
Although he was unaware of the entanglements between these three, he, a scholar in his forties, simply couldn't bring himself to utter such mushy words.
This is truly an insult to civility.
Qin Xiao continued, "I will definitely quell the rebellion and return to the capital as soon as possible, and strive to go back before the end of the year, so that he will not worry too much."
"Oh, and one more thing." Qin Xiao smiled, "Tell him that the scent of him on his undergarments has been washed away."
Chu Jiubian: "..."
Why wash a perfectly good undergarment? What did you use it for?
Lu Liangcai waited a while, and seeing that he was not going to continue, he then agreed with a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Someone come here." Qin Xiao called over a servant. "Prepare a tent and some food and wine for Boss Lü to welcome him and take good care of him."
The attendant acknowledged and gestured, "This way, Mr. Lü, please."
Lu Liangcai bowed to Qin Xiao in thanks before leaving with his attendants.
Qin Xiao was the only one left in the tent. The dim light illuminated his angular profile, and his high nose cast a shadow on his face.
He raised his eyes and looked straight at the entrance of the palace.
The gaze that had been fixed on him disappeared after Lü Liangcai left the tent.
Qin Xiao became increasingly certain that the owner of that gaze just now was the High Priest.
He looked down at the handkerchief in his hand, his expression unreadable.
Late at night, after Lü Liangcai had fallen asleep, Chu Jiubian summoned him into the Divine Realm.
Although the other party was somewhat embarrassed, they still relayed Qin Xiao's words to the High Priest verbatim.
Chu Jiubian simply gave a faint "hmm" and then told him the news from the capital, instructing him to inform him the next day that the Prince of Dingbei might be heading to Henan, so that Qin Xiao could quickly conquer Shaanxi and rush to Henan to provide support.
When Lü Liangcai heard that the rebellion had been quelled so easily in the capital, he was also very excited.
He felt he was doing something extraordinary and immediately agreed.
Chu Jiubian intended to see him out, but after a pause, he added, "Tell Prince Ning that Grand Tutor Chu is waiting for him to return to the capital to celebrate the New Year together."
"yes."
Four days later.
Qin Xiao completely dispersed the remaining troops of the Prince of Dingbei in his fiefdom and occupied Shaanxi.
Then he continued his journey towards Henan.
Meanwhile, Prince Dingbei, Baili Yu, had already led more than 10,000 soldiers, along with He Zhen and his 3,000 subordinates, to Henan, and rushed all the way to the location of the Prince of Anhuai's residence.
Jiang Yongshou received the news early and led his troops to welcome them outside the city.
When the two groups met, Jiang Yongshou and Baili Yu did not show any familiarity, and He Zhen did not notice anything unusual.
That night, Jiang Yongshou also prepared a lavish banquet for Baili Yu, He Zhen, and several of their generals.
Only now did Baili Ming realize that the Prince of Dingbei had arrived early this morning.
But no one told him that if He Zhen hadn't insisted on him attending the banquet, and Baili Yu hadn't agreed, Jiang Yongshou probably wouldn't have asked him to come out and meet Baili Yu.
At the banquet, everyone toasted each other, talking about the war in the capital and how Prince Ning had conquered Shaanxi and Gansu.
They also discussed how to defend themselves if Prince Ning and Prince Pingxi attacked Henan, and how to negotiate with the court.
Upon arriving here, the two groups, mainly Baili Yu and He Zhen, held differing opinions.
He Zhen felt that Prince Anhuai had not participated in the battle after all. At worst, He Zhen could sacrifice himself and say that he had been hiding and controlling the young prince. In this way, even if he died, he could save the throne for Baili Ming.
Although he had ambitions, he always remembered the old prince's cultivation and trust in him, and knew how much Baili Ming trusted and relied on him.
Previously, he had worked himself to the bone not only to gain more power for himself, but also to help Baili Ming ascend to that supreme position.
Even though the plan has failed, he doesn't regret it.
He only thought of using his own death to ensure Baili Ming's peaceful and stable life for the rest of his days.
Looking at his noticeably weathered and thinner face, Baili Ming felt a lump in his throat.
He's just too useless.
If he could be more assertive, then He Zhen and Jiang Yongshou would be unable to control him, and he could stop them from opposing the imperial court.
If that were the case, they could also live a peaceful life like the Drunken King Liang and his companions.
But it was all too late.
The high priest had previously asked him what would happen if He Zhen died, which was clearly also the court's intention.
He Zhen is doomed.
He Zhen made up his mind, but what he needed now was the ten thousand soldiers under the command of the Prince of Dingbei.
He wanted those soldiers to stay in Henan, join the Anhuai Army, and continue to protect Henan and Baili Ming.
But how could Baili Yu possibly do as he wished?
Baili Ming saw his Ninth Imperial Uncle's lips curl slightly, and he took a sip of tea, saying, "To admit defeat so easily, where has General He's backbone gone?"
He Zhen's face suddenly darkened.
Jiang Yongshou sat beside He Zhen, and his expression changed slightly.
"If you ask me, we should fight Qin Xiao to the death. That way, the world will look at us with more respect." Baili Yu said these high-sounding words, but he actually had other plans in mind.
He also possesses Gu Master skills.
Qin Xiao's army is different from Chu Jiubian's army. Those people don't have divine abilities, so they definitely can't stop those tiny Gu worms.
Even Chu Jiubian probably hasn't discovered the Gu worms yet, otherwise those civilians and soldiers parasitized by the Gu worms wouldn't be alive now.
"You're courting death, don't drag Prince Anhuai into it," He Zhen said in a deep voice.
He didn't notice that in an inconspicuous corner, a tiny Gu worm was crawling towards him at a very fast speed.
The Prince of Dingbei looked up at him, saying nothing, only smiling.
He Zhen was annoyed by his behavior and was about to say something when Jiang Yongshou grabbed his wrist tightly.
He turned his head to the side, his brow furrowed tightly.
He Zhen heard about Jiang Yongshou's house arrest of Baili Ming as soon as he returned. Although he knew it was for Baili Ming's safety, He Zhen still felt a greater rift between himself and Jiang Yongshou.
Moreover, after meeting with Baili Yu today, Jiang Yongshou's behavior was normal, but he became less talkative.
He Zhen himself could see the current situation, so Jiang Yongshou, as a strategist, certainly could see it even better.
Trading He Zhen's life for Baili Ming's life is a sure-fire way to make money.
But he had been the one talking the whole time, while Jiang Yongshou remained silent. He Zhen finally realized something was wrong.
Jiang Yongshou caught a glimpse of He Zhen's probing gaze out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't show anything unusual. He simply looked at Baili Yu and asked, "Your Highness said you want to fight the Prince of Ning to the death. Do you have any good ideas?"
Baili Yu raised an eyebrow: "Finally, a smart person."
He Zhen raised his eyes and glared at him.
Jiang Yongshou said, "Then please tell us, Your Highness. If it's a good idea, we're willing to cooperate."
"This matter is confidential; if too many people know about it, it won't work."
"Bullshit!" He Zhen said, "I can't do anything about you. If you want to die, then die. Don't drag us into this."
"In my opinion, the one who deserves to die—" Baili Yu smiled faintly, "is you, General He."
After he finished speaking, the Gu worm had already crawled behind He Zhen.
But for some reason, the worm that was supposed to climb up his back, run along his ear, and then into his ear seemed to be afraid of something and dared not approach He Zhen.
Baili Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the Gu worm.
He Zhen noticed his sudden change and immediately turned his head, only to see a small, transparent spider crawling on the ground, looking like it wanted to get closer but was also wary.
The others noticed it too.
Jiang Yongshou's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly turned to look at the Prince of Dingbei: "What are you doing?!"
Baili Yu's expression wasn't much better. He stared at He Zhen with a deep look in his eyes and gritted his teeth, asking, "What do you have on you?"
What is it?
He Zhen recalled that after returning to the city, he washed up and went to see Baili Ming first.
At that time, Baili Ming gave him a packet of medicine powder and told him to carry it with him, without saying what it was.
Looking back now, it must have been the medicinal powder that stopped the Gu worms; otherwise, he might already be a puppet in the hands of the Prince of Dingbei.
Therefore, the Gu worms that Baili Ming mentioned after returning from the capital last year were the work of the Prince of Dingbei.
"Alright." He Zhen stood up, stomped the Gu worm to death, and then drew his spear and attacked Baili Yu.
Before Baili Yu could react, Jiang Yongshou had already stood up and reached out to pull He Zhen away, shouting, "Stop! You mustn't!"
He Zhen didn't care about any of that. The reason he brought the Dingbei Army back was to leave behind those 10,000 soldiers, so that Henan would have some leverage to negotiate with the imperial court.
As for the Prince of Dingbei, now that he's here, he's naturally no longer of any use.
Two generals under Baili Yu were also present. Upon seeing this sudden situation, they immediately rushed forward, stood in front of He Zhen, and began fighting with him.
Jiang Yongshou was still standing at a distance, trying to break up the fight, while Baili Yu's eyes were dark as he stared intently at He Zhen.
Bai Liming sat in the main seat, watching this absurd farce with a dazed and bewildered expression.
What should he do?
What should I do?
The high priest's instructions seemed to echo in my ears again.
Yes, he has to protect himself; he can't die, he can't die.
He also needs to protect the people under his jurisdiction.
He can't continue to be so weak; he has to, he absolutely has to do something.
"That's enough!" he said.
His voice still carried a youthful clarity, but when he uttered those two words, it carried an air of authority that was not angry but dignified.
The people below were taken aback and looked at him in unison, actually stopping what they were doing.
Bai Liming stood up.
His heart pounded and his hands trembled as he spoke in this tone and attitude for the first time.
So he put his hands behind his back, thinking of Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao whom he had met in the capital, and imitated them by frowning and saying coldly, "I have decided to submit to the court. When the Prince of Ning's army arrives, I will order the city gates to be opened wide to welcome them."
Saying this means that he is on He Zhen's side.
Baili Ming then glanced at Baili Yu and said, "If Imperial Uncle is willing to die, then leave the territory of Henan. My fiefdom will not accommodate traitors."
Baili Yu never expected his weak nephew to behave this way, and was momentarily stunned.
The hall was completely silent.
As He Zhen and Jiang Yongshou gazed at the young master on the main seat, they were momentarily struck by a glimpse of the old prince.
“Sir,” Baili Ming looked at Jiang Yongshou, his eyes slightly red, “would you rather submit to the court with me, or leave with your former master?”
In short.
The first half of the sentence is "you" (您), and the second half is "you" (你).
The meaning is clear: if Jiang Yongshou is willing to stay, he will remain Baili Ming's most trusted and relied-upon strategist; if he chooses to leave, Baili Ming will sever all ties with him.
Looking at the boy's still-childish face, Jiang Yongshou vaguely saw the boy again when he was just starting to stumble and walk.
Back then, Baili Ming was so soft and cuddly that he would rush over and hug his legs, calling out in a sweet, soft voice, "Xianxian."
Because at that time, he couldn't even pronounce the word "sir" correctly.
In the blink of an eye, the child from back then has grown up so much.
Jiang Yongshou was not surprised that the other party knew about his relationship with the Prince of Dingbei. He had always known that Baili Ming was just too kind, which made him seem weak, but he was not stupid at all.
The hall grew increasingly quiet.
He Zhen glanced at Baili Ming, then slowly turned his head to look at Jiang Yongshou.
"What does Your Highness mean by 'former master'?" His voice was already deep and resonant, but now it carried an even stronger chilling killing intent.
Jiang Yongshou closed his eyes and remained silent.
When no one was watching, Baili Yu raised his hand and stroked the jade pendant at his waist a few times.
The hidden guards received their orders and quickly left the Prince of Anhuai's residence.
He Zhen laughed, his face contorted in a grotesque way: "So you're Jiang Yongshou, you're one of the Prince of Dingbei's men."
His tone was calm, but there was a faint grinding of his teeth: "It's a wonder the old prince trusted you so much, and it's a wonder you've kept up this act for so many years. How could you face the prince, how could you face His Highness!"
He turned his weapon around and pointed it at Jiang Yongshou: "I'll kill you today to appease the spirit of the old prince in heaven!"
"Wait a minute," Baili Ming said.
He Zhen said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness! He is a traitor! He and the Prince of Dingbei are in cahoots!"
Bai Liming looked steadily at Jiang Yongshou: "Sir, you have two choices. Please choose."
For many years, Jiang Yongshou has been tormented by his identity.
He felt both grateful and guilty towards the Prince of Anhuai, and at the same time, he remembered the kindness and support he had received from the Wu family, the maternal clan of the Prince of Dingbei.
Now that the secret has been revealed, he feels a sense of relief.
But if you ask him to choose, how can he choose?
He had always wanted Baili Ming to grow up and become independent as soon as possible, but now that Baili Ming has become independent, he doesn't know what to do.
Just then, a servant rushed in from outside, immediately knelt down, and exclaimed in a panic, "Mr. Jiang, General He! There's a fight outside!"
"What?!" He Zhen immediately disregarded everything else, "Who's fighting?"
"It's our soldiers fighting with..." The attendant glanced at the Prince of Dingbei and said in a trembling voice, "They've started fighting with the Prince of Dingbei's army."
He Zhen turned around and immediately attacked Baili Yu.
To catch the thief, first catch the king.
The two lieutenants stood in front of Baili Yu, while several dark figures descended from the roof beams, surrounding Baili Yu tightly.
But two more guards rushed straight to Baili Ming and put their knives to his neck.
"Stop! Stop!" Jiang Yongshou's legs went weak, and he knelt down on the ground.
He dared not look at Baili Ming and hurriedly kowtowed to Baili Yu: "Your Highness! Your Highness begs you to spare Prince Anhuai. He knows nothing; he is just a child!"
"We don't want anything, Henan is yours, we just beg you to spare our lives!"
Jiang Yongshou knew all too well what kind of person Baili Yu was. Since He Zhen and Baili Ming were openly opposing him, he would most likely not let them off the hook.
But there is still a 20% chance. As long as Baili Ming is just an ordinary person and there is no chance to provoke him again, then there is still a way to survive.
As long as you're alive, that's better than anything else.
Baili Yu poured himself a cup of wine, drank it all in one gulp, and then looked at the person lying on the ground: "It seems that Mr. Jiang has really developed feelings for Prince Anhuai. How touching."
Jiang Yongshou's head hit the ground, and blood bruised his forehead.
Even though He Zhen was such an impulsive person, he didn't dare to speak or move when he saw the knife at Baili Ming's neck.
Baili Yu scoffed and stood up, saying, "For my grandfather's sake, I'll give you this face."
"Take the three of them away and lock them up separately. They are not to be released without my order."
Having said that, he strode out the door.
The servants inside the palace dared not move, because the palace was already filled with soldiers under the command of the Prince of Dingbei.
Bai Liming, Jiang Yongshou, and He Zhen were all led out of the palace gate and headed towards other courtyards.
The other two deputy generals were forced out of the mansion by the Prince of Dingbei's men, and it is unknown what they were taken away to do.
The three remained silent on the way and were locked in three separate rooms. The doors were secured with thick bronze locks, and guards stood outside the doors and windows.
The Prince's Mansion was not in the bustling city, but Baili Ming, who was inside the house, could still faintly hear the sounds of clashing weapons and screams.
what to do?
What should he do?
Without a leader, the Anhuai Army might only be able to be beaten down by the Dingbei Army.
It's just unknown whether they know how to be flexible. If they obediently submit to the Prince of Dingbei, there will be fewer casualties.
The momentum and courage that Baili Ming had just built up were mostly gone when the knife was held to his neck, and now he had nothing left.
But he no longer wanted to consult the teacher and the general; he forced himself to calm down.
The best course of action now is to refrain from causing trouble and stay put. This way, the Dingbei Army might be able to suppress the Anhuai Army and avoid harming other ordinary civilians.
Yes, that's it.
He murmured.
In a daze, not knowing how much time had passed, Baili Ming suddenly looked up at the window.
Daylight broke.
"Have you heard? When the Anhuai Army realized they couldn't defeat our Dingbei Army, and seeing their two deputy generals beheaded in public and their masters imprisoned, they all obediently submitted to our Prince."
The guards at the gate were eating breakfast in the outer room, talking with a smile.
Bai Liming looked towards the entrance, stood up, and quietly leaned closer to continue listening.
Perhaps knowing that he and Jiang Yongshou were both physically weak, only He Zhen was bound hand and foot when they were imprisoned last night.
"I've heard about it." Another person slurped up a mouthful of noodles. "I also heard that when those people didn't obediently hand over their grain, our prince ordered that if they didn't hand over their money and grain, we would just go in and rob them."
Bai Liming's pupils suddenly contracted.
"And then what?"
"After that, these people behaved and handed over everything. But there were also those who didn't obey, and our soldiers just beheaded them."
Bai Liming felt a chill run down his spine as he listened.
The guard suddenly chuckled softly and said, "And those beautiful ladies from wealthy families, each one of them is so lovely, they're a real treat for us brothers."
"It's a pity we two brothers still have to stay here and guard, otherwise we could..."
"How about we go out and find a young lady to bring back?"
"This..." He pointed to the door behind him, "What about the person inside?"
"How could he possibly get out? We just need to go and come back quickly."
"That, that's fine too."
"Eat quickly, then we'll leave."
The two quickly finished their breakfast and then sneaked out of the yard.
Bai Liming waited until they were far away before slowly exhaling to calm himself down.
He clenched his fists and kicked the door repeatedly, finally managing to create a crack in it after five attempts.
Bai Liming squeezed out through the gap.
Because he was familiar with everything in the mansion, he successfully avoided the Prince of Dingbei's men and left the mansion.
Behind him, two guards at the gate watched from afar and smiled at each other.
"We've done a good job. His Highness will surely reward us with something nice."
"I still don't understand why Your Highness would go to such lengths to summon Prince Anhuai."
“Of course—” The man gestured at his neck.
Baili Yudu said he would let them go, so naturally he wouldn't attack them again without a reason.
But Baili Yu was not one to be threatened. Moreover, as long as Baili Ming lived, the people of Henan would still have hope and would not blindly follow the Prince of Dingbei.
Therefore, he had to lure Baili Ming away.
The city is in chaos; swords and spears have no eyes, and it's anyone's guess who might get hurt.
Bai Liming hid in the alley, looking at the chaotic street, the bloodstains all over the ground, and the raging fires in some places with black smoke billowing into the sky.
Many people were displaced, their homes were occupied by the Dingbei Army, and their food was stolen.
Some people are unwilling to accept this, and what they get in return is a dead end.
Bai Liming's eyes were wet, and his hands were gripping the wall so tightly that his fingertips were bleeding.
The once bustling streets have been reduced to ashes, and the once happy and harmonious people have been displaced. This is not the fiefdom he remembers.
That's so useless.
He's really useless.
Suddenly, a woman's scream rang out. Baili Ming wiped away his tears and hurriedly looked in the direction of the sound.
Then I saw a heavily pregnant woman running clumsily down the street, tears streaming down her face.
Behind her, a group of Dingbei soldiers seemed to have seen something interesting and were chasing after her at a leisurely pace, watching her stumble and fall in terror.
Bai Liming felt as if his heart had been stabbed.
The woman was exhausted, and the snowy ground was slippery, so she suddenly fell to the ground with a thud.
She clutched her stomach, in so much pain she couldn't even make a sound.
Behind them, the Dingbei Army laughed, their laughter wild and unrestrained.
Baili Ming disregarded everything else and rushed out, kneeling down beside the woman to help her up: "How are you? Can you get up?"
"I...I..." The woman cried even harder when she saw Baili Ming. "Your Highness, Your Highness, you've finally come."
Bai Liming bit his lip hard, and blood flowed down the corner of his mouth.
"I'm here. I'm late," he said in a trembling voice. "Don't be afraid, I'll take you to a doctor."
He no longer dared to call himself "this king"; he was unworthy.
"Oh, where did this young master come from, trying to be a hero and save the damsel in distress?" the soldiers chuckled.
"The distance isn't too far or too close, let's see who can hit him first." One man drew his bow and nocked an arrow. "I'll go first."
Having said that, the arrow shot straight toward Baili Ming's back.
The wind was strong, and Baili Ming was so flustered that he had his back to the people that he didn't hear anything behind him.
But the woman saw it.
Her pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively pushed Baili Ming away, only to have the arrow pierce her shoulder.
The scalding blood stained the ice and snow on the ground, and also reddened Baili Ming's eyes.
He rushed over to support the woman, then turned to look at the soldiers, his eyes bloodshot.
"Oh, you lost, it's my turn." Another soldier drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
"Your Highness, please leave quickly." The woman struggled to push Baili Ming away.
Bai Liming raised his hand, his sleeve facing them.
He just remembered that the high priest had given him a hidden blade.
He had been practicing all day while he was idly sitting in the courtyard for the past few days.
I was too anxious to think of it before, but now it finally has a chance to be put to good use.
The hidden dart shot out faster than the man's arrow, piercing straight through his neck.
The sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.
Baili Ming continued firing arrows, shooting them one by one.
However, the soldiers were not fools; they immediately dodged, and no one was killed by his attack again, though they were all injured.
Someone swore and then drew a bow and nocked an arrow, while two other people did the same.
With a whooshing sound, three arrows shot towards Baili Ming and the woman.
This time, Baili Ming knelt down in front of the woman, using his slender body to shield her from the arrows.
He closed his eyes, his expression unusually calm, as if he was ready to accept his hasty end.
Ding ding—
With a few crisp sounds, the three arrows were intercepted by several other arrows.
Baili Ming suddenly opened his eyes and saw a group of soldiers dressed in imperial armor rushing over from the other side of the long street.
The leading soldiers fired one arrow after another, not only blocking the three arrows but also killing the Dingbei soldiers.
It's the imperial army!
The army of Prince Ning has arrived!
Bai Liming's tears fell again. He turned around, supported the woman, and choked out, "It's alright, it's alright. Let's go find a doctor."
The woman was also crying uncontrollably.
She struggled to her feet.
Two imperial soldiers ran over and said, "Excuse me."
Then, with the help of the other, one of them carefully lifted the woman up.
Baili Ming hurriedly ran ahead to lead the way.
Outside the city, Baili Yu led two thousand soldiers in another escape.
However, this time he couldn't escape even if he had wings, and Qin Xiao quickly led his army to catch up and surround them.
Countless arrows were pointed at them, leaving them no way out.
Qin Xiao sat on horseback, his body thinned from days of travel, and his face showed a more resolute and sinister look due to his constant fighting.
He hadn't even shaved, but he didn't look sloppy; instead, he looked more mature and like a powerful regent.
Baili Yu could no longer put on a smile. He looked at him coldly without saying a word.
Qin Xiao had nothing more to say and said, "Arrest them all. Those who disobey will be killed without mercy."
Upon hearing this, Baili Yu's expression turned strange, and then he suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" the soldier behind Qin Xiao asked, frowning.
Baili Yu finally calmed down, still smiling as he looked at Qin Xiao, and said, "Your words, Prince Ning, are just like those of the Grand Tutor. It seems that you are deeply in love and have unconsciously become similar."
Qin Xiao looked at him indifferently.
You can't expect ivory to come out of a dog's mouth, so Baili Yu certainly wouldn't say anything nice either.
Sure enough, Baili Yu continued, "I just wonder if the Grand Tutor shares your sentiments, or if he's entangled with that High Priest?"
This is something Qin Xiao has been reminiscing about lately, but little did he know that Baili Yu could accurately guess his sensitive spots.
This Prince Dingbei is indeed very good at observation, and even more so at manipulating people's hearts.
"I do know that there is someone who is indeed entangled with you." Qin Xiao raised his hand.
Two soldiers then emerged from behind the army, with a person in between them wearing a black cloak, whose head and face were completely covered.
Baili Yu's brow twitched.
The two soldiers forced the man to kneel on the ground and then pulled off his hood and mask.
An old, wrinkled face appeared before Baili Yu.
Baili Yu's pupils suddenly contracted.
He stared intently at the man, unable to believe what he was seeing.
That figure was clearly the Gu Master who had always been with him.
He had always thought the other person was an ordinary-looking man, but definitely young and devoted.
But what does he see now?
It turned out to be an old man with white hair!
Moreover, it was the old steward of the Prince of Dingbei's mansion, whom he knew very well and who usually took care of many things for him!
Baili Yu suddenly remembered that his acquaintance with the Gu Master was arranged by the old steward, and that after the Gu Master stayed by his side, the old steward retired and went home to enjoy his old age...
No.
This is definitely not his Gu Master!
Baili Yu couldn't believe it.
He clearly recognized the other person's face; it was an ordinary but still handsome face with soft, delicate skin and a young, tender body.
He had done that kind of thing with her many times before, how could she possibly be like this?!
“The Prince of Dingbei need not doubt.” A female voice came from the army, and Si Tuanli, dressed in the attire of the Southern Frontier, rode out on horseback.
Looking at the distorted face of the Prince of Dingbei, she smiled slightly and said, "He only used Gu, he is not a young man."
Having received news of his daughter, Si Tuanli rushed to Henan to deal with the Gu Master.
After joining forces with Qin Xiao's army yesterday, she used the little green snake and some Gu techniques and witchcraft to locate the Gu master's position.
After catching him, they discovered that he was a young man.
But Si Tu Anli immediately noticed that the other party had used Gu to maintain his youthful appearance. Sure enough, after the little green snake ate the Gu worms on the other party's body, the person was restored to his current appearance.
The Gu Master, or rather the old steward, finally slowly raised his eyes and looked at Baili Yu with his cloudy eyes.
When she spoke, her voice was no longer androgynous; instead, it was aged, low, and hoarse.
"Your Highness, I lied to you." He looked at Baili Yu with adoration, "But my heart is true to you."
Qin Xiao: "......"
He felt a little nauseous.
Baili Yu was even more furious, especially when he thought about how he had been entangled with the other party for so many years, he was so angry that he vomited blood.
==
Chu Jiubian did not witness this scene, but after learning about it through Lü Liangcai's retelling that evening, he remained speechless for a long time.
But I also felt like laughing.
If Qin Xiao really wanted to make someone angry, it would be truly unbearable.
After leaving the divine realm, he turned over, skillfully hugged Qin Xiao's pillow, and opened the rather uninteresting picture book.
But his attention wasn't on the book.
It is now December 20th, and affairs in the court are gradually returning to normal.
An Wuji and Qin Chuan captured Lu Jinfeng, but because the latter didn't have much fighting spirit, he surrendered shortly after fighting An Wuji that day.
Qiu Xuanzheng, however, was a straightforward man who insisted on a decisive victory, and in the end, Qin Chuan slit his throat.
Qin Chuan and An Wuji were also injured, but not seriously. Chu Jiubian gave them anti-inflammatory medicine, and the Imperial Hospital took care of them.
An Wuji only suffered two superficial wounds and was already able to jump around.
Although Qin Chuan was not seriously injured, he had a broken right hand and a knife wound on his left arm, and had basically lost his ability to take care of himself.
He cannot return to the Qin family. Only Qin Xiao and Qin Chaoyang in the Qin family know his identity, but neither of them is currently in the capital.
Therefore, he had no choice but to remain in the palace.
Currently, only Chu Jiubian and An Wuji in the palace know his true identity.
An Wuji himself was still ill, and Chu Jiubian, being of such a status, couldn't easily take care of him. They couldn't expect Qin Chuan to always wear a mask and be cared for by palace servants.
Therefore, Chu Jiubian had no choice but to summon Lu Yao into the palace as well.
Fortunately, Lu Yao and Qin Chuan had a good relationship, so Lu Yao was more comfortable with Qin Chuan than with others.
As for Qin Chaoyang's side, with the Northeast Army there, the Jurchens didn't dare to do anything.
So he wasn't fighting there, but rather helping Tan Yuzhu refine the details of the Chamber of Commerce.
Wang Huanzhi has already been captured and imprisoned in Beijing, and Wang Wenyao has also been brought under control in the Northeast. Once they return to Beijing, they will be sentenced along with the others.
According to recent messages from believers, the imperial court has also conquered Hubei and Hunan, as well as Guangdong and Jiangxi, leaving only the cleanup work to be done.
Therefore, of the four major families, except for the Wang family, they have basically withdrawn from politics. However, the Wang family is one of our own, so we don't need to worry about them for the time being.
The vassal kings either surrendered, died, or were captured.
The forces threatening the imperial court have been largely eliminated. What remains is to allow the people of Da Ning to recuperate and rebuild, focusing on shipping routes, infrastructure projects, and education...
These are all times when large-scale development is needed.
Besides these.
All that's left is...
Chu Jiubian rubbed his smooth left wrist, where there should have been deep scars.
In the darkness, the young man's eyes became empty.
It's time for him to show Qin Xiao his true colors.
December 25th.
Qin Xiao led a small team of only a few hundred people back to the capital first.
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