“Yes, Your Highness, we are traveling light this time, so there is no need for us to see you off,” General Meng also advised her.
"General Xie, General Meng, and all the vanguard generals and deputy generals, you have just arrived in Qingzhou. My mission is to escort you to the border."
"Generals, you have rendered meritorious service to the country. The Empress Dowager is too busy with state affairs to see you off in person. I will see you off on her behalf. I will not return until we reach the border," Leng Qingning said firmly.
General Xie looked worried: "But the journey is long and arduous. How can Your Highness, with your precious body, endure such a long and arduous journey?"
Leng Qingning said nonchalantly, "I am young and in good physical condition. General Xie can rest assured. I will return after you have finished counting the last troops at the border."
General Xie wanted to persuade her further, but Leng Qingning spurred her horse and rode ahead.
After traveling for several days, the group arrived at the border of Huaizhou, only about two hundred li away from the frontier, and temporarily found a roadside teahouse to rest.
"Boss, a few pots of hot tea, please."
"Okay, please wait a moment." The boss gestured for them to sit down.
"Your Highness, we are about to enter the border region. Please return with Minister Cang at the next ferry crossing," General Xie tried to persuade him further.
Upon hearing the word "Your Highness," the group of foreign men sitting in the corner all looked towards Leng Qingning's table.
Sensing several gazes from her right, Leng Qingning quickly gave General Xie a meaningful look.
General Xie realized something was wrong and pretended to be angry, raising his voice to say to Leng Qingning, "Shopkeeper, your mother and Aunt Meng went abroad to do some small business. Why did you insist on coming along? You're still young and don't understand business matters. Quickly take your husband back."
"Mother, I won't go back. I can only rest assured when I see you leave the country safely."
“Yes, Mother, you are getting on in years, and my wife and I are worried about you. Let us see you and your aunts off,” Cangyuan replied.
The people in the corner looked away.
Leng Qingning glanced at them out of the corner of her eye, and only felt relieved when she saw that they were no longer looking.
It's always best to be careful when you're out and about.
The owner brought out hot tea to greet everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen, the tea is here, be careful it's hot."
"Thank you." Cang Yuan accepted the tea.
The shopkeeper said politely, "You're too kind. I see that you are all from out of town, right? Although Huaizhou is in a remote area, it is close to the border, and there are quite a few business people like you passing through."
"Oh? Where are they all from?" Leng Qingning asked.
"There are many. They come from all over the world, and there are also foreigners from various tribes who pass through our Huaizhou."
The boss glanced at the men dressed in foreign attire in the corner and lowered his voice to say to Leng Qingning and the others, "Look, those young masters are from a foreign tribe. Their tribe makes a living by hunting and often takes valuable furs to various countries to exchange for goods."
Leng Qingning asked him, "Which tribe are they from?"
"Judging from their clothing, they should be from the Sancho tribe, which is located more than a hundred miles from the border of the Jin Kingdom. There are several tribes there."
"oh…."
"Thank you, boss," Leng Qingning said politely.
"Then, sirs, please enjoy your meal."
"OK."
Sancho tribe? Leng Qingning had heard Kong Xuanzi mention this tribe before.
After a short rest, the group left the teahouse.
A day later, they finally arrived at the border. General Xie and his men did not dare to rest for a moment and immediately went to the army camp to count the troops.
Leng Qingning had completed her mission, and she led Cang Yuan to a hilltop not far from the army.
The two rode their horses up the mountain, and when they reached the summit, the evening sun was shining down. They sat down on the ground and admired the sunset over the border.
"Ah Yuan, don't you think there's a kind of ethereal and tranquil beauty here?"
"Yes, the sun seems bigger here, and the clouds seem almost right in front of us."
"That's because the border area is at a higher elevation and closer to the clouds."
Cang Yuan's eyes flickered slightly. "My lady, I like it here."
"Um?"
Cang Yuan recalled a sentence Leng Qingning had said to him in the past.
“My lady, do you remember what you told me before? The clouds are like slender condensation. We are so close to the clouds here. Standing on the mountaintop, it feels like I can see you with just a glance.”
Leng Qingning chuckled, "Can't you see clouds when you look up in Chang Le City?"
"It's different here. It's more realistic. I can even see the clouds changing in an instant, as if I could reach out and grab them."
Leng Qingning seemed to be deep in thought, then moved closer to Cang Yuan and gently leaned into his arms.
"A-Yuan, I will always be by your side."
"Okay." Cang Yuan gently hugged her.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the warm, golden light enveloped the two of them, creating a tender and intimate atmosphere.
As night fell, things naturally fell into place.
The next morning
The army was fully prepared to set off, and Leng Qingning bid farewell to Xie Meng and other generals.
She politely declined the five thousand elite soldiers the two men offered her, leaving only one hundred guards.
Watching the army leave the country, Leng Qingning felt a little empty inside.
It was as if the battlefield of the Three Kingdoms was unfolding before her eyes. What she saw was a scene of utter devastation. In any battle, one would inevitably be wounded. She only hoped that this war could end as soon as possible.
She did not want the soldiers of Dayue to be injured or killed, nor did she want to unduly implicate the people of Cangqiong.
"Chi Yan, have you ever regretted it even for a moment?" Leng Qingning murmured softly.
As the army marched past, raising a cloud of dust, Leng Qing gazed intently at the departing troops, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"My lady, let's go."
Leng Qingning withdrew her gaze. "Okay, let's go."
"drive."…
Huaizhou
It's the same teahouse.
“Master, why don’t we take a boat back instead? Look how tanned you are from all this wind and sun,” Biluo suggested.
Leng Qingning put down her teacup. "What! Am I that dark-skinned?"
"No, my lady, you are as beautiful as ever."
Leng Qingning looked at Bai Yufuguang and asked them questions.
“Master, you’re not dark-skinned.” The two said in unison.
"Forget it, for those who aspire to great things, how can they care about their appearance? Let them be dark-skinned then." Leng Qingning thought to herself, "I might have to go to the battlefield myself in the future, so how can I care about my looks?"
"Drink quickly, have the guards fill the water bags, and set off after half an incense stick's time. Travel day and night, first reach the next major state, then change ships."
Huaizhou is remote and lacks large ferries, so small boats travel very slowly.
"Yes," Bai Yu replied.
Shortly after Leng Qingning and the others left, a group of foreign men followed behind them.
As darkness fell completely, Leng Qingning and the others slowed their pace considerably.
call out.
A thick arrow, billowing with smoke, shot into the crowd, and within moments, the surrounding area was filled with smoke.
"Hoo."
"What happened next?" Leng Qingning asked.
Cangyuan drew his Cangwu sword, and Biluo Baiyu Fuguang instantly went into a state of alert.
Before anyone could react, more than a dozen thick arrows were fired in succession.
"Hold your breath and retreat into the bushes!" Leng Qingning shouted to the guards.
The thick arrows landed, billowing smoke that instantly stunned a large number of the guards. The remaining soldiers quickly ran to the bushes on either side, which were more than a meter tall.
Cang Yuan and the others helped Leng Qingning dismount and disappear into the bushes.
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