Chapter 222 Being Pulled in the Dark
Seeing Xie Qi's unpleasant expression, Xiao Xuanyou knew what he was thinking. Feigning ignorance, he simply chuckled, "General Xie, why do you look so unpleasant? Are you not welcoming me to Yaocheng?"
"This humble general dares not," Xie Qi suppressed the surprise and doubt in his eyes, "but His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble birth, and it is truly an honor for this humble general to travel all the way from the capital to Yaocheng."
He then asked Xiao Xuanyou, "Why hasn't Eunuch Jinxi come?"
Xiao Xuanyou looked at him with a half-smile, "Before setting off, Eunuch Jinxi injured his leg. I couldn't bear to see him travel such a long distance, and I was also worried about the soldiers in Yaocheng, so I asked my father for permission to come in place of Eunuch Jinxi."
"General Xie seems quite disappointed about this?"
Xie Qi immediately replied, "How could that be? His Highness the Crown Prince's personal visit to Yao City is an honor for all the soldiers and people of Yao City."
But neither he nor Jiang Zhi were prepared at all; Xiao Xuanyou arrived in Yaocheng without a word.
Xie Qi was skeptical when he was told that the purpose of the visit was merely to appease the army.
However, only he, his two personal guards Wei Yu and Lu Yuan knew that Jiang Zhi was in Yaocheng.
How did Xiao Xuanyou, who was far away in Kyoto, find out?
He was completely baffled.
She glanced again at Lu Yuan, who had been silent since the beginning.
"Is Lord Lu also here in Yaocheng on official business?" he asked.
Lu Yuan's expression was indifferent. "This humble official only came to Yaocheng to investigate a case. I happened to meet His Highness the Crown Prince outside the city, so we came together."
Otherwise, he would have sent a letter to Jiang Zhi in advance.
Xie Qi felt that neither of them had good intentions.
So, he remained outwardly calm but secretly gave Wei Yu a hand signal. Wei Yu immediately obeyed and left the welcoming party to head towards the general's mansion.
Jiang Zhi was startled when she heard that Xiao Xuanyou had come to Yaocheng, and hurriedly tried to pack her things.
Wei Yu stopped her, saying, "Miss Ji, those Di people are still up to no good. For your safety, it's best if you don't leave the General's Mansion."
Even within the manor, Xie Qi instructed everyone to address her as Miss Ji, and no one knew her true identity.
Jiang Zhi's panicked mind calmed down.
Yes, since those Di people want to use her to coerce Xie Qi, they certainly won't give up easily.
At this moment, only the General's Mansion in Yaocheng is the safest place.
Moreover, this place is not within Xiao Xuanyou's sphere of influence. Even if he knows that he has been resurrected, he cannot do anything to her as he did in Kyoto.
Jiang Zhi sat back down. "I understand. Tell your general to rest assured that I won't be going out for the next two days. Let him focus on receiving His Highness the Crown Prince."
“Yes, oh right, there’s one more thing,” Wei Yu thought for a moment and then said, “Commander Lu has also come to Yaocheng.”
Jiang Zhi's heart skipped a beat.
Why is Lu Yuan here too?
She was immediately flustered, but not wanting Wei Yu to notice, she simply waved her hand and told him to leave.
Jiang Zhi originally thought that as long as she stayed obediently in her room, she wouldn't have to see Xiao Xuanyou. Surely Xiao Xuanyou couldn't just barge into the backyard of the General's Mansion, could he?
But who knew that as soon as Xiao Xuanyou arrived, he told Xie Qi that there was no need to spend money to stay in the superior room of the inn that Xie Qi had originally prepared for Eunuch Jin Xi, but that he could stay directly at the General's Mansion.
Furthermore, when he entered the city, he heard that the living bodhisattva who had previously brought a large batch of medicine to relieve the urgent plague crisis in Yaocheng was currently in the general's mansion.
He then smiled and said to Xie Qi, "I am extremely curious about such an extraordinary woman. Why don't we let her come out and pay her respects? I will certainly reward her handsomely."
Left with no other choice, Jiang Zhi had to continue her disguise of a scarred face, put on a veil, and come to pay her respects to Xiao Xuanyou.
Xiao Xuanyou sat at the head of the table, looking down at her.
He was dressed in dark casual clothes, his phoenix eyes slightly lowered. In the few months since we last met, his aura had become even more sharp and imposing than before. He had lost his former gentleness and was as if he had been tempered by frost, revealing a hidden sharpness.
"So you are the Miss Ji that the people are talking about?" His voice was devoid of emotion, carrying an unfamiliar air of superiority, as if he were genuinely just curious about the person in front of him.
No one saw that his hands were clenched tightly under his sleeves, and he needed to use the greatest restraint he could ever muster to suppress the urge to get up and pull the woman in front of him into his arms.
He's already made a mistake once.
We must not push her any further away.
Since she doesn't want to be Jiang Zhi, then I'll play along and pretend I know nothing.
"Yes, this commoner, Ji Zhiya, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Jiang Zhi knelt with her head bowed, her voice calm.
Xiao Xuanyou didn't even show the slightest curiosity about the veil on her face, only nodding, "You have rendered meritorious service in helping General Xie quell the plague, and I will certainly reward you well. Tonight I will reward the three armies, and I urge Miss Ji to attend."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will obey." Jiang Zhi knew Xiao Xuanyou's temperament well.
If I act indifferently, he might not take it to heart.
If you dare to refuse, you are very likely to attract his attention and make him focus his attention on you.
As expected, seeing that Jiang Zhi agreed, Xiao Xuanyou turned to Xie Qi and started talking about the local customs and culture of Yao City, without giving Jiang Zhi a single extra glance.
Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, as long as I keep a low profile, I'll be safe once Xiao Xuanyou leaves Yao City.
That night.
Dozens of bonfires were burning outside the camp of the Yaocheng army. The firewood crackled and sparks, carrying warmth, flew in all directions.
The beef and mutton on the iron rack sizzled and dripped with oil, their aroma mingling with the smoky scent of pine wood that permeated the entire military camp.
"All of you soldiers have worked hard to defend our borders. This wine and roast meat are a reward from the Emperor himself. Tonight, let's not talk about formalities, but about brotherhood—everyone, please don't be shy, just eat and drink to your heart's content."
Xiao Xuanyou raised his cup, and cheers erupted from the soldiers in the military camp.
They had been defending Yaocheng for many days, and the drought and plague had greatly dampened their morale. Today, His Highness the Crown Prince came with the Emperor's reward, which, although it was just some wine and food, still greatly boosted their spirits.
Xiao Xuanyou and Xie Qi sat at the head of the table, constantly clinking their glasses.
The two had been as close as siblings for many years. Although there had been a brief rift between them because of Jiang Zhi, they both now knew that Jiang Zhi was safe and sound and had let go of their long-standing grudges.
At this moment, Jiang Zhi sat among a group of steaming soldiers, looking completely out of place.
The autumn nights were already chilly. She was frail, so she wrapped herself in the fox fur cloak that Xie Qi had prepared for her and slowly sipped her fruit wine.
As night deepened, Jiang Zhi could no longer stay awake and spoke to Wei Yu beside her.
Wei Yu then escorted her to the outside of her tent, saying, "It's late and the night is frosty. The general has instructed that Miss Ji rest here tonight."
Jiang Zhi nodded. "Thank you. Commander Wei, please go back to your seat. It's a rare occasion for the night to be so lively. There's no need for you to stay here and watch over me."
Although Wei Yu was tempted, he remembered Xie Qi's instructions and stood guard at the entrance of Jiang Zhi's tent with his sword.
He knew how much his general cared about this Miss Ji, and he absolutely could not be careless and let anything happen to her.
Seeing that he insisted, Jiang Zhi didn't say anything more, lifted the curtain and went in, where it was pitch black.
As she was looking for an oil lamp to light it, her outstretched wrist was suddenly grabbed in the darkness.
Jiang Zhi thought she had encountered the Di people again, and was so frightened that her hair stood on end. Before she could even utter a cry of alarm, a pair of large hands covered her lips, and the oil lamp in her hand fell to the ground with a "bang".
"Miss Ji, what happened?" Wei Yu, who was outside the tent, did not dare to rush in when he heard the voice, and asked through the curtain.
"It's nothing, I just didn't hold the lamp properly."
By the moonlight, she could clearly see Lu Yuan's cold and stern face.
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