Chapter 412: Out of the Bandit’s Den?; Northern Border’s Monarch and Subject

Ji Qingwu saw his face. Her eyebrows shot up uncontrollably before she quickly forced them back down.

He was so handsome that the gloomy, overcast sky seemed to brighten considerably.

’Who else could it be but Li Chengxun?’

’A mere scholar, storming a bandits’ den. He’s truly treating this like a visit to Chongqing Yun.’

’Still, to make the soldiers obey him so quickly right after arriving in Longzhou, Li Chengxun must have some skill.’

Ji Qingwu clasped her hands together, pretending to tremble with fear as she hid behind Si Hai.

Li Chengxun glanced over. They were unfamiliar faces. "Who are they?" he asked coldly.

The soldier replied, "Sir, they were abducted. They’re attendants on their way to Princess Qingyun’s estate. This subordinate has already verified this with Huang Er, the convoy’s leader."

Huang Er was Li Chengxun’s trusted confidant, so he had no reason to worry. He nodded. "Then return them to the convoy. Why did you bring them here?"

The soldier said, "Sir, they happened to be in the room just before that woman disappeared into the secret passage. This subordinate thought they might know something, so I brought them over."

Only then did Li Chengxun take a proper look at the two of them.

The man before him was young, with refined features and pale skin so fair his veins were visible.

And behind him was someone dressed as a peasant woman.

Si Hai puffed out his chest, squaring his shoulders to shield Ji Qingwu behind him.

He explained, "Sir, someone in our convoy was having a difficult birth, and she helped deliver two babies. Since Mrs. Hu was also about to give birth, she took a liking to her as a midwife and had us brought over."

Li Chengxun’s gaze shifted from the corner of her dusty, gray clothes back to the man’s face.

Si Hai’s eyes were clear as he said frankly, "We don’t know anything else. You can ask someone else."

Li Chengxun lowered his eyes, then raised them again.

He had already obtained everyone’s testimonies and a portrait, so he knew what had happened. He didn’t doubt the identity of this timid peasant woman.

It was just that the young man’s protective stance was a little too deliberate.

Li Chengxun handed the papers in his hand to the person beside him. "Tell Huang Er to check their identities again, carefully. We can’t let any spies slip through."

Ji Qingwu hid behind Si Hai with a clear conscience.

’I’m confident Li Chengxun can’t see through my disguise. As long as I don’t talk much, I shouldn’t be exposed.’

After giving his orders, Li Chengxun continued his questioning.

"It’s understandable that the bandit’s wife summoned her, but why you as well? What is your relationship with her?"

Si Hai craned his neck. "That’s... of course it’s because she’s my..."

The last word was as faint as the buzzing of a mosquito.

No one present heard him clearly.

Li Chengxun asked, "What?"

Ji Qingwu poked Si Hai in the back, but this time he clamped his mouth shut and couldn’t get the words out, the base of his ears turning beet red.

’It may be a necessary lie, but Miss Ji is bold enough to say it. I, on the other hand, wouldn’t dare.’

’If my master found out what I called Miss Ji, I might as well just dig a hole right here in Black Wind Village and bury myself. At least I’d leave a whole corpse behind.’

The soldier chuckled. "Sir, Huang Er said they’re a newlywed couple. He’s just shy."

Li Chengxun frowned.

His gaze fell on the peasant woman, whose clothes were partially visible. Her fingers were curled unnaturally, as if she were also embarrassed.

Thinking he was annoyed, the soldier said, "Sir, I’ll take them down to rejoin the convoy now. Should we head to Longzhou first?"

A glint flashed in Ji Qingwu’s eyes, and she clenched her fists.

’If I can get to Longzhou this easily, that would be perfect!’

Li Chengxun nodded. "Take them away."

Ji Qingwu suppressed her excitement and followed the soldier and Si Hai with her head down. Just as they reached the door...

"Wait!"

Li Chengxun suddenly spoke, stopping them.

"Bring those two with me. We’re going to take a look at the bandit wife’s room."

All the bandits in the village had been rounded up, leaving only Qi Peiyao.

The secret passage she’d used to escape led to an unknown location. Letting even one person go risked the news leaking out.

Hearing this, Ji Qingwu’s shoulders slumped. She sighed, resigned to following them to the rear courtyard once more.

*

「In the Northern Border, a bitter wind howled.」

Ever since Emperor Wu Su’s personal arrival, Wei Chi Lianping had been transferred to the border between Nanchu and Beili, tasked with closely monitoring the Nanchu Country’s movements.

The atmosphere in the main tent of the military camp during daily meetings was exceptionally tense.

Everyone could see that Emperor Wu Su no longer favored General Zhenbei, Wei Ting, as he had before. He barely even responded to him anymore.

However, Wei Ting was the one who best understood the military situation in the Northern Border. Only he could organize the intelligence and provide a precise analysis.

Another day, Emperor Wu Su received a secret letter. After reading it, his expression changed drastically, and he was so furious that night he didn’t even touch his dinner.

The next day, Xijin sent another general to challenge them. Wei Ting donned his armor, ready to go out, but was stopped.

At that moment, the Emperor of Beili, who had been stationed at the border for over ten days, finally made an appearance.

As the two armies faced off, Zhao Mingyan, without a word, drew the Heaven-shaking Bow and shot the arrogant, shouting enemy general dead beneath the city gate.

The Xijin army immediately fell silent, ceasing all hostilities for two days.

But Beili made no further moves either. Wei Ting couldn’t fathom Emperor Wu Su’s intentions, and the two armies remained at a stalemate.

「Midnight.」

A sliver of a moon hung in the ink-black sky as the north wind howled past with a mournful WHOOSH.

Li Yuzong went to summon Wei Ting personally. "General Wei, the Holy Emperor commands your presence."

Wei Ting rose at once. He stepped out of his tent and asked in a normal tone, "Did he say what it’s about?"

But inwardly, he was far from calm.

’This is the first time Emperor Wu Su has summoned me privately since his arrival in the Northern Border.’

Li Yuzong shook his head with a bitter smile. "This old servant does not know."

Wei Ting took a deep breath, his jaw tightening. He said no more.

But Li Yuzong, having served by the Emperor’s side, could guess a little.

That night, Emperor Wu Su had received a secret report from the Hidden Guards. Before leaving Lin’an, the Emperor had assigned half of the Hidden Guards to Ji Qingwu’s side, while the other half infiltrated the Xijin Royal Family.

’No military report, no matter how urgent, would make Emperor Wu Su’s expression change so drastically. Only something concerning Ji Qingwu could make him lose his composure like this.’

’Summoning Wei Ting now... Could it be that he’s displeased about something related to Miss Ji and plans to deal with General Zhenbei today?’

’But at such a critical moment with the two armies in a standoff, the wise Holy Emperor wouldn’t do that, would he? Then again, it’s hard to say. When it comes to anything involving Miss Ji, His Majesty is no longer rational.’

The strong wind forced Li Yuzong’s eyes into slits. As he pondered this, the corners of his eyes drooped, his face a mask of worry.

Wei Ting naturally observed the expression of the Emperor’s confidant and had his own suspicions about the summons.

As the two walked on, Li Yuzong said, "General Wei, please don’t blame this old servant for being nosy. His Majesty understands the General’s loyalty to Beili, but..."

Wei Ting’s steps faltered for a moment before he resumed his normal pace.

Seeing him offer no response, Li Yuzong said with a complicated expression, "It’s been so many days. His Majesty hasn’t issued an edict of blame, and you’ve remained silent on the matter."

Soldiers stood guard all around them. Li Yuzong covered his mouth with his hand and lowered his voice even more.