The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 161: Thousands of miles a day
Chapter 161: Rapid Progress
This time, the emperor gathered 50,000 troops from all over the country to march into southern Xinjiang. The official road along the way must be flat. Xiao Ruohai carefully placed the chessboard on the wooden table, probably because he was afraid that the road would be boring and wanted to help Bai Qingyan to entertain himself.
There are books in the secret box in the car, as well as snacks that are easy to store, a small stove for making tea, all kinds of tea sets, a brazier with a copper cover for heating, and even small items like incense burners are all in great order. It really shows a lot of thought.
Now, Your Majesty has sent envoys to negotiate peace to stabilize the situation, and then ordered the Crown Prince to lead the troops in person. It is obvious that he wants to fight again.
The prince knew that speed was of the essence in war and did not dare to delay. He vomited several times while in a spittoon as the carriage was bumpy all the way, but he never complained and never asked the team to slow down. He just endured it.
After 50,000 soldiers were settled in the camp, the local prefect respectfully invited the prince’s carriage to rest in his mansion. The prince, who looked unhappy, declined the prefect’s invitation to a banquet.
But the banquet had already been set, and the prince was too tired to attend, so the prefect cordially invited the prince’s staff, but Bai Qing said he was ill and did not go.
Having not been in or out of the military camp for many years, Bai Qingyan stood on the mound and looked at the training ground in the camp. Flags were fluttering all around, and the flames from the high braziers were swaying, making the training ground as bright as day. The soldiers surrounded the two centurions who were fighting in hand-to-hand combat, and the booing became louder and louder, making it extremely lively.
As the cold wind blew past, Bai Qingyan felt that the scene was extremely familiar, and he even felt like a wanderer returning home.
“Young master, the wind is strong, let’s go back!” Xiao Ruohai, who was following behind Bai Qingyan, whispered.
She held the hand warmer in her hand, nodded, and walked under the mound, asking, “Where is Xiao Si?”
“The Fourth Young Master followed the army and has stayed in an inn in the city. Don’t worry, my subordinates have sent people to secretly protect the Fourth Young Master and will never let anything happen to him.” Xiao Ruohai said in a low voice.
“Bring her to me before you leave tomorrow! Also… send someone to deliver a message to mother and Third Aunt to reassure them.”
“Yes!” Xiao Ruohai responded.
Qin Shangzhi and his servant were standing not far away. From afar, they saw Bai Qingyan, who was dressed in men’s clothes, bowing to the ground with a smile on his face, looking very respectful.
Bai Qingyan smiled and looked at Qin Shangzhi.
Qin Shangzhi came here specially to wait for Bai Qingyan, so he must have something to say. Now that Bai Qingyan is walking around in men’s clothing, there is no need to be too shy about the differences between men and women.
Xiao Ruohai prepared tea, stood up and stood beside Bai Qingyan, silently looking at Mr. Qin, who once lived in Bai’s house and now became the prince’s aide.
Bai Qingyan and Qin Shangzhi sat across the table from each other.
“We parted on the eleventh day of the lunar month. I never thought that when I see you again today, you have become the crown prince’s aide. I would like to congratulate you with tea instead of wine.” Bai Qingyan picked up the steaming teacup in front of him.
Qin Shangzhi glanced at Xiao Ruohai, and seeing that Bai Qingyan had no intention of letting Xiao Ruohai leave, he knew that this man was Bai Qingyan’s confidant. He raised his cup and took a sip of tea, then put the cup down and said, “Young lady, do you know that this trip to Southern Xinjiang is full of dangers for you?”
She put down her teacup and sat upright, holding the half-cooled hand warmer in her hand, looking at Qin Shangzhi and said, “Sir, you can come and tell me the four words ‘danger is everywhere’, which is very touching.”
“Qin was able to survive because of the young lady’s shelter, so I came to disturb you tonight to tell you… No matter whether you win or lose this time, the emperor will not allow you to survive!” Qin Shangzhi looked serious, as if he had made up his mind. “Qin has a plan that can help you escape before you reach southern Xinjiang.”
Bai Qingyan, who was wearing a plain white gown with dark patterns on the left lapel, looked at Qin Shangzhi and said slowly: “Sir, my life and honor are not worth mentioning. I will go to Southern Xinjiang.”
Qin Shangzhi didn’t ask why. Looking at the thin woman in men’s clothing in front of him, he suddenly remembered the day when the families of soldiers made trouble in front of the Duke’s Mansion. Bai Qingyan’s words were sonorous. She said that someone must go to the front line because there were tens of thousands of people there with no one to protect them!
She pointed at the plaque above her head and said the two characters “Zhenguo” should mean… I will not return until I kill the bandits who invaded the people of Jin! I will live for the people and die for the country! The Bai family only wants to protect the people of Dajin from worry and fear, and they will never regret it in life or death!
Under the light of the oil lamp, Qin Shangzhi slowly tightened his hands on his knees. Even today, when he recalls Bai Qingyan’s powerful words, the blood in his heart still boils.
The Bai family truly passed down the words loyalty and righteousness, and engraved serving the country and the people into their pride.
Although the men of the Bai family died in southern Xinjiang, as long as the spirit and character of the Bai family remain intact, the Bai family will be able to remain immortal in the long course of history where all aristocratic families are like a flash in the pan.
Qin Shangzhi bowed solemnly: “The Bai family of the Zhenguogong Mansion is full of heroes. It is admirable and respectable!”
Qin Shangzhi was a gentleman, so he judged Bai Qingyan’s thoughts with a gentleman’s heart… He naturally thought that Bai Qingyan was going to Southern Xinjiang today, just like the Duke of Zhenguo Bai Weiting did back then, just to protect the people and defend the country.
It is not appropriate to talk about deep things with someone you have only just met. Bai Qingyan did not want to explain any more to Qin Shangzhi, and calmly accepted the gift from Qin Shangzhi on behalf of his grandfather and father.
The second day, at the hour of Yin.
In the huge training ground, only the sound of flags fluttering could be heard. Under the bright moonlight, Bai Qingyan’s slim figure stood at the shooting range, pulling the Sun-Shooting Bow to its full bow in a very standard and beautiful posture. Unfortunately, she was exhausted before the arrow was shot. The breath in her abdomen dissipated, and she had no time to retract the arrow, which flew a short distance and fell limply to the ground. She also bent over, supported her knees, and gasped for breath, with the muscles in her arms swollen and shaking.
Beads of sweat the size of beans were dripping down her chin. Her collar was already wet with sweat, and her lungs felt like they were about to explode.
Bai Qingyan’s body is weak and her strength is not as good as before, but her body’s memory of the bow and arrow is still there. She said that she is starting over, but she is not a beginner after all. In addition, Bai Qingyan has been wrapped in an iron sandbag every day during this period, so her strength has recovered a little.
After resting for a while with his hands on his knees, Bai Qingyan stood up, pulled out an arrow from the quiver, and continued practicing.
In her previous life, she practiced day and night to recover her martial arts, which was a hundred times more painful than this. The current discomfort was nothing. It was far from enough. She knew that she could do better and better each time.
Re-adjust your breath, nock the arrow, pull the string…
Xiao Ruohai stood aside and looked at Bai Qingyan’s tenacious back, thinking of how Bai Qingyan was forced to practice archery when she was a child. The girl has been like this since she was a child, never giving up easily! Either don’t do it, or do it to the best of your ability, no matter how much suffering you have to endure during this period, you will never be discouraged.
Back then, everyone said that Xiao Bai Shuai was extremely talented and had superb martial arts skills, but no one knew how much hardship and suffering Bai Qingyan had endured for the sake of his martial arts.
Now starting over again, Bai Qingyan has lost some of his impatience and has become more calm and steady, in addition to the tenacity and fighting spirit he had back then.
In just a few days, Bai Qingyan went from being unable to pull even an ordinary bow to being able to pull the Sun-Shooting Bow bit by bit. This can be said to be a huge progress.