The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 542: Damu
Chapter 542: Big Absurdity
“But perhaps because several of their battles were fought on Rongdi territory, Dayan’s brave generals were often not as familiar with the terrain as Rongdi’s generals,” said Dong Changlan.
Bai Qingyan nodded, still feeling an indescribable sense of familiarity in his heart.
Since they have fought against Dayan before, I think I can get more information by asking Xiao Rongyan than asking my uncle.
“Have you asked how Mr. Xiao got involved in this?” Dong Qingyue asked Dong Changlan.
Dong Changlan nodded, “Mr. Xiao said that the business with the Northern Rong was over… He originally wanted to come to Dengzhou at his son’s invitation to see if he could help with the trade so that he could share a share of the profits. But he encountered the Southern Rong who intercepted and killed the Dayan bride’s party. He originally wanted to rescue the Dayan princess and make it easier for him to do business with the Northern Rong in the future. Who knew that he almost died in the process.”
Bai Qingyan picked up the teacup, lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Dong Changlan finished speaking, rubbing his fingers, and said, “But my son thinks there is a loophole in this statement. He is a businessman… Businessmen are most likely to distinguish between interests. Since he saw the Ghost-faced General of the Southern Rong bringing a large army to kill him, how could the guards around him be able to defeat three thousand soldiers? They couldn’t even escape in time… and yet he rushed to save people? It’s ridiculous to endanger his own life for a small profit?”
Although Dong Qingyue admired Xiao Rongyan, he would not be vague about matters concerning his country. Considering that Xiao Rongyan had done a favor to the Bai family, Dong Qingyue said, “Let’s… let Mr. Xiao stay in the mansion first, and then interrogate him in detail later! If it’s a fox… it will always show its tail!”
“That’s what my son meant!” said Dong Changlan.
“In this case, we must report what happened here to the court truthfully and wait for the emperor to make the decision!” Dong Qingyue made the decision.
·
Xiao Rongyan was restless, not knowing how Princess Mingcheng was doing, but he didn’t dare to ask rashly.
Yue Shi and the others must have been detained. They would probably be sent back to him after being interrogated…
Xiao Rongyan took out the lotus purse stained with Princess Mingcheng’s blood from his arms. He knew that this was the one Princess Mingcheng entrusted him to give to Xie Xun.
In the past, Xiao Rongyan never understood these love affairs, but since he met Bai Qingyan, he knew what love was.
He also understood that with the country and the family at stake, good sons and daughters must sacrifice their affections for the country.
But originally he had a way to solve it, so there was no need for a marriage alliance with Dayan. But he knew… his brother knew, but Princess Mingcheng didn’t. That’s why Princess Mingcheng asked for a marriage alliance in the palace.
After all, it was because the State of Yan was too weak, so weak that…Princess Mingcheng did not believe that the State of Yan could protect itself, otherwise why would she sacrifice herself for the country.
Xiao Rongyan stared at the flickering candlelight and heard footsteps outside the courtyard. He hurriedly hid the sachet in his sleeve, picked up the bamboo slips placed in front of the table, and pretended to read them carefully.
Soon, a servant knocked on the door and whispered, “Mr. Xiao, my cousin wants to see you.”
Bai Qingyan?
Xiao Rongyan hurriedly put down the bamboo slips, stood up, and went to open the door himself.
Bai Qingyan had changed into a wide-sleeved silk dress with frosty auspicious clouds embroidered with silver. She stood with her hands behind her back, accompanied by her maid Chuntao. Standing under the bright night sky, her facial features were as crystal clear as jade and breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiao Rongyan smiled at Bai Qingyan, stepped out of the door, and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “Yan…Hello, Miss Bai. It’s been a long time since we last met. I never thought that I would be saved by Miss Bai today. Yan Ming is grateful.”
The wound on Xiao Rongyan’s face was a minor one. He applied medicine but did not bandage it. Instead, it added a bit of masculinity to his well-defined facial features.
Bai Qingyan looked calm and said, “Bai Qingyan came here to ask you something important. I hope you can tell me the truth.”
“Miss Bai, you saved my life. I will never forget it. I will tell you everything I know…” Xiao Rongyan said, turning sideways and making a gesture of invitation, “Please come in, Miss!”
Bai Qingyan followed Xiao Rongyan into the house, leaving the door open. Chuntao stood guard outside so that Bai Qingyan could talk to Xiao Rongyan without worry.
Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyan sat opposite each other. The servant served tea and then left…
The room was filled with lifelike bronze sparrow lamps, with flickering flames.
Bai Qingyan sat under the lamp, looking at Xiao Rongyan with eyes as calm as water, and asked: “Why did you choose to take the short route from Dayanshe instead of going through Nanrong? Can you tell me the truth, Mr. Xiao?”
“Princess Mingcheng and Xie Xun, a fierce general of Yan State stationed in Beirong, are childhood sweethearts and are in love with each other.” Xiao Rongyan looked directly at Bai Qingyan, “If we go through the area under the jurisdiction of the Beirong garrison, there will inevitably be trouble!”
Bai Qingyan’s lips curled up and he chuckled, “Mr. Xiao, are you trying to use your love for me as an excuse? Because you’re afraid that the generals will cause chaos… you’re letting the princess take the risk of traveling along the enemy’s border to lure the enemy to kill her. Yan… I can’t figure it out. What kind of strategy is this?”
Xiao Rongyan knew that he couldn’t hide it from Bai Qingyan, so he said: “This move… is to record the detailed terrain of the mountains along the way and find the fastest route from Dayan to Nanrong.”
Xiao Rongyan did not tell Bai Qingyan that the military commander who came to escort the bride, Lord Peng, was an expert in drawing maps.
Sending envoys to Jin, under the pretext of sending a bride, to blatantly survey the topography of Jin and draw a detailed map, was indeed a good move…
Bai Qingyan raised his eyes to look at Xiao Rongyan who had a calm look in his eyes, and asked, “Why did Mr. Xiao appear at the border of Nanrong and Jin?”
“This is a coincidence. Yan originally intended to come to Dengzhou, but the scouts ahead reported back that they saw the Yan Kingdom’s wedding procession, so they went to take a look. Unexpectedly, they encountered an ambush set by the Southern Rong.”
Xiao Rongyan said this is the truth.
Speaking of Nanrong, Bai Qingyan thought of the ghost-faced general again. She frowned and looked up at Xiao Rongyan: “Dayan and Nanrong have fought several times. Do you know anything about the general with a ghost mask in Nanrong?”
Xiao Rongyan didn’t expect Bai Qingyan to ask this. Today was the first time he dealt with this ghost-faced general, but Xie Xun had indeed fought with him several times and suffered losses at the hands of this ghost-faced general many times.
Logically speaking, the Southern Rong had less military strength than the Northern Rong, but they still beat the Northern Rong and forced them to seek help everywhere. After Dayan sent Xie Xun to lead the main force to Rongdi, they fought against the Ghost-faced General several times and suffered losses most of the time. Even if they won… it was a miserable victory and they paid a huge price. Even if the Ghost-faced General lost… he lost with a profit, which made Xie Xun very annoyed and he vowed to compete with the Ghost-faced General.
“This is the Ghost-faced General of Rongdi. I heard that the King of Southern Rong met him while hunting. He is not from a noble family of Rongdi. He is very good at marching and fighting. His fighting methods are different from those of Rongdi. He is quite strategic, and his offense and defense are very methodical and changeable. Now the Southern Rong court relies on him very much!”
After Xiao Rongyan finished telling the rumor, he thought for a moment and said, “Today I had the honor of meeting that ghost-faced general. I felt that this general seemed to have learned the military tactics of Yan and Jin. Moreover, the people of Xiliang and Rongdi mostly used curved swords, but this ghost-faced general… in my opinion, he is an expert in using a sword. No one in Yan and Jin can compare to him.”
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