Four

The second encounter by chance, I wonder if this can be considered fate? I truly liked the jade rabbit and autumn reeds that you gifted last time...

Jing Yongfu's heart suddenly tightened, and the weight of guilt became even heavier. She could foresee that this was something that could have been prevented, yet she overlooked it. This oversight resulted in seventy-four lives lost, and it nearly cost Li Yi his life

We are originally of the same root, yet I cherish this kinship; who among them will cherish this brotherly bond?

"Madman!" Jing Yongfu shouted at the man who was walking away. The Chireza people laughed uproariously as they followed their young master on horseback.

On that afternoon, the brilliant light lasted until evening, and many soldiers of the Xie Kingdom saw their future monarch, the Crown Prince at that time, personally leading a carriage back to the ranks. Strangely, he was not riding a horse but walking in front of the carriage, with Xuanyuan closely following him. In front of the carriage sat a tall female general, beside her was an ordinary and ineffectual man. The carriage door was closed, and it was said that inside sat an extraordinarily beautiful lady along with her three children. In front of the carriage sat a tall female general, beside her was an ordinary and ineffectual man. The carriage door was closed, and it was said that inside sat an extraordinarily beautiful lady along with her three children.

Jing Yongfu stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, causing him to be taken aback. Jing Yongfu slowly rolled up the cuff, "Scoundrel, you have an injury on you!"

After a long period of silence, Li Yi finally sat back down in front of Jing Yongfu, his expression complex as he said: "What exactly do you want from me?"

Brothers die or fall into despair; even the one who holds the highest power, able to summon the winds and call the rain, is indeed a true solitary figure. Perhaps, to put it a bit better, those who survive may do so reluctantly, but at least they have some ties and a bit of interest in life. Furthermore, to put it even better, thinking of the future where they can share the vast territories and envisioning more comfortable choices ahead is certainly much better than worrying day and night or facing the extinction of their clan and family

The man's appearance was imposing, drawing the attention of everyone present. He was quite intriguing as well; after scanning the crowd with his gaze, he paused for a moment on Madam Ruo, then on Xiao Cui, and finally settled his unwavering gaze on the rabbit.

"Oh dear, I apologize!" Jing Yongfu's mind gradually became clear, "Please come up and speak, Your Highness."

Madam nodded with a smile. As long as the child wishes to do something, a mother will silently support it. Jing Yongfu, feeling slightly guilty, said to Madam: "Mother, once this matter is settled, we will find a beautiful place to live in peace."

Although I narrowly escaped without serious injuries, I am wounded here!" Li Yi pointed to his chest, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and said softly, "I have been hurt for a long time, but this time, it is thorough." Since he had started speaking, he continued to the end, not understanding why he felt the need to say so much to this yellow-haired girl

Xuanyuan Bu'er interrogated the spy and uncovered the secret

"But if I do not take action, someone will force me to do so," Li Yi said with deep sorrow. "Do you know how many people they sent to assassinate me? Do you know that I brought one hundred and three people on this trip, and how many are left now? Only twenty-nine remain, and among them, fourteen will probably have to rely on the court for their livelihood for the rest of their lives. Never mind, what use is there in telling you all this? You are just a little girl..." Arranging the aftermath for the deceased and dealing with the injured delayed his pace; otherwise, he would have been ahead of Jing Yongfu and would never have waited for her.

Madam's hand brushed over Jing Yongfu's head: "I only know that since it has already happened, there is no need to investigate who is right or wrong, but rather how to deal with the current situation"

Jing Yongfu tentatively asked, "Are you hungry?" Only then did he open his bright blue eyes to look at her, and after a moment, he still spoke in a language she could not understand.

Jing Yongfu suddenly chuckled: "What do I want? If I desire wealth, I think I could become a great merchant through hard work. If I seek glory, marrying you to become a consort would not be a bad choice, provided Your Highness does not mind that I lack extraordinary beauty. However, none of this is what I truly want. Your Highness, I am still young. I want to grow up happily first, and then do anything I wish to do"

Sister Shui widened her eyes, while Chef Wu gaped in astonishment. Madam firmly held back the rushing Argon who wanted to strike someone. A group of Chilesans whispered among themselves. Jing Yongfu was left dumbfounded.

After a long time, Jing Yongfu finally woke up and lazily asked, "Chef Wu, what are we having to eat today?"

In a simple military tent, Xuanyuan Bu'er sat at the head of the table, followed by Li Yi, with Jing Yongfu at the end. Xuanyuan stood. After some pleasantries, Jing Yongfu's first words were: "In my opinion, we need not rush back to the royal capital"

Seeing Li Yi turn around, she hurriedly said: "Your Highness, please wait! The road ahead is fraught with difficulties, how will Your Highness proceed?"

Jing Yongfu looked at him without the slightest hint of anger and said: "There is nothing else, just a small obstruction for His Highness."

Outside the carriage, Wu Chu muttered: "Ye Bei, there is hardly any food!"

At the top of the hill, a horse-drawn carriage can be seen quietly parked below. A man is crouching on the ground in front of the carriage, while a boy watches him prepare the ingredients, creating a scene of tranquility, with only the gentle rustling of the grass on the hillside in the breeze.

After a long while, Li Yi sighed and said: "With such wisdom and strategy, he truly deserves to be my Great Xie Prince!" This "he" naturally does not refer to the King of Li.

I have been waiting in front with my wife for several days now. At this moment... Liu Jishui suddenly smiled and said, "I fear I am dreaming of Duke Zhou."

"With you around, what is there to fear about not being able to make something delicious?" Sister Shui chuckled coldly

In Jing Yongfu's heart, an unsettling emotion began to stir, and that afternoon, upon encountering Sima Qiudi again, she could no longer suppress her troubled thoughts

The leader of the Chilesa people was a robust middle-aged man. After nodding to Sister Shui, he spoke in a stiff dialect of the Central Plains: "I apologize for disturbing you all. I am Chink Boroshi, the Left Blade of the Chilesa Borozu, here to seek the young master." The Left Blade is a significant figure within the Chilesa clan, and the title of Left Blade is only conferred under one circumstance: that the individual has been recognized as the clan leader by the clan's elders.

Sister Shui approached Jing Yongfu, her expression serious, and said: "There are quite a few Kireisa people ahead. Although they do not seem to be here to plunder, it is still better to avoid them..." Her gaze lingered on the man, growing even more solemn.

Jing Yongfu forced a smile and waved at him: "Hello!"

Jing Yongfu walked towards him with a smile, but halfway there, she suddenly realized that even though she was dressed in women's clothing, the chef had never regarded her as a woman

Argan stood in front of Xiaocui, but he saw that the man glanced back at him, then knelt on one leg in front of Xiaocui, grasping her trembling delicate hand with his shiny claw. A fluent Central Plains dialect rang in everyone's ears: "Wait for me, wait for me for six years. After six years, when you have grown up, I will marry you as my wife!"

Xuan Yuan Bu Er said in a deep voice: "To be precise, it is only a night apart"

Li Yi and Xuanyuan Buer's piercing gazes suddenly reminded Jing Yongfu that she was still a fourteen-year-old girl, her face slightly flushed

Do you still dance

Ah! Jing Yongfu could almost smell the stench of blood, feeling nauseated as he held it in his hands. Just as he was about to throw it away, he heard the man add, "Dafu, if you really can't get married in six years, Pupu will marry you."

Oh, Jing Yongfu, in your melancholic thoughts, if you do not praise my beauty like a flower, at least compliment my clothing

Jing Yongfu asked again: "Your Highness, in the event of an assassination attempt, which occurred first, the attack on Your Highness or the general's victory? And how many days apart were they?"

Madam gently inserted a pearl hairpin into her hair. Xiaocui only smiled without speaking, while A'gen glanced over and then shook his head and left. Sister Shui then remarked, "Just as handsome as I was back in the day..." Chef Wu, seemingly oblivious, continued to ask, "Little shopkeeper, shall we have the heavily smoked flavor or the crispy and tender one?"

Jing Yongfu suddenly remembered that she could not speak Chilesa, but she could write it; this was one of the benefits of her photographic memory. In fact, she was capable of simple everyday conversation. Just as she was about to look for paper and pen, the rabbit was ready.

Jing Yongfu also looked at him and said: "He must be related to the previous Kiretsans. It is just unclear whether they are good or bad for him"

She turned around, her taut nerves becoming even more tense. Goodness, what a fierce man! At this moment, the water-fetching sister is away, leaving only a group of women and children, along with a cook who is good-looking but useless, only capable of wielding a kitchen knife. If this man has any ill intentions, it would mean certain death for the entire family.

He growled: "He is staring at Xiaocui!"

Li Yi's gaze was sharp, and it took a while for him to calm down: "Since you are here, aren't you going to say anything?"

Your Highness, since you have quelled the border bandits and are eager to return to court in triumph, I wish you a smooth journey ahead.

This person is extremely dangerous! Jing Yongfu believes that he can easily kill and has already killed several people!

After the dagger was cleaned, Xiaocui refused to accept it no matter what, so Jing Yongfu had no choice but to keep it with him. The knife of the Qielesa people is vastly different from the concealed dagger of the Jing royal palace four years ago; the former is meant for killing, while the latter can barely fulfill the mission of escape

Bastard!" Jing Yongfu began to curse vehemently.

Jing Yongfu stood upright, turning her head to look in that direction. In her line of sight, a dozen beautiful thoroughbred horses gradually came into focus. Instinctively, she positioned herself in front of that creature who only knew how to gnaw on rabbits, but how could she possibly block his head?

The dagger fell from its sheath, landing with a "thud" on Jing Yongfu's foot. Surprisingly sharp, it pierced the toe of his shoe, but fortunately did not injure his toe.

Li Yi opened his mouth, and after a long pause, he could only utter one word: "You!"

The man mumbled something again.

Where exactly did this young girl come from, could it be... The deputy general was still pondering and guessing, while over there Liu Ji and Tu Shushui had slowly led their horses away, with two young riders following behind.

Since Your Highness has not been seriously injured, it follows that Your Highness's elder brother has naturally not harmed you

Jing Yongfu inexplicably said, "I just feel a bit guilty"

But she should not make excuses. "This is Dafu's fault, right, Mother?" Only the weak will use excuses to evade their mistakes

Jing Yongfu nodded in his mother's arms: "Therefore, I want to go to Yebeih!"

If you like it, eat a few more

The young master of the Boroshi undoubtedly had a great air about him. He completely ignored them, allowing the incessant chatter to rise and fall in his ears, and only after finishing the last piece of rabbit meat did he wipe his mouth with his garment and then walk straight towards Xiaocui

Li Yi felt a stir in his heart upon hearing the phrase "to marry you as a concubine," yet he maintained a calm demeanor and asked, "What is that?"

"These are all things from childhood." Jing Yongfu smiled gently, holding Madam Ruo's hand, "No matter how high one flies, it is never as joyful as being by one's mother's side." The pleasures of the sky, no matter how beautiful, are ephemeral, while the ground beneath our feet is the most reliable existence. Regardless of how far a child may fly, a mother's embrace is always her warmest refuge.

The carriage door opened, and Li Yi's face was pale. With the support of Xuan Yuanze, he got into the carriage. Jing Yongfu gazed at him for a long time, feeling a stir deep within his heart. This person, despite being injured, had waited outside the carriage for her for a long time without waking her. He treated her with such nobility, and this time, she was truly shaken.

Li Yi slowly turned around

Hmm! Jing Yongfu gazed into those eyes that were close to the color of the blue sky, "Come with us, I know you can understand!" But his reaction infuriated her. He withdrew his hand and continued to gnaw on the rabbit. Clearly, he was already full, yet he kept gnawing away! From this, Jing Yongfu concluded that he was indeed still a youth.

What do you want

Thank you. Jing Yongfu closed the car door and said, "We are on a different path from the young master; we are heading to the Yebei Plain"

I assist Your Highness in ascending the throne, but only up to this point

Jing Yongfu did not answer him immediately. He stood up and said, "Then I shall take my leave." After a pause, he added, "Ping Dafuku, I thank you for assisting General Xuanyuan in capturing the traitor. This place is not safe; you should leave early."

The man did not respond, but continued to gnaw on the half rabbit in his hand

Li Yi's gaze briefly flickered over Madam Ruo, without glancing at Xiao Cui, and directly settled on Jing Yongfu's face: "Do you have something to say to this palace?"

Amidst the struggle with him, Sister Shui suddenly dismounted from her horse and said in a deep voice: "There is no time, the Krelas people are coming!"

Jing Yongfu turned back into the car. Even if he was attacked, Li Yi would not die so easily, but this assassination could have been avoided. If she had been willing to think more on that day, to consider the situation in greater detail, and to explore several possible directions, for instance, what kind of bandit Jing Ren was? And what about Xie Ren? What if Xie Ren was an ordinary bandit? ... What if not ...

Indeed, there is not much food in Yebe, as the population is sparse on the plains, unlike towns where restaurants and eateries are everywhere. However, Yebe is abundant in food, as the plains are rich in food resources

On this day, Jing Yongfu unexpectedly donned women's clothing for the first time since escaping from the Yu Wang Mansion, feeling somewhat strange and uncomfortable.

Li Yi seemed to have understood something, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at Jing Yongfu

Your Highness, one must not act in haste regarding any matter. Look at the many soldiers outside; they are your loyal and valiant subjects of Xie Kingdom, willing to shed their blood for the land, not for the royal succession. " She turned her gaze back, "You bear the lives of countless people of Xie Kingdom on your shoulders

Xuan Yuan raised his eyebrows, hesitating whether to meet or not, when he heard Liu Jishui casually say: "If it is inconvenient for Your Highness, then my daughter will not go to the capital. These past few days of wandering through the mountains and enjoying the waters, the splendid scenery of Xie Kingdom is truly delightful. Compared to the bustling capital, the natural world and even the common places are more suitable for my daughter."

Sima Qiudi still spoke in a refined manner: "Young master, it would be better for you to accompany Qiudi. My father has some connections with the magistrate, and considering my father's reputation, he might allow Qiudi to leave first..."

If the lady smiles

Everyone was amazed, but only Chef Wu was worried about what to prepare for Sister Shui when she returned

What?

Masa galloped away with great speed

Do you wish for a powerful Xie Kingdom, Your Highness?" Jing Yongfu expressed the answer in his heart, "When brothers work together with a united will, they can cut through metal. It is possible to dominate the world and unify the realm. This is the best. However, if the brothers are not united, and if they kill the king to eliminate threats, it is still easy to defend one's own territory. But to hunt in the Three Kingdoms, that is another matter altogether.

It is truly disrespectful to have kept Your Highness waiting for so long. Allow me to introduce to Your Highness, this is the mother of Da Fu, and this is my younger sister, Ping Xiao Cui

Xiao Cui, puzzled, stared intently at Jing Yongfu, while A Gen remained expressionless

Jing Yongfu pondered for a moment: "When I was a child, I once thought while dancing that perhaps I was a bird. The feeling of soaring in the sky was so free, as if my body was as light as the wind." But then her father came, and she fell down.

Sima Qiudi seemed to realize that she was being brushed off, paused for a moment, and asked: "Is Young Master Ping troubled by something?"

Then let's not eat

Li Yi silently gazed at the mother and daughter, his expression complex

Li Yi did not disappoint Jing Yongfu. He said, "Alright, I will push it. Let everything start over from the beginning." Later, Jing Yongfu gradually discovered that this person was not only meticulous in thought but also had a deep and strategic mind.

"Yes, yes! I don't have any special skills, I just know how to cook!" Chef Wu chuckled

"Why do you look at him like that?" Jing Yongfu asked him

He changed his tone, yet it was sincere, "If it weren't for Da Fu, this palace and General Xuanyuan would have truly fallen into the trap!"

However, this man was determined to act like a foreigner, mumbling something indistinctly, and instead of responding to Jing Yongfu, he continued to gnaw on the incredibly delicious rabbit in his hand. The originally colorful black paw was now glistening with oil, perhaps due to his vigorous movements, revealing a dark red stain at the cuff.

Jing Yongfu turned his gaze out of the window, where the army of Xuanyuan could be faintly seen

Come with me

Chef Wu was focused on roasting two wild rabbits, while Argon sat nearby, watching intently. Madam and Xiao Cui spread out the package and arranged the utensils. Jing Yongfu, lost in thought, fed the horse a handful of grain.

Fei Ting Po used to have a pavilion a long time ago, but later the pavilion fell into disrepair, thus it became known as the abandoned pavilion. Now, even the abandoned pavilion is gone, leaving only a low, barren hillside that obstructs the main road leading west to the royal capital

Just as she was frozen in place, the man sheathed his dagger. A carefree demeanor replaced the earlier intense murderous intent as he pointed to his stomach. It turned out he had been lured by the aroma of Chef Wu's barbecue. Jing Yongfu relaxed.

Madam hurriedly said to her: "His Highness has arrived, waiting for you until now!"

Jing Yongfu remarked: "Just by observing this person's ferocity, one can understand the strength of Qiliesa. If they were to find a way to reform the national system, who in this world would still be their opponent?"

Xuanyuan Buer pondered and said: "Your Highness still has injuries; let Ze'er accompany you there!" Xuanyuan Ze responded affirmatively.

Fang Xiaochun's pawnshop must have caught an insider, what comes next

Pang Dafuku! Why are you helping me

Jing Yongfu suddenly lowered his head and said softly, "Dafu has offended Your Highness multiple times, yet Your Highness has never held it against him. I kindly ask Your Highness to take a seat and listen to Dafu's words."

Xuan Yuan waved his hand and said: "We cannot go where there are too many people, as that little girl will run away if she sees a crowd." He had already discerned the terrain of Fei Ting Po, and even if a few villains were to emerge, they would not gain any advantage.

"Dafuku, it's time to go!" Sister Shui urged.

What could the secret be

Li Yi has encountered an incident! Jing Yongfu can sense the pervasive atmosphere of desolation in the air

Jing Yongfu and his companions were left dumbfounded as a man devoured a wild rabbit voraciously. Xiaocui was extremely surprised; she dropped half of a rabbit leg from her hand, and the man immediately sprang forward like a bullet, catching the rabbit leg that Xiaocui had dropped. He mumbled something indistinctly, as if to say, "Do not waste it." With his mouth opening and closing, the rabbit leg was sent into his mouth, and in just a few moments, it was reduced to a clean bone.

To the west of Kuan Cheng lies Yuan Jia Dang, and further west there are no more scenic areas, leading back to the official road of the western capital. However, upon reaching Yuan Jia Dang, Jing Yongfu could no longer advance westward, as the subordinates of the vassal king had blocked the way ahead, claiming that the Qiman were attacking.

Suddenly, Sister Shui's voice came from a distance: "Everyone, pack your things, we need to leave here quickly"

Xuanyuan Buer quickly recognized Sister Shui and asked, "Where is your daughter?"

Later, Li Yi ascended the throne and renamed Fetingpo to Xiamapo

Jing Yongfu sighed and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what kind of Xie Kingdom do you wish for?" She originally intended to keep her distance from him, as far away as possible, but he moved her, so Jing Yongfu resolved to repay Li Yi's kindness. Given her age and status, her words that day at Tiantian Residence seemed somewhat ridiculous, yet Li Yi had never looked down on her, and he would not do so this time either. However, this time, she would no longer play the role of a fleeting passerby in Li Yi's life; she wanted to lend him a hand, helping as much as she could.

Sima Qiudi, however, smiled wryly and said: "Are we going to the Yebei Plain? I fear she does not wish to accompany me."

After Li Yi was attacked, he pretended to be gravely injured and did not step out of the car. At this moment, however, he lifted the curtain of the car and said to Xuanyuan Buer: "General, please wait a moment, I still wish to meet this little girl!"

Jing Yongfu is not actually putting on airs while sleeping; ever since she changed into women's clothing, strange events have been occurring one after another. First, she encountered that gluttonous bastard who eats rabbit meat, and shortly thereafter, the long-awaited Kui Shui arrived. The lady said that she has grown up. Growing up means that she is very tired

Jing Yongfu felt a pang of shame, realizing that without her, they might not have perished. Given Xuanyuan Buer's prestige in the Xie Kingdom, the final outcome could have been different; it was merely her unnecessary action, hoping to facilitate their journey a bit more smoothly

The army of Xuanyuan Bu'er had not yet set foot on Feitingpo, but from a distance, they saw a woman and a rider approaching steadily on a low hill. No longer dressed as a maid, Liu Jishui wore a streamlined female military uniform, without any weapons, directly entering the Xuanyuan army as if it were an unguarded territory

"Fuer, let us take him along!" Lady Ruo said anxiously as she sat in the carriage, "If he is unwilling to come with us, then so be it!"

With a few loud sounds, everyone immediately dismounted and knelt on the ground. There were a few sentences of rapid chatter in the dialect of the Qielesa. ... Jing Yongfu was lost in thought about the content of the conversation, which was nothing more than the fact that the young ones had failed to protect the young master, causing him to suffer outside, and that even a half rabbit from the Central Plains tasted so delicious.

Li Yi was attacked, and the road back to the capital is heavily blocked. If she were him, she would choose to meet with Xuanyuan Buer. Meeting at Ziliu is not a good option; currently, the two royal forces hidden in Ziliu have all become active. In contrast, the Yebei Plain at the Xieqi border, which has been unstable, is a much better choice. The plain is open, leaving no hiding place for the enemy. Xuanyuan Buer possesses a regular army, unafraid of the Qiman or the small, unseen forces. Traveling west from Yebei via the waterways to return to the capital may take longer, but it remains within the control of Xuanyuan.

This is a game of chess, for us it is, and for them, it is also. "Jing Yongfu said solemnly, "However, if this game continues, there will be no winners. Even if there are, they will not be the ones who bring peace. Therefore, we should push it forward.

Jing Yongfu sighed inwardly, thankful that he was a glutton rather than a lecher, unlike Sima Qiudi who dropped his fan upon seeing her mother. However, it wasn't long before he realized he was mistaken

Oh? Xuanyuan Buer naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it, but was first asked by Jing Yongfu. "I would like to know everything that has happened since you opened the pawnshop, my lord." Although Li Yi was aware of the situation, it was only through hearsay. First and foremost, Jing Yongfu needed to grasp the most accurate information.

Indeed!

Young master, let us go

With the appearance of the man, Argen's gaze clearly changed. Argen has a very cold temperament and rarely expresses emotions, yet at this moment, his eyes unmistakably radiated hostility

Li Yi gasped in shock: "Just one day apart. The general caught those thieves, and I was attacked right after!"

A hearty laugh rang out, "Come find me on the grassland in six years, otherwise I will come to take you!"

Argon rarely speaks: "I will also become very strong!"

The man was dressed in the attire of the Kireisa people, with a pair of piercing light blue eyes that made it easy to overlook his relatively young age. Upon realizing what he was holding in his hand, Jing Yongfu could not help but break into a cold sweat. It was a dagger, stained with dark blood that obscured its original sharp gleam, and there were clear signs of a struggle on the man's clothing

Jing Yongfu glanced at the jade fan in his hand, then looked at his handsome and striking face, and suddenly realized. Li Yi must have been assassinated! The spies captured by Xuanyuan Buyi were not sent to the capital because this internal traitor was actually affiliated with Prince Zhi or even Prince Pei. The so-called border bandits were merely impersonators sent by them. The bandits are not from Jing, but are all genuine Xie people! Perhaps Sima Qiudi himself was unaware, but his presence here already indicates the involvement of the Sima family. The so-called border bandits were merely impersonators sent by them. The bandits are not from Jing, but are all genuine Xie people! Perhaps Sima Qiudi himself was unaware, but his presence here already indicates the involvement of the Sima family.

The fifth chef cursed, "You reincarnated being of the starving ghost!"

The gaze of the left-handed knife was constantly directed towards Jing Yongfu, and she had no choice but to take a half step back, revealing the creature gnawing on a rabbit. She muttered to herself: Could it be that the current leader of the Boruo clan, the young master, is the one who has eaten half of her rabbit?

Xiao Cui was moved by his sorrowful expression, her small hand tightly grasping Madam Ruo's hem. She and A Gen were born of the same mother, and since she could understand things, A Gen had cherished his younger sister immensely. It was hard for her to believe that there were brothers in this world who would harm their own siblings

"Mother, Dafu's head is very big." In the car, Jing Yongfu nestled in his mother's arms

Is the young master worried about being delayed here, thus hindering the journey? Sima Qiudi pondered, as he held a gold medal given to him by his father before his departure, which was said to allow passage in case of obstruction by the subordinates of the King of Slaves. It would not hurt to bring a few more people, would it?

Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Since you can understand, hurry up and tell us who you are and how you ended up here alone

Li Yi walked quietly, and wherever he passed, the soldiers fell silent

The man suddenly stopped eating, raised his head to look at Jing Yongfu, and his bright blue eyes sparkled with a strange light. Jing Yongfu immediately understood, pointed at his nose and scolded: "You bad person! You clearly understand what I am saying!"

Sima Qiudi still held her jade fan gracefully and greeted, "Young Master Ping, we meet again!"

General Xuanyuan! Liu Jishui clasped his fists and said, "General, you have traveled a long way. My daughter invites you to rest here for a moment. She has a few words to discuss with Your Highness."

Li Yi changed into a different outfit and, with the assistance of Xuanyuan Ze, mounted a horse. Xuanyuan Bu'er’s deputy, standing nearby, looked worried and said, "General, is it a bit too few for His Highness to go with the young general?"

After the interlude involving the young master of the Qielieshaboluo clan, Jing Yongfu dared not continue his travels in the Yebei Plain. Although Sister Shui was highly skilled, she was but one person. Thus, the group quickly made their way to the southwest of Yebei, where they lay in wait at the Feiting Slope for Li Yi and Xuanyuan Buer.

Before she even arrived, she called out to everyone to pack up their things, and the atmosphere immediately became tense. Chef Wu was the most obedient to Sister Shui's words; he hurriedly extinguished the fire, moved the wooden rack, and put away the tools. The others also began to tidy up, except for that man from Chilesa, who snatched the rabbit meat that Chef Wu had prepared to store and stuffed it forcefully into his mouth

Qiu Di is reluctant to eat it, as it loses its quality after being left overnight, what a pity...

The man spoke a sentence in Chilesa that was incomprehensible, and Jing Yongfu shook his head in response. He then pointed in the direction of Wu Chu, and thus, Jing Yongfu chose a large man to bring back.

The carriage had already departed, and Sima Qiudi still stood there. His servant cautiously reminded him: "Young Master, it is getting late! The Master is still concerned!"

Before Pupu'er mounted the horse, she suddenly threw the dagger in her arms to Jing Yongfu. "This is the betrothal gift"

Jing Yongfu smiled and said, "Yes, you will all be very strong in the future"

The horse stamped its hoof restlessly, and Jing Yongfu saw the man behind her through its large eyes. In an instant, a shiver ran down her spine, and a sense of danger surged in her heart

Jing Yongfu was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond. Initially, she only wanted to live her own life well. In the short term, she did not want to experience anything uncomfortable that would lead to the innocent deaths of others. In the long term, with the instability in Xie Country, she and Madam Ruo, along with those around them, would also find no peace. It is akin to the idea that in order to save effort, one must first engage in labor that requires effort. For instance, to escape the Jing Wangfu with minimal immediate effort, she would have to work hard alongside Madam Ruo for several months.

I do not know whether it is right or wrong, but I feel guilty. A bad event that was clearly foreseeable, I neglected it and allowed it to happen. If she truly is Li Yi's strategist, then she nearly cost him his life before even devising a plan for him. She only thought of her own safety and did not consider his danger. Although the revelation of the truth about the bandits is just one aspect, perhaps without this incident, Li Yi's return would not have been peaceful either. However, if such a magnanimous prince were to lose his life because of her negligence, she would truly feel unworthy of him.

Li Yidao: "Even if my subordinates are not the best, their loyalty and bravery in protecting their master are still unwavering!"

Jing Yongfu pondered for a moment before nodding: "In that case, there is even less need to return to the royal capital." Indeed, the capture of the border bandits was the catalyst for Li Yi's assassination, and it is likely that ambushes were already set along the route back to the royal capital. If Li Yi were to die, a new crown prince would naturally be established; if he were to survive, the entire Xuanyuan clan would be uprooted. Even without the matter of the bandits being cleared, it would still be difficult for Li Yi to return to the royal capital. However, the other party did not want him to die within their controlled territory, which is why they did not take lethal action on the way back.

At present, after a long night of conversation, Jing Yongfu finally fell asleep from exhaustion. She had already expressed her judgment, and how to proceed with the fighting and the chaotic matters of Xieguo had nothing to do with her. Li Yi carefully carried her away and placed her back into the soft and warm bedding

Li Yi is not an ordinary person, and Xuanyuan is certainly not a reckless general. Upon hearing Jing Yongfu's question, he has already thought of these matters.

Xuan Yuan Bu Er briefly recounted the events. On the day after opening the pawnshop, Fang Xiaochun apprehended a suspicious individual. After interrogating him and uncovering the hideout of the thieves, the Xuan Yuan army achieved a great victory. Although the bandit leader was dead, a token belonging to the Prince of the Slaves was found on his corpse, and combined with the testimony of the henchmen, it was confirmed that the long-standing marauders harassing the border were not from Jing, but were all instigated by the prince from Xie. The first intention was to transfer Xuan Yuan Bu Er—currently the most capable general of the Xie Kingdom and the head of the Xuan Yuan clan—away from the royal capital; the second intention was to lure Li Yi to come personally, seeking an opportunity to harm him. After learning of the situation, Xuan Yuan Bu Er quickly escorted the criminals westward and saved Li Yi along the way. After their reunion, due to the Prince of the Slaves blocking the official road under the pretext of a contract with the Miao, they had no choice but to take a detour north through the Beiping Plain.

What happened? Fuer? The lady's voice was as gentle as ever

As for the words regarding the betrothal gifts, Jing Yongfu merely regarded them as nonsense. Such a fine weapon is perfectly suited for self-defense