Chapter 165: 164: Do Not Show Off Strength_1

Chapter 165: Chapter 164: Do Not Show Off Strength_1

Xiao Rongyan handed the ebony horse whip to the guard, walked to the Crown Prince, and bowed deeply. His entire demeanor was refined and dignified, exuding a scholarly grace.

He smiled with eyes as deep as the abyss and looked at Bai Qingyan. His calm gaze was extraordinarily restrained and profound, as if he could see through everything.

Seeing her dressed in men’s attire, appearing as a noble young man from a prestigious family with an astonishingly handsome visage, he couldn’t help but recall her majestic figure on the battlefield of the Shu Kingdom’s Imperial Palace, galloping with a silver spear.

He bowed to Bai Qingyan. “Mr. Bai.”

Bai Qingyan gracefully returned the salute. “Thank you, Mr. Xiao, for taking care of my younger brother.”

Noticing Bai Qingyan’s footwear, Xiao Rongyan inquired warmly, “Mr. Bai, are you not riding in the carriage?”

“I’ve heard that walking strengthens the body. I thought I’d give it a try,” Bai Qingyan responded calmly.

“It’s good that you’re observant while we’re out,” she said, pleased that the usually carefree Bai Jinzhi had noticed such details. “But in business, there’s a business logic. Currently, the battlefield in the southern region is around Tianmen Pass and Fengcheng, primarily within Feng County, Black Bear Mountain, and Luofeng Canyon, which is east of the southern border. Pingyang City and the western southern region are relatively stable. Herbs and protective weapons are extremely expensive. Xiao Rongyan transporting them there for profit makes sense. What’s suspicious about that?”

“Then why be so secretive? Why not be upfront?”

“Business has its own ways, and different professions vary greatly. If you’re curious, you could ask Mr. Xiao for more insight.”

Bai Jinzhi, sensing her sister didn’t suspect Xiao Rongyan, continued, “Indeed, my dear sister, I understand. Mr. Xiao helped the Bai family during difficult times. This debt of gratitude merits at least giving Mr. Xiao a chance to explain. I planned to clarify this matter first and then inform you before questioning Mr. Xiao. This is a matter of duty… I haven’t forgotten.”

She nodded with satisfaction. “Fourth Young Master has grown up.”

“Eldest Young Lady… So you’re not angry at me, right? You won’t send me back to the Capital, will you?”

“From now until our return, you will stay by my side. Not a step away. Otherwise, I’ll have Ruohai tie you up and send you eight hundred miles back to Auntie’s side immediately.”

Overjoyed by her sister’s words, Bai Jinzhi nodded repeatedly, dutifully following Bai Qingyan.

But as the journey progressed, the more they walked, the more uneasy Bai Jinzhi felt.

She saw her sister drenched in sweat, refusing to get into a carriage and insisting on walking with unwavering steps, never slowing the troop’s progress.

By night, when they reached Baiwo City, she saw Bai Qingyan untie the iron sandbags wrapped in her clothes, which could be wrung of sweat.

“Let’s go! We’re about to depart!” The Crown Prince addressed Xiao Rongyan, then turned to Bai Qingyan. “Mr. Bai, if you can’t keep up, get in the carriage. The march will be swift, so don’t overexert yourself.”

Bai Qingyan saluted the Crown Prince. “I will remember your words.”

The Crown Prince pulled Xiao Rongyan into the carriage. The accompanying generals arranged for Xiao Rongyan’s men to follow behind as the army prepared to depart.

“Fourth Young Master, get in the carriage!” Xiao Ruohai said to Bai Jinzhi.

Bai Jinzhi tossed her silver spear, whip, and bundle into the carriage, then jogged back to Bai Qingyan. “I’ll walk with my eldest sister.”

As the trumpet sounded, the army set out. Bai Jinzhi anxiously followed her elder sister. “Eldest Young Lady, don’t be angry. I’m just afraid you’ll have Xiao Ruohai send me back to the Capital! Grandfather previously wouldn’t let me go to the battlefield because he felt I wasn’t mature enough. But the situation is different now! I can’t just watch my eldest sister venture into danger in the southern borders while I enjoy myself in Dadu City.”

Seeing her sister staring ahead, focused on moving forward, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes reddened. “Eldest Young Lady, I’m skilled in martial arts. I don’t seek to achieve glory in the southern borders. I only wish to stay by your side and protect you with my flesh and blood! You are the backbone of our Bai family, while I am the most useless member. If something happens on this journey, I’m willing to sacrifice my life for you!”

Listening to Bai Jinzhi’s choked words, her emotions surged inside, deeply moved.

“Fourth Young Master has grown up, willing to follow others and not be called back! Truly, you’ve become wild after stepping out!” Bai Qingyan murmured.

“Outwardly straightforward, inwardly steady… I remember all Eldest Young Lady said!” Bai Jinzhi glanced at the Crown Prince’s carriage and lowered her voice further. “It’s not that I’m being willful. It’s that I find this Mr. Xiao somewhat peculiar. I want to stay by his side and investigate further.”

Bai Jinzhi’s sudden remark took her by surprise.

Inside the carriage with the Crown Prince, Xiao Rongyan’s eyes narrowed. He lightly lifted the curtain swaying with the carriage’s movement and looked at Bai Jinzhi talking closely to Bai Qingyan. His gaze involuntarily lingered on Bai Qingyan’s tall and clean figure.

Sensing something, Bai Qingyan looked up. Their eyes met, and seeing Xiao Rongyan quietly gazing at her, her heart skipped a beat. She guessed Xiao Rongyan must have overheard Bai Jinzhi, quickened her pace, and shielded her sister behind her.

Knowing Xiao Rongyan’s prowess, even a peanut could become a deadly weapon in his hands. It wasn’t surprising that a skilled person like him had extraordinary hearing. But she hadn’t anticipated Bai Jinzhi speaking so softly amidst the noise of wheels and footsteps. That Xiao Rongyan could still hear indicated his exceptional skills.

Xiao Rongyan, noticing Bai Qingyan’s movement, slowly lowered the curtain and warmly commented to the Crown Prince, “Miss Bai is inherently frail. I’m afraid she can’t manage walking like this.”

The Crown Prince shook his head, leaning against a soft pillow. “Miss Bai walked the entire day yesterday. After all, she has military experience.”

Seeing her sister quicken her pace, Bai Jinzhi, worried that her sister might think she was baseless, hurried a few steps. “It’s true, Eldest Young Lady! That Mr. Xiao’s men are all highly skilled. Not one of them slacks off, and they’re extremely disciplined and self-regulated! This is not something an ordinary merchant could achieve. They seem like well-trained soldiers.”

She couldn’t explicitly inform Fourth Young Master of Xiao Rongyan’s identity, nor let Xiao Rongyan suspect that Fourth Young Master knew his identity and planned to expose him, so she allowed Bai Jinzhi to continue.

“Moreover, I tried to sneak a look at the goods they’re escorting to Pingyang City last night. I found that highly skilled Hidden Guards were guarding the goods. They claimed it was ordinary spices. Spices are mostly herbs, and so are many medicines. Wouldn’t different herbs mixed together be hard to distinguish? Furthermore, wagons filled with herbs wouldn’t leave such deep ruts. I suspect these goods are a mix of herbs and weapons! Eldest Young Lady, do you think Xiao Rongyan might be a spy for Xiliang or Nanyan?”

While Bai Qingyan bathed, Bai Jinzhi came out without a word and couldn’t help but ask Xiao Ruohai, “Today, Eldest Young Lady walked all day with such heavy iron sandbags?!”

“Miss Bai has already adapted today. Tomorrow, the weight will increase. She intends to be able to draw the Shooting Sun Bow before reaching the southern border. With limited time, she resorted to such training.”