Chapter 222 - 222 220 Wait for an Opportunity to Kill_Part 1

Chapter 222: Chapter 220: Wait for an Opportunity to Kill_Part 1 Chapter 222: Chapter 220: Wait for an Opportunity to Kill_Part 1 He only hoped that his grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers in heaven would protect Shen Qingzhu and the Huying Camp in rescuing Xiao Jiu!

Li Zhijie respectfully saw the Crown Prince of Jin Kingdom onto the carriage, then turned to Bai Qingyan with a smile, saying, “I didn’t expect that General Bai would not only be excellent in battles but also be sharp-tongued!”

“Whether it is in battle or verbally, it’s all for the benefit of the country.” Bai Qingyan finished speaking, clasped his fists toward Li Zhijie, and leaped onto his horse.

Li Zhijie clasped his hands, his aristocratic demeanor lightly bowing toward Bai Qingyan, “With this alliance signed, I, along with the Princess of Pingyang, the Crown Prince, and General Bai, will proceed to Dadu. I ask General Bai to look after us along the way.”

“King Yan is too kind.”

Watching the Jin peace envoy leave, Li Zhijie finally showed a fatigued expression.

He retracted his smile, squinting his eyes, recalling the peace negotiations earlier. Although Bai Qingyan had been mostly silent, he spoke up at critical moments, greatly boosting Jin Kingdom’s confidence. This allowed Liu Rushi, the Jin envoy, to set such high conditions.

Lu Tianzhuo was right. Bai Qingyan indeed could not be left alive!

Pity… such a stunning beauty with a proud bone. If not for Xiliang, he truly couldn’t bear to see such a beauty die.

“Let’s go back!” Li Zhijie turned and walked toward the carriage, lowering his voice to Lu Tianzhuo, “We will follow the Crown Prince into Jin later. Be careful to hide that Bai family member well, and find out which child of the Bai family he is! Only then can we provide an explanation for General Bai, lure her in, and seize the opportunity to kill her.”

Lu Tianzhuo, who was following Li Zhijie, looked serious, “Prince, there is something suspicious about that maid today! When I counted the people, there was indeed a maid named Qianzhou missing. It would be best if you returned to Qiushan Pass quickly to prevent any actions by Jin Kingdom!”

“The alliance is already signed. Jin Kingdom has gained the upper hand; there won’t be any actions. Perhaps that maid Qianzhou is a Jin spy, taking this opportunity to return home! Investigate this maid thoroughly, see who she contacted, and learn what they know!” After saying this, Li Zhijie boarded the carriage.

“Yes!” Lu Tianzhuo bowed in acknowledgment.

Watching Li Zhijie’s carriage leave, Lu Tianzhuo took the reins from a servant’s hand. But before he could mount his horse, the personal maid of Li Tianfu, the Princess of Xiliang, rushed over. After saluting, she said, “Lord Lu, the Princess requests your presence for tea.”

Lu Tianzhuo tightened his grip on the reins, paused, and then handed them to the servant, “Yes!”

In the luxurious carriage of the Princess of Xiliang, Li Tianfu leaned leisurely against a cushion. She smiled at Lu Tianzhuo, who was brewing tea for her, and said, “I suppose that by the time I reach Jin’s capital in Dadu, my reputation as a domineering, ignorant fool who hates Jin will have spread throughout Dadu. We’ll see which noble of the Jin Imperial Family would be willing to marry me then! Then… I can return to Yunjing with you. I’ll have my sister confer a prince title upon me! You can come to my side then, and we will live as an immortal couple!”

Li Tianfu’s tone was playful and a bit smug. Perhaps because she was talking about their future, her eyes sparkled like water, filled with hope for the days to come.

The carriage’s glass lanterns swayed with each movement. Lu Tianzhuo was silent, his posture elegant and skilled as he brewed tea for Li Tianfu.

He could not tell Li Tianfu that, in planning to kill Bai Qingyan, he did not intend to return alive.

Li Tianfu, dissatisfied, grabbed the cushion she was leaning on and threw it at Lu Tianzhuo, “I’m talking to you!”

Fortunately, Lu Tianzhuo’s quick reflexes caught the cushion, preventing it from knocking over the hot water.

Li Tianfu’s eyes fell on the injury on Lu Tianzhuo’s shoulder, feeling both guilty and pained, “Does it still hurt?”

Lu Tianzhuo placed the cushion aside, shook his head with a gentle smile, and respectfully handed the brewed tea to Li Tianfu, “The tea is ready. If the Princess has no other orders, I will take my leave.”

“Sit with me!” Li Tianfu’s eyes turned red. She bit her lower lip, “Do you hate me so much? Can’t you even stay with me for a moment longer?”

Lu Tianzhuo sat at one end of the wooden table, his deep gaze fixed on Li Tianfu. Ultimately, he couldn’t bear it and sighed, lowering his eyes, “If the Princess is tired, then rest for a while. When we arrive… I will wake you.”

In a huff, Li Tianfu lay down, turning her back to Lu Tianzhuo. She haphazardly pulled a white fur blanket over herself. Tears streamed down uncontrollably, biting her lip so she wouldn’t cry out.

·

Bai Qingyan arrived quickly at the Jin encampment of five thousand elite soldiers. After inspecting the area and seeing that Shen Liangyu from Huying Camp had not returned and that Bai Jinzhi was also missing, she deduced that Bai Jinzhi probably learned that Xiao Jiu was alive and had gone to rescue him.

She pondered for a moment, then turned her horse towards the Crown Prince’s carriage.

Seated inside the carriage, the Crown Prince closed his eyes, repeatedly recalling Bai Qingyan’s words to King Yan about the Jin’s loyalty. He felt a subtle sense of satisfaction, thinking that Bai Qingyan must truly believe in his unwavering trust, which gave her the confidence to speak such words.

After all, he had managed to win Bai Qingyan over!

Quan Yu, sitting outside the carriage, suddenly saw Bai Qingyan, who had been leading the troops, riding toward them. His eyes lit up, “General Bai!”

Quan Yu had been serving beside the Crown Prince earlier and naturally saw Bai Qingyan’s impressive demeanor in the negotiation tent, especially when Bai Qingyan vowed to devastate Xiliang so thoroughly that they wouldn’t dare invade Jin for ten years. Quan Yu felt his blood surge with excitement, wishing he could wield his sword and fight alongside Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan clasped her fists at Quan Yu, following the carriage, and said, “Please inform the Crown Prince that Bai Qingyan has something to discuss with him!”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince did not wait for Quan Yu to announce it. He lifted the carriage curtain with a cheerful face, “General Bai, if you have something to say, come into the carriage. Quan Yu, prepare tea for General Bai!”

Bai Qingyan dismounted and entered the Crown Prince’s luxurious carriage. Lowering her eyes and kneeling, she raised the Commander’s Seal above her head, “Now that the alliance with Xiliang has been signed, Bai Qingyan can rest assured. I hereby return the Commander’s Seal to Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince was slightly taken aback. He and Old Fang had been worried that Bai Qingyan might not want to return the Commander’s Seal, regretting having given it to her so readily. They had been plotting to force her to hand it back after the alliance. Unexpectedly, Bai Qingyan handed it back willingly, making them seem petty.

The Crown Prince’s fingers tightened slightly, “I just stated… I trust General Bai as I trust myself. There’s nothing wrong with the Commander’s Seal being in General Bai’s possession. Why return it in such haste?”

“Originally, it should have been returned when Xiliang sought peace. But at that time, the alliance was not signed. I feared it was a delaying tactic by Xiliang, so I did not return it. Now that the alliance is finalized, I naturally must return it.”