Chapter 613 - 613 610 Each Relying on Their Own Abilities_1

Chapter 613: Chapter 610: Each Relying on Their Own Abilities_1 Chapter 613: Chapter 610: Each Relying on Their Own Abilities_1 Xiao Rongyan had a light smile on his face: “Moreover, you and I agreed that when we are on opposing sides, there can be no personal feelings!”

Bai Qingyan’s greatest worry was always about the two of them.

Hearing Xiao Rongyan say this, Bai Qingyan’s eyes had a hint of a smile. She said, “I apologize because I was so aggressive in front of the Crown Prince just now. But our Crown Prince… If I was too gentle and not aggressive, he wouldn’t have understood the importance of the matter. Just like when I advised the Crown Prince to send troops to aid the Rong, my words were too mild, and he didn’t take it to heart!”

“I understand…” Xiao Rongyan looked around, seeing no one, then tightened the reins and approached Bai Qingyan by a few steps. His deep and dark eyes gazed at the fair and delicate features of the woman before him. His dry, strong hand grasped Bai Qingyan’s slender wrist, his thumb gently caressing her wrist. In a low voice, he said, “If Kid really thinks she was too harsh on me just now, how about making it up to me?”

Xiao Rongyan’s gaze fell on Bai Qingyan’s injured ear. He tugged the unguarded Bai Qingyan, causing her to stumble a step closer to him. Bai Qingyan’s face flushed, and she quickly grabbed Xiao Rongyan’s supporting arm, stepping back, afraid of being seen. Her voice carried a slight warning: “Xiao Rongyan!”

“Don’t move…” Xiao Rongyan took a step closer to Bai Qingyan, used his thumb to rub away the powder hiding the scar on her ear, furrowed his brows slightly, then released Bai Qingyan and took out a small porcelain jar from his sleeve. He scooped out a bit of ointment and gently applied it to Bai Qingyan’s ear.

“What is this?” As Bai Qingyan opened the small porcelain bottle, she smelled a rich, enchanting fragrance.

“This is a secret medicine from the Yan royal court, made from mermaid fat. It is very effective against scars, though the initial smell is very unpleasant. My mother improved its smell to one she liked, working on it a hundred times over, to make it both effective and pleasantly fragrant.” Xiao Rongyan used his fingertip to spread the ointment, gently applying it to Bai Qingyan’s ear.

Xiao Rongyan had specially sent someone back to Yan at top speed to fetch it from his brother.

The wind rustled the high tree branches and leaves that extended over the wall with a rustling sound.

“From now on, be careful with everything. Seeing you injured… it really pains me.”

His rich voice, amidst the sound of the wind, was particularly moving.

Bai Qingyan’s ear grew hotter and hotter. She did not know how to respond, and her lips involuntarily curved slightly.

Bai Qingyan looked down at Xiao Rongyan’s exquisitely embroidered jade belt at his waist. She quickly averted her gaze and responded, “Hmm!”

After finishing applying the medicine, Bai Qingyan handed him a handkerchief. When their eyes met for that instant, her heart suddenly beat faster.

“Thank you…” Xiao Rongyan took the handkerchief, closed the lid of the small porcelain jar, and handed it to Bai Qingyan. “Apply it twice a day, once in the morning, once in the evening.”

“Thank you…” Bai Qingyan took the small porcelain jar, watched as Xiao Rongyan wiped his hands with the handkerchief, folded it and put it into his sleeve. She looked up at Xiao Rongyan.

“Consider it an apology gift for Kid’s aggressive behavior just now.” Xiao Rongyan smiled as he took the reins. “Let’s go!”

Xiao Rongyan watched the elongated shadows of him and Bai Qingyan and said in a low voice, “Although we couldn’t stop the Jin Kingdom envoy at the Crown Prince’s side this time, it doesn’t mean there’s no other way. If I can succeed… Kid, don’t blame me.”

Bai Qingyan nodded. Between them, it was all about who had the talent.

Xiao Rongyan walked alongside Bai Qingyan. Occasionally, someone passed by on horseback. Xiao Rongyan reverted to his usual serious demeanor. He asked, “Did Miss Bai really come to resolve this for my sake, or is there truly a grain shortage?”

“Just to relieve the Crown Prince’s worries!” Bai Qingyan smiled at Xiao Rongyan. “So that Mr. Xiao and the Crown Prince can keep all the profits from this deal, as long as we break even. If the Crown Prince is tempted by petty gains, it won’t benefit the Jin Kingdom.”

Bai Qingyan agreed to take Xiao Rongyan’s high-priced grain, first to stop him from approaching the Crown Prince again, and also to alleviate Ji Tingyu’s urgent grain shortage, killing two birds with one stone.

Although they did have feelings, the matter of Ji Tingyu intercepting new soldiers was not yet ripe to be discussed with Xiao Rongyan. Personal feelings and public matters, Bai Qingyan could separate them clearly.

Xiao Rongyan smiled and nodded, “If Miss Bai had come a moment later, the Crown Prince would surely have agreed.”

“That’s why Yan still lacks some fortune if it wants to swallow the world.” Bai Qingyan sounded like she was joking, walking with her hands behind her back with Xiao Rongyan toward the direction of the Court of Judicial Review Prison.

In this clash in front of the Crown Prince, Xiao Rongyan indeed did not have the upper hand. In front of the Crown Prince, he was always from another country. When Bai Qingyan spoke at the same time, saying the opposite, the Crown Prince would naturally side with Bai Qingyan.

Xiao Rongyan could only hope that before the Jin Kingdom envoy arrived, Xie Xun and the Beirong Commander could seize more land. At least, they needed to control half of Rong. Thus… the natural pasturelands would mostly be in the hands of the Yan Kingdom.

Perhaps because of what was said earlier, even though the two had just confronted each other, there was no grudge in their hearts now.

“The alliance of Yan and Beirong attacking Nanrong, Xie Xun… has he risen from his grief to avenge Princess Mingcheng?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“On the battlefield, life and death are commonplace. Princess Mingcheng married far for peace with Beirong. It’s natural for Nanrong to be unsettled. Rather than saying Xie Xun rose from grief to avenge, it is more like… Xie Xun rose from grief to strengthen the nation, to make Yan so strong that it never again needs women to marry for peace!” Xiao Rongyan’s words were not just perfunctory.

Bai Qingyan hadn’t expected Xie Xun to have such magnanimity, she couldn’t help but feel: “Yan has wise rulers and strong ministers, so why worry the nation won’t thrive.”

Hearing this, Xiao Rongyan’s steps paused. He turned to look at Bai Qingyan: “If Yan had a capable minister like the Princess of Zhen, who could govern the world with both civil and military prowess, it would be unrivaled.”

Bai Qingyan shook her head: “Mr. Xiao flatters me.”

Reaching a place with more people, Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan tacitly changed the subject, no longer mentioning Yan.

Not far away, just stepping down from a carriage, Liu Ruofu used a round fan to cover her face. She noticed Bai Qingyan and Xiao Rongyan walking side by side. Lu Baohua, who came with Liu Ruofu to Huaying Pavilion to select jewelry, exclaimed and laughed: “Isn’t that… the Princess of Zhen?”

Huaying Pavilion was a famous jewelry shop in Dadu City. The jewelry from Huaying Pavilion was so sought after that even high-ranking noblewomen had to order six months in advance. Otherwise, they could only buy the mass-produced pieces from Huaying Pavilion.

But which noblewoman would want to wear the same jewelry as others? That’s why… Liu Ruofu, who was about to marry King Liang, had her grandmother pay for her to have some stately jewelry made in advance, in preparation for the future, and also to let Liu Ruofu go out and relax.

Hearing “Princess of Zhen,” Liu Ruofu’s sharp gaze turned toward Bai Qingyan. It was Bai Qingyan who had embarrassed her so greatly, causing her to lose face at the state banquet and become a laughing stock throughout Dadu City.