"Donât tell me anything, I know nothing! I didnât hear anything either!" Cheng Yuanzhi quickly covered his ears, "I originally brought you here to discipline you, but then you just disappeared. If General Shen asks, I know nothing!"
"Got it!" Lu Yuanpeng dashed off, and unexpectedly collided head-on with Bai Jinzhi.
"Ah..."
Lu Yuanpeng bent over, clutching his chin. When he lifted his head, he saw Bai Jinzhi holding his head. Just as he was about to speak, Bai Jinzhi ignored her bumped forehead, quickly covered her ears, and stepped back: "I didnât hear anything either! Go quickly! I didnât see you!"
Lu Yuanpeng: "..."
Lu Yuanpeng ignored his sore chin, gave Bai Jinzhi a thumbs-up, and without saying a word, quickly ran in the previous direction.
As Lu Yuanpeng walked away, Bai Jinzhi, clutching her head again, only felt that Lu Yuanpengâs chin must be made of iron.
The soldiers of the Yan Kingdom were well aware they were here stirring up trouble unreasonably. Nevertheless, during the dispute with Zhou over Yunjing, they claimed it was the Bai army that rushed to open the city gates for the Yan army, instead of the Yan army begging the Bai army.
Just as Cheng Yuanzhi took Lu Yuanpeng away, the rowdy Yan Kingdom soldiers quickly calmed down, feeling deeply regretful. Remembering how Zhou had divided much of the war spoils with Yan in the past, they felt utterly ashamed.
Moreover, this time, the younger brother of the Emperor of Zhou was captured alive due to the betrayal by a Yan Kingdom General, which led to General Bai being caught.
Despite this, during the joint attack by both nations, the Bai army still allocated troops to open the east city gate for them. The Bai army bodies under the east city gate winch were witnessed by them, not without shock. How could they utter such words?
Soon, a soldier who argued with Lu Yuanpeng saw him returning forcefully. He pursed his lips and approached, before Lu Yuanpeng could start scolding, the young Yan officer made a deep bow toward Lu Yuanpeng: "Sorry, esteemed General! It was my fault for the argument getting out of hand earlier. I was just about to find you and apologize."
Whatâs happening?
Lu Yuanpeng came to fight, but why was the Yan army apologizing so suddenly with bows?
After apologizing, the young Yan officer continued: "Actually, everyone in Yan knows that General Bai of the Bai army was captured alive because we betrayed Zhou. All of us in Yan feel deeply ashamed, after all... Zhou treats us, a vassal state, very generously! Earlier, I was just... just..."
The young Yan officer couldnât continue, so he bowed again toward Lu Yuanpeng: "Esteemed General, whether Yunjing belongs to Yan or Zhou in the end, itâs up to the Emperor of Zhou and the Emperor of Yan to decide. Weâre just the underlings, and even if we argue here endlessly, our words donât count!"
"I disagree with you. Yunjing was conquered by us in Zhou, so itâs ours! Any spoils previously given by our Emperor were just granted, but it canât always be us Zhou conceding to you! Iâm telling you... We Zhou wonât concede Yunjing!" Lu Yuanpengâs stubborn temper rose, rejecting compromise.
The apologetic young Yan officer fired back: "Itâs not up to a small Zhou officer like you to decide whether to concede or not!"
"My words count! My old man is Commandant Lu of Zhou! Iâll write to him right away, declaring that we Zhou will never concede Yunjing!" Lu Yuanpeng, who originally came to fight, turned and left.
Sima Ping: "..."
Didnât he come to fight? Without throwing a punch, Lu Yuanpeng betrayed his own background.
Soon, news that Lu Yuanpengâs old man was Commandant Lu spread throughout the Zhou military camp. Some even exaggeratedly claimed Lu Yuanpeng was Commandant Luâs illegitimate child, causing chaos.
Xie Xun suppressed the friction between the soldiers of the two countries, ensuring it didnât reach Xiao Rongyan. However, Xiao Rongyan still caught wind of it.
After the attack on Yunjing City, a celebration banquet was bound to be held, but due to Bai Qingyuâs unconsciousness, the banquet was delayed. Xiao Rongyan saw an opportunity to organize it.
He recalled Bai Qingyan instructing him in a letter to play the role of a husband abandoned by Bai Qingyan.
So, this time, heâd use the opportunity to sever ties with "Zhou" as the abandoned husband.
"Master!" Yue Shi rushed into Xiao Rongyanâs temporary study, his voice brimming with excitement, "The fifth young master of the Bai family has awakened!"
With Doctor Hong present, Xiao Rongyan hadnât worried much about Bai Qingyuâs condition, but hearing the news, he finally felt relieved.
"Right, Bai familyâs eldest daughterâs eunuch Wei Zhong also arrived!" Yue Shi recalled just seeing Eunuch Wei Zhong being led into the Xiliang Imperial Palace by the Bai armyâs soldiers.
Xiao Rongyanâs grip on his pen paused, and ink began to spread across the paper. Wei Zhong arrived... Kidâs letter must have arrived too!
He felt an inexplicable joy in his heart.
He was just writing a letter to Bai Qingyan, detailing the events of the siege. The letter was nearly complete, and it was fortunate that Bai Qingyanâs trusted eunuch had arrived. The letter could be entrusted to Wei Zhong to deliver, as Wei Zhong was undoubtedly the most reliable and loyal person to Bai Qingyan.
Wei Zhong sought an audience with Xiao Rongyan under the identity of a senior eunuch beside the Emperor of Zhou. When Xiao Rongyanâs staff reported this, he understood the implications, fetched his mask, and instructed, "Invite Eunuch Wei to the front hall for tea. Iâll join shortly."
"Yes!"
Yue Shi looked at his master with excitement: "Master, since the eldest lady dispatched Wei Zhong personally, why not meet privately? Perhaps the eldest lady entrusted Wei Zhong with a personal message for you."
"Didnât you hear? Wei Zhong is here under the guise of a trusted eunuch of the Emperor of Zhou..." Xiao Rongyan put on his mask, a subtle smile in his voice, "Could be here to reckon with me."
Considering his masterâs words, Yue Shi agreed it made sense. He recalled when the Bai family Hidden Guard came to deliver a letter, they advised him to neither help nor hinder masterâs plans with the eldest lady, suggesting he mask his expressions.
Following his master, he quietly asked: "Master, if thereâs really to be a performance later, should I quarrel with Eunuch Wei on your behalf?"
"Thatâs unnecessary. Youâve been able to keep your emotions hidden in recent days, and Iâm grateful for that." Xiao Rongyan spoke, hands deftly poised, stepping out, calling to the rooted Yue Shi, "Letâs go!"