Chapter 203
But whether the Xiao Rongyan before him was real or not, since he had been bought by him, this favor he would surely repay Xiao Rongyan. Yet, he could never involve the Bai family in any way.
Born into an aristocratic family, maintaining the family’s interests and dignity was more important to Bai Qingjue and others than their own lives. Therefore, no one in the Bai family would ever drag the family into repaying a favor received personally.
Xiao Rongyan was quite surprised. He smiled, didn’t take the cup of tea, and asked, “How do you plan to repay, young master?”
Bai Qingjue’s voice was firm, “The amount you paid for my redemption, I will repay tenfold. I am willing to serve you for three tasks… after which I will leave.”
The Bai family had their own dignity and sense of gratitude. This, Xiao Rongyan had already witnessed in Bai Qingyan.
Even so, Xiao Rongyan did not insist. He raised his hand to take the cup of tea from Bai Qingjue, signifying his acceptance, and asked with a smile, “Then… how should I address you?”
“Wang Qijue,” Bai Qingjue replied.
Bai Qingjue was the seventh in the Bai family. His mother’s surname was Wang, so he took the name Wang Qijue. Once he repaid Xiao Rongyan under this name, he would no longer have any ties with him.
“Very well. From today, Qijue shall be my personal guard. After completing the three tasks and repaying the money, you can leave freely.”
With that, Xiao Rongyan drank the tea, and had Bai Qingjue taken to rest.
The situation in the Jin Kingdom was complex now. It was perhaps best for this young master of the Bai family to stay away for a while. If the Crown Prince or the Emperor of Jin were to find out, it might be to the detriment of the Bai family’s widow.
However, it was still better to send a message to Bai Qingyan to put her at ease.
After Bai Qingjue left, Xiao Rongyan summoned Wang Jiuzhou and asked him to bring a doctor to examine Bai Qingjue.
Wang Jiuzhou understood that his master valued the young man. He nodded in agreement and mentioned something else: “Master, that young master left a mark while coming here, though I didn’t notice it. It was discovered by our Hidden Guard.”
Xiao Rongyan raised his eyebrows slightly and nodded to show he understood.
“Should we erase the mark?” Wang Jiuzhou asked.
“No need… it’s alright,” said Xiao Rongyan.
No wonder he wasn’t in a hurry to return to the Jin Kingdom. It seemed the young master of the Bai family was cautious of the situation in Jin, not daring to return rashly, and had left a mark for his family to find him. Indeed, he was a highly intelligent and composed individual.
At roughly sixteen years of age, while Xiao Rongyan was unsure which young master of the Bai family he was, he was certain that the boy was a Bai descendant. If Bai Qingyan knew, she would surely be pleased.
Xiao Rongyan placed a piece on the chessboard, a slight smile curving his lips. He put the remaining pieces back into the chess box and walked to his desk to spread out the paper. Lifting his left hand, he wrote slowly, then blew the ink dry and sealed the letter. He called for the guard who had delivered horses to Bai Qingyan last time and ordered him to deliver the letter to Bai Qingyan as swiftly as possible.
·
At dawn the next day, as the morning light penetrated through the rolling clouds, it shone obliquely on the distant contours of the vast, majestic mountains. The light, following the rising sun, moved along the rapid west-to-east flowing Jin River, heading toward the Jin Army and Xiliang camps, gradually dispelling the darkness.
On the southern bank of the Jinghe River, the quiet Xiliang camp suddenly sent out a troop, who shouted for a meeting with Bai Qingyan by the river. Leading them on horseback was Yun Poxing.
Yun Poxing’s kneecaps had been shattered. He could no longer stand. But his legs still had feeling, and on horseback, it wasn’t noticeable to others.
From afar, Yun Poxing gazed at the Jin Army camp, where his son’s head was displayed high. He clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening. But in a moment, his surging emotions seemed to be doused by a bucket of cold water.
It was said that what goes around comes around.
He had killed Bai Weiting and hung Bai Weiting’s son’s head in his camp to boost the morale of the Xiliang warriors. Unexpectedly, the tables had turned. Bai Weiting’s granddaughter had killed his son and grandson, and his son’s head now hung high in the Jin camp.
Yun Poxing closed his eyes. Tears seemed to flow down the grooves on his face.
Bai Qingyan, seated in the command tent, laughed softly upon hearing that Yun Poxing wanted to meet her. “It seems that Xiliang’s provisions are expected to arrive today. That’s why Yun Poxing dares to come and negotiate with me.”
Being heavily outnumbered was Bai Qingyan’s biggest weakness. Having their supplies burned was Yun Poxing’s.
Hence, Yun Poxing had raised a non-aggression flag, and Bai Qingyan held her forces, gazing across the river at the Xiliang army.
Previously, Yun Poxing hadn’t dared to negotiate because only when Xiliang’s supplies arrived would he have the confidence to fight if talks broke down.
But Bai Qingyan had long instructed Shen Liangyu to have Huying Camp monitor the Xiliang camp. Aside from the messengers coming from the Xiliang direction, there were no signs of incoming provisions.
Moreover, ever since the Xiliang provisions had been burned, only one cooking smoke had been seen rising from their camp each day. Therefore, food shortages must have reached a critical point.
Bai Qingyan was certain that today, Xiliang’s provisions would arrive.
She quickly went to the sand table, scrutinizing the nearby mountain maps.
She had previously set an ambush at Tuofeng Canyon to intercept Xiliang’s provisions. Back then, Xiliang’s army was at Tianmen Pass, making Tuofeng Canyon the quickest route for supplies.
Now, the Xiliang troops had withdrawn to the opposite bank of Jinghe River. To deliver supplies quickly, they could only take the mountainous path of Chuanling—where her grandfather had died.
Her fist clenched unconsciously. She gave the order, “Bai Jinzhi, instruct Shen Liangyu to take Huying Camp and set an ambush in Chuanling Mountain to burn all Xiliang provisions! You are to go with Shen Liangyu!”
Bai Jinzhi initially wanted to stay close to protect her eldest sister. But thinking that her eldest sister and Yun Poxing were separated by a river, there should be no danger, so she accepted the order and left the camp.
Without provisions, unless Yun Poxing could magically produce supplies, soldiers on an empty stomach could not win battles.
Before long, Bai Qingyan, astride a horse, led a team out of the Jin camp, heading straight for the Jinghe River.
Seeing Bai Qingyan approach, Yun Poxing remembered his slain son and grandson, his grief and fury surging. But then he thought of how Bai Qingyan’s grandfather, father, uncles, and brothers had all died by his hands, and he felt a certain satisfaction.
Yun Poxing turned to his soldiers, “Send someone across the river to tell Bai Qingyan I wish to meet with her in person. The place is her choice.”
A Xiliang soldier received the order, paddling alone across the river.
Xiao Ruojiang raised his hand, and archers immediately stepped forward to shield Bai Qingyan, drawing their arrows aimed at the crossing soldier.
“No need for that. It’s just one Xiliang soldier. Does my foster brother fear he has some extraordinary ability?” Bai Qingyan gazed at Yun Poxing, her voice calm.