Chapter 822
“Hmm?” Xiao Rongyan looked at Bai Qingyan, who had stopped in her tracks.
Ten steps behind them, Yue Shi saw what happened and quickly instructed her guards and the soldiers Bai Qingyan had brought to turn around, whispering, “See no evil! See no evil!”
Bai Qingyan lowered her eyes, reaching out to grasp Xiao Rongyan’s firm and defined hand, then looked up at him and whispered, “If Empress Ji knew that the treasured sword is now in the hands of your guard Yue Shi, and that this sword has protected you countless times, she would be gratified.”
Xiao Rongyan lowered his eyes, holding Bai Qingyan’s hands with his own. The stillness in his eyes gradually dissipated with warmth. He gently kissed the back of Bai Qingyan’s hand and looked at her intently. “Kid was my mother’s confidant. If Kid says so… my mother must have thought the same!”
Bai Qingyan nodded, “Hmm!”
Thinking of his own father, Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but think of his mother’s fate and solemnly said to Bai Qingyan, “I will never let Kid down in this lifetime!”
Their eyes met, and Bai Qingyan’s hand, held tightly by Xiao Rongyan, slightly tightened. Her ears burned a little as she whispered, “If you do not fail me, I will not fail you.”
He restrained the impulse to embrace and passionately kiss Bai Qingyan, squeezed her hand tightly, and, without letting go, said, “Let’s go, I will see you out…”
She nodded, not attempting to free herself.
When they reached the inn’s entrance, Xiao Rongyan personally held her horse. Before Bai Qingyan mounted, he gently grasped her wrist and softly asked, “Kid, do you resent me for the incident with the Masked Prince of Rong?”
Hearing his words, she quietly gazed into Xiao Rongyan’s eyes, her lips slightly curved. Using the saddle for support, she leaped onto the horse and pulled the reins from Xiao Rongyan’s hands.
Unprepared, Xiao Rongyan felt a sudden emptiness in his hands, and the reins scraped his fingertips, causing some pain.
Seated on the horse, Bai Qingyan glanced at Xiao Rongyan’s astonished expression, feeling a sense of satisfaction. A faint smile appeared in her eyes, and she asked him, “About King Huai, do you blame me?”
Bai Qingyan had let go of her resentment because she knew that Xiao Rongyan was not at fault and believed that, given her brother’s capabilities, Xiao Rongyan would not easily achieve his goals.
Xiao Rongyan replied honestly, “I did, but it passed quickly. After all, we had agreed not to let personal feelings interfere in major matters.”
As soon as he spoke, he understood that Bai Qingyan’s feelings were the same as his own.
He also finally comprehended Bai Qingyan’s previous words: everything could be reasoned out, except emotions, which cannot be measured by reason.
Everyone’s heart is the same; there are no exceptions.
But… he and Bai Qingyan were not ordinary people.
Feeling relieved in his heart, he smiled and took a step back, bowing deeply to Bai Qingyan.
“Farewell!” Bai Qingyan raised her hand in a polite gesture towards Xiao Rongyan, then tugged the reins, turning the horse around, and galloped away with her troops.
For the first time, Xiao Rongyan carefully pondered someone’s thoughts. He looked at his reddened fingertips and smiled. His fingers slightly contracted. Having seen Bai Qingyan’s usual calm demeanor, he was especially fond of her showing her petty side in front of him, full of girlish charm…
“Master…” Yue Shi approached and whispered to Xiao Rongyan, “King Huai has summoned Lord Dong Guian.”
Dong Guian was the most capable hidden guard by King Huai’s side. It seemed… because of Bai Qingyan’s words, King Huai was changing his plans.
But Xiao Rongyan’s aim was to keep King Huai away from the Wei Kingdom, to find a beautiful and peaceful place in the Liang Kingdom, letting King Huai spend the rest of his life as he used to, enjoying wealth and leisure.
If King Huai planned to return to the Wei Kingdom because of Bai Qingyan’s words or to send Dong Guian back to deliver messages, Xiao Rongyan would have to take drastic measures.
“Go and order our people to keep an eye on Dong Guian. If he attempts to return to the Wei Kingdom, find an opportunity to stop him on the way and make it clean.” Xiao Rongyan’s tone was indifferent.
“Yes!” Yue Shi nodded.
Until Bai Qingyan’s figure disappeared from sight, Xiao Rongyan turned to leave, intending to try persuading King Huai again.
As Xiao Rongyan entered, he heard King Huai instructing Dong Guian, “Deliver this message to Prime Minister Gongsun as quickly as possible. Inform him that I have failed his trust; it might be impossible to persuade the Masked Prince of Rong to help. The Wei Kingdom is at a critical point of survival. Ask Prime Minister Gongsun to agree to Xiliang’s conditions! Hurry! Don’t delay on the road. The safety of the Wei Kingdom depends on you alone.”
As soon as he finished speaking, King Huai saw Xiao Rongyan and patted Dong Guian’s shoulder.
“Prince, are you planning to send Lord Dong to deliver a message to Weishu City?” Xiao Rongyan stepped over the threshold. “Besides asking King Huai to seek the Masked Prince of Rong, does the Empress Dowager and Prime Minister Gongsun have other plans involving Xiliang?”
After Xiao Rongyan risked his life to save King Huai, both he and those around him considered Xiao Rongyan trustworthy. However, they still didn’t divulge Prime Minister Gongsun’s arrangements.
Dong Guian cupped his fists in salute to Xiao Rongyan, “After I leave, please take good care of the Prince, Mr. Xiao!”
Xiao Rongyan nodded to Dong Guian and, after watching him leave, turned to King Huai, “Is the Prince planning to divide the forces, sending Dong Guian back with a message while continuing to seek the Masked Prince of Rong?”
King Huai nodded, “Princess of Zhen’s words awakened me. Although I don’t understand warfare, the Princess of Zhen is renowned. Regardless of whether it turns out to be true, someone must be sent back to notify Weishu City so the Empress Dowager and the Emperor can be prepared! I must continue to seek the Masked Prince of Rong. If the Masked Prince of Rong doesn’t agree…”
King Huai’s voice trailed off, his lips moving soundlessly for a while.
“If he doesn’t agree?” Xiao Rongyan asked, “Does the Prince intend to reveal the Masked Prince’s secrets, leading to mutual destruction?”
Hearing no response from King Huai, Xiao Rongyan pressed on, “Based on what the Prince said earlier, does Prime Minister Gongsun have a contingency plan?”
King Huai nodded, “Prime Minister Gongsun is a pillar of our Wei Kingdom. He wouldn’t resort to such measures unless absolutely necessary. The matter is too significant; I cannot share the details with you, Rongyan!”
“What if Prime Minister Gongsun’s plan fails?” Xiao Rongyan asked again.
“It won’t fail!” King Huai’s voice was uncharacteristically firm, “Even if things ultimately do not work out, I’ll return to Weishu City to live and die with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.”
Xiao Rongyan looked in surprise at the resolute gaze of King Huai. He didn’t expect the King, who always indulged in pleasures, to say such words, and it genuinely made Xiao Rongyan see him in a new light.
Xiao Rongyan pursed his lips, “Prince, if Dong Guian’s return journey takes too long, Wei Kingdom… might be on the brink of destruction. You need to have an escape plan in place. I am willing to offer my assistance.”
“Even if the kingdom falls, I will return to Wei!” King Huai, weak and exhausted, slumped into a chair as if he had already seen the kingdom’s demise.