Chapter 72: Taking It Seriously: As If Facing a Formidable Enemy

At the third quarter of the afternoon watch, Yuguan Relay Station in Yumu County.

The midday sun blazed white-hot.

It pierced through gaps in the green leaves, casting jagged light spots on the ground.

Xing Wanyang held a flatbread in her hand. She had just stepped out of the station when she ran straight into Yan Yiqing, who was returning at that moment. “I was just about to go look for the General. Two hours—where did the General go?”

“Just wandering around.” Yan Yiqing replied vaguely.

What was there to wander around and see in Yumu County?

Wandering around—afraid she had gone to see her beloved again.

“Has the General had lunch yet?” A glint of teasing appeared in Xing Wanyang’s eyes. She offered the flatbread in her hand, asking despite knowing the answer: “Oh dear, the General must be starving by now, right?”

“No need. I’ve already eaten.”

“You’ve eaten?” Xing Wanyang widened her round eyes, looking like a cute parrot, and asked curiously, “Is there still an inn in Yumu County these days that can serve guests? Where did the General find one?”

Yan Yiqing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She countered, “Are you my attendant scribe?”

“What’s an attendant scribe?”

“If you’re not, then why are you asking so many questions?” Her gaze fell on the flatbread in Xing Wanyang’s hand. Yan Yiqing’s brow arched slightly, and she added, “In light of your sincerity—”

“I’m not full yet. Thanks.”

She snatched the flatbread from Xing Wanyang’s hand in an instant.

By the time Xing Wanyang came back to her senses, Yan Yiqing had already walked off, munching on it.

“General! I haven’t eaten my fill either. I saved this specifically to tide me over…” Xing Wanyang buzzed around Yan Yiqing like a mosquito, chattering nonstop.

In the end, she finally snatched back the half-eaten flatbread from the cat-like woman.

…

“Have you arranged everything I asked you to prepare?” Yan Yiqing pushed open the door to the west wing and glanced at the furnishings inside. She turned her head to Xing Wanyang and asked, “It’s fine if we have fewer people, but everyone involved in this plan must be trustworthy.”

Xing Wanyang composed herself and said, “Rest assured, General. They’re all old hands from Youzhou.”

This was her first time collaborating with Huairen.

And it concerned the common people—no mishaps could be allowed.

“Mm.” A deep shadow passed through her obsidian-like eyes. Yan Yiqing stepped into the room and sat down in the chair behind the desk.

Her fingers, slightly callused, pressed down gently.

She smoothed out the curled edges and pieced together the maps of the two counties.

“From Yumu County to Changlin County by carriage takes only half a day.” Yan Yiqing’s fingertip rested at the border between the two counties. Her vermilion lips pursed slightly, and she continued, “If not for that mountain range in between, a fast horse could make it in an hour with hard riding.”

“The servant girl’s clothes—she’ll bring them tomorrow when you meet up with Zhuyu.”

“You’re already influential among the Jinwu Guards now. You’ll stay in Yumu County this time and act according to the situation. I’ll take the others to Changlin County.”

Yan Yiqing arranged everything methodically.

But Xing Wanyang’s lips parted slightly as she looked at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.

“Need to relieve yourself?” Yan Yiqing arched a brow at her and teased, “This General has always been lenient with her subordinates. Go ahead.”

“It’s this time of day, and the General still has time to joke with me.” Xing Wanyang muttered softly.

Yan Yiqing blinked and said, “Past the middle of the afternoon watch?”

Unable to stand her inexplicable jokes, Xing Wanyang clenched her fists and said sullenly, “Though this subordinate shouldn’t say it… Sigh, I won’t beat around the bush with the General.”

It was rare to see Xing Wanyang so serious.

Yan Yiqing’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She could roughly guess what the woman wanted to say.

“Is the Heir Apparent using the General?”

Uncovering the truth about her family’s misfortune back then.

Saving the people from dire straits and emerging unscathed.

This wasn’t just what Huairen wanted—it was what she wanted too.

Even stepping back ten thousand steps…

She and Huairen didn’t need to quibble over too much.

Yan Yiqing lowered her head in thought, her raven-black lashes trembling lightly. Seeing her silent, Xing Wanyang couldn’t help but add, “The General didn’t need to get involved in these matters before. The Princess Consort only wanted the General to gain Prince Gong’s trust on this trip.”

Refusing the smooth main road.

And insisting on the winding path.

“Go out,” Yan Yiqing’s gaze sharpened as she said, “and have Sang Yue come in.”

“That’s not what this subordinate meant.” Xing Wanyang dropped to her knees, annoyed at herself as she clenched her palms and cupped her hands. “This subordinate… please rest assured, General. I will do my utmost to cooperate with the Heir Apparent.”

Though they were nominally superior and subordinate.

After years together, they had long treated each other as friends.

Yan Yiqing rose from the chair, walked over to Xing Wanyang, gripped her arm, and helped her up. “My help for the Heir Apparent isn’t just out of personal motives. When the time is ripe later… you’ll understand.”

“Yes.” Xing Wanyang acknowledged, but she didn’t rise.

She was just about to speak and beg forgiveness—

When the relay station master’s footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

“Lord Yan, County Magistrate Qiu requests an audience outside!” the station master shouted at the top of his lungs.

Her gaze swept over the figure outside the window, and Yan Yiqing’s eyes flashed. She said, “Did you know? She even calculated the exact time when County Magistrate Qiu would come looking for me.”

“Who?” Meeting her General’s gaze, Xing Wanyang immediately felt she’d asked a stupid question.

Who else?

Of course, that Zhao Heir Apparent.

“The Heir Apparent told me the entire plan in advance.” Noticing the speechless flicker in Xing Wanyang’s eyes, Yan Yiqing smoothed her sleeve and said indifferently, “Now it seems she’s calculated almost everything without omission. I won’t be in any danger.”

There was a rumor in the streets.

The noble houses of Yanjing secretly kept gu insects.

She was now quite certain that the Duke Rui Heir Apparent had planted a brain-devouring gu insect into her General’s mind.

“Let’s go. Time to meet this County Magistrate Qiu.”

Xing Wanyang suppressed her inner grumbling, cupped her hands, and said, “Yes.”

–

The short-statured man stood beside Qiu Mingsong, carrying a black sandalwood carved food box in his hand. His eyes darted around as he said, “Brother, do you really not need me to go in with you?”

“I can see through your little tricks.” Qiu Mingsong slanted a glance at him.

“She’s Princess Gong Consort’s younger sister!” Qiu Di chuckled awkwardly and whispered, “If I can show my face before a noble, maybe I’ll catch her eye. It would be good for the Qiu family too.”

“Catch her eye? Do you have talent or looks?” Qiu Mingsong sized up his useless younger brother. His gaze fell on the jade ring on Qiu Di’s thumb, and his expression darkened abruptly. Lowering his voice, he scolded, “Didn’t I tell you not to go to the granary anymore these days?”

The disaster relief team had already entered the city.

In a few more days, the japonica rice in the granary wouldn’t be worth much.

Qiu Di felt deeply aggrieved, but after failing the exams multiple times, he had no choice but to yield to his elder brother no matter how resentful. “Alright, alright. I won’t go again after this.”

“Hand it over.” Qiu Mingsong said.

Cursing him inwardly, Qiu Di reluctantly handed over the food box with a smile. “Take care, brother.”

Qiu Mingsong took the food box.

He straightened his robes and strode toward the relay station.

…

Yan Yiqing reviewed Zhao Huairen’s plan in her mind once more. Something flashed by, but she couldn’t grasp it. When she looked up, she saw Xing Wanyang performing a one-legged stance nearby. “What are you doing now?”

Xing Wanyang blinked and said, “Adding some extra seasoning for him.”

As she answered Yan Yiqing’s question, she scraped the mud from her shoe sole with a bamboo splinter. She was about to take the teacup from the table when she felt Yan Yiqing’s gaze. Suddenly feeling childish, Xing Wanyang withdrew her hand. “This subordinate—”

“Add more.” Yan Yiqing arched a brow.

That’s right! This was her General! Xing Wanyang nodded, her movements unflinching as she perfectly mixed the clumped mud into the tea.

The dark brown cup body.

Hid the heavy seasoning without a trace.

Qiu Mingsong bent at the waist as he entered, wearing the same smile as when he had paid respects to Zhao Huairen, though this time the mirth in his eyes was much more genuine. “This official pays respects to Lord Yan.”

“Please forgive this official for coming to pay respects so late.” He presented the sandalwood food box with both hands, deferential to the extreme. “These are snacks this official personally prepared… I hope Lord Yan won’t disdain them. Please accept them.”

“Mm.” Yan Yiqing propped her head lazily.

Xing Wanyang stepped forward.

She took the food box, but her fingertips paused abruptly.

Heavier than a stone—what kind of snacks were these? Could snacks weigh this much?

“Tea for County Magistrate Qiu.” Yan Yiqing’s gaze swept over the food box in her hand, her eyes flickering as she said casually, “The County Magistrate is thoughtful, coming all the way to the relay station.”

The official residence was far superior to the relay station.

Did Lord Yan’s words mean…

She was dissatisfied with his arrangements?

“It wasn’t that this official failed to recognize Mount Tai. It’s just… Lord Zhao is the Disaster Relief Envoy personally appointed by His Majesty.” Qiu Mingsong chuckled dryly, wiping sweat from his brow with his sleeve. He shook his head. “This official had no choice but to arrange for Lord Zhao to stay in the County Yamen’s official residence.”

“Mm. Assign more people to monitor her.” Yan Yiqing said bluntly.

Indeed excellent—he had placed Zhao Huairen in the yamen precisely for easy surveillance. But he hadn’t expected Lord Yan to be so straightforward. Qiu Mingsong relaxed a breath: As expected! Fellow members of Prince Gong’s Faction made conversation so much easier.

Qiu Mingsong’s mind steadied slightly, though he feigned distress on his face. “To be honest, this official came with a request.”

“What happened?” Yan Yiqing asked indifferently.

“If Lord Zhao were just making things difficult for me, that would be one thing. Sigh… but this matter concerns Changlin County.” Qiu Mingsong lowered his head and took a sip of the tea, pausing for a moment before finally revealing the crux. “Lord Zhao wants to go personally to the stone quarry in Changlin County.”

“We can’t let her go to Changlin County.”

Seeing her on board, Qiu Mingsong sighed mournfully. “How could this official stop Lord Zhao?”

“What did you say to her? Why did it make her set her mind on going to Yumu County?” Yan Yiqing’s brows knitted tightly, looking as if facing a formidable enemy. She said gravely, “We must stop her.”

A person who marched and fought in wars.

As expected—straightforward, without much guile.

Qiu Mingsong’s eyes turned as he said, “If Lord Yan doesn’t mind, this official happens to have a method.”