Did Zhang Xia break into the White Tiger Festival Hall?

Chen Ji had also broken into the White Tiger Festival Hall when he was in Guyuan, so he knew very well what it involved.

Moreover, this was the White Tiger Festival Hall of the Jing Dynasty Military Governor, and one must go with the resolve to die.

At this moment, the armored soldiers brought by Jiang Xianzong dismounted and came before Chen Ji, gesturing to take Jiang Xiansheng: "Hand the envoy to us, there's a carriage ready at the foot of the mountain, you can take it to Baidadan City."

However, Chen Ji stepped back half a step, gripping Jiang Xiansheng tightly: "When I see my people, I'll release yours."

The armored soldier's face darkened: "Our Jing Dynasty envoy will not be coerced by people from the Southern Dynasty."

Chen Ji repeated: "When I see my people, I'll release yours."

More than a dozen stood by Chen Ji's side, restless.

One of them pondered for two moments and turned to look at Jiang Xianzong, who was riding away: "Commander?"

Jiang Xianzong tightened the reins and turned back mockingly: "You and your wife are both unbelievably daring. One dares to hold my Jing Dynasty envoy and princess hostage, while the other dares to break into my Jing Dynasty Military Governor's White Tiger Festival Hall. Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Chen Ji stared straight at Jiang Xianzong: "I am the Inspector General of the Imperial Camp of the Ning Dynasty, sent by decree to escort the Jing Dynasty envoy to the Imperial Capital. Since the envoy is in my hands, there's no reason to hand him to others."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xianzong rode back to Chen Ji, both angry and amused: "Boy, do you even understand the rules? Even if you're a Ning Dynasty envoy, you should be waiting at the border marker for me to send the person to you, not come to steal... Release him!"

The forest quieted down, as the Jing Dynasty armored soldiers all placed their hands on their waist knives, glaring.

Chen Ji's fingers dug into Jiang Xiansheng's neck, speaking in a low voice: "Now everyone knows the envoy arrived at the territory of Baidadan City. If he dies here, I'm afraid you can't account for it to the Jiang family."

Jiang Xianzong calmly replied: "If I can't account for it to the Jiang family, can you account for it to your Southern Dynasty Emperor? You're here with a secret decree; if you kill the envoy yourself, you might be executed at the Imperial Palace Gate... Won't you even care about the Emperor's decree for the sake of your wife?"

Chen Ji's expression remained unchanged, repeating: "When my people leave Baidadan City, I'll release Jiang Xiansheng immediately."

Jiang Xianzong stared at Chen Ji, silent for a long time before speaking: "Now I feel you are worthy of that girl. Boy, you should thank your wife, it's because I admire her that I'm sparing your lives."

After saying that, he waved to the armored soldiers beside Chen Ji: "Let him go. If you don't want to return the envoy to my Jing Dynasty, then don't. Send two fast horses, have his people wait at the city gate."

Jiang Xianzong rode down the mountain, and the armored soldiers mounted their horses as well.

Chen Ji finally exhaled deeply; he was unsure what Zhang Xia and Jiang Xianzong had discussed, but this West Capital Road Jiedu Envoy... seemed somewhat kind? Or perhaps Jiang Xianzong merely found them both an exit in this confrontation.

Chen Ji carried Jiang Xiansheng, following the group down the mountain, and beside the roadside stood a large carriage.

In front of the carriage were two red bamboo poles, each wrapped in copper leaves and leather, with a yak tail hanging from the top; this was the double banner, double festival chariot that the Emperor of Jing Dynasty bestowed to the Military Governor.

Beside the chariot, thirty-two armored soldiers on horseback surrounded, quietly watching as Chen Ji and the others boarded the carriage, then moved towards Baidadan City.

Inside the carriage, Chen Ji sat with Jiang Xiansheng at the innermost part, keeping a distance from Hong Zuer.

Princess Liyang sat on the soft couch, shaking off Hong Zuer's hand: "I won't run away!"

Hong Zuer looked coldly at Jiang Xiansheng, then towards Chen Ji: "Your teacher worked hard to capture Yuan Cheng, yet you want to release him to Jing Dynasty. Does your teacher know about this?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath: "I'm just ordered to escort the Jing Dynasty envoy to the Imperial Capital. As for whether Yuan Cheng should be released, that's for Your Majesty and the officials to discuss, it has nothing to do with me."

Hong Zuer sneered: "And what about your previous promise, when will you kill Jiang Xiansheng?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "It's not time to kill him yet."

Princess Liyang also rubbed her wrist, asking: "You promised to help me return to Jing Dynasty, how will this be accomplished?"

Chen Ji shook his head again: "It's not time to say yet."

Princess Liyang sneered: "Playing tricks, if I find out you're lying, I won't let you go even as a ghost."

Chen Ji closed his eyes, resting. He only wanted to confirm Zhang Xia, Xiao Man, and the little monk were safe at that moment, nothing else mattered.

The carriage followed Jiang Xianzong and the group to the gates of Baidadan City, Hong Zuer lifted the curtain to look outside.

Through the curtain, Chen Ji saw Zhang Xia in gray cloth clothes standing beside Xiao Man and the little monk at the city gate, safe and sound.

The two people looked at each other through the gaps in the curtain, and Zhang Xia slowly revealed a smile.

At the same time, as if a weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

...

...

Hong Zuer jumped down from the carriage, took a few steps forward, and inquired of Ah Sheng: "What has happened in the city? Explain it carefully."

Ah Sheng whispered: "Jiang Que forced Uncle Bai Zi to probe Jiang Xianzong's intentions. Bai Zi said he was worried that someone would use the curfew as an opportunity to kill him and wanted to wait. But Jiang Que disagreed, so Sister Axia took it upon herself to go to the Military Governor's Marshal Mansion. Not long after, we saw Jiang Xianzong gather his men and swagger out of Baidadan City. After that, someone came to tell us not to hide anymore and to wait for you at the city gate."

Hong Zuer pondered.

So, when Zhang Baishi and others entered the city, Jiang Xianzong actually already knew.

At that moment, Jiang Xianzong rode up to Jiang Que and Jiang Guo, the shadow of his armor enveloping the two of them.

The next moment, he raised his whip and struck Jiang Que across the face, leaving a deep blood mark: "If you want to know this commander's intentions, ask yourself. When did the men of our Jiang family start hiding behind women and children?"

Jiang Que bowed his head in shame: "Commander, this is a major issue..."

Jiang Xianzong lashed another whip across Jiang Que's face: "What is the Jiang family motto?"

Jiang Que whispered: "Those who learn when young are like sunlight at dawn. Those who learn when old are like carrying a candle at night, better than walking blind. Those with aspirations can hone themselves to achieve their goals; those without aim fall into laziness, becoming ordinary people..."

Jiang Xianzong struck Jiang Que's face again with his whip: "The last sentence! Louder!"

Jiang Que raised his voice: "Life should not be cherished, but not sparingly so."

Jiang Xianzong sat on his warhorse, looking arrogant, glancing sideways at Jiang Que: "Even a woman from the Southern Dynasty dared to storm into my White Tiger Festival Hall alone, facing knives and axes. The sons of our Jiang family, with the blood of the Wolf King, yet learned the tricks of a fox."

Jiang Que's face flowed with blood, but he did not reach up to wipe it away, instead kneeling on the ground: "Jiang Que admits his mistake."

Jiang Xianzong sighed lightly: "If you realized your mistakes sooner, Jiang Liuxian and the others wouldn't have gone to follow Lu Jin. Go accept thirty lashes, and don't return to Shangjing. Stay at West Capital Road as infantry. If you don't bring out the blood of our ancestors, the Jiang family will be no more."

Jiang Que whispered: "Yes, sir."

Jiang Xianzong turned to look at Chen Ji inside the carriage, with a smile that was not a smile: "You'll not enter the city, take His Highness and Jiang Xiansheng back to the Southern Dynasty for orders. No one will escort you, good luck... just don't die in my Baidadan City."

Jiang Que lifted his head suddenly: "Commander, this is against the rules."

Jiang Xianzong rode towards the city: "Rules? Our Jing Dynasty's internal strife has even led to the Council Chief Executive being captured by the Southern Dynasty! What rules? Isn't the Southern Dynasty envoy right here; let them escort our Jing Dynasty envoys back. Whatever is negotiated is none of this commander's business."

Jiang Xianzong's figure disappeared into the tunnel of the city gate, armored soldiers filed in one after another, and the gate of Baidadan City closed with a rumble.

Leaving Zhang Xia and others outside the city gate, facing each other with uncertain expressions. No one expected that Jiang Xianzong would no longer be entangled in the envoy matter but would drive them all out of Baidadan City, allowing them to retreat safely.

Princess Liyang spoke gravely from inside the carriage: "Jiang Xianzong is a smart man. He doesn't want to stand with Yuan Xiang, nor does he want to offend Yuan Xiang. He only wishes to be a peaceable, local lord, holding his West Capital Road. He has already handed us over to the Ning Dynasty envoys, so even if someone intercepts us on the road, it has nothing to do with him... There will definitely be interceptions, not only from Jing Dynasty people but also from you Southern Dynasty people. Let's go quickly."

Chen Ji threw Jiang Xiansheng into the carriage compartment, lifted the curtain and shouted to Zhang Xia: "Get in the carriage, we're going back to Chongli Pass."

Yet at this moment, Princess Liyang suddenly pulled out the arrow from Jiang Xiansheng's leg, along with the flesh, thrusting it into Jiang Xiansheng's neck. Jiang Xiansheng's body twitched a few times before life left it.

This abrupt change stunned Hong Zuer and the others.

Chen Ji turned to look inside the carriage but saw Princess Liyang pulling out the arrow again, letting the blood splatter onto her cheek. Her fair cheek, in the dim carriage, took on a layer of gray, mingled with purple blood, creating a strange, seductive beauty.

Princess Liyang smiled radiantly: "From now on, Jiang Xiansheng is no longer the Jing Dynasty envoy; I am. Whatever conditions are offered for Yuan Cheng's return, are up to me. I guess the Southern Dynasty won't retain their envoy in your Imperial Capital forever; after all, someone must bring the alliance treaty back to Shangjing."

This way, she also avoids becoming a sacrificial pawn for marriage alliances.

Princess Liyang looked at Hong Zuer, then smiled again, looking at Chen Ji: "From this moment, you are the person who most wishes nothing happens to me. So you better protect me well, or how will you explain to the Southern Dynasty?"

In the silence.

Zhang Xia approached the carriage, climbed in, sitting across from Princess Liyang, looked calmly at her complacent expression: "He intended for you to do the killing; otherwise, given his carefulness, how would he place Jiang Xiansheng where he couldn't be protected? Now, you must obey, or neither dynasty will accommodate you."

Princess Liyang was stunned by the words, then regained her smile: "Then from now on, we're all in the same boat, and we should take care of each other. Don't worry about me causing any more mishaps. That boy called me an ambitious person; I am undoubtedly a qualified ambitious person. Ambitious people don't make decisions based on emotions or past happenings; ambitious people always do the right thing."