CHAPTER 210: CHAPTER 208: AN INCREDIBLE SECRET

The lamps were lit in Song Xian’s study, and the shadows of two people were cast on the lattice window. Chang An, who was guarding outside, dared not get closer, fearing that he might hear half a word and become a deaf-mute from then on.

Xie Liangchen and Song Xian were still talking.

There were many things to be done, but each had its priority and urgency; they could be tackled one by one.

According to the predictions from the past life, the Northwest has not been peaceful these two years. The first turmoil was in the autumn of this year, and the second one was next year. Song Xian led troops into Xinzhou during the second turmoil and captured the pseudo-king of the former dynasty alive.

The second turmoil nearly destroyed the Northwest Four States.

Song Xian unfolded the map for Xie Liangchen to see.

It was a complete map of the territory under Prince Guangyang.

Song Xian said, "From the south to the north, there are Qinzhou, Longzhou, Xinzhou, and Dai State. According to Gouzi, Old General Zhang gathered forces in Dai State. During the second turmoil, the pseudo-king of the former dynasty sent troops to Dai State. Old General Zhang led his men and fought out of Xin County. The pseudo-king was shot in the chest with an arrow, but unfortunately, it was slightly off, otherwise, it could have taken his life back then."

Xie Liangchen said, "So in the past life, Dai State suffered the most casualties." The remnants of the former dynasty hated Old General Zhang to death.

Song Xian nodded and continued to recount the course of that battle to Xie Liangchen.

Song Xian said, "You didn’t know these inside stories."

Xie Liangchen looked at the map and nodded, "In the past life, I was unaware of my own background, and I had also left Zhenzhou by then."

Xie Liangchen left Zhenzhou to marry Su Huaiqing.

Song Xian felt a fire burning inexplicably in his heart, wishing he could fight Su Huaiqing in the drill ground immediately. He barely suppressed this feeling; Su Huaiqing still knew his place and had not sent any more news since sending the New Year’s gift to the Chen Family Village last time.

Xie Liangchen didn’t know Song Xian’s thoughts, her gaze still fixed on the map. In this rebirth, everything was different.

Song Xian said, "After the spring plowing, I will take you to Baimaling."

From Baimaling, westward is Xinzhou, and northward is Dai State.

Xie Liangchen’s heart leaped; her gaze should have met Song Xian’s, but she didn’t move away from the map. After a while, she seemed to come to her senses, "Thank you, Mr. Chen."

Song Xian brushed his robe. The map was crafted with the help of his men. For now, he couldn’t take Xie Liangchen to see the territory under Prince Guangyang in person, so he let her see the map.

Knowing she would be delighted to see the map, he didn’t expect her eyes to be glued to it.

Could it be that he was less appealing than a map?

Xie Liangchen finally moved her gaze away from the map.

Song Xian said, "The Shi Family Trading Team, which helps Miss Lin sell woolen goods, is significant. The Shi Family transports wool for Miss Lin to make products sold in Daming Prefecture and the Capital City. The one who facilitated this transaction was Commandery Princess Jiahui."

Commandery Princess Jiahui distributed porridge in the north, with thoughts on the territory under Prince Guangyang. This time, why was she helping Miss Lin? She was either targeting Chen Family Village or Song Xian.

Song Xian said, "Whether she aims at the Chen Family Village or me, it’s all the same."

If viewed from the perspective of Prince Guangyang’s territory, it is indeed the same. However, when Song Xian said it, Xie Liangchen felt it had some other implication.

Since when did she have to give extra thought to every word Song Xian said?

Xie Liangchen wanted to say something, but she didn’t know how to start. At the moment, saying thank you to Song Xian, or advising him not to take back the Northwest Four States prematurely, seemed inappropriate.

She didn’t want everything to spin out of control, especially before she had thought everything through.

Since Song Xian had made a decision, whether it was for the people of the Four States or Old General Zhang, it was a good thing. All she had to do was try her best to help and let Song Xian control the North as soon as possible to owe nothing in return.

Xie Liangchen glanced at the hourglass, "It’s getting late, I should head back."

Song Xian also stood up and said, "I happen to be going to the military camp, so I will leave the city with you."

Chang An saw Mr. Chen and Miss Xie leaving one after another. Mr. Chen carrying a lantern walked ahead, and he sensibly stepped back a few steps, waiting for them to leave the inner courtyard before coming closer to hear the instructions.

"To the military camp."

Hearing this, Chang An responded and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch a horse. The leaders in the military outside the city probably didn’t expect Mr. Chen to head there at this hour. Recently, Mr. Chen’s whereabouts had been quite unpredictable. The soldiers certainly wanted to figure out if there was any pattern to it.

They arrived at the Chen Family Village.

Xie Liangchen dismounted and handed the reins of the horse to Chang An.

Song Xian said, "Recently, the two horses in the Chen Family Village are not enough. You can take this horse back first and return it after the spring plowing."

Xie Liangchen agreed, bowed to Song Xian once again, and led the horse toward the village entrance.

"Sister." Chen Zigeng’s voice rang out.

Before Xie Liangchen could speak, Chen Zigeng noticed something, "Sister went to see General Song?"

Xie Liangchen said, "There were some matters to discuss with General Song."

Chen Zigeng waved the lantern in his hand, "Did General Song escort Sister back?"

Xie Liangchen nodded.

"General Song hasn’t left yet." Chen Zigeng raised the lantern and waved his hand.

Xie Liangchen turned to look back, only to see torches swaying on the official road. Song Xian and his group were just riding along the road.

Chen Zigeng helped Xie Liangchen with the horse, "Is this horse given by General Song?"

Xie Liangchen felt that her younger brother was especially talkative tonight, "He lent it to us for the time being. We’ll return it after the spring plowing."

"This chestnut horse is slightly taller than the big white one," Chen Zigeng was eager to try, "The saddle and stirrups are new."

"Sister," Chen Zigeng suddenly asked, "Why do you think General Song is so good to the Chen Family Village?"

Xie Liangchen was taken aback by the question, "Because the people of our village are good! General Song just likes to come here."

Chen Zigeng thought for a while, "Then whom does Sister think General Song likes the most in the village?" Today Hei Dan and others gathered with him, and they talked about this.

They talked about enlisting in the military when they grew up and various things about General Song.

Hei Dan said that General Song liked Chen Zigeng the most and would surely take him to the battlefield first. The other kids from Chen Family Village all looked enviously.

They were full of curiosity about horseback riding and warfare now.

Chen Zigeng asked Hei Dan how he knew General Song liked him the most.

Hei Dan said that whoever you like, you naturally want to spend time with them. Each time General Song came to the Chen Family Village, he spent the most time with Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng was very pleased to hear this. But after picking up his sister just now, he thought carefully, General Song didn’t spend the most time with him; it was with his sister when they talked, starting from when he began selling medicinal materials to the paper workshop.

According to Hei Dan’s logic, General Song should like his sister the most.

General Song likes his sister?

Chen Zigeng was startled as if he had uncovered something incredible.

"Naturally, it’s..." Xie Liangchen reached out, patting her brother’s head, "Naturally, it’s you."

Chen Zigeng looked up, "Really?"

Xie Liangchen smiled and nodded, "Really."

Chen Zigeng watched Xie Liangchen’s back, shook his head vigorously, then looked at the beautiful chestnut horse beside him. Young Mr. Chen encountered a perplexing problem in his life.

Was Hei Dan wrong, or did he not notice it before?

If General Song liked his sister, then would General Song belong to the Chen Family Village?

Thinking of this, Chen Zigeng suddenly shouted excitedly, "Sister..."