CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 279: VISITOR

Qin Maoxing instructed the people around him to get things done.

Su Huaiqing stood outside the tent, looking at the sky overhead.

In the dark night, the moonlight was exceptionally bright.

How many people covet these Eight States? Although it will take some effort, capturing Cai Rong and the Liao spies is worth more than anything.

The situation is extremely tense, yet within this tension, he is faintly filled with anticipation. Fortunately, he didn’t enter the imperial exams but is here to do such a thing.

After a while, Qin Maoxing walked to his side and whispered, "There’s news from Zhenzhou. They will find a way to gather information, locate the Liao person Xiao Xingzong sent to negotiate with Cai Rong, and I should not act rashly to avoid Cai Rong’s suspicion."

If Qin Maoxing is suspected, then some matters will inevitably lose the initiative.

Su Huaiqing nodded, "Then do as they say."

Qin Maoxing was silent for a moment, then said, "Could it be that Song Xian has spies next to Cai Rong? Able to gather more information than me? Does he have such powers?"

Su Huaiqing said, "They wouldn’t speak lightly on something so important."

Qin Maoxing said, "If this battle at the Northern Border can be smoothly resolved, from then on, I would have no complaints against Song Xian, respect him sincerely."

Su Huaiqing reached out and patted Qin Maoxing’s shoulder, turned, and walked back to the military tent, as they still had many details to discuss.

...

In Cai Rong’s Central Army Tent, loud snores erupted as Cai Rong had already fallen asleep.

Lishu left an oil lamp, tiptoed out of the tent, and then took a deep breath, only feeling the turbid air pressing on her chest all night finally exhaled.

A flash of disgust appeared in Lishu’s eyes.

Having followed Cai Rong for these years, every move of Cai Rong made her feel nauseous. To obtain military power, he spared no means, even secretly colluding with the Liao.

Lishu tightly held a letter, written by Xiao Xingzong to Cai Rong, which Cai Rong just threw into the charcoal fire intending to burn it. She dared to extinguish the fire using her sleeve when Cai Rong wasn’t paying attention, leaving the remnants of the letter.

This is evidence of Cai Rong’s collusion, she has cautiously collected quite a bit over the years, waiting to hand it all over to the Commandery Princess.

So the Commandery Princess can leverage Cai Rong, compel him to deploy troops to the Eight States, and assist in reclaiming territories. Thus, her parents and sisters would no longer need to live such a harsh life.

Lishu boarded the carriage, heading over to the little courtyard where Cai Rong placed her.

The night was already deep, Lishu dismissed the attendants, closed the door, and prepared to retire to the inner room. Just as she was stepping inside, she keenly sensed something unusual, about to call for the servants, she heard a voice.

"Ayin, have you been well these years?"

Lishu’s body suddenly stiffened. Her surname was Tong and single-named Ying; because her voice is pleasant, her mother said it was like the yellow oriole on the treetops outside.

The family was originally impoverished, living a hard life, fortunately, together, they found joy amidst hardship.

Until one day a former dynasty general died in Tong Family Village, the entire village was falsely accused of rebellion, she witnessed her grandfather and two older brothers brutally killed, her father’s legs broken, her younger brother kicked to death by soldiers.

From then on, her heart bore only hatred.

They all said to wait for Old General Zhang to seek justice for them, but relying on others did not lead to good days. She heard her mother’s cries, her father’s painful groans...

A heart seemingly thrown into the fire and burned.

It was then Mrs. Nie found her, telling her about the bloodline of Prince Guangyang, Commandery Princess Jiahui, who sought to reclaim the Eight States, alas lacking supporters.

If she was willing to go to Qi Land to assist the Commandery Princess, they would give her mother silver coins and protect her family.

Accompanying her to Qi Land were several other girls, all around fourteen or fifteen years old.

Upon arriving in Qi Land, they indeed met Commandery Princess Jiahui, who sent an overseer to teach them reading, etiquette, dressing, and how to please men.

When she realized what Commandery Princess Jiahui wanted them to do, she felt reluctance, bitterness, shame, and resentment, but was ultimately overcome by hatred.

She was then sent to Cai Rong to gather information for Commandery Princess Jiahui.

"Who are you..." Lishu didn’t shout, watching the person in the room vigilantly.

The person stepped forward, letting their face be illuminated by the lamp.

A youthful face full of scars, the longest cut running from the forehead to the chin, seemingly splitting the face apart. Such a hideous and terrifying face, yet Lishu recognized it immediately, "You are Yu Niang."

She was one of the girls who left Princess Jiahui Mansion with her.

Lishu stepped forward to grasp Yu Niang’s hand, "Weren’t you sent to the Southern region? How come you’re here? And what happened to your face?"

Yu Niang looked at Lishu, "Ayin, we’ve been deceived, the Commandery Princess deceived us, have you heard she lost her title and was expelled from the Princess Manor."

Lishu was stunned for a moment before she nodded, "The Commandery Princess was framed by Song Xian."

Yu Niang shook her head, "No, it’s not a framing, it’s all true. The Commandery Princess secretly stirred up conflict in Eight States, just to make us resent former dynasty people and willingly serve her. Actually, I knew about this long ago, I happened to overhear them mentioning Tong Family Village, which prompted me to escape, attempting to leave the Commandery Princess’s control.

Who knew I was caught halfway, they disfigured me and nearly killed me. Luckily, I managed to survive, barely clinging to life. This time, hearing of issues with the Commandery Princess, I went to explore and stumbled upon General Song’s men."

"After the Commandery Princess took us away, she ignored Tong Family Village, your father and brother have passed away, it was Old General Zhang who killed Sun Ao to avenge Tong Family Village."

"Moreover, the case had anomalies, the steward mama beside the Commandery Princess confessed saying that Sun Ao’s adopted son was killed and framed by the Commandery Princess’s orders."

Lishu couldn’t believe it, stepping back step by step.

Her father had passed away, and if the tragedy at Tong Family Village that year was all due to the Commandery Princess?

How could this be?

"Ayin," Yu Niang said, "You’ve followed the Commandery Princess for so many years, think carefully what kind of person she actually is. Are her actions all shady? Even now... Daqi has dispatched troops to Eight States, what is the Commandery Princess doing? Is what she’s doing really right?"

Lishu’s eyes became blurred, she sat powerlessly in the chair.

Yu Niang said, "Think it over, tomorrow I’ll come to find you again."

As she said this, Yu Niang handed a paper from the sleeve to Lishu, "These are the people who left the territory together to join the Commandery Princess. We’ve been searching for them, many are gone, the remaining... this time we’re going to return to the territory together."

"Ayin, will you come with us?"

When Lishu came to her senses, Yu Niang had already quietly left the house.

Unknown who brought Yu Niang here, everything felt like a dream, but Lishu knew this wasn’t a dream, for that piece of paper lay right before her eyes.