Chapter 69: The Power of Beauty
Chapter 69: The Power of Beauty
The journey downhill was relatively easy.
Meng Qianqian led the horse and soon reached the foot of the mountain without any hiccups.
Lu Yuan nonchalantly remarked, "You seem quite familiar with the terrain here."
Meng Qianqian secretly pinched her fingers, realizing that he was testing her again. This man was truly full of tricks.
Maintaining her composure, she replied, "I've seen the maps."
Lu Yuan, seated atop his horse, fixed his gaze on her back and asked, "Where did you see them?"
"In the Grand Commander's library," Meng Qianqian answered.
A half-smile played on Lu Yuan's lips as he said, "How is it that I don't know my own library contains a map of this nameless mountain?"
Meng Qianqian calmly responded, "Then does the Grand Commander know that his library also holds the Carefree Seventy-Nine Styles, the Spring Breeze Thirty-Six Paintings, and the Art of Courtesans Eighteen Techniques?"
Lu Yuan's expression froze, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. "Shang Guan Ling! If you dare hide that mess in my library again, I'll kill you!"
After walking a few more steps, Meng Qianqian suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Lu Yuan asked.
Meng Qianqian turned around, looked up at him, and shook the reins in her hand. "Does this count as payment?"
Lu Yuan gave a cold laugh. "And now you're haggling with me?"
"You're the Grand Commander," Meng Qianqian said. "I can't just let someone of your stature have me lead your horse for free."
Lu Yuan chuckled. "If I were to call out, there would be a line of people from here to the Jade Gate, all willing to serve me hand and foot."
Although Meng Qianqian felt a bit dissatisfied, she knew he was speaking the truth.
She let go of the reins. "The Grand Commander doesn't need someone to lead his horse."
Lu Yuan, still mounted, casually rode past her. "What I need is a bodyguard."
Meng Qianqian's eyes lit up, and she quickly caught up, grabbing the reins again. As she led the horse, she turned back and asked with fervent eyes: "How much?"
Lu Yuan snorted, "Pathetic."
Fine, she was pathetic. But how much was that thing worth?
Meng Qianqian held out her finger and said, "The Grand Commander's life is invaluable. If I can protect you and ensure your safety, would that cover the remaining two percent interest?"
Lu Yuan's smile was enigmatic. "I'm just afraid you might earn it but not live to collect."
Meng Qianqian looked ahead, her eyes resolute as she said, "I will return to the capital alive."
Meng Qianqian purchased a horse at the post station.
By evening, the two of them arrived in Fengsha Town.
Unlike the bustling and prosperous capital, where the common folk lived peaceful and happy lives, the closer one got to the border, the more miserable the people's lives became.
Upon entering the town, they didn't see elaborate and ornate shops but instead humble earthen houses with clay windows and rope hinges.
Passersby would occasionally glance their way, including beggars with broken bowls begging on the streets, but none dared approach due to Lu Yuan's intimidating aura.
Following the secret marks left by Qing Shuang along the way, they arrived at an inn.
The innkeeper, spotting the potential big spenders, quickly greeted them with a broad smile. "Welcome, honored guests. May I ask if you two are..."
Without paying him any mind, Lu Yuan headed straight upstairs.
Meng Qianqian tossed him a silver ingot. "A room upstairs, and take care of the horse."
The innkeeper beamed. "Yes, yes!"
Meng Qianqian followed Lu Yuan up to Qing Shuang's room.
When Qing Shuang saw Meng Qianqian, she was taken aback. "Miss Meng?"
Meng Qianqian smiled. "Qing Shuang."
Qing Shuang instantly felt like she had missed out on a lot of gossip, and the feeling of bitterness overwhelmed her.
Meng Qianqian turned to look at the swaddled bundle on the bed and walked over with a smile. She pulled back the covers and froze.
"Meow~"
The little calico cat inside the bundle raised its tiny paw—it was the same cat that had come to the library for food.
Meng Qianqian turned to Lu Yuan. "Didn't you say that Zhao Zhao was with Qing Shuang?"
Lu Yuan sat down and lazily took a sip of tea. "Oh, it's also called Zhaozhao."
Meng Qianqian: "..."
What a brilliant tactic of deception and substitution! Even she had fallen for it, let alone those enemies secretly targeting Lu Yuan. He truly had them all wrapped around his finger.
Meng Qianqian frowned. "But where did Zhaozhao go?"
The Capital
After being closed for several days, the Wan Hua Lou had finally reopened, and the girls, each with enchanting figures, exquisite makeup, and delicate skin that seemed to drip with water, were back in business. Who could tell that just ten days ago, they had all been stung by poisonous bees and their faces were swollen like pig heads?
"Ah, finally recovered, look at that fair and tender complexion! It wasn't for nothing that I spent so much effort to get you the antidote! Alright, girls, go and make up for the losses of these past days!"
"Let's see who our first guest of the night will be."
"Open the door—"
With Yan Niangzi's order, the turtle slave dramatically pulled open the large door.
The girls rushed forward, each trying to outdo the other.
Then, they all came to a sudden stop!
A milky-faced little toddler sat on the ground with his legs crossed. "Waaah!"
"Ahhhh!"
"The little troublemaker is back again!"
"Run for your lives!"
The girls scattered in all directions.
Yan Niangzi roared to the sky, "Lu—Yuan—!"
...
After traveling for many days, Meng Qianqian hadn't had a proper bath in a while. She asked the waiter for hot water and washed her hair and body in the Qing Shuang room, changing into clean clothes.
Although she was dressed as a man, the differences in physique between men and women, coupled with the absence of an Adam's apple, made it obvious that she was a woman.
While this might be unusual in the capital, in the chaotic borderlands, no one would give her strange looks.
Meng Qianqian went to Lu Yuan's room.
Qing Shuang was reporting military intelligence to Lu Yuan.
The cavalry from the court had arrived at Fengsha Town three days ago and was currently stationed ten miles away.
The reason they hadn't continued their march was due to a change in the situation at the border.
To buy time for the court to solve the case, the Northern Territory Pacification Commissioner had gone alone to the Northern Liang army camp to show his sincerity.
The Northern Liang army had promised to give the Great Zhou another month, and half a month had already passed.
But within this half-month, something major happened at the border—the border bandits, who had once been defeated by the court and fled, had surprisingly formed a powerful rebel army. Taking advantage of the commissioner's absence, they were stirring up trouble at the border and had captured Feng County, Chi County, and Yanggu Town, three crucial locations for the military.
Meng Qianqian thoughtfully said, "It feels like the work of Northern Liang."
Qing Shuang nodded. "The rebel army's baggage train is just as well-equipped as the court's. They have no shortage of food, weapons, or armor. In fact, many of the rebel soldiers' battle tactics are so unusual that they don't seem like undisciplined bandits at all."
"The number of Northern Liang soldiers in the rebel army is probably even greater than the number of bandits," Meng Qianqian remarked. "What about Lu Lingxiao? Is he also in the cavalry camp?"
Qing Shuang replied, "He and Yu Zichuan went to rescue the Tiger Guard. If their plan went well, they should already be in the rebel's territory."
Meng Qianqian clenched her fists.
Lu Yuan coldly said, "If you want to go, then go. I won't stop you."
"Without the Grand Commander's order, I, Qianqian, dare not leave my post without permission," Meng Qianqian said.
Even if they went now, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Who knew where he was hiding? The best way was to attack and retake the cities, and Lu Lingxiao would naturally show himself.
The three of them went to the military camp that very night.
"Grand Commander!"
The generals greeted him with respect.
Without sparing them a glance, Lu Yuan strode towards the main tent, his aura fully unleashed. "Prepare for the siege!"
A ruthless person doesn't need to say much.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
