Chapter 85 A Secret Letter From Qingsu (2/2)
Were the mountains...
After pondering for a short moment, Yun Shang said in a soft voice, ”People who are good at trickery often disguise themselves as reckless. There are only two high mountains within a hundred li radius, but you chose to camp here. Qingsu must know why you made such a decision. Though our soldiers can march in the fog with some safety measures, a fire would land us in great calamity. If Qingsu also thinks of setting fire to the mountain...”
Prince Jing burst into a smile at Yun Shang's words, and praised her. ”That's right. It doesn't matter if he is truly reckless or not. It will be to our advantage if we takes some precautions.”
The Prince's approval relieved Yun Shang. Then she continued, ”I have heard that Qingsu has been challenging us repeatedly with a group of soldiers. But, when you pick up the gauntlet and are ready to fight with him, he withdraws. I believe that would be one of his tricks to deceive you into thinking it is his weakness. If you believe that he is a coward, you will relax
er to paint a picture of sister and present it to His Majesty. And please tell His Majesty that there is a woman in the enemy camp, who resembles Hua Jing very much. She is in the company of Prince Qingsu almost every day. You should also tell His Majesty that you've heard that Princess Hua Jing came to the border to save her husband. You dare not launch an attack, as you are unsure whether this woman is Princess Hua Jing or not. So, you have to report this to His Majesty and wait for His Majesty's order...”
Prince Jing burst into a fit of laughter upon hearing Yun Shang's plan, and exclaimed, ”Excellent! I will spread the story of Hua Jing and Qingsu among the populace. Then the story will spread to the Imperial City, and will be heard in every alley and every street in the Imperial City...”
”That would be wonderful. Thank you very much, Uncle.”
As they spoke about Hua Jing, Yun Shang suddenly thought of another woman. She said to the Prince, ”Uncle, I have heard that Lady Zhao, mother of the Emperor's Son-in-law, has also come to the border. But I haven't seen her...”
”Lady Zhao heard that her son had been attacked in Linguan Town, so she went there with some men in search of him. She said she would not give up searching her son until she finds him alive or dead.” Prince Jing continued after pondering for a moment, ”Is your maid prudent in running errands? In order to get information about her son, Lady Zhao would have turned Linguan Town upside down. It would be bad if she finds out that you are involved. Though she is just a lady with an official rank that could not be deemed high, His Majesty respects her very much as the Zhao family has always been loyal for many generations. It would be troublesome if she finds out that you arranged this.”
Yun Shang was quite confident of Ning Qian's abilities. So she replied, ”There is no cause for concern. She won't find out about my involvement.”
”Is Zhao Yingjie dead?” Prince Jing asked with his eyebrows raised.
Yun Shang pondered for a moment and said, ”No. He is in Xiyi Town, which is quite nearby. I planned to send him back to the Imperial City in case he would be of help in the future. The check on the borderline is very strict, so we have been delayed from taking any action. But, I have changed my mind as Hua Jing is here too. I think Zhao Yingjie might be more useful here, so I hid him in Xiyi Town.”
Prince Jing nodded, ”I understand. I think you'd better set him free as soon as possible, if you are well prepared. At any rate, Zhao Yingjie is a good general. He is not stupid. If he gets suspicious we cannot let him go.”
Yun Shang nodded at the Prince and said, ”I know.” While speaking to the Prince, Yun Shang was still devising her plan. She was also planning how to spread the Hua Jing scandal in Xiyi. Then, she would relax the guard on Zhao Yingjie on purpose thus offering him a chance to escape. The rumor about his dissolute wife would be the first thing Zhao Yingjie would hear after his escape. Then he would, of course, go to the Yelang encampment and challenge Qingsu to a fight. If Qingsu brought Hua Jing to the battlefield and Zhao Yingjie saw her even from a distance, he would know that the woman by Qingsu's side was Hua Jing. After all, they had been married for several years...
No man would accept the unfaithfulness of his wife. And Hua Jing was by no means a gentle woman. She must have treated Zhao Yingjie arrogantly in their daily life. As their marriage was arranged by the Emperor, Zhao Yingjie dared not refuse. However, as long as there was evidence that Hua Jing was immoral as a woman, she would be despised by all even though she was the Princess of Ning.
Prince Jing glanced at Yun Shang and was aware of what she was thinking. He said to her with a smile, ”Zhao Yingjie is stubborn and very loyal to the Emperor. He would not divorce Hua Jing just because of her adultery with Qingsu. But he is a filial son to his mother. Lady Zhao has sacrificed a lot to educate him and see him grow to the position of a general. So, he would bear anything except for the maltreatment and disrespect towards his mother...”
On hearing the Prince's words, Yun Shang's eyes sparkled...