Chapter 88 The Unexpected Love (1/2)
”Yes, I am quite sure that the book on the table has been moved.” The soldier nodded as he spoke.
Yun Shang said after pondering, ”You have been here since the beginning. Did you notice a stranger helping the people who came to extinguish the fire?”
If Yun Shang was right, the person who started the fire had been hiding in the camp. Once the Deputy Commander's tent had been set on fire, and all the attendants had run off to fetch water, he snuck into the tent in search of something. Taking advantage of the absolute chaos, he then joined the group and pretended to extinguish the fire as one of them.
”Many men helped with the fire. But I didn't spot anyone behaving strangely. Your Highness, should I have those people watched?” The attendant asked Yun Shang's opinion immediately.
Yun Shang shook her head and walked out of the tent. There had been so many people running to and fro to fight the fire, the culprit must have escaped by now. It would be impossible to find him.
No sooner had Yun Shang walked out of the tent than she saw a flame soaring up into the sky. Then, there was a huge explosion. Yun Shang was taken aback at first. When she got past the shock, she realized that the flame originated near the Prince's tent. She looked around in search of Hua Jing, but could see no sign of her.
Suddenly, it dawned on her that the fire in the Deputy Commander's tent must have been a trick to distract her. Yun Shang scolded herself for her carelessness.
”Where is Princess Hua Jing?” Yun Shang asked.
A soldier stepped forward and answered, ”Mister Xiao, Princess Hua Jing has returned to Her Highness's tent.”
Returned to her tent?
”Take me to the Princess's tent.”
Yun Shang was escorted to Hua Jing's tent by the solider. She hesitated for a moment when in front of the tent. At last, she raised her voice and said, ”Your Highness, are you in there?”
Hua Jing replied from inside, ”Yes. Is that Mister Xiao? Is there anything I can do for you? Please come in...”
”It's unnecessary. I was worried about Your Highness's safety as I haven't seen Your Highness since the fire. I came here to ensure that Your Highness is not hurt. As there have been some incidents in the camp today, Your Highness should stay in the tent and not walk around. I will arrange some guards to protect you.” Then she turned and spoke to the soldier behind her, ”Call thirty soldiers to guard the Princess's tent carefully. If someone sneaks into the Princess's tent and hurts the Princess, there would be no possibility for you to get a pardon from the Lord.”
The soldier said ”yes” and then walked away.
After everything had been arranged, Yun Shang returned to her tent. If someone had slipped into the Prince's tent, he would find that the Prince had not been in the tent. The flame must be a signal to inform the enemy about this, and the Prince would be in danger if he were in the enemy's camp now. However, the Prince had previously mentioned that there was a spy in the Ning army. If she took any action to rescue the Prince, the spy would probably find out and inform the enemy of the rescue mission. That would be terribly awful.
”Mister Xiao.” Qian Meng hesitantly addressed Yun Shang who had been in deep thought.
Yun Shang lifted her eyes to see who had spoken. She saw Qian Meng. Then a thought occurred to her. She said to Qian Meng, ”You, stay in the tent. There is something I need to handle. I must leave now.”
Qian Meng was taken by surprise. She nodded at Yun Shang, and watched the Princess leave in a hurry.
”Mister Xiao, where are you going?” Seeing Yun Shang walk out of the tent in a hurry, Luo Ding caught up with her and asked.
”Are there any other generals in the camp?” Instead of answering Luo Ding's question, Yun Shang raised a question for him.
Luo Ding answered, ”General Zhang is still in the camp.”
Yun Shang selected a horse, and said to Luo Ding, ”Go and tell General Zhang that no one should leave the camp tonight. Execute whoever violates this order.” Then she mounted the horse, and whipped the horse to run out of the camp.