Chapter 426: A complicated situation (1/2)

Chapter 426: A complicated situation

Han Yunxi received Empress Dowager Li’s summons early the next morning. She had a pretty good idea of the woman’s motives in summoning her to the palace at a time like this. If this were any other day, she’d definitely refuse, but this time, it was different. It had been close to a month she’d left the estate, so why would she give up this chance to go for a walk? And would Long Feiye be any the wiser if I went to a few other places after paying a call to the empress dowager?

Han Yunxi was in excellent spirits as she changed into a set of beautiful robes, only to run into Long Feiye before she ever left.

“Your Highness, the empress dowager has summoned chenqie into the palace, so forgive me for not accompanying you today,” Han Yunxi spoke up first.

Yet Long Feiye only replied, “Your lordship is planning to go to the palace as well, so let’s go together.”

Now Han Yunxi was highly annoyed. He’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he? He hates going to the palace and he’s even gone late multiple times after Emperor Tianhui’s summoned him. Why is he so proactive today?

“Does Your Highness have business inside the palace?” Han Yunxi asked on purpose.

“Mhm, the horse farms in Northern Li’s South City have erupted in a horse flu pandemic. There are already news of troops retreating from the Three-Way Battlefield, so His Majesty has summoned your lordship in order to discuss these matters.”

Although Long Feiye’s tone was calm, Han Yunxi was stunned speechless! She had never been able to figure out why he was so certain that Northern Li wouldn’t go to war. Now she knew! So Long Feiye’s influence extends as far as Northern Li’s horse farms! Unbelievable!

Northern Li Country had three major horse farms. They were based in South City, Vast City and Skypool. These farms were used to specially breed battle horses for the imperial court and held sizable clout in both Northern Li and all of Cloud Realm Continent.

Though South City’s farm wasn’t the largest of the trio, a problem there would still strongly set back the Northern Li cavalry. More frightening was the fact that it wasn’t just any problem, but the horse flu. Northern Li had more horses than people, so it wasn’t just battle horses that were at risk. Herd horses were in danger too! That was a threat to the people’s very livelihood!

Han Yunxi stared at Long Feiye for a long time before she managed a reply, “South City’s horse farms long had signs of the epidemic, didn’t they? They just didn’t publicize the news. Northern Li’s emperor deployed troops to the Three-Way Battlefield, but it was only a bluff to intimidate Tianhui!”

Long Feiye nodded.

“So that means you have people at South City’s horse farms?” Han Yunxi asked next. It wasn’t too probable that the plague was man-made, so for Long Feiye to know this news meant he had to have receive the reports long ago.

Long Feiye didn’t deny it, but nodded his head again. Here was his grand gift for Emperor Tianhui! With Northern Li withdrawing their troops, the Baili Navy could stay indefinitely at Fishery Island. Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t be able to find another excuse to move them away before Long Feiye was ready.

Jun Yixie, even if the navy does nothing but trap you for the rest of your life, your lordship considers this worth it!

Han Yunxi’s eyes on Long Feiye began to turn awed. After all, the defense of the three major horse farms were rigorously enforced by the imperial clan. All of the people working there had inherited their positions from family. No outsiders were permitted in the farms, and all information regarding them was kept strictly confidential. Breaking into the farms and getting news of the plague spreading around its horses wasn’t something that could be done overnight. In other words, Long Feiye had set aside forces in Northern Li long ago.

Seeing Han Yunxi’s dazed expression, Long Feiye brushed away some strands of hair from her face. “Still not leaving?”

Han Yunxi chuckled. “Your Highness, that bet previously…it looks like I’ve won?” They’d agreed that he’d take her to the Celestial Mountain Sword Sect for a tour if she won.

Long Feiye’s hand stiffened slightly before he took her by the hand, “Don’t worry, there’ll be a day when I take you there.”

“Mm, chenqie will remember,” Han Yunxi didn’t feel the least bit guilty!

This time into the palace, Han Yunxi didn’t bring along Zhao mama, but took along Su Xiaoyu instead. Ever since she’d lectured her last time, Su Xiaoyu had grown more quiet. When the Duke of Qin was around, she even seemed timid. Long Feiye wasn’t idle enough to care about a little servant girl, but Zhao mama felt a need to speak up.

“Esteemed wangfei, why don’t I go with you instead?”

“I want to take this girl to the palace to meet someone,” Han Yunxi said in a low voice.

Su Xiaoyu was curious. “Who?”

“You’ll know when you get there,” Han Yunxi purposely acted mysterious. Actually, Su Xiaoyu had a good idea of who her mistress meant already. It had to be none other that the woman who had bullied her at the restaurant, Chu Qingge. Her master was Chu Tianyin, but Chu Qingge had no idea. Everything that had happened at the inn that day was arranged by her master.

Now that Chu Qingge had married into the palace, it was likely her master had long arrived at the capital. Because she had yet to complete her mission, she didn’t have the guts to face him yet. How sad! As Long Feiye and Han Yunxi set off together, Su Xiaoyu followed them carefully from behind. Who could tell what she was thinking now?