Chapter 831: Heart towards the north, body towards the south (2/2)

Han Yunxi shook her head. “No, someone’s even more anxious than us.”

“Who?” Ning Cheng asked.

“Long Feiye.” It had been a long time since Han Yunxi had voiced those three words.

“Long Feiye?” Ning Cheng didn’t understand.

“As long as we give accurate intel to Long Feiye, he’ll move even faster than us,” Han Yunxi paused before risking it all. “Long Feiye’s always had spies and secret agents in Northern Li. The horse plagues from last time came from his hand.”

Ning Cheng was greatly alarmed by the revelation. He never expected Long Feiye to long have agents within Northern Li.

“He long knew that Jun Yixie was going to buy horses from the Wintercrow Clan, but he couldn’t find the exact numbers,” Han Yunxi admitted.

Although Jun Yixie could crush the Ning Clan troops if he led 100,000 cavalry forces, that would put Long Feiye directly into the next line of fire. He didn’t have enough troops to face them, either. Thus, both Long Feiye and Ning Cheng were united in their hopes that the Northern Li imperial clan could pin down the Wind Clan!

Ning Cheng was no fool. After thinking it over, he muttered, “The Di Clan will definitely send a special envoy. If Long Feiye allies with Northern Li, our West Qin will be in danger!”

Han Yunxi couldn’t deny that fact. At this moment, Mu Linger cried out. “Ah...she…. Bai Yuqiao’s still alive!”

Everyone followed the sound of her voice to see Bai Yuqiao’s hand moving.

“Save her!” everyone chorused at the same time.

Bai Yuqiao was Jun Yixie’s junior sister and Bai Yanqing’s disciple. She would definitely know everything about her master. Not only did everyone cry out at the same time, but they were all thinking the same thing: Get Gu Beiyue’s whereabouts from her mouth!

Han Yunxi and Mu Linger hastened to perform emergency rescue on the girl while Ning An quickly found an imperial physician. Once they stabilized her condition, they just had to wait for her to wake up. Then, Han Yunxi planned with Ning Cheng to send the envoys to Northern Li. Only then did she have enough time to speak a few words with Gu Qishao and Mu Linger.

But she’d hardly opened their mouths when Ning An returned.

“Your Royal Highness, this subordinate has personally picked out a few retainers to accompany Long Zun to Medical City. Will you like to review them?” Ning An asked respectfully.

Han Yunxi only felt that Ning An’s attitude was different than before, but she couldn’t place what. She didn’t know that her mention of “the imperial’s clan turn to sacrifice for your sakes” had touched Ning An’s heart. For the first time in her life, she saw a speck of hope amongst the ashes. Her respect from before were all for Han Yunxi’s position, but now it came as respect for her person.

Han Yunxi glanced at Gu Qishao with a flicker of complex emotions. In the end, she agreed and said, “Mm, let’s go take a look.”

Ning An had did as Han Yunxi instructed and prepared an old nanny, eunuch, court lady, three retainers and a little boy as companion for Long Zun. Neither Gu Qishao nor Mu Linger paid much attention to it all beyond standing on the sidelines. The sooner Ning An left, the quicker they’d get to speak with Han Yunxi. They thought she’d be done after a cursory overview, but Han Yunxi actually went to examine each person from head to toe. Gu Qishao suddenly caught a faint whiff of poison in the air. Unable to ascertain its presence, he kept quiet.

After a careful inspection, Han Yunxi nodded at Ning An. “Are you sending them off today? How long before they reach Medical City?”

“Yes, immediately. From here to Medical City will take seven days at the fastest,” Ning An replied.

Han Yunxi took a purple tassel off her robes. “Bring this along with them and find Department Head Shen directly.”

“Your Royal Highness, this...isn’t that…” Ning An didn’t understand.

“Isn’t that exposing ourselves?” Han Yunxi finished for her.

Those were precisely Ning An’s misgivings, so Han Yunxi added, “We hid ourselves before to trick Bai Yanqing. Now that that’s over, we naturally need to hang up our flags. Let Ning Cheng make preparations, I want to personally lead the expedition!”

As soon as she finished, Ning Cheng entered through the doors. “This subordinate has already prepared everything! I can escort princess to the battlegrounds at any tim!”

Han Yunxi had dragged things out for as long as she could, because showing their flags meant they would be at loggerheads with Long Feiye. But she knew Ning Cheng wouldn’t let her tarry any longer. She couldn’t find a suitable reason to put things off either without raising his suspicions. Better to follow along and go with him to the battlefield. At least then...she might have a chance to see Long Feiye! No matter what, he’d be there for sure.

Long Zun’s retinue would bring her question to the north and reach Medical City within seven days. As long as Shen Jueming saw them, he would know what she wanted to say. She trusted him to deliver the message to Long Feiye as well. Her true sentiments were headed north while she kept her status as West Qin princess and its mask of hatred to head southward to Long Feiye himself. It’d probably take seven days to reach the battlefield from here, too.

Long Feiye, if you have the heart, find a way to meet!

Han Yunxi and Ning Cheng finished discussing the flags and military details before Gu Qishao and Mu Linger finally had a chance to speak with her separately.

Gu Qishao said…