Chapter 838: This crown prince isnst interested in her (1/2)

Baili Yuanlong immediately reacted when Long Feiye said that he’d go alone. “You Highness, this subordinate must accompany you. There are many details related to military affairs that I know best. This subordinate must--”

“What you mean is, this crown prince isn’t familiar with military matters?” Long Feiye cut him off coldly.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Baili Yuanlong realized that he’d exceeded his boundaries. “This subordinate is simply worried that Your Highness--”

“Could this crown prince be blinded by a mere woman?” Long Feiye interrupted harshly. “Or are you like the Tang siblings, still suspecting that I pine for Han Yunxi even now?”

After the results of their first meeting, when His Highness had humiliated the West Qin master and servant so thoroughly, Baili Yuanlong had stopped all suspicions. He only wanted to follow along so he could serve as His Highness’s advisor. Before he could explain, Long Feiye demanded, “What, you think that this crown prince would forget who I am for the sake of a single woman?”

“No! No!” Baili Yuanlong dropped to one knee. “Your Highness has penetrating judgment, this soldier means nothing of those things! This soldier will definitely listen to all of Your Highness’s orders! I only ask that Your Highness takes extra care to guard against swindlers.”

Long Feiye’s tone relaxed at that. “Go busy yourself with what you need to do. This crown prince has naturally made my own plans for the talks.”

“Yes! This subordinate will be respectfully waiting for Your Highness’s good news,” Baili Yuanlong finally withdrew. It was still quite simple for Long Feiye to deal with Baili Yuanlong. After all, his martial arts skills were unparalleled, so no one needed to worry about him. Moreover, his attitude had always been aggressive and to the point, allowing no one to get in an extra word.

But Han Yunxi was different. Without Ning Cheng’s help, she was useless. She couldn’t even climb up a cliff by herself. She did her best to convince Ning Cheng that some simple guards would do, but Ning Cheng couldn’t stop worrying about her traveling alone. In the end, she lost the argument.

“Your Royal Highness, when we have free time, this subordinate will teach you martial arts, alright?” Ning Cheng asked.

If I knew martial arts, I could have convinced Ning Cheng today. She smiled bitterly and said, “I can’t learn it.”

“How can this be? Your Royal Highness has never tried, have you?” Ning Cheng asked.

Han Yunxi was about to tell Ning Cheng how she’d been deemed as a natural-born waste with no ability to circulate qi or cultivate inner energy, thus making learn martial arts useless. But yet another retainer arrived with a very familiar item in his hands: the Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain!

Han Yunxi’s heart gave a lurch as she saw Ning Cheng accept the item and walk her way.

“Here!” Ning Cheng said seriously.

“This…” Han Yunxi feigned ignorance.

Tang Li had long used up all of the needles in this weapon while escaping from his marriage. Right now it was nothing short of useless. When Ning Jing had married into the Tang Clan, they had used the Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain as a betrothal gift to trick Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. Who knew that Ning Cheng would be treating it as a treasure even now?

“The Pear Blossom Teardrop Rain, the Tang Clan’s second most powerful weapon! It’s for you. Keep it to use. It’s at least a hundred times more formidable than that weapon concealed in your sleeve,” Ning Cheng said, before adding, “I used a massive amount of effort to find out how to operate this thing. Hold it like this and then press this button when you’re ready to shoot. Remember, you have to aim before you fire.”

As Ning Cheng demonstrated, he went on to explain, “There’s a limited number of needles hidden in this thing. Once it’s used up, it’s gone. So don’t use it carelessly unless it’s a matter of life and death.”

Han Yunxi only nodded blankly with a stricken conscience. After all, she had used up quite a few needles herself already. Moreover, Tang Li and Long Feiye had even praised her back then for looking quite smart when she held the weapon. It was no less inferior than any man.

What would Ning Cheng think if he knew the truth?

As Han Yunxi battled with her conscience, Ning Cheng finished in a serious tone. “Your Royal Highness, better to save this...to deal with Long Feiye.”

Han Yunxi knew he’d gotten this weapon just to deal with Long Feiye. All of her guilt evaporated in that instant. “No need to give it to me. I trust that Long Feiye wouldn’t really do anything against a woman like me. You keep it for yourself.”

“Princess…”

“Ning Cheng, if you’re safe then I’m safer, isn’t that right?” Her words touched Ning Cheng’s heart. He stopped declining her offer as she asked, “How are things going on Ning Jing’s side?”

“I just received news last night and was about to report to you, princess,” Ning Cheng answered. “Ning Jing’s fallen into Long Feiye’s hands. Tang Li stood up as the Tang Clan head to claim her from him, but was refused. Princess, this is an excellent chance. This subordinate has already arranged for Ning An to hurry to the Tang Clan. Perhaps we can use this opportunity to convince the Tang Clan to cooperate with West Qin.” As he spoke, he added, “Princess, have you ever seen any private associations with Long Feiye and the Tang Clan in the past?”

Han Yunxi was so shocked that her chin dropped. She subconsciously shook her head and said, “I...I haven’t.”

She was even worrying whether the Tang Clan had been exposed, but never expected Tang Li had the skills to spin the story like that, eliciting a massive misunderstanding from Ning Cheng. If she guessed right, then Tang Li was the one who imprisoned Ning Jing, then pushed the blame on Long Feiye. Ning Cheng wanted to cooperate with the Tang Clan. Right now, Tang Li must be waiting there for Ning An to deliver herself to him! As long as the Tang Clan seized this chance to fake their alliance with Ning Cheng, Tang Li could trap Ning Cheng under all sorts of instructions from Long Feiye.

How did Tang Li have the confidence to trust that she wouldn’t sell the Tang Clan out? After all, she knew full well of the relationship between them and Long Feiye! After a while, Han Yunxi finally said, “It’s a good idea.”

Ning Cheng grew more reassured about the Tang Clan after her words.

Night fell. The men and horses from both sides reached the cliff at the appointed time. Like their first meeting, Han Yunxi recognized Long Feiye from a distance at once. He was still standing in the middle of the bridge, dressed in black robes with an icy countenance. As a god of th night, he stood tall and cold as if controlling all life beneath his hands with scorn. His figure blended in with the darkness, mysterious to the point of fear. No one dared to approach him despite his mesmerizing allure. Even if proximity spelled disaster, one wanted to get closer, ever closer, to respect, love, cherish, worship, and offer their tributes.