Chapter 25: Chapter 25 - Bad News from Northern Territory

Song Yixiao sank into deep thought for a long time, but finally did not have the heart to pretend to be confused, and decided to do what she can do.

Of course, she couldn’t say it directly like “My lord, when you been there, you must follow the Commander-in-Chief’s order. If you really want to scramble for contributions, don’t do it the way that will kill you.” If she said it like this, Jian Xubai might let it go, but his soldiers around wouldn’t stand people being such disrespectful to their lord.

Therefore, she could only remind Jian Xubai implicitly that the war was risky, and he should be cautions when kill his enemy.

Tasks like going deep into the enemy camp alone, and cutting off the head of the chief of their enemy…

As a well-experienced veteran, even Duke of Ji did not mention those tasks, those baby nobles should be more practical and realistic.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fight on the field this time at all. My grandmother asked me to take care of the logistics.” Jian Xubai smiled thankfully for her kindness, and said frankly, “After all, I don’t have enough strength now. My going into battle will not be helpful at all, but being a burden to them.”

Hearing this, Song Yixiao felt relieved.

All of a sudden, there rushed out a green horse with a knight being in the similar age as Jian Xubai. His eyebrows were as sharp as a sword, eyes shined like stars. His arms were strong while his waist was trim. Filling with vigor and passion, he said in a high spirit, “Xubai, don’t feel regretful. Opportunities are within our hands. It is a rare chance to travel so far. When we get there, we can lead the troop by own even if Duke of Ji objects us. He won’t kill us to support the rule of the troops any way.”

“After all, going onto an expedition without fighting makes a trip in vain. Do logistics staffs? Those official documents are boring! I would rather stay in the capital and have fun!”

Song Yixiao, “…”

She found her previous guess about Jian Xubai was unfair. Obviously, the young man right here was the one trying to end his own life!

She looked at Jian Xubai with hopeful eyes, hoping that he could insist on his own opinions, and never be as silly as the man around him.

“Military order is as solemn as a mountain. you should be more cautious about your words.” Facts had proved that the teaching and instructions of Empress Dowager was quite useful. Jian Xubai turned his head to the other side. Covered with his long eyelashes, his eyes showed his disagreement, and he said, “We made our promises to my grandma before we left that we would follow Commander-in-Chief’s order!”

“How can we be a member of them if we don’t make those promises?” The young man laughed disrespectfully. “Not to mention that the court is simply killing chicken with a sledgehammer this time. Even if we mess it up for a few times, I expect Duke of Ji can always do the aftermath for us!”

There was no doubt!

For his unbridled manners here, it was not surprised that he would hinder the Great Rui in the future.

Song Yixiao felt speechless secretly when the young man approached her suddenly with his horse and teased, “Xubai, you were talking to her just now? Who is she?”

Song Yixiao was about to answer, but it seemed the young man didn’t care about the answer actually. He loosened the reins, leaned over and made a scary face to her with his hands, he frightened her excitedly, “Do you know what is Wuhuan people like? Just like this, green faces with terrifying pointed teeth. They eat people easily and quickly without spitting out bones. Young and skinny girls like you are their favorite. They will wash you and cut you into few pieces, stew you with ginger and onion… How about this? Are you afraid?”

“Why should I be afraid? No matter how scary it sounds like, they are all fragile like chicken and dogs in front of the power of Great Rui, isn’t it?” Song Yixiao smiled a bit though mad at him, and answered peacefully, “It is you who mentioned about that. Maybe you are the one being afraid.”

“Ridiculous!” The young man slammed the saddle. “You may ask people around. I, Ji Zifu, am afraid of nothing.”

Song Yixiao paused for a while, and an idea flashed through her mind, then she said seriously, “I don’t need to ask other people. I have known the thing you are afraid of! You are afraid of following the orders of the Commander-in-Chief!”

“Afraid of the Commander-in-Chief? How could it be possible!” Ji Zifu laughed out loudly, “I am the heir of Marquis Fuyang, my birth mother is Daiguo Grand Princess. The same as Xubai, Empress Dowager is my grandmother. Although he is paramount and powerful, Duke of Ji can do nothing to me.”

“I didn’t say you are afraid of the Commander-in-Chief, but following his order!” Song Yixiao glanced at Jian Xubai, noticing him looking at them with a smile that sent a message–”As an adult, I don’t want to join your children’s argument.” Her mouth twitched a bit.

Any way, they were acquaintance now, she wanted to do some help when she could. She posed her hands on her hips, put on a scornful face and said loudly, “You were persuading Duke Jian to disobey military orders with you just now. It is obvious you are afraid of failing on tasks that the Commander-in-Chief asks you to do.”

Ji Zifu laughed and said, “You are such a kid and you know nothing! I am brave enough to disobey him. How many people in this world dare to disobey Duke of Ji?”

“You say I am a kid? Are you much older than me?” Song Yixiao said scornfully, “You are afraid and you make all those excuses. That’s not what a hero would do!”

“Who said I couldn’t do it?” Ji Zifu looked at her playfully, “But if I do, what is my benefit?”

Song Yixiao was almost choked by his words. She was being helpful and she had to provide him some benefits? That’s unfair! She rolled her eyes at him, “Benefits? Why should I give you benefits? It is you who say you are not afraid of nothing!”

“Nothing?” Ji Zifu gave a short laugh, then he turned into a cold face and said, “Do you take me as a fool? I would do what you want after your several sentences? You are far from being that smart.”

He turned into another attitude so quickly that Song Yixiao sank into great embarrassment after her astonishment.

Then Jian Xubai said casually, “Flower dress or earrings, which one do you prefer? Don’t embarrassing little girls, I will ask people to buy you a big box of it for you.”

This sentence made Ji Zifu stunned. Song Yixiao raised her sleeves to cover her mouth, however hard she tried, she finally burst into a great laugh and narrowed her eyes.

“Xubai, mind your own business!” Ji Zifu cast a stern glance at Song Yixiao and complained to Jian Xubai, “I was just teasing her!”

“Every time you say you are teasing would make people cry!” Jian Xubai saved him no face. “Changxing had cried for more than two hours last time, even Grandma could do nothing to stop her. Today is a big day for the military, what it would be like if someone cries loudly on the wayside and demoralizes the moral, even if she is a little girl?”

Ji Zifu nodded with a thinking face, “Xubai is still so considerate.”

And the he swung his horse whip and made a sound in front of Song Yixiao, “Did you hear that? Today is a big day, your cry may cost you the lives of your whole family!”

Song Yixiao felt speechless.

She understood now why even Princess Changxing was made to cry by this cousin!

Fortunately, the brothers and sisters of the Yuan Family finally finished their conversation. Yuan Xue’e pulled her brother over, she said to Song Yixiao with smile, “I told my brother that you took good care of me these days, and my brother wants to thank you in person.”

“Don’t say like that.” Song Yixiao didn’t get her kind intention, she thought it was Yuan Xuepei that was concerned about his sister so he made an excuse to entrust his sister to her. Then Song Yixiao said out of courtesy, “It is you who takes great care of me!”

Yuan Xuepei looked at her with a gentle smile, and said with a hidden meaning, “You are very cute, Miss Song.”

Song Yixiao was puzzled to hear that, but Yuan Xue’e seemed to be rather happy, she thought her brother had a good impression on the girl she picked up for him.

Yuan Xuepei said, “But I am about to go on an expedition today. We may make further discussion after my triumphant return.”

Even though Song Yixiao had lived an extra life, she had never expected Yuan Xue’e would want her to be her sister-in-law just after knowing her for only several days. She sensed his implication that he would make engagement with her in the future. She wanted to laugh and weep all at once, “This lord does spare no efforts for his sister!”

She thought that Yuan Xuepei was afraid that she and her mother would not be dedicated enough to Yuan Xue’e, so he took marriage as a temptation. There was no guarantee anyway, and he only told Song Yixiao about it. If he denies it in the future, Song Yixiao couldn’t force him to marry her anyway.

The parents of Yuan Xuepei and his sister had died young, and the living elders held bad intentions to these two kids. In this case, it was not easy for Yuan Xuepei to be a father and mother to take care of his sister, he might hold some scheme for good reasons.

But “being used” would make her unhappy all the same. Song Yixiao narrowed her eyes and smiled, “Marquis Yuan, may I have a conversation with you privately?”

“Brother, please go!” Yuan Xue’e urged him happily before Yuan Xuepei could answer. He looked at his sister, helplessly and sighed, then walked a few steps with Song Yixiao towards the opposite direction from Jian Xubai and Ji Zifu. He said, “What do you want to say?”

“Will you be with Duke Jian along the way this time?” Song Yixiao noticed his impatience, she wanted a direct conversation that wouldn’t keep him long, “Ji Zifu over there is quite impulsive, he wants to take Duke Jian to be the same way like him now and then. Marquis Yuan, you have a steady, broad and mature mind. It will be much better if you take care of Duke Jian.”

In fact, Yuan Xuepei just wanted to talk with his sister when he got down from the horse, but didn’t intend to promise anything to Song Yixiao anything. But Yuan Xue’e kept talking about the advantages about Song Yixiao, indicating the message that “if you want to marry a girl, then think about Song Yixiao please.”

It happened that she never talked about to find a girl for him, then Yuan Xuepei couldn’t help doubting whether it was Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao that led or implicated his sister to do that. He felt uncomfortable about that, then made the vague promise according to the current situation.

Seeing Song Yixiao ask him to take care of Jian Xubai, he found himself misunderstand about her. He couldn’t help laughing, then he said, “I will take of him even if you don’t ask me to do. This is the task that Empress Dowager gave me!”

Yuan Xuepei had lost his parents, and he would be lucky enough if his step-grandmother and uncle didn’t drag him behind. The reasons why he was able to be a member of this glorious team, one from his parents but mainly because he had a close relationship with Jian Xubai, they were like brothers.

Therefore, he would take good care of the young Duke of Yan anyway.

“He is a wise man, and he will never put himself at risk since he showed such love on his sister Yuan Xue’e.” Song Yixiao felt relieved hearing his words, “With his accompany, even if Ji Zifu do silly things and risk his own life, I suppose he won’t able to bring Jian Xubai with him anyway.”

As for Ji Zifu… People could do nothing to those people who wanted to end their own lives.

Besides, she was not familiar with him!

But things were unpredictable. Half a year later, namely the first month of the lunar year in the 15th Year of Xianjia, the cold wind brought the bad news from the north, just like things happened in her previous life.

The heir of Marquis Fuyang, Duke of Yan, Marquis Boling and several youths from noble families were too anxious about gaining more success, then were captured by Wuhuan and held as hostages to ask Great Rui to retreat and give away lands.

Duke of Ji didn’t dare to make the decision himself, then he sent the memorial to the court in a hurry to confess his crime as well as ask for instructions.

The whole court was astonished!

Hearing this, Yuan Xue’e fainted on the spot and was unconscious!

Song Yixiao had been with Yuan Xue’e for half a year, even though she hadn’t let go of the event of Zhiqin, she did hold some affections anyway.

Song Yixiao stayed at the Shibi Building till midnight and Yuan Xue’e finally woke up weakly. Song Yixiao talked to her softly and calmed her for a long time. Seeing her doing nothing but crying and putting on a desperate face, Song Yixiao couldn’t help slapping the table and said, “Marquis Yuan is just captured by Wuhuan and being used to threaten Great Rui, they won’t hurt him at all! Except being imprisoned, he may live just like noble people there. Look at yourself now, that’s not auspicious at all!”

Then she said, “He is not the only one being captured there, and he won’t be the only one being punished. Those noble young men will burden punishment all together. Not to mention that Duke Jian is also one of them. Empress Dowager won’t let him being punished too hard. I suppose this incident won’t be treated too serious. How old are they? They are just a group of kids in the eyes of Empress Dowager and Emperor!”

The following remarks were actually a bit of coaxing, but it was enough to comfort Yuan Xue’e. She lowered her head and thought for a while, then she did not dare to cry, “So, will my brother be fine?”

“Of course!” Song Yixiao didn’t knew it very clear even in her previous life. She just knew Wuhuan was finally destroyed though delayed for six years. The entire royal family was escorted and sent to the Imperial Ancestral Temple as capture, and one princess was elected to join the palace. She didn’t know who caused this catastrophe, not to mention the ending.

But Yuan Xue’e didn’t know that as well, so Song Yixiao said it quite confidently, “Then why are you crying now? You may ruin your health if you keep crying like this.”

Seeing Song Yixiao being so calm, Yuan Xue’e admired her and felt embarrassed as well, “If my brother ruined his future because of this incident, will you marry him the same?”

This problem worried Yuan Xue’e for more than five years, especially after Song Yixiao was over 14 years old, being slim, beautiful and graceful, Yuan Xue’e was more worried that her beautiful sister-in-law might marry someone else.

Unexpectedly, when the spring of the 20th Year of Xianjia arrived and her brother finally came back, she didn’t have the intention for his marriage at all.