Xiang Wanwan wanted to stop them when Xiang Tiange pulled Ning Xiaoyao away, but Xiang Nong grabbed her arm.Â
Ning Xiaoyao could tell Xiang Wanwan couldnât wait to bite her to death. Chasing after a boy wonât get you anywhere ah, girlie!
âYouâre not good enough for my brother!â Xiang Wanwan shrieked. Since she was held back by her father, she was unable to move a step. Xiang Tiange pulled Ning Xiaoyao out of the main army camp tent.
There were many people standing outside the tent but they all pretended not to see them. âWhat is she trying to say?â Ning Xiaoyao flung off Xiang Tiangeâs hand and shouted, âIâm not good enough? Sheâs just a sister. Who is she to meddle in her brotherâs bedroom matters? So she thinks sheâs good enough, ah? Even if she is, can she actually marry her own brother?â
If Xiang Tiange hadnât seen Ning Xiaoyaoâs wink, he wouldâve thought she was really angry. âLetâs go,â Xiang Tiange grabbed her hand once more and dragged her away.
âXiang Qingshan, this isnât over!â Ning Xiaoyao angrily blasted. The people on the sidelines: ... Young Lord is quite pitiful ah.
In the main tent, Xiang Nong released Xiang Wanwanâs hand. As soon as Wanwan was free, she wanted to dash out of the tent. âStay where you are!â commanded Xiang Nong. Xiang Wanwan stood in place. She didnât have the courage to run off but she was daring enough to glare at her father.Â
âYou two are siblings! How many times do I have to repeat this?â
âQin Xuan married the Qinâs family young miss,â Xiang Wanwan retorted, refusing to listen, âWhy canât my brother and I do the same?â
âYour brother doesnât like you that way. Do you really want to hear the harsh truth from me?â roared Xiang Nong.
Xiang Wanwan stomped her foot and yelled, âHe wouldnât dare!â
âA real man does not abandon the wife who has gone through thick and thin with him.â Xiang Nong looked at his daughter and asked, âDo you want your brother to become a heartless wretch who throws his wife aside?â
At that moment, Xiang Wanwan couldnât say a word.
âGet out.âÂ
Xiang Wanwan obstinately wiped her eyes and ran out. Xiang Nong stood there sighing. If they were in love, he wouldâve definitely given them his blessing. But Xiang Tiange didnât like Wanwan in that way. Furthermore, Advisor Niu had repeatedly reminded him about the benefits of marrying his daughter off for connections. But how could he just let anyone have his only daughter?
âOh yeah, I just remembered,â Ning Xiaoyao said on her way back, âWe forgot to bring Xiaoqiu to meet your adoptive father.â
Xiang Tiangeâs footsteps halted. âYou donât like Miss Wanwan?â Ning Xiaoyao asked.
âSheâs just my younger sister.â emphasized Xiang Tiange. âOh?â Ning Xiaoyao nodded but raised her eyebrows.
âWhy do I feel like you donât believe me?â Young Lord Xiang asked.
âWhatever ah, whether sheâs your elder sister or younger sister or even wife has nothing to do with me.â
Hearing this, Xiang Tiangeâs expression turned cold. âBut Great Lord Xiang doesnât have any sons. If he becomes the emperor in the future, wouldnât that make you the crown prince?â Ning Xiaoyao asked. Xiang Tiange laughed bitterly. Â
âAlright then, even if you donât become the crown prince, itâs none of my business.â
âPei Yan has already gotten married?â Xiang Tiange suddenly asked Ning Xiaoyao. âWhaa? Ah. Yeah, heâs married.â Ning Xiaoyao pretended to look furious.
âWhat are your plans for the future then?â
âHmmm, Iâll travel around. Young Lord, I think you need to be careful.â
âWhy do you say so?â
âBecause since ancient times, crown princes have always had ill fates. Do you know what happened to the crown prince Yanhui? He died miserably and none of his family survived.â
âDo you think Iâll also be killed?â Xiang Tiange asked.
âWho knows what will happen in the future. In any case, you should be careful ah. The night you set out to kill that fatuous ruler on the official road, wasnât Danian by your side? Last time, he was with you as well. Heâs obviously Lord Xiangâs personal guard, so why does he follow you when you leave to carry out tasks? Itâs not like you donât have any soldiers with you ah!â
Xiang Tiange continued walking forwards in silence. âI have nothing to hide, so thereâs nothing for me to be afraid of.â
âYouâre too naive!â Ning Xiaoyao rushed towards Xiang Tiange and shook her finger at him. âDo you think crown prince Yanhui had something to hide then? Get rid of this gullible belief immediately ah.â
âMy adoptive father was the one who saved my life.â Xiang Tiange solemnly affirmed as he gazed at Ning Xiaoyao.
âIâve saved your life as well ah,â Ning Xiaoyao shrugged her shoulders, âWhat has it got to do with saving your life? I heard that your relations.h.i.+p with Advisor Niu isnât very good. My G.o.d ah, arenât you afraid that the scoundrel will make up issues to sway your father? You know? Like pillow talk.â
Pillow talk? Xiang Tiange stared at Ning Xiaoyao for quite some time before bursting into laughter. âSince you havenât read much, donât speak nonsense.â Young Lord Xiang gently patted Ning Xiaoyao on the head.
âWhat has this got to do with how many books Iâve read ah?â Ning Xiaoyao was starting to lose her patience. âI got it,â Xiang Tiange smiled and a.s.sured her, âI will be careful. If all else fails, Iâll go out travelling the world with you.â
Ning Xiaoyao was dumbfounded. âGo with me? You donât want to be crown prince anymore?âÂ
âMy adoptive father has avoided women all these years,â Xiang Tiange spoke in a low voice, âBut once he has the country in his hands, he will have many women by his side. My adoptive father will definitely have his own sons.â
âBut what if he doesnât end up having any sons?â
âYou, yourself also said what if,â Xiang Tiange was still smiling next to Ning Xiaoyao, âIâve never once thought of inheriting the family business from my adoptive father.â
âIn that caseâ¦â Ning Xiaoyao looked at Xiang Tiange, attempting to decipher whether he was speaking the truth.
âWill you allow me to follow you?â Xiang Tiange softly asked. Ning Xiaoyao continued walking forward. Xiang Tiange reached out and tugged her sleeves. âLetâs talk about it after weâve defeated the Northern Hu!â Ning Xiaoyao grinned mischievously.
Xiang Tiange was still holding onto Ning Xiaoyaoâs hand. âWeâll be going to war with the Northern Hu in two days.â
âWill you also be fighting on the battlefield?â
âIâll be leading the vanguard.â
âIâll follow you then. Iâm very good at fighting ah.â
âWhere the husband goes, the wife follows ah?â Xiang Tiange joked.
âWhen the time comes, Iâll pretend to die in battle!â Ning Xiaoyao had already started to plan ahead. âThat way, if anyone asks where your wife is in the future, you can just tell them your wife is dead ah.â
Xiang Tiange fell silent again.Â
âItâs better for Erya and Xiaoqiu to follow me. While youâre fighting a war, itâs not convenient for them to follow you.â
âYouâve already thought this through.â Xiang Tiange crisply replied. âMhmm!â Ning Xiaoyao seemed very proud of herself. âIâve always been very reliable.â
Young Lord Xiangâs expression stiffened. Iâm not praising you ah!
In Young Lordâs tent, Pei Yan looked at Danian and turned to Shadowgale. âYou gave him such a heavy blow?âÂ
The unconscious Danian had a bruised and battered face. His right hand was twisted in an unnatural angle and looked as if it was broken. Shadowgale stood to the side to allow Pei Yan to look at the Dragon Guards behind him.
Pei Yan eyed this bunch of Dragon Guards. They looked rather pitiful as well, one of them even had his head bashed in and had applied medicine and wrapped up the wound with a bandage, making his head appear two times bigger.
âSecond Young Master, this rascalâs martial arts is not bad,â one of the Dragon Guard told Pei Yan. âHis martial arts are not just not bad, itâs excellent.â Pei Yan rolled his eyes at him.
âItâs a pity someone like him isnât fighting against the Northern Hu.â Shadowgale muttered apprehensively.
âIt is indeed,â Pei Yan lamented. But can you blame His Majesty? Obviously not ah.
âThereâs something else I want to ask,â Shadowgale said while habitually raising his hand. âIs His Majesty sleeping with that Young Lord tonight?â
The people inside the tent: ....
âThe battle will commence in two days.âÂ
After the time it took to burn half a stick of incense, Xiang Tiange told Pei Yan and his group, âI will be at the main tent to receive my orders.â
Hearing this, everyone was relieved. It wasnât a big deal for His Majesty to share a bed with Young Lord, but they just felt uncomfortable thinking about it...even though they didnât know why.
âIn two days, we will follow the rebel forces!â Ning Xiaoyao crouched in the tent while sharpening her sword. âThink of a way to infiltrate the Northern Hu barracks. Grand Preceptor Xie could be in the army camp. We have to find this scoundrel and kill him!â
Pei Yan rapped his knuckles on the bed board and closed his eyes. âI know.â
The rebel forces were prepared to go to war with the Northern Hu in two days, but the Northern Hu cavalry rushed into their joint camp and started killing a day later.
âTake her with you and leave!â Xiang Tiange quickly rushed back to camp and stuffed a bundle into Ning Xiaoyaoâs arms as he asked Pei Yan and the Dragon Guards to escort Ning Xiaoyao away from here.
When Ning Xiaoyao opened the bundle a little to take a look, her hands quivered. The bundle was filled with gold.
âBe careful on the road.â Xiang Tiange reminded Ning Xiaoyao. âI canât take this,â Ning Xiaoyao shook her head.
âTake good care of Erya and Xiaoqiu for me.â Xiang Tiange smiled as he rubbed her head. Ning Xiaoyao thought about it before stuffing the bundle into Shadowgaleâs arms. âIâm going to follow Young Lord to war. You guys leave with Erya and Xiaoqiu first.â
âYoung Lord!â a soldier called out loudly outside the tent. âLeave now!â Since there was an urgent military matter, Xiang Tiange couldnât stay back to chat with Ning Xiaoyao. He immediately rushed out the tent.
âYou guys must be careful.â Ning Xiaoyao looked at Shadowgale and the other Dragon Guards before she turned and left. Shadowgale placed the bundle into Shadowrainâs hands and left the tent as well.Â
âShadowrain, Shadowbolt, take Erya and Xiaoqiu and leave,â commanded Pei Yan as he grabbed his sword and headed out the tent.Â
The Dragon Guards let out a sigh as they all left the tent at once. Shadowrain and Shadowbolt exchanged looks. Then, they picked up Erya and Xiaoqiu and left the army tent as well.Â
Within the joint camp, sounds of killing thundered out. Ning Xiaoyao followed after Xiang Tiange to G.o.d knows where.
âHead east,â Pei Yan shouted out on his horse. A troop of soldiers on horseback followed Pei Yan east. âWeâre going to help His Majesty?â Shadowgale asked.
âWeâre going to the Northern Hu camp. His Majesty doesnât need your protection,â answered Pei Yan. With His Majestyâs skills, if they were to follow along, he would probably end up protecting them instead.
âWhere are we going?â shouted Ning Xiaoyao as she rode on Bujing and chased after Xiang Tiange.
âWeâre going to my adoptive fatherâs.â Xiang Tiange let Ning Xiaoyao ride on the inner side out of consideration and care for her.
âWhat?â Ning Xiaoyao suddenly stopped and didnât go any further. âYouâre not looking for Modou ah?â
Since Ning Xiaoyao stopped her horse from going forwards, Xiang Tiange and his troop could only follow suit. Xiang Tiange had no idea how his adoptive father was doing. Currently, he was very anxious but still patiently explained to Ning Xiaoyao. âI have to wait on my adoptive fatherâs command.âÂ
âYoung Lord,â a soldier ran out from the army tent and stood in front of Xiang Tiange. He was speaking in a light voice, âGreat Lord has instructed you to send troops to the Northern Hu camp.â
Xiang Tiange nodded to acknowledge the soldier. Then, he whipped his horse around and left. Ning Xiaoyao asked, âHeâs one of Great Lordâs men?âÂ
âHeâs Advisor Niuâs messenger.â Xiang Tiange replied.
Ning Xiaoyao furrowed her brows as she turned back to look at the army tent. She had a bad feeling about this. Did the messenger not eat? How come his voice sounded like a mosquito? Was he afraid that others would hear him?
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