"That's more or less what happened..." Wei Shuxuan told Xin Zizhao all the things she had said to Bai Yue before. "Do you think this Bai Yue is really serious?"
"I don't know. But when it comes to keeping his promises, he does better than others. We can give him the benefit of the doubt for now."
Xin Zizhao thought carefully before answering Wei Shuxuan. Suddenly, Wei Shuxuan remembered something. "Come to think of it, I remember that when I was attacked by that red - dressed woman, it was Bai Yue who came to my rescue. And they had an argument. The red - dressed woman called Bai Yue a fence - sitter and said that he was sent by the emperor of Qiangfeng State to monitor Sima Tianhai..."
"Did she really say that?" Xin Zizhao turned to look at Wei Shuxuan.
"Yeah. I was still conscious at that time. Moreover, Bai Yue also admitted that he was the emperor of Qiangfeng State's man. But he also said that he would only side with the party that was beneficial to him."
Xin Zizhao let out a soft laugh. Wei Shuxuan looked at him in confusion. "This Bai Yue is really sly. Maybe he has placed all his bets on us. If he wins the bet, his status in Qiangfeng State will be greatly improved."
After Xin Zizhao's explanation, Wei Shuxuan finally understood his meaning. "Xin Zizhao, do you mean that he wants to use us to climb to a higher position?"
"Yes. But there's nothing wrong with it. It's just a case of him using me and me using him..." Xin Zizhao thought that the development of the matter was becoming more and more unexpected.
After chatting with Wei Shuxuan for a while longer, Xin Zizhao urged her to lie down and rest. Her fever had just subsided, and she needed a good rest.
During the few days they stayed in Baiyang Town, no one came to cause trouble for Xin Zizhao and the others. He didn't know if they hadn't discovered that Wei Shuxuan had escaped or if they had given up on sneaking up on them.
"How could they give up? This is Sima Tianhai's order," Xin Zizhao looked at Wei Shuxuan. "I think it's probably that man named Bai Yue who helped us cover it up. But he can only cover it up for a while. We have to try to get back to the capital during this time."
After packing up their belongings and Wei Shuxuan's body had recovered almost completely, they could continue their journey. It only took about half a day to get back to the capital from Baiyang Town. If they set off in the morning, they should be able to arrive in the afternoon.
Just as they were about to set off, Ge Zian walked over with a letter in his hand. "Young Master Xin, my father wrote to ask when we would arrive in the capital. They've been there for several days."
"We have to get back quickly! Let's go!"
At that time in Baolan Town, for the sake of safety, Ge Long'an and Ge Zian decided to split up. Ge Long'an led a team of elite soldiers through the grain - transportation route. Since he had a token, he could take this path and quickly reached Baiyang Town, and then returned to the capital.
Naturally, Ge Zian, who took the ordinary road, couldn't arrive in the capital as quickly as Ge Long'an and the others. Coupled with the fact that Wei Shuxuan was captured and then had a fever, they had already been delayed on the road for several days. Fortunately, they weren't far from the capital and would arrive soon.
As time passed, the sunlight gradually dimmed and turned into a gentle and warm afterglow. The afterglow splashed down, but unlike the sun, it didn't cover the whole earth. With half light and half shadow, it gave people a comfortable feeling.
Wei Shuxuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. What came into view was a beautiful scenery in the distance. Large patches of fiery clouds coiled in the sky, intertwined in a fiery red, looking extremely beautiful. "Xin Zizhao, Xin Zizhao, come quickly. This is so beautiful!"
Hearing Wei Shuxuan calling him constantly, Xin Zizhao had to put down the medical book in his hand and leaned over to Wei Shuxuan's side. "What do you want me to look at?"
"Look at that!" Wei Shuxuan excitedly pointed at the fiery clouds in the sky in front. "Isn't it so beautiful?"
The fiery red light shone on Wei Shuxuan's side face. The light spirits seemed to be dancing, attracting Xin Zizhao's gaze. There was a deep infatuation in Xin Zizhao's eyes as he looked at Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan was smiling happily. When she turned her head and saw Xin Zizhao looking at her, she felt a bit nervous and quickly turned her face away. She said shyly, "Xin Zizhao, why are you looking at me like this?"
When she turned her face away, her small ears were exposed to Xin Zizhao's sight. The snow - white ear tips were tinged with a faint red. He didn't know if it was the fiery red afterglow that made them red or if it was because Xin Zizhao's gaze was too intense that they couldn't help being dyed red.
"...... It's nothing. I just think the scenery is beautiful, but the person is even more beautiful."
Xin Zizhao chuckled and didn't explain directly, but Wei Shuxuan understood. The red that was just on the ear tips immediately spread to her cheeks. "Humph, you're just good at sweet - talking."
"I only say such things to you."
This time, Wei Shuxuan had absolutely nothing to retort.
When they arrived in the capital, it wasn't completely dark yet. They first returned to General Long'an's Mansion. Ge Long'an was already waiting for them in his mansion. As soon as he saw Wei Shuxuan, he quickly stepped forward to greet her. "Xuan'er, why did you come so late?"
"Father, we encountered an ambush on the way, so we're a bit late. Don't worry."
"Hmm? Are you not injured, Xuan'er?" Ge Long'an quickly asked Wei Shuxuan to turn around in front of him to see if she was really unharmed.
"I'm fine. Everything's okay. Don't worry so much. By the way, where are those elite soldiers?" Wei Shuxuan asked curiously.
"Naturally, they're waiting for our orders in the military camp in the suburbs. Alright, stop talking for now. Let's go into the main hall and talk."
Ge Zian asked Ge Long'an if there had been any major events in the court recently, but Ge Long'an shook his head. "No. Since the Eleventh Prince became the emperor, he hasn't issued any new policies. Basically, everything remains the same. We don't know what's going on inside."
"Judging from the current situation of Yulong State, there really isn't much that needs to be adjusted."
"When will we start the operation?" Wei Shuxuan was most interested in the time of the operation.
"Two nights from now. First, we'll send a few people into the palace to coordinate with those of us waiting outside. Then we'll wipe out Qiha'er's troops. Finally, we'll seize the imperial seal of Yulong State."
Ge Long'an told them his plan. Xin Zizhao thought for a while. "This is a good idea. Then I, Xuan'er, Xin Shang, and Wei Wei will go into the palace to be responsible for the coordination."