Yi Qing knew they definitely couldn't escape today, so she made a deal with Wu Peng. She taught him how to suppress the Illusion-Birthing Gu and asked him to protect the Ghost Lord.
For Wu Peng, following Xiang Beizheng was no different from following the Crown Princess. It just depended on who could offer better conditions.
He greatly admired Yi Qing's medical skills, so as soon as Yi Qing proposed the deal, he readily agreed.
Wu Peng felt the Ghost Lord's pulse. "It's really better."
The Ghost Lord didn't show gratitude to Wu Peng. It was all Yi Qing's arrangement. "Get me something to eat."
On the other side, King Zhen had retreated to their camp. They had planned this operation to destroy the place where Xiang Beizheng planted the Wish-Granting Grass for a long time, but unexpectedly, an accident occurred, causing all their previous efforts to go to waste.
"How's it going?" Zisu asked nervously, looking at King Zhen.
"They have reinforcements. We had to retreat first." King Zhen said apologetically.
Zisu was a bit disappointed but then consoled King Zhen. "It's okay. At least we know the exact location. Xiang Beizheng won't dare to be so rampant in the future."
Previously, the Great Jin supported Zisu, enabling her to have the strength to compete with Xiang Beizheng. However, Xiang Beizheng was extremely insidious. He was good at bewitching people and used the Wish-Granting Cakes to control some people. Now, the two sides were evenly matched.
King Zhen didn't say a word. He wasn't stupid. The emperor's current attitude was to let the internal strife in Southern Border continue so that he could rest easy. The only reason he was allowed to stay here was that he had insisted on marrying into Southern Border, and the emperor had no way to stop him.
"It's getting late. Go and rest." Zisu turned around.
King Zhen hugged Zisu from behind. "No matter what, I'll always be with you."
Zisu believed in King Zhen's sincerity, but he wasn't an ordinary person. He was a prince of the Great Jin and had many constraints. "Okay."
Hearing Zisu's reply, King Zhen was as happy as a child.
Zisu was in a heavy mood. She had written many letters to Yi Qing but never received a reply. Now that Xiang Beizheng was using the Wish-Granting Cakes to control people, she hoped Yi Qing could help her find a solution.
Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing were taken to a wooden building, which was relatively nice here.
"This Xiang Beizheng has arranged a good place for us to stay." Yi Qing recalled that the dog emperor had once locked them in a cell. "Are you injured?"
Xiao Jinghan shook his head. "We have to find a way to get out."
Yi Qing lay down on a bamboo bed. "Let's talk about getting out later. I've been so exhausted these days. I'll take a good rest first."
Xiao Jinghan walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. The bamboo bed creaked under his weight. "Where's he?"
Yi Qing knew Xiao Jinghan was referring to the Ghost Lord. "Don't worry."
"I'm not worried about him." Xiao Jinghan scraped Yi Qing's nose. "Even if Wu Peng is willing to help you, Xiang Beizheng won't be easy to deceive."
Hearing this, Yi Qing lay on her side and pulled Xiao Jinghan down.
Xiao Jinghan was excited but was held down by Yi Qing.
"How much do you know about Xiang Beizheng?" Yi Qing whispered in Xiao Jinghan's ear.
"Why do you suddenly ask this?"
"With your status, to make Xiang Beizheng believe us, there must be something very important. I told Wu Peng that our purpose for coming to Southern Border was to find the antidote for the Parturition Lotus."
"Parturition Lotus?"
"The main ingredient in the poison the emperor was poisoned with was the Parturition Lotus, which is produced in Southern Border." Yi Qing whispered. "Normally, even if Xiang Beizheng knew this, he would ask me about it, but he didn't."
"Does this mean he already knows about it?" Xiao Jinghan guessed.
Yi Qing nodded.
The matter of the emperor's poisoning had never been fully investigated. They just thought that after the deposed emperor, the palace was too chaotic, and the person who had poisoned might already be dead.
"It's impossible." Xiao Jinghan couldn't believe it.
"I also think it's impossible. Maybe Xiang Beizheng hasn't figured it out yet. Let's see how he'll react."
The two didn't say much more. Yi Qing had been worried about the Ghost Lord's poison before. Now that she was relieved, she soon fell asleep.
Wang Qiyao was Xiang Beizheng's military advisor. He was also from the Great Jin. In his forties, he had a goatee and a pair of triangular eyes that made him look very shrewd. His face was an unhealthy bluish-purple.
"So, Xiao Jinghan brought people to Southern Border to find the antidote." Wang Qiyao summarized.
"It's a pity that Concubine Xue is dead. If she weren't, it would have been easier for us to take over the Great Jin." Xiang Beizheng said with great regret.
"So, what does the young master plan to do with Xiao Jinghan?"
"Xiao Jinghan is the dog emperor's right-hand man. If it weren't for him, the dog emperor wouldn't have ascended the throne. I really want to kill him." Xiang Beizheng said helplessly.
"It seems the young master has made up his mind. Our top priority now is to stabilize Southern Border and plan for the future."
"En. I plan to send them to Cixi tomorrow."
"Why don't we kill two birds with one stone?" Wang Qiyao said with a smile.
"Oh?"
"The Crown Princess and Lady Xiao are on good terms. If we spread the news that Lady Xiao is going to be sent to Cixi, the Crown Princess will surely try to rescue her. Then..."
Xiang Beizheng nodded. "Chen Yu'an lost because he was too emotional. He hasn't changed at all over the years."
"Then I'll go and make the arrangements."
As long as Xiao Jinghan was by her side, Yi Qing could sleep soundly anywhere.
Xiao Jinghan thought that when they got back, they should replace their bed with a smaller one so that Yi Qing would have to sleep next to him.
In the morning, someone served them for washing and brought them food. After eating and drinking to her heart's content, Yi Qing sat on the wooden building and looked at the Wish-Granting Grass outside. The most beautiful was also the most deadly, which was fully demonstrated in the Wish-Granting Grass.
"Lady Xiao is really enjoying herself." Xiang Beizheng led some people up.
Xiao Jinghan stood in front of Yi Qing to protect her.
"If I'm not enjoying myself, you won't let me go either." Yi Qing stood up. "How could Zisu be so blind to have fallen for a scumbag like you back then?"
Xiang Beizheng stared at Yi Qing and then smiled. "General Xiao and Lady Xiao have come to Southern Border. Please forgive my poor hospitality. So, I've specially arranged to send General Xiao and Lady Xiao to Cixi for better treatment."
Xiao Jinghan and Yi Qing looked at each other.
Cixi was one of the few cities in Southern Border with city walls. It was impregnable. If they were sent there, it would be difficult for them to escape.
"No need." Xiao Jinghan refused. "I just brought my wife here to have a look. We won't trouble you, Lord Consort Xiang."
"Since General Xiao has come, it's not up to you." Xiang Beizheng smiled.
"This smoke..." Yi Qing waved her hand in front of her nose.
Xiao Jinghan also noticed something was wrong, but the faint smoke and mist were everywhere, and there was nowhere for him to hide.
"General Xiao, don't worry. It'll just make you weak. It won't harm your life." Xiang Beizheng said magnanimously.
With this method, even if Xiao Jinghan wasn't careless, he couldn't avoid it. So, he had no choice but to let them take him on the journey.
To their surprise, Wu Peng was also on the journey with them.
"Choose a kind of Gu." Wu Peng sat in the carriage with them. "I'm just following orders. At least I'm letting you choose."