CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 320: STILL ALIVE

Two days ago.

In Xiao Xingzong’s camp.

The envoy sent by Gao Yu delivered a letter to Xiao Xingzong.

The envoy wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Song Xian’s troops have arrived at Taiyuan Prefecture. It was because His Majesty read your letter that he did not recall the troops from Ying County and Shuo County. Now everything here is ready, and we can open the checkpoint at any time and join Mr. Xiao in attacking Dai State."

The Third Prince, Ge Kun, sat silently beside him. Xiao Xingzong deliberately did not reveal his identity to the Qi people to protect him, and the Qi people still believed he was Xiao Xingzong’s deputy general.

Thus, even though the Qi envoy did not pay respects to him, he did not mind; rather, he felt like he was playing the Qi people as he wished.

Xiao Xingzong nodded: "Once everything is prepared here, I’ll immediately send someone to deliver the news to you."

After the envoy from Gao Yu left, Ge Kun laughed and said to Xiao Xingzong: "Indeed, Mr. Xiao is impressive. With just a few words, he got Gao Yu to comply. Although this is Gao Yu’s territory, Gao Yu is now willing to send troops to help us capture Dai State."

A few words?

Xiao Xingzong sneered internally. From Zhenzhou to Chen Family Village, and then digging out Xue Ke, he didn’t know how much effort was spent or how many personnel were lost, step by step.

Only someone like Ge Kun would consider it simple.

Gao Yu is not easily fooled either. Previously, he frequently asked us to borrow the road, just to disrupt Daqi’s checkpoints with our troops.

Now, he has no choice but to ally with us to share Song Xian’s forces.

Ultimately, it’s all a matter of balancing interests, but it requires preemptive planning to reap the benefits.

Xiao Xingzong smiled and said: "I just used some strategies, relying on the troops brought by the Third Prince."

Upon hearing this, Ge Kun raised his eyes: "What exactly are Mr. Xiao’s plans? I still don’t know."

With things having come this far, there’s no need to conceal anything, Xiao Xingzong said: "Does the Third Prince know why I have always stayed in Lingqiu? Because someone wants to assassinate me."

"Now that war is about to break out in Taiyuan Prefecture, it’s time for us to act as well. I have a habit of personally getting involved before a battle. Early tomorrow morning, I’ll bring a dozen trusted aides to mobilize troops. That person undoubtedly knows me well, and while I’m on my way to mobilize troops will be the best opportunity for the assassination."

Upon hearing about the assassination, Ge Kun’s eyes lit up again.

Xiao Xingzong continued: "They have set up an ambush midway, waiting for me to walk right into it."

Ge Kun said: "So Mr. Xiao is planning to catch them at that moment?" He knew Xiao Xingzong’s plans but had never heard the details. Now that Xiao Xingzong knew everything, that person was definitely not going to escape.

Xiao Xingzong neither nodded nor shook his head, just showed a hint of a smile. Catching him wasn’t enough; his scouts had detected the situation in Dai State, and indeed Xie Liangchen had sent people to approach Lingqiu. He was right. Xie Liangchen stayed in Dai State, just waiting for the opportunity to avenge her grandparents.

Before Prince Guangyang was calculated by the Emperor, their family and Prince Guangyang were old acquaintances, and Xiao Xingzong had seen Prince Guangyang, the Princess, and the Commandery Princess.

If everything hadn’t changed, he should have already known the daughter of the Commandery Princess.

After several encounters, both overt and covert, it was time for that girl’s true identity to be revealed.

...

Following Xie Shao Yuan’s instructions, Liu Ji arranged the personnel, ensuring that Xiao Xingzong would definitely go to mobilize troops in the next two days. They were constantly stationed along the path Xiao Xingzong had to take, sure that there would be an opportunity to confront Xiao Xingzong.

Nightfall.

Liu Ji did not rest and continued to monitor the activities in Xiao Xingzong’s camp.

After laying on the hillside for a long time, seeing everything as usual, Liu Ji was about to get up and leave when suddenly, a shadow flashed by, and then his mouth was covered.

"Don’t make a sound."

A deep voice came: "I’m from Chen Family Village."

Liu Ji wouldn’t readily believe it, and was about to try to break free when the person moved, turning around to stand in front of Liu Ji.

Under the moonlight, Liu Ji saw a familiar face.

Although he had never spoken to this person, he had seen him beside Miss Xie when he tried to send messages to Chen Family Village. He was the Song Family’s House General.

"I’m Chang Yue, Chen..." Chang Yue spoke quickly and almost said he was from Chen Family Village, "General Song commanded me to bring people to guard Miss Xie, and Miss Xie sent me to Lingqiu to find you."

Liu Ji paused for a moment, then immediately nodded to indicate he understood.

Chang Yue released his hand, and Liu Ji said lowly: "Miss Xie knows about us..."

Chang Yue nodded: "She knows you want to assassinate Xiao Xingzong, but doesn’t know your exact strategies or how many people are involved. Let’s find a quiet place to discuss carefully."

Liu Ji took a deep breath. Considering how secretive they had been, outsiders shouldn’t know, meaning Miss Xie still doesn’t know that the one arranging everything is her biological father, Xie Shao Yuan.

Liu Ji followed Chang Yue, leaving Xiao Xingzong’s camp and entering the depths of the mountain.

Chang Yue stopped and looked at Liu Ji: "You are being watched by Xiao Xingzong’s men."

Liu Ji hadn’t yet recovered from the shock just now. Hearing this, his heart sank: "How...how do you know?"

Chang Yue said solemnly: "I know a small path that leads from Dai State to Lingqiu, so I instructed people to come first to check the situation, and saw that you were being watched by Xiao Xingzong’s Thirteen Grand Protectors. Xiao Xingzong must have long been aware of your movements."

Liu Ji’s mind buzzed as he struggled to recall where they went wrong: "Could it be because we killed someone in the death row?"

Perhaps they believed everything was flawless, but Xiao Xingzong had already detected it long ago. Xiao Xingzong didn’t say anything intentionally, wanting to play the long game.

"What should we do?" Liu Ji panicked, "Xie...our people are still...and Xiao Xingzong still wants to attack Dai State. Do you know?"

"Yes," Chang Yue said, "That’s why Miss Xie sent me here."

Liu Ji looked at Chang Yue: "Does Miss Xie have a method?" Since Xiao Xingzong had long been prepared, he wouldn’t easily let Xie Shao Yuan escape. The reason he hasn’t confined him is to let him seek out more people to help.

Chang Yue said: "Miss Xie’s every move in Dai State is also being watched. If the calculations are correct, Xiao Xingzong wants to catch Miss Xie."

Could it be that Xiao Xingzong has known Miss Xie’s identity? This Chang Yue is from the Song Family. How much does he know?

Chang Yue said: "Rest assured, certain things Miss Xie doesn’t need to tell me. I am Miss Xie’s guard and will only follow Miss Xie’s instructions." As a household general, he knows what should be known and what shouldn’t be understood.

Having been by Miss Xie’s side for a long time, he has already sensed that Miss Xie and Chen Family Village have secrets.

Liu Ji was unsure of what to do next, but he should at least deliver the message to Xie Shao Yuan. He also didn’t understand why the people around Song Xian seemed so loyal to Miss Xie.

Chang Yue said: "Miss Xie asked me to inquire, do you know the whereabouts of her parents?"

All of Liu Ji’s thoughts vanished cleanly at that moment, leaving only Chang Yue’s question. In such a critical moment, should he say it?

Liu Ji fell silent for a long while, thinking of how Miss Xie risked sending someone and planned to rescue them. A soft spot in his heart was touched, and he finally said: "Xie Shao Yuan is still alive. Tomorrow he will lead us against Xiao Xingzong."