CHAPTER 714: CHAPTER 300 XIE RUOTONG AND SONG YANQING STAY BEHIND (FOUR UPDATES)

So Xiao Jinxing stopped her, simply because he was worried about Song Yanqing.

Indeed, Song Yanqing appeared frail and delicate, undoubtedly a cause for concern.

"From a professional perspective, I think if we need to hurry on our journey, it’s best for Song Yanqing to come later. I’m not saying he definitely won’t survive, but losing half his life is not impossible," Ye Qichi analyzed, "By then, we’d have to spend another ten days or half a month nursing him back to health in the military camp, which would be a burden. It might actually be less troublesome to let him delay for two or three days."

"Alright." Xiao Jinxing did not hesitate and directly agreed to Ye Qichi’s suggestion, saying, "Let Xie Ruotong stay with Song Yanqing and arrive later."

Ye Qichi stared straight at Xiao Jinxing.

"Is there a problem?"

"You haven’t forgotten the grievances between Xie Ruotong and Song Yanqing, have you?!"

"This is just a test for them," said the Prince.

Ye Qichi frowned.

"Xie Ruotong and Song Yanqing are both talents I intend to utilize heavily in the future. I won’t allow any unresolved hatred among my people. When facing external enemies, they need to cooperate with mutual animosity," Xiao Jinxing stated coldly.

"But you should give them some time, right? This sudden decision... it’s hard for anyone to accept!" Ye Qichi persuaded, "I’m worried Xie Ruotong might resist."

"It’s also thanks to Xie Ruotong that Song Yanqing’s health has deteriorated like this. It’s only right that she stays to take care of him."

At this moment, Ye Qichi could only express a profound sense of resignation.

Wasn’t it you who hinted for Xie Ruotong to interrogate Song Yanqing in such a manner?!

Would Song Yanqing have ended up like this if you hadn’t instructed Xie Ruotong to question him?!

Forget it.

A dog Prince’s decisions are not up for resistance.

She said, "I’ll go and persuade Ruotong."

Xiao Jinxing acknowledged.

Ye Qichi turned around and left directly.

Xiao Jinxing just watched Ye Qichi’s retreating figure.

From beginning to end, Ye Qichi didn’t mention a thing about what happened last night.

...

Ye Qichi returned to the room.

Xie Ruotong was clearly waiting for her.

Ye Qichi found it hard to speak out.

She couldn’t understand how Xiao Jinxing could take it for granted.

"What’s the matter? The Prince... isn’t going to take responsibility?" Xie Ruotong asked.

So Xie Ruotong was still concerned about her affair with Xiao Jinxing.

She truly feared that if she told the truth, Xie Ruotong would regret caring about her so much.

"Don’t worry about my affair with Xiao Jinxing, there’s something more important I need to discuss with you," Ye Qichi said seriously.

Xie Ruotong also became serious.

It was rare for Ye Qichi to be this solemn.

"Just now, Xiao Jinxing said, he wants you to accompany Song Yanqing to Gujiang City a few days later," Ye Qichi summoned the courage to say.

Xie Ruotong’s expression visibly changed.

"You’ve seen the state of Song Yanqing’s health, he can’t keep up with us on the journey, so Xiao Jinxing has asked him to arrive later..."

"Why me?" Xie Ruotong asked.

"Xiao Jinxing means that since you caused Song Yanqing’s condition, you should be responsible," Ye Qichi said reluctantly.

Xie Ruotong was truly at a loss for words.

"Well, whatever the love and hatred between you two was, it’s all in the past now, just consider it following orders."

Xie Ruotong didn’t respond.

"Prepare yourself, I’m going to rest," Ye Qichi promptly left the dilemma.

This was a situation she could not make Xie Ruotong accept wholeheartedly.

Ye Qichi went to bed.

Xie Ruotong stood in the room for a long while.

Slowly, she walked out.

Then, she headed towards Song Yanqing’s room.

At the door, she could hear Song Yanqing’s coughing.

Each cough was alarmingly urgent.

She clenched her teeth and knocked on the door.

The door opened.

The moment Song Yanqing saw Xie Ruotong, he looked noticeably surprised.

His eyes flickered as he suppressed his voice and asked, "Are you looking for me?"

"The Prince said you don’t have to rush with us and can arrive later," Xie Ruotong said.

Song Yanqing paused momentarily.

Then nodded, "Alright."

Thinking Xie Ruotong was just there to relay the message.

"The Prince has asked me to escort you," Xie Ruotong stated bluntly.

Song Yanqing’s body stiffened immediately.

He thought he had heard wrong.

"I cannot disobey the Prince’s orders," Xie Ruotong said coldly. "When the Prince departs later, you need not rise. Rest up; tomorrow morning, we will continue our journey."

"Alright," Song Yanqing nodded.

He wanted to say something the moment he nodded.

But he saw Xie Ruotong turn around and walk away.

Song Yanqing held back.

After Xie Ruotong had completely left.

He couldn’t help but cough twice.

He never thought that one day his body would become so frail.

...

Two hours later.

Xiao Jinxing left with the main troop.

Xie Ruotong, Song Yanqing, and two soldiers stayed behind.

The next morning.

They set off together.

Song Yanqing sat in the carriage.

One soldier drove the carriage.

The other soldier and Xie Ruotong rode on horses following the carriage.

"It will take us an hour and a half to reach the next rest stop," Xie Ruotong said from horseback to the inside of the carriage, "If you cannot hold on, just let us know, and we can rest halfway."

Song Yanqing lifted the curtain and replied to Xie Ruotong, "Alright."

"Sit tight, don’t get hurt," Xie Ruotong advised.

Not wanting.

The mission to fail.

Song Yanqing nodded.

He silently sat inside the carriage.

The carriage moved slowly.

Probably because they feared Song Yanqing couldn’t endure a faster pace.

Even at such a slow pace, Song Yanqing coughed several times within the carriage.

"Stop a moment," Xie Ruotong called to the coachman.

The coachman quickly halted.

"Let’s rest a bit before continuing," Xie Ruotong said.

Then she dismounted the horse promptly.

She took her horse to the side to drink and graze.

Song Yanqing watched as Xie Ruotong walked away alone.

"Master Song, have some water," the other soldier promptly picked up a water jug for Song Yanqing.

Song Yanqing nodded slightly.

Took it over.

After drinking, he said, "Take some water to General Xie."

"Yes."

The soldier quickly rode to where Xie Ruotong was.

They rested for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

The group set off again.

The pace was still very slow.

Song Yanqing lifted the curtain, speaking to Xie Ruotong, "It’s okay, we can go faster. The cough is a chronic issue, not due to the jolting."

Knowing.

Xie Ruotong actually did not want to escort him all the way.

If they could arrive earlier.

They wouldn’t have to interact so much.

Xie Ruotong glanced at him.

Slowly said to the coachman, "A little faster."

"Yes."

The group sped up noticeably.

But halfway through the journey, rain suddenly began to pour from the sky.

It rained harder and harder.

Everyone got drenched.

And they were still in the wilderness.

Several times, Song Yanqing actually wanted to invite Xie Ruotong to sit inside the carriage, but he just couldn’t bring himself to speak.

"General Xie, there is a rundown temple ahead, should we take shelter from the rain before continuing?" a soldier who had gone ahead to scout the road, hurried back, whipping his horse to report.

"Take shelter from the rain first," Xie Ruotong decided promptly.

She didn’t mind, but she feared Song Yanqing might freeze to death on the way.