Chapter 139

Nangong Qingyi’s precise arrow not only wounded the foul-mouthed barbarian, but also forced the clamoring, provocative Turks to retreat back into their main camp.

When A-Yi heard that Nangong Qingyi had pierced both cheeks of a commander with a single arrow, she immediately sent Serwu to bring the man to her tent. A-Yi watched with amusement as the barbarian commander stood before her, sweating profusely from pain yet terrified to show any expression. She gently untied the note fastened to the fletching of the arrow and waved her hand casually; the injured commander bowed and retreated from the tent,忍着 enduring his agony.

A-Yi unfolded the paper to find only two large characters written upon it: "Thank you." She furrowed her brows, then burst into a peal of melodic, trilling laughter. Looking at Serwu behind her with crescent-shaped eyes, she asked, "Serwu! What do you think Nangong Qingyi is thanking me for?"

Serwu frowned and shook her head.

A-Yi let out a light hum, scrutinized the two large characters once more, then tossed the note into the brazier. With her charming, seductive eyes narrowed, she watched the paper curl into ash. She gracefully tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, turned toward the bronze mirror to reveal an enchanting, peerless smile, though her voice remained cold. "Serwu, go tell my father to send word to Khan Tuolie. Tell him to dispatch troops to coordinate with us in a three-day assault on Yanmen Pass. I want to see if she, Nangong Qingyi, will still feel like thanking me then. Also, tell Jie Zhilue to speed up the assembly progress; breaking through Yanmen Pass is just around the corner!"

A-Yi’s full name was Ashina A-Yi, the Princess Deyue of the Western Turks, whom Yang Yaozong had once suspected. She was not only brilliant but also deeply ambitious. The rise of the Western Turks in recent years was entirely due to the schemes and strategies A-Yi had devised for her father. Now that the Yiluo Khan of the Western Turks was failing in health and A-Yi’s brother was merely a blunt tool who obeyed her every word, A-Yi had effectively become the true ruler of the Western Turks. It was precisely because of her status and authority that Khan Tuolie of the Eastern Turks had agreed to join forces against the Great Zhou after Yiluo Khan promised A-Yi to him in marriage. Tuolie knew that marrying A-Yi was tantamount to conquering the Western Turks; then, the long-divided Turkic tribes could be unified under his hand once more. He would become a Khan worshipped and revered by his people. Should he also conquer the Great Zhou, such a feat would be so tempting that even if A-Yi were hideous, he would have married her—let alone the fact that she was the most beautiful woman among the Turks. Dreaming of possessing the world while holding such a beauty, Khan Tuolie was filled with joy and excitement every single day.

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While A-Yi and Nangong Qingyi were locked in a secret rivalry, Yang Yaozong tested a drop of heated milk on the back of his hand. Finding it not too hot, he placed the bowl in front of Yin Ruyun, who was holding Yang Fan. "I must rendezvous with Qin Haizhou tomorrow. Would you be willing to take Yang Fan back to Tianjing first?" After a week of travel, the two had arrived at Taierzhuang and checked into an inn.

Yin Ruyun carefully fed Yang Fan with a small spoon while replying, "Yang Fan never cries or makes a fuss when he is with us, so what harm is there in taking him along? In any case, I will not return to Tianjing first. I am by your side to protect you. If I were to return alone, not only would your sister be furious, but even that princess of yours would not spare me."

Yang Yaozong touched Yang Fan’s soft, pink cheek, making the baby giggle. "I know you are worried about me, but taking this little one to the military camp will surely be inconvenient. Besides, with Qin Haizhou protecting me, what is there to worry about?" After driving into the Shandong region, they had heard that Qin Haizhou was suppressing bandits at Baoduguo and that the horse Black Radiance was in the hands of Liao Qiniang, so Yang Yaozong had decided to rendezvous with Qin Haizhou. Once he helped Qin Haizhou handle the bandit suppression, he would return to Tianjing.

Yin Ruyun’s face flushed, but she frowned firmly. "No!"

Seeing her expression, Yang Yaozong knew he couldn't persuade her. He sighed, pointed at Yang Fan’s little nose, and feigned anger. "If you two cause trouble in the camp, see if I don't spank you both!"

Yang Fan used his chubby little hands to shakily grasp Yang Yaozong’s finger, sucked on it, and then burst into giggles.

Seeing Yang Yaozong’s defeated, drooping posture, Yin Ruyun let out a soft laugh before returning to her usual serious demeanor.

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Yang Yaozong arrived at Baoduguo early the next morning. Qin Haizhou already knew of Yang Yaozong’s exploits in the capital and was overcome with excitement to see him again. From Qin Haizhou, Yang Yaozong learned that they had besieged Baoduguo for half a month, clearing traps buried on the mountain paths while tightening the encirclement. However, because the steep slopes of the mountain fortress were easy to defend and difficult to attack—truly a place where one man could hold off ten thousand—they had been unable to launch a direct assault.

"My lord! We are just waiting for the cannons to be moved up the mountain in two days, and we can launch the final attack on Liao Qiniang’s stronghold. This time, we will surely wipe out all these bandits!" Qin Haizhou and Yang Yaozong were chatting in a secluded spot not far from the stronghold.

"Some time ago, the Prefect of Jining, Gu Youning, went behind my back to meet with the second-in-command of the stronghold, hoping to persuade them to surrender. But I heard that the leader, Liao Qiniang, refused, claiming she would hold out to the end and fight to the death, even if it meant perishing on Baoduguo. I never intended to offer them amnesty. They are a group of bandits who have plagued the common folk. I have returned not only to avenge you, my lord, but also to wipe them out for the Imperial Court."

Yang Yaozong thought to himself: Qin Haizhou’s forces had arrived suddenly, and Liao Qiniang’s supplies could not have been sufficient, nor would they have had time to stockpile. Furthermore, Liao Qiniang cared deeply for her followers, especially the women and children on the peak. Having been besieged for half a month, there must be a shortage of food. It was unlikely Liao Qiniang would refuse to negotiate without even participating. There must be something suspicious afoot. Yang Yaozong frowned and said, "If they can be brought to surrender, that would be for the best. Although I was kidnapped by Liao Qiniang, she never intended to harm me. In a way, they are also pitiful people." He then recounted the circumstances of his kidnapping and the situation regarding the women and children in the stronghold.

Qin Haizhou frowned. "My lord, you don't think Gu Youning is lying, do you? It is strange; in the first few days of the siege, I did see a woman appear on the gate tower from afar—that must have been Liao Qiniang. But I haven't seen her since."

Yang Yaozong gazed at the stronghold in deep thought for a long while before telling Qin Haizhou, "Tell the men not to spread the news of my arrival, and keep it especially hidden from Gu Youning. I intend to go up the mountain."

"My lord! You must not!" Qin Haizhou hurriedly blocked him.

Yang Yaozong smiled. "It is fine. Liao Qiniang and her brothers have some fondness for me; if I hadn't escaped, I might have even become a schoolteacher on that peak. Besides, I have experts protecting me. I promise you I will come back down in two days. Brother Qin, please rest easy!" As Yang Yaozong finished speaking, Yin Ruyun, wearing a black bamboo hat, descended gracefully and landed quietly beside Qin Haizhou, with Yang Fan sleeping peacefully in her arms.

Qin Haizhou had sparred with Yin Ruyun before and naturally knew that her martial arts were on par with Jing Yijun. With her by Yang Yaozong’s side, he should be safe. However, upon seeing the infant in her arms, Qin Haizhou frowned, looking at Yin Ruyun and then at Yang Yaozong with a bewildered expression.

Yang Yaozong smiled. "He is an orphan I adopted during the earthquake in the capital. The child cries the moment he leaves us, so we have no choice but to bring him along. Fortunately, he is quiet when he is with us, which saves us much trouble."

Qin Haizhou frowned. "My lord, you should leave the child here and let me take care of him."

Seeing Yin Ruyun instinctively take a small step back, Yang Yaozong shook his head and smiled at Qin Haizhou. "A rough man like you wouldn't know how to look after a child. If he starts crying, how would you explain his origins? And look at her—do you think she would hand the child over to you? Don't worry, it will be fine!"