"Tell Zhang Xing to come over." Yi Ling said lightly.
The guard at the door accepted the order and bent down to open the curtain to call for Zhang Xing.
The tent was still silent. Everyone looked at each other, not understanding why Yi Ling would call for someone from Nan Hua at this time.
The sound of footsteps could be heard from outside. The curtain of the tent was lifted again. Accompanied by a gust of cold wind, a short man with a scholarly aura entered.
He walked to the center of the tent and bowed to Yi Ling. Yi Ling raised his hand to stop him from going straight to the main topic, "Zhang Xing, come and see if there's anything wrong with this silk handkerchief."
Zhang Xing cupped his hands in acknowledgment. He walked forward and picked up the silk handkerchief to examine it carefully. After a while, he put it down, "General, where did you get this silk handkerchief?"
"Just look at it when I tell you to. So much nonsense!" Li Feng scolded.
Because Zhang Xing was a Southerner, most of the soldiers looked down on him.
"Sun Tianen found it on a soldier's body," Yi Ling answered his question.
Zhang Xing ignored Li Feng's words and only said to Yi Ling, "General, this is silk brocade from Nan Hua. If you use vinegar to write on it, it won't be seen. You just need to put it over the fire and you'll be able to see it clearly."
Yi Ling heard this and had a soldier bring in a basin of firewood. He picked up the silk handkerchief and put it over the fire to warm it.
Sure enough, a pattern began to appear on the silk handkerchief. He picked it up and looked at it carefully. He felt that the pattern was strange and didn't know what it was. He raised his hand and said to Zhang Xing, "Come and take a look. What is this?"
Zhang Xing took it and looked at it against the candlelight. He frowned and said, "General, this seems to be a type of secret language. It's just that the pattern is complicated and I can't recognize it right away."
"I'll give you three days. What do you think?" Yi Ling asked straightforwardly.
"This general obeys!" Zhang Xing agreed without hesitation.
Yi Ling nodded and had everyone leave.
— — —
The summer heat still lingered in the air. After Yi Ling left, Gu Yan somehow felt a little melancholy. He sat in the porch and read silently all day long.
A Nuo fanned her and said, "Princess, it's not good for you to be so bored. Why don't you go out for a walk?"
Gu Yan shook his head. "It's so hot outside. I'm drenched in sweat the moment I walk."
A Nuo advised, "It's not a good idea to be cooped up in the fu all the time. I think you're going to fall ill from boredom."
Just as the master and servant were talking, a servant from the fu entered the courtyard and bowed, "Madam, someone from the palace has come."
Gu Yan was a little surprised when he heard this. More than half of the people in the palace had left. Who would come at this time?
After leaving the small courtyard and arriving at the main hall, the palace attendant saw Gu Yan and hurriedly saluted, "Madam Pingyang, Changle. Princess An Le invites Madam into the palace. "
"Princess An Le?" Gu Yan was puzzled, but he smiled and agreed, "Okay, I know. Let me wash up and change."
A Nuo helped Gu Yan dress up. The carriage was already waiting at the entrance of the General's fu. After getting on the carriage, A Nuo smiled happily outside and said, "The princess really understands my thoughts. Now you have no reason to stay in the fu, Princess."
In the carriage, there was a porcelain bowl with shredded ice cubes. Gu Yan scooped up a piece with a small spoon and put it into his mouth. He narrowed his eyes comfortably. "The conditions in the palace are so good."
A Nuo was amused by her. He shook his head and ignored her.
The carriage went all the way to the palace gate. There was already a servant waiting for them. When she saw Gu Yan, she came up and bowed, "Madam, the princess has been waiting for a long time."
Gu Yan nodded and let her lead the way. Although A Nuo held a paper umbrella to shield Gu Yan from the sunlight, the summer sun was scorching. The palace was surrounded by high walls, so waves of heat still hit them.
The palace servant led them around a narrow path. However, they did not go to Chang Xin Palace, where An Le lived. Instead, they went to the Imperial Garden.
It was summer, and hundreds of flowers were blooming. Everywhere was green and shady. Jade Clear Lake's water was clear and sparkling. A cool breeze blew, and there was not a trace of stuffy heat. From afar, they could hear cool laughter. From afar, they could see beautiful figures swaying in the pavilion in the middle of Jade Clear Lake.
When they got closer, they could see clearly that it was Princess An Le and a group of noble ladies. Madams from the imperial court were playing in the pavilion. Gu Yan paid his respects to An Le and greeted everyone. He then sat down and said, "The princess really picked a good place."
An Le smiled, "More than half of the people in the palace have left. It's too boring for me to be alone, so I invited everyone to join in the fun."
When girls met, it was just admiring flowers and playing chess. However, the cool breeze blew gently and the atmosphere was pleasant. Unknowingly, half a day had passed. Thus, everyone bid farewell and dispersed.
The carriage slowly left the imperial city. Gu Yan leaned against the cushions in the carriage and sipped a cup of tea. A Nuo was gratified and said, "Imperial Princess, look. You're much more spirited after coming out for a walk, right?"
After waiting for a long time, Gu Yan did not respond. He turned around and saw her holding a cup of tea, lost in thought. A Nuo waved her hand in front of her eyes, "Imperial Princess, Imperial Princess."
Gu Yan came back to his senses and asked, "What's wrong?"
A Nuo helplessly shook her head, "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." She lightly replied. She reached out and lifted a corner of the curtain. She looked into the distance. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, the setting sun was like a trace of blood, soaking in the air.
"Someone actually dared to secretly contact Xiongnu! General, who would have such guts? There must be a misunderstanding somewhere, right? "Li Feng repeatedly asked in disbelief.
On the table was the secret code that Zhang Xing had deciphered. The strange pattern on the silk brocade was clearly the secret code for colluding with the enemy.
"No matter who it is, in order to sit on that chair, they would have the guts to do so." Yi Ling coldly said, "Borrowing Xiongnu's troops to go down south to resist the enemy's generals. You and I are trapped in this desert. We can only do nothing about the matters of the imperial court."
"Then who would have such guts? Aren't they afraid of letting the wolf into the house!" A soldier below said indignantly.
"This time, most of the Bai Province's troops are from the British Martial Army. The guards in the suburbs are from the Xiao Clan's Divine Guards. The imperial palace is guarded by the Imperial Guards. The situation is chaotic. It's hard to distinguish right from wrong. "Jiang Xun said.
"General, what do you think we should do?" Li Feng turned his head and asked Yi Ling.
Yi Ling looked up and slowly said, "The Dai Yin's territory was exchanged with the blood and flesh of the soldiers. Those who dare to secretly contact Xiongnu …" His tone became heavy, as if it contained a biting cold intent, "Kill without mercy!"
Summer was almost halfway through. Princess Anle seemed to be restless. Every day, she would invite her maidens into the palace to accompany her. Sometimes they would play chess, sometimes they would compose poems. Everyone played together and felt that the long days flew by quickly.
Inside the summer palace in Bai Province, Imperial Consort Yi's slender fingers lightly pinched the reports that were sent over by a fast horse. She carefully read through them one by one and frowned, "What is this Princess Anle trying to do? Why does she hold banquets every two to three days?"
Qing 'er helped her massage her legs while comforting her, "Imperial Consort, it's not like you don't know Princess Anle's temperament. She can't stay still. This time, she's been left alone in the palace. I'm afraid that she's become restless from boredom. I can only find some people to accompany her."
Imperial Consort Yi lightly threw the last piece of paper on the ground. She gently closed her eyes and said, "Alright, tell the subordinates that there's no need to report such a trivial matter. If Princess Anle has any other movements, then report back."
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
