Chapter 140 - 140 Distance did not lead his trust astray Part II
140 Distance did not lead his trust astray Part II
“What are you doing here?”
As soon as she entered her tent, a familiar voice from another woman in the army was heard.
Bai Yu curtsied to her older cousin and the unofficial shifu before taking off the veil.
“Bai Hua is treating my brother. I came here in her place in order to follow the royal decree.”
Yue Huiling’s eyes widened. “You’re trying to fool the Emperor?”
“Biaojie, please don’t worry. The Emperor is informed about this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s...” Bai Yu acted troubled, teasing the person who was making a serious face that did not suit someone her age at all. “...I’m afraid biaojie might not believe what I’m about to say.”
“What nonsense is this?” Yue Huiling’s frown tightened. “Say it. I know that you’re not just coming here as a replacement for Bai Hua.”
.....
“How about sitting down and having some tea first?” Bai Yu lightly took her wrist, trying to lead her to the chair. Yue Huiling was unwilling but still followed. Her heart was full of confusion and frustration. Ouyang Feilong had disappeared. Bai He had yet to wake up. And now Bai Yu suddenly appeared in such a dangerous place, pretending to be Bai Hua! Who would think she could make sense of everything right now?!
“When was the last time you drank tea?” Bai Yu calmly poured tea while the other person could not sit still.
“Don’t waste my time now.”
“I’m not wasting your time. I only want you to take a rest.”
A warm cup of tea was extended to her. The dark eyes that gazed at the armored woman were sincere. Her smile was gentle. “Sit down and have tea with me for a little while. And I won’t bother biaojie ever again.”
Yue Huiling’s heart stuttered.
“You...”
That smile...in a time like this… Even while sleeping, you still sent your sister to comfort me.
The slender but rough hand from training with swords reached out and accepted the cup from the woman who seemed to suddenly transform into her older brother. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know.” Bai Yu smiled at Yue Huiling’s scolding. “I should not be the one who comes here. The person who should be beside you right now is my big brother.”
Yue Huiling cast her eyes downward, not accepting or denying Bai Yu’s words. She might not like Bai He, but she could not refuse that Bai He’s gentle smile had given her the willpower to face many things as the sole woman in the army. No matter how much she acted competitive and antagonistic toward him, Bai He still treated her like a younger sister.
On some days that she did not have Ouyang Feilong, Bai He was still there. It was different right now. There was no Ouyang Feilong, no Bai He, only the woman she both hated and admired here in front of her. There might be some positivity left.
“Why did you come here?”
After drinking tea, the burning sensation of worries now turned into warmth. Yue Huiling put down the teacup, and her eyes as she gazed at her younger cousin became softer.
“I came to help you and to receive your help.”
“What does that mean?”
Bai Yu smiled before she patiently explained. “I came to find the commander-general, and I want biaojie to help me.”
Yue Huiling frowned. “What can someone like you do?”
“Someone like me can’t do anything. That’s why I need biaojie’s strength.”
Yue Huiling sighed at the calmness of her pupil. “I know that Wangye will not be harmed. But I don’t know where he is.”
“I will manage that.”
“How will you find the general?”
“First, you have to tell me the current situation.”
Yue Huiling looked at the determination in Bai Yu’s eyes, then decided to explain the situation of the army to her, even though it was a tightly kept secret that could be used against Da Yang if it was known by an enemy. It must be her smile that resembled Bai He’s so much that made Yue Huiling trust her with everything. She did not believe that Bai Yu could help her find Ouyang Feilong, but even so, at least she could share all that she had to carry over the last few days.
“I am sure that Qin Wang will be able to raise the soldiers’ morale.”
“Do you think he’s that capable?”
“The Emperor gave this mission to Qin Wang, not Taizi. Obviously, his majesty sees Qin Wang’s skill and potential. Biaojie, please don’t worry.”
Bai Yu patted the back of Yue Huiling’s hand to console her. “And about the commander general, does biaojie really not think it’s that second prince’s doing?”
Yue Huiling solemnly shook her head. Bai Yu silently admired the woman in front of her who could shoulder such a massive responsibility and still remain calm. It seemed that if she did not meet her biaojie today, that seriousness would be engraved into her beautiful face for a long time. Bai Yu could not treat anyone’s injury like Bai Hua could, but at least she had successfully helped lighten Yue Huiling’s burden today.
“It’s true that the battle that day seemed like Da Chu had come to take our border territory. The commander general had a plan to split us into three groups. One would advance forward to engage Da Chu’s army. But it turned out that they intended to lure Wangye out to the battlefield. Then, they took the opportunity while he was fighting to surround him. My troop was forced to retreat back into Da Yang.”
“Does that mean Wangye and some of the troops were in the middle of Da Chu’s army?”
“Correct. I think it’s strange. Wangye seemed to have already known their plan.”
“Mm.” Bai Yu nodded but did not comment.
“Even if Wangye already expected it, that plan still doesn’t fit that second prince’s personality at all. That’s why I don’t think it’s Chu Zhaoran who is the person behind this.”
“What made you sure of it?”
“I received intel that he was still at Da Chu’s capital. The one leading the army right now is a fake.”
“Before going into battle, did Wangye say anything to you in particular?”
“He talked about biaoge.”
Bai Yu frowned. Did Ouyang Feilong talk about Bai He?
“Wangye and biaoge are on a mission that I’m not included in. I wasn’t allowed to take part. Another thing is that before going into battle, Wangye wrote something on my palm.”
Without waiting for Bai Yu’s question, Yue Huiling turned her palm up and wrote a character on it, replicating Ouyang Feilong’s trace.
“Third?” Bai Yu repeated what Yue Huiling wrote on her palm.
Yue Huiling nodded. “That’s all he wrote.”
“Does biaojie know its meaning?”
“I think I know.” Yue Huiling seemed unsure.
“What is it?”
Yue Huiling lowered her voice. “During his poison training with grandfather, he once said: Truth is untruth, and untruth is truth. If you think the opponent has only two options...”
Bai Yu silently exclaimed, ‘Oh’ before finishing the sentence. “Be certain that he will choose the third one.”
Yue Huiling nodded, confirming Bai Yu’s understanding.
Choosing the third option?
Whether that third option meant Ouyang Feilong’s or the enemy’s, Bai Yu had to find that option no matter what!
“Is there anything else that he said?” Bai Yu asked again, trying to find a clue to that third option. Yue Huiling nodded, recalling Ouyang Feilong’s words before he spurred his horse and headed into battle.
“He said that both Bai He and I must not forget our duties.” Even though she was the only one with him there, he still mentioned Bai He, as if he was certain that the sleeping person would one day wake up and return to his side.
Distance did not lead his trust astray.
“What are you doing here?”
As soon as she entered her tent, a familiar voice from another woman in the army was heard.
Bai Yu curtsied to her older cousin and the unofficial shifu before taking off the veil.
“Bai Hua is treating my brother. I came here in her place in order to follow the royal decree.”
Yue Huiling’s eyes widened. “You’re trying to fool the Emperor?”
“Biaojie, please don’t worry. The Emperor is informed about this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s...” Bai Yu acted troubled, teasing the person who was making a serious face that did not suit someone her age at all. “...I’m afraid biaojie might not believe what I’m about to say.”
“What nonsense is this?” Yue Huiling’s frown tightened. “Say it. I know that you’re not just coming here as a replacement for Bai Hua.”
.....
“How about sitting down and having some tea first?” Bai Yu lightly took her wrist, trying to lead her to the chair. Yue Huiling was unwilling but still followed. Her heart was full of confusion and frustration. Ouyang Feilong had disappeared. Bai He had yet to wake up. And now Bai Yu suddenly appeared in such a dangerous place, pretending to be Bai Hua! Who would think she could make sense of everything right now?!
“When was the last time you drank tea?” Bai Yu calmly poured tea while the other person could not sit still.
“Don’t waste my time now.”
“I’m not wasting your time. I only want you to take a rest.”
A warm cup of tea was extended to her. The dark eyes that gazed at the armored woman were sincere. Her smile was gentle. “Sit down and have tea with me for a little while. And I won’t bother biaojie ever again.”
Yue Huiling’s heart stuttered.
“You...”
That smile...in a time like this… Even while sleeping, you still sent your sister to comfort me.
The slender but rough hand from training with swords reached out and accepted the cup from the woman who seemed to suddenly transform into her older brother. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know.” Bai Yu smiled at Yue Huiling’s scolding. “I should not be the one who comes here. The person who should be beside you right now is my big brother.”
Yue Huiling cast her eyes downward, not accepting or denying Bai Yu’s words. She might not like Bai He, but she could not refuse that Bai He’s gentle smile had given her the willpower to face many things as the sole woman in the army. No matter how much she acted competitive and antagonistic toward him, Bai He still treated her like a younger sister.
On some days that she did not have Ouyang Feilong, Bai He was still there. It was different right now. There was no Ouyang Feilong, no Bai He, only the woman she both hated and admired here in front of her. There might be some positivity left.
“Why did you come here?”
After drinking tea, the burning sensation of worries now turned into warmth. Yue Huiling put down the teacup, and her eyes as she gazed at her younger cousin became softer.
“I came to help you and to receive your help.”
“What does that mean?”
Bai Yu smiled before she patiently explained. “I came to find the commander-general, and I want biaojie to help me.”
Yue Huiling frowned. “What can someone like you do?”
“Someone like me can’t do anything. That’s why I need biaojie’s strength.”
Yue Huiling sighed at the calmness of her pupil. “I know that Wangye will not be harmed. But I don’t know where he is.”
“I will manage that.”
“How will you find the general?”
“First, you have to tell me the current situation.”
Yue Huiling looked at the determination in Bai Yu’s eyes, then decided to explain the situation of the army to her, even though it was a tightly kept secret that could be used against Da Yang if it was known by an enemy. It must be her smile that resembled Bai He’s so much that made Yue Huiling trust her with everything. She did not believe that Bai Yu could help her find Ouyang Feilong, but even so, at least she could share all that she had to carry over the last few days.
“I am sure that Qin Wang will be able to raise the soldiers’ morale.”
“Do you think he’s that capable?”
“The Emperor gave this mission to Qin Wang, not Taizi. Obviously, his majesty sees Qin Wang’s skill and potential. Biaojie, please don’t worry.”
Bai Yu patted the back of Yue Huiling’s hand to console her. “And about the commander general, does biaojie really not think it’s that second prince’s doing?”
Yue Huiling solemnly shook her head. Bai Yu silently admired the woman in front of her who could shoulder such a massive responsibility and still remain calm. It seemed that if she did not meet her biaojie today, that seriousness would be engraved into her beautiful face for a long time. Bai Yu could not treat anyone’s injury like Bai Hua could, but at least she had successfully helped lighten Yue Huiling’s burden today.
“It’s true that the battle that day seemed like Da Chu had come to take our border territory. The commander general had a plan to split us into three groups. One would advance forward to engage Da Chu’s army. But it turned out that they intended to lure Wangye out to the battlefield. Then, they took the opportunity while he was fighting to surround him. My troop was forced to retreat back into Da Yang.”
“Does that mean Wangye and some of the troops were in the middle of Da Chu’s army?”
“Correct. I think it’s strange. Wangye seemed to have already known their plan.”
“Mm.” Bai Yu nodded but did not comment.
“Even if Wangye already expected it, that plan still doesn’t fit that second prince’s personality at all. That’s why I don’t think it’s Chu Zhaoran who is the person behind this.”
“What made you sure of it?”
“I received intel that he was still at Da Chu’s capital. The one leading the army right now is a fake.”
“Before going into battle, did Wangye say anything to you in particular?”
“He talked about biaoge.”
Bai Yu frowned. Did Ouyang Feilong talk about Bai He?
“Wangye and biaoge are on a mission that I’m not included in. I wasn’t allowed to take part. Another thing is that before going into battle, Wangye wrote something on my palm.”
Without waiting for Bai Yu’s question, Yue Huiling turned her palm up and wrote a character on it, replicating Ouyang Feilong’s trace.
“Third?” Bai Yu repeated what Yue Huiling wrote on her palm.
Yue Huiling nodded. “That’s all he wrote.”
“Does biaojie know its meaning?”
“I think I know.” Yue Huiling seemed unsure.
“What is it?”
Yue Huiling lowered her voice. “During his poison training with grandfather, he once said: Truth is untruth, and untruth is truth. If you think the opponent has only two options...”
Bai Yu silently exclaimed, ‘Oh’ before finishing the sentence. “Be certain that he will choose the third one.”
Yue Huiling nodded, confirming Bai Yu’s understanding.
Choosing the third option?
Whether that third option meant Ouyang Feilong’s or the enemy’s, Bai Yu had to find that option no matter what!
“Is there anything else that he said?” Bai Yu asked again, trying to find a clue to that third option. Yue Huiling nodded, recalling Ouyang Feilong’s words before he spurred his horse and headed into battle.
“He said that both Bai He and I must not forget our duties.” Even though she was the only one with him there, he still mentioned Bai He, as if he was certain that the sleeping person would one day wake up and return to his side.
Distance did not lead his trust astray.
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