Chapter 69: Turning Plots Against Plots – A Female Assassin??

Even in this current lull,

based on the Old General’s vast experience, Qian Yuan was expected to launch a counterattack come spring.

But the fighting had only just ceased, and after prolonged combat, the frontier troops were exhausted. With winter dragging on and the heavy snow unrelenting, the grain supplies dispatched from various quarters dwindled day by day.

It would be difficult to withstand the next major battle.

The Old General had repeatedly submitted memorials to the capital, attempting to stockpile provisions for emergencies, but every single one went unanswered.

It was at this moment that Qian Yuan sent an official diplomatic missive to Shang Jing, proposing peace talks.

“Peace talks?! What nonsense!” The Old General cursed upon hearing the news. “Those barbarians from Qian Yuan are full of schemes and tricks! And those fools in the court actually believe their lies?! They should come to the frontier and see the fields littered with corpses!”

But it was too late for cursing now.

The Emperor thought differently.

He listened to the opinions of the court officials and also believed Qian Yuan had been cowed. He issued an imperial decree to the frontier, ordering Qin Yan to serve as the ceremonial escort and welcome the Qian Yuan envoys.

By his calculations, the Qian Yuan delegation should soon arrive at the frontier’s first city.

Facing the Old General’s furious tirade, Qin Yan sat indifferently to the side, wiping down a long sword. The blade was marred with spots and clearly had seen much use.

After the Old General finished venting, he turned to ask Qin Yan, “The decree has been issued. What does Your Highness think? Qian Yuan is surely plotting something this time.”

“Turn their scheme against them,” Qin Yan replied calmly, his voice low and cold. “Escort them properly to Shang Jing, and someone else will have the headache. Not a single tael of what belongs to our army’s grain can be short.”

Whoever started the mess should clean it up. Whoever wanted peace talks should bear the loss—once they truly suffered a deficit, they wouldn’t dare withhold or deduct from the army’s provisions anymore.

The Old General paused, then burst into hearty laughter.

…

Qin Yan led the escort for the Qian Yuan delegation into the city. The journey from the frontier to Shang Jing took half a month, and Xue Cheng grumbled the whole way: “So demanding! Fresh snow water one moment, freshly roasted lamb the next. Do they have a bar of gold hidden in their group or what?!”

Xue Cheng angrily smashed a bowl, but that very night, he discovered it wasn’t gold they had hidden—it was a princess.

This princess from Qian Yuan was far from well-behaved. The group was nearly at Shang Jing when she appeared in Qin Yan’s tent. Spring hadn’t arrived yet, and the night was bitterly cold, but she lay on Qin Yan’s bed in thin silk robes.

Qin Yan was still outside and hadn’t returned to the tent. Gu Changhuai sat inside, eyeing this princess who seemed intent on seduction. He let out a long sigh—talk about good fortune!

However…

Gu Changhuai thought back to Rong Ye’s aloof demeanor and figured this princess’s seduction plan wouldn’t succeed. Otherwise, little Rong Ye, tiny Rong Ye, teeny-tiny Rong Ye would be running all over the place by now, not still single to this day.

Sure enough.

Qin Yan lifted the tent flap. The princess had just flashed a shy smile when the gaze beneath Qin Yan’s mask turned icy. A blanket flew over, wrapping her up, and he tossed her out without a hint of mercy.

Outside, Xue Cheng, who had been hit squarely, shouted, “Assassin!” The princess shrieked, and Xue Cheng hesitated, “Huh? A female assassin??”

Chaos erupted among the soldiers.

From inside the tent, Qin Yan’s voice rang out cold: “Xue Cheng, switch tents.”

He moved to Xue Cheng’s tent, giving the main one to Xue Cheng.

The honey trap having failed, the Qian Yuan delegation behaved themselves the rest of the way to Shang Jing. The beautiful princess appeared dazzlingly before the Xuan Jin Emperor.

This time, it worked.

The old Emperor might have been aged in body, but his heart was still young. He gave Qian Yuan plenty of face and expressed his intent for peace talks, immediately bestowing the title of Noble Consort upon the beautiful princess and carrying her off, leaving the banquet.