Chapter 75: Turmoil

  "Miss!"

  Before returning to the resting camp, Chu Li's personal bodyguard Le Song suddenly rushed forward and said urgently: "After Your Majesty returned, you didn't see you, waited for a long time and didn't see you come back, just now already led the horse to go out of the camp to find you."

  "What?" Qing Xia was taken aback. He hadn't been gone for long, so how could he have caused such a big commotion? Hurriedly, he asked: "Where is Xu Shenling?"

  "Xu Shenling followed Your Majesty out of the camp and told me to wait for you here."

  "Alright, I know." Qing Xia turned around and walked towards the direction of the stables. Le Song hastily stepped forward two steps, blocking Qing Xia's path: "Your Majesty has ordered that if the young lady returns, she is to wait in the main tent, and I will send someone to notify Your Majesty."

  Qing Xia was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and walked into the large tent.

  As soon as the curtain was lifted, the good Longtan fragrance came rushing in, and the air had a warm temperature. Qing Xia took off the cloak on his body and sat down honestly beside the stove, supporting his cheeks and slowly sighing.

  There is still so much more about Chu Li that she doesn't know.

  The Xilin family of Heng City is also one of the eight great families, and they made their fortune in the medicinal herbs industry. There are many famous doctors in the family. The current head of the family, Xilin Yu, is a renowned divine doctor in this generation, along with the witch doctor from Nanjiang and the hidden doctor Shang Qiu, known as the three medical saints of this generation. The difference is that the Xilin family is loyal to Nanchu, and it is the only medical family that has set foot in the mortal world, not mysterious like the witch doctor tribe, nor secretive like the Shang Qiu clan.

  Heng City's neighbor, Qun Li, it seems that the two months when Chu Li went missing in the Qun Li refugee camp were spent with the Xi Lin family. Moreover, judging from Xi Lin Yu Jiao's appearance, eight out of ten chances are that she has romantic feelings for Chu Li. This way, one of the Eight Great Houses now has a vulnerable spot to break through.

  He picked up the red pen on the small table and drew a stroke on the paper.

  The southern barbarians will not last long, the Zhū family of Língnán is a friend rather than an enemy. The Western Black Deer's momentum has already gone, and the remaining Yuèpō Xiāo family gradually withdrew from the power vortex of Southern Chǔ due to the decline of Xiāo Guìfēi.

  For a more thorny and pressing one, it is the Li family of Liyuan South Mansion.

  At the thought of Mrs. Luo Lan, who was nearly sixty and still didn't know what shame was, Qing Xia's anger ignited, for dealing with this kind of woman was always her strong suit.

  A cold gust of wind suddenly blew in from the direction of the door, and Qing Xia was pulled into a cold embrace before she could even turn her head. Chu Li's face was icy, but his breathing was still warm. He held Qing Xia's body tightly, pressing her head firmly against his chest, with such great force that it almost seemed like he wanted to crush her into his own body.

  "Chu Li." Qing Xia called out softly in a probing tone, stretching out her hand to gently push against his waist. "What's wrong?"

  "I thought you'd run away again." A low voice sounded above me, with a hint of soft fatigue.

  In an instant, it was as if she had drunk a large mouthful of hot soup. Qing Xia leaned into Chu Li's embrace, listening to the fierce gusts of cold wind outside, and suddenly felt a few degrees of warmth and spring-like atmosphere.

  "I'm here, I won't go anywhere." He comfortingly patted Chu's icy hand. This stubborn man, since when did he start being so attached to himself? Or was it always like this, and the two of them just didn't notice?

  Last night, it snowed, which is the first snow of this year in Henan County. As soon as winter arrived, the fatigue of Nanjiang was clearly revealed. The Southern Chu dispatched 30,000 troops to guard the eastern border and cut off the supply line of Dongqi's grain and military supplies to Nanjiang, resulting in a sudden shortage of food and supplies in Nanjiang. Yesterday, the people of Nanjiang dared to plunder the grain that Xichuan had lent to Southern Chu, which enraged the people of Xichuan. Although Yan Hui strongly opposed going to war with the people of Nanjiang, the Great Emperor of Xichuan still disregarded Yan Hui's opposition and dispatched two routes of heavy cavalry to attack the rear of the Nanjiang barbarians, while the Southern Chu army attacked from two sides, causing the Lu Dan people to be defeated like a mountain collapse, fleeing northward.

  Who would have thought that the Great Qin did not open its city gates, but instead beheaded the leader of the Lu Dan people who came to negotiate? It is said that the envoy of the Great Qin has already set out on the road to Southern Chu, and Qin Zhiyan personally guards the border. The flying pigeon sends a letter saying that absolutely no southern barbarian will be allowed to enter the territory of the Great Qin.

  The three major powers unite to deal with the Nanjiang people, which is beyond the expectation of the Eastern Qi. After weighing the pros and cons, they issued a document announcing their withdrawal from the internal war in Southern Chu and sent out a letter of punishment, stating that they would stand on the side of Southern Chu and eliminate the rebels who endangered the domestic peace of Southern Chu.

  The original allies suddenly stretched out their sharp claws, with knives aimed at themselves, and the situation of the southern barbarians who were at a loss and leaderless can be imagined. Defeating the enemy is certain, the difference is only a matter of time.

  In the blink of an eye, the situation changed dramatically, and everyone's attention suddenly focused on Nan Chudai Huang Chuli, waiting for him to use what means to deal with the rebels in the southern border.

  However, unexpectedly, Chuli did not make any deployments and only ordered the northern camp soldiers to stand by in place, dispersing the various vassal kings who came to ask for war.

  And so, what was originally a volatile situation came to a standstill. Everything seemed to have been frozen in place, without a single sound.

  Qing Xia walked out of the camp gate wearing a large cloak, and due to her persistence, Chu Li obediently returned to his own central military camp to rest, fortunately this man did not make any excessive demands on her.

  Qing Xia let out a soft sigh, this was also good, after all, there were too many entanglements, and it wasn't a good thing for the future of both people.

  It's already this cold in November, the winter of ancient times without the greenhouse effect is really hard to bear. Can't help but think of those people from southern Xinjiang who slept outdoors on the icy grasslands, and suddenly understood why Chu delayed sending troops.

  After this battle, the Southern Chu suffered a great loss of vitality. If they were to entangle with the southern barbarians again, it would only result in an even greater cost. The southern barbarians had no way out and had just lost their leader, so under the circumstances of having nothing to lose, they might still achieve a victory through desperation. However, apart from this point, Qing Xia vaguely felt that Chu Li was brewing something big and waiting for an opportunity to burst forth.

  So many hardships and humiliations can be endured, Chu Li is absolutely the most patient person in this world.

  This kind of person is like a tiger, who will not easily make a move, but once they do, it must be with lightning-fast means, one move to defeat the enemy to death, without any chance of buffering.

  "Miss!" The black-clad guards stood watch around Qing Xia's tent, Chu Li hadn't restricted Qing Xia's movements, probably knowing that restrictions wouldn't work anyway, so he'd simply taken a more open approach, and could even openly dispatch people to guard her, which was better than her sneaking off unnoticed. Qing Xia looked at the black-clad guards who were greeting her, and felt more and more that Chu Li was really good to her.

  "Miss, it's dark at night, where are you going? Let me help you carry a lantern."

  It's a very grand and majestic reason, can't even find an excuse to refuse. Qing Xia's light smile, "Do as you please."

  The young soldier, only eighteen or nineteen years old, had a red face under his cold helmet.

  "Let's go," Qing Xia smiled faintly and headed west, the young black-clad guard hastily following.

  "Miss, walk further to the side, and you will be out of the camp."

  "En." Qing Xia nodded, distractedly responding. They soon arrived at the place where Lin Mu Bai had burned paper earlier. She hung her head, using the dim light to carefully examine the ground.

  "Miss, what are you looking for?" The young black-clad guard asked in puzzlement.

  "So big, yellow-colored beads." Qing Xia made a circle with her index finger and gestured in front of him.

  "What kind of bead?" The black-clad guard asked: "A very valuable pearl?"

  "I don't know if it's valuable or not," Qing Xia shook her head, "it seems to be called a dust-repelling bead, and there's a small insect inside."

  "What's a Dust Pearl?" The black-clad guard hesitated for a moment before saying, "That's not something valuable either, you can buy it anywhere. Clean Bugs are afraid of the cold, in this chilly weather, they might have frozen to death already."

  "Are you cold?" Qing Xia was taken aback, her hands slowing down, and she bit her lower lip lightly with her teeth, pursed the corner of her mouth, and smiled: "It's okay, as long as I find the pearl."

  The young black guard looked at Qing Xia's expression, slightly stunned, thought for a moment, and still asked: "Is the pearl very important to you?"

  Qing Xia crouched on the ground, searching around in the place of her memories, and finally shook her head, but didn't say another word.

  "Who's there?" A group of night watchmen suddenly approached, Qing Xia was startled and thought it would be better not to show her face, otherwise it might spread to the ears of that cautious young master of the Xi Lin family.

  "I'll go back to the camp first, don't tell them I'm here." With that, he turned around and disappeared into the darkness.

  The black-clad guard was taken aback, watching Qing Xia's agile figure disappear into the darkness, and was somewhat perplexed. However, he still turned around and walked towards the group of patrolling soldiers, in order to create an opportunity for Qing Xia to leave.

  "General Li!" A low cry suddenly came from the front, Qing Xia's footsteps paused, her brow furrowed in thought, and then she lightened her steps, cautiously approaching the front.

  "What brings you to me at this time?" The familiar voice sounded again, and the first walking dog under the hand of Chulang's wife, who was knocked unconscious by two heads last night, frowned and said in a low voice to the soldier wearing ordinary soft armor in front of him.

  "The Grand Elder entrusted me with this message: if you don't issue grain again, the Southern Frontier Army will surely mutiny and cannot be delayed any further."

  "I'm not at the Liyuan now, how can we entrust this matter to others? Moreover, all the checkpoints are guarded by the Iron Guards of the Zhongjun Dabao, even if our Liyuan's Panli Jun is willing to turn a blind eye, it's hard to get it out. I'm also helpless."

  "You didn't say it that way at first, and the deposit has already been received. If the Southern Border Army loses, do you think you can stay out of this?"

  "What do you mean by this?" Lei Can shouted angrily.

  Qing Xia's heart skipped a beat, could it be that Li Yuan was secretly transporting grain to the rebel army? Just as she thought of continuing to eavesdrop, a sudden urgent footsteps came over, followed by a loud shout from the guard: "Someone is over there!"

  It wasn't just Qing Xia, those two people were also shocked. Qing Xia knew that she wouldn't be able to hear anything valuable anymore, so she turned around and retreated, but as soon as she took two steps back, the footsteps behind her caught up with her in a life-or-death manner.

  "Run over there!"

  Qing Xia's eyebrows furrowed. It wouldn't be a big deal if they were discovered by them, but if the people of the Lei Manor found out that she had figured out their secret of colluding with the enemy, it would definitely stir up huge trouble.

  Her mind racing, she lifted the curtain of a white canopy beside her and thought of hiding inside.

  "Ah! Who's there!" A low cry suddenly came over.

  Before she could regain her composure, she had already buried herself in a warm chest. Qing Xia was shocked and suddenly lifted her head, only to find herself staring into a pair of bright, jet-black eyes.