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Finest Servant Chapter 612
🕑 Added 2023-11-01 09:24:37 +0000 UTCChapter 612 Negotiations
Xu Zhiqing's brows were deeply furrowed as she entered the central military tent. The moment she stepped in, Gao Qiu and a few others looked anxiously at her from a distance. Gao Qiu hastily nudged Hu Bugui who was next to him, "Old Hu, go quickly and ask Miss Xu if there's any news of Brother Lin. We need to know something, whether he's dead or alive. This is driving me mad!"
Hu Bugui glanced in her direction and shook his head in disappointment, "What's the point in asking? Haven't you seen the advisor's expression? If there were any news about General Lin, wouldn't she be the happiest one among us?"
As expected, Xu Zhiqing seemed lost in her thoughts, almost walking into a nearby felt tent. Gao Qiu couldn't help but sigh.
Hu Bugui was brushing a blood-sweat horse with a horsehair brush, a treasured steed that Lin Wanrong had personally handed over to him before they left the capital. Among the hundreds of thousands in the army, this was the only one, an undeniable prized possession.
Gao Qiu touched the horse's smooth mane, "Old Hu, do you think that if this blood-sweat horse mates with one of our Great Hua horses, they would produce an exceptional foal? One with Turkic blood and Great Hua lineage."
"Of course," Old Hu patted the horse's back, chuckled twice, and said proudly, "This idea was proposed by General Lin himself; how could it be wrong? Just wait, by next spring we'll see some foals."
"Really?" Gao Qiu nodded thoughtfully, "What if Brother Lin were to have children with Yueya’er? They would be even more remarkable, wouldn't they?"
Hu Bugui paused, then burst into laughter; as he laughed, his eyes reddened.
In the central military tent, General Li Tai, whose hair had turned white with age, was pacing back and forth with a worried expression. It seemed like he was grappling with some vexing problem. Xu Zhiqing discreetly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and asked, "Marshal, you summoned me?"
"Zhiqing, your timing is perfect," the Marshal handed over a golden silk booklet and sighed, "It concerns our negotiations with the Turks. The Emperor's imperial decree has arrived."
Xu Zhiqing opened the booklet and quickly glanced at it. The imperial decree was simple and clear, with just three words: "Lin San decides!"
Miss Xu's face turned pale, and she was on the verge of tears, "Doesn't His Majesty know that he—"
Li Tai shook his head, "Princess Chuyun is pregnant and due next month; she can't be agitated. The matter of Lin San must be kept secret. I have sent a confidential memo to His Majesty, and as far as I know, only he is aware of this matter in the court. I just don't understand why he would issue such a decree?"
Suddenly recalling that Lin Wanrong was about to become a father, Xu Zhiqing could no longer hold back her tears, which silently covered her cheeks.
"Zhiqing—" the Marshal sighed deeply, at a loss for how to console her.
"It's alright," Xu Zhiqing hurriedly wiped her tears and closed the decree, "In my view, the meaning behind His Majesty's decree 'Lin San decides' is clear. We must find him, whether he's alive or dead."
"Whether he's alive or dead?" General Li Tai frowned, "If Lin San is still alive, then naturally, all will be well, and he should lead the negotiations. But what if he's not—"
"That's why it read 'Lin San decides'—the fate of all the Turks rests solely on him!" A glint of icy light flashed in Xu Zhiqing's eyes as she clenched her teeth and spoke.
"What a notion, 'Lin San decides!' The Emperor wants to determine the fate of the Turks based on whether Lin San lives or dies. If Lin San is gone, then these Turkish captives, whether they're Young Khan or the Right Prince of the Turks, will lose their reason for living. Great Hua would spare no expense to fight the Turks to the end."
"The Emperor is truly enraged," Li Tai nodded slightly. "Zhiqing, do you think Lin San is still alive?"
"He must be. He's too crafty to—" Miss Xu lowered her head, choked with emotion.
Li Tai laughed, "Exactly. Lin San is always laughing and joking, and has never been at a loss. If you say he's dead, I won't believe it for a second."
Xu Zhiqing bit her lip, "We've left the Turks hanging for over a month. If we keep delaying without giving them an answer, it could backfire. Now that the imperial edict is issued, why don't we open negotiations with them? We could alternate between talks and pauses. On one hand, we can wait for news of Lin San; on the other, we can gauge the Turks' strength and intentions. Giving them a mix of hope and fear will deter them from restarting hostilities easily. What does the Marshal think?"
"Very well, let's proceed in that manner!" Li Tai hummed heavily. "Even the Emperor has made up his mind. If Lin San doesn't return, the Turks will pay in blood!"
...
"You're taking back your move again?! That's not allowed!" A soft, indignant voice rang out as a delicate hand swiftly reached out, grabbing the offending hand that was trying to switch chess pieces. She rolled her eyes at him, clearly annoyed.
"Ah—Sister, you've misunderstood me. I'm just retracing my steps, trying out a different sequence of moves for experimentation," he explained.
"That's still taking back a move! I'm counting, you know. This is the tenth time!" The Fairy playfully slapped his palm.
"Really, the tenth time? I distinctly remember it being only the eighth time!" He grinned mischievously as he took the chess piece back. "Life is already uninteresting enough when you can't turn back time. If even a chess game won't allow it, what's the point of living? Can I take it back, Sister?"
This man could even take back a chess move with such righteousness and sentimentality. The Fairy laughed and pushed the chessboard forward. "No more, no more. You taught me how to play this Great Hua chess, and yet you still can't beat me!"
The thief chuckled and grasped her hand, "That's because Sister is so smart!"
The Fairy tucked him in, leaped out of bed, and gently adjusted the wick on the dim oil lamp, brightening the room somewhat. She peered outside, taking in the dilapidated courtyard, the bolted door, the mud walls, and the dark-tiled roofs. The distant sounds of dogs barking, footsteps of night wanderers, cries of babies, laughter from neighboring couples—everything felt so real. She then glanced around the room—simple furniture, teapots on the wall, porcelain vases with flowers, dragon-and-phoenix pillows. Every stitch on the rascal's clothes was placed by her own hands. Everything looked so vivid, but it all felt so surreal in her eyes.
Was this all real? She touched her flushed cheeks, stole a glance at the thief, her shyness mixing with an indescribable tenderness.
"Staying up past midnight, idly tapping chess pieces under the lamplight. The life of a recluse is truly extraordinary!" Lin Wanrong let out a long sigh, his hands cradling his head as he gazed at the ceiling, a faint smile on his lips.
"You're a fake recluse. Hiding here and there, yet you've chosen to reside in Xingqing." Ning Yuxi poked his nose and giggled as she snuggled next to him, looking around the room. Every little thing in their surroundings was the result of their joint efforts. A faint mist of tears welled up in her eyes, "Thief, can you believe this is really our home?"
"As humble as this cottage may be, it shelters us from the wind and rain. This is our home. I could spend my lifetime here," he said, pulling her into his arms, intoxicated by the fragrance of her hair.
"Spend your lifetime here?!" Ning Yuxi chuckled, "Who was secretly writing letters to his family today?—Eldest Miss, I miss you! Ning'er, have you been painting? My precious Qiaoqiao, do you miss me? Yushuang, have you grown again?—The way you talk could make anyone's teeth ache."
Naming so many women in one breath, Ning Yuxi felt slightly annoyed and tightened her grip on his hand.
Lin Wanrong sighed deeply, "I do miss them. I've been away for several months with no news. The letters they've sent me have probably piled up. If news of my death reaches them... it's unthinkable. What worries me the most is Qingxuan, she's due next month. How can I not worry?"
Mentioning Xiao Qingxuan made Ning Yuxi's heart waver. After a long pause, she softly caressed his hair, "Tomorrow morning, we'll find an inn. I'll make sure your letters are sent back promptly, so they don't worry. Longing is not easy for anyone."
"Ah, you're so good to me," Lin Wanrong said, burying his head into her bosom, tears of gratitude in his eyes.
How soft! Overwhelmed, he gently blew on the two soft mounds.
His flushed cheeks, pressed against her chest and sliding from side to side, made Ning Yuxi's heart race. "Tsk," she flicked him on the waist, "You're still recovering from internal injuries. Don't get any funny ideas."
"What are these funny ideas? I don't understand!" Lin Wanrong widened his eyes, feigning innocence, "Since I can't move around freely, you can, can't you?"
Knowing his nature all too well, Ning Yuxi smiled and showed her silver needle. Lin Wanrong immediately nodded, "Alright, you've been taking care of me day and night, you must be exhausted. I should look up the definition of these 'funny ideas' in the books myself, so you don't have to explain."
Seeing his disappointed expression, Ning Yuxi's cheeks flushed, "You fool. Why gamble with your health? What's meant to be yours will always be yours; where could it go?"
‘I like the sound of that,’ Lin Wanrong thought as he obediently lay on her chest, keeping his body still—though his hands started to wander!
‘Can't even be mischievous,’ he thought. A few vigorous moves, and his entire body would ache as if it had fallen apart! Only his hands could afford some freedom of movement.
‘You can't hit him. You can't scold him. And yet, you have to cherish him like a treasure. Touching even a finger of his makes you ache to your core. What can I do?’ The Fairy, her face flushed, shook her head. "Thief, if you're going to desert, then do it decisively. Go straight back to the capital. That would be straightforward. But look at you now, running around without actually leaving Xingqing."
"Sister, don't keep pointing out my flaws," Lin Wanrong made a grimace. "That hurts, you know!"
"You scoundrel! After spending so much time with you, I've come to discern the true meaning behind your words," Fairy pinched him hard on his back, huffing, "I'm reminding you! Do you know why you lost at chess earlier? It's not that you can't beat me; it's because your mind is wandering, making you lose your footing at every turn!"
He nodded earnestly, resting motionless against Fairy's chest, his wandering hands finally stilled, securely covering a soft curve.
"Playing the victim now, are you?" Ning Yuxi's face flushed, her body tingling, as she spoke exasperatedly, "Enough of your nonsense. I have a question. That day in the palace of the Turks, you could've captured Yujia, so why didn't you?"
"Sister, why ask about such dull matters? Why not just sleep?" Lin Wanrong lazily shook his head, rubbing against her chest.
"Sleep can wait. Answer my question first," Fairy's cheeks reddened.
Lin Wanrong looked up, his eyes blank, and sighed, "It's simple. If we captured her, we could never come back."
"Why? Wouldn't capturing both the Great and Young Khans of the Turks be good?" Fairy asked, puzzled.
Lin Wanrong shook his head with a wry smile, "That's why, Sister, I want you to be a fairy. You're not suited for these cunning schemes. Think about it. Yujia has only a few months left to live. If we captured her, along with the Right Prince already in our custody, who stands to gain the most?"
"The Left Prince of the Turks!"
"So, if you were him, what would you do?"
"Are you suggesting—seize the opportunity to wipe everyone out?" Fairy exclaimed, "Wouldn't that mean we'd perish alongside Yujia?"
Lin Wanrong nodded, "Exactly. He could pin all the blame for the slaughter of the Great Khan and Right Prince on our Great Hua, who would miss a golden opportunity like this? Who would let it pass? Without these impediments, the Turks would unite even more quickly. Within two or three years, the border would still be ablaze with war."
"On the plains, the only person who genuinely cares for Salmu is Yujia. Only with her around would Batur dare not act rashly. We could then safely cross the plains. Also, Salmu is in my hands. If the negotiations between the two nations go well, we can ensure at least twenty years of peace at the frontier."
Ning Yuxi murmured, "And what if negotiations fail?"
"If they fail? It doesn't matter," Lin Wanrong spoke indifferently. "We've captured the Young Khan and Tursun, and have safely returned. The Great Khan of the Turks has only three to four months left to live. When the time comes, both the Great Khan and Young Khan will perish anyway, and the Turks will still fall into Batur's hands. The battles that need to be fought will still happen; the only difference is that we won't have sacrificed ourselves on the plains. We would have gained."
Hearing his analysis, she finally understood the intricacies. Fairy sighed softly, "Always thinking ten steps ahead! No wonder you feel tired. You and Yujia are very much alike."
"Yes, there's no difference between her and me," Lin Wanrong sighed tiredly.
A pang of heartache washed over the Fairy as she gently stroked his hair. "I've heard that the negotiations between Great Hua and the Turkic Khanate have already started, somewhere between Wuyuan and Bayanhot. Don't you want to go and see—"
A soft snore interrupted her. Looking down, she found him already fast asleep.
—---
On one side, a verdant expanse of grassland; on the other, a rolling desert. Where the two met, they stretched endlessly toward the horizon. Between Wuyuan and Bayanhot, a few hundred miles were filled with the clash of swords and the neighs of warhorses. Both Great Hua and the Turkic Khanate had amassed over 200,000 elite troops each. The Turkic warhorses were tall and powerful, appearing like a desert storm ready to be unleashed at any moment. In contrast, Great Hua's forces were impeccably organized, with more than forty upgraded cannons arranged in battle formation, prepared to fire. The two armies were separated by fifty miles, yet their mutual hostility was palpable.
At the border between the two nations, Great Hua's skilled craftsmen had erected miles of wooden tents that extended from Great Hua's desert to the Turkic grassland. From a distance, it appeared like a thin line.
Inside the tent, despite the oppressive heat of July, an array of fruits and tea was laid out. The aromatic scents filled the air. If one ignored the clear dividing line down the middle, it would seem like a friendly gathering between two nations.
According to the agreement, the elite troops from both sides had retreated fifty miles from the border. Each side had sent ten negotiators and about twenty guards, none of whom were allowed to carry weapons. The total number of people present was less than a hundred.
The Turkic representatives looked particularly sincere. Lu Dongzan and Batur led their entourage, all of whom were wearing loose clothing to signify they carried no hidden weapons.
Upon seeing the approaching representatives from Great Hua, Lu Dongzan walked up to greet them, placing one hand on his chest and bowing. "General Li, Advisor Xu, Lu Dongzan greets you. This is my Turkic Left Prince, Batur."
Batur, a hulking man with a fierce demeanor, glared at the Great Hua delegation and grunted. General Li replied, unfazed, "Ah, you're General Batur? Were the tens of thousands we annihilated in Wuyuan under your command?"
Batur's expression changed, just as he was about to erupt in anger, a soft humming sound reached his ears. His face tightened, and he remained silent.
Both sides entered the tent. Lu Dongzan gestured for General Li and Advisor Xu to sit, but he and Batur remained standing.
"Master Lu Dongzan, General Batur, why aren't you sitting?" Miss Xu asked with a smile.
The two Turkic dignitaries shook their heads slightly, placing a single palm on their chests as they bowed.
Their entourage moved aside, revealing a slender figure standing silently in the middle. She said nothing, but the white streaks at her temples appeared as pure as the highest-grade cotton on the grasslands.
