Chapter 212

Chapter 212: To Believe or Not

Qi Shu Xian had only spoken a few truths, yet Shang Xing Yu took revenge with such filthy tactics. It was the behavior of a petty scoundrel. Qi Shu Xian disdained getting tangled up with a talentless, shameless dandy like him.

Besides, Qi Shu Xian would lead troops to transport grain to Mo Bei tomorrow, and countless soldiers and commoner would live or die because of it. As for Sheng Zhi Wan… when Qi Shu Xian returned in great victory, Sheng Zhi Wan would naturally see the gap between Shang Xing Yu and Qi Shu Xian.

With that thought, Qi Shu Xian’s eyes turned cold and disdainful as Qi Shu Xian moved to pass by Shang Xing Yu.

Shang Xing Yu swayed a step and held out a folded letter. Shang Xing Yu said, “Wait.”

Qi Shu Xian frowned, not understanding what this meant.

Shang Xing Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth and said, “The Princess told this Prince Consort to give it to you.” He bit down hard on the words “this Prince Consort.”

Sheng Zhi Wan?

Qi Shu Xian narrowed his eyes.

Shang Xing Yu said, “What, Deputy General Qi did not even dare to touch a letter? Were you afraid this Prince Consort would poison you?” Shang Xing Yu reached as if to take the letter back.

Qi Shu Xian reached out and snatched the letter away.

Qi Shu Xian’s tone turned sharp with mockery. “Young Master Shang Er was truly broad-minded as a Prince Consort. You actually delivered a letter from the Princess to another man.” Qi Shu Xian did not open it in front of Shang Xing Yu.

Shang Xing Yu glanced at Qi Shu Xian, speechless. Shang Xing Yu said, “Deputy General Qi was not so dull that you thought the Princess wrote this letter herself, right?”

Shang Xing Yu flicked a hand and turned away.

If the Princess had not refused to let Sheng Kingdom’s soldiers die for nothing, Shang Xing Yu would never have delivered this letter.

Qi Shu Xian stood in place and watched Shang Xing Yu’s retreating back, Qi Shu Xian’s expression unreadable.

After returning to the Duke Residence, Qi Shu Xian was called in by Duke Qi and lectured for a long time. Only after Qi Shu Xian got back to Xiao Lan Courtyard did Qi Shu Xian unfold the letter.

As expected, it was not Zhi Wan’s handwriting.

Zhi Wan’s strokes changed often – sometimes gentle small seal script, sometimes graceful regular script, sometimes loose and flowing cursive. But the writing on this letter was wild and careless to an extreme. It was absolutely not something Zhi Wan would write.

The moment Qi Shu Xian realized it was Shang Xing Yu’s handwriting, disgust rose in Qi Shu Xian’s chest. After reading only a few lines, Qi Shu Xian’s brow tightened even more.

This trip to Mo Bei to transport grain would carry only a small portion from the Capital. The rest would be collected along the route to the Mo Bei border.

The army would travel north and pass six major granaries. They would take some from each granary, and by the time they reached the far north of Ji Zhou Prefecture, there would be enough grain for the entire army.

How much each granary had to provide was set by an Imperial Edict. The edicts were sent ahead of the army by fast riders, so by the time Qi Shu Xian arrived with the troops, the supplies would already be prepared.

Because of that, the route to Mo Bei had been decided after Qi Shu Xian and several important ministers studied the maps in detail.

Yet on that very route – the one they all believed was the safest and most time-saving – Sheng Zhi Wan had marked many places that were easy to set ambushes.

She seemed certain the Northern Di would slip in small squads to intercept their grain supply, and she wanted Qi Shu Xian to lead the army around those areas.

Qi Shu Xian found it ridiculous.

If he followed the letter, how many extra miles would the army have to march? Who would take responsibility for the delays?

More than that, Sheng Zhi Wan was a woman. How could Sheng Zhi Wan possibly understand such things?

Shang Xing Yu was petty and shameless. This letter was probably written on purpose to disturb Qi Shu Xian’s focus.

Cold light rose in Qi Shu Xian’s eyes. Qi Shu Xian stood up and headed out.

Qi Shu Xian still had to tell Sheng Zhi Wan about this letter. Shang Xing Yu was trying to delay military matters for personal grudges. If Sheng Zhi Wan regretted choosing such a man, it was not too late!

“Heir Apparent, it is already dark. What are you going out to do at this hour?” Meng Yang had changed clothes and came in with her cheeks flushed.

The Heir Apparent would march out tomorrow. Meng Yang wanted to use this chance to get pregnant with the Heir Apparent’s child.

But when Qi Shu Xian saw what Meng Yang wore, Qi Shu Xian looked away in disgust.

Lately, Meng Yang did not know what was wrong with her. Meng Yang kept copying Sheng Zhi Wan’s style on purpose or without realizing it.

But Meng Yang did not resemble Sheng Zhi Wan at all.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s face was bright and glamorous. Vivid colors on Sheng Zhi Wan looked like simple accents. On Meng Yang, those colors looked awkward and out of place.

It was like a barnyard chicken wearing a phoenix’s skin.

It made Meng Yang look… cheap and gaudy.

Qi Shu Xian said, “I had things to do.” Qi Shu Xian brushed past her and walked out, then suddenly paused as something came to mind.

Qi Shu Xian asked, “That precognitive dream you had a few days ago – you said I would return in great victory. Was that true?”

“It was true…” Meng Yang lowered her lashes and spoke in a wronged, soft tone.

But Qi Shu Xian had already turned away. Qi Shu Xian strode out without looking back.

At the Princess Residence, Zhang Da saw Qi Shu Xian and instantly raised his guard.

Qi Shu Xian met Zhang Da’s wary stare and felt a stifling pressure in Qi Shu Xian’s chest. Qi Shu Xian still remembered how respectful Zhang Da used to be.

How long had it been since Qi Shu Xian and Sheng Zhi Wan divorced? Zhang Da already dared to lay hands on Qi Shu Xian, and now Zhang Da guarded against Qi Shu Xian like this.

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together and said coldly, “Do not overthink it. I came for serious business, and I need to ask her in person. Go report it. Say that Shang Xing Yu delivered a letter to me today and claimed it was at her instruction. If she still refuses to see me, I will leave at once.”

“The Princess definitely will not…” Zhang Da muttered, then suddenly stopped. Zhang Da called out, “Princess!”

Qi Shu Xian froze.

Zhang Da respectfully opened the door and stepped aside.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood on the tall steps in plain clothes and looked down. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “That letter was indeed something I told him to give you.”

Qi Shu Xian stared, stunned.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “I also studied the maps. Deputy General Qi, this march is different from before. You are carrying a great deal of grain, and if you are ambushed, you will have difficulty escaping.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Everything in that letter was from my heart. Whether you believed it or not is up to Deputy General Qi.”

After speaking, Sheng Zhi Wan turned and walked back inside.

By the time Qi Shu Xian came back to himself, the gates of the Princess Residence were already shut.

The contents of that letter… were they really written by Sheng Zhi Wan?

But how could Sheng Zhi Wan, a woman, know these things?

Qi Shu Xian clenched his fingers into a fist.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood under the heavy, cloudless sky for a moment. After a long while, Sheng Zhi Wan continued forward.

Sheng Zhi Wan had done what Sheng Zhi Wan needed to do. As for the rest, it could only be left to fate.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not carry all of Qi Shu Xian’s responsibility on her shoulders. Every change of power came with blood.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not want soldiers to die, but for Sheng Zhi Wan, this could also be a chance.

A chance to bring the Mo Bei army under Sheng Zhi Wan’s control.

The next day was the second day of the second lunar month. Before dawn, many women gathered at the city gates to see people off.

Qi Shu Xian walked at the very front. Yet none of the people coming toward them were there for Qi Shu Xian anymore.

Qi Shu Xian stared into the morning mist, dazed.

It was as if Qi Shu Xian saw Sheng Zhi Wan again – on the morning Qi Shu Xian left, the day after their wedding, Sheng Zhi Wan had stood outside the city waiting to see him off.

Heaven and earth had seemed endless then, and only Sheng Zhi Wan’s figure had been that clear.

Back then, Qi Shu Xian had thought he would return quickly. Qi Shu Xian would earn military merit for Sheng Zhi Wan, so everyone would know Sheng Zhi Wan was not blind and foolish when Sheng Zhi Wan begged to marry him…

But time had washed everything away.

Qi Shu Xian lowered his eyes and forced down that ache in his chest.

Qi Shu Xian turned, performed the rites, and ordered the drums to clear the way. In an instant, the war drums boomed across the dawn.

At the Princess Residence, Sheng Zhi Wan turned over in a daze. By the time Sheng Zhi Wan fully woke up, daylight was already bright.

Nanny Yu told Sheng Zhi Wan that Young Master Shang Er had sent someone over an hour earlier, saying their planned trip to Chao Ming Temple would be moved to tomorrow-