Favoring a Hidden Mistress? Engagement Broken-Chapter 77 - 73:

Sometimes she would wonder if this person had figured her out completely.

Otherwise, how could he know that she just loves to see him like this, and always makes her heart itch at the right moment?

Actually, Xie Wanqing had always liked to associate with bold, sunny people since childhood; she didn’t like this shy and bashful nature, whether in men or women.

Yet somehow, this demeanor, which could easily make people feel sleazy if they’re not careful, looks smoothly agreeable when it appears on him.

She supported her chin, teasing softly: "I see you clearly as a dignified and steady personality, why do you always love to be shy?"

Pei Yuqing glanced at her lightly, and said plainly: "Just tease me a few times less."

What Xie Wanqing didn’t know was that Pei Yuqing had suffered from heart disease since he was a child, and had long since learned to stabilize his emotions. Over the years, it was not just shyness; he rarely showed even the simplest emotional fluctuations.

His politeness and gentleness were only superficial; his true inner self was indifferent, a coldness completely different from that of Lu Ziyuan.

Such coldness melted away exclusively in her presence, warming into spring water.

If it weren’t true affection, how could a few teasing words make him flushed red?

Xie Wanqing understood his feelings of course, because she understood, she was so reckless.

......

Yunzhou City.

The sun was scorching, baking the earth, and the camp ordered to quell the chaos was stationed ten miles away from the city gates.

In the tent at the center of the camp, Lu Ziyuan’s deputies were fiercely discussing the details of tomorrow’s confrontation.

The Great Khan Dynasty had been established for over two hundred years; although all the Emperors were diligent and studious, there was never a foolish ruler, the internal decay of the dynasty is still irresistible; furthermore, the barbarian border had begun to stir several decades ago.

To guard the border, the court did not know how many Generals had been lost, in the past two years, the frontier barely achieved some stability, but internal banditry upheavals were frequent.

This time, what emerged was not even a ragtag group of bandits, but a rebellion attempt by Yunzhou’s Military Governor, Lü Ping.

Lü Ping had Hu Clan bloodline, was born into servitude, yet was extraordinarily brave on the battlefield, establishing many meritorious deeds, once chopping off the head of the Qiang Clan leader, deeply trusted by the Emperor.

There were only sixteen Military Governors in all the Great Khan Dynasty, all holding heavy armies to guard areas, truly status of regional overlords.

To ascend to this position as a half Alien Clan member, it was the Holy Emperor’s trust in his talent, unwilling to bury abilities.

Such deep favor, for other subjects, should incite gratitude to tears, eager to repay the country with their lives, but Lü Ping not only didn’t feel grateful, he held military power, day after day, became even more ambitious.

Recently, Qingtian Guard presented a secret memo, saying Lü Ping conspired with outside clans, intending collaboration outside and within to open Yanyun Pass, invite outside clans in, jeopardizing the dynasty.

Yanyun Pass was one of the Great Khan’s four major passes, established over two hundred years without being breached, outside clan cavalry once breaking through this pass, it wouldn’t only be a shameful humiliation, but would directly threaten the safety of the Capital City.

It can be imagined, upon receiving the secret report, how the Emperor would be shocked, but he wasn’t a ruler who would blindly adhere to one side, after receiving the news, immediately ordered Lü Ping to enter the Capital City for duty reporting.

As long as he dared enter the Capital, the Emperor would be willing to trust his innocence.

Perhaps outsiders purposefully misled Qingtian Guard to gain false information, inciting the Emperor’s suspicion, to wrongfully kill a distinguished General, chilling the hearts of all the court’s officers.

After all, such wrongful cases had occurred historically.

But Lü Ping wouldn’t dare come to the Capital.

He claimed small-scale bandits were chaotic in a region of Yunzhou, personally leading troops to suppress them, suffering minor injuries; not only couldn’t he enter the Capital, he requested the court allocate funds to reward ’heroically achieving’ troops.

The Emperor sent out three urgent summons sequentially, Lü Ping replied with this excuse, secretly maintaining frequent communication with Alien Clans.

His intentions were now evident.

Regrettably, Lü Ping didn’t know the grand dynasty might be somewhat powerless internally, but Qingtian Guard’s intelligence was still omnipresent; he believed letters already sent to outside clans were intercepted, presented on the court table.

Lu Ziyuan led troops here this time specifically to personally capture Lü Ping and bring back to the Capital for crime questioning.

Yunzhou City was already surrounded completely by them, only waiting to figure out how to capture him.

In the tent, several subordinates held differing opinions, debating hotly, eager for achievement, one side believed they should launch a strong attack, capture the traitor with thunderous momentum, demonstrating military might.

The other side believed there were at least tens of thousands of civilians inside the city, a strong attack would only lead to war-related sufferings, Yunzhou City’s years of peace would be destroyed in a day, recovering it would require decades at least.

These are all subjects of the Great Khan, not others.

Instead of attacking hard, it’s better to prolong, Lü Ping has no reinforcements, and the city’s resources are finite; there will inevitably be a day they run out, no fear they won’t be eager to come out and fight.

Although doing this, in civilians’ eyes, the court’s momentum in quelling rebellion indeed lacks strength, but can reduce casualties to the minimum.

Subordinates disputed endlessly, and as the lead commander Lu Ziyuan wore informal clothing sitting at the top, slightly closed eyes, not saying a word, there was a faint blue beneath his eyes.

Suddenly, the tent was lifted, the guard at the entrance holding a letter and entering.

"General, a letter from the Capital."

Lu Ziyuan abruptly opened his eyes, took and opened the letter, scanning quickly, carefully reread it, his face indistinct in expression.

From below, a gray-haired general observed, probing: "Any news from the Capital City, General Lu?"

"This is my family letter, unrelated to the war, you continue discussions, I’ll respond to it."

Speaking, Lu Ziyuan folded the letter casually, got up, walking to the corner where the desk was placed.

The letter was sent by Mingjian, stating all was well in the Capital.

That heartless girl predictably did not write back to him.

But it didn’t matter, he wasn’t disappointed, nor would he be angry with her.

As long as she’s willing to wait for him.

Lu Ziyuan picked up the pen and wrote two letters, one for Mingjian, the other for Xie Wanqing.

In the letters, aside from not revealing strategic deployments, even his daily life couldn’t be detailed enough to share with her.

Writing, he suddenly paused, not knowing what crossed his mind, hesitant to set the pen down.

Finally, he pursed his lips, rotated his wrist, swiftly appearing four words on the white paper.

Thinking of you drives me mad...

His writing like his character, imbued with a proud rebellious air, yet each word was conversely gentle whispers.

When the letter was finished, Lu Ziyuan looking at the words on the letter, almost couldn’t believe these affectionate and tender words were written by himself.

He, a man of iron bones, filled with the aura of killing, actually wrote such soft love words.

But hesitating for a while, he still instructed subordinates to send back to the Capital.

Deputy Generals were still arguing, a few hot-tempered ones already quarreling red-faced, loudly causing the corner-sitting Lu Ziyuan’s brows to slightly furrow.