Green Mountain-Chapter 603 - 460: Hostage

Kill them all.

These four words were said casually.

In the morning mist, the armored soldiers swung their long spears, ready to go for Chen Ji’s neck to execute him.

The crescent blade of the long spear drew closer, while the startled magpies among the branches spread their wings and flew away, hovering above the mountain forest.

Zhang Xia lay on the ground, suddenly gripping the fallen leaves on the ground, ready to cover for Chen Ji and help attract attention.

Chen Ji’s Brass Sword Seed slithered out from the patterns, lurking at the cuff. His target was only the middle-aged man; if he could successfully assassinate this person, he’d have a chance to survive.

This was the plan the two discussed along the way — to cooperate and behead instantly upon encountering danger. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Meanwhile, Zhang Baishi prepared to feign a retreat to attract attention, while Hong Zuer locked his energy on the old man and Princess Liyang, ready to exchange lives.

This was the synergy from years of partnership between the two.

At the critical moment.

"Wait!"

With the word spoken, the crescent blade of the long spear stopped an inch from Chen Ji’s neck, from extreme movement to stillness.

The armored soldier turned his head: "Your Highness?"

Princess Liyang lifted her skirt as she walked over, speaking leisurely, "Lord Jiang, these people are useful to me."

The old man lowered his eyelids, his tone still indifferent: "Kill."

Princess Liyang raised an eyebrow, "Lord Jiang won’t even ask why I want to keep them?"

The old man chuckled distantly, "Your Highness should refrain from meddling, having been chased out of the Jing Dynasty, you should stay quiet."

Chen Ji’s heart stirred.

An envoy and a princess, these two leading figures of the delegation seem to be at odds? Even speaking with underlying hostility.

And this Princess Liyang, beloved by the Emperor of the Jing Dynasty, sent to the Ning Dynasty for marriage, seemed not so simple.

At this point, after being ridiculed, Princess Liyang did not get angry, instead she smiled, "Lord Jiang, even Yuan Cheng was captured alive and taken to the Ning Dynasty; being chased out of the Jing Dynasty isn’t really something disgraceful. It can only be said that everyone underestimated Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin."

The old man with the surname Jiang slightly shook his head, "I never underestimated Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin, three years ago I said you should marry Lu Jin to sow discord between them; if you had listened, this situation wouldn’t have arisen."

Princess Liyang smiled faintly, "Lord Jiang, turns out the kingdom of men ultimately depends on the bodies of women to sustain. But you still underestimated Lu Jin; If Lu Jin were susceptible to discord by women, he wouldn’t be Lu Jin. Being content with coarse meals for over a decade shows he doesn’t seek wealth and women but the world."

Chen Ji was astonished.

This Princess Liyang was almost his aunt?

The old man with the surname Jiang sneered, "Of what use are your words now? The victor takes it all, and the outcome is settled. You should peacefully marry into the Ning Dynasty, living a life of wealth, while I need only to bring back the Council Chief Executive Officer, avoiding further complications."

Princess Liyang’s expression turned serious, "What you should be doing now isn’t sending me to that Ning Dynasty Emperor who only seeks the Dao but rather supporting Lu Jin. When Lu Jin gains confidence, he’ll eventually expose his fangs; Yuan Xiang will naturally fear him, achieving my father’s purpose."

The old man with the surname Jiang remained unmoved, "Your Highness, no matter how many reasons you give, I will not send you back to Shangjing. His Majesty also doesn’t wish for you to return to Shangjing causing trouble."

At this moment, Princess Liyang somberly said, "Causing trouble? If you had listened to me earlier and killed Lu Jin with me, none of this would be happening now. But for your indecisiveness, how could I fail so many times? If not for Jiang Liuxian of your Jiang Family reaching the Seeking Dao Realm and guarding him, I wouldn’t have failed either!"

Chen Ji was even more astonished.

He had heard from Si Caogui earlier that Lu Jin had faced over a dozen assassination attempts over the years. He wondered how there could be so many assassinations within the Jing Dynasty court, all crafted by Princess Liyang?

Princess Liyang said sternly, "Lord Jiang, do you still recall that my brother is the only one eligible to inherit the throne? I’ve been by his side all these years. If you’d listened to me and discarded grudges, called Jiang Xianzong back to Jing, how could this be happening today? You cannot win against Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin! Yuan Cheng being captured has already shattered his authority; even if he returns, what can he do!"

The old man with the surname Jiang chuckled, "Your Highness speaks eloquently, but I won’t debate this with you."

With that, he looked at the middle-aged man: "Kill."

"Wait!"

The Princess Liyang intercepted again, staring at the Jiang elder: "I told you not to kill, not out of a woman’s kindness, but how do you know Jiang Xianzong is surely loyal to the Jiang family? You’ve kept him in the border town all these years; how do you know he bears no hatred in his heart? With him seated in Baidadan City as the Military Governor of Western Capital Road, yet he turns a blind eye to us being assassinated without sending anyone to greet us, isn’t it letting you and me die on the road?"

The Jiang elder replied unhurriedly, "He is ultimately a member of the Jiang family."

Princess Liyang smiled, "Isn’t Jiang Liuxian by Lu Jin’s side also from the Jiang family?"

The Jiang elder’s face darkened, "No need to sow discord, Your Highness. The troops in Baidadan City cannot be mobilized recklessly, or he would be handing leverage directly to Lu Jin. If he truly parted with the Jiang family, by now the Life-catcher General would have surrounded us. All Your Highness is saying is simply trying to seize every opportunity to create change and regain freedom. I watched you grow up; how could I not understand you?"

Princess Liyang shook her head, "With so many assassinations along the way, how could anyone tell who’s with whom? Since Lord Jiang bears the heavy responsibility of peace talks, naturally he should be more cautious. What if Jiang Xianzong also wants you dead? Instead of trusting him, why not use these people to test Jiang Xianzong first?"

The Jiang elder fell into deep thought, not knowing what they had experienced along the way, ultimately being swayed by Princess Liyang.

Chen Ji silently observed the Jiang elder, noticing his robe covered in dust and his hair bun somewhat disheveled, like a startled bird.

Meanwhile, Princess Liyang, her dress was also covered in mud, and her embroidered shoes were frayed at the edges, yet her demeanor remained calm.

The Jiang elder had sallow skin, a long beard hanging down to his chest and abdomen, and wore a black headdress, presenting an air of seniority and respectability.

Princess Liyang had a thin face but with noble bone structure, a red mole dotted between her brows, in harmony with her stunning hairpin. Yet due to the travel, the red mole was blurred, and a few strands of the stunning hairpin came loose.

The Jiang elder remained silent for a long time, "How do we test?"

Princess Liyang’s gaze swept over Hong Zuer, Zhang Baishi, Ah Sheng, Chen Ji, Zhang Xia, Xiao Man, and the little monk, finally pointing at Zhang Xia and Chen Ji: "Take out your travel permits."

Zhang Xia and Chen Ji took the travel permits from their sleeves, and Princess Liyang held them, looked, and casually said, "From Longliu Alley in Anle Square? What a coincidence, I specifically went there to eat buns before. What is that bun shop called again, Li Ji, right?"

Zhang Xia humbly replied, "Reporting to Princess, it’s Lin’s Bun Shop."

Princess Liyang smiled, "What fillings do you and your wife prefer?"

Zhang Xia replied again, "Reporting to Princess, I like pickled cabbage, and my husband likes lamb, but lamb is a bit expensive at twelve coins apiece, so he doesn’t indulge often."

"No problem, seems like you are genuine commoners." Princess Liyang suddenly changed the subject: "How many children does the shopkeeper have?"

Zhang Xia calmly said, "Two. The eldest is already seventeen and is with the Right Brave Guard, hanging on the shopkeeper’s lips every day."

Princess Liyang nodded and said to the Jiang elder, "These people are fine. This couple leaves the wife as a hostage; I am similar in age to this woman, so I will disguise as her to enter the city."

After saying this, she pointed at Hong Zuer, "Jiang Que, being of similar age, will disguise as this man to sneak into Baidadan City with me."

She then pointed to Ah Sheng, "Then dispatch their people to inform Jiang Xianzong, while Jiang Que and I observe in secret. If Jiang Xianzong intends to support us, he will openly mobilize troops using the Commander’s Seal. If he has thoughts of opposing the Jiang family, he will act covertly. Then we can decide based on Jiang Xianzong’s attitude."

Chen Ji’s heart tightened. Princess Liyang intended to use them as a pathfinder to test if Jiang Xianzong remains loyal to the Jiang family.

If Jiang Xianzong betrayed the Jiang family, those sent to inform him would likely meet a grim fate.

Moreover, this would separate him from Zhang Xia, making rescue difficult.

Absolutely not.

Suddenly, Chen Ji knelt on the ground, panicked, "Your Highness, with your noble status, how could you risk such dangers? What if someone restrains General Jiang Que, and if someone captures you, how could we answer to Lord Jiang?"

Princess Liyang’s eyes widened, staring at Chen Ji.

She always felt that someone of Chen Ji’s status shouldn’t have said these kinds of words, claiming concern for her being captured, yet vaguely hinting to Jiang Xiansheng that Jiang Que alone might not guard her well.

Princess Liyang carefully scrutinized Chen Ji, trying to discern his true intentions.

But before she could figure it out, the Jiang elder, Jiang Xiansheng, laughed, "Your Highness has a good scheme, merely another attempt to flee. You’d better stay by my side. If you escape, no need to mention others; my head wouldn’t suffice as compensation."

Jiang Xiansheng pointed at Hong Zuer and Zhang Baishi, "These two seem like pivotal figures in the grain team, they stay as hostages, while Jiang Que and Jiang Yun disguise and sneak into Baidadan City, observing in secret. With Jiang Que and Jiang Yun’s skills, these people won’t cause any waves around them."

Princess Liyang remained calm, not displeased at having her plan exposed, just slowly and sarcastically said, "Let it be according to Lord Jiang’s arrangements, just don’t let me die without knowing the reason."

She then turned to Chen Ji and Zhang Xia, implicitly criticizing, "Clever and considerate, unwilling to leave the wife as a hostage, risking one’s life to speak out. Even commoners know how to protect their women, yet supposedly educated court figures don’t know how to protect women but instead use them to exchange for men."

Chen Ji bowed his head and cupped his hands, "Your Highness misunderstood."

Princess Liyang said with a half-smile, "But I’ve been wandering the world, couldn’t bear to see others blessed. Since you’re reluctant to leave your wife as a hostage, you shall stay as a hostage, and let your wife go to Baidadan City... Surely with you here, she would be willing to fight for her life."