Chapter 210: Leap Into The Abyss

Jiang Xuening was genuinely puzzled for a while. Watching Lu Xian leave with his sarcastic demeanor, she couldn’t help but ponder thoughtfully. She turned her head to look at You Fangyin and suddenly asked, “Did something happen on the road?”

You Fangyin shook her head.

Jiang Xuening scrutinized her: “Then how did you end up traveling together?”

You Fangyin glanced at her, her eyes flickering for a moment before she slightly lowered her gaze and said, “When we first entered Shanxi territory, everything was in chaos. The common people were still catching so-called ‘soul-summoning’ demonic Taoists and monks. Even with money, it was extremely difficult to gather provisions, and progress was much slower than expected. Boss Lu was originally supposed to go ahead to pave the way, but he turned back halfway to help coordinate. I heard he was once a Jinshi scholar and had served in the Hanlin Academy. Some of the officials in Shanxi are his old acquaintances, and with his connections, he could lend a hand. That’s why we came together.”

That made sense.

If Lu Xian hadn’t been so capable and useful, Xie Ju’an wouldn’t have taken a liking to him, and in the previous life, he wouldn’t have risen directly to the position of Minister of Revenue after their success.

Outside the city, there were too many eyes and ears, making it inconvenient to talk.

Jiang Xuening didn’t delve deeper. Seeing that You Fangyin had arrived safely, she felt somewhat relieved.

The preparations for the war were becoming increasingly urgent.

She knew she had no strategic talent; she had merely accumulated some capital over the past two years. But before coming to Xinzhou, she had handed almost all of it over to Xie Wei. Now, the city was filled with clever people, and she felt she couldn’t contribute much. The best she could do was not cause trouble.

So after watching them busy themselves for a while, she went back.

Xie Wei, however, stayed outside the city for a longer time, waiting until Yan Lin arrived from the military camp to arrange the follow-up matters regarding provisions and to have Lu Xian’s people take over the military accounts. Only then did he return to the general’s residence.

In the evening, a simple welcoming banquet was held.

During the banquet, Lu Xian coldly observed the border situation, drank several cups, and after it ended, he couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh as he walked out of the hall with Xie Wei: “For a smart person, there really is no useless move. Even what was originally a bad move, you can turn into a series of ruthless schemes. I, Lu, am truly short-sighted. I thought you were truly blinded by beauty and beyond saving. Who would have thought that, crazy as you are, you haven’t ruined the grand plan.”

Xie Wei said, “What nonsense are you spouting again?”

Lu Xian snorted and didn’t explain.

His words were vague, but he didn’t believe Xie Wei didn’t understand.

Coming all the way to the border to save some so-called Princess Leyang, Shen Zhiyi, was originally a bad move with almost no benefits.

Lu Xian had no doubt—

If there were no Jiang Xuening in this world, Xie Wei would never have made such a foolish decision.

But there was.

However, choosing this path didn’t mean he had abandoned his original plan.

Who said you can’t have both fish and bear paws?

From Jinling to Xinzhou, Xie Ju’an did three things: First, he spread the originally top-secret news of Shen Zhiyi being trapped by the Tatars, causing public outcry and making even the soldiers aware of it. Second, he forged an imperial decree to dispatch Yan Lin to the border, allowing Yan Lin to seize military power with a fake edict. Third, he turned the situation to his advantage, using Yan Lin’s departure from the exiled Huangzhou to obtain a genuine imperial decree, legitimately coming to the border to oversee the military. Not only did he support Yan Lin, but he also stabilized morale and accelerated the plan to attack the Tatars.

If successful, Xie Ju’an would gain the people’s support, putting the court in an unjust position; he would firmly grasp military power, and with Yan Lin’s forged decree, the entire army attacking the Tatars would be a capital crime of treason, whether they knew it or not. With no way out, everyone would be tied to the same boat, likely pushing them to rebel. Third, if war broke out at the border, the Heavenly Sect in the Central Plains would surely rise up, leaving the court with internal and external troubles, making its collapse inevitable.

“The snipe and clam fight, while you, the fisherman, sit comfortably at the border, reaping fame and profit. When they’re exhausted, you march into the Central Plains, capture the capital, and the grand plan is settled. However…”

Lu Xian couldn’t help but glance at him.

“Such a grand scheme is flawless; it just doesn’t win the favor of ladies.”

Xie Wei remained silent.

Lu Xian thought to himself that he hadn’t figured it out yet, and perhaps Xie Ju’an understood it better than he did. His words might just be showing off in front of an expert, so he decided to shut his mouth. When they reached the fork in the garden path, he bid farewell.

The general’s residence was quite large.

His quarters were in the west, so he followed the corridor back.

But when he reached the front of the courtyard, he heard faint voices.

“The border isn’t peaceful either. I think you shouldn’t stay here too long. No matter how the war starts, it won’t reach Jiangnan. Just listen to me, finish up here and go back to Jiangnan or Shu. Lu Xian is Xie Wei’s man; let him worry and work hard. You shouldn’t get involved.”

“What about you, miss?”

“Me? Once we rescue the princess from the Tatars, I’ll slip away too. I can’t be bothered with their mess.”

It was Jiang Xuening and You Fangyin’s voices.

Lu Xian heard his name mentioned and felt quite displeased. He should have stayed hidden, waiting for them to finish talking before walking out to avoid awkwardness. But for some reason, a surge of anger made him unwilling to do so.

So he took a few steps forward.

Jiang Xuening had her back to him, but You Fangyin was facing him and saw him immediately.

Lu Xian said, “Miss Ning is absolutely right. It should be me who worries and works hard.”

Jiang Xuening then noticed him.

But thinking about what she had said, there was nothing to hide. Seeing Lu Xian reminded her of some things from earlier in the day, so she ignored him for the moment and said to You Fangyin, “You go back to your room first. I have some things to discuss with Boss Lu.”

You Fangyin glanced at Lu Xian, seeming hesitant for a moment, but she nodded and left as Jiang Xuening instructed.

Only Jiang Xuening and Lu Xian remained.

Lu Xian’s gaze followed You Fangyin’s departing figure before he turned back to Jiang Xuening with a smile: “What advice does Miss Ning have for me?”

“Advice is not necessary.”

–

The force from his hands suddenly pushed her toward the abyss!

She let out a scream in an instant.

The abyss rushed toward her, and the feeling of weightlessness enveloped her. All her fears were magnified to the extreme, causing her to break out in a cold sweat. Once again, she woke up from this recurring nightmare.

What echoed in her ears, however, was not the words from the dream, but Xie Wei’s mocking remark from not long ago: “If you could understand why you and he didn’t end up together, you wouldn’t be Jiang Xuening, and you wouldn’t be sitting here today.”

Jiang Xuening felt as if she had been pulled out of water.

She weakly covered her face with her hands.

It took her a long while to slowly dispel the deep-seated fear.

The darkness seeped into the room like threads, carrying a slight chill.

The corner of the bed’s gauze curtain was lifted by the wind.

A faint light shone through the window paper, vaguely illuminating the figure sitting by her bed.

His calm voice seemed to blend into the darkness, ethereal as mist: “Did you dream of me?”

Jiang Xuening was startled!

Hearing the familiar voice, she lowered her hands and carefully peered into the darkness, finally making out the figure. For a moment, she felt as if her heart had been seized, too terrified to speak.

Xie Wei, who had arrived at some unknown time, simply gazed at her and repeated, “Did you dream of me?”

The remnants of the nightmare still lingered.

Jiang Xuening could hardly believe this man was sitting by her bed in the middle of the night: “Xie Ju’an, how did you—”

But Xie Wei’s hand gently touched her cheek, resting on her brow as he said, “Ning’er, Shen Zhiyi is a member of the royal family. If she dies, so be it. What does it have to do with me? I’m starting to regret it.”

His fingers felt slightly cold.

Jiang Xuening shivered.

But he said nothing more. After a long while, he slowly withdrew his hand, stood up, and walked out.

The wind blew in, causing the gauze curtain to sway gently.

Outside, the cold moonlight shone like frost.

A deep, resonant horn sounded in the distance, echoing across the land, adding a touch of solemn, war-like intensity to the silent, cold night!

Jiang Xuening hugged the brocade quilt, only then remembering—

Tonight, the war had begun.

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