"Elder General, I found a suspicious person less than ten miles outside the military tent."
The Elder General looked up and said, "Bring him in."
When the man was dragged in, the Elder General almost spat out his tea.
The man was stripped bare, shivering, and had clearly been out in the cold wind for a long time.
His captor said, "When I caught him, he was tied to a tree."
"Who are you?" the Elder General asked.
The man looked up, shivering, and said, "Elder... Elder General, don't you recognize me?"
The Elder General took a closer look and was stunned. "You... aren't you the envoy sent by the Han Kingdom?"
The envoy almost cried. He said stiffly, "Your men stripped me and forced me to teach them a few phrases of my language."
The Elder General's gaze grew cold. He asked, "What did that person look like?"
The envoy gritted his teeth and said, "It was a woman." A woman who looked delicate but wasn't.
The Elder General's eyes turned cold. With a look, the general behind the envoy understood and struck the envoy with a hand chop, knocking him unconscious.
The envoy fell to the ground.
There were no women in the military camp except for the Empress of Huangze. The Elder General frowned, lamenting that none of them were trouble-free.
He wondered how someone who seemed so intelligent could do such a foolish thing.
"Father, Miss Feng..." Yuan Zhao walked in from outside the tent. Seeing the envoy lying on the ground, he seemed to understand.
He knelt on one knee and said, "Father, let me lead the troops to rescue them!"
The Elder General looked up at Yuan Zhao and said coldly, "If the two countries go to war, do you know the suffering that will befall the common people?"
"Father, are we just going to stand by and watch Miss Feng and Ling'er fall into the hands of the Han people?" Yuan Zhao asked urgently.
"Wait a little longer." The Elder General did not believe that the Empress would truly put herself in danger.
"Father..."
"Withdraw..." the Elder General said coldly.
"Yes." Yuan Zhao clenched his fists and retreated.
Chu Ling'er woke up to find that she was not bound. Someone walked into the tent, and she instinctively flinched back, covering herself with the blanket.
"Ling'er, it's me..."
Chu Ling'er was startled. She pulled back the blanket and looked up to see that the face, which had belonged to someone from the Han Kingdom, had changed into a familiar one.
"Sister Feng?" Chu Ling'er exclaimed in surprise.
Xue Zining nodded and stepped forward. "It's me."
Chu Ling'er felt a pang of disappointment, as she had expected it to be her brother Yuan Zhao.
"Don't be afraid, Ling'er. I will definitely get you out of here," Xue Zining said, thinking Chu Ling'er was scared.
Chu Ling'er shook her head. "I'm not afraid. It's just that I don't know how I'll face Brother Yuan Zhao when we get back."
Xue Zining was taken aback. "What happened between you and young General Yuan?"
Chu Ling'er bit her lower lip, her voice filled with indignation. "Brother Yuan Zhao said he treats me like a sister."
"Ling'er, you're still young and don't understand romantic love. When you're older, you'll understand what you truly desire."
Chu Ling'er shook her head. "I know that in this life, in my entire life, I only love Brother Yuan Zhao."
"Even if he doesn't love you?"
Chu Ling'er trembled, her eyes cast down. She softly uttered a single word, "Yes."
"Silly Ling'er, is it worth it for someone who doesn't love you?"
"It's worth it, because he's the one you love with all your heart."
Xue Zining was stunned. She reached out and stroked Chu Ling'er's head. "One day, you will surely move the person you love."
Chu Ling'er nodded.
Suddenly, there was the sound of many footsteps from outside the tent. Xue Zining's gaze turned sharp. "I'll go out and see."
She walked out of the tent and saw many Han soldiers approaching.
Xue Zining stepped forward and asked, "What happened?"
One of them replied, "My lord, Prince Xi Xia wishes to escort the prisoners to Xue Ling Pass."
Xue Zining was taken aback. This was an execution of prisoners on the battlefield to demoralize the enemy.
This might be their chance to be rescued.
Xue Zining watched as Chu Ling'er was led away and nodded.
Chu Ling'er was brought before Prince Xi Xia again.
"I will kill you shortly. Since you refuse to negotiate with me, you are of no use to me," Han Xi Xia said coldly.
Chu Ling'er trembled.
Han Xi Xia drew a knife and placed it at Chu Ling'er's throat. He said coldly, "Shall I kill you now?"
Chu Ling'er's body stiffened.
Han Xi Xia leaned forward, sniffed her scent, and a smile spread across his lips. "Such a delightful scent. Wouldn't it be a shame to kill you? Why don't I have a taste?"
Chu Ling'er shivered all over. "What... what are you going to do?"
"What do you think?" Han Xi Xia roughly tore at Chu Ling'er's clothes.
"No, no..." Chu Ling'er cried out in terror.
Suddenly, a dagger was placed between Han Xi Xia's hands, stopping him once again.
Han Xi Xia looked up and gazed at the figure in the distance, smiling with sinister charm. "Miss Feng, you've finally decided to reveal your true face."
Xue Zining tore off the human skin mask on her face and said, "Let her go."
Han Xi Xia pushed Chu Ling'er away. Xue Zining's silver whip wrapped around Chu Ling'er and pulled her to her side before Han Xi Xia's men could reach them.
She took off her outer clothes and draped them over Chu Ling'er.
Chu Ling'er hugged her legs, trembling uncontrollably.
Xue Zining stroked Chu Ling'er's head. "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Chu Ling'er looked up and saw eyes so clear they seemed to purify the soul. Her fearful heart felt as if it had calmed down.
Xue Zining looked up at Han Xi Xia and said coldly, "How did you recognize me?"
Han Xi Xia chuckled softly, a sinister and cold smile gracing his lips. "The envoys I send never return."
Xue Zining was surprised. "Then how did you know their conditions?"
Han Xi Xia looked at her, a half-smile playing on his lips. "I don't need to know. I can make judgments directly."
So, Xue Zining realized she had outsmarted herself.
"Miss Feng, will you surrender, or will you fight my men?" Han Xi Xia asked, sitting on a chair brought by someone behind him.
Xue Zining scanned her surroundings. She knew that if she wanted to leave today, it would be impossible.
"I can stay, but I have one condition."
"What condition? I'll agree to it," Han Xi Xia said without hesitation.
Xue Zining was momentarily surprised. "I haven't even said what the condition is."
Han Xi Xia smiled. "Miss Feng is a clever woman."
"Release Chu Ling'er, withdraw from here, and I will stay," Xue Zining said slowly.
"I agree."
"Prince Xi Xia, you cannot do this," someone behind him quickly said.
Han Xi Xia turned back and said coldly, "Are you the prince, or am I?"
Silence fell behind him.
Han Xi Xia looked up. "I have agreed. And you, Miss Feng?"
"I'll stay..." Xue Zining said word by word.