"My Lord, there is still no news of Miss Jiang," Meng Lie said as he entered the tent, seeing Meng Jiangming standing with his back to him.
Meng Jiangming slowly turned around. His slender figure and handsome face betrayed no discernible emotion. "Did General Xie say anything?"
Meng Lie felt a slight awkwardness. Meng Jiangming frowned. "Speak."
Meng Lie nodded. "General Xie said that this matter arose because of you, My Lord, and should be resolved by you."
A flicker of light crossed Meng Jiangming's phoenix-like eyes. "Just as Xie Yunliu said."
"My Lord, she is just a young lady from the Jiang family. Is it worth it for you..."
Although Meng Lie's words were inappropriate, the Jiang family had been annihilated, accused of colluding with the enemy and treason. Thus, Miss Jiang was also branded a criminal. It was true that the Jiang family and the Duke of Ning's manor had an agreement for Miss Jiang to become a favored concubine, but this was predicated on the Jiang family's prosperity. Now that the Jiang family had fallen and was burdened with such grave accusations, Meng Lie couldn't understand why Miss Jiang was still kept close.
If their Lord fancied her, he would have taken her as a favored concubine upon returning to the capital. But he hadn't, which puzzled Meng Lie.
However, this was a matter between the Duke of Ning's manor and the Jiang family. He was only responsible for protecting his Lord and obeying his commands; other matters were not his concern. Da Feng Novel Network.
Meng Jiangming shook his head slightly and said coldly, "You are mistaken. If this were the capital, I would absolutely not concern myself with the lives of those unrelated to me. But this is a military camp, the domain of the Xie family army. Zhen Guan is not here, Qiguo lies ahead, and the road behind is blocked by heavy snow. How could she, a woman, simply disappear from here?"
"My Lord, you believe there is someone within the Xie family army..."
Meng Jiangming sneered, "What do you think?"
Meng Lie suddenly understood and said, "My Lord sees through it all. Your subordinate is foolish."
"But Miss Jiang is dispensable to you, My Lord."
Meng Jiangming replied, "This is also something I do not understand."
"Unless she chose to disappear herself," Xie Yunliu said, standing in the military tent and smiling at his subordinates.
Xie Wei patted his forehead, suddenly enlightened. "No wonder the young general said this matter arose because of you, My Lord, and should be resolved by the consort."
"But this humble general still doesn't quite understand. Will the consort listen to the general?" Xie Qing asked.
Seeing the confusion on Xie Qing's and Xie Wei's faces, Xie Yu smiled and said, "As the deputy general, I shall enlighten you!"
Xie Wei and Xie Qing shot Xie Yu a glare. "If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"The consort already knows there is a traitor within the Xie family army," Xie Yunliu stated.
Xie Wei and Xie Qing stiffened, looking at Xie Yunliu.
Xie Yunliu sat on the mat. "I still underestimated the consort."
"Young general, you and the consort are evenly matched," Xie Qing said obsequiously.
"Enough of your flattery. It doesn't work on me," Xie Yunliu said coldly.
Xie Qing touched his nose and quietly closed his mouth.
"Xie Wei, how many more days until the snow-blocked road to Jiangnan is cleared?" Xie Yunliu asked, opening the sheepskin map.
Xie Wei replied, "At least three days."
"Xie Qing, how many days can the provisions last?"
"Eight days," Xie Qing said.
"Eight days," Xie Yunliu repeated Xie Qing's words coldly, gazing at the sheepskin map.
Just then, a soldier approached the tent and bowed. "Young general, someone is challenging us from below the city."
"What?" Xie Wei and Xie Qing exclaimed in surprise.
"I'll go take a look," Xie Yu said, stepping out of the tent.
Xie Wei clasped his hands. "Young general, this subordinate will lead the troops..."
"No," Xie Yunliu said.
"But..."
"It seems Miss Jiang's disappearance is related to Qiguo," Xie Qing suddenly said.
Xie Yunliu's eyes slowly turned icy. At this moment, Xie Yu re-entered, his smile somewhat jarring.
"Young general, the challenge from outside is truly... that way..." Xie Yu covered his sleeve, laughing heartily.
Xie Wei and Xie Qing became interested. Xie Wei asked, "Quickly tell us, what did they say?"
Xie Yu coughed and said, "Xie Yunliu is fond of handsome men, otherwise, how could he not have a woman for so long..."
Xie Wei and Xie Qing's mouths twitched. The way Qiguo challenged them was indeed peculiar. They had been challenged before, but it was usually about the Xie family army being cowardly or needing to go home and be grandchildren. But this kind of challenge from Qiguo was truly the first they had heard of it, and it was undeniably amusing.
Xie Yunliu walked out of the tent and saw the soldiers reacting to him like mice encountering a cat. Xie Yu, following behind, laughed merrily. "Young general, after this incident, you've become quite famous."
"Nonsense," Xie Yunliu said coldly, glancing at Xie Yu.
"Young general, aren't you going to listen?" Xie Yu asked.
"I don't have the leisure," Xie Yunliu replied.
"Then I'm going," Xie Yu said, flying towards the direction of the city wall.
In less than half a day, rumors spread throughout the Xie family army that General Xie was not interested in women but in men, otherwise, why would he strictly prohibit the presence of women in the military camp?
They also said that a general in the Xie family army had paid for a woman, but General Xie had strictly forbidden it and punished him according to military law. If he weren't attracted to men, why would he be so strict?
By evening, the rumors had spread wherever they could. Wherever Xie Yunliu went, he felt different gazes. If it weren't for his position as the leader of the Xie family army, they might have stepped forward to question him by now.
Xie Yunliu knew this was Qiguo's strategy, but seeing the soldiers flocking to him still displeased him.
Unknowingly, he arrived before Xue Xingyue's tent.
As he hesitated, the tent flap was suddenly lifted. Xue Xingyue had intended to go out for some fresh air, but upon lifting the flap, she saw Xie Yunliu standing before her tent.
"I..." Xie Yunliu suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Come in!" Xue Xingyue stepped aside.
Xie Yunliu paused for a moment before entering.
Xue Xingyue looked at Xie Yunliu's frosty expression and understood immediately. She had also heard the rumors about Xie Yunliu.
"The rumors... have you heard them?" Xie Yunliu suddenly asked.
Xue Xingyue faltered for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I have."
"What... do you think?" Xie Yunliu lowered his gaze slightly. He truly wasn't attracted to men; he liked women, but how could he prove it?