Chapter 456 It Can't Be This Much of a Coincidence

"What?!

My brother is gone?!"

After Lin Moyuan finished recounting the other reason, Ye Shengxiao exclaimed in surprise.

"No, my brother adheres to military discipline more strictly than anyone. How could he leave the Xiao Family Army in the capital and go missing all by himself?"

Although Xiao Zhanbei had returned to the capital under imperial decree to quell the rebellion, leaving the capital without an imperial order, especially abandoning his soldiers, was an offense punishable by accountability.

His elder brother had been on the battlefield for over a decade. He couldn't possibly not understand such a basic principle, nor could he make such a low-level mistake.

Unless, his brother had encountered some unavoidable predicament...

But who was his brother?

The dignified God of War of Great Xia, someone even His Majesty showed respect to. How could he possibly have difficulties?

While Ye Shengxiao was lost in thought, Lin Moyuan took out a palm-sized wooden box from his sleeve.

"According to the investigators, when General Xiao was interrogating a rebel officer, the other party produced this item, and General Xiao's expression changed drastically.

General Xiao then interrogated that officer alone as per his request.

No one knows what that general said to General Xiao.

The next morning, the army discovered that General Xiao had vanished, and only this wooden box was found placed on General Xiao's bedside."

"And the officer?"

"He committed suicide."

"Tsk, no witnesses, a well-planned scheme."

After Lin Qingge commented, she took the wooden box from Lin Moyuan and opened it.

She found that it contained a grasshopper woven from willow branches?!

"Hey, this looks somewhat familiar~"

Hua Jinrong stared at the grasshopper for a long time, then seemed to have an epiphany.

"My lord, this student remembers.

This student saw it at Dieyi's place. She treasures it greatly!

However, grasshoppers woven from willow branches are not particularly rare items.

Perhaps it's just something similar~"

Upon hearing this, Ye Shengxiao slapped his forehead abruptly, as if remembering something. "Holy crap, no way!"

"No way what?"

"My lord, you don't know, my brother has a fiancée, the daughter of Shi Nai'an, the former prefect of Qingzhou.

My brother doesn't believe his fiancée has died and has been sending people to search for her all these years."

Lin Qingge looked at Hua Jinrong beside her. They both spoke simultaneously:

"It couldn't be that coincidental, could it?"

"It couldn't be that coincidental~"

Lin Qingge had heard about Dieyi's background from Hua Jinrong before, which was why she was so surprised.

"But, this grasshopper appearing on my brother's bedside, does it mean my future sister-in-law is still alive, and that my brother has even met her?

But even if my brother is excited, he wouldn't abandon the Xiao Family Army and elope with his sister-in-law, right?

Could it be that my brother has been single for too long and couldn't wait to take my sister-in-law to the bridal chamber?

But that's not right either. Even if my brother has extraordinary talent and is full of vigor, he can't possibly 'toss and turn' for several days!

He might not be tired, but my sister-in-law might not be able to handle it either!

What's more, my father is still in the capital. If my brother were to get married, he would definitely bring his new bride back to serve tea to the old man!"

...

Feeling as if a wheel had unexpectedly rolled over her face, Lin Qingge forced a smile and curled her lips. "Heh, I think it's fortunate that General Xiao isn't here, otherwise you'd be in for a good scolding, perhaps even a beating."

"My lord, don't scare me.

My brother cherishes my sister-in-law above all else.

If my brother found out, a scolding would be the least of it. He'd skin me alive!"

"Alright, stop with the nonsense.

General Xiao's disappearance must have a reason, especially at this critical juncture. I have a bad feeling about this..."

"My lord, if this grasshopper is the token of love between General Xiao and Dieyi, then General Xiao wouldn't discard it carelessly~

Unless..."

"Unless this grasshopper was meant to be a clue for us?"

Lin Qingge uttered this subconsciously, and a flash of inspiration struck her.

"General Xiao learned the whereabouts of his long-lost fiancée from the captured officer.

Perhaps General Xiao didn't believe it at first, but the other party produced the grasshopper, the token of their love.

In order to see, or rather, to save his fiancée, General Xiao was forced to agree to the other party's conditions.

On the other hand, even though the officer committed suicide, it's hard to guarantee that there weren't spies from the other party in the army, or even around General Xiao.

That spy monitored General Xiao's every move, making it impossible for General Xiao to leave any written message.

But General Xiao didn't intend to just wait for death. He left the grasshopper behind.

Ye Shengxiao, his brother Xiao Zhanfang, is aware of the origin of the grasshopper.

He placed his hope in this unreliable younger brother, but this foolish brother of his thought that his brother had spent a night of passion with his fiancée?"

"My lord, please stop teasing me!

According to your theory, isn't my brother in danger?"

But Lin Qingge listened with a furrowed brow. "Instead of worrying about your brother, I'm more worried about Miss Dieyi."

Ye Shengxiao, still unaware that Dieyi was the sister-in-law he longed for, asked in confusion, "Miss Dieyi? What happened to Miss Dieyi?"

"My lord, since we parted ways in Qingzhou last time, I haven't heard anything from Dieyi.

My lord, as you know the nature of the Tianji Pavilion, Dieyi and others often change identities to gather intelligence, so disappearing for ten days to half a month is common. Thus, I didn't pay much attention.

Looking back, it seems I was negligent."

"No, what I find strange is that General Xiao's engagement to the daughter of the former prefect of Qingzhou, Shi Nai'an, may not be a secret.

However, very few people know about Miss Dieyi's background, and it's almost impossible to track her movements."

Are there spies in the Tianji Pavilion?

Or perhaps, are there spies among them?

Hua Jinrong, who instantly understood the implication, put away her usual playful demeanor and looked unusually solemn.

Ye Shengxiao, who didn't understand what was happening, scratched his head in annoyance. "My lord, Great Xia is so vast, where are we going to find my brother?"

"Perhaps we don't need to look; your brother might appear on his own."

"My lord, what did you say?"

"Nothing. Go and summon Lu Huaiying and Wu Suowei. I have something to instruct them to do."

"Understood, my lord."

After a night of rest, the next day, they continued the previous confrontations.

Based on the previous discussions, it was Lin Qingge's side to call for the third round.

Lin Qingge had originally wanted Lu Huaiying, who was outstanding in all aspects, to call out the challenge. However, Lu Huaiying had been sent out on a mission by her and had not yet returned.

As Leng Ningyue was their trump card, it was still too early for her to enter the fray.

Just as Lin Qingge's attention turned to Hua Jinrong, Yan Tinghao stepped forward proactively.

"My lord, please let me go!"

Since it was a best-of-seven series and they had already won two rounds, even if they lost this round, it wouldn't be a big deal.

With this mindset, Lin Qingge nodded in agreement.

However, when Lin Qingge saw the tall figure holding a long spear and clad in shining silver armor from the King of Wu Cheng's side who came to accept the challenge, she felt that her words might indeed be influenced by something mystical.