"What do you mean by inhuman? My brother is just cold on the outside and warm on the inside, alright?" Ye Shengxiao corrected, having already learned from Hua Jinrong that Die Yi was her sister-in-law. She asked, puzzled, "Right, sir, how did you save my sister-in-law? No, how were you prescient enough to guess my brother was here?"
"The Fourth Prince's rebellion was deliberately orchestrated by King Wucheng, so it's not surprising that the Fourth Prince's subordinates had King Wucheng's spies. Furthermore, the timing of General Xiao's disappearance was too peculiar. Just in case, I ordered Lu Huaiying and Wu Suowei to sneak back to the Northeast Grand Camp and rescue Lian Chengyi, who was imprisoned in Baosha Temple. Young General Lian grew up in the Northeast Grand Camp and was thoroughly familiar with the situation there. With a little inquiry, he found the whereabouts of Miss Die Yi and those children. King Wucheng had deployed almost all the experts from the Northeast Grand Camp for this wager. With the help of Young Master Lian, the former young master, Lu Huaiying and his men easily rescued Miss Die Yi and the children. Without Miss Die Yi as a bargaining chip, General Xiao would have been fortunate not to have struck King Wucheng with his spear, let alone continue serving him."
"Sir is a master strategist. However, I am a little curious why you were so certain that Young General Lian would help you?" Ye Buqun said, fanning himself with a folding fan, his movements and tone mirroring his master exactly.
"This is mainly thanks to Master Yan."
"My father? Sir, what does this have to do with this subordinate's father?"
"If Master Yan and Young General Lian had not reached some kind of agreement, how would Young General Lian have gone to the dungeon to save Constable Yan, you?" Hearing Lin Qingge's words, a hint of surprise flashed in Master Yan's usually calm eyes.
"But sir, didn't Young General Lian go to save you?"
"Incorrect. I went to save Constable Yan, you. So, rounding up, Young General Lian also went to save Constable Yan, you." Lin Qingge was not so narcissistic as to naively believe that Lian Chengyi had some unknown feelings for her, which drove him to eagerly go to the dungeon to rescue her. If that were the case, Lian Chengyi could have, and would have had the ability to, rescue her and Leng Ningyue from Zhou Zeli when they left Master Yan's residence. But Lian Chengyi had not done so then. However, that night, Lian Chengyi went to the heavily guarded Baosha Temple, right under King Wucheng's nose, to rescue someone, risking angering King Wucheng. Unless he had a severe illness, there was only one explanation. That is: there was a reason that forced him to do so. And the only people in the entire Northeast Grand Camp who could exert pressure or negotiate with him were King Wucheng himself, Hua Jinrong, who was the Tenth Prince and Right Prime Minister, and Master Yan. It is possible that both of the latter two were involved. As for what Lian Chengyi sought... 'Father-son affection?' Lin Qingge's voice was very soft. Master Yan, who heard clearly, looked even more astonished. He stared at Lin Qingge for a long time and affirmed, "You are indeed very intelligent. Your ability to see through things at a glance is no less than your brother's."
"You do know my brother?" Although Lin Qingge used a question, her tone was very firm. But Master Yan did not answer Lin Qingge's question. He cleared his throat and continued the previous topic: "You guessed correctly. Lian Chengyi agreed to help us in exchange for sparing King Wucheng's life."
"Father, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word!" Ignoring his son, who was scratching his head, Master Yan sighed, "The world is unpredictable. I never expected that the ill-intentioned King Wucheng could raise such an insightful son. That boy knew his father was unlikely to succeed. He agreed to lend us a hand, but the condition was that no matter what King Wucheng did, we must not harm King Wucheng's life. However, for that fellow Xia Yingze, the taste of his son stabbing him in the back must be extremely unpleasant." Lin Qingge looked at Master Yan, who spoke calmly with a slight upturn of his lips, and strongly suspected he was gloating.
"By the way, Master Yan, are you really going to let King Wucheng go?"
"Of course. Not only will we spare his life, but we will also let him live to a ripe old age. After all, death is too easy. Close your eyes, kick your legs, and you're gone. For Xia Yingze, living and watching that position not belong to him is the greatest punishment."
...
Although the sun was shining brightly, Lin Qingge felt a chill all over her body at this moment. Despite this, she couldn't help but ask, "Master Yan, you're not because King Wucheng...?"
"Sir, don't just talk to this subordinate's father, quickly think about who to send out for the next round!"
"What's there to think about? We've already won three rounds. As long as we win one more round, we can finish early. So, for this final round, Madam should naturally appear and sweep everything away!"
Meanwhile.
Upon receiving the news, King Wucheng was so angry that he smashed the teacup in his hand on the spot. As the saying goes, one must guard against thieves day and night, but it's hard to guard against those within one's own household. He never imagined that his flawless plan would be ruined by his own son! This unfilial son had completely changed after a trip to the capital. Could it be that he had been assimilated by spending too much time with Yan Xiuping's son?
"Uncle, nephew knows you dote on nephew and can't bear for nephew to be upset by losing the wager~ But Uncle, you don't have to go to such lengths, going to great trouble to invite General Xiao, only to let the dignified God of War of Xia make a perfunctory appearance and then hand over the victory again. Uncle, you don't need to be so troublesome; you could have directly forfeited and conceded the next match~"
"Xia Chengye, you don't need to pretend to be virtuous after benefiting! The first three rounds were just a minor test of skill; this king was letting you, a junior. From now on, this king will get serious!" King Wucheng uttered harsh words and then called his attendants to give them a series of instructions.
Regardless of how annoyed and angry King Wucheng was, the third round ended inexplicably with Xiao Zhanbei's voluntary concession. The competition continued, and it was King Wucheng's side's turn to issue a challenge.
"Amitabha! The fourth round will be undertaken by this humble monk. I wonder which of you on the opposite side is willing to come and fight?" As the voice fell, a person dressed in coarse blue cloth, with a head so shiny it reflected a faint halo, and a handsome face like that of an immortal from a painting, strode into everyone's sight.
"Sir, I'm afraid we can't let Madam sweep everything away in this round." With that, Murong Bai, who bore a striking resemblance to the newcomer, slowly stood up.