"You wish!"
As Song Qingchao finally caught her breath, she shot this phrase back. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Bai You'an, on the other hand, was being affectionate.
"Just book it first. I'm worried someone else will snatch you away."
Song Qingchao had learned her lesson. She couldn't afford to be caught in such a situation again.
Otherwise, she'd be completely consumed by Bai You'an sooner or later.
She was here on official business, not for intimate moments with Bai You'an.
Song Qingchao sat up.
"Book what? Get up quickly."
She urged Bai You'an while tidying her clothes.
"You still haven't told me why you followed Hong Niangzi up here."
Bai You'an leaned to the side, looking content.
"The reason I followed her up was in the hope that you might be here."
He looked at Song Qingchao with sparkling eyes.
As if appreciating all the beauty in the world.
"Although they had other matters to discuss with me, I'm happier to have met you."
Song Qingchao just wanted to roll her eyes at him.
She had lost her mind to risk coming up the mountain to save him.
And ended up walking right into a tiger's den. Truly...
If she had another chance, Song Qingchao would definitely not have followed.
"Then what exactly did Hong Niangzi want with you?"
Bai You'an gave a hum and then sat up seriously.
"The Bai family guards the northern frontier, and the Song family guards the southern barbarians. As they say, 'Two generals, one south, one north'."
Song Qingchao nodded, indicating she knew all this.
Then Bai You'an took a map from the table.
He circled the areas of the southern barbarians and the northern frontier.
"Do you see anything?"
Song Qingchao looked closely. "Although there are still soldiers stationed in both places, there are no longer any great generals."
She quickly realized, "The north and south are lost, only the west remains. The east faces the sea, and although there have always been Wokou raids, fortunately, the Great Yuan navy is prosperous."
Bai You'an agreed with a nod.
He shifted and sat next to Song Qingchao, one arm around her waist, the other gesturing on the map.
"The Northern barbarians have always harbored ill intentions. A few days ago, I discovered that the Northern barbarian's eldest prince had gone to Shuiyun Jian. I intended to observe for a few more days to identify his contact, but after the murder case occurred, he vanished as if evaporated. Chaoxiao, is Wan Yan Xiyin with you?"
Song Qingchao: "..."
You really can guess.
She had wondered why Shuiyun Jian took the blame for her back then.
So the mastermind was right here.
Digging a pit and waiting for her to jump in.
But Song Qingchao still nodded honestly.
Now was the time to exchange information.
Without needing many words, the two of them knew what the other was thinking.
To be honest, after going through everything, the shadow of revenge in her heart had been smoothed over by hardship.
As long as the Emperor was a good Emperor.
She only wished for justice.
As for those who framed her family, she only needed personal revenge.
One was a family matter.
But if war broke out, it would be a national affair.
The people were already suffering enough.
She could not be the one creating more suffering.
But if war was unavoidable, and there was still time to remedy it, she would still be willing to take a gamble.
"Since he is with you, I can rest assured."
Bai You'an seemed relieved.
Song Qingchao could feel his relaxation.
"I also know where his hiding place is. If my guess is correct, there will be extremely rich supplies there."
Bai You'an was a little surprised.
"That's great, where did you get all this information?"
Song Qingchao curled her lips. "I'm very capable."
She pointed to the location of the Northern barbarians on the map.
"I might know why they targeted my family."
"Why?"
Song Qingchao lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the map.
"The Great Yuan's military deployment is very clear. The northwest is filled with small foreign states. Because there are so many countries, the Great Yuan Emperor feared they would form alliances, thus stationing many generals and having large-scale garrisons. The northwest, due to constant trade, rarely even experiences unrest. The soldiers there mostly deal with one or two cases of illegal crossing, hence they are numerous but weak."
Her finger then slid to the southern barbarians.
"And the southern barbarians are guarded by my Song family. Because it was conquered by my family, and due to years of guarding, the Song family army is very familiar with the southern terrain. My father strictly managed his troops. Even if he left Chang'an, his subordinate deputy generals remained in the southern barbarians, and there were no major issues. The current Emperor feared my father's influence would overshadow his own, which is why he recalled him. Ostensibly, our whole family moved back to Chang'an for my recovery, but in reality, it was imprisonment."
Song Qingchao said so much in one go.
The melancholy in her heart gradually surfaced.
She missed her father.
But knowing her father was still alive, hope reignited in her heart.
As long as he was alive, there was hope.
"Although my father is no longer in the army, his reputation remains. If he were given another army, he could train another Song family army."
Bai You'an nodded. "Master indeed has this ability."
"It is also because of this ability that my family suffered misfortune..."
Song Qingchao sounded a bit dejected.
A genius perishing due to their talent, how ridiculous.
Bai You'an seemed to understand her emotions and gently ruffled her hair.
"If the Northern barbarians were to start a war, the best solution at the moment would be to appoint Master as the commander and send him to reinforce the northern frontier."
"As long as my father arrives, the Northern barbarians will not succeed."
Song Qingchao was puzzled. "But how did the Northern barbarians get news from Chang'an and manipulate the court to put my family in such a deadly situation?"
Song Qingchao added, "I know that Minister Wang acted maliciously because he wanted military power, but how is it that so many people acted at the same time, and even the Emperor agreed... This is what I find most incredible."
The Emperor Uncle she remembered would never do such a thing.
This time, it was Bai You'an's turn to be silent.
"From beginning to end, it was Minister Wang who pushed the entire affair, but he was also being used. As for the others, they were merely following the trend. But if the Emperor had no intention to kill, even countless memorials could not have taken your father's life, do you understand, Chaoxiao?"
"Everything depends on human effort. Although everyone was a catalyst, ultimately, it all depends on the person who makes the decision," Bai You'an said.
"But..."
"Chaoxiao, there are no 'buts'," Bai You'an comforted her. "I never told you because I was afraid you would break down like this. Listen to me, your father is not dead yet."
"Then why would the Emperor issue such an order?"
A hint of disdain appeared in Bai You'an's eyes.
"It's the checks and balances of those in power. He feared your father would rebel, yet he couldn't lose him. So he accepted the favor offered by the ministers, domestically imprisoning your father to deal with future contingencies, and externally announcing the death of the Marquis of Zhennan to suppress the ministers. He didn't want anyone to die, but the events completely exceeded his imagination."
Song Qingchao said hatefully, "Playing with fire leads to self-immolation."
"As for your mother... it was both an accident and not an accident..."
Bai You'an looked at her like this, and his heart ached.
He had always hesitated to tell her the truth precisely because of this.
"Chaoxiao, let me answer your questions one by one. Do you know where Teacher's wife's body is?"