Meanwhile, on the other side.
The madam of the brothel, having shaken off Song Qingchao, felt a sense of relief, as if she had narrowly escaped danger. She knew from the start that this young master was not to be trifled with.
From the moment he entered, this young master harbored ill intentions. Having spent so much time at Shuiyun Jian, she had seen all sorts of people in this northern desert. Moreover, those in her line of work were naturally highly perceptive. Her master had recently instructed her to pay close attention to new faces, which made her particularly cautious.
She hurried along, finally slipping into a small courtyard. The gatekeeper seemed to know she was coming, as the gate opened silently, allowing her passage. Inside, Bai You'an was reclining on a couch, draped only in a large cloak. His dark hair cascaded over his chest, exuding a languid and unrestrained air.
"Master," the madam said, bowing respectfully and not daring to look too closely. "Your subordinate is fearful, but felt the situation was urgent, so I ventured here."
"Mmm..." Bai You'an brushed his hair aside, propping his arm on the table and massaging his temples. "Speak."
"As per your instructions, master, I have been observing and scrutinizing new faces today. I have noticed an increasing number of Northern Barbarians, and they are not here merely for trade."
"Oh?" Bai You'an raised an eyebrow, his voice steady and commanding, different from before. "Whose people are they?"
"According to my investigation, they appear to be the people of the Northern Barbarian Crown Prince."
Bai You'an was not surprised by this answer. It was about time for the Crown Prince to make his move. This Crown Prince, it was said, would be one of the masterminds behind the wars that erupted five years later. He had been sent away from the capital during his youth, but this experience had forged a fierce spirit within him.
The Khan's favored young prince, using the pretext of the Empress's passing, had sent spies and servants into Ling Shi Valley, intending to gauge the temperament of this Crown Prince who had been missing for over a decade. However, the stated purpose was a mere facade; their true intention was to find and kill him. If the Crown Prince had been easy to deal with, he would have perished in the jaws of Ling Shi Valley's wolves years ago and would not still be alive and well. Had the young prince not harbored murderous intent first, the Crown Prince would not have harbored his subsequent ambitions.
This Crown Prince first found a way out of Ling Shi Valley, and then, with ruthless efficiency, gradually eliminated two of his brothers within three years, ultimately ascending to the throne of the Northern Barbarians through patricide. He then spent two years consolidating his power and winning over the nobility. These were not the most significant points. The root cause of the subsequent wars lay with the hostage sent by Da Yuan to the Northern Barbarians.
The Crown Prince and the hostage had been in a secret alliance for years. Each had their own objectives. The hostage wished to use the Crown Prince to facilitate his return to his homeland, help him ascend the throne, and offered five cities and tens of thousands in tribute annually. The Crown Prince, however, harbored wolfish ambitions. A wolf cub raised among wolves would not abandon a flock of sheep before them for just a bite of meat. He exploited the hostage's desire, and after sending the hostage back, he obtained various military secrets, stirred up rumors of ill omens, and plunged Da Yuan into widespread panic. He learned that Da Yuan's old emperor was obsessed with the pursuit of longevity and secretly sent him numerous Taoist priests and fatal elixirs. The collapse of Da Yuan was inextricably linked to this Crown Prince.
"Your subordinate believes the Crown Prince will likely infiltrate Mo Bei soon."
Bai You'an's expression turned serious. "Explain."
"Today, two peculiar individuals arrived. One was like a jade-faced young master; though he appeared harmless, I believe he has already grasped the general operations of Shuiyun Jian in a single night. The other carries a long saber at his waist, and judging by his physique alone, one can tell he has practiced martial arts for many years. The daytime informants did not report any strangers, so it is unlikely that such individuals would appear at Shuiyun Jian without reason." The madam hesitated, then continued in a low voice, "Your subordinate attempted to have them stay the night, and indeed, these two did not refuse. Moreover, it seems they are searching for someone. In my humble opinion, these two might be the hostage's people."
What the madam said made sense, but until the Northern Barbarian Crown Prince appeared, he could not act rashly. It was like catching a turtle in a jar; success was only achieved upon capture. Otherwise, not only would their efforts be in vain, but they would also alert the enemy. Shuiyun Jian's years of cultivation would be wasted, not only squandering the foundation of his ancestors but also derailing all his plans.
"I understand. You may return and keep those two at Shuiyun Jian for now, do not act rashly. I will send people to assist you. If the Crown Prince appears at Shuiyun Jian, notify me immediately and prepare the surrounding defenses."
"Your subordinate understands."
"Alright, it's cold at night, take a hot water bottle with you when you leave."
"Thank you, master."
After the madam left, there was no movement from within the room. Eventually, the lamp was extinguished, and a sigh dissipated into the vast expanse of snow. In this life, he did not wish to be as extreme as he was in his previous life. The enemies of the Bai family were few, and his only regret was towards the Song family. His wish for this reincarnation was to nip the future wars in the bud and then spend quality time with Song Qingchao and Song Qingmu, siblings. However, the more he understood Song Qingchao, the more he realized he had been wrong in his previous life. When his adopted father told him that the Song family had met their misfortune because of him, the guilt within him grew immensely. The internal torment made him unable to face Song Qingchao, yet the constant longing tore at him like flesh, leaving him emotionally drained. He wanted to see her, but dared not. He could only use Zuo Suiran as a guise to convince himself that he could not go to her. But this was ultimately self-deception.
Mo Bei was originally the territory guarded by the Bai family. It was home to the Bai family's hundred-year foundation. Although the Bai family was gone, a small portion of what their ancestors had accumulated was passed down to him. Otherwise, he would not have been able to raise an army so quickly in his previous life. Therefore, he was familiar with Mo Bei. He knew every hidden path here. He could meet Song Qingchao by avoiding everyone, but he could not avoid his conscience. He feared the look in Song Qingchao's eyes when she saw him. Even if the matters of the Song family were not his fault, they had originated because of him.
Another sleepless night passed. Bai You'an simply sat on the bed. Memories of meeting, getting to know, and falling in love with Song Qingchao flashed through his mind. They were childhood sweethearts, yet they did not see each other for years due to their separation. Upon meeting again, not only did they not recognize each other, but they even harbored aversion. After enduring various suspicions and hardships, they fell in love again, only for his adopted father to reveal such a colossal joke to him. All his schemes were merely for others to reap the rewards. Bai You'an found it laughable, utterly laughable...