Chapter 201: Is Moyu Qilin a man or a woman? Empress Dowager’s response to the news from Xianyang!
The east dawned, the night faded.
Day had finally arrived.
The heavy rain unknowingly stopped.
The carriage that had been galloping all night gradually slowed down.
Finally, it stopped in front of a dilapidated house.
“Lord, we’ve arrived.”
The driver, Moyu Qilin, said to the carriage behind him.
His voice was hoarse and low, but full of respect.
Who could remain arrogant in the face of someone who can defeat three hundred cavalry in an instant?
The carriage door was flung open from the inside.
The first to emerge was a stunningly beautiful woman.
Yan Lingji jumped down from the carriage and took a deep breath of the fresh air outside.
Behind her, Hongliang’s eyes were swollen and red like a goldfish.
Her gaze drifted to Yan Lingji’s chest.
Then she looked down at her own.
Why hasn’t she grown as big after all this time?
Turning her head, she glanced at Fei Yan, who was helping Li Mo off the carriage.
She felt even more dejected!
Not only was she not as big, she wasn’t as perky either.
She couldn’t match up at all!
“What are you looking at?” Yan Lingji suddenly leaned in as Hongliang was feeling despondent.
Startled, Hongliang quickly averted her gaze.
“Nothing, nothing.”
Yan Lingji’s dreamy eyes glanced over her.
This princess was quite fun when she wasn’t crying or throwing a tantrum.
She was lively and cheerful like a little swallow.
“Let’s get inside and rest for a bit. The conditions are limited, so Princess, you’ll have to settle for now,” Li Mo said as he walked up to Hongliang.
Hongliang did not make a fuss.
The rundown house looked like it hadn’t been lived in for a long time, with broken doors and windows.
They just needed a place to rest.
Even if they didn’t need rest, the horses did.
“Achoo~”
Just as she sat down on a pile of hay, Hongliang hugged her arms and sneezed.
Her soft voice sounded rather cute.
She had been drenched in the rain last night, nearly soaked to the skin.
Although Fei Yan had later used the “Dragon Wandering Aura” to dry her clothes, the wind blew when they stepped out of the carriage, making her feel a chill again.
Li Mo pulled some planks from inside the house and piled them up in the middle of the group.
He turned to Yan Lingji and said, “Come, light a fire.”
Yan Lingji gave him a sidelong glance.
With a flick of her fingers, a spark ignited on the planks.
Satisfied, Li Mo nodded as he adjusted the planks.
Having someone who could start a fire was really convenient when traveling!
Hongliang sat by the fire, rubbing her little hands.
Watching the flames, her red, swollen eyes lit up.
Her pure eyes sparkled.
She had something new she wanted to learn!
Hongliang suddenly realized that the list of things she wanted to learn was becoming endless.
She wanted to learn martial arts from Sister Zi, swordsmanship from Jing Ni.
She wanted to learn the skill of turning into a meteor from Li Mo.
And now she wanted to learn fire-making from Yan Lingji.
Indeed, deciding to come to Qin was the right choice!
First, she’d become friends with them, then they’d teach her!
Hongliang’s face lit up with joy, seeming to forget about her father altogether.
Yan Lingji noticed the mischievous grin on Hongliang’s face.
She looked like a weasel that had successfully stolen an egg.
“Why aren’t you crying anymore?” Yan Lingji asked.
This princess was really peculiar.
Just a moment ago, she had been crying her heart out, impossible to console.
Now she had stopped just like that.
Like the weather outside, changing in an instant.
Hongliang blushed at the question.
She puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish and muttered, “What’s the point of crying? No matter how loud I cry, my father won’t hear me. Even if I saw him, he wouldn’t care; he doesn’t love me anymore.”
Saying this, she angrily kicked Bai Xianwu on the ground beside her.
“All her fault,” she grumbled.
The kick happened to land on Bai Xianwu’s acupuncture point, activating the “Dragon Wandering Aura” inside.
Bai Xianwu’s fingers moved reflexively.
Terrified, Hongliang jumped up.
Running to Li Mo’s side, she yelled, “She’s alive! This dead woman came back to life! Quickly, hit her with lightning!”
Li Mo’s mouth twitched.
She was so clumsy yet loved to have fun.
“She won’t come back to life yet, it’s not time.”
He was confident in Fei Yan’s abilities.
If Hongliang’s kick could disperse the “Dragon Wandering Aura,” Bai Xianwu would have woken up on the bumpy carriage ride.
Hearing this, Hongliang slowly calmed down.
But she didn’t dare get close to Bai Xianwu anymore.
She hopped over and sat close to Yan Lingji.
First, get close to her, and then figure out how to learn her fire skills.
“Sister, you are so beautiful.”
Hongliang was sitting with her legs crossed.
She lifted her small head.
Looking at her with an innocent face, she praised her.
Yan Lingji was stunned by her words.
This princess… She really is a peculiar one!
“Thank you, you are also very cute.”
Yan Lingji tilted her head and winked at her.
Honglian’s heart immediately skipped a beat.
Wow!
Enchantress!
Even women can’t help but be charmed by her.
She’s even more captivating than that burnt-to-death Humeiren!
“Sister, why are you capturing this dead woman?”
Yan Lingji glanced at Li Mo’s direction and said faintly, “You should ask him.”
She also didn’t know why Li Mo wanted to capture Bai Xianwu alive.
Hongliang rested her chin on her knees and turned her head to look at Li Mo again.
“Do you want to take her back to have children? You already have so many wives; isn’t that enough?”
The corner of Li Mo’s mouth twitched again.
“Shut up, or I’ll send you back right now.”
Hongliang immediately cowered upon hearing that.
She pouted her lips and muttered softly, “I don’t want to go back.”
Yan Lingji laughed and said, “Are you really planning to come back to Qin State with us? Don’t cry later if you get homesick~”
Honglian’s face turned bright red.
She buried her face between her knees and mumbled, “I won’t.”
Just then, Moyu Qilin, who had hidden the carriage, walked in.
He sought Li Mo’s instructions, “Master, I’ll go around to scout the situation.”
Li Mo nodded, “Alright, be careful.”
Moyu Qilin was an expert in disguise. Once outside, he could change his appearance easily, and even wander around in front of the pursuers several times without being noticed.
He had just stepped out when a slight snoring sound came from inside.
Everyone looked dazedly at Hongliang, who was sitting there snoring.
“She fell asleep.”
Yan Lingji was dumbfounded.
Just a moment ago, she was still talking to her, and then Moyu Qilin came in, and now she was already snoring.
“She didn’t sleep all night and has been sitting in the carriage for so long; being tired is normal.”
Fei Yan said nonchalantly.
Hongliang, unlike them, didn’t have profound skills to support her.
Yan Lingji tilted her head, observing the deeply sleeping Hongliang.
She said, “She cried all the way here, this princess is quite interesting.”
Then looked up at Li Mo and asked, “Are you really planning to take her back?”
Li Mo shrugged.
Helplessly, he said, “What else can I do?”
“She doesn’t want to go back, and I can’t just leave her here.”
“Let’s first take her back to Qin. Anyway, Han Fei is there too, and this is his sister; he can’t just ignore her.”
Yan Lingji rolled her eyes.
She muttered, “She was taken away by you, and you’re planning to throw her at someone else; don’t you feel shameless?”
Li Mo pursed his lips.
Han Fei is her brother, her real brother, does that count as someone else?
“Then should I take her to my house?”
Yan Lingji’s eyes brightened; she really had that idea.
Honglian’s personality suited her taste, and bringing her back would prevent her from being bored.
“You should ask Jingsha, why are you asking me?”
Of course, such matters needed Jingsha’s approval as the main wife.
Li Mo laughed, “I’m not taking a concubine, you all should rest for a while; I’ll go out and find some food.”
Judging from Yan Lingji’s words, Jingsha held significant importance in her heart.
It makes sense; besides their current sisterly bond, Jingsha had also saved her life.
Li Mo left for over an hour, and when he returned, he was carrying a few wild chickens.
Before entering the house, he noticed the activity inside.
Fei Yan sat next to Bai Xianwu, constantly monitoring her.
Yan Lingji was watching the show, propping her chin.
Hongliang, like a bully, was rolling up her sleeves and steadily approaching Moyu Qilin.
Moyu Qilin retreated step by step until he was cornered.
Li Mo walked in and curiously asked, “What are you doing?”
Upon seeing Li Mo return, Moyu Qilin looked as though he had found a savior.
He instantly turned into a shadow and slid behind Li Mo, hiding.
Hongliang turned around, hands on her hips, and said dominantly, “I asked if it was male or female, but it didn’t answer, so this princess had to personally…”
Started fighting?”
Moyu Qilin said aggrievedly: “She wanted to lift my robe.”
Hongliang raised her willow eyebrows and corrected fiercely: “I just wanted to see what you look like, why are you so stingy?”
Moyu Qilin was quite unlucky.
Encountered such an unreasonable person.
Can’t fight, can’t run away recklessly.
It still had to wait for Li Mo to come back and report the outside news to him first.
Otherwise, it would have turned into a shadow and disappeared long ago.
Even Bai Xianwu couldn’t catch it, let alone a rookie like Hongliang.
Not to mention Hongliang, even Li Mo was a bit curious about Moyu Qilin’s gender.
But Moyu Qilin’s main trait was its mystery.
If it turned out to be a wretched old man under the robe, wouldn’t it lose all mystique?
Besides, since it was working hard for you, as the boss, you should also consider its feelings.
“You better behave, or don’t blame me for not warning you if you get beaten.”
Moyu Qilin at least had the title of “Han’s top killer” here.
Fighting Hongliang was still a piece of cake.
But anyone with sharp eyes could see that this Princess Hongliang had a close relationship with Li Mo.
So it didn’t dare to make a move.
Hongliang pouted angrily.
“When I master martial arts, I’ll definitely take off your hat.”
Li Mo shook his head.
Hongliang was spoiled; she wouldn’t grow up unless she faced the harshness of society.
“Sit down and tell me what’s going on outside now.”
Li Mo roasted the cleaned wild chicken over the fire and gestured for Moyu Qilin to sit down and talk.
“Everywhere is under martial law, and the city exits are sealed off.
“Emperor Han has mobilized troops, and every exit is heavily guarded.”
“The city is also plastered with our wanted posters.”
Li Mo roasted the wild chicken while listening to the report.
They left Xinzheng early, back when Emperor Han hadn’t reacted yet.
But then there were still several cities they needed to go through.
No need to think, they were surely all under martial law like this one.
After a moment, Li Mo suddenly said: “You go first, exit through Hangu Pass, and then go to the Qin army camp in Wusu to find Left Assistant General Meng Tian
He’ll know what to do.”
Moyu Qilin was stunned for a moment.
Worried: “What about you?”
Li Mo said slowly: “Me? I’ll stay here with them for a few days.”
With his sensing ability, he could easily avoid those pursuers.
So the problem wasn’t with these martial law cities.
It was at the border pass.
Hongliang looked at Li Mo in surprise: “Are you going to fight my family?”
Li Mo turned the golden-brown roasted wild chicken to continue roasting it.
He said: “No, just to scare your father.”
Qin had just removed Lu Buwei, and its internal politics was still unstable.
Before dealing with external issues, you must first stabilize internal affairs.
Now wasn’t the time for war.
But if they could swiftly take down Han, that would be a different story.
A few days passed quickly.
Inside the Xianyang Palace.
It was bedtime.
Zhao Ji, with the help of palace maids, removed her elaborate daytime hair ornaments.
Her long black hair cascaded down her back.
Adding a touch of lazy sensuality to her alluring face.
The bright candlelight in the sleeping palace shone on her thin red nightgown.
The exposed skin at the neckline was white and delicate.
A faint cleavage in the middle was alluring.
She sat at the table, leisurely sipping honey water with her legs crossed.
Her straight, white, tender legs peeking out from the hem of her dress and gently kicking back and forth.
“How many days has it been?”
Suddenly, Zhao Ji dropped the spoon in her hand and asked out of the blue.
Li replied promptly: “Reporting to the Empress Dowager, it’s been eighteen days.”
Zhao Ji frowned upon hearing this: “Only eighteen days? It feels like a month to me! Are you sure you didn’t get it wrong?”
Li glanced at her lightly.
She needed to enter the Linglong Tower once every three days.
Previously, it was Li Mo who came; recently, it was Jing Ni who came with the gold token from Zhao Ji.
A total of six times.
She couldn’t be mistaken.
Zhao Ji fiddled with the spoon, gently stirring the amber liquid in the cup.
Carelessly said, “Eighteen days, it’s been eighteen days, does this renegade not want to come back from Han?”
Li seemed a bit speechless.
You just said it’s only been eighteen days, and now you’re complaining that it’s too long?
“It takes at least five days from Qin to the border, and three days from the Han border to Xinzheng.”
“That’s already eight days gone.”
“If the National Advisor is on his way back now, he would have only stayed in Han for a few days.”
Li Mo mentioned to Li before he left that if things went smoothly, he could come back in two or three days.
But that didn’t include the travel time.
Zhao Ji blinked her eyes.
“Really, does it take that long on the road?”
She was not unaware that this journey took time.
She just felt… it really had been a long time since she’d seen that renegade.
Thinking about it made Zhao Ji angry again.
What’s the point of seeing him?
Every time she saw him, she got annoyed. It would be better if he stayed in Qin and didn’t come back.
It would save her from getting upset when she saw him!
“I’m not drinking this anymore, take it away!”
With a bang, Zhao Ji threw the spoon into the cup and said irritably.
Li was already used to her capricious nature.
She nodded with a glance to a nearby maid to take the cup away.
Just as the maid was exiting with the cup, another maid briskly walked in.
“Reporting to the Empress Dowager, someone outside the palace seeks an audience.”
Zhao Ji was stunned for a moment.
Then she directly stood up from her seat.
Her eyes brightened visibly.
“Could it be the National Advisor returning?”
Li had just mentioned that,
The round trip would take about half a month.
Calculating the time, he should almost be in Xianyang.
But the maid shook her head and said, “It’s not the National Advisor, it’s an urgent courier from 800 li away.”
Zhao Ji’s face immediately turned solemn.
A border scout with an urgent message has the privilege of riding straight into the palace.
No one can obstruct him.
Changing horses but not the rider along the way.
The report must be delivered directly to the one holding the highest authority.
Right now, in Qin, the Empress Dowager undoubtedly holds the greatest authority.
“Bring him in!”
Zhao Ji flicked her sleeves and turned to enter the canopy behind.
An urgent courier from 800 li must indicate a significant border matter.
Soon, a scout came rushing in.
He kneeled on the ground and held up a bamboo tube with both hands.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager!”
Sitting behind the curtain, Zhao Ji commanded with authority, “Speak.”
Without any hesitation, the scout reported concisely, “The National Advisor is trapped in Han and is in grave danger. General Meng requests instructions on whether to dispatch troops.”
“What?”
Zhao Ji’s face changed dramatically, and she suddenly stood up from her bed!
Beside her, Li’s eyes narrowed, filled with astonishment.
Holding the bamboo tube aloft, the scout said, “There is a handwritten letter from General Meng, requesting the Empress Dowager to review it.”
Zhao Ji was about to step out from behind the curtain but then hesitated and put her hand back down.
With a cold look, she glanced at Li.
Li went out to retrieve the bamboo tube and brought it to her.
Taking out the letter from the tube, Zhao Ji’s delicate hand, trembling, almost crushed it as her eyes swiftly scanned through its contents.
“Summon the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers immediately, enter the palace for deliberation!”
