ALL NOVEL Not far away from the road to Scattered Snow Pass, several secret guards hid in the dark for the protection of their master.
Bored, Secret Guard No.3 hung from a big leafy tree on the side of the road and pointed at a hillside not far away as he told Secret Guard No.2 who was resting under the tree: “Look at those fools. His Highness and My Lady must have found out where they are.”
Secret Guard No.2 threw him a glance. “They are secret guards, not spies. It will be alright as long as others don’t notice them. His Highness knows they are there even if he doesn’t notice where they are.”
Secret guards’ duty was to protect their masters 24/7.
Secret Guard No.3 rolled around on the branch. “We are secret guards too.”
Though not quite the same.
Secret Guard No.2 seemed a bit upset. “We aren’t exactly good secret guards. His Highness might give My Lady a few new secret guards after this.”
Secret Guard No.3 turned gloomy as well. Back on the battlefield, the princess wouldn’t have got hurt if it wasn’t for him. He thought it perfectly correct to take an arrow for the princess. He was trained to risk his life for his master if necessary. But she was hurt in order to stop him from doing that. If it wasn’t for His Highness’s arrow, the princess might have been dead by now. To be honest, they weren’t good secret guards. Now Secret Guard No.1 and No.4 were nowhere to be found, though under the princess’s command. Neither he nor Secret Guard No.2 was a good secret guard. “I will admit my error and ask His Highness for punishment.”
Secret Guard No.2 cast him a glance. “Don’t be silly. We are a team. Do you think I’ll stay after you leave? Besides, it’s not all your fault. I… prefer to follow the princess.”
“Me too.”
They glanced at the secret guards on the other side. Their life before they met the princess was boring. Though they hadn’t served other masters in the past, the trainings and teachings from their seniors were already boring. If it wasn’t for the princess, they would have ended up being bored like those secret guards.
“If we beg His Highness for forgiveness now, will he go easy on us?”
“You’ll only end up more unfortunate if you go to His Highness now,” said Secret Guard No.2 in a small voice. As a secret guard with professional ethics, he wouldn’t let others know that he had seen His Highness and the princess… His Highness included.
“But His Highness and My Lady has been here for quite some time. If they keep staying here, General Murong might send his men looking for them,” said Secret Guard No.3, divided.
“Then let those men act first.” Secret Guard No.2 lifted his chin at those secret guards who were not far away from Mo Xiu Yao. Clearly, they were faced with the same problem. Well… as His Highness’s secret guards, they were quite bad at concealing themselves. Secret Guard No.3 and him could easily find them.
“Your Highness, My Lady.” Secret Guard No.2 showed up from behind the tree and greeted the two who came to him.
Secret Guard No.3 landed on the ground from the tree quietly and greeted them as well.
Mo Xiu Yao glanced at them with narrowed eyes and said calmly: “Nice kung fu.”
Both men’s heart shook. Was that a compliment?
Ye Li smiled faintly as she spoke: “Stand up. Why are you here?”
The two dared not speak with bitter faces. The princess didn’t need them to follow her all the time. However, if they did attend to other businesses now, His Highness would flare up. The princess could give them orders but… His Highness could dismiss them.
Mo Xiu Yao asked with a frown: “Where are the other two? I remember there are four of you.”
Ye Li smiled. “I asked them to handle some business.”
“I can give you more guards if you need. They are here to protect you.” He said disapprovingly. “Since these four can’t protect you properly, how about I’ll give you another group of guards when we are back? Or do you want mine?”
Ye Li noticed that Secret Guard No.3 were sending her signals with begging eyes and said, helplessly: “I don’t like being followed.”
“They are for your protection. I’ll find guys who can conceal themselves, who won’t bother you.”
“Nobody will be better than us.” Secret Guard No.3 stole a glance at Mo Xiu Yao and mumbled in a small voice.
Mo Xiu Yao’s calm eyes turned to him, who went stiff uncontrollably. His calm voice rose again: “There’s no secret guard who needs his master to protect him. In that regard, you are better indeed.”
“Mo… Xiu Yao…” Ye Li took his hands and said softly: “They are very helpful. You can tell that I don’t need secret guards. I need assistants that I can trust. Besides, secret guards aren’t always helpful, right?” There were places that secret guards couldn’t follow their master to. Where the secret guards could go, normal guards could too. Those places usually weren’t very dangerous either. Fortunately, only a small number of secret guards were trained to protect their masters. Others had different responsibilities. Otherwise, it would be a waste of talents.
Mo Xiu Yao glanced at the two secret guards whose heads lowered in a complicated way. Then he turned to Ye Li who was looking at him seriously and said in a stern tone: “You can keep them, but I’ll also send you another four secret guards.”
“No.” She smiled faintly as she said: “I can’t get used to secret guards. Even if you send me other secret guards, they will end up like Secret Guard No.2 after some time. What’s the point in that?”
Mo Xiu Yao snorted slightly and headed for the road.
Ye Li’s lips curved in a smile and followed him.
Secret Guard No.2 and No.3 were left confused. “No.2, what does His Highness mean?”
“His Highness means we can keep following My Lady. Perhaps…”
At the main camp in Scattered Snow Pass.
All men in the tent hurriedly stood up when they saw Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li coming.
Murong Shen walked down from his seat and welcomed them. “Your Highness, My Lady. Thank you for helping Yong Lin get out of this dangerous situation. Please accept my respect.” As he spoke, he took off his cape and was about to get down on his knees.
Mo Xiu Yao stopped him and said calmly: “It’s my duty. You don’t need to be so polite, General Murong.”
Murong Shen couldn’t get down no matter what since Mo Xiu Yao wouldn’t let him. Now that he saw Mo Xiu Yao in a good state, he was happy too. He didn’t insist and invited Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li inside. “Your Highness, My Lady, please. Let’s have a seat in the tent.”
In the tent, those who saw Mo Xiu Yao walk inside healthily had very different expressions. Some were happy, some shocked and some pensive.
Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li sat to the right of the main seat. He opened his mouth: “General, what’s going on with the troops of Nan Zhao?”
Murong Shen hesitated and returned to the main seat as he answered: “Nan Zhao has launched fierce attacks for the past few days. I think they might want to work in coordination with Prince Li’s rebellion army. Now you are here with relief troops, Your Highness, we don’t need to worry about them anymore. Tomorrow I’ll lead an army and drive them back to Nan Zhao!”
It wasn’t just the soldiers here who were sullen. As the commander, Murong Shen was quite sullen too. However, no matter how sullen they felt, they couldn’t show it. Now, with the relief troops here, it was time for them to fight back.
“Your Highness, how many men have you brought here?” Others’ spirits were lifted as well.
Mo Xiu Yao raised his brows and said calmly: “20 thousand men of the Hidden Cloud Soldiers. Another troop of 50 thousand soldiers will arrive in three days.”
The tent fell into silence. It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over their heads, and they were cooled from outside to inside.
One straightforward man stood up in disbelief and said: “Your Highness… why does the court only send an army of 50 thousand?”
Where were all 50 thousand men of the Hidden Cloud Soldiers? Where were 800 thousand soldiers of the Army of Mo Family?
Mo Xiu Yao’s lips curved in a faint smile “I have come with the first group of relief troops. After this… His Majesty has everything planned.”
The tent was silent.
Murong Shen sighed inwardly. Now that Prince Ding had said that, everything was clear. His Majesty needed someone to arrive here at the top speed while the only troop that could travel so fast was Prince Ding’s Hidden Cloud Soldiers. However, His Majesty didn’t trust Prince Ding so he wouldn’t let him bring too many men. More relief troops were still on their way whose commander would be someone His Majesty truly trusted. Once the rebellion was put down, the credit would naturally go to those who came after Prince Ding. His Majesty… was it alright to treat Prince Ding’s Manor so unfairly?