Chapter 228 Using Commerce to Suppress War

Chapter 228 Using Commerce to Suppress War

However, Ying Qi intercepted this secret letter, leading him to believe that Xie Yun was a spy or a fence-sitter who wanted to play both sides.

It was ten days later when they retreated to Panlong Ridge.

Ying Qi wanted to fight his way back to the capital to rescue the lost city and his wife and children.

Unfortunately, Yunhan didn't give him that chance.

They pushed the battlefield onto Cangjue's land, starting to tie down Cangjue's main forces, while also sending reinforcements to Cangjue's capital.

Ying Qi was well aware of their purpose and was unwilling to prolong the battle.

Unfortunately, the more the Cangjue army fled, the fiercer they fought, and the entanglement lasted for nearly two months.

The fighting lasted from early summer to late summer.

Cangjue's supplies were finally exhausted, and Xie Yan led nearly 50,000 more troops to meet Ying Qi.

Ying Qi was forced into a corner and had no choice but to surrender.

Ten miles from the capital of Cangjue, Ying Qi's 200,000-strong army was almost wiped out.

They were forced to raise the white flag.

In the open fields, the sun was scorching, and the Cangjue army was already parched with hunger, with some soldiers feeling dizzy from hunger.

Shen Nanzi looked at the faint bloodstains on the white flag.

On his own land, Ying Qi was escorted by Yun Han soldiers to Shen Nanzi's side.

Shen Nanzi sat on the chariot, with a canopy overhead to shield her from view.

Ying Qi's hair was disheveled, his lips were chapped, and his eyes were bloodshot, like a defeated but still defiant lion.

Shen Nanzi ordered someone to feed him water.

Ying Qi initially stubbornly refused to drink, but Shen Nanzi said, "Don't you want to see your wife and children anymore?"

The mighty king finally lowered his head and drank the water in the bowl.

A soldier ran over, cupped his hands in greeting, and reported, "The King of Liang has not been seen."

Shen Nanzi couldn't help but look at Ying Qi, "Where is the Prince of Liang?"

"He's dead!" Ying Qi said calmly, as if he had killed an insignificant person.

He turned around and looked at the bloodstain on the corner of the white flag.

Shen Nanzi didn't ask the reason, but she guessed that there was a disagreement on the matter of surrender, coupled with the letters that had been intercepted earlier.

When their trust crumbled, Ying Qi plunged his knife into him.

Ying Qi became a prisoner and was imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Shen Nanzi received news on her way here that Xie Yan had taken over everything in the capital during this period.

So, on this scorching afternoon outside the capital city, where the heat was so intense it was hard to open one's eyes, Shen Nanzi met Xie Yan, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.

He wore a thin, dark robe embroidered with gold, his short sword slung across his belt, and rode a fine, smooth-coated black horse, standing before her chariot.

King Qi and General Zhao, standing nearby, tactfully averted their gazes, pretending to look at the sky and the scenery.

Xie Yan jumped off the carriage, stepped onto the chariot, and sat directly next to Shen Nanzi.

"Let's go! Let's go into the city. This place will belong to Yunhan from now on."

His words were passed down layer by layer, and the war, which had lasted for half a year, seemed to have come to a satisfactory end.

The shouts of the soldiers behind him surged like waves, breaking through the clouds and resounding throughout the heavens and earth.

The chariot, pulled by four horses, moved steadily at the front, heading directly towards the capital.

Behind them was the mighty army of Yunhan, whose every step seemed to shake the earth beneath their feet.

Shen Nanzi felt the strength of those hands, powerful and hard. Between their arms, which were close together, was his heat, which was surprisingly hot.

He was talking to Prince Qi and General Zhao, who were standing next to him.

"Prince Jing, how did you manage to accidentally reach the capital of Cangjue?"

Zhao Zhendong asked, his tone filled with relief and disbelief, as if he felt it was divine intervention.

King Qi also exclaimed, "I never imagined that such a great achievement would be accomplished."

"The Cangjue have troubled Yunhan for hundreds of years, but we never expected to break through them."

Xie Yan smiled and tightened her grip on Shen Nanzi's hand.

"It wasn't a fluke, it was intentional!"

Shen Nanzi was slightly surprised.

As if in response, Xie Yan stroked the back of her hand with his fingers: "Our prolonged battle with Cangjue will inevitably deplete our national strength, and I am worried that other small countries will take advantage of this."

"Since you all can handle Ying Qi, why not try a different approach?"

"That's why you were worried about accidentally wandering into the deep mountains. Actually, I wanted to see if there was a path at all."

"If there is no road, I will return; if there is a road, then we can strike straight at the heart of the enemy."

"The Cangjue believed that the deep mountains were a barrier, so they built their capital not far away."

"Success or failure both lie in these deep mountains, and the most treacherous part is that natural chasm."

Shen Nanzi had seen the chasm when she was looking at the sand table; it was the river that General Zhao led his men into, and the river was swift-flowing.

How did he get through those deep mountains?

Xie Yan said, "I led my men to the narrowest point and measured its width."

"Then he ordered people to start building the bridge."

"Build a bridge?" Zhao Zhendong was shocked. "That's long! There's no one on the other side, how can we build it?"

Xie smiled and said, "As long as people are willing to do it, there will always be a way. With enough money, there will always be brave men."

"Among those 20,000 soldiers, there were quite a few talented individuals. It is estimated that none of the past rulers of Cangjue ever imagined that one day, the army of Yunhan would build a bridge across the natural barrier."

"With many people and great strength, the bridge is built! All difficulties are easily resolved."

So that's how it is. Shen Nanzi lowered her eyes, Xie Yan didn't take the usual path.

For centuries, word of mouth has told us that it was a dangerous place, impossible to cross.

But Xie Yan was a stubborn person who refused to believe in superstitions and insisted on facing the challenge head-on.

He actually carved out a path that no one dared to take.

With Xie Yan's explanation, things didn't seem as difficult as everyone had imagined.

It's just that no one has ever verified it before.

In the evening, the soldiers camped outside the capital, and the main force followed Xie Yan into the palace.

A sumptuous banquet began, and Xie Yan seemed to be familiar with everything here, as if it were his royal palace.

There was no singing or dancing at the banquet; it was purely about eating and drinking.

The room was full of men, and once they started drinking, it seemed like there would be no end to it.

Shen Nanzi sat next to Xie Yan, listlessly counting the grapes in the fruit plate, passing the time.

Her hand was still being held by Xie Yan, but the two of them hadn't exchanged a single word the entire way.

After several rounds of drinks, Xie Yan said something to the generals below. She was then led away from the main hall by him and walked towards the back.

The moonlight was bright outside, illuminating the ground clearly. The evening breeze was gentle, and compared to the daytime, the night in Cangjue was quite comfortable.

Smelling the fragrance of flowers, Shen Nanzi was led by Xie Yan to the palace behind.

To the astonishment of the palace servants, she was led to a pool.

Without a word, Xie Yan picked her up and jumped into the pool. The water rippled and the surface of the water was pushed out of the pool.

The surrounding gauze curtains fluttered, creating an extremely enchanting scene.

Shen Nanzi had been through wind and sand all the way, and Bai Rixiang had been sweating profusely. But after being soaked in this pool of water, she felt instantly refreshed.

Xie Yan brought out the perfume and applied it to her body. He had his back to her and remained silent as he did everything.

Shen Nanzi didn't know how to start the conversation, so she simply ignored him and let him do as he pleased.

Feeling comfortable, Shen Nanzi closed her eyes, letting the water support her body.

When their lips met, she opened her eyes, while he closed his, seemingly lost in the moment.

His kiss remained intense, and soon Shen Nanzi was drawn into the passion.

Little did she know that as she closed her eyes, Xie Yan's eyes opened, filled with longing for her.

Her indifference and lack of rejection were like a soft knife piercing his heart, causing him waves of pain.

No one would know that he traveled over mountains and valleys just so that the battle would end quickly and he could see her.

The moment he saw her, he was so happy that he wanted to take her away and tell her how much he had missed her.

However, when he met her smile, his heart felt as if it had been doused with cold water, and he was so shocked that his chest went cold.

There was no longing in her eyes, only the sense that the reunion was a given.

There were many people around, and as Prince Jing, he couldn't embrace her in public. He could only restrain himself, lower his sleeves, and hold her hand inside.

During the banquet, she was so bored that she didn't want to say a word to him.

He was furious, so furious that he cursed himself for being so useless.

She was the one who made him angry, didn't she know that?

Doesn't she understand that he left without saying goodbye?

Or does she think that's normal?

Despite his anger, he still wrote letters back every day, all for the sake of that letter he wanted to send to her.

He was so angry that he only wrote a few words to let her know he was safe. She didn't understand his heart. Was he hoping for her reply?

However, this heartless woman has never uttered a single word to him to this day.

He was angered by her every night, but he held on to the belief that she would reply the next day.

In his letter, King Qi mentioned that when she came to rescue him, his heart leaped with joy, and he was so excited that he couldn't wait to see her.

However, the situation here requires him to be present and cannot be left behind.

He could only inquire about her indirectly, and knowing that she and he were getting closer little by little, he felt as excited as a young boy.

God knows how many outfits he changed in order to see her.

But she just looked at him indifferently, and his heart shattered inch by inch.

Holding her in his arms, he only hoped that she would speak first, and then he would forgive her.

He was so humble!

But what about her? Even when he got as close to her as possible, she kept her lips tightly pressed together and refused to speak.

He was truly defeated by her!

He could only desperately want her, repeatedly expressing his distress and longing through his body.

She pushed away his approaching body, glaring at him angrily, her eyes blazing with resentment like a volcanic eruption.

He surrendered in a hoarse and flustered voice, uttering a doting tone that even he himself found hard to believe.

"Okay, okay! That's enough for tonight, don't be angry, alright?"

Seeing that she had stopped glaring at him, he shamelessly moved closer to her, took her soft, white fingers in his hand, and spoke in an incredibly gentle voice.

"Shall I carry you upstairs and then wipe your body down? Hmm?"

"Get out, I'll have the palace servants come and serve me!" she said.

“There are no maids in the palace, so I have to serve you.” He looked at her with his dark, deep eyes, as if he knew her worries. “You can go straight back to your palace.”

"Why are there no palace maids?" Shen Nanzi asked casually, catching water in her palm and watching it flow through her fingers.

“No need,” he replied. “However, if you need it, you can have it.”

Shen Nanzi glanced at him; he had lost some weight, and his face was more angular.

She certainly has a handsome face.

His thin black shirt was open, revealing his muscular chest and abdomen, and water droplets streamed down his wet hair, making him look incredibly alluring.

"No need. When are we going back?"

Seeing the delicate bracelet on her wrist, Xie Yan's eyes softened even more, and he reached out and pulled her into his arms.

They walked up the steps and headed towards the palace.

"It might take ten days to half a month. It's not too late to leave after we hand it over to the right person."

With her by his side, he wouldn't want to go back if Cheng'er weren't in Luoyang.

Missing Cheng'er?

Shen Nanzi remained silent, simply resting her head on his shoulder, tilting it slightly to the side.

"Okay! I'll hurry up." Xie Yan could only comfort her when he saw her expression darken.

Back in his palace, Xie Yan placed her on a soft couch.

He went to the wardrobe and picked out a piece of clothing that he had prepared long ago.

"I'll change it for you," he coaxed her.

Shen Nanzi pushed him away, took the clothes, and walked behind the screen.

When they came out again, they had both changed into dry, light shirts.

The summer night wasn't hot. Xie Yan took a comb and gently stroked her hair.

“I have never been away from him for so long.” Shen Nanzi looked at the bright moon outside the window, thinking of that small figure who now shoulders the fate of the entire Yunhan.

Am I being too selfish and not considering whether he likes me or not?

"With Grand Commandant Shen here, aren't you at ease? There's no need to worry." Xie Yan stroked her soft hair, and the anger that had been building up in his heart finally subsided somewhat.

There's plenty of time; he can gradually warm her heart.

...

In the days that followed, Shen Nanzi had a lot of free time.

Xie Yan and King Qi were busy with their affairs, keeping them extremely occupied every day.

Shen Nanzi then took Qinghe out for a stroll to pass the time while they waited.

She happened to see a doctor who could treat back and leg injuries, so she went to observe him every day and even chatted with him.

Knowing that this doctor was highly skilled, if he said he could treat it, then he could.

Shen Nanzi explained Xie Yu's condition, and the doctor said it could be cured, but that Xie Yu himself had to come in person.

Shen Nanzi offered him a large sum of money to go to Luoyang, but the doctor refused, complaining about the long journey.

They also said that without the medicinal herbs here, the condition might not be cured.

Shen Nanzi had no choice; she couldn't just kidnap him. However, Xie Yu's back and leg injuries were a persistent worry weighing on her mind.

She hoped Xie Yu would be in good health and enjoy the beauty of nature.

So he sent a message by carrier pigeon, telling him to come quickly.

Shen Nanzi was afraid that the doctor would move, so she went directly to find out where the doctor lived.

Only then did I feel at ease.

However, when she returned in high spirits, she was so beautiful that she was harassed by someone.

Although Qinghe resolved the matter on the spot, it still reached Xie Yan's ears.

Xie Yan immediately abandoned his business and returned directly to their palace. Shen Nanzi had just washed herself in the pool, wearing a thin skirt and barefoot, and walked back to her bedchamber.

She looked at him with some surprise, then at the sky outside. It wasn't dark yet, so why was he back?

But in Xie Yan's eyes, there was no surprise at his early return, nor any intention to tell him about her day's events, in her indifferent gaze.

Where did you go today?

He probably wouldn't tell her if he didn't ask.

Shen Nanzi walked to the soft couch, leaned against it, and picked up the book she hadn't finished reading.

"Just wandered around casually?"

Seeing her perfunctory attitude, Xie Yan felt unwell and walked heavily to her side, sitting down next to her.

Suppressing the anger in his chest, he asked, "Why are you washing up so early?"

"It was hot, so I took a shower after sweating." Shen Nanzi noticed that something was wrong with him today.

"What's wrong?"

This question finally made Xie Yan lose his temper. He lifted her chin and asked, "What happened today? Don't you want to tell me?"

"I see," Shen Nanzi said, lowering her eyes. "It's nothing serious, not worth mentioning."