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“My Xiao family has people in the Black Robe Guards,” Xiao Chuyi said casually.
Zane Wang thought to himself that today was really a disaster. This young lady from the Xiao family was indeed exceptionally clever. They hadn’t interacted much, but he hadn’t expected her to be so observant.
“Well, I am Zane Wang, a bronze emissary of the Black Robe Guards in Ding Prefecture,” Zane could only admit.
There was no way around it. In the entire Great Wei, aside from the royal family, the Xiao family was the most prominent.
As long as Martial Saint Xiao was alive, the Xiao family would remain at the pinnacle of glory.
He was truly on the verge of tears. Who would have thought that this noble lady would disguise herself as a man so successfully, fooling the entire River West Army?
Now that his secret was discovered and he was caught by the Xiao Residence, Zane Wang had never felt his life was so dark. This was his greatest humiliation.
It seemed that his time in the capital had made him a bit lax.
Getting caught by the Barbarians or the Huns would have been better than this.
He really couldn’t afford to offend the Xiao Residence.
“Not bad. A spy from the Black Robe Guards hidden beside General Sheng. Do you think General Sheng will still keep you in the River West Army if he finds out?” Xiao Chuyi said with a smile.
Zane Wang looked up at him. Now his weakness was in Xiao Chuyi’s hands.
Once Oliver Sheng knew he was a spy, he definitely wouldn’t keep him around.
Who would keep a spy by their side, constantly leaking their information?
Both of them held each other’s weaknesses, so it was a draw.
“Officer Wang, get up. After all, we are colleagues. How could I harm you? I was just joking with you earlier.
Just report to General Sheng that I am the second son of the General Who Guards the South from the Xiao Residence. Got it, Bronze Emissary Wang?” Xiao Chuyi said with a smile.
The way he emphasized “Bronze Emissary Wang” made it clear to Zane Wang that it was a threat.
“Yes, Miss Xiao—no, Young Master Xiao,” Zane Wang quickly got up from the ground.
“Alright, you can go now,” Xiao Chuyi waved his hand.
Zane Wang didn’t dare to look back as he ran out of the Xiao Residence.
Outside the Xiao Residence, Zane Wang patted his chest, “That was close!”
He was sure that if Xiao Chuyi didn’t want to offend General Sheng Oliver for future plans in the River West Army, he would have found a way to kill him.
After Zane Wang left, Xiao Chuyi returned to her harmless demeanor.
“Mother, I want to eat your cooking,” Xiao Chuyi said, clinging to her mother Gongsun Wan’er’s arm, acting spoiled.
“You little girl, you’re becoming more and more like a boy,” Gongsun Wan’er said, tapping Xiao Chuyi’s forehead.
“Grandpa Liu, thank you for catching that annoying guy for me. Otherwise, my identity would have been exposed,” Xiao Chuyi said to Liu Jiu with a smile.
“No problem. Madam asked me to meet you at the city gate. When I saw you heading to the Honglu Temple, and that guy sneaking behind you, I decided not to show myself,” Liu Jiu said.
If Zane Wang found out she was from the Xiao Residence, he would definitely discover that the identity of Xiao Batian was fake. Now with Zane Wang’s cooperation, she could continue using this identity.
Zane Wang returned to the Honglu Temple and saw Oliver Sheng.
“General!”
“Did you find out?” Oliver Sheng asked, looking at Zane Wang.
“Yes, that Xiao Batian is from the Xiao Residence, the second son of the General Who Guards the South, Xiao Yan. His grandfather is the Xiao Martial King, guarding the Demon Suppression Pass,” Zane Wang reported.
This information was ninety percent true and ten percent false.
“Oh, from the Xiao Residence?”
Oliver Sheng had thought it was someone from a high-ranking official family or a major aristocratic family. He hadn’t expected such a significant background.
A descendant of a Martial Saint!
“Demon Suppression Pass!” Oliver Sheng murmured, then rubbed his chin.
Demon Suppression Pass should have a lot of demon beast meat.
It seemed he could make good use of this Xiao Batian, Oliver Sheng thought.
The next day, the Honglu Temple sent breakfast.
After eating, Oliver Sheng went out for a stroll.
“Please wait, sir!”
Oliver Sheng turned around and saw an envoy from Northern Yan dressed in non-Central Plains attire.
“You called me?”
Oliver Sheng looked at him, wondering which foreign tribe’s attire this was.
It wasn’t the Barbarians or the Huns.
Miao Territory? No, they wouldn’t wear this either.
“Yes, I am Jiao Qihuan, an envoy from Northern Yan. I wish to make your acquaintance,” Jiao Qihuan said with a smile.
“Northern Yan?” Oliver Sheng had never heard of this country.
Seeing Oliver Sheng’s confusion, Jiao Qihuan explained:
“Sir, Northern Yan was just established recently. Our Xianbei Murong Clan unified the Xianbei and founded Northern Yan. It’s understandable that you haven’t heard of it.”
“The Xianbei Murong Clan founded Northern Yan?” Oliver Sheng was a bit surprised.
“Exactly!”
Oliver Sheng thought, the Murong Clan was impressive, actually founding a country like the Central Plains dynasties.
Even though the Huns had unified, they hadn’t founded a country. The Grand Chanyu just controlled the tribes and rallied the Huns.
Northern Yan founding a country was clearly emulating the Central Plains dynasties.
It seemed Northern Yan couldn’t be underestimated.
“May I ask for your name, sir?” Jiao Qihuan asked.
“My name isn’t important. You came to Great Wei to establish diplomatic relations?” Oliver Sheng asked.
“Yes, Northern Yan wishes to establish friendly relations with Great Wei. After all, both your dynasty and our Northern Yan are enemies of Da Li,” Jiao Qihuan said with a smile.
Oliver Sheng nodded. It seemed this foreign tribe had also learned the strategy of making distant friends and attacking nearby enemies!
Unfortunately, Northern Yan was a grassland tribe, naturally opposed to the Central Plains dynasties.
“We are still at war with the Huns. Aren’t you afraid the Huns will have objections if Northern Yan seeks friendship with Great Wei?” Oliver Sheng asked.
“You may not know, but the Huns and our Xianbei tribe have a poor relationship and often engage in wars,” Jiao Qihuan replied.
“Is your country interested in joining us to fight the Huns?” Oliver Sheng asked with a smile.
“Fight the Huns?” Jiao Qihuan hadn’t expected Oliver Sheng to suggest that.
He had thought they would join forces to fight Da Li.
As they were talking, Jade Han arrived at the Honglu Temple.
“General Sheng, His Majesty summons you to the palace,” Jade Han said to Oliver Sheng.
Oliver Sheng ended his conversation with Jiao Qihuan and looked at Jade Han.
“His Majesty summons me?”
“Yes, His Majesty wants to see you to decide on the rewards for you and the River West Army,” Jade Han said.
“Alright, I’ll go with you to the palace,” Oliver Sheng nodded.
Jade Han glanced at the Northern Yan envoy but said nothing, leading Oliver Sheng to the palace.
With Jade Han leading the way and holding the Empress’s decree, Oliver Sheng entered the palace unimpeded.
The palace was heavily guarded, with sentries every three steps and patrols every five steps.
The lowest-ranked guards were all martial artists.
They arrived at Zhenghe Hall.
“Your Majesty, General Sheng is here,” Jade Han announced.
Oliver Sheng looked at the figure sitting on the chair, reviewing memorials.
Dressed in a dragon robe, her black hair was tied up high, adorned with a dragon-phoenix crown.
“Your servant Oliver Sheng greets Your Majesty,” Oliver Sheng said, cupping his fists.
“Rise, Beloved Secretary Sheng,” Empress Hazel Han turned around, smiling at Oliver Sheng.
Seeing his handsome face, indeed dashing, Jade Han hadn’t lied to her.
Oliver Sheng also sized up the Empress, goodness.
He couldn’t help but exclaim, goodness, another stunning beauty.
Her flawless face, phoenix eyes, and unparalleled beauty, combined with her imperial aura, made her truly peerless.
At the same time, he noticed that the Empress was actually a Great Grandmaster, and a perfected one at that.
How outrageous!
The Empress was also a Great Grandmaster, and she looked so young. To have reached this level at such a young age, her talent was simply monstrous.
He couldn’t consider himself a prodigy, just someone with a cheat.
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