Chapter 49: The Fake Princess and His God of War Prince (Part 6)
Xiao Ji’s send-off procession didn’t consist of many people to begin with.
With over a hundred Black Cavalry from the Northern Border present, the few guards the Emperor had assigned to Xiao Ji were practically decorations.
Aside from them, on Xiao Ji’s side, including Lianqiu, there remained only four dowry maids.
And among these people, aside from Lianqiu, not a single one was Xiao Ji’s own; all were sent by the Emperor and Empress to monitor him.
Two hundred miles out of the city, as human habitation became sparse, Xiao Ji knocked on the side wall of the carriage, signaling the procession to halt.
Lin Heng dismounted from the front and walked to the window of Xiao Ji’s carriage. Secretly thinking that this pampered Imperial Princess was truly troublesome, he kept his face impassive.
“Does the Princess have any instructions?”
Xiao Ji lifted a corner of the curtain and said softly:
“Find an opportunity. Except for Lianqiu, dispose of the people brought from the Imperial City. Make it clean.”
Lianqiu, sitting opposite Xiao Ji, felt his brow jump. “Master…”
Xiao Ji raised a hand, signaling him to shut up.
Lin Heng was born in the Northern Border and grew up there. Since childhood, he had only heard that the daughters of the capital were all gentle, virtuous, and fragile as if unable to withstand a gust of wind—walking a few steps required a rest.
Before today, he had never seen this renowned Ninth Princess of the capital.
After Xiao Ji served tea to the Emperor and Empress earlier, he had been covered by a veil. Lin Heng had not yet seen Xiao Ji’s appearance; he could only tell from his bearing that this capital Princess was indeed somewhat different from the girls of the Northern Border.
Though very tall, the posture was very noble, and the frame was not sturdy enough. One look and you knew they couldn’t take a beating.
He originally thought Xiao Ji stopping the procession was some delicate tantrum, but he never expected the very first sentence Xiao Ji said to him would be so brutal.
His expression turned somewhat odd. “Is the Princess serious?”
Xiao Ji’s tone was calm. His voice was not rough, nor did it have the coquettishness of a girl. Upon first hearing, it was somewhat androgynous.
“Otherwise? Bring them to the Northern Border to act as spies?”
The people sent by the Emperor couldn’t be kept, nor could they be driven away. If they were let go alive to return, their complaining to the Emperor would be a small matter; the Emperor scheming to send more people to Xiao Ji’s side would be the real trouble.
These people were pawns, destined to die in the Beichen Wang’s manor sooner or later. Xiao Ji didn’t have the energy to watch these minor characters every moment. Rather than being soft-hearted now and leaving behind a calamity to deal with later, it was better to send them to reincarnate early for some peace and quiet.
Lin Heng raised an eyebrow. “This subject obeys.”
With that, he turned back to the front of the procession, mounted his horse, and continued leading the way.
According to the original route, the welcoming procession should have stopped in a town near the capital tonight, but halfway through, Lin Heng suddenly ordered them to take a different fork in the road.
Thus, after sunset, the team stopped at the foot of a desolate mountain for a temporary rest.
Xiao Ji took Lianqiu and switched from the bridal sedan to the horse carriage prepared by the welcoming team.
The carriage was cold. Let alone leaning pillows or fur rugs, there wasn’t even a seat cushion.
As soon as Lianqiu got on, his face turned ugly.
“This is no different from a coffin. That Beichen Wang simply does not put you in his eyes.”
Xiao Ji didn’t show it on his face, but he was extremely satisfied in his heart. Spacious, clean. Sleeping on wooden boards at night, blowing in the cold wind—it couldn’t be more comfortable.
He glanced at Lianqiu. “Don’t run your mouth. In Mingyue Palace, I could protect you. Once in the Northern Border, avoid speaking carelessly. Disaster comes from the mouth.”
Hearing this, Lianqiu fell silent, merely feeling aggrieved for his master.
Xiao Ji thought for a moment and reminded him, “Once Vice General Lin has settled matters, you go rest in the bridal sedan tonight.”
Although Lianqiu wanted to stay by Xiao Ji’s side to protect his master in case of any accidents, since Xiao Ji had spoken and he couldn’t always talk back, he could only lower his head and answer “Yes,” daring not to say more.
Lin Heng was indeed Xiang Yinnian’s capable general; his actions were crisp and efficient. Shortly after nightfall, Xiao Ji leaned against the carriage wall resting his eyes. He heard only the soft clink of blades, and before he even heard anyone speak, someone had already secretly boarded his carriage.
Xiao Ji opened his eyes and looked at the man sitting opposite him.
Clad in black armor, hair tied in a bun, the black iron mask was gone from his face. A pair of long, narrow phoenix eyes were so outstanding that they looked out of place with the mediocre mouth and nose—it was obviously a fake face.
Xiao Ji looked at him. “Do be careful of your wound.”
Xiang Yinnian hadn’t expected that Xiao Ji would recognize him at a glance even after he took off the mask. He pretended and deliberately said:
“What wound?”
Xiao Ji ignored him and immediately pulled open the carriage curtain, acting as if he were going to shout.
Xiang Yinnian’s eyes and hands were quick; he covered Xiao Ji’s mouth instantly. “It’s me, it’s me! What are you shouting for?”
Xiao Ji lowered his eyes, looking at the hand covering his mouth.
Xiang Yinnian let go.
Xiao Ji said, “In the dead of night, a reckless lecher boards my carriage just like that. Should I not shout?”
Xiang Yinnian scoffed, “What are you saying? Where is the lecher? Don’t talk nonsense.”
Xiao Ji looked at those phoenix eyes. “You are not Lin Heng.”
Xiang Yinnian wouldn’t admit it. “I am.”
Xiao Ji: “Then who was leading the team today?”
Xiang Yinnian: “He is the fake one. I am the real one.”
Xiao Ji pulled the curtain open again, acting as if to shout once more.
Xiang Yinnian covered his mouth and nose again. “Fine, fine, fine, I’m not Lin Heng. What is wrong with you? Can you stop making a fuss over nothing?”
Xiao Ji slapped Xiang Yinnian’s hand away. “Speak. Who exactly are you?”
Xiang Yinnian answered without thinking, “Just a common soldier.”
Xiao Ji sneered, clearly not believing it.
“Worthy of being the Beichen Wang’s man. Even a common soldier has such skill—assassinating a Prince in the palace and moving through it as if it were unpopulated, running to my sleeping quarters for help. So those words about asking the Wangye to favor me a couple more times were actually deceiving me.”
Xiang Yinnian froze, then said angrily, “Why are you so hard to fool?”
Xiao Ji was expressionless. “It is you who takes me for a fool.”
Xiang Yinnian ground his teeth. After a long while, he fabricated a new identity. “I am the Beichen Wang’s younger brother, Xiang Siyou.”
After saying that, as if afraid Xiao Ji would shout again, he quickly added, “The Northern Border is boring. I begged my elder brother to let me come out with the welcoming team to clear my mind. Aside from Vice General Lin, no one knows my identity. Don’t make a scene; later, I will definitely make my brother stay in your room every night.”
“My words carry much more weight than Lin Heng’s.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Ji stared into his eyes.
Xiang Yinnian’s heart drummed nervously, but he insisted firmly, “Yes.”
Xiao Ji then said, “Call me sister-in-law, let me hear it.”
Xiang Yinnian: “……….”
He opened his mouth, and after a long while, squeezed out a sentence: “That won’t do. You haven’t bowed to heaven and earth with my brother yet. A girl should still be more reserved.”
Xiao Ji’s expression was indifferent. “Then get out.”
Xiang Yinnian glared. “Why are you chasing me out?”
Xiao Ji: “A girl should still be more reserved. The future husband’s younger brother should avoid suspicion even more.”
Xiang Yinnian refused. Leaning back against the carriage wall like a rogue, he said, “I am wounded. The wind outside is strong, I cannot catch a chill. In times of emergency, one must adapt. My brother will understand.”
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the husband pretending to be the brother in law is there such a great thing???