Chapter 194: There is a traitor
With the efforts of He Yunxiao, Fan Ziruo and others, the peace factions of Qi and Yan were finally able to sit together to discuss major issues.
After several days of discussion, the peace advocates of the two countries have generally reached a unified opinion.
That is, Luoyue Pass was exchanged for a valley in the northeast corner of Hexi County.
The selection of this valley was also the result of discussion by everyone in Qi State. Firstly, the size of the valley is not large, and there are very limited narrow roads for people and horses to walk. Secondly, the terrain here is open and cannot hide people. Thirdly, this place is not too far from Yin Jing. If the Yan army dares to show up here, they can use Yin Jing's advantage. The troops directly blocked them back. It is absolutely foolproof to choose this place for exchange.
If everything goes smoothly, we only need to find ways to convince the warring factions on all sides, or win over enough centrists, and Qi Yan's peace agreement can be reached.
However, He Yunxiao felt that things would not go so smoothly.
The Southwest King will at least mess around a bit.
The main venue for Qi Yan's peace talks was in the courtyard of Honglu Temple in Yan State.
Every time Xiubao went in for a meeting, He Yunxiao would wait for her outside Honglu Temple. Since He Yunxiao also had an official position in the peace negotiation team, he would sometimes sneak into the team and listen to their arguments. Negotiating peace is really a tiring job.
It was nearly noon when Fan Ziruo and a group of officials walked out of the courtyard.
He Yunxiao hurriedly greeted him, "How is it?"
Fan Ziruo breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Let's talk in the car."
When they got to the car, He Yunxiao couldn't wait to ask again: "Has the peace negotiation been concluded?"
"No."
He Yunxiao explained: "That's right. The Southwest King is not that easy to persuade. Even if we reach an agreement, we still need to keep talking."
Fan Ziruo looked calm and shook his head gently.
He Yunxiao said in surprise: "Not the King of Southwest?"
"No." Fan Ziruo looked at He Yunxiao and said with some laughter and tears: "The leader and faction who had the meeting with us have some tricks up their sleeves."
"Ah? How is this possible?"
"In today's peace meeting, we were just about to direct the topic towards the general policy, but the King of Southwest told us the 'result' in detail."
"This... this is impossible... Aren't the people we are looking for all in favor of peace and an armistice? Moreover, before the meeting with the leader of Yan State and the faction, we had already discussed it with them individually and reached an agreement with them on their needs. Have you reached a unified point of view?”
Fan Ziruo is not surprised by the existence of "fine work".
She said: "It stands to reason that if we really solve the needs of the peace faction of the Yan Kingdom, they will definitely not go back on their word, leak information about the small meeting to the main war faction, and deliberately sabotage the peace talks. Therefore, there are only two possibilities for the existence of 'detailed work' . The first is that we have misunderstood the needs of some Yan leaders and factions and have not really reached an agreement with them. The second is that it is not the Yan people who have released the news, but our own people."
He Yunxiao thought for a while and said: "I think the latter is unlikely. The people who went to the small meeting, besides you and me, are Li Gongqin, the Minister of Rites, and others. They are all Meng, ahem, all of Her Royal Highness the Princess. He is unlikely to deliberately sabotage the peace agreement, right?"
Xiubao said: "What if the eldest princess ordered them to destroy it?"
He Yunxiao shook his head decisively, "Impossible."
"Why is your husband so sure of the princess's feelings?"
He Yunxiao scratched his head in embarrassment. He couldn't think of the words for a moment, so he could only say with a smile: "The situation in Qi is like this. Your Highness is a smart man, and he will definitely make peace."
The weakling's eyes lit up and he praised, "I didn't expect that my husband could see so clearly."
Looking at Xiu Bao's smiling face, He Yunxiao breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he got it right, otherwise when Xiu Bao continues to question, Meng Bao's identity may not be preserved.
Fan Ziruo added: "Since it is unlikely that the eldest princess gave the order, the only person who leaked the results of the peace negotiation is the Yan State."
Similar to Mengbao's situation, the main peace faction in the Yan Kingdom are basically Li Xiangjun's subordinates.
"Husband, you often say that Miss Li is restricted by her grandfather. Have you ever actually visited the Li family?"
He Yunxiao understood the implication of Xiang Bao's words. She was doubting Li Xiangjun.
"No." He Yunxiao said honestly.
"My husband can't trust her easily."
"But Miss Li... I think she's pretty good." Xiangbao's words always make sense. When He Yunxiao defended Li Xiangjun, he subconsciously lost a little confidence.
Fan Ziruo smiled and said: "Ziruo didn't say it was definitely Miss Li's problem. It's also possible that some people were the spies sent by others to her side, but they just happened to be sent by Miss Li to negotiate peace."
…
Although Xiangbao didn't say it clearly, He Yunxiao could still see her concerns about Li Xiangjun.
Intellectually speaking, He Yunxiao felt that Xiangbao's concerns were correct, but emotionally speaking, there might be a filter of Mengbao, and He Yunxiao was unwilling to believe that Li Xiangjun was the evil person.
He Yunxiao came to Tingfeng Tower alone to find Nangong Yu'er.
After explaining the purpose of his visit, Nangong Yu'er stared at He Yunxiao in shock.
"Sir, you are too brave to secretly investigate Emperor Yan."
"Can't Tingfeng Tower do it?"
"Not really. It's just the first time Yu'er has heard such a request."
He Yunxiao nodded, "That's fine with you, girl. The price is easy to negotiate."
"No money is needed. I just ask you, Master, to keep Yu'er's secret secret." Nangong Yu'er looked at He Yunxiao and said seriously.
"What's the secret?"
"Master, wait a moment."
He Yunxiao watched Nangong Yu'er get up and walk softly outside the house with lotus steps. Then the footsteps gradually disappeared. After a while, her footsteps gradually sounded until she pushed the door open and entered.
When Nangong Yu'er came back, she had a small animal skin bag in her hand.
"This is……"
"Master, please look." Nangong Yu'er gasped slightly as she spoke, obviously walking in a hurry.
He Yunxiao opened the small bag handed over by Nangong Yu'er. Inside were some large and small notes. And the "Li's daughter" recorded on those notes was obviously a high-ranking person.
Damn it? Li Xiangjun’s secret?
He Yunxiao looked at Nangong Yu'er with wide eyes. I call him a good guy in my heart.
Did she just call me "daring"? Who is so bold?
Due to his status, few people can stare at Nangong Yu'er "directly". But now, He Yunxiao did just that.
Although his eyes were empty and devoid of any emotion, they still made the young ladies in the waiting room uneasy.
Nice romance
"Master, why are you staring at Yu'er like this?" Nangong Yu'er said embarrassedly, her cheeks slightly red.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I just didn't expect you to be so brave."
"Yu'er is investigating these things just to protect herself."
"If I confess these things, wouldn't you be doomed?" After He Yunxiao finished speaking, he immediately realized something was wrong and quickly added: "Just kidding. Tell me this, and we will be grasshoppers on the same rope from now on. I will help you keep the secret."
Nangong Yu'er smiled slightly and said: "Young master, you can be more elegant and say, 'One glory brings glory to another'."
He Yunxiao smiled and said: "This is easy to handle. From now on, if I have a mouth to eat, you will have a bowl to wash."
Nangong Yu'er was stunned for a moment, and suddenly burst into laughter.
Looking at the beautiful woman opposite who was smiling tremblingly, He Yunxiao admired it for a moment and then gradually put away his playful thoughts and focused on the information in the animal skin bag.