236: Chapter 0236 is troublesome

"Marquis, what did you say? She is a Princess?"

Several officers looked at each other, confused. Where did she pop out from?

Lin Xiao spoke with a solemn face: "This Princess Li Xinglan before you is the daughter of the late Princess Consort, and her status is noble."

"The Prince has already sent a message to this Marquis, agreeing to the court's decree of bestowing favors and transferring the fiefdom of the three prefectures to the Princess."

"Since you are all soldiers of the Yan Kings Army and the Prince is not here, you should naturally hold the Princess in high regard. Why haven't you come down to pay your respects?"

A group of officers looked at each other, thinking to themselves, has the Marquis of Ruyang gone mad, wanting to elevate a little girl to such a high position?

But these men were also shrewd, and they soon had an "epiphany"—

Right! He is looking for a "scapegoat"!

General Yelu Chuku would not retreat; Qizhou, and even Tai Prefecture, would certainly be heavily encroached upon.

Once a large chunk of the Yan Region was carved out by the Khitan people, someone would have to take the blame.

Isn't this Princess Li Xinglan the best candidate?

Consequently, while cursing the Marquis of Ruyang for being shameless, the group of generals all wore smiles and came down to bow respectfully.

"Greetings, Princess!"

Princess Li Xinglan was still in shock at this moment, staring intently at Lin Xiao's face, trying to see if there were any clues.

"Princess, come back to the camp with this Marquis. Tomorrow morning, we will besiege the city. We must make General Yelu Chuku release the Prince!"

Lin Xiao said meaningfully: "Rest assured, this Marquis will naturally fulfill what he promised you."

Princess Li Xinglan's beautiful eyes instantly narrowed. She completely believed that the person in front of her was an impostor of Lin Xiao!

Although she knew about the Disguise Technique in the martial arts world, this was too lifelike!

With her heart settled, Princess Li Xinglan cleared her throat.

"This Princess naturally trusts the Marquis's character. Then, I will have to trouble the officers and soldiers!"

The group of generals sneered inwardly. She was just a young girl after all, and she believed it just like that?

The Marquis of Ruyang had probably already sold you to the Khitan people long ago!

After returning to the camp, Lin Xiao immediately summoned a group of generals and took out the scroll of the decree of bestowing favors.

When the soldiers saw Prince Yan's handwriting, they fully believed it.

For a time, all seventy thousand soldiers of the Yan Kings Army, under the leadership of the "Marquis of Ruyang," raised the banner of Princess Xinglan.

Furthermore, Lin Xiao immediately ordered an eight-hundred-li express dispatch to report to the imperial court that the Prince of Yan had agreed to the decree of bestowing favors.

As long as Emperor Hong gave his nod, Princess Li Xinglan's status would be confirmed.

Late at night.

Lin Xiao escorted Princess Li Xinglan to a newly erected tent.

After dismissing the others, Princess Li Xinglan finally couldn't help it and reached out to touch Lin Xiao's face.

Lin Xiao slapped the woman's hand away. "Princess, you are now the master of the Yan Region, the commander-in-chief of seventy thousand troops. Be more dignified."

Upon hearing this tone, Princess Li Xinglan giggled: "It really is you. Isn't this Disguise Technique a bit too amazing? Can you teach me?"

"Why, so you can steal things more easily after learning it?"

"No, it's so I don't have to pay when I lose a bet, and I can just slip away!"

Lin Xiao didn't continue joking and said seriously: "We will start the siege tomorrow. The Khitan people might be desperate enough to do anything."

"General Yelu Chuku might charge out at any time. You must stay by my side and not run around."

Princess Li Xinglan smiled brightly: "Do you like me that much?"

"Of course. If you die, finding another puppet will be very troublesome."

Princess Li Xinglan instantly stopped smiling and turned her head away: "This Princess is tired. Marquis, you may withdraw!"

Lin Xiao was very self-aware and walked straight out.

When he arrived outside the tent, Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, then walked back to his own tent as if nothing had happened.

Not long after, a cautious-looking man walked to the entrance of Princess Li Xinglan's tent. It was Wei Kongming.

He found an excuse to make the guards walk away before bowing toward the tent:

"This subordinate, Wei Kongming, requests an audience with Princess Xinglan."

Princess Li Xinglan's voice came from inside.

"It's late at night. What is the matter?"

Wei Kongming frowned: "This subordinate knows it is inappropriate to disturb the Princess in the middle of the night, but I truly have an important matter to report."

After a while, Princess Li Xinglan walked to the tent entrance, looking aloof.

"Speak, what is it?"

Wei Kongming knelt on one knee directly: "Princess, the Marquis of Ruyang cannot be trusted. He claims to be retaking Qizhou for you, but the Yan Kings Army has no ability to repel the White Wolf Cavalry."

"He says this mostly because he has secretly made a deal with General Yelu Chuku. After ceding territory and paying reparations, he wants the Princess to take the blame!"

"This subordinate has been deeply favored by the Prince and cannot bear to see the Prince's bloodline cut off. I am willing to escort the Princess away from this place!"

Upon hearing this, a complex look appeared on Princess Li Xinglan's face.

Even that kind of bastard Prince had loyal subjects...

"General Wei, this Princess will pretend I didn't hear what you just said. You may leave."

After speaking, Princess Li Xinglan turned and went inside.

Wei Kongming sighed heavily. He had done his best, but he didn't know what kind of hypnotic potion Princess Li Xinglan had been fed.

Helpless, he had to stand up and walk away despondently.

Lin Xiao was not far away, and after hearing the conversation between the two, he couldn't help but nod.

This Princess Li Xinglan was usually carefree, but when she really needed to put on the airs of a Princess, she was actually quite convincing.

And this fellow Wei Kongming was quite a talent.

Lin Xiao muttered to himself, walking unconsciously to his own residence.

"Marquis, you are back. This slave has been waiting for a long time."

Qing Zaner lifted the curtain and welcomed Lin Xiao inside.

As soon as Lin Xiao opened his arms, the woman helped him remove his armor very gently.

"This slave heard the soldiers saying that the Marquis has brought back Princess Li Xinglan. Does the Marquis really intend to hand over military power?"

Qing Zaner looked at Lin Xiao with charming eyes that seemed to speak, smiling sweetly.

Lin Xiao sat down, poured himself a cup of water, and took a sip.

"When did you discover that I am not the Marquis of Ruyang?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Qing Zaner's expression changed drastically. She was so frightened that she took a step back, her voluptuous body trembling.

"Mar... Marquis, what are you saying? This slave does not understand."

Lin Xiao said: "The way you look at me is like looking at a stranger. You might think you hid it well, but I can feel it."

"Besides, you placed a pair of scissors under your pillow. Surely that wasn't for needlework, right?"

In fact, Lin Xiao was only half-testing her. Sure enough, this "person by his side" had seen through his disguise.

However, Lin Xiao didn't care. Qing Zaner was already on Princess Li Xinglan's revenge list anyway.

If she interfered with his grand plan, he wouldn't mind destroying a flower.

Qing Zaner took a deep breath, trying to calm her surging emotions.

"May I ask... who exactly are you? Where did the Marquis go?"

Lin Xiao didn't say a word and took out the Marquis of Ruyang's personal jade pendant, which was still stained with blood.

"I killed him. Do you want to join him?"

Qing Zaner's pupils dilated in shock. Suddenly, she knelt directly on the ground and began to weep "softly."

She was naturally charming and alluring, and this crying made her look even more like a rain-drenched pear blossom, pitiful to behold.

This left Lin Xiao dumbfounded. Was she really that easily frightened?

Before he could say anything, he saw Qing Zaner kneeling properly, her eyes wet with tears, and she kowtowed to him directly!

"Thank you, sir, for avenging this slave. This slave has no regrets in death. You may take this lowly life at any time!"