475: Chapter 475 Engaged in a Bitter Battle

Hu Wengui’s expression flickered with indecision. "Surely it won't come to that..."

"My dear husband, stop wasting your breath! He’s so blinded by greed he can't see anything else! Quickly, go tell all the Hu family's shops to restore their prices to normal!"

As Lady Hu was about to set off, Hu Xinyi stepped forward from the side.

"Aunt, let me go instead. You are, after all, the wife of the inspector general; your appearance represents my uncle's intentions."

"When the Prince settles accounts later, my father will still be guilty. For this matter, I must go on his behalf."

Lady Hu nodded with relief. "You’re the one who’s thinking clearly. You’re right, go quickly, child."

Hearing this, Hu Wengui felt his heart bleeding. "No! Even if we close all the shops, we can't sell at a discount!!"

"Father!!"

Hu Xinyi's face turned pale with anger. "You dare to hoard grain during a war? Do you want the Prince to take your head!? Do you still not understand!? We are trying to save your life!!"

"What's wrong with me hoarding grain? It’s not illegal! I think you, girl, have gone mad wanting to marry the Prince of Zhenbei!"

"Haven't you heard? His so-called 'commoner wife' is actually the Empress of Western Shu! Her status is as high as the heavens! Did you really think there would be a place for you by the Prince's side... Ouch!!"

Before Hu Wengui could finish, Lady Hu had already lashed him again with the whip.

"Xinyi, go. Leave this to your aunt," Lady Hu said with a cold face.

Hu Xinyi’s eyes were already misting over. She bit her lip, nodded, and turned to run out.

It was true. By the Prince of Zhenbei's side, if it wasn't an Empress, it was a Commandery Princess of a Marquis's Manor, a disciple of a Great Scholar, a female general from a prestigious family, or even, as rumors said, the Queen of Western Qiang or the Grand Shaman of the Northern Barbarians...

With her background, even marrying an ordinary minor noble would be considered marrying up. How could she ever catch the Prince's eye?

But... so what?

She just liked him. Was it not even allowed to keep that in her heart?

Hu Xinyi looked toward the gray sky in the east.

She wondered how he was doing in the Yan Region.

The Khitan Army had actually entered E Prefecture; was he also caught in a bitter struggle?

...

Shanglin City.

With the collapse of the temple, everything had fallen into chaos.

Many followers of Shamanism were beaten to death on the spot, and angry Khitan commoners spread news of the atrocities everywhere.

Lin Xiao was not surprised by this outcome. The Khitan were never a monolith; many tribes were oppressed by the Yelü Family and did not submit out of genuine loyalty.

With ironclad proof of Yelu Ajia's evil deeds, the Yelü Family's rule was essentially at an end.

What frustrated Lin Xiao was that he had to wait for two full days before Tulishen finally arrived.

Though he wanted to give him a piece of his mind, seeing the several wounds on Tulishen’s body, Lin Xiao knew the man had done his best.

"I beg your forgiveness, Your Highness."

Tulishen sat on a felt rug while a male scout used herbs to help clean his wounds.

"I didn't expect that my movements had already been discovered by Khitan King Yelü Dachuan."

"A scout camp was ambushed by them, so I was delayed for some time."

"It’s normal. They aren't stupid. As Marshal Suhe's most valued foster son, your continued absence would definitely lead them to investigate you."

Lin Xiao asked, "Have you managed to pinpoint Khitan King Yelü Dachuan's location?"

Tulishen nodded. "My men have found out. Khitan King Yelü Dachuan is at a place called 'Sandao Sea'."

"Sandao Sea?"

Gu Zhiyao showed a look of surprise upon hearing this.

"What, you know of it?" Lin Xiao looked at her.

Gu Zhiyao nodded. "I once traveled there. The so-called Sandao Sea consists of three plateau lakes."

"The biggest feature of that area is the hundreds and thousands of caves, which interweave like a labyrinth."

"The herdsmen say their ancestors lived in those caves, but they moved away later as it grew colder there."

"There are still many murals preserved in the caves; I've even seen some of them."

Tulishen was somewhat surprised. "This young lady is truly knowledgeable. Indeed, Yelü Dachuan is hiding in those caves."

"That place is easy to defend and hard to attack. Yelü Dachuan likely hid there for fear of assassination."

"With thousands of caves, catching him and finding my foster father will be extremely difficult in a short amount of time..."

Lin Xiao stood up and said, "Difficult or not, we must go. If we retreat in the face of hardship, wouldn't that be exactly what Khitan King Yelü Dachuan wants?"

Tulishen nodded heavily. "Your Highness is absolutely right. I will go with you!"

"Sir, those bastards' weapons were poisoned, and your wounds are still bleeding!" the male scout said worriedly.

"It doesn't matter! To save my foster father, I must go personally!"

It wasn't that Tulishen didn't trust Lin Xiao, but he knew that when it came to saving Marshal Suhe, Lin Xiao wouldn't be particularly focused on it; his primary goal would definitely be killing Khitan King Yelü Dachuan.

Lin Xiao quite admired this fellow—a true man of steel. No wonder Marshal Suhe valued him so much.

"Dr. Gu, please help him treat his wounds."

Gu Zhiyao was already prepared. She took out several silver needles and pushed the male scout aside.

"Move aside, move aside. Without neutralizing the poison, those crappy herbs of yours won't stop the bleeding even in three days and nights."

Seeing Gu Zhiyao about to apply the needles, Tulishen instinctively stepped back.

Seeing Tulishen's hesitation, Lin Xiao introduced Gu Zhiyao's identity.

Upon hearing that she was actually a successor of the mysterious Medicine King Valley, Tulishen and his men were greatly shocked!

Tulishen hurriedly and obediently accepted the treatment.

With just a few casual pricks from Gu Zhiyao, streams of poisonous blood began to surge out.

Tulishen's complexion quickly improved.

"There, just apply some medicine and you'll be fine."

Gu Zhiyao withdrew the needles and took out a bottle of healing medicine she carried with her to apply to him.

"As expected of Your Highness, the women around you are all paragons of their kind."

Tulishen remarked with emotion.

"What do you mean by that?" Lin Xiao felt it sounded a bit strange.

"Oh, on my way back, I received news from the Northern Border. I learned that your Princess Consort is the fallen Empress of Western Shu..."

Gu Zhiyao's hand paused while applying the medicine. Her beautiful eyes widened as she turned back to look at the man.

After a slight frown, Lin Xiao asked, "Is there any other news?"

Tulishen hesitated for a moment but confessed, "A Khitan Army has crossed Alimu Mountain and entered the heart of E Prefecture."

"Also, it seems the Qing Kings Army wants to enter Cang Province, but I can't guarantee how credible that is."

Lin Xiao rubbed his forehead. "Prince Qing... he's been quiet for so long, just waiting for me here."

"Your Highness, I know you must be worried about the Northern Border, but..."

Tulishen hadn't mentioned it earlier because he was afraid Lin Xiao would rush back to the Northern Border in a panic. If so, what would happen to Marshal Suhe?

"You don't need to say more. Since I have come, I have naturally prepared for the worst-case scenario."

Lin Xiao said with a calm face, "I knew about the Princess Consort's identity from the start. Even if it spreads, it won't affect the overall situation."

He had actually discussed it with Xiao Qingxuan—how to handle the "crisis management" once her identity was exposed.

But plans often fail to keep up with changes, and he didn't know if the woman had followed his intentions.

At this point, all he could do was trust that Xiao Qingxuan would make the wisest judgment.

"That Princess Consort of yours... is she really the Empress of the Xiao Imperial Clan?" Gu Zhiyao asked in a low voice.

Lin Xiao was taken aback, then smiled. "What, are you feeling pressured now that you're thinking about meeting her?"

A trace of flustered emotion appeared on Gu Zhiyao's face as she turned her head away. "Hmph, you're overthinking it. My Medicine King Valley stands aloof from the world. What does it matter to me if she is a commoner or an Empress?"

"I think so too. After all, Dr. Gu is both talented and beautiful, so what is there to fear?" Lin Xiao said with a beaming smile.

Gu Zhiyao felt her heart race under his gaze. Knowing full well the man was teasing her, she was still quite happy to hear him call her beautiful.

She just wondered what that Empress looked like...

Under Gu Zhiyao's hands, Tulishen's injuries were quickly brought under control.

Lin Xiao did not delay. Once the direction was clear, he led the two of them straight toward Sandao Sea.