Chapter 25: Absurd Speculation

  When the motorcade escorting Wang Rui was about to arrive at Xueyuan City, Qian Budiao led all the cavalry and infantry to welcome them outside the city. The grand welcoming ceremony moved the soldiers under Wang Rui who had been wronged, and several of them even burst into tears.

  Warriors fight for glory, and glory is just winning the respect of others. Qian Bu's interpretation of respect has moved people to this extent.

  "Tong... Tong leads..." Wang Rui stuck his head out of the car, his eyes already moist: "Lian Cheng Sai..."

  "I understand." Qian Buli hurried up a few steps and grasped Wang Rui's shoulder: "You can rest assured, everything is under my control!"

  Wang Ruilu showed a surprised expression, and immediately turned into delight: "Commander..."

  "It's all my fault, I had some suspicions beforehand, but there was no evidence, and in the end, I thought I was just being too paranoid. If it wasn't for my mistake, you guys wouldn't have to suffer so much, it's all my fault... Qian Buli's face was filled with regret."

  "Command...". Besides "command", Wang Rui couldn't say anything else.

  "Take a rest." Qian Buli pressed down on Wang Rui's shoulder: "I won't let you suffer in vain, will I? Hehe..." Qian Buli's eyes shot out a cold and ruthless killing intent.

  Wang Rui felt warmth in Qian Buli's cold gaze, he smiled and closed his eyes, after four days of struggling to survive on the edge of desperation, he was indeed tired.

  Just as Qian Buli was thinking of ways to deal with Lian Chengze, a heated debate about him erupted between two people in a secret room within the Snowy City Lord's Manor.

  "Your Highness, this is getting more and more ominous!" Jia Tianxiang's face was full of anxiety: "He led the entire army to welcome Wang Rui, but didn't bring Your Highness along for this kind of thing that wins people's hearts. His intentions are suspicious indeed!"

  Ji Shengqin didn't say anything and quietly looked at Jia Tianxiang.

  "Your Highness, do you still remember the military review? He actually ordered the soldiers to cut down the golden dragon flag and even destroyed your carriage. Your Highness, he really has ulterior motives! What if he orders an attack on you in the future? Will the soldiers listen to his command?"

  "My lord, haven't you heard of the saying 'Use people without suspicion, and suspect those who are not used'?"

  "But..."

  "My earl, don't you think he's a profound and cunning person?"

  "Of course!" Jia Tianxiang said resolutely: "That's why I told you to be careful."

  "So... do you think someone with ulterior motives and a deep mind would recklessly provoke the dignity of our royal family, making me vigilant?" Ji Shengqin smiled: "What's the benefit for him to do so? He has only been in Xueyuan City for a short few days, without any foundation, is this approach wise?"

  "Maybe... maybe he wants to take control of the army as soon as possible!" Jia Tianxiang tried his best to find a reason.

  "Alright, you have a point." Ji Shengqing's smile grew even brighter: "Then think about it from another perspective, would someone so eager to succeed be a profound and calculating person?"

  Jia Tianxiang was speechless: "Perhaps..."

  "Don't forget, he was the invincible Emperor Qianlong before being frozen!" Ji Sheng's emotions slowly rose as she stood up: "His mind is not something we can fathom, but I know that I should trust him."

  Jia Tianxiang finally found a reason in Ji Shengqing's words: "Your Highness, I admit that his mind is not something we can fathom, but would he have guessed beforehand that Your Highness would think this way? That's why he deliberately made that move to dispel Your Highness's suspicions!"

  "Your Excellency, isn't this reason a bit far-fetched?"

  Jia Tianxiang thought for a moment and couldn't help but sigh with a bitter smile.

  "Three days ago, I was once desperate, it was a kind of despair that cut to the bone! My earl, do you know?" Ji Shengqing's body trembled slightly: "In that instant, I almost collapsed."

  "Three days ago?" Jia Tianxiang was surprised: "Wasn't that the day we won a great victory?"

  "It was that day, as soon as I heard the news, I went to find him, hoping to share the joy with him, but... I saw something that made me desperate."

  "Your Highness, what did you see?"

  "He had a sled prepared for him." The eyes of Ki Seong-je became distant, and tears began to well up: "He said he wanted to go sightseeing after the war, but... I'm not an idiot! On the sled, there were not only warm clothes, but also a month's worth of rations for a soldier! My count, tell me, what kind of sightseeing requires bringing so much food and clothing?"

  "Your Highness, you mean..."

  "He had long anticipated the victory, he had already thought of leaving us after the victory! Is there any other explanation besides this? Judging is absolutely not allowed to be preconceived, otherwise Ji Sheng would have discovered the suspicious point and would not have inferred such a vastly different and almost absurd conjecture."

  Jia Tianxiang fell silent, he also agreed with Ji Shengqing's judgment, preparing so many rations and clothes was not for leaving here, what else could it be? Their inference was indeed correct, but unfortunately Qian Buli was preparing to escape, while Ji Shengqing and Jia Tianxiang could suspect Qian Buli's intentions, but would never suspect the abilities of 'Qianlong Emperor'!

  "I know he's going to abandon us, but I don't resent him. He was once a mighty emperor who commanded the winds and clouds, while I'm just a powerless and insignificant long princess. Why should he have to help me?

  Ji Shengqin's tears finally fell as she spoke: "But...I'm scared, I'm really scared! Why did heaven cruelly extinguish the little hope that had just ignited in my heart?! I forced a smile on my face and talked to him, luckily I've been by my mother's side since childhood, so I didn't let him see through me. But who can know my pain..."

  As soon as she mentioned that day's scene, Ji Shengqin couldn't control her emotions."

  "I can see that he doesn't want to accompany me to the capital, but what can I do? He'll leave and never come back, no matter what. I must keep him here! The dignity of the imperial family... Ha ha, my earl, do you think in the eyes of Emperor Qianlong, there's a big difference between a princess and a maid?"