Chapter 128: The Day Head Ding Gets His Wish?

“I heard you’re part of the delegation heading south this time?”

The ninth day of the tenth month, Chongli Ward.

Inside the Qingjiao Pavilion of the Law Academy, warm incense permeated the air.

Xu Jiuxi was almost swallowed by the soft cloud brocade couch. She had put on a padded silk jacket early and wore a scarlet cloak lined with fox fur indoors, holding a hand warmer in her delicate, pale hands.

Her eyelids were half-closed, her voice heavy with a sticky weariness, “I heard you’re part of the delegation heading south this time?”

So sleepy this early in the morning, what good things did she do last night?

“Yes. I received the credentials a few days ago. We depart on the fifteenth of this month.”

Having reached the Hua Gang Realm, Martial Artists were no longer sensitive to cold or heat, but in the depths of autumn, four charcoal braziers were burning in the Qingjiao Pavilion, making the air stuffy.

“Mm, Southern Zhao has a lot of miasma and poisonous insects,” Xu Jiuxi yawned, then turned and called, “Shu Yao, fetch a bottle of Vermilion Silk Pills for Head Ding~”

As Shu Yao fetched the medicine, Xu Jiuxi languidly explained, “Vermilion Silk Pills dispel miasma and poison. If you’re accidentally bitten by a venomous insect, they can also save your life.”

“Thank you, Sect Master, for the gift!”

Ding Suian knew that this woman had called him over today and, without reason, given him medicine; there was definitely something she wanted.

Sure enough, the next moment Xu Jiuxi gently patted her cheeks, rousing some spirit, “After The Ren-Chen Confucian Rebellion, the confucian renegades who escaped have been silent for many years, but recently, there have been reports of confucian renegades active in Southern Zhao. This time, as you accompany the delegation, you must thoroughly investigate the confucian renegades’ background and report it to This Seat upon your return.”

Finding members of the Confucian Sect and inquiring about past secrets was one of Ding Suian’s original reasons for volunteering for the mission.

But since Xu Jiuxi had spoken, he naturally had to play hard to get, “Sect Master~”

Ding Suian showed a troubled expression, “It is said that the confucian renegades are all highly skilled, so it may be difficult to approach them.”

‘Clap, clap~’

Xu Jiuxi gently raised her fair wrist and clapped her hands.

A scrawny young man with a thin mustache and two missing front teeth emerged from the side door in response.

Oh, an old acquaintance.

The Gray Rat under Sect Master Hao back then.

“With Gray Rat to help you scout, you won’t need to risk yourself personally.”

“Sect Master! It… it’s a demon!”

After the Lanyang Plague, Gray Rat, as a captured demon, was handed over to the State Religion.

Seeing it still alive and well, Ding Suian became even more convinced that there were many demons within the State Religion.

“Who is a demon? Whoever the State Religion deems a demon, is a demon!”

Xu Jiuxi suddenly sat up straight, her scarlet cloak slipping from her shoulders, causing a global tremor.

“.”

Seeing Ding Suian remain silent, Xu Jiuxi’s slightly cold expression softened into a gentle smile, and she comforted him, “Don’t worry, Gray Rat won’t show himself in human form. He will transform into his true form and help you gather information along the way without being discovered by others.”

As she spoke, she swayed her waist like a water snake and walked up to Ding Suian. Leaning forward, she took his hand, her fingertips intentionally or unintentionally brushing his palm, placing a two-inch-long small flag into it, then one by one, she closed his fingers around it.

Her movements were extremely slow, extremely gentle, her cool fingers sliding across his skin like a snake.

Then she leaned close to Ding Suian’s ear and said, “This is called the Plague Lord Banner. I’ll teach you the incantation later, and once you learn it, you can control Gray Rat.”

Due to their close proximity, her full, soft lips brushed against Ding Suian’s earlobe, almost imperceptibly.

This was quite an investment; Ding Suian should make a statement.

“Yes! I am willing to serve the Sect Master as a dog and horse.”

“Mm~”

At this moment, Xu Jiuxi still maintained her posture of leaning forward, with both hands resting on the armrests of the chair.

It was as if she had him trapped in the chair like prey.

It was also like a powerful, domineering female ‘kabedon’.

Her fragrance was intoxicating.

Seeing Ding Suian’s flushed, shy, and bewildered expression up close, Xu Jiuxi chuckled softly and said, “This Seat heard that you co-wrote a ‘tale of the red snake’?”

“Uh…”

“The Head Ding Ding Shuian in the book fought the Red Bamboo Snake all night?”

“Uh…”

“And it said… the Red Bamboo Snake was scared witless and begged for mercy repeatedly?”

“.”

A chill inexplicably ran down Ding Suian’s spine. Could Xu Jiuxi be a snake demon?

Little Fatty Jiang, I thank your whole family!

“Hehe, do a good job for This Seat, and perhaps there will be a day when Head Ding Ding Shuian gets his wish?”

By mid-October, news of the imperial delegation being dispatched to Southern Zhao had spread.

On the evening of the eleventh, Old Ding uncharacteristically came to Suimian Street.

As soon as they met, he said, “Son, can you not go to Southern Zhao?”

“.”

The last time Ding Suian went on a southern expedition with the army, Old Ding wasn’t this nervous. Ding Suian couldn’t help but wonder, “This trip to Southern Zhao is for peace talks, not war.”

“In any case, don’t go.”

“Dad, what are you so afraid of? Southern Zhao isn’t a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair.”

This sentence, for some reason, provoked Old Ding.

In over a decade, Ding Suian had never seen him so agitated. “Who’s afraid? What’s so good about Southern Zhao? Poor mountains and bad waters. Can’t you just stay honestly in Central Heaven? Why do you voluntarily take on a task that others avoid?”

Ding Suian looked at Old Ding suspiciously, “Dad, how do you know this task was something I voluntarily took on?”

“.”

Old Ding sat sullenly in his seat, seemingly stumped by the question.

Ding Suian pulled up a chair and sat opposite Old Ding, speaking gently, “Dad, these past few years, I feel like I’m living more and more confused…”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t understand the world, nor can I see myself clearly.”

“.” Old Ding was silent for a few breaths, then said, “A person lives for nothing more than a house, a bed, and food. What does it matter if you understand the world or not?”

“I don’t want to live my life in a muddle.”

“Sigh, son, why are you so stubborn?”

“Dad, what about you?”

“Me what?”

“Were you stubborn when you were young?”

“When I was young…” Old Ding probably understood his son’s words and shook his head with a self-mocking smile, “I was also very stubborn.”

“Then when Old Man disciplined you, how did you reason with him, Dad?”

“Him? He wouldn’t reason for shit.” Old Ding seemed to hold a deep grudge against the Old Man, then waved his hand, “Your Old Man died early, so let’s not speak ill of him behind his back.”

“Mm.”

“Sigh, a grown son doesn’t listen to his father. In short, don’t easily trust others when you’re out.”

“I will heed Father’s teachings.”

The next day, October twelfth.

As soon as Ding Suian arrived at the Honglu Temple Ward Military Patrol Post, Chen Yi, Li Meimei, Gao Gan, and others came knocking.

They had also heard that Ding Suian had become the Military Envoy for the delegation and had come to inquire about the situation and offer advice.

“If you ask me, Old Six is just a Military Envoy. Whether the peace talks succeed or not has little to do with him. Even if the outcome of the talks is unsatisfactory to the court, it’ll be my dad who gets scolded.”

The chief envoy of this delegation was Li Meimei’s father, Lin Hansu’s Senior Brother, and the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Li Qiushi.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Rites was purged, and Li Qiushi leaped from Vice Minister of Justice to Minister of Rites. Now it seemed the court’s sudden promotion of him had long been priced.

The cost was to lead these extremely difficult peace talks.

If the outcome was satisfactory, everyone would be happy; if not, Old Li would take the blame.

Hearing Li Meimei say this, Gao Gan countered, “It’s still better if the talks succeed. Six thousand comrades mean six thousand families.”

As the group was talking, a thin Old Man in a green silk gown poked his head in, peering into the Military Patrol Post.

Ding Suian recognized this person. The Steward from the Prince of Nanshuns Residence.

Some time ago, he had dispersed the ruffians and idlers gathered in front of the residence and set up additional guard posts outside the Prince of Nanshuns Residence.

Steward Yi from the Prince’s Residence had sent wine, meat, and silver as thanks.

“Steward Yi, is something the matter?”

Ding Suian stood up and asked. Steward Yi quickly bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Dutou Ding. My Prince wishes to invite Dutou to a banquet at the residence. There wasn’t enough time to prepare an invitation, but… would Dutou be willing to honor us with his presence?”

According to the rules for nobles, invitations to banquets needed to be sent three days in advance.

The Prince of Nanshun, enfeoffed by Great Wu, was the legitimate eldest imperial son of Southern Zhao. His Steward, if in Yunzhou City, the capital of Southern Zhao, would be equivalent to a fourth-rank official.

However, the long-term status of being a hostage meant that the entire Prince of Nanshuns Residence dared not show any arrogance.

Even inviting Ding Suian, a mere Dutou, for a meal, was done with an almost excessive humility.

Early noon.

Ding Suian arrived alone at the Prince of Nanshuns Residence. Prince of Nanshun, Yi Jinzai, condescended to wait personally outside the flower hall.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Dutou, no need for formalities, please come in, please come in~”

Entering the flower hall, he found a young woman standing gracefully inside.

Ding Suian couldn’t take his eyes off her for a moment.

She was around his age, dressed simply yet elegantly: a moon-white brocade patterned silk jacket, with only silver threads outlining chrysanthemum tendrils on the collar, revealing a slender neck. Her skin, fairer than snow, resembled mutton-fat jade, smooth and flawless.

Below, she wore a sky-blue pleated skirt, its fabric revealing the hazy layers of cloud-patterned crepe inside.

A single green jade hairpin in her hair, two pearl earrings, with no other superfluous adornments.

Her entire person exuded a subtle, understated nobility, only hinted at by the faint, hidden gold thread patterns of entwined lotuses on her skirt hem and the mutton-fat jade pendant at her waist.

Her brows and eyes were as dark as ink, and her thin lips were naturally crimson without rouge.

Perhaps Ding Suian had gazed for a bit too long, as her delicate brows subtly furrowed, and she spoke first, “I am Yi Yiyi, greetings, Dutou!”

Her voice was clear like an oriole.

She deliberately emphasized her tone.

Yi Yiyi?

‘Yi Yiyi’ or ‘Yi Yiyi’?

“I am Ding Suian, greetings, Young Lady Yi.”

Yi Jinzai quickly said, “Dutou, please take a seat.”

Yi Jinzai was not at all ‘Jinzai’ (energetic/spirited); on the contrary, perhaps due to his long years as a hostage, he appeared weak from excessive deference.

He not only personally served Ding Suian food but also frequently poured him wine.

“I’ve long heard of Dutou’s great name, but unfortunately never had the chance to meet. Seeing you today, I realize there truly is such a talented and handsome young hero in the world~”

“First, you achieved merit in the conquest of the Southern Kingdom, then you quelled the demon plague in Lanyang.”

During the banquet, Yi Jinzai’s flattery flowed freely, as if it cost nothing. Even when speaking of conquering his own motherland, he dared not mention Southern Zhao by name, referring to it only as’Southern Kingdom’.

It wasn’t until the end of the banquet that Yi Jinzai secretly winked at his daughter repeatedly.

It seemed he wanted ‘Yi Yiyi’ to open the main topic.

Yi Yiyi subtly raised her eyelids and toasted Ding Suian with her wine glass.

Her face was cold, and both her body language and expressions carried an inherent sense of detachment. Yet, when her single-lidded eyes looked at people, they always gave a feeling of tender affection, as if every glance, every look, was deliberately teasing.

If Ding Suian hadn’t been certain it was his first time seeing her, he would have definitely thought he had some history with this young lady.

“Dutou, this time my family will return south with the delegation. We entrust our safety along the way to you! If we can safely reach Yunzhou, there will definitely be a generous reward!”

After Yi Yiyi finished speaking, she gracefully tilted her head back and emptied her cup.

Ah, this is typical aristocratic negotiation thinking, starting by promising ‘generous rewards’ and ‘heavy thanks’.

It was like this when Lin Hansu was in trouble, and it’s like this with this San Yi now.

As if everyone who approached them was only after their meager possessions.

As the Military Envoy for this mission, Ding Suian’s duty was already clear. He thought the Yi Jinzai family was worried that their identities would be revealed to the Great Wu populace during their return south, leading to an attack. After all, many Great Wu soldiers had died in Southern Zhao, and it was possible some family members might not be rational.

He then said, “Your esteemed family can rest assured. Although our Great Wu lost this battle, the people of Great Wu also know that if we lose on the battlefield, we must win it back on the battlefield. Our Great Wu people would not do anything to harass your family for no reason.”

These words were not very convincing.

After all, some people had harassed the Prince’s Residence just a few days ago.

But in diplomacy, no matter how small the matter, one must stubbornly assert some reason even if it doesn’t quite fit, and one’s Aura must not be lost.

After a slight pause, Yi Yiyi said, “Dutou, my royal father is not worried about being in Great Wu, but about the journey to Yunzhou after entering Southern Zhao.”

Ding Suian was startled and looked at her, saying, “What do you mean?”

Yi Yiyi’s lips pursed slightly, and her gaze lowered, seemingly unaccustomed to making eye contact with men. “I wonder if Dutou knows that although my royal father is the legitimate eldest son, I also have two imperial uncles.”

“Oh?”

Listening to this, it seemed someone in Southern Zhao didn’t want the Prince of Nanshun to return to Yunzhou alive.