Chapter 675: Chapter 675: Tuoba Shan

Xun Cheng subtly took a small step back, his features relaxing as he smiled and nodded. "Yes."

Princess Qingyang was overjoyed, of course, but she was even more curious. "How can you be so certain? Do you already know something?"

Xun Cheng chuckled. "Your Highness needn’t be so courteous. To be honest, I only helped pass on a message. The one who truly and bravely rescued King Yan Nan all on his own was the Ye Family’s fourth son."

Hearing this, Princess Qingyang grew even more certain of her guess. She couldn’t help but turn to Ye Chutang and raise a triumphant eyebrow. "See? I told you! The key to winning this battle was your fourth brother!"

Ye Chutang smiled without a word, not bothering to argue with her.

However, Princess Qingyang was still deeply grateful to Xun Cheng and readily changed her tone.

"Mr. Xun, you’re being too modest. If you hadn’t acted as the liaison, we probably couldn’t have gotten the Ye Family’s fourth son as reinforcements, let alone anything else! So I must still offer my thanks!"

Hearing her finally drop the honorifics, Xun Cheng felt relieved.

In the Capital City, if people heard Princess Qingyang being so polite to him, it would surely cause a lot of misunderstandings.

He had intended to keep a low profile on this trip to the capital and had no plans to stand out. Otherwise, he would have mingled with King Yan Nan’s and Ye Yunfeng’s entourage long ago. Why would he have deliberately waited until after them to enter the city?

Xun Cheng pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing how to begin.

Ye Chutang suddenly asked, "Is it because of that Nanhu captive?"

Xun Cheng paused. He met her gaze, then shook his head with a resigned smile. "I really can’t hide anything from you."

"A captive?" Princess Qingyang asked, puzzled. "What does he have to do with it?"

Ye Chutang paused for a moment before voicing her suspicion. "King Yan Nan personally led his troops back to the Capital City this time specifically to deal with this captive, didn’t he?"

Xun Cheng didn’t try to hide it, simply nodding. "Yes."

’As I thought.’

Ye Chutang hadn’t asked about the captive at all before, but judging by King Yan Nan’s series of reactions after the battle, this person’s identity was by no means simple.

Princess Qingyang vaguely began to grasp the meaning, but it was still unclear.

King Yan Nan had guarded the Southwest for many years. What kind of enemies hadn’t he seen? What kind of battles hadn’t he fought? A situation like this had never occurred before.

Just for a single captive, he had to travel a thousand miles back to the Capital City?

Seeing her expression, Ye Chutang added, "Of course, the main reason was still for you."

Princess Qingyang shot her a look. ’Isn’t it a little late to be saying that now?’

But she didn’t really mind. Anyway, she knew better than anyone how her father treated her, so why fuss over it?

Besides, he had been betrayed this time, facing one peril after another, and had nearly died in Long City.

That he could return now, sit atop his horse, and flash her a dashing smile, even coaxing her like he used to... that was more than enough!

Full of curiosity, Princess Qingyang asked, "So who exactly is this captive? To cause such a huge commotion?"

Xun Cheng paused.

"Tuoba Yu, the biological younger brother of the Southern Hu King, Tuoba Shan."

"What!?"

Princess Qingyang was so shocked she almost cried out. When the others looked at her, she realized she had lost her composure and quickly covered her mouth.

But the shock in her almond-shaped eyes was still plain to see.

Ye Chutang was also a little surprised. After a moment of thought, she asked, "I’ve heard that Tuoba Shan dotes on this younger brother?"

"Correct." Xun Cheng nodded. "The two brothers were born of the same mother and have been extremely close since childhood. Tuoba Shan’s ascension to the Monarch’s throne was largely thanks to his brother’s steadfast support. After securing his position, Tuoba Shan regarded him with special importance, enfeoffing him as Prince Su and constantly bestowing rewards upon him."

He looked at Princess Qingyang. "I hear Your Highness has been to the Southwest before, so you have probably heard something of this."

Princess Qingyang came to a sudden realization. "Right, I have heard about that. The two brothers are incredibly close. No wonder... No wonder!"

’To think Ye Yunfeng actually caught such a big fish!’

"The Nanhu have surely received news of Tuoba Yu’s capture, but this is a matter that absolutely cannot be made public." A knowing smile touched Xun Cheng’s lips. "After all, it was Tuoba Yu who first led his troops into Long City’s territory. If this were to blow up, the Nanhu would be in the wrong. They don’t dare to openly declare war yet, or else they wouldn’t have resorted to such a crude sneak attack. Therefore, Tuoba Yu’s identity must not be known to the world!"

Ye Jingyan, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "So that’s why King Yan Nan’s battle report claimed those men were all Nanhu bandits?"

"Correct."

Xun Cheng glanced at him with a smile, not at all surprised by his astounding acuity.

The first time he had met them, the two brothers were just a pair of half-grown boys. Only a few years had passed, and now Ye Yunfeng was already capable of slaying enemies and earning merits. It was perfectly normal for Ye Jingyan to be so meticulous, cautious, and sharp-witted.

Ye Chutang nodded slowly. "In that case, everything makes sense."

The world may not know that Tuoba Yu was the one captured, but Tuoba Shan certainly does.

He would never stand by and watch his brother die.

And if Tuoba Shan wants to save his dear brother’s life... well, that will depend on his "sincerity."

If he can’t bear to lose his brother, he will have no choice but to bow his head and negotiate.

As for the outcome, that would be beyond his control.

Princess Qingyang also quickly figured out the cause and effect of the situation and had a flash of insight. "So, until this matter is resolved, my father will be staying in the Capital City?"

Xun Cheng nodded. "Members of the Nanhu Royal Family should already be on their way to the Capital City."

It was a war without the smoke of gunpowder, but the outcome was already decided.

Princess Qingyang was delighted.

"That’s wonderful! My father gets to stay in the Capital City for a while, and I get to watch a good show! It’s killing two birds with one stone!"

She gave Ye Chutang a thumbs-up, full of admiration. "Good thing I listened to your advice and didn’t go to the palace with them. Otherwise, I would’ve gotten tangled up in more trouble."

The more you know, the more trouble you attract.

Although she was quite happy, she had no interest in these political affairs. It was much more relaxing to stay here and drink tea!

Xiao Wu scampered up to Ye Chutang, her little face also full of excitement.

’Does this mean that Fourth Brother will be able to stay longer this time and spend more time with us?’

Ye Chutang pinched her cute, delicate little nose.

"Don’t worry, your fourth brother is always thinking of you!"

Xiao Wu beamed with joy.

Ye Chutang looked at Xun Cheng, her gaze falling on his leg.

"Anyway, let’s not talk about that. Now that Tuoba Yu has been brought back to the Capital City, we can just leave the rest to them. But what about your leg? After such a long journey, has it been feeling uncomfortable at all?"

It had taken them just over ten days to get from Long City to the Capital City, which was by no means slow.

It would have been fine for anyone else, but Xun Cheng’s leg ailment hadn’t fully healed yet, so he must have suffered on the trip.

"I’m fine."

Xun Cheng’s expression was open and clear, without a trace of shadow, and he wore a faint smile.

"Thanks to you, it’s been much better these past two years than it was before."

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