Chapter 815: Deep Schemes Determine the Winds and Clouds

Love Shenjing, northern outskirts, Remnant Mongol Mission Camp.

Near dawn, the sky was dark and gloomy. The eastern horizon had not yet revealed the morning light. The wilderness outside the city was vast and deep, and everything was dead silent.

The mission camp was like a giant beast lurking in the darkness. Except for a few lighting fires, there was no other sound or movement.

It was the sleepiest time of the night. In front of the wooden camp gate, a team of soldiers in armor and carrying swords was patrolling with some lack of spirit.

Five hundred paces from the mission camp stood the Five Armies Camp, where three thousand elite troops were stationed.

Although the camp was equally silent, the patrolling soldiers were spirited and dared not be the slightest bit negligent.

Because these three thousand elite troops were stationed near the mission camp precisely to monitor the Remnant Mongol mission and prevent any unexpected events.

The two camps were five hundred paces apart, a distance that could be covered in an instant by a charging horse, forming a state of mutual entanglement and restraint. Neither side dared to act rashly unless absolutely necessary.

……

This time, the Remnant Mongol mission entered the capital to seek peace, with two thousand people in their entourage. In addition to the eight hundred who entered the city, there were still over a thousand stationed in the northern outskirts.

The Remnant Mongols were skilled in riding and shooting, brave and good at fighting. With over a thousand elite soldiers gathered in the camp, one had to be cautious in dealing with them.

Under the dark night sky, in the vast wilderness, the two camps appeared to be mutually supportive, but in reality, they were in a state of grim confrontation.

Although they were silent, the invisible power they generated filled the empty wilderness, like a physical force that lingered and did not dissipate.

Suddenly, the patrolling soldiers at the mission camp gate, who had been listless a moment before, seemed to perk up, looking toward the north in unison.

From the endless darkness in the distance, a faint, rapid sound could be heard.

The sound was extremely light at first, like the night wind sweeping across the wilderness, making it difficult to distinguish.

But the grassland people were long accustomed to the saddle, galloping across vast and boundless lands. Their hearing was sharper than that of the Han people; even from a distance, they could detect subtle movements.

The sound was extremely far away at first, almost inaudible, but it approached the mission camp rapidly, instantly breaking the silence of the wilderness.

The sound was rapid and dense, filled with arrogant power, like a drum hammer beating the earth.

The soldiers guarding the mission camp were all grassland elites, most familiar with the sound of galloping horses.

The momentum of the hoofbeats coming from afar indicated at least three horses galloping together to produce such a sound.

The leading soldier thought of the message passed in the city and suddenly realized, rushing into the camp to report.

The mission camp soon erupted in commotion. The silence was broken, and the camp gate swung open.

More than ten horses rushed out of the camp, heading toward the sound of the hoofbeats.

The mission camp made a huge commotion, startling the Five Armies Camp five hundred paces away. Fires lit up one after another in the camp, and countless soldiers poured out of the tents.

Key positions in the camp were quickly occupied by soldiers, and the entire Five Armies Camp revealed a dangerous aura within a few breaths.

……

At the camp gate of the Five Armies Camp, a captain rode out alone, heading slowly toward the mission camp to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

Before he could get close to the mission camp, more than ten horses rushed out of the dark night, galloping like lightning, quickly rushing into the mission camp.

The galloping horses stirred up a strong wind, carrying an aura of bravery. The Five Armies Camp captain was shocked and subconsciously reined in his horse.

He shouted loudly, "I am Li Haoyang, a captain of the Great Zhou's Five Armies Camp. I have been ordered by my commander to ask why there is such a commotion in your camp. Please inform me immediately!"

Among the soldiers guarding the mission camp gate, a leader stepped out.

Speaking with a slightly stiff Han accent, he shouted, "The mission's messenger arrived from the north just now. The horse team was ordered to go out and meet them. It is nothing major."

The captain felt relieved hearing this. Over a thousand Remnant Mongol mission soldiers stationed outside the city was a very sensitive matter.

The three thousand elite troops of the Five Armies Camp were responsible for monitoring, naturally keeping their nerves on edge, fearing any changes.

But the Remnant Mongol mission entered the capital to negotiate peace. In order to obtain the greatest benefits from the peace agreement, it was reasonable to report the situation to the grassland for consultation and decision-making.

The captain saw that the mission camp had returned to tranquility and turned his horse around to return and report.

Not long after, the two camps returned to silence. Under the cover of the dark blue night, it seemed as if nothing had happened.

However, two horses quietly rode out from the back exit of the mission camp, galloping toward the Love Shenjing.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, another horse rode out of the camp, also galloping in the same direction.

But since it was still early, even if they reached the city gate, they would have to wait until the third quarter of the Mao hour (5:45 AM) for the gate to open to enter the city.

……

Love Shenjing, Association Hall of the Court of State Ceremonial, Ordos Hall.

Winter nights were long. The east revealed a trace of morning light, staining the horizon with hazy light, but the Association Hall was still shrouded in dark silence.

On the veranda of the main house of the hall, hurried footsteps could be heard. The leader of the entourage, Hu'Hu Ergan, stopped at the door.

He said softly, "Noyan Taiji, news from the camp outside the city. A messenger arrived from the north, and they entered the city as soon as the gate opened."

Inside the room, the bed was fragrant and sweet. Hearing the voice outside, Nuoyan Noyan Taiji sat up, his face revealing excitement.

However, he didn't rush to get up and open the door, asking, "Is it the messenger from Father Khan coming from the north?"

The maid Xiaoxia, who was sleeping beside him, sat up with sleepy eyes, looking drowsy.

She gently lifted the quilt, the collar of her cotton undershirt open, revealing a water-red bellyband and a patch of skin as clear as jade.

She jumped nimbly off the bed, lit the candle on the side table, took a cotton robe from the clothes rack, and carefully draped it over Nuoyan Noyan Taiji.

Outside the door, Hu'Hu Ergan continued, "Noyan Taiji, it is not the Great Khan's messenger, but a messenger from the Tuman tribe."

"You asked us to keep a close eye on the movements of the north. They discovered that the people were rushing through the night, entered the camp, and quickly left to enter the city."

"They looked very urgent, so I sent people to follow them along the way and followed them into the city to report to you urgently."

Nuoyan Noyan Taiji's hair was disheveled, but his sleepiness had vanished. The flickering candlelight reflected his handsome face, full of disappointment.

He muttered to himself, "The letter has been sent for many days, but Father Khan's messenger has not arrived yet. I don't know if there was a slip-up, but the Tuman tribe's messenger entered the city overnight……"

"Hu'Hu Ergan, keep a close eye on the movements of the Tuman tribe's hall. If there is any movement, report back immediately. Xiaoxia, help me dress."

Xiaoxia said, "Noyan Taiji, it's not dawn yet. You haven't slept well these past two days. You should sleep a little longer, lest you ruin your health."

Nuoyan Noyan Taiji said, "How can I still sleep? I'm not that delicate. I just hope nothing goes wrong……"

Xiaoxia had no choice but to help him dress and tie his belt, and help him comb his hair, but Nuoyan's gaze was fixed outside the window.

He muttered to himself, "I thought it would be smooth sailing, but it's been full of twists and turns. Now I'm even a little afraid to see Jia Cong……"

……

Lady Rongguo Prefecture, Jia Cong's courtyard.

Outside the window, the dark sky was beginning to reveal the first morning light. The indifferent light shone into the room through the gaps in the window lattice.

Bright yellow light spots were left on the jujube wood floor, and the quiet darkness of the room seemed to be lit up instantly.

The Tai-blue incense burner flickered with a faint red light, exhaling the sweet scent of Suhe incense.

The curtains of the canopy bed hung low, the brocade quilt was soft, and the room was full of fragrance.

Hearing Zhi Shao snuggled up to Jia Cong, her fair and tender face leaning against his shoulder, her hair like clouds and mist, scattered on the gauze pillow.

Even though she was still in a sweet dream, her snow-white, silky arms were subconsciously wrapped around Jia Cong's waist, as if she couldn't bear to part.

Perhaps it was a bit warm, the brocade quilt slipped off slightly, revealing a section of snow-white, flawless shoulder, and the jade-like spring mountain wrapped in a light blue bellyband.

The bellyband was embroidered with peony branches, the vines intertwined, exquisite and detailed, lifelike, elegant and fragrant.

Since their first intimate night, when Jia Cong said he liked the color of peonies, Hearing Zhi Shao had never forgotten it and had privately made many pieces……

When the light on the jujube wood floor became a bit brighter, Jia Cong woke up from his deep sleep.

He took out the gilded Western pocket watch from under the pillow and looked at the time in the dim light of the bed—it was just right.

His body moved only slightly, and Hearing Zhi Shao, who was leaning beside him, woke up, opening her watery, bright eyes and asking, "Is Cong Sanye getting up?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "It's a bit early; we can still lie for a quarter of an hour."

Hearing Zhi Shao sat up and said, "It's better to get up early. Cong Sanye has to enter the palace for the morning court, and there are many things to attend to. It's never wrong to be early."

Jia Cong reached out and hugged her waist, and Hearing Zhi Shao's soft, smooth body fell into his arms involuntarily.

He smiled and said, "The things for getting up are all handled by Qingwen and the others. It won't take long before everything is ready."

"Why is your energy better than mine? Weren't you tired at all last night?"

Hearing Zhi Shao's face felt a bit hot hearing this, her mouth pursed slightly, and she leaned obediently in his arms.

She took Jia Cong's gilded pocket watch and played with it in her palm, looking carefully at the watch hands. ===== CHAPTER 816 =====