Yun Si Man performed a proper bow to Gu Ming Yan, "Marquis, your subordinate has returned late. I beg your forgiveness..."
With the issue of Xiao Xin Ling's marriage alliance resolved, his anxious heart finally found some peace.
Otherwise, that girl changed her demeanor daily. If she completely lost interest in him, Yun Si Man wouldn't even know where to cry.
Moreover, a great fool like Ming Fei Che was utterly unworthy of Xiao Xin Ling...
"Qing Feng, where have you been?" Gu Ming Yan's expression was not good.
Yun Si Man cupped his hands, "Marquis, your subordinate went to Yan for a trip to handle some personal matters!~"
"I heard the Emperor sent you?" Gu Ming Yan casually poured a cup of tea and took a sip.
"Yes!~" Yun Si Man nodded.
After finishing all his affairs, he would go see the Emperor and ask him to bestow Xiao Xin Ling upon him, or even make him a consort...
Gu Ming Yan sighed softly, put down his teacup, and walked to the window. "The barbarians from the Northern Frontier have invaded, encroaching upon Daliang's territory, slaughtering innocents without regard for heavenly justice. They have caused the common people to be displaced and the land to be strewn with corpses. The Emperor has issued a death order: no matter the method, we must drive out the barbarians!~"
As he spoke, Gu Ming Yan turned around and patted Yun Si Man's shoulder. "Qing Feng, you are this Marquis's most trusted subordinate, astute, capable, and quick-witted. This time, this Marquis is entrusting you with a very difficult mission. I hope you can complete it as soon as possible..."
Yun Si Man was stunned upon hearing this.
What kind of mission could be so serious?
The barbarians invading meant nothing more than fighting on the battlefield. What other strange mission could there be?
"Marquis, please give your command. Your subordinate will not shirk his duty!~" Yun Si Man said.
Gu Ming Yan grunted, his expression very pleased. "This Marquis was indeed right about you. You are like this..."
He leaned close to Yun Si Man's ear and whispered a few words, then cautioned him, "Han Chi Er, that old fox, is extremely cunning. You will be infiltrating the enemy camp, so caution is paramount. If you cannot capture him alive, then killing him directly is also acceptable. Do you understand?"
Yun Si Man twitched the corner of his mouth. The difficulty of this mission was indeed not small.
Capturing Khan Han Chi Er alive, how easy could that be?
But since it was an order from Gu Ming Yan, he had to obey...
"Your subordinate, your subordinate understands!~" Yun Si Man replied.
However, before departing, he wanted to see Xiao Xin Ling.
It would be even better if he could visit his family in Dashui Village, but time was tight, the mission was urgent, and the weather was so cold. He had to depart immediately...
Gu Ming Yan said, "Rest for a night, and leave at dawn tomorrow. This is your travel money!~"
As he spoke, he took out a silver note and pressed it into Yun Si Man's hand. "If you complete the mission, this Marquis will reward you handsomely!~"
Yun Si Man: "..."
You said the same thing last time. He painstakingly stole the design blueprints for the neighboring country's crossbows, and the Marquis only gave him half a month's leave.
But it was enough. He could return to Dashui Village to reunite with his family. That kinship was priceless.
After leaving the Marquis's mansion, Yun Si Man led his horse for a stroll along the long street, eventually walking to the entrance of the imperial palace...
"Has the little girl missed me?" Yun Si Man scratched his head.
When they were together, they disliked each other. When they were apart, they missed each other dearly. This was perhaps a unique state of love!
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to go into the palace to take a look.
The palace rules were strict. Outer males were not allowed to meet the princess alone, nor approach her sleeping quarters even half a step...
Therefore, Yun Si Man planned to first pay his respects to the Emperor, discuss the matter of Ming Fei Che, and then, when it was dark, sneak to find Xiao Xin Ling.
Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance, Emperor Cheng was discussing countermeasures with a group of military and cabinet ministers. Eunuch Zhao suddenly tiptoed in.
"Your Majesty!~"
Emperor Cheng glanced at him and said impatiently, "If you have something to say, spit it out quickly. Don't you see I'm busy?"
Eunuch Zhao, holding his whisk, leaned close to Emperor Cheng's ear, "Your Majesty, Yun Lao Si has returned and wishes to see you..."
Alas, if Sweet Baby had left a day later, the siblings could have met.
"He returned so quickly?" Emperor Cheng was full of surprise.
Did that kid actually go to Yan?
If he dared to be perfunctory or deceive me, I would absolutely not accept him as a consort...
Eunuch Zhao nodded and pointed outside the door, "He is waiting outside!~"
"Go and bring him to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I will come to see him later!"
"Yes!"
Half an hour later, Emperor Cheng hurried into the Hall of Mental Cultivation and immediately saw Yun Si Man standing at the entrance, his back as straight as a door god...
"Your subject pays his respects to Your Majesty!~" Yun Si Man bowed.
Emperor Cheng squinted at him and asked indifferently, "Did you sabotage the marriage alliance?"
"It's ruined!~" Yun Si Man replied.
Emperor Cheng was curious, "How did you do it?"
A marriage alliance between countries was no small matter. Someone who could ruin such a thing must be very capable...
Yun Si Man coughed lightly, "Your subject, your subject castrated him!~"
"What?" Emperor Cheng swayed, almost fainting, "You turned Prince Ming into a eunuch?"
This kid was not just bold, he was exceptionally bold.
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Zhao instinctively lowered his head, glanced at a certain area, and wore a helpless expression...
Yun Si Man nodded, "That's right. This way, he will never pine for the Princess again!~"
"Does he know your identity then?" Emperor Cheng pressed.
"No!" Yun Si Man suppressed a smile.
How could he expose his identity when doing such a thing? What if Ming Fei Che flew into a rage and came to settle the score?
Emperor Cheng stroked his short mustache, a mixture of amusement and exasperation on his face. "You certainly have your ways. What, do you think you've passed my test this way?"
Yun Si Man: "..."
What else do you want?
My legs are about to break from exhaustion, can't you let me rest?
Seeing Yun Si Man's resentful expression, Emperor Cheng decided not to tease him further and suddenly became serious. "I heard Marquis Gu sent you to the Northern Frontier on a mission. This journey is fraught with danger. When you return victorious, I will not only keep you in the court as an official but will also seriously consider your marriage to Xin Ling. How about it?"
Yun Si Man: "..."
This old rascal is truly cunning.
Never mind, let's worry about returning alive first.
"Your subject obeys the decree!~" Yun Si Man agreed.
That night, the full moon hung high, and the starry river was brilliant.
In Luan Feng Palace.
Xiao Xin Ling had Granny Gao cook a bowl of noodle soup, sprinkled with some cilantro, and was eating it listlessly...
She was already tired of the food in the palace and missed her life in the old Yun family more.
Just as she was about to ask Granny Gao to fetch her a cup of tea, a dark shadow descended from the sky and landed in front of Xiao Xin Ling.