TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Replies

Only long after Murong Ke left did the zither come to a leisurely stop. Chen Rong pushed the instrument away, stood up and unhurriedly headed to her tent.

After waving the maidservants away, she lay in bed in careful thoughts.

If Murong Ke had promised not to humiliate her, then she should be safe in the coming days.

However, a lone woman imprisoned and patrolled in an army would need to think harder about her escape...

Bouts of laughter and hollers buzzed outside.

Seven days had passed in her tossing and turning.

Then came a day when the sound of hooves pounded beyond the commander's tent.

"I have urgent news to report, my lord."

Murong Ke stepped outside to retrieve the silk scroll from his soldier.

When they saw him wordlessly staring at the scroll, two advisers came forward and quietly asked, "Sire?"

Murong Ke placed the silk scroll in front of them: "Have a read."

They hurried to pick it up.

"Sire, this is excellent news!" They were overjoyed after taking a glance.

Another adviser happily added, "Aye. Luck is on our side."

The three of them were practically beaming. Murong Ke's leading an army here was risky business to begin with. Due to Shi Hu's deteriorating health, Ran Min's control over Nan'yang had greatly strengthened. The Murong House of Xianbei, moreover, wasn't very united. After a thorough debate, the Murongs finally agreed to cede the area in favor of guarding Ji City.

Murong Ke was secretly leading his light cavalry south behind his clan's back. He was unwilling to admit his last defeat at the hands of Wang Hong and terribly needed to erase that bad taste from his mouth.

His subordinates had been none too happy with his impulsive behaviors.

There was no more need for distress. If they could come back with Moyang's loot, even the king wouldn't have anything to say. And the clansmen would only shower their master, the Prince of Taiyuan, with praises and congratulations.

The three advisers laughed for a while and then turned to Murong Ke, one of the merrily saying: "Your luck is boundless, sire."

He smiled but saw that Murong Ke was shaking his head looking to be displeased.

"What makes my lord unhappy?" they asked in surprise.

"I'm not unhappy." Murong Ke clasped his hands behind his back and started to pace around his tent. "I have known this for a long time."

He raised his head and thought: Major cities like Nan'yang, Mo'yang, and Qi'yang are of great importance to the Jins. Anyone who wants to break into Jiankang will first need to take down these cities and cross the river, then the Jins will be without critical locations to defend.

Surely, the Jins must have thought of this even if they weren't united. He had anticipated them to send a new mayor to station in Mo'yang and Qi'yang once the situation in Jiankang stabilized.

Things were indeed going according to his expectations.

Yet, he did not think that the Jins would act so stealthily. His men had been probing for a long time without any news... But then, not only was there a definitive message today, he also got his enemy's exact route.