Who says the prince is weak and can't take care of himself?

Chapter 200 Is it really okay for you to be so free?

"Bai Xiqiao, spare his life." Tang Ling watched Bai Xiqiao turn around and walk down the city wall, shouted, and couldn't help laughing. They also had someone here who was eager to make military achievements. Ye Kaiqi was in trouble.

"understood."

He went down the city wall at Baixi Bridge and rushed out of Bashan City alone.

"Whoever is coming, please tell me your name!"

"White Creek Bridge."

Bai Xiqiao responded to Ye Kaiqi, brandished his sword and spurred his horse to rush towards Ye Kaiqi's face.

Ye Kaiqi certainly wouldn't hide, and rushed to Baixi Bridge with his spear in hand. No matter how sharp or powerful the blade was, it couldn't compare to the silver spear's length and strength, allowing him to attack and defend with ease.

Ye Kaiqi thrust his spear forward, and Bai Xiqiao, crouching on his horse, let the spear slide down his spine. His horse brushed past Ye Kaiqi, and Bai Xiqiao slashed back with his sword. Ye Kaiqi pulled back his spear, blocking Bai Xiqiao's sword. His arm trembled, having never imagined Bai Xiqiao's blow would be so powerful! Ye Kaiqi realized he had underestimated his opponent.

Xu Zheng watched the two of them exchange moves so recklessly and couldn't help but look at Bai Xiqiao twice. The young man was quite skilled and his surname was Bai. Was he related to Bai Liu?

Bai Xiqiao had used 70% of his strength in that strike, both as a threat and a test. Ye Kaiqi had withstood it, but Bai Xiqiao smiled. He could kill Ye Kaiqi within ten moves. However, Tang Ling had said she wanted to spare Ye Kaiqi's life, so they decided to try a different approach.

Bai Xiqiao turned his horse around and rushed towards Ye Kaiqi again. Ye Kaiqi held his spear in front of him, ready for battle. In a moment, Bai Xiqiao suddenly sheathed his sword. The next moment, Bai Xiqiao was in front of him. Ye Kaiqi had no time to think about what Bai Xiqiao was going to do, so he raised his hand and stabbed Bai Xiqiao in the chest.

Bai Xiqiao leaned back, letting the silver spear come straight at him. He leaned to the left and raised his arm to clamp Ye Kaiqi's spear under his armpit. He stretched out his right hand to grasp the spear shaft, spun around and pulled with the momentum of a galloping horse, causing Ye Kaiqi to lose his grip on the spear and it slipped out of his hand, forcing Bai Xiqiao to snatch the spear away.

Bai Xiqiao picked up the spear, turned around, and threw it towards Xu Zheng. The spear was like a flying arrow, drawing a long rainbow in the sky. The entire spear head was embedded in the ground, nailed in front of Xu Zheng's formation.

Ye Kaiqi was horrified and quickly drew his sword to chop towards Baixi Bridge again.

This time Bai Xiqiao did not try to take his weapon. He dodged Ye Kaiqi's blade lightly. He did not draw his sword either. Instead, he held the sword in its sheath and slapped Ye Kaiqi on the side of the face with his backhand. The "slap" weighing more than ten pounds hit Ye Kaiqi's helmet directly, shaking his head so much that it almost shattered. Before he could feel any pain, he was thrown off the horse's back and fell to the ground as if dead. His mount was frightened by Bai Xiqiao's attack and ran away on its own.

Bai Xiqiao turned leisurely towards Xu Zheng and smiled at him, "I'm Bai Xiqiao. General Xu, please remember this clearly. Is there anyone else you would like to teach me?"

Tang Ling saw it clearly from the city wall and couldn't help but applaud Bai Xiqiao. This slap in the face was more humiliating to Xu Zheng and the Qi army than killing Ye Kaiqi, and it would also inspire the Chen soldiers on the city wall.

Xu Zheng's other deputy general, Lu Jing, could no longer sit still and rode out, "I'm here! I'm Lu Jing, deputy general of the Zhenbei Army!"

Bai Xiqiao smiled and said, "Please." Tang Ling didn't say that this person couldn't be killed.

No one in the Zhenbei Army knew how powerful Ye Kaiqi was. I'm afraid even Xu Zheng didn't know. Bai Xiqiao was able to snatch his spear and beat him until he fell unconscious and fell off his horse. Some people might think that Ye Kaiqi was too useless, but Lu Jing was different. He was Xu Zheng's right-hand man and one of the best fighters in the Zhenbei Army. He was brave but not impulsive or foolish. He was the most suitable person to start with.

Xu Zheng had the opportunity to stop Lu Jing, but he also wanted to see how capable Bai Xiqiao was, so he let Lu Jing die.

Bai Xiqiao left no room for maneuver. Lu Jing came riding on his horse, and Bai Xiqiao jumped directly from the horse's back and pounced on Lu Jing.

Lu Jing wielded a broadsword, a bit longer than Chen Guo's, and swung it toward Bai Xiqiao. Unexpectedly, Bai Xiqiao, with his agility, managed to dodge past his sword, stepping on his horse's head and passing over Lu Jing's head. The moment he looked up, he swung his sword at him...

Bai Xiqiao landed steadily on the ground, the knife in his hand hanging naturally, with only a little blood foam on the blade.

Lu Jing had already fallen to the ground, and the red on his neck was particularly bright.

Bai Xiqiao stared at Xu Zheng, then looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. General Xu should be back at camp to cook. I won't see you off."

Bai Xiqiao no longer needed to prove anything to anyone. At this moment, no one in Xu Zheng's army would dare to come out and fight. His words just now, asking Xu Zheng to go back and cook, were extremely humiliating, and he was just trying to anger Xu Zheng to death.

Xu Zheng watched Bai Xiqiao walking back with his horse, and he was so angry that he tore the reins in his hand apart.

Not everyone in the 100,000-strong army saw the battle between Ye Kaiqi and Lu Jing at Baixi Bridge just now, but the two deputy generals around Xu Zheng, one fainted and the other died, and the whole world knew about it anyway.

In just this one battle, Baixi Bridge shocked the 100,000 Qi troops and amazed the Chen army, making him famous in one battle.

The soldiers on the Bashan City Gate were jubilant. Bai Xiqiao walked into the city gate leisurely, leading his horse. He was immediately surrounded by people and the cheers were deafening.

Tang Ling finished watching the wonderful show and smiled as she ordered, "Prepare a banquet to celebrate General Bai's victory."

"Yes!"

There were only 4,000 elite soldiers of the Dingyuan Army left in Bashan. They were left here by Qi Xiao to guard Bashan, and they were somewhat uneasy. Although Lu Xiulin still had some prestige in the Dingyuan Army, he had been away from the Dingyuan Army for too long and was not familiar with the soldiers. Qi Xiao had won the hearts of the soldiers in Fenglin Mountain and had become their backbone. Once Qi Xiao left, it was inevitable that some anxiety and speculation would arise.

Now they saw with their own eyes how powerful Bai Xiqiao was. He killed Xu Zheng's deputy general with one sword. What could be more exciting than this?

Tang Ling struck while the iron was hot and had people spread the story of Bai Xiqiao's life. He was the son of General Bai Liu and the direct disciple of Tianyu Jiangu Shanmo. He was strong enough to inherit his father Bai Liu's mantle.

Although Qi Xiao is not in charge of Bashan today, there is the battle-hardened veteran Lu Xiulin, the rising star Bai Xiqiao who inherited his father's career, and the brilliant and wise son of Xun'an Hou Tang Ling.

During their time at Fenglin Mountain, the army only knew that Qi Xiao had a frail military advisor by his side. Qi Xiao valued him highly and protected him with great care, but they had no idea of ​​his true origins. It wasn't until they entered Qi territory that word of Tang Ling's identity slowly spread. He was accompanied day and night by a team of Xingluo Guards, making him an odd fit for the Chen army. So, he simply opened up, no longer needing to hide anything. While building momentum for Qi Xiao, he also wanted to make a name for himself.

Tang Ling wanted the Qi court and Xu Zheng to know his identity and the allied forces of Chen and Zhou, so that the Qi court would not underestimate Xun Anhou's deployment of troops in Ningtang and his delusion of having a negotiation with the Great Zhou.

The first battle at Bashan was a victory. Tang Ling gazed towards the south, a smile on her lips. Qi Xiao would soon know.

The sky was a grayish blue, as if it was neither raining nor sunny. It was sunny in the morning, but now it was bleak, just like the mood of the Qi army at the moment.

Lu Jing is dead and Ye Kaiqi is still in a coma.

Xu Zheng and his generals and lieutenants sat together, each of them either gritting their teeth or scowling.

"What's the origin of Baixi Bridge?"

"The one standing on the tower is Lu Xiulin, right?"

"It seems to me."

"Where is that King of Chu, Qi Xiao?"

"I didn't see him. I heard that the King of Chu is less than twenty years old."

"General, what should we do?"

Amidst the buzz, someone finally asked a serious question.

"Have the people sent to Xingtian Pass returned?"

"Not yet. Should be back tomorrow afternoon."

"Send someone to investigate this Baixi Bridge and King Qi Xiao of Chu."

"Then, General, shall we attack the city tomorrow?"

"Encircle the north and south gates. Also, when night falls, send people to explore the creeks and canals."

"Yes!"

***

February 19th, cloudy.

On the fifteenth day of Xu Zheng's siege of Bashan, Tang Ling became more and more relaxed day by day, and was actually turning the soil and planting flowers in the yard.

This yard was rented by Tang Ling. It is very close to the South City Gate. The place is not very big, but fortunately it is very clean and has all the necessary things. There is no need to purchase anything extra.

Qinglan stood beside Tang Ling, watching her move the seedlings out of the pots and carefully plant them one by one in the turned soil. She buried them and compacted the soil, leaving spots of mud on her sleeves and robes.

"Sir, you don't even tend to the flowers and plants at home, so how come at this time, in this place... you still have the leisure to do so?"

Qinglan originally wanted to hire a gardener, but Tang Ling refused. Qinglan offered to help, but Tang Ling thought he was in the way. She didn't know why he was doing all this alone.

"Sir, why did you plant these crabapple trees? You went to so much trouble, and did it yourself. Why? Can a few crabapple trees really repel the enemy?"

Ever since the first day when Baixi Bridge killed a lieutenant general of Xu Zheng's army and seriously injured another, and killed people everywhere, Xu Zheng sent people to shout and insult at the city gate every day, but never launched an attack on the city. Tang Ling just left Xu Zheng alone and never paid any attention to him.

Tang Ling glanced at Qing Lan lightly: "I just have nothing to do."

Qinglan couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth. No one would believe this no matter who heard it.

"Sir... I didn't know this flower was so precious. It's not available anywhere in Bashan. I had to dig it up from the Xia family's garden."

Tang Ling smiled and said, "This weeping crabapple is beautiful and charming, and is known as the national flower of Qi. It is deeply loved by the Qi royal family, and is also planted in the summer resorts of Yu and Jin."

"Ah? Oh, are there?" Qinglan scratched his head. He considered himself the best in the world at identifying herbs and medicinal materials, and there was no need for him to be modest. But he had no interest in appreciating flowers. "Sir, did you fall for the flowers of the Xia Mansion the day we first entered Bashan? Two days ago, when we went to the Xia Mansion to ask Old Master Xia to sell us a few flowers, everyone in the Xia Mansion was terrified. They thought we were going to rob people and wanted to kneel down to us..."

The night they entered Bashan, Tang Ling and Qi Xiao hid in the Xia Mansion. Tang Ling had only glanced twice as they passed by the garden during the day. Qing Lan hadn't noticed at the time, let alone that Tang Ling would be so obsessed with the flowers in someone else's yard. But the crabapple tree was bare. How had Tang Ling figured that out?

Tang Ling sneered, but didn't slow down the work in her hands at all.

"Son..."

Tang Ling interrupted Qinglan's endless questions and turned to ask him, "Qinglan, where are the things I asked you to prepare?"

"Everything is ready." Qing Lan scratched his head again, "What do you want to do with the drill, awl, and carving knife?"

"To carve a seal."

"Master...Xu Zheng and his 100,000-man army are still outside the city..."

"Yeah, I know, so what?"

"... Is it really okay for you to be so, so free?"

"Xu Zheng is not in a hurry, why are you in a hurry?"

"Sir, there are 100,000 Qi troops outside the city, and there's also Xu Zheng. Don't you always say he's a famous general on par with Bai Liu? Why do I feel like you don't take him seriously at all?"

"Xu Zheng is the one who knows this northern border city gate best. Bashan is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Only a reckless person would want to attack it by force. The best strategy is to surround it without attacking."

"Besieging without attacking won't take Bashan back."

Tang Ling smiled and said, "He's waiting for reinforcements from the Chen Kingdom. Chen Heng has crossed Fenglin Mountain and will arrive early next month if he's quick. As long as Xu Zheng completely annihilates Chen Heng's Dingyuan Army, we'll be isolated and helpless in Bashan, and we'll have to surrender sooner or later."

"...Sir, are you still so leisurely?"

"Silly Qinglan, your young master is a master of strategy, why don't you trust me?"

"Young Master, you are extremely intelligent and strategic, so naturally I believe you. I just ask because I don't understand."

Tang Ling smiled at Qing Lan and said, "While I have some free time, tending to flowers and plants is a good hobby."

Qinglan opened his mouth but didn't say anything else.

"Qinglan, I'm hungry."

"Oh, then I'll go ask the kitchen to prepare the food."

Qinglan walked out of the yard, looked around, and called out softly, "Ye Huai."

Ye Huai suddenly appeared and stood diagonally in front of Qing Lan: "Hmm?"

Qing Lan was startled and took a half step back: "I was scared to death!"

"...You didn't call me?"

Qing Lan held his chest, shook his head slightly, took two steps forward and pulled Ye Huai: "Let me ask you, has anything happened to you recently?"

"what?"

"Don't you think he's weird? Planting flowers? Carving seals? What the hell is going on?"

"I do not know anything."

"How is that possible! You're always by the young master's side, with sharp eyes and ears, and you don't know who would know?" Qing Lan thought for a moment and said, "If there's something strange about the young master, it must be related to Qi Xiao, right? Is it him?!"

Ye Huai opened his mouth but still shook his head: "How can I guess what you are thinking, sir?"

Qinglan rolled her eyes at Ye Huai and said, "What use are you to me?" Then she walked towards the kitchen.

Ye Huai sighed silently. He was actually not completely unaware, but he was just guessing. Tang Ling had not told anyone anything.

February 19th, which is today, is Qi Xiao’s birthday.

Tang Ling's birthday was on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. That day, Ye Huai heard Tang Ling tell Qi Xiao that she might not be able to celebrate his birthday together, but she would prepare a gift for him and wait for him to come back.

If Qi Xiao could come back before Grain in Ear as originally planned, he would be able to catch the crabapple blossom season.

As for engraving the seal, Ye Huai couldn't guess.