Chapter 823: A Cunning Plan

Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi flew into Tang Jinghong’s room through the window, spotting the man overwhelmed with troubles behind the desk, she softly called out, “Jinghong!”

Tang Jinghong felt as if he was hallucinating for a moment, but as he slowly lifted his head, under the moonlight, Chu Qingzhi, draped in a snow-white rabbit fur cloak, with her delicate face, entered his sight like a fairy.

He quickly realized it was real and joyfully embraced Chu Qingzhi, “Qingzhi.”

With a smile in her eyes and arms wrapped around Tang Jinghong’s waist, Chu Qingzhi’s expression was filled with happiness, “Surprised to see me?”

“Not surprised, but delighted. I didn’t expectyou to come find me,” Tang Jinghong said, holding Chu Qingzhi like a precious treasure, his heartbeat racing with excitement and joy.

Chu Qingzhi spoke gently, “I came to check on you, and to see what’s happening with the seeds.”

Tang Jinghong gently let go of Chu Qingzhi, his loving gaze fixated on the girl he thought about day and night, feeling as if he could never get enough of her, “You’ve worried yourself. Are you hungry? Should I cook something for you?”

Chu Qingzhi’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes twinkling at Tang Jinghong, “I’m not hungry, but I would love to eat something made by you.”

Which girl wouldn’t want to be pampered by the person she likes?

Tang Jinghong immediately said, “I’ll go to the kitchen and make some snacks for you. Rest in the room, and wait for me.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded, her smile soft, “I’ll listen to you.”

“Wait for me a moment, I’ll be quick,” Tang Jinghong headed straight to the kitchen.

Seeing Tang Jinghong busy in the kitchen, everyone was puzzled…

Was their general trying to distract himself from the stress by keeping busy?

Meng Shengdong and Qi Kaiming peeked into the kitchen door, watching their general immersed in cooking. They exchanged glances, wondering why the general wasn’t acting like his usual self. What was going on?

Both were now worried not only about the seeds but also about their general’s unusual behavior.

Qi Kaiming anxiously scratched the wall, “Shengdong, what’s wrong with the general?”

Meng Shengdong shook his head, “Don’t know. Do you think this is some kind of strategy by the general?”

Qi Kaiming turned back to Meng Shengdong with a sarcastic smile, “What a great idea!”

After thinking it over, Meng Shengdong walked into the kitchen, “General, are you hungry? If so, let us make something for you.”

They were not only versatile in literature and martial arts but also skilled in cooking, and even embroidery if needed, truly talented in various areas.

Tang Jinghong didn’t refuse the free labor, “Help me with the fire.”

This made Meng Shengdong more convinced that Tang Jinghong was up to some plan, promptly responding like it was a military command, “Yes, General.”

What kind of strategy involves being so formal about lighting a fire? Wasn’t he more relaxed usually?

Chu Qingzhi stayed in the room, extending her divine consciousness to envelop the entire inn, monitoring everything inside. Even a spider couldn’t escape her notice now.

There must be an insider involved!

After a while, the door gently opened, and Tang Jinghong walked in with a tray in his hands. After entering, he placed the tray on the table, “Qingzhi, come and try this.”

Chu Qingzhi approached, “What delicacy have you prepared?”

Tang Jinghong introduced, “This is called Biro, a food everyone at the border really likes. It’s delicious, try some.”

Biro resembled spring rolls but with thicker and larger wrappers, enveloping the filling and baked to a slight golden brown, looking very appetizing.

Chu Qingzhi sat down, picked one up, and began to eat.

The outer layer of the wrapper was crispy, followed by a softer texture inside.

The filling was generous, delivering a mouthful of flavors that left one exceptionally satisfied.

Chu Qingzhi offered one to Tang Jinghong, “Jinghong, you eat too.”

“You eat, it was made especially for you,” Tang Jinghong gently watched Chu Qingzhi, “Seeing you eat makes me happy enough.”

Chu Qingzhi pushed one closer to Tang Jinghong again, “It’ll taste better if we eat together.”

“Then let’s eat together.” Tang Jinghong took the Biro in his hand.

Meng Shengdong and Qi Kaiming stood below Tang Jinghong’s room window, utterly shocked.

Meng Shengdong cupped his hand behind his ear, leaning towards the window of Tang Jinghong’s room, he heard a girl’s voice, “Kaiming, has the general finally become lonely?”

Qi Kaiming slapped Meng Shengdong on the back of his head, “What are you talking about? You must have heard wrong. The general is not that kind of person!”

Meng Shengdong was sure he hadn’t misheard, “I heard wrong, so you did too?”

Qi Kaiming remained silent; he too had heard a woman’s voice. The general had always kept a distance from women, how could there be a woman in his room?

They exchanged looks, feeling somewhat unable to face their own general.

Everyone in the inn was awake, with many guards in the backyard, all of them couldn’t help but speculate.

Inside the room, Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong sweetly enjoyed their late- night snack before getting down to business.

Together, they went to the backyard where the seeds were stored.

Everyone’s eyes widened in shock, “…”

It was Miss Qingzhi!

When had she arrived? How had they not noticed at all?

Tang Jinghong glanced at everyone, and they immediately resumed their serious demeanors.

He then said to Chu Qingzhi, “The seeds have been here since they were brought in, without being moved.” Saying so, he opened the sack to show Chu Qingzhi.

Chu Qingzhi looked and then… her face showed surprise, what she saw was not stones, but…

She grabbed a handful from the sack, then spread her hand open in front of Tang Jinghong, “Jinghong, take another look at what’s inside. Are these really stones?”

Tang Jinghong looked again, confused, “They are stones, what’s the problem?”

The problem was significant; what was clearly in the sack were seeds, but Jinghong saw them as stones. Chu Qingzhi pulled Tang Jinghong’s arm over, taking his pulse.

“Jinghong, I need a drop of your blood.”

Tang Jinghong drew a dagger, immediately cutting a small opening on his fingertip, blood seeping out.

Chu Qingzhi leaned in to smell, detecting the presence of a mild hallucinogenic substance, different from typical narcotics. This drug wouldn’t cause hallucinations but under suggestion, could make one see something as something else.

Such a clever adversary!

Tang Jinghong, seeing the change in Chu Qingzhi’s expression, grew uneasy, “Qingzhi, what’s the problem?”

Chu Qingzhi didn’t answer his question but asked, “Do you trust me?”

Tang Jinghong answered without hesitation, “Of course I trust you!”

Chu Qingzhi said, “Then pretend what happened before didn’t happen. Continue with the original plan to transport the seeds to the capital, I assure you I’ll help you retrieve them.”

Who the insider was, was still unknown, so caution was necessary.

Moreover, she planned to use a counter-strategy to lure the adversary out, thus the fewer people knew about this, the better. They had to play the part fully, and it was best even Jinghong didn’t know.