Chapter 430: Absolutely Avoid Being Robbed

Chapter 430: Absolutely Avoid Being Robbed

Xie Yuan gave Chu Xiaozi a slight nod, which immediately helped her feel less tense.

"I... I left Yanjing planning to travel around a bit, heading north. I had just arrived at Jiuyuan when the Rong Prince rebelled. I initially planned to return early, but unexpected circumstances delayed me for a few days, and I couldn’t leave in time."

She finished her quiet explanation to Su Youyue and looked at her with bright, expectant eyes.

Shu Mo watched in amazement, surprised that this young fellow could be so obedient. Even more surprising was that she knew Lord Xie and his wife. She truly had many hidden depths.

"I see, and how did you meet Young Master Hua?" Su Youyue wondered, reflecting that these girls' lives have changed because they had the chance to venture out into the world.

But for them to go even further, the country needed to be stable first.

This time, Hua Qingyun spoke up, greeting Xie Yuan and Su Youyue before explaining, "This young man had helped me twice before, and that's how we became acquainted."

As they spoke, the people behind them began to recognize Xie Yuan. One by one, they became excited and tried to rush forward. Gao Sheng, who accompanied Xie Yuan, quickly suggested, "Lord, it's better to continue our conversation in the private room."

Once they entered the private room, the noise outside persisted. The three servers bickered over who would bring tea to the private room. At a glance from the shopkeeper, they immediately quieted down. But then, the shopkeeper himself carried the tea into the private room, leaving the three servers speechless.

"Lord Xie, please, have some tea. This is some famous Keemun black tea from my personal collection..."

The shopkeeper looked up and was momentarily stunned by the stunning faces before him, his words stumbling awkwardly.

"Although it's last year's tea, there's no other batch like it in all of Jiuyuan Town. Due to the poor tea harvest last year, an old friend of ten years saved this for me, knowing I love this tea..."

Seeing Xie Yuan glance at him and nod slightly, and with both the handsome young master and the other young boy smiling at him, the shopkeeper clutched the tray to his chest as he left the room in a daze.

When the three servers ran over to ask, it took him a long while to snap out of it, licking his lips and saying, "I never imagined that in my old age, I would see immortals..."

Inside the private room, Hua Qingyun picked up the teacup, gazing at the clear, red tea. He took a sip and was immediately refreshed by the aroma, which was both fruity and orchid-like, the rich taste lingering pleasantly. His face brightened immediately.

"Thanks to Lord Xie's good fortune, I get to taste the shopkeeper's private collection."

Xie Yuan replied, "If Young Master Hua were willing to reveal his rank and status, the shopkeeper wouldn't hesitate to offer his best."

Hua Qingyun was taken aback for a moment before chuckling, "I'm just a scholar. What rank or merit do I hold?"

Su Youyue interjected, "If it weren't for the shortcut map you drew, we wouldn't have arrived so quickly. Don't downplay your contribution. We've already reported your achievement to the Emperor."

Beside them, Chu Xiaozi's mind flashed back to when she had seen Hua Qingyun drawing. At the time, she had teased him for having the leisure to draw at such a time, but he had just smiled and put the map away. She hadn’t expected it to be a military shortcut map.

No wonder he had known exactly when the imperial reinforcements would arrive.

Her face flushed with embarrassment, but since Hua Qingyun wasn't looking at her and was instead engaged in conversation with Xie Yuan and Su Youyue, the heat on her face gradually faded. Watching Hua Qingyun and Xie Yuan converse so fluidly, she couldn’t help but think that aside from their teacher, this was the first time she had seen someone interact with Lord Xie so evenly.

Toward the end of the conversation, Xie Yuan actually invited Hua Qingyun to join the army as a strategist. Chu Xiaozi held her breath, eagerly awaiting Hua Qingyun's response.

Hua Qingyun immediately agreed, "If Lord Xie needs my assistance for the country, I will do my utmost to assist."

In an instant, the person who had always been so kind and smiling to her had not only become someone who contributed greatly to the country but was now a military strategist defending the nation. Watching both Lord Xie and her teacher devote themselves to serving the country, Chu Xiaozi suddenly felt a little useless. She hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering her head.

After their conversation ended and they bid farewell, she caught up with Su Youyue.

"Instructor..."

Su Youyue turned around, her gaze gentle as she looked at her. "What is it, Xiaozi?"

Seeing Su Youyue accept the title of "Teacher," Chu Xiaozi felt a surge of joy in her heart, but soon hesitated again. "I... is there any work in the town that I could help with? I'm free anyway, so I might as well lend a hand."

Chu Xiaozi had come at just the right time, as Su Youyue was indeed short-handed.

After the gates were temporarily opened, scattered civilians had been coming to seek refuge in Jiuyuan Town. While the population surge was a minor issue, the bigger concern was the potential infiltration of spies.

The town already harbored numerous men loyal to the Prince of Rong, and if more spies infiltrated, it would spell serious trouble.

After considering this, Su Youyue decided to keep Chu Xiaozi around: "As a matter of fact, there is work to be done. Come back with me, and we'll talk."

Chu Xiaozi, being smart and more familiar with local customs than even the soldiers or the covert guards, and having served as a spy in the inner quarters, was the perfect candidate to act as an informant.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xiaozi's spirits lifted instantly, and she eagerly followed Su Youyue.

Upon entering, Chu Xiaozi saw a catapult in the backyard, and inside the nearby room, there were piles of plain, crude ceramic jars. At first glance, they appeared to be ordinary stone blocks.

She instantly understood that these were the "secret weapons" developed by the imperial court—the very things that had caused the earth-shaking impact at the city gate, forcing the Prince of Rong to retreat.

Chu Xiaozi couldn't help but gaze curiously.

Noticing her curiosity, Su Youyue led her closer for a better look: "These are the catapult's ammunition. They are forbidden to come into contact with open flames, as they will explode upon ignition, with tremendous force."

Each jar had three fuses to prevent them from extinguishing, ensuring the ammunition would detonate.

Looking at this strangely shaped, mysterious weapon, Chu Xiaozi marveled: "What kind of genius created such an incredible weapon? Without this weapon, the Prince of Rong would not have retreated."

Before this, Chu Xiaozi had even doubted whether the Great Sheng dynasty could survive.

However, after seeing the ammunition, her doubts vanished. Now she felt confident that if the Prince of Rong attacked again, they would repel him with this weapon.

This was not just a weapon; it was a treasure!

The moment she thought of "treasure," Chu Xiaozi blurted out instinctively: "Teacher, we must safeguard this ammunition at all costs! We cannot allow thieves to get their hands on it!"