Xue Ke tightly holds the bundle in his hands, his eyes fixed outside the forest.
After waiting for a long time, he finally sees a person with graying hair walking towards him.
That’s definitely Zhang Weihe; Xue Ke has never met Zhang Weihe, but the bounty notices for his capture have been posted on the city walls of the Capital City for years.
Xue Ke suppresses the panic in his heart, steps forward, and bows to Zhang Weihe: "Old General."
Zhang Weihe tilts his body slightly and says, "I do not recognize you; I cannot accept this."
Xue Ke is somewhat prepared; he raises his head and meets Zhang Weihe’s sharp and icy gaze.
Zhang Weihe asks, "How did you know I was stationed here?"
Xue Ke swallows and replies, "I was ordered to prepare military supplies, and the court got wind of the news that Song Xian led troops to Taiyuan Prefecture, and the Old General arrived in Guangyang County."
"My father once told me that there are several places suitable for stationing outside Guangyang County, so I came to find you."
Zhang Weihe responds calmly, "What business do you have with me?"
Xue Ke glances around, his gaze landing on Zhuang Xing’s face.
Zhang Weihe says, "There is nothing he cannot hear."
Xue Ke clearly pays some heed, hesitating for a moment before making up his mind: "Old General, you have met the people from Chen Family Village, haven’t you?"
Zhang Weihe didn’t expect Xue Ke to mention Chen Family Village; he nods.
Xue Ke says, "Then do you know that Chen Family Village fled from Xinzhou to Zhenzhou?"
Zhang Weihe frowns; he hadn’t expected Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou had such a past, but...
Zhang Weihe asks, "What’s the relevance of that?"
Xue Ke ponders and then says, "Old General followed Prince Guangyang for quite some time. When Prince Guangyang and his son fought back to Xinzhou, there were mountain bandits occupying the hills in Xinzhou, and Prince Guangyang led troops to eradicate those murderous and looting brigands. However, he left one group."
That group had also stained their hands with blood; they had killed government officials, and their occupied stronghold was seized from mountain bandits. The leader of this group was named Chen Youli, naturally strong, and even two Deputy Generals beside Prince Guangyang found him unmanageable. In the end, Prince Guangyang personally captured him."
Zhang Weihe recalls; he has never met Chen Youli because at that time he was following the old Prince Guangyang in battles, and he heard this later from Prince Guangyang.
Prince Guangyang captured Chen Youli in the mountains and interrogated the group, only to find out they were not actually brigands, but villagers who were driven into the mountains without choice.
Thus, Prince Guangyang allowed them to return to their village and distributed land for them to cultivate.
Because of this matter, Prince Guangyang considered promoting Chen Youli, but Chen Youli refused to accept and stayed in Chen Family Village as the village chief.
Could it be that Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou... is them?
Xue Ke says, "Presumably, the Old General has recalled, so I will not elaborate further."
After finishing his words, Xue Ke pauses for a moment, then smiles wryly: "Actually, I didn’t expect the Old General not to know about Chen Family Village. I thought mentioning Chen Family Village would naturally lead to it."
Xue Ke considers and exhales a long breath: "Since that’s the case, the Old General must not know why Chen Family Village left Xinzhou?"
Zhang Weihe’s expression turns displeased: "Speak directly; I have many things to handle, no time for idle talk with you."
Xue Ke shakes his head: "No... you don’t have that much to handle because the most important thing to you is what I’m about to say."
Zhang Weihe’s frown deepens, seemingly faintly guessing something.
Xue Ke continues: "Chen Family Village left Xinzhou to escort an important person out of the land of Eight States. My father knew of this matter because that person was personally let go by my father."
Zhang Weihe involuntarily clenches his hand.
Xue Ke nods: "It’s Prince Guangyang’s daughter."
In Zhang Weihe’s mind, it’s like a string suddenly snapped; beside him, Zhuang Xing’s expression changes too. It is Zhang Weihe who first regains composure: "What nonsense are you speaking?"
Xue Ke says, "It’s true, my mother realized they might face defeat this time, so she sent me to find Old General Zhang, requesting him to, in consideration of my father’s daring rescue of Prince Guangyang’s daughter, let me leave Baimaling."
Most of Xue Ke’s words were nearly lost on Zhang Weihe; his mind lingered entirely on Xue Ke’s earlier statement. He steps forward and grasps Xue Ke’s collar, flames seemingly dancing in his eyes: "Say it again, who didn’t die? Who did your father save?"
"The Commandery Princess," Xue Ke says, "Prince Guangyang’s biological daughter, the true Commandery Princess, not that fake Jiahui..."
Zhang Weihe tightens his fingers, causing Xue Ke’s collar to hurt painfully.
Zhang Weihe continues: "Repeat again, how did your father save her? What does it have to do with Chen Family Village?"
Xue Ke says, "Chen Youli knew Prince Guangyang had favored our family, discovered soldiers surrounding Prince Guangyang Mansion had my father among them, so he asked my father for help..." Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novel⚑fire.net
"The Princess Guangyang was undoubtedly unable to escape; the only one possibly left with a life was the Commandery Princess, so my father intentionally diverted personnel, allowing Chen Youli to sneak into Prince Guangyang Mansion and rescue the Commandery Princess. Then Chen Family Village took the Commandery Princess to Qi Land from Xinzhou."
"Last year, hearing Song Xian showcased in Zhenzhou, capturing Xiao Xingzong’s Thirteen Grand Protectors, the informant mentioned Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou; my father initially paid no heed, later, with the deposing of Princess Jiahui, someone mentioned Chen Family Village again, so my father sent someone to inquire."
"Though Chen Youli changed his name, the informant found out... the old village chief in Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou had an age similar to Chen Youli, and he was highly skilled, leading Chen Family Village to carve a bloody path."
"As for why Chen Youli didn’t change his surname, most likely because many in Chen Family Village were unaware of the inside story, making a big show of name changes would arouse suspicion."
"Moreover, there are many villages with the surname Chen; if not for Chen Family Village in Zhenzhou becoming famous, we would never notice."
Zhang Weihe’s hand slightly loosens; in his mind, images of the people from Chen Family Village flash constantly.
If Chen Family Village rescued the Commandery Princess, then where is the Commandery Princess now?
This time accompanying Chen Family Village to assist is Chen Yongsheng, who is also the current village chief of Chen Family Village...
No, Zhang Weihe’s eyes jolts; the person in charge isn’t the village chief of Chen Family Village but the niece of Chen Lizheng, Miss Xie.
The visage of the young lady suddenly appears before Zhang Weihe.
Miss Xie is a disciple of Xu Tingzhen; Xu Tingzhen stayed in Chen Family Village wholeheartedly to help, and together with Miss Xie made finished medicine to subdue the epidemic.
Miss Xie also rescued Yu Niang, Ayin, and other women.
The villagers in Zhenzhou seem to follow Miss Xie’s arrangements.
Miss Xie’s age surely isn’t that of the Commandery Princess, yet Miss Xie’s brows and eyes... seem somewhat similar to the Commandery Princess.
Could it be that Miss Xie is the Commandery Princess’s daughter?
Zhang Weihe is shocked to the core; if true, many things naturally fall into place.
For instance, Xu Tingzhen’s assistance, Song Xianlai’s finding him, and how the villagers of Chen Family Village ended up here.