"What?" Hu Xiaotian asked. He could not help feeling puzzled. Great Yong was mired in the war between the Northern Frontier and the Black Hu people. How could it have time to provoke him? Did they intend to fight on two fronts at once? After a moment's thought, he said, "The battle for Yunyang is imminent. Perhaps their troop movements aren't aimed at us?"
"With winter here, fighting in the Northern Frontier has entered a truce," Huo Shengnan said. "Since negotiating peace with us, Great Yong hasn't made any large-scale troop movements in the south or along the Yong River. They should understand how sensitive such actions are. Deploying troops at a time like this can't be as simple as it seems."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Where's Yu Tianxing?"
"He went to White Spring City," Huo Shengnan said.
"I need to go out," Hu Xiaotian said.
Huo Shengnan guessed that he was almost certainly going to see Zhuge Guanqi. She nodded. "Go ahead. I'll have our people keep watching the situation at the Nanyang Water Fortress."
Taking some fruit with him, Hu Xiaotian went to Zhuge Guanqi's home. To his surprise, Long Xiyue and Visa were both there. Hong Lingxue was gifted as well as beautiful, and especially skilled at needlework. Long Xiyue got along wonderfully with her and had come that day to exchange ideas.
Seeing Hu Xiaotian arrive, Long Xiyue and the others came out to greet him with smiles.
"I didn't follow you here on purpose," Hu Xiaotian said with a laugh. "Carry on with your conversation. I just need a few words with Brother Guanqi." He set down the fruit.
"You're far too courteous, my lord," Hong Lingxue said. "You bring gifts every time you visit."
"I heard you hadn't been feeling well these past two days,