Avoiding Risk

Seeing his daughter's expression change, Zhao Yuanxun quickly comforted her, saying, "Whenever there's a disaster beyond the Great Wall, people from there will come to harass our border. There will be some minor skirmishes every year. Our border soldiers are not to be underestimated; they have ample supplies, excellent equipment, and are well-prepared. We don't need to worry too much."

Zhao Yuanxun came from a military family. Although he was unable to assume important responsibilities due to health reasons, he was still familiar with border affairs. He had also been well-versed in military strategy since childhood. Even now, while serving in the Court of Judicial Review, he still pays special attention to information from the border.

"But what if they rob or burn the soldiers' provisions?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

"No," Zhao Yuanxun said. "General Fu wouldn't allow the grain to be piled up in one place; he would also station heavy troops to guard it. How could he let the enemy steal or burn it? This is a matter of life and death. Even if something were to happen, nearby cities would surely send reinforcements; they wouldn't just wait for the imperial court to send people over."

"The heavy snow has blocked the roads. If we really wait for supplies to be sent from the capital, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the border will have starved to death long ago," he added.

Zhao Ruxi nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

I have no idea how those people managed to drive 100,000 soldiers to that point in their past lives.

She ate her meal absentmindedly and returned to Slender Bamboo Courtyard, intending to write a letter to Xiao Lingyan. But after thinking about it, she decided against it.

Xiao Lingyan and Xiao Lingpu were trained as generals together. They naturally knew the situation at the border and had made preparations and countermeasures. She asked in her letter if Xiao Lingyan's reply fell into someone else's hands, especially someone who could read German, then she would really ruin Xiao Lingyan's great plans.

Instead of worrying about this, she should accumulate more points so she can gather more information for Xiao Lingyan when needed.

With that thought in mind, Zhao Ruxi picked up her pen and began practicing calligraphy again.

Her calligraphy was already 80% as good as Master Mingcang's. She could earn 82 points for practicing one piece of calligraphy. Practicing calligraphy was more convenient and faster than painting, so she practiced calligraphy whenever she had free time. Some time ago, she had already saved up enough points to buy Recovery Pill, met with Xiao Lingyan once, and gave him the pill.

She still has over four thousand points, which is enough to gather information.

Although Zhao Ruxi did not write to Xiao Lingyan, Xiao Lingyan took the initiative to write to her, telling Zhao Ruxi about the situation at the border and briefly outlining his arrangements.

These matters were probably quite important and could not be overlooked, so he wrote this letter very carefully, alternating between German, French, Japanese, and English.

Zhao Ruxi immediately replied to him, telling him not to talk to her about border matters anymore.

Whether it's written in letters or spoken, such matters are prone to leaks as long as the message is being transmitted. To be absolutely safe, it's best to keep it to yourself and only give instructions to subordinates when necessary.

Since neither the changing winds at the border nor the factional struggles in the palace and court could help Xiao Lingyan, why should she need to know his plans and increase the risk of the secret being leaked?

All she needed to do was stay home quietly, read books, and wait for this political turmoil to end. As long as Xiao Lingyan was safe, nothing else mattered.

In her letter, she instructed Xiao Lingyan to ask if he needed her to investigate any information.

When Zhao Ruxi handed the letter to Wang Tong, Wang Tong bowed deeply to Zhao Ruxi: "Fifth Miss Zhao, the political situation is tense right now, and many people are watching His Highness. I used to be His Highness's bodyguard, and my every move is also under close scrutiny. In order to avoid bringing danger to you, I will no longer be the one delivering letters to you."

As he spoke, he put his finger to his mouth and made a short, soft whistle. Immediately afterward, someone jumped in through the window.

The man bowed to Zhao Ruxi without saying a word.

Wang Tong, "His name is Wu Wei. He's a bodyguard of His Highness, and he's never shown his face in public. He'll be the one delivering messages to the young lady from now on."

As he spoke, he gestured for Wu Wei to raise his head so that Zhao Ruxi and Qingfeng could see him.

Wu Wei raised his head, revealing an unremarkable face. His face lacked any distinguishing features; it was the kind of face that would go unnoticed in a crowd. Even if someone had seen him, they would quickly forget him—the kind of appearance most suited for a bodyguard.

"Wu Wei greets the young lady." Wu Wei bowed, and at Wang Tong's prompting, leaped out of the window again.

Wang Tong then said, "In order not to expose your existence, Your Highness instructed me to tell you that he will not send you letters so frequently unless there is something else going on. In these special times, caution is paramount, and I hope you will understand."

"Okay, I understand. Tell him not to worry. As long as he's alright, everything will be fine here," Zhao Ruxi said.

She knew that Xiao Lingyan's arrangement was the wisest course of action. If her relationship with Xiao Lingyan were exposed, and people knew that their relationship was special, or even that Xiao Lingyan Xiao Lingyan in love with her, she would not only be in danger, but those people might also use her to threaten Xiao Lingyan.

By then, neither she nor Xiao Lingyan will likely survive.

"If the young lady has no further instructions, I will take my leave now." Wang Tong bowed.

Zhao Ruxi glanced at Qingfeng, noticing that she was also looking down and not making eye contact with Wang Tong. Not wanting to say anything on Qingfeng's behalf, she said to Wang Tong, "It's alright, you can go now."

Wang Tong clasped his hands in a fist salute and leaped out of the window.

Qingfeng then raised his head, staring blankly at the empty window.

"Has he ever confessed his feelings to you?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

Qingfeng was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red.

People say that things resemble their owners, and this applies to servants as well.

When Qingfeng first started following Zhao Ruxi, she was quite rigid and traditional. But after following Zhao Ruxi for a long time, her personality changed a lot.

Since Zhao Ruxi had asked, she didn't hesitate and answered frankly, "He did say that. He said if he's still alive and well by this time next year, he'll come and ask you for my hand in marriage."

At this point, she disregarded her shyness and asked worriedly, "Miss, why did he say that? Is His Highness in danger?"

"Don't worry, it'll be alright," Zhao Ruxi said. "We can't help, all we can do is wait quietly and not cause them any trouble."

Qingfeng nodded.

As expected, Xiao Lingyan did not send any more letters to Zhao Ruxi over the next month.

"Father, didn't you say the border was dangerous? How is it now?" Zhao Ruxi had no choice but to ask Zhao Yuanxun.

Zhao Yuanxun shook his head. "I haven't heard any more news, they should be alright." He then comforted his daughter, "Don't worry, our Great Jin has 200,000 troops stationed over there, the foreign enemy is nothing to us."

The old lady was the wife of a military general; she had even led troops into battle when the Duke of Sui was alive.

She added, "That's right! Our Great Jin is so powerful that no matter how strong those people on the border are, they can't reach us."