Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 80 - Blood Exchange Brotherhood 1

Chapter 80 – Blood Exchange Brotherhood 1

Xiao Hong was incensed, and the pace of the purge of spies in the Capital accelerated once more.

However, a large number of spies had already escaped, and it was indeed difficult to capture them all in a short period of time.

Seeing that it wouldn’t be long before the Tuoba Envoy’s scheduled return date, and with the Ministry of Rites already preparing for the marriage alliance, Xiao Wangshu had no time to keep waiting.

“Qin Tai, is everything ready?”

Xiao Wangshu stood up and slowly raised her hand to straighten her collar.

Qin Tai replied, “Everything is ready! But… Miss, if we truly take action near the Official Lodge, it will be difficult for us to control the severity of the attack without exposing ourselves.”

When the time came, it would truly be a massive gamble.

The kind where the young miss would be betting her life.

“Do what you have to do without holding back. Even if you wound me severely, you must not leave any trail,” Xiao Wangshu said with firm determination.

Qin Tai cupped his fists and bowed his head. “Understood!”

Xiao Wangshu led him toward the door, and the two stepped out one after the other.

As they reached the courtyard, Xiao Wangshu was about to tell Qin Tai to go and handle the business when she heard a rustling sound from the courtyard wall before she could speak.

The two of them looked back. Who else could it be but Tuoba Yunxiao perched on the wall?

Tuoba Yunxiao whistled at Xiao Wangshu and called out an invitation, “Let’s go, Wangshu. Haven’t you been bored cooped up in the mansion for days? Let’s go out for a ride!”

Xiao Wangshu was slightly surprised. “How did you get in?”

Even if Tuoba Yunxiao’s martial arts were exceptional, given the security of the Chancellor’s Mansion, it shouldn’t have been possible for him to sneak in.

“I’m a regular guest now. If your guards kept blocking me, it would be a bit heartless, wouldn’t it?” As he spoke, Tuoba Yunxiao jumped straight down from the wall.

He hadn’t snuck in; he had walked through the main gates of the Chancellor’s Mansion quite openly.

“Let’s find a place to ride. Are you coming?” Tuoba Yunxiao invited her again. “I heard from my little sister that you wanted to learn how to ride. I’ll teach you, so it won’t be inconvenient for you to get around once you go to the Tuoba Tribe in the future.”

This girl didn’t know how to ride. If she went to the Tuoba Tribe like that, people would laugh at her.

Xiao Wangshu lowered her eyes in thought for a moment before asking, “Father is still in the palace right now, and the Capital isn’t peaceful. Where do you want to go riding?”

“Stop, stop. Give your mouth a rest and don’t give me those excuses. It’s making my head ache. I can protect you. Besides, Prime Minister Xiao isn’t here, so no one can stop us. Just come with me.” Tuoba Yunxiao spoke with immense confidence.

Xiao Wangshu made one final confirmation: “Will there be anyone else, or just the two of us?”

“No, my little sister is coming too. She’s been suffocating at the Official Lodge lately. Now that she finally has a chance to go out and have fun, how could she miss it?”

Hearing Tuoba Yunxiao’s words, Xiao Wangshu calculated the number of people.

Then, Tuoba Yunxiao added, “Oh! And that cousin of yours. My sister said she likes riding too, so she went to the Fang Mansion to get her. My Second Elder Brother is worried about us, so he’ll probably come along as well.”

“If so many of us slip out to play together and Father finds out when he returns, he might be angry…” Xiao Wangshu trailed off.

Tuoba Yunxiao cut in immediately, “Blame it on me! If the Prime Minister blames anyone, I’ll definitely stand in front of you and keep you out of it, alright?”

As a guest, Prime Minister Xiao wouldn’t disrespect him too much.

He would just act as her shield.

Xiao Wangshu deliberated for a long time, appearing somewhat conflicted, before reluctantly agreeing. “Alright then.”

After speaking, she turned to Qin Tai and said pointedly, “I am going out for a ride with the Tuoba Prince. You may go; there is no need to follow.”

Qin Tai cupped his fists, bowed, and replied in a low voice, “Yes.”

–

As noon approached, a simply decorated carriage traveled slowly through the countryside on the outskirts of the Capital.
Tuoba Yunxiao and Tuoba Jihui were on horseback, accompanied by three servants also mounted on horses. The five of them rode alongside the carriage.

A short distance behind the carriage followed six guards, whom Tuoba Jihui had brought along to ensure their safety.

Inside the carriage, Fang Qiluo had appeared somewhat uneasy at first.

However, once they reached the outskirts of the capital, her mood gradually stabilized as the vast, open scenery came into view. She even felt a faint surge of excitement, lifting the window curtain to look outside.

“Does Miss Fang like the scenery of the outskirts?”

Tuoba Jihui happened to be riding right outside the window on Fang Qiluo’s side. Seeing her constantly peering out through the lifted curtain, he struck up a casual conversation.

Fang Qiluo was indeed in a good mood at the moment, so she replied, “The city is full of nothing but buildings, packed so tightly together that it makes one feel suffocated. The outskirts are open and wide; it’s much more soothing to the eye.”

Hearing this, Tuoba Jihui smiled and said, “The grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see, like a sea of green. They are even more open. You should go see them if you ever have the chance, Miss Fang.”

“Truly?” Fang Qiluo felt a sudden sense of longing.

But then she remembered Tuoba Xin’s description-how everything on the other side of the mountains was nothing but yellow sand, and how one could end up with a mouthful of grit whenever the wind blew.

For a moment, Fang Qiluo didn’t know which of the two siblings to believe.

“Actually, this place is good enough. I think it’s plenty open. Why don’t we do a few laps here first?”

Tuoba Yunxiao made the suggestion, then tapped on the carriage window. “Wangshu?”

Tuoba Xin lifted the curtain and teased him with a drawn-out tone, “Who is your Wangshu? I’m your biological sister.”

“I know I’m not looking for you, so be a dear and move inside a bit. Don’t block me from chatting with people.” Tuoba Yunxiao leaned down and reached his hand through the window, unceremoniously pushing Tuoba Xin’s head aside.

Then, he looked at Xiao Wangshu and asked, “Is here alright?”

Xiao Wangshu raised a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose, her tone somewhat helpless. “To be honest, I don’t know much about riding. You all can decide; I’m fine with whatever.”

Since Xiao Wangshu had put it that way, Tuoba Yunxiao didn’t hesitate any longer and said to the others, “Let’s do it here. Stop!”

The driver immediately tightened the reins, bringing the carriage to a slow halt.

Tuoba Jihui dismounted and walked to the side of the carriage, extending his hand. With his assistance, the three women inside the carriage stepped down one by one.

“Third Elder Brother, oh Third Elder Brother… look at Second Elder Brother, then look at yourself. Do you see the difference?” Tuoba Xin placed her hand on Tuoba Jihui’s arm, tilting her chin up as she shot a glance at Tuoba Yunxiao.

Tuoba Yunxiao gave a dismissive snort, walked over to Xiao Wangshu, and asked, “Shall I help you onto the horse?”

Xiao Wangshu shook her head. “I don’t know how to ride. You guys go for a few laps first so I can watch. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll fall off the moment I get on.”

Whether she actually knew how to ride or not was irrelevant.

Even if she did, she had no desire to ride at this moment.

And even if she could ride, it wouldn’t change the fact that she detested it.

“Alright then. Let’s have Tuoba Xin go slowly and do a lap for you to see.” Tuoba Yunxiao called her by her full name, causing Tuoba Xin to click her tongue repeatedly.

What a great brother he was!

Seeing Tuoba Xin moving sluggishly, Tuoba Yunxiao laughed and scolded, “Hurry it up. Did you not eat breakfast?”

“Oh, please! First you tell me to go slow, then you tell me to hurry up. Are you trying to be funny?”

Tuoba Xin snapped back at him before walking at a normal pace toward her horse, taking the whip handed to her by a servant.

“Wangshu, Sister Qiluo, watch closely. Later on, whatever you do, never approach a horse from behind. Always come from the front or the sides, otherwise, it’ll kick. With your delicate frames, getting kicked would be a disaster.”