40: Chapter 40 Beautiful women have always had tragic fates (11)

Jiangnan Royal Palace

Today, a banquet was held for the King of West Chu and the Heir of the Prince of Donghu. By all rights, the King of Jiangnan should have been present.

However, in recent years, the King of Jiangnan's conduct has become increasingly absurd. He spends almost all his time carousing with his concubines, leaving all state affairs to his heir, Li Nanxi. Just the other day, feeling bored and stifled in the palace, he took his concubines out for an excursion and has yet to return.

Even if he were here, Li Nanxi wouldn't be worried. Although his father is lecherous without restraint, and the two Miss Bais are exceptionally beautiful—especially the one who is the 'Boss' of the Bai Clan, who looks like a fairy from the celestial palace—his father has always been timid and possesses a keen sense for reading the situation. He knows who can be trifled with and who cannot.

His father would never dare to touch anyone Wei Qingli has his eye on.

Everyone says the Prince of Beichuan is violent, temperamental, ruthless, and unreasonable. Yet, compared to Wei Qingli, at least he has never killed his brothers, murdered his father, or eliminated his mother.

Outsiders don't know, but who among them is unaware of the dark secrets of the Donghu royal family?

Wei Qingli of Donghu is deeply scheming, exceptionally strategic, strict in governing his army, and decisive in life and death. His Wei family didn't start with him as the only seedling; he killed everyone else until only his puppet father remained. If anyone fears Wei Qingli most, it is definitely the Prince of Donghu—a sword hangs over his head, ready to fall at any moment.

Tonight's banquet was destined to be extraordinary.

Bai Qingxue was still dressed in white, her expression cold and aloof, as she sat down accompanied by the King of West Chu, Chu Yao.

Bai Zhaoyan did come, but not with Wei Qingli. Instead, she was accompanied by Wan Xianzhi, the richest man in Jiangnan, and Wan Mingzhu.

Ever since Bai Qingxue found out that the wide-sleeved fairy dress had been made by her, she had taken it off. What she wore today was also no ordinary item; it was the 'Inch of Brocade, Inch of Gold' white jade silk gifted by Li Nanxi to curry favor with her. After it was fashioned into a dress, every step she took swayed with grace, as if flowers were blooming with every stride. Looking closely, it seemed as though lotus flowers were spreading out beneath her feet. On her fair forehead, she had painted an exquisite lotus flower mark, which echoed the lotus flowers beneath her feet, making her look strikingly beautiful and pure.

Compared to Bai Zhaoyan's casual attire, which looked just like her usual dress, it made Bai Qingxue's intent to compete seem all too obvious.

Li Nanxi had arranged the seating in a very interesting way.

Below the main seat, the left is the superior position—occupied by the King of West Chu, Chu Yao. The right position is for the Heir of the Prince of Donghu, mainly because Wei Qingli has not yet claimed the title of King. Below Chu Yao sat Bai Qingxue. Bai Zhaoyan sat beside Wei Qingli, but Wan Mingzhu was stubbornly squeezed in between them. Even though Old Man Wan tried to persuade her with both kind words and stern warnings, he couldn't pull his oblivious, precious daughter away.

When the banquet began, Wan Mingzhu didn't care at all about what the people above were saying. She was busy introducing Jiangnan delicacies to Zhao Yan and giving her detailed evaluations of each. Her serious, little-adult demeanor amused Bai Zhaoyan, and under her recommendation, she inadvertently ate a bit too much.

Halfway through the banquet, Wan Mingzhu was finally forcibly dragged away by Wan Xianzhi under some pretext.

Bai Zhaoyan reached out to touch the teapot on her left, wanting to quench her thirst. When she touched something warm, she looked down and saw what looked like their hands intertwined. She quickly pulled her hand back, feeling a little uncomfortable. But then she thought, 'Wait, that is definitely my teapot; he took the wrong one!'

From the very beginning, he had been glancing over there. Watching her eat with such relish because of the little girl, yet behaving with such elegance, was a feast for the eyes. The pleasure in his heart had spread, and it was only when he saw her reach for the wine pot that he intervened.

The sudden touch on his palm, soft and delicate, made his heart tremble slightly, and his earlobes grew hot.

Wei Qingli tilted his head slightly toward her and whispered, "This is a type of fruit wine from Jiangnan. Although it tastes sweet and goes down well, it has quite a kick."

Seeing her nod carelessly, her sparkling peach-blossom eyes shifting away, deliberately avoiding eye contact, Wei Qingli's lips unconsciously curled into an imperceptible arc.

Bai Qingxue had been watching the opposite side since the beginning. Seeing her eat with such ease and without any reservations, she sneered in her heart. 'As expected, she has never seen the world. No one can match that appetite.'

Then, seeing Wei Qingli's special treatment of her, she could no longer hold back. She stood up abruptly, bowed slightly to Li Nanxi in the main seat, and said, "Since the Heir is hosting a banquet today, and both the Heir of the Prince of Donghu and the King of West Chu are present, I ask you all to be witnesses. I previously had a disagreement with this Miss Bai. This Miss Bai dared to question my Bai Clan. As the Saintess of the Bai Clan, I must naturally clear the name of my clansmen. The reputation my Bai Clan has built over hundreds of years cannot be slandered at will."

Li Nanxi did not immediately agree but cast his gaze toward the person on the lower right.

"Miss Bai, if you don't want to agree, that's fine." Even though he was the one who facilitated this situation, he wanted to know the result more than anyone. But when it came down to it, looking into her clear, transparent eyes, it was as if all filth had nowhere to hide in her gaze. Being scanned by her, he awkwardly looked away, carefully hiding his own little schemes.

Zhao Yan slowly stood up and smiled slightly, "How do you want to clear your name?"

"You said I was a frog in a well, that there are people above people and mountains above mountains. Presumably, this Miss Bai must be better than me. Why don't we have a competition?"

"Very well." Before she could speak, Zhao Yan added, "However, if it's playing the zither, dancing, or composing poetry, there is no need. Does the Bai Clan intend to cultivate musicians or pastoral poets? Even if Saintess Bai has the mood to perform her talents on stage, I do not have the hobby of being a spectacle for others to judge."

Originally, Bai Qingxue had intended to perform a sword dance that combined softness and strength, but now, being interrupted by her, she was truly annoyed.

What was wrong with composing poetry? She was well-read and skilled in all literary arts.

"Then what do you propose we compete in?"

Bai Zhaoyan lowered her eyes, appearing to think, and then spoke up on her own: "Martial arts are obviously out. I have already experienced Saintess Bai's martial arts last time. If we compete in martial arts again, wouldn't I be bullying you?"

"You!" Bai Qingxue glared, "That is merely the courage of a brute!"

Once these words were spoken, the complexions of those present turned sour. None of these people had never been on the battlefield, and charging into battle was second nature to them. If they lacked martial skills, even with an army of thousands protecting them, they would likely face disaster.

"How about this. Saintess Bai has been saying that since you were young, you have studied martial arts, formations, military strategy, and the art of governance. Let's skip the martial arts. You choose from the remaining three; I am fine with any."

"Formations! Let's compete in formations!"

"Fine, let's compete in formations." Zhao Yan agreed immediately.

Formations are essential in wars between two countries. War is not a duel, nor is it a street fight; it is an organized confrontation between two armies.

The importance of setting up formations is self-evident.

It facilitates command, prevents soldiers from scattering and fighting individually without strategy, and at the same time, allows for the utilization of the strengths and weaknesses of different types of troops, supporting each other to make up for deficiencies, and responding to sudden situations on the battlefield.

And the reason Bai Qingxue chose formations was not only because of their importance in war; she had a personal motive.

The Donghu Army is strictly governed, and Wei Qingli is the best at arranging troops and formations. Her martial arts might not be as good as that person's, but when it comes to military strategy and formations, she would definitely not lose to that fake. She was determined to make him look at her in a new light.

"It is late tonight. Tomorrow morning, we will compete at the training grounds. I will set up the formation, and you will break it."

"Fine."

Bai Qingxue turned to Li Nanxi and bowed, "Then I must trouble Heir Li to lend us the Jiangnan training grounds and several hundred elite soldiers."

"Naturally." Li Nanxi nodded in agreement.

"The person here most skilled in arranging troops and formations is none other than Heir Wei. I must trouble Heir Wei to judge for us."

Once Bai Qingxue said this, Wei Qingli looked at Zhao Yan beside him, and seeing her calm expression, he nodded in agreement.

Chu Yao's face instantly darkened. He was by her side, yet she asked someone else to be the judge. Moreover, in her heart, when it came to marching and fighting, he was clearly inferior to Wei Qingli. Realizing this, Chu Yao pursed his thin lips tightly, on the verge of rage.

...

North of Yezhou — Military Training Grounds

The next morning, Zhao Yan had arrived at the training grounds alone. Hong Yun had wanted to come, but she suspected that the Bai Clan must have some ability, and fearing Hong Yun would be too worried to think straight, she deliberately found an excuse to keep her at the Fu Ji Rice and Grain Shop.

Standing opposite her were Bai Qingxue and Chu Yao.

Today, she was dressed in black, in men's attire, with her long black hair tied high, hiding the delicate charm of a woman, making her look heroic and spirited. Unlike her usual ethereal, otherworldly fairy appearance, this outfit made her look both beautiful and dashing, possessing unparalleled elegance.

Wei Qingli's gaze burned as he looked at her. Today, she was different from the past; without that gentle protective color, she was even more dazzling.

Li Nanxi lightly covered his chest, looking at the flamboyant woman before him, an unknown emotion rising in his heart.

Afterward, Li Nanxi personally went down to select over a hundred elite soldiers. Bai Qingxue explained the formation, and everyone moved in unison, fully equipped, forming a square array, ready to go.

She stood in the center, high-spirited, her cold face full of arrogance: "Bai Zhaoyan, if you admit defeat now, kowtow three times sincerely in the direction of the snow mountain where my Bai Clan resides, and promise to take a detour whenever you see me or my clansmen in the future, I can choose not to hold your reckless words against you."

"Is your Bai Clan wiped out? You still require people to kowtow three times?"

"Bai Zhaoyan!" Bai Qingxue gritted her teeth.

"I only kowtow to my parents while they are alive. Unfortunately, my parents have passed away, so there is no one left in this world alive who is worthy of me kowtowing to them."

"Good, very good! You dare to curse my Bai clansmen! Today, I will ensure you have no way home." Bai Qingxue said loudly, "Since we are setting up a formation to fight, on the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. Do you dare to sign a life-and-death pact with me, where neither side will pursue the other for life or death!"

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

"Good, if you die here today, you cannot blame me."

Wei Qingli originally wanted to stop her, but upon seeing her calm and confident gaze, he ultimately did not step out.

"If I win today, not only will I have proven my identity, but from now on, wherever my Bai clansmen appear, or wherever I appear, you must kowtow and pay respects." The premise is, you have to survive the formation first.

"And if you lose?"

"I cannot lose." This was a formation meticulously laid out by Third Great-Uncle. Third Great-Uncle had studied formations for his entire life; how could she lose?

"If you lose, you may never identify yourself as a member of the Bai Clan, and you must never appear before me again." Zhao Yan ignored her and said on her own.

"Fine." Bai Qingxue agreed immediately.

Everything was ready. Li Nanxi, Chu Yao, and Wei Qingli went up to the observation deck.

"Beat the drums, set the formation—" Bai Qingxue shouted.

The One-Character Long Snake Formation of 101 people was set up. Although there were not many people, it was a formation improved by Third Great-Uncle, with four extra feet added, specifically designed for generals. As soon as one entered this formation, the One-Character Long Snake Formation would turn into the Two Dragons Emerging from Water Formation and the Three Talents Formation, which was extremely dangerous.

Wei Qingli on the observation deck appeared calm, but his heart was far from peaceful. His palms, resting on his knees, were slightly moist, and his gaze never left that person.

Bai Zhaoyan lifted her robes, tucked them into her waist, leaped onto a horse, pulled the reins, and galloped all the way, her sleeves dancing in the wind, peerless and dust-free, her hair flying. She rushed toward the weapon rack and, without hesitation, drew a long spear from it.

The young girl kicked with both feet, not looking back, and entered the formation single-handedly, holding the long spear.

Li Nanxi was shocked, his eyes wide open. How did she look completely like a layman? She just took a long spear, and like a headless fly, charged directly into the formation. Shouldn't she think about how to break the formation?

Over there, a mocking smile appeared on the corners of Bai Qingxue's lips. Although her martial arts were not as good as hers, if she thought she could break her One-Character Long Snake Formation just by relying on a bit of martial arts and courage, she was underestimating her too much.

When Bai Zhaoyan rushed into the formation, the drumbeat changed, rapidly becoming urgent.

The snake head quickly closed in on her. When she attacked the snake head, the tail moved, raising its sharp edge to come at her. When she counterattacked the snake tail, the snake body came crashing toward her.

Thus, she wove through the formation, as if she had three heads and six arms, wielding the long spear with such ferocity that it left afterimages in the air. Facing a hundred with one, she was not at all inferior.

Suddenly, the drumbeat changed again, beating violently and continuously.

The snake head and tail closed in rapidly, connecting head to tail, cooperating seamlessly, as if they were going to join forces to surround and kill the person in the middle.

Wei Qingli frowned, believing more than half of it in his heart. That Bai Qingxue must be a member of the Bai Clan to be able to set up such an exquisite and dangerous formation to kill enemy generals. This was definitely not just the ancient One-Character Long Snake Formation; it had endless changes and was full of trickery.

This formation was so dangerous from the start; it was hard to imagine what other changes there would be later.

The drumbeat grew quieter, and the soldiers who had connected their heads and tails began to slowly shrink the encirclement. The small black figure was trapped inside, and her range of activity was visibly shrinking.

The besieging soldiers used their incredibly hard shields to block Bai Zhaoyan's attacks, and used their sharp spears to thrust. With spears striking from above and below, those spear tips, glistening with cold light, wove into a net of heaven and earth, coming from under her feet, her body, and her chest, leaving no gaps.

Wei Qingli stared unblinkingly at the small figure in the field. Several times he almost couldn't help but fly down to protect her behind him. Seeing the encirclement shrink into a small dot, so small it seemed almost invisible, he stood up abruptly, his hands gripping the railing of the observation deck. The force he used made his fingertips turn white, and the veins on the back of his hands stood out—Bai Qingxue was clearly trying to kill her by breaking the formation.

"Get me a bow!"

The personal guard hurried forward and handed him the bow and arrow carried on his back.

Wei Qingli took the bow in his left hand and the arrow in his right, aimed at the snake head that was attacking most fiercely, and pulled it taut—

"Heir Wei, what are you doing!" Chu Yao was quick-witted and knocked down the bow and arrow in his hand, "Qingxue and that Miss Bai signed a life-and-death pact. In this competition, life and death do not matter. You had no objections at the time, so what are you doing now?"

Wei Qingli's face was terrifyingly gloomy. He reached out and pushed Chu Yao away. The calm on his face was gone, his brows tightly furrowed, "Get lost, I regret it!"

When she first agreed, she was full of confidence, so he trusted her. At the same time, he was also extremely curious and wanted to see what else she had that he didn't know about. But now, in such danger, he was afraid. He shouldn't have let her put herself in danger.

That smile, even if it was mostly perfunctory and a fake gentleness toward him, and she had never shown him true feelings, was better than her not existing in this world!

She didn't have to like him, but she couldn't just disappear.

Wei Qingli acted decisively, knocking Chu Yao to the ground. Li Nanxi, who was on the side, also moved to block Chu Yao from coming forward and shouted to Wei Qingli: "Quickly, save Miss Bai!"

Wei Qingli drew his bow again, the arrow ready to be released—

Then he heard a clear, cold shout, "The snake's core is here, break!"

In the formation, a soldier was seen being lifted by the glistening long spear and thrown out of the encirclement.