Chapter 38-Part 1

Liu Pei forcefully stabbed the dagger into the lamb meat, revealing a smile with his white teeth, and said, “You can slowly explain how you helped me. If you speak incorrectly, I will tie you up and make you an offering to the river at tomorrow’s market opening.”

Jiang Xiurun knew that her ‘adoptive grandfather’ was a man of his word; otherwise, how could he have become someone who could rival Feng Liwu later?

At this moment, she steeled her heart and spoke without reservation: “The saying goes, ‘When the cunning hare dies, the hound is cooked.’ Do I really need to explain this principle? Your highness, sometimes being too capable, can be harmful rather than beneficial. Back then, you were a hostage in Luo’an, but you were able to strategize and secure the much-needed refined iron for Liang. But have you ever thought about what would happen if the iron was truly brought back?”

Liu Pei remained silent, his expression unreadable as he listened to her rambling.

Jiang Xiurun continued, “Once the refined iron is brought back, Liang will naturally have a strong army and superior weapons, and with the completion of the canals, Liang wouldn’t have to worry about food for several years. Such a peaceful and prosperous country could be managed well even by a child with the support of wise ministers. Why would it still need a mature and steady prince?”

Jiang Xiurun’s words were pointed. In her previous life, although Liu Pei was the intended heir of the Liang king, returning to his country wasn’t without complications. After all, the Liang emperor had more than one son, and even a young prince had various factions backing him.

After Liu Pei inherited the throne, his first act was to kill all his brothers, even the three-year-old who fled abroad. This showed how deeply he resented those who schemed behind his back when he was a hostage.

Sure enough, after Jiang Xiurun clarified her point, Liu Pei’s expression changed drastically. He no longer appeared calm and composed; instead, he looked terrifying as he glared at her with murderous intent.

But Jiang Xiurun remained calm and said, “Thanks to me, Liang didn’t get the refined iron and became enemies with Great Qi. Now, no one else can handle this burden, and Your Highness, didn’t you also return home early because of it? Shouldn’t you thank me?”

Liu Pei lowered his voice and said, “Do you know that just for your instigating words, I could disembowel you and feed you to the fish in the river!”

Jiang Xiurun also lowered her voice, leaning forward, and said, “You won’t, because you are a person who does great things and sees far. Binding me and returning me to Great Qi would be more beneficial than feeding me to the fish. How could you waste me?”

Liu Pei stared at the sly expression on the boy’s face and suddenly laughed loudly, reaching out to pat his head.

He had wanted to do this back in Luo’an City.

Unfortunately, at that time, the boy was very arrogant, bowing only to Feng Liwu. But now, on his own turf, the boy finally seemed somewhat obedient, trying to please him.

This subtle change in circumstances was pleasing. Liu Pei had long aimed to surpass Feng Liwu. Thinking of Feng Liwu’s favored aide now currying favor with him made him very happy.

In his view, this boy only had a sharp tongue and some cleverness. As an abandoned child of his motherland, he could only rely on others to survive.

Since he came to Liang to seek a livelihood, Liu Pei might as well give him a bowl of rice. Keeping a dog around to wag its tail at him at leisure wasn’t bad.

After Jiang Xiurun finally navigated the dangerous encounter with Liu Pei and left the tent, she realized her back was drenched in cold sweat.

Her ‘adoptive grandfather’ indeed responded well to this approach. No wonder he later accepted her father, the eldest son, who was much older and fully bearded.

However, she knew that now that Liu Pei had discovered her, Liang was no longer a safe place for her. If she really became Liu Pei’s aide, based on Feng Liwu’s nature, even if he couldn’t capture her right away, he would definitely send assassins to kill her and her brother to vent his betrayal’s anger.

Moreover, Liu Pei never really cared about her, but if she stayed by his side for long, he would certainly investigate her background in the neighboring Bo state. Her background couldn’t withstand scrutiny! If Liu Pei found out she was actually a girl, even she couldn’t predict what would happen next.

So, she had to escape with her brother quickly. But how to escape from Liu Pei’s side would require seizing the right moment.

Unexpectedly, the opportunity came the next day.

The next day was the market opening at the border between Liang and Han states. To maintain long-lasting friendship between the two countries, Liu Pei personally presided over the market opening.

Besides merchants from both states, traders from nearby states also came, creating a bustling scene with various accents mixed together.

Liu Pei arrived at the border, already dressed in formal attire. At the market opening, he ascended the high platform, lit a thick incense stick, and then struck the gong with the Han prince to signal the opening.

Jiang Xiurun and her brother, under the watchful eyes of Liang’s guards, also attended the ceremony.

Everything was going smoothly. But just as Liu Pei was lighting the incense, someone suddenly shot an arrow at him from the high platform.