Chapter 33: Xiliang Underestimates Itself

Wang Baochuan saw Ge Qing standing nearby and, remembering how Ge Qing had taken care of her in her previous life, felt a surge of warmth towards her.

“You must be Miss Ge Qing, right?”

Ge Qing was surprised that Wang Baochuan recognized her. She gave Wang Baochuan a hearty smile.

Wang Baochuan instructed Qingqing to bring Ge Qing some warm clothes and snacks. Ge Qing accepted them with a smile.

“Here are one hundred taels of silver. If you ever need anything, you can go to the Wang family’s estate and find me. I will help you,” Wang Baochuan said warmly.

Ge Qing was confused. “Why are you so kind to me, Miss Wang?”

“Perhaps I just felt a connection with you. Maybe we knew each other in a past life,” Wang Baochuan said with a smile as she handed over the silver.

Her hand felt cold the moment she removed it from the hand warmer. She had truly endured hardship in her previous life.

Xu Wanning knocked the silver from Wang Baochuan’s hand, scattering it on the ground. “Wang Baochuan, what are you pretending to be kind for! You’re just here to laugh at me. I, Xu Wanning, don’t need your charity.”

Ge Qing quickly picked up the silver and returned it to Wang Baochuan. “Miss Wang, I’ll take the clothes and snacks, but I really can’t accept this much silver.”

Seeing this, Qingqing took it back.

“Miss Xu, don’t be ungrateful. When has my miss ever laughed at you? Besides, you just said you were living very well. If you’re doing so well, why would you think others are laughing at you!”

“Qingqing.” Wang Baochuan gestured for her to step back.

Qingqing glared at Xu Wanning with displeasure. Good intentions were met with ingratitude.

Wang Baochuan sighed and asked sincerely, “Are you really not regretting this? You can go back and apologize to your parents. They will let you return.”

Xu Wanning realized she had been a bit too harsh. Wang Baochuan, as the daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion, why would she come all this way to watch her?

She shyly touched the wooden hairpin in her hair, her face full of tenderness. “I know you’re being kind, but I really don’t regret it.”

The wind howled through the valley, making Wang Baochuan feel a chill to her bones. She wrapped her outer robe tighter and left in a hurry.

In the distance, Xue Pinggui heard Ge Da, who had returned, say that Wang Baochuan had come. He ran as fast as he could, wanting to catch a glimpse of Wang Baochuan from afar. When he reached the slope, he only saw the departing carriage and Xu Wanning digging wild vegetables in the snow.

Xu Wanning saw him coming and ran towards him with a smile. “It’s so cold, Xue Lang, why did you come?”

Xue Pinggui took her cold, muddy hand. “I came to see you. It’s too cold. I was afraid you would get sick.”

She proudly showed him her basket. “Look, I dug half a basket of wild vegetables with Ge Qing today. We can have wild vegetable porridge tonight.”

Xue Pinggui ruffled her windblown hair, his gaze falling on the clothes in Ge Qing’s hand.

“What’s this?”

Ge Qing explained, “It’s from Miss Wang. She left it for us. She really has a kind heart.”

The quiet capital was shattered by an urgent messenger riding at full speed.

“Report! Xiliang has invaded! They have captured three cities!”

“Report! Xiliang has invaded!”

The court was in an uproar. Prime Minister Wang wanted to personally lead the army, but he suddenly remembered what Baochuan had told him about this Xiliang campaign. After the court session, he rushed back to the Prime Minister’s mansion.

Wang Baochuan told him that Xiliang was unprepared and wouldn’t last half a year. This war would be over soon. If he wanted to lead the army himself, he could, but he shouldn’t bring Wei Hu and Wei Bao.

“Why?” Prime Minister Wang questioned.

Wang Baochuan explained, “They are greedy for glory and will steal other people’s achievements. They will also disobey orders.”

If they hadn’t tied up Xue Pinggui and sent him to Xiliang, Xue Pinggui wouldn’t have become the prince consort of Xiliang.

Prime Minister Wang didn’t believe her at all. “Nonsense! Wei Hu has been by my side all these years. I know his character well. I might believe it if you said it about Wei Bao, but Wei Hu would never.”

In his heart, Wei Hu was the perfect son-in-law. Even Su Long wasn’t as favored as Wei Hu.

“Have you forgotten the fire in Chengqing Palace?” Wang Baochuan asked calmly.

He stroked his beard, still unwilling to believe her. “Dreams are just dreams. They haven’t happened. Besides, I’m watching him. He would never make a mistake!”