Chapter 83

  When it's hard to think of a way out, perhaps taking drastic measures is the best solution.

  Little Phoenix Maiden finally adopted this approach.

  She directly found her godfather, and the father-daughter pair was locked in the study for a frank conversation that lasted half a day, still no one knew what they had talked about.

  The people waiting outside only knew that when the Queen Mother came out, her face was gloomy and it was clear that she was in a bad mood.

  And their young lady was no different from usual.

  How strange!

  If it was the young lady who had offended the teacher, there's no reason why she could still have such a calm expression when leaving the study. But if it wasn't the young lady who had offended the teacher, then what was the teacher so angry about?

  Master Pong was naturally angry, just like his daughter had analyzed with him. Underestimating oneself can sometimes be the root cause of failure in a game of chess. As the military strategist said: "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles."

  Without sufficient chips, being arrogant and entering the game lightly is not bravery or responsibility, it's foolishness.

  Although Mr. Pang had always known that his daughter had a deep mind, he was still amazed by her ability to see the subtleties and analyze the situation with a calm eye, making accurate judgments at every step and having a keen insight into everything.

  Yu'er directly stated her intention as soon as she came up, she wanted to help Bao Heizi, but what she really wanted to help was the Pang family.

  Pang Taishi was originally displeased when he heard that his daughter was going to help her arch-nemesis, but as she analyzed the situation step by step, explaining the current state of affairs and the direction things were heading in a clear and logical manner, he began to think carefully.

  In the end, of course, it was not necessary for Little Phoenix to take matters into her own hands, as her uncle would handle everything.

  Lu Xiaofeng felt that on matters of collecting debts, Master Taishi was more authoritative than himself, so this was not a problem to worry about at all.

  She countered with a counter-strategy, playing a trick within a trick on her opponent.

  There is winning and losing in every game.

  Lu Xiaofeng went to Kaifeng Prefecture to have tea with Mr. Gong Sun when he heard that Zhan Xiaomao had recently received a flying letter, saying that his former fellow apprentice Meng Chunni was in their hands and asking Zhan Xiaomao to meet her.

  Senior brother and sister are indeed a combination full of infinite imagination...

  "What is Lu Niang thinking about?"

  Lu Xiaofeng asked him seriously: "Gongsun, do you think Xian Zhao and his sister have a chance?" What if she really was the cannon fodder, would Meng Chunni be Xian Xiaomao's true destined woman?

  Mr. Gong Sun shook his head and said slowly, "Some people are a lifetime at first sight."

  Little Phoenix felt a little melancholy and also a little relieved. It was a very contradictory feeling, but it really existed.

  "Has Mr. Gong Sun ever thought that this might be a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain?"

  Gongsun Ce stroked his beard and said, "Even if it's a trap, Zhan Huwei will still have to go. He won't let Meng be really hurt."

  Lu Xiaofeng sighed inwardly, this was the responsibility that Nanxia bore on his body.

  "Something seems to have happened up ahead?"

  Lu Xiaofeng also sensed it and stood up without a word.

  When they arrived at the front courtyard, the four great marshals of Kaifeng Prefecture had already set out.

  It is said that after visiting Di Yuanshuai in the Heavenly Prison, Nan Gong Qing's daughter was ambushed by unknown evil people on her way back to the palace.

  Finally, Di Nang Nang returned safely to Nan Qing Palace.

  The reason is simple, because there is a person in her sedan chair who is Jinmoushou from Trap Island.

  Zhan Zhao also successfully rescued his sister, although he was lured away. Fortunately, Lu Xiaofeng had anticipated this and secretly called Bai Yutang to the capital, letting him sneak in unnoticed to serve as Di Niang's sedan bearer.

  Bai Yutang was initially skeptical, but when today's attack occurred, he understood the meaning behind his sworn sister's words.

  Zhan Zhao accompanied Bao Da to Nan Qing Palace to understand what had happened and to pay respects to the frightened Di Niangniang.

  After talking with Bai Yutang, Zhan Zhao only knew that Lu Xiaofeng had made two preparations.

  She really didn't even tell him, it's really secretive.

  "Zhan Zhao, go back and tell that good sister of mine that this time I didn't mess up at the critical moment. Let her prepare a table of food with her own hands for me to enjoy."

  Zhan Zhao raised an eyebrow, "She made something for you to eat?"

  "Of course, this is the condition under which I am willing to play the role of a rickshaw puller."

  "I've never seen anyone as self-absorbed as Bai Yutang, just dressing up as a servant and still needing to be coerced with threats and bribes." These were the words of Little Phoenix Maiden to the eunuch Xian Zhao.

  "You really want to cook for him?"

  Lu Xiaofeng stopped writing and looked at him with a hint of a smile, saying: "Do you think the food I cook will kill people?"

  Zhan Zhao shook his head.

  "Oh, but I've never done it before."

  Xuan Zhao smiled, "Just because you've never done it in front of everyone doesn't mean you can't do it." These are two completely different concepts.

  Clever.

  "Why don't you help me cook something to eat first?"

  Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but laugh and continued writing with his head down, "What are you going to use to exchange for this meal?"

  "Do we have to settle accounts so clearly between us?"

  "Some things are unnecessary, some things must be done." Occasionally cooking is fun, but if you cook every day, it will turn into a chore!

  No way!

  "But I think it's more suitable for Ba Xian Wang to treat Bai Xiao Wu to this meal." Little Phoenix was still slightly dissatisfied with this.

  Zhan Zhao said with a playful smile: "Do you want me to go and tell Emperor Xian of Han for you?"

  "You dare say it, I have no opinion."

  Zhan Zhao walked up to her and watched her write, for the first time commenting on her handwriting: "Your handwriting has a very noble style."

  "Flattery is useless, this girl isn't buying it."

  "What's your meal set?"

  "Do you think I would tell you?"

  Zhan Zhao reached out and grasped her hand that held the brush, guiding it to write on the paper the poem "In heaven we'll be a pair of birds flying wing to wing, on earth we'll be two trees with branches that intertwine".

  Xiao Feng said a very disappointing sentence: "Zhan Xiao Mao, the love between Tang Ming Huang and Yang Guifei is a tragedy. Is your brain broken? What's important is whether the present is good or not."

  Zhan Zhao: "......"

  "You'd better go back now, in this situation even adults' safety can't be guaranteed."

  "Be careful then."

  "I won't be in trouble, I'm not some famous person, those Western Xia people won't have any interest in me."

  "Well, I'll go first."

  "Uh-huh."

  Zhan Zhao left, and Little Phoenix continued practicing her calligraphy.

  Then, Xiaofeng was punished for her boastful words - she was kidnapped.

  "Are you the woman who has ruined our plans time and again?"

  Lu Xiaofeng stared at the man who was glaring fiercely at her, and couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. What had she done to provoke him? And which bastard had sold her out?

  "What are you talking about? I don't understand." Scheme one: Pretend to be confused.

  Huo Tianyao snorted, "Don't try to deceive me, Pang Di has told me everything."

  "Huh?" What does he know?

  "You actually have a way to identify the modified traces of that sheepskin book."

  Lu Xiaofeng: "......" This is also an ancestral skill that has been passed down to make a living, it's not excessive to understand a little bit. You're being overly indignant and making a big deal out of nothing.

  But before things are clear, Di Qing temporarily staying in Tianlao for a vacation is not a bad idea either.

  "Surprisingly, there's still a way to get that idiot Pangdi to change his mind and switch sides. You're not simple at all."

  "Where's my elder brother?" This sentence conveys some bad news.

  "Hmph, that fool, what kind of person is he, does he really think he can outplay me?"

  Amen, may God bless Pongdi and have a good reincarnation next life.

  A loud "slap" landed on Little Phoenix's right cheek.

  This slap hit her so hard that blood overflowed from the corner of her mouth, ruthless!

  "Brother——" Next to Huo Tianyan's voice was hoarse with anger. How could a brother treat such a weak and gentle woman like this?

  Huo Tianyao said to his sister: "Tianyan, she is an enemy. We cannot be merciful to our enemies."

  Lu Xiaofeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, smiled slightly and said: "What you said is very good. At present, Western Xia is at war with my Great Song Dynasty, so we are enemies. I think it's only natural for me to try every means to make your plan fail."

  Victory and defeat between enemies are normal.

  However, your loss of composure is somewhat beneath you. If strategy and cunning are not enough to defeat the enemy, then victory by force of arms is hardly a noble one."

  "Both sides are fighting with all their might, and winning is the most important thing."

  Lu Xiaofeng did not express his opinion, but in his heart he also showed approval. Sometimes things can't be done by adhering to the means. However, this strong bullying of the weak really hurt her, and of course, it was impossible to explicitly express consent.

  "Did you catch me just to vent your anger?" The most important thing is to understand the other party's intention at this time.

  Huo Tianyao gazed at her coldly and said, "You are the daughter of Grand Preceptor Pang of the Song Dynasty. Your sister is a noble concubine in the palace and has a good relationship with Di Qing. Moreover, you also have a good relationship with the Kaifeng Prefecture. If we capture you, it will naturally allow us to escape smoothly."

  After all the fuss, you're still going to let her cross the river?

  Little Phoenix Maiden said: It's really freaking annoying!

  On the other side, the news of Little Phoenix's abduction was like a stone that stirred up a thousand waves.

  At the same time, Pongdee was also found murdered at his home.

  Some relevant personnel held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures for this matter.

  People must be rescued!

  The key question is - how to save?

  "That Hawk Tianyao kidnapped Pang Niang instead of killing her directly means that Pang Niang is useful to them. Since she's useful, it indicates that Pang Niang doesn't have a life-threatening danger for the time being." This was Bao Gong's analysis.

  But Master Pong was very anxious, "However, being in their hands is a very dangerous thing for her, she's just a young lady..."

  "The people of Kaifeng Prefecture have already been searching for clues outside."

  "Now the key is that we cannot let the other side have the opportunity to take Pang Niang out of the capital, otherwise it will be even more difficult for us to rescue her."

  "Right, right." Master Pong nodded repeatedly.

  "Nowadays, the four gates of the capital city are strictly guarded, but we still need to be on guard against the enemy disguising themselves and sneaking through."

  Zhan Zhao was worried that this time she was taken away in the middle of the night without any defense, and all her self-defense items were not carried with her, which increased the danger a lot. He really didn't feel at ease.

  ……

  As for Little Phoenix Maiden who fell into someone's hands, she was enduring hunger and thirst.

  That bastard Huo Tianyao actually had no humanity and didn't give her anything to eat, saying it was to prevent her from having the energy to escape.

  Although Huo Tianyan disagreed, he ultimately did not dare disobey his brother's words and could only offer sympathy and apology to that Pang girl.

  Little Phoenix touched her rumbling belly and had a bitter expression on her face.

  "Huo Tianyao, I'm reminding you of something. You're starving me so much that I don't even have the energy to run away. But when it's time for you to take me away, it'll be very troublesome because I might not even be able to walk."

  "Brother, yes, at that time she might even drag us down." Ho Tianyan spoke in a timely manner.

  Huo Tianyao hesitated for a moment before saying: "Then let her eat something, just a little bit, not too much."

  Huo Tianyan nodded, "I know."

  When she received the dry rations, Little Phoenix didn't start wolfing them down immediately after being hungry for two days, but instead ate slowly and bit by bit.

  Eating too much after being hungry for too long is bad for your intestines and stomach.

  "She's really a lady from a noble family in Central Plains, after being hungry for so long, she still eats with such elegance." Huo Tianyan said with some envy.

  Little Phoenix almost spat out the food in her mouth, "I'm not trying to be elegant, I'm just too hungry for too long, suddenly eating a big mouthful is bad for my stomach that's been starving for so long, it will backfire."

  "How did you actually distinguish that sheepskin book was modified?" Huo Tianyan was really curious about this.

  Little Phoenix Maiden retorted, "Business secret, husband and wife can't speak." Why would I tell you guys? So that you can improve your technique next time? How stupid do I have to be?

  Huo Tianying was amused by her words and sincerely said, "You're really a strange person, being held captive by us for so long without ever showing any signs of fear. You don't seem like an ordinary weak and delicate Central Plains lady."

  "When being afraid cannot solve problems, of course, one should try their best not to be afraid again."

  "You don't have to be afraid, as long as we leave Beijing smoothly, we will let you go."

  "Thanks." I'd believe you when pigs fly, and even if I did, I wouldn't dare trust that brother of yours who claims "the extreme is the essence of war".

  What does she have to do with war? As soon as it starts, the question is raised so high, isn't this a trap?