The Young Swordsman of Dalu

After leaving the royal court, Yuchi Liang and his entourage traveled across the grasslands for nearly half a month before reaching the northwestern border of the Great Lu Kingdom.

Li Linlie was studying the defense map in the Ningcheng barracks. He was on high alert for a moment. He had a feeling that the Western Regions army might attack the Great Lu Kingdom from his defense zone at any time.

Li Linlie was engrossed in his reading when someone suddenly reported, "General! An envoy from the Western Regions requests an audience!"

"The envoys from the Western Regions!" Li Linlie exclaimed in surprise. "Where are they now?"

"We've reached the border!"

Who is this visitor?

"Yuchi Liang of the Western Regions!"

“Yuchi Liang!” Li Linlie’s eyes widened.

"General, should we allow them to station troops at the border, or should we let them enter the country?"

“Let them set up camp at the border for now!” Yuchi Liang said.

Li Linlie rode his horse back to his residence as quickly as possible, where Yu Chiyu was practicing his sword in the courtyard.

As soon as Li Linlie entered the courtyard, he shouted loudly, "Madam! Madam!"

Upon hearing Li Linlie's shout, Yu Chi Yu stopped practicing her sword and went to meet him.

"What's wrong, my husband?" Yu Chi Yu asked.

Li Linlie excitedly grabbed Yu Chiyu's hands and said, "Yu Chiliang has come to our place!"

"My brother is here! Really?" Yu Chi Yu asked excitedly.

“Really! I’ve already ordered them to set up camp at the border,” Li Linlie said.

"Why don't we let them into the city?" Yu Chi Yu asked, puzzled.

“He is an envoy sent from the Western Regions, and he brought a troop of men with him. We should be cautious,” Li Linlie said.

“My husband’s considerations are indeed very thorough,” Yu Chi Yu said.

“After all, you haven’t seen your family for so many years. If you want to see them, I can arrange for someone to take you to the border military camp so that you and your siblings can meet,” Li Linlie said.

"My lord! Don't break the army's discipline because of me," Yu Chi Yu said.

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you!" Li Linlie said tenderly as he pulled Yu Chiyu into his arms.

Yu Chi Liang and his party received orders from the border defense army of the Great Lu Kingdom to set up camp on the border and wait for Li Linlie to summon them.

“General Yale, please have someone deliver this letter to the Ningcheng camp and give it to General Li Linlie,” Yuchi Liang said.

Yale took the letter, shook it, then looked at it again and said, "Your Highness! It's not that I doubt you, but this was all arranged by the Khan."

“Of course! General Yale can open it and take a look,” Yu Chi Liang said calmly.

"I believe that Prince Yuchi would not do anything to harm the Western Regions, so I sent someone to deliver the letter to General Li Linlie," Yale said.

Li Linlie received Yu Chi Liang's letter and eagerly opened it. Yu Chi Liang had written eight characters on the paper: "Forced by circumstances, take care of yourself."

Li Linlie stared at the eight characters and fell into deep thought. Could it be that Yuchi Liang had come with a hidden reason, that he was forced to come, not that he came of his own volition? It was Yuchi Liang who was forced to come, and I should take care of myself.

Thinking of this, Li Linlie immediately ordered, "Summon the envoy from the Western Regions to Ningcheng!"

Upon receiving Li Linlie's order to see him, Yu Chi Liang hurriedly packed his things and, accompanied by Yale, entered Ningcheng.

Li Linlie sat upright in the barracks, flanked by soldiers who had followed him for many years.

"General! The envoy from the Western Regions has arrived!"

"Let him in!" Li Linlie said.

Yu Chi Liang entered the barracks, followed by Yale. Li Linlie kept staring at Yu Chi Liang. Feeling a gaze upon him, Yu Chi Liang calmly said, "Yu Chi Liang, envoy from the Western Regions, greets General Li!"

“Prince Yuchi has come from afar! I am sorry for not welcoming you properly! I wonder why you have come to the northwestern border of my Great Lu Kingdom at this time?” Li Linlie said.

“I have come here on behalf of Nabulu Khan. We Nabulu Khans hope that General Li can assess the situation and act accordingly,” said Yuchi Liang.

“Your Bulu Khan’s reach is too far, Your Highness Prince Yuchi!” Li Linlie said.

"I'm just here to deliver a message; there's no point in saying anything more." Yu Chi Liang glanced sideways at Yale standing beside him.

Li Linlie immediately realized that Yuchi Liang had been coerced. He had a sudden idea and said, "Prince Yuchi has come all the way to Ningcheng. Please take a look around Ningcheng as you would a relative. Don't be shy!"

"General Li, have you forgotten that we are relatives?" Yuchi Liang said.

“That’s right! In terms of connections, you, Yuchi Liang, are my brother-in-law!” Li Linlie said, slapping his forehead.

“That’s right, General! Isn’t Prince Yuchi your brother-in-law?” the soldiers said with a smile.

Yale stood expressionless beside Yuchi Liang and whispered to him, "Your Highness Yuchi, you should know what's going on."

Yu Chi Liang pretended not to hear and said, "I'm here only to discuss official business, not personal matters."

"What a fine example of separating public and private matters! Guards, arrest them!" Li Linlie said sternly.

"When two countries are at war, envoys are not to be killed!" Yale drew his sword and assumed a fighting stance.

“General Yale! Calm down! You’ve come all this way, let me find you a good place to rest, and then come out and have a proper talk with me!” Li Linlie said.

Several soldiers came in and took Yuchi Liang and Yale away. Li Linlie instructed, "Don't let them stay in the same room."

That evening, Li Linlie ordered someone to bring Yu Chiyu to the barracks. Li Linlie led Yu Chiyu to one side of the barracks and opened the door to the room.

"Brother!" Yu Chi Yu called out.

"Sister!" Yu Chi Liang stepped forward, and the two siblings embraced tightly.

"Little sister! How are you?" Yu Chi Liang carefully examined his little sister.

"Don't worry, brother! My husband treats me very well!" Yu Chi Yu said.

“I don’t think he could mistreat you. If he did, then I, Yuchi Liang, was blind back then,” Yuchi Liang said.

"Big brother! I'm sorry to have troubled you!" Li Linlie came in from outside.

“Li Linlie! You…” Yu Chi Liang shut his mouth.

"Big brother, do you want to scold me? Go ahead and scold me! I'll listen until you're tired of it all," Li Linlie said.

"What are you doing?" Yuchi Liang asked.

“Wasn’t that Yale guy coercing you? I’ll stand up for you,” Li Linlie said with a smile.

“I knew I couldn’t hide anything from you,” Yu Chi Liang said.

“Didn’t my brother tell me to take care of myself?” Li Linlie said.

“You understand everything? I knew you could understand me!” Yu Chi Liang said.

"Otherwise, why would you have entrusted your sister to me back then?" Li Linlie said with a smile.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand a word!” Yu Chi Yu said.

"I'll tell you this because my sister is doing quite well. That's why Bulu Khan sent me here this time..."

"I sent you to sow discord!"

Before Yu Chi Liang could finish speaking, Li Linlie interrupted him.

"You're quite clever, kid!" Yu Chi Liang said.

"Brother, don't praise him anymore, or he'll become arrogant!" Yu Chi Yu said.

“Sister! Your husband is indeed very clever, and I’m not just praising him,” said Yu Chi Liang.

"How are you going to explain this, my brother-in-law?" Li Linlie asked.

“Think about yourself first! Bulu Khan sent me here, and I think he will send people to Yulu City to spread rumors that you are colluding with the Western Regions in order to ensure that nothing goes wrong. At that time, it will depend on how much your new emperor trusts your Li family. As your brother-in-law, I can't help you much,” Yuchi Liang said.

"Just stay here and relax for the next few days. You and your sister haven't seen each other for so many years, have a good talk with Yu-mei. Don't worry about these things, I'm going to get busy!" Li Linlie said.

“How long are you going to keep me locked up? Otherwise Yale will get suspicious,” Yu Chi Liang said.

"Don't worry!" Li Linlie said as he walked out of the room.