Chapter 696 Returning favors
"Brother Liu, what are you doing..."

Su He looked at the timid Liu Xunyi in astonishment. He didn't understand why Liu Xunyi reacted so strongly to his wedding.

"So... Brother Su is the one sent by the Mongolian Khan to pick up the bride..."

"Is there anything wrong?" Su He didn't understand Liu Xunyi's hidden meaning and said hesitantly, "In fact, Su is not the leader, but just an accompanying person. The journey to Helin is long and winding, and there are many bandits along the way. The Princess of Song is worth a lot of money, so the Khan and the prince sent me to protect her along the way to avoid any accidents."

Liu Xunyi felt a lump in his chest and asked absentmindedly, "I wonder who the mastermind is?"

"A Mongolian noble, the leader of the Hongjici clan, the Hexi King 'An Chen'." Su He said frankly, "The Hexi King is mature and steady, has made outstanding contributions, and has great prestige in the Khan's court. Therefore, it is most appropriate for him to be the chief envoy to welcome the bride. By the way, this time, there is also an 'old friend' of yours traveling with the Hexi King."

"Old friend?" Liu Xunyi was stunned. "Who?"

"General Xijing, Sui Zuo." Su He said, "This time, he personally led 800 cavalrymen to protect the King of Hexi and Princess Xinde."

"Sui Zuo?"

Liu Xunyi couldn't help but feel mixed emotions when he heard Sui Zuo's name. This "old friend" didn't have much friendship with him, but rather had a lot of grudges against him.

"Right now, Sui Zuo is leading his army to camp outside Lin'an. I accompanied the King of Hexi into the city. Just now, I went to visit the Prince Rong's Mansion under the leadership of the Deputy Privy Envoy Qian, but I accidentally learned that you were also in the mansion." Su He continued, "I wanted to find you to reminisce about the past, but I heard from the servants of the Prince Rong's Mansion that you had left. After meeting Prince Rong and the little prince, I asked the King of Hexi to come out to find you, but I ran into the scene just now..."

However, at this time, Liu Xunyi's mind was full of the matter of welcoming the bride, so he was indifferent to Su He's explanation. He was frowning and unhappy.

As if noticing Liu Xunyi's sudden abnormality, Su He gradually stopped his chattering and changed the subject, curiously asking: "Brother Liu, you seem to have something on your mind? Could it be that this marriage between the Mongols and the Song Dynasty... has something to do with you?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Xunyi's eyes changed immediately. He raised his head abruptly and stared at Su He, who had a frank expression, without blinking, but did not say a word for a long time.

"Brother Liu, if you have any difficulties, you may as well tell me, Su." Su He said sincerely, "Su is a few years older than you, and I claim to have experienced more than you, maybe... I can help you."

The more earnest Su He was, the more conflicted Liu Xunyi became, and the look in his eyes when he looked at him became deeper and deeper.

They looked at each other and fell into silence again.

"willow……"

"Brother Su!"

Suddenly, Liu Xunyi's eyes straightened and he stood up abruptly. Under Su He's surprised gaze, he slowly knelt on the ground holding the wine bowl.

"Brother Liu, what are you doing?" Su He was horrified and hurriedly stood up to support him. "A grown man should kneel to the heavens, the earth, and the emperor, parents, and teachers. You and I are of the same generation and brothers. How can I accept such a great gift from you?"

However, no matter how Su He tried to persuade and support him, Liu Xunyi's body remained as solid as a rock as he knelt on the ground without moving.

Seeing this, Su He waved his hand and lifted his robe without thinking, and knelt down in front of Liu Xunyi with a plop, and bowed to him in order to feel at ease.

"Brother Su, get up quickly!" Liu Xunyi's face changed, and he quickly supported Su He's arms and explained, "I bow to you because I feel guilty and unworthy of toasting with Brother Su, let alone calling him a brother. You bowing to me is truly against the will of heaven."

"What do you mean?" Su He was confused. The more he listened, the more confused he became. "Why do you feel guilty?"

"Brother Su, please stand up and accept my greetings. I will tell you everything that happened." Liu Xunyi said stubbornly, "Otherwise, I will kneel and die here today."

"This……"

Under Liu Xunyi's insistence and urging, Su He hesitated again and again, and finally sighed, then stood up reluctantly, and asked with concern: "Brother Liu, what happened? Why did you..."

"Brother Su is a gentleman and an upright person. He is a real hero and a great hero in the world today!" Liu Xunyi raised his glass to show his respect and spoke righteously, "In comparison, I am a shameless, masked, heartless villain."

"Brother Liu, why do you treat yourself so badly?"

"Brother Su, before I tell you the truth, please accept my three bows!" Liu Xunyi said solemnly, "First bow, respect for Brother Su. Second bow, gratitude for Brother Su's trust. Third bow... to apologize to Brother Su!"

"This……"

Before Su He could react, Liu Xunyi had already bent down and knocked on him, "bang bang bang" three times, leaving a bruise on his forehead.

Su He took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "I will accept your gift for now, but you must tell me the reason!"

"There is something. Even if I don't say it today, I'm sure Brother Su will hear it from others sooner or later."

"what's up?"

"About Princess Xinde..." At this point, Liu Xunyi's voice began to tremble, and his tone became a little sad, "About Princess Xinde... and me." "And you?" Su He was startled, as if he heard a clue, but couldn't figure it out for a while, and pondered, "You mean..."

"Don't be impatient, Brother Su. Let me tell you a story..."

Along with Liu Xunyi's memories, he told Su He everything about the past between him and Zhao Xin, from their acquaintance to their understanding, and from their understanding to their love, without hiding anything.

After Su He heard this, he was so shocked that he couldn't express it in words. Even after Liu Xunyi finished telling him everything, he still sat there in a daze, unable to recover for a long time.

"Now, Brother Su knows about my relationship with Princess Xinde?" Liu Xunyi said sadly, "He should also know that the marriage between Song and Mongolia was a huge blow to me...

"So... you and Princess Xinde are a perfect match, but unfortunately the Emperor of the Song Dynasty forced you to go your separate ways?" Su He looked at Liu Xunyi, who looked dejected, in disbelief, and said intermittently, "Could it be that Princess Xinde was forced to marry in Mongolia?"

"Not entirely. If Qin Wei hadn't tried to drive a wedge between us, Xin'er might have preferred death to agreeing to the marriage. But now, Xin'er's misunderstanding of me has made her disheartened, so she agreed to marry far away in Mongolia... not necessarily out of helplessness."

"This……"

Out of human feelings, Su He felt very sympathetic towards Liu Xunyi's experience, and even felt a little pity for her. However, due to his identity and mission, he could not have any sympathy for Liu Xunyi.

After all, the "sweetheart" that Liu Xunyi was worried about was now the princess of Mongolia. How could Su He dare to take this as a joke when it came to the dignity of the country?

Therefore, when Su He first heard such shocking news, he was in a dilemma for a moment. It was not right to persuade, and it was not right not to persuade. It was wrong to say it, and it was even more wrong not to say it. It was really difficult.

"I told Brother Su everything, not because I expect him to help me." Liu Xunyi seemed to see Su He's difficulties, so he took the initiative to explain, "but because I want to apologize to Brother Su for my despicable thoughts!"

Su He was startled and asked suspiciously, "Brother Liu, why do you say that? Although Princess Xinde is now the Mongolian princess, you really shouldn't get entangled with her. But after all, you knew her first and you were childhood sweethearts. Even if you admire each other, it is human nature. How can you have such despicable thoughts?"

"Brother Su is indeed very righteous!" Liu Xunyi said admiringly, "However, my despicable intentions were not directed at Princess Xinde, but... the Mongolian envoy who came to welcome the bride."

"What?" Su He frowned and thought, "What do you mean?"

"To be honest, after I first heard about the marriage, I started asking around for news about the Mongolian envoys." Liu Xunyi said ashamedly, "When did you arrive in Lin'an City? Who received you? Where were you settled? I even found out when you went to the palace to discuss the details of the marriage with the emperor... I found out everything."

"Why are you trying to find out about our whereabouts?"

Facing Su He's meaningful questioning, Liu Xunyi laughed at himself, then his eyes fixed and he said frankly: "Because I want to assassinate the Mongolian envoy before Xin'er leaves Lin'an!"

"hiss!"

When Liu Xunyi said this, Su He's heart tightened and he took a breath of cold air.

"The fastest way to destroy the marriage is to assassinate the Mongolian envoy, and it is also the most effective way I can think of." Liu Xunyi continued, "I have no power and influence, and my words are not taken seriously in Lin'an. It is simply a pipe dream to change the marriage plan decided by the emperor by my own strength. But I don't want to watch my beloved woman become a tool for the court to negotiate peace, so I have no choice but to try the most risky but most likely to succeed method, assassination! As long as the Mongolian envoy dies in Lin'an City, the Mongolian court will be furious, and the marriage between the two countries will naturally become empty talk. Then, I will have the opportunity to rescue Xin'er and run away with her..."

"But have you ever thought about what would happen to the Song Dynasty even if you were allowed to flee?" Su He said in a deep voice, "Brother Liu, back then in the Qin Mansion in Hexi, you disobeyed Luo Tianjin's orders for the sake of your country, became the target of public criticism, and even lost your life. This made me admire you and always regarded you as a hero with a loyal heart. Therefore, even if there are rumors in the world that you are a shameless traitor, I will never believe it. But your heartfelt words just now have made me extremely disappointed... How can you disregard the fate of the country because of a love affair? How can you disregard the fate of the country because of your own selfish desires? "And ignore the rise and fall of the Song Dynasty? Do you know that your assassination of the Mongolian envoy, whether successful or not, will inevitably provoke a war between the two countries? Once the war breaks out, the Song Dynasty will be devastated and blood will flow. By then, how many soldiers from both countries will die on the battlefield? How many innocent people will be torn apart? I know that you and Princess Xinde were separated and full of injustice, and I also know how painful it is for lovers to not be able to get married? You don't want to give up your beloved woman, Su Mou can understand. But you drag billions of people into the war because of your own desire. Such a reckless act is really selfish, Su Mou... I dare not agree with it!"

"Brother Su is right!" Facing Su He's accusation, Liu Xunyi was not angry but accepted it with pleasure. "Compared with Brother Su, Liu Xunyi is more than despicable and shameless. He is worse than a beast!"

Hearing this, Su He was stunned. He looked up and down at the depressed Liu Xunyi with a mysterious look. After a long silence, he slowly asked, "Since you already had a plan, why did you tell me everything?"

"If the Mongolian envoy was someone else, I would never change my mind. But fate is so cruel that the Mongolian envoy happened to be Brother Su..." Liu Xunyi wanted to cry but had no tears. He smiled miserably, "Brother Su is a gentleman, a hero, and treats me like a brother. He is sincere and innocent. Now, everyone in the world spit on me as a traitor, but only Brother Su believes that I have no choice and understands that I have a hard time. If I don't even care about you... am I still a human being?"

Su He's eyes flashed with hesitation, and he whispered, "Do you know what it means to tell me your plan?"

"I know that with Brother Su here, I have no chance to assassinate the King of Hexi." Liu Xunyi nodded slowly, "On the contrary, if Brother Su tells the Deputy Privy Envoy or Prince Rong about this, without any real evidence, I will have no chance of survival."

"you……"

"Brother Su, please be impartial. I will... wait for your orders." Liu Xunyi spoke with great righteousness, and there was even a hint of relief in his tone.

“Brother Liu, you are so confused!”

Looking at Liu Xunyi's sincere eyes, Su He sighed, then left a puzzling answer, got up and left in a hurry.

As the sun sets, the red sunset glows on the rippling blue lake. Liu Xunyi's mood is like its reflection in the lake, twisting and trembling with circles of ripples.

……

　Thank you to every friend I met along the way!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)