Ayang panicked and quickly denied, "No! General, you can't just assume it's mine because my mother grows Fragrance-seeking Grass!"
"Foolish," Yelyu Lie sneered, "When did I ever say this was Fragrance-seeking Grass?"
Ayang's already large eyes widened like copper bells, "It's because... because I've been exposed to Fragrance-seeking Grass since I was a child! I recognized it at a glance!"
Yelyu Lie curled his lips in sarcasm, "Take another good look?"
Ayang recalled using Fragrance-seeking Grass to knock out that woman from the Central Plains; it was a spur-of-the-moment idea.
She rushed back to her small courtyard, grabbed a handful of Fragrance-seeking Grass, lit it while blocking her nose, and then threw it into the General's room.
Fragrance-seeking Grass is the raw material for knockout incense, and its effect is stronger when burned. Smelling it will render one unconscious.
When both girls in the room had fainted, Ayang hurried in and, under the cover of darkness, carried Qiao'er back to her room.
After all, all the servants were celebrating in the small courtyard, so she wasn't afraid of being discovered.
Later, she returned to put the woman from the Central Plains on the bed, pretending she was sleeping.
She quickly ran back to tell Yelyu Lie that the Little Princess said she was unwell and unwilling to attend the banquet.
Unexpectedly, in her haste, she forgot about the Fragrance-seeking Grass!
The night was deep, with only a few lanterns lit in the courtyard.
Ayang was worried about this, fearing that Yelyu Lie might discover it.
So when he threw over the grass root mixed with dirt, she instinctively assumed it was Fragrance-seeking Grass.
Taking a closer look now, this was just ordinary weeds from the courtyard, not Fragrance-seeking Grass at all!
Ayang's eyes moved quickly, and she immediately knelt on the ground, aggrievedly saying, "It's a misunderstanding on my part. But what does the General mean by throwing these dirt-mixed weeds at me?"
"Approaching death and still unaware!"
The sea bowl on the table was hurled by Yelyu Lie, directly hitting Ayang.
Ayang cried out in pain, sobbing, "Banlai brother was right; people from the Central Plains are indeed troublemakers. You've known her for less than a day and already believe her slander!"
Yun Chunnuan, who was quietly watching the drama unfold: "???"
After waking up, she found herself in different clothes and didn't know what was happening, then was forcibly given a bowl of soup by the Barbarian General.
Yun Chunnuan had no idea what the soup was, thought he had given her something indescribable and wanted to do something indescribable...
But the Barbarian General didn't become frenzied; instead, he said he wanted to show her a wonderful drama.
Then they came here.
So, she'd just watch; there was no hiding from it anyway.
As long as the barbarian didn't erupt in animalistic desires, she'd cooperate under the eaves.
However, as a spectator, she hadn't understood the situation before being splashed with dirty water...
Everyone, except Yelyu Lie and Ayang, had no idea what was going on.
Banlai, a foolish fellow, jumped forward to speak for Ayang when he heard his beloved call his name, "General, what fault could Ayang have? Since that Central Plains woman arrived, you've slaughtered chickens and held banquets, pampering her too much! Are we Bianliao people, strong and well-fed horses, afraid of the Central Plains?"
So far, only Ayang had seen the Little Princess's appearance in the room.
In the eyes of the drunken men, she was just a fair bundle, with features indistinguishable, hardly described as pretty.
Therefore, the General's kindness to the Central Plains woman was seen by Bianliao people as due to her status.
Pity, Bianliao people with iron-clad bones, never fearing power!
So what if Great Xia is prosperous? Didn't they send a princess to Bianliao for marriage?
This kind of liability is completely unnecessary to pamper!
Little did they know, their mighty Great General was at present, simply captivated by the Little Princess's beauty.
'Bang—'
A wine jar slammed accurately onto Banlai's head, and blood gushed out.
Banlai swayed, and had it not been for his strong physique, he would've been knocked unconscious.
"Fool, she poisoned your sister, and yet you think she's a good person!" Yelyu Lie bitterly reprimanded.
Banlai, since he was young and bare-bottomed, had been with him, one capable of fighting ten in battles.
But his mind, no idea how it developed, ignored many women and fell for this deceitful one!
Pathetically begging for marriage at her place, rejected yet persistently hopeful!
Today, he intended to awaken this foolish fellow!
Banlai, in a drunken haze, blood from his head gradually blurred his vision.
He saw his beloved kneeling on the ground, pitifully gazing at him... full of question marks.
Poisoned?
How could it be!
His Ayang sister, beautiful and kind-hearted, at most a bit domineering, how could she poison his sister?
However, when had the General ever lied to him?
Banlai, covering his head, looked aggrievedly at Ayang, "If you say no, I'll believe you!"
Despite saying so, Ayang knew Banlai already believed Yelyu Lie. His loyalty was unwavering, never leaving the General's orders, always like this since young!
Useless waste!
How could Ayang marry such a spineless man?
Being hit and bleeding, not daring to utter a word, if she followed him, what good days could she expect?
Ayang turned her head away, no longer looking at Banlai.
Her gaze met the innocent face of the woman beside the General, wishing she could tear her apart!
If she hadn't appeared, the General would have surely noticed her!
Certainly, he would!
"General, Ayang believes, this Princess from the Great Xia Country is utterly unworthy of you, the brave and heroic General! The Great Xia emperor sends such a frail princess for marriage, showing utter disregard for Bianliao Country!"
Even though Ayang is a woman, she has studied riding and archery from a young age, just so one day she can fight fiercely like the General on the battlefield and slaughter all Central Plains people!"
After speaking, Ayang proudly raised her chin, staring directly into Yun Chunnuan's eyes.
Especially that sentence 'slaughter all Central Plains people', the hatred was practically written on her face!
"Well said! Ayang, well said! Truly a Bianliao woman! She has spirit!"
"Ayang sister! I'll toast to you!"
Her words stirred several men, making their blood boil, echoing, even raising their wine bowls to toast her.
Ayang, though kneeling, kept her spine straight, earning more admiration from the men.
One of the big men wrapped in tiger skin stepped forward, shouting, "General! I'm a rough man, I don't know how to speak, much less understand anything about grass or not! But..."
Before he could finish, a cold voice interrupted.
"If you can't speak, shut up. No one mistook you for a mute!"
The burly man: "..."
"General! I haven't finished speaking yet!"
Yelyu Lie's cold gaze dismissed him, stemming from a dominating bloodline, causing the man to close his mouth instantly.
He gave Ayang a sympathetic look, then sneaked back into the crowd...