Having children earns benefit, start competing for dominance in the world by marrying a wife

Xiao Pengthian’s suggested method of avoiding marriage to the North Fre King did seem to have some feasibility to Xiao Wenyao.

However, there was a significant problem.

That was the fact she had grown up on the grasslands and had never been to Great Sum, nor had she lived there. If she went to Great Sum alone, how would she survive?

Although she wasn’t a weak woman—her realm had reached the sixth rank, giving her a certain ability to protect herself…

…she was after all a person of the Barbarian Tribe, with significant differences from the people of Great Sum.

It was possible that upon her arrival in Great Sum, she would be quickly recognized as part of the Barbarian Tribe.

At that time, living in Great Sum might not be so easy.

Seeing that Xiao Wenyao had not spoken, Xiao Pengthian continued, “Once you get to North City, entering Great Sum will be much easier. Then, you can escape to Great Sum with Wu Yuan’s merchant caravan.”

“But once you’re in Great Sum, you’ll need to change your behavior and tone of speech. You must not let anyone recognize that you come from the grasslands; otherwise, they will treat you as a spy of the Barbarian Tribe.”

Xiao Pengthian was also worried that Xiao Wenyao might not survive after going to Great Sum.

Although Xiao Wenyao had lived on the grasslands since childhood, her life wasn’t much inferior to those daughters of noble families in Great Sum.

Moreover, she had plenty of slaves to do everything for her.

Once she got to Great Sum, she certainly wouldn’t have it as good as she did now.

Not only would she not have such treatment, but she would also have to be constantly on guard for Great Sum people discovering her identity. Perhaps after going to Great Sum, she would need to dodge and hide here and there.

Of course, if she was set on not marrying the North Fre King, then fleeing to Great Sum was her only option.

Now it was up to Xiao Wenyao to make her own choice.

At this moment, Xiao Pengthian looked at Xiao Wenyao and asked, “Yaoyao, you have about a month to think this over. If you have made up your mind, you can tell me, and 1 will find a way to arrange it for you.”

“But you must think it over carefully. Once you choose to go to Great Sum, there’s no turning back.”

Xiao Pengthian knew in his heart that if he helped Xiao Wenyao escape to Great Sum, he would be taking a huge risk.

If Xiao Hongbo found out about it, he could be punished, or he might even be killed.

After all, Xiao Hongbo would have to explain things to the North Fre King at that point.

But Xiao Pengthian did not want to see his niece married off to a decrepit old man. He knew what kind of man the North Fre King was. If Xiao Wenyao married the North Fre King, she might as well be living a life worse than death.

After hearing Xiao Pengthian’s words, Xiao Wenyao bit down on her silver teeth and then said, “Uncle, I don’t need a month. I’ve decided—1 want to go to Great Sum. It’s better for me to die than to marry the North Fre King!”

Determination shone in Xiao Wenyao’s eyes. Though she didn’t know what difficulties she would face in Great Sum, she believed that no matter how many hardships, they’d be better than marrying that filthy old man who never bathed and was a cannibal.

Hearing Xiao Wenyao’s words, Xiao Pengthian sighed again and said, “Alright, I will find a way to arrange it, and have someone take you to Great Sum.”

Xiao Wenyao did not ask Xiao Pengthian how he would manage to get her to Great Sum. She believed in her uncle’s capabilities; after all, he was a general of the Barbarian Tribe. He could certainly handle this.

An hour later.

Wu Yuan’s caravan was unloading cargo when Xiao Pengthian appeared behind Wu Yuan.

“Wu Yuan, come with me for a moment. I have something to discuss with you.”

Upon hearing someone call his name, Wu Yuan stopped what he was doing and turned around.

Realizing the person seeking him was Xiao Pengthian, Wu Yuan felt puzzled; what did Xiao Pengthian want with him? They didn’t seem to have any connection, did they?

Wu Yuan then asked, “General Xiao, what do you want to see me for?”

Xiao Pengthian glanced at the people unloading cargo, then said, “This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s go somewhere else.”

As his voice fell, Xiao Pengthian turned and walked toward a high slope on the grasslands.

Driven by curiosity, Wu Yuan hurriedly followed.

Soon they reached the top of the slope, and seeing that there was no one around, Wu Yuan asked again, “General Xiao, do you perhaps have some goods you need me to transport for you?”

At that moment, Xiao Pengthian turned his head to look at Wu Yuan and said coldly, “Wu Yuan, I’ve discovered your activities.”

Upon hearing this abrupt statement from Xiao Pengthian, Wu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

However, his face showed no change.

Wu Yuan couldn’t help but think, could it be that Xiao Pengthian had discovered his involvement in passing intelligence to the North Prince Mansion?

If that was the case, then shouldn’t Xiao Pengthian simply kill him on the spot, instead of bringing him here?

Wu Yuan, with his expression unchanged, replied, “General Xiao, what are you referring to?”

Xiao Pengthian let out a cold laugh and then said, “So calm? It seems you really believe your actions were foolproof.”

Wu Yuan continued, “General Xiao, 1 don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Xiao Pengthian cut to the chase, “Wu Yuan, you don’t think that the silver you’ve been hiding has gone unnoticed, do you?”

At these words, Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.

Hiding silver?

He wasn’t hiding silver; when he passed intelligence, he usually placed the information inside a box filled with silver and then buried the box in a predetermined spot, waiting for his contacts to retrieve it.

If Xiao Pengthian discovered the hidden silver, it’s very likely he discovered the espionage as well.

Of course, it’s possible that Xiao Pengthian only found the box and not the intelligence within, since the box containing the intelligence had a secret compartment.

The reason he put silver in the box was to ensure that those who stumbled upon the box by accident would focus on the silver and overlook the secret compartment within.

To gauge how much Xiao Pengthian knew, Wu Yuan suddenly changed expression, appearing shocked and disbelieving, “How… how did you find out…”

Seeing Wu Yuan’s drastic change in expression and his body trembling, Xiao Pengthian huffed and said, “The night before last, while I was on patrol, 1 caught you sneaking out of the Prince’s Mansion with a box, and you buried it here under the slope.”

“I was curious about the contents of the box, and when 1 opened it, it was filled with shiny silver.”

“It seems that the silver the Princess Consort gave you for the merchant convoy has been significantly pocketed by you!”

Wu Yuan fell to his knees with a thud and hastily said, “General Xiao, please don’t tell the Princess Consort about this. I am willing to hand over all the silver I’ve embezzled to honor you!”

Seeing that he had intimidated Wu Yuan, Xiao Pengthian indifferently said, “I don’t need your silver, just do one thing for me. Not only will 1 keep your embezzlement of silver a secret from the Princess Consort, but I will also return the box of silver I found to you.”

Wu Yuan quickly said, “General Xiao, what do you need done? As long as you don’t disclose my embezzlement to the Princess Consort, 1 am willing to do anything.”

Xiao Pengthian instructed, “I need you to take someone to Great Sum in a month’s time. If you handle this matter well, I’ll give you a hundred thousand taels of silver.”

Xiao Pengthian surely didn’t have a hundred thousand taels at the moment, but that might change after conquering North City. However, he had no intention of really giving Wu Yuan a hundred thousand taels, as such affairs often necessitated silencing witnesses post-success.

Curiously, Wu Yuan inquired, “Who is this person?”

Xiao Pengthian said, “You’ll find out in a month.”

Wu Yuan immediately responded, “I will make sure your task is accomplished, General.”

Xiao Pengthian glanced at Wu Yuan, still kneeling on the ground, and declared, “Your silver is still buried beneath the slope; I didn’t touch it.”

“They say you Great Sum people are greedy for money, and now I’ve seen it for myself.”

Just as Wu Yuan was about to speak, Xiao Pengthian turned and began walking down the slope, saying over his shoulder, “Try to be less greedy in the future.”

Eagerly, Wu Yuan said, “Yes, yes, I will definitely mend my ways.”

Once Xiao Pengthian had left, Wu Yuan immediately went to the spot where he had buried the silver and opened the box to check.

Fortunately, the encrypted letter was still there, and the secret compartment hadn’t been tampered with—the multiple seals on the confidential letter were intact. Wu Yuan sighed with relief and thought to himself that he couldn’t use this method to pass intelligence anymore..