Mistakenly Marked the Madly Beautiful Princess - Chapter 42

One thing was now certain: that demoness Lu He was not dead.

Upon learning this news, Fu Huayi was filled with resentment and fury. She had already received the imperial court’s order to retreat.

To have set out with great fanfare only to withdraw in disgrace upon hearing that Lu He was still alive this was a bitter pill for Fu Huayi to swallow.

It was said that Lu He had personally arrived, yet the one who stepped forward to provoke them was Ling Yue, a novice girl.

Fu Huayi couldn’t help but overthink it. She believed Lu He was using her as a whetstone to sharpen Ling Yue.

She refused to accept this!

Pacing back and forth in her tent, a young maiden standing by her side spoke up, “What are your plans, Marshal?”

Fu Huayi finally stopped and looked at the purple-clad attendant, her expression softening slightly. “Zi’er, I cannot accept this.”

Zi’er approached and began massaging her shoulders, gently advising, “Marshal, you must not act impulsively. Countless eyes in the court are watching you, waiting for you to make a misstep so they can pull you down from your position.”

Fu Huayi was well aware of this. In war, only victory and defeat mattered, but the court was rife with hidden daggers and treacherous schemes, the human heart was unpredictable.

She sat down, clenched her fist, and slammed it on the table. “I simply cannot stand the Emperor’s cowardly demeanor.”

Zi’er’s eyes widened slightly, and she quickly cautioned, “Be careful with your words.”

Fu Huayi’s face was clouded with frustration. After calming down, she asked, “Have you found out where the news about Lu He came from?”

Zi’er was Fu Huayi’s trusted confidante, evident from the fact that she was brought along even in the midst of battle.

Furrowing her delicate brows, Zi’er lost her earlier composure and spoke with concern, “Someone from within Rong suddenly contacted Elder Fang, saying that the Grand Princess has fully recovered and is currently in Hongshui County.”

Elder Fang was the pillar of the moderate faction in the Xin dynasty. He had once tutored the current Emperor, who held him in high esteem.

It seemed there was no room for negotiation regarding this retreat.

Fu Huayi pinched the bridge of her nose, as if all her energy had drained away in an instant. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Does our Great Xin have such a powerful insider? Someone who can even track Lu He’s movements?”

Zi’er sighed. “It appears to be a defection. Their assassination attempt on Lu He failed, and they fear retaliation.”

Fu Huayi fell silent for a moment. Closing her eyes and then suddenly opening them, her expression turned ferocious. “Even if we retreat, I must take something with me.”

Zi’er didn’t understand her meaning but sensed that she was planning something extremely dangerous. Pausing her massage, she softly urged, “Marshal, remember not to act rashly.”

Fu Huayi paid no heed. “I know my limits.”

On the other side, Li Min stood atop the city wall, watching the enemy troops retreat in an orderly manner. Unable to contain her joy, she turned to Ling Yue beside her and said, “We’ve won. It must be because of your brilliant performance in yesterday’s battle.”

Ling Yue did not respond, her gaze fixed intently on the opposite bank of the Fen River.

Based on her understanding of Fu Huayi, even if the odds of victory were slim, she would fight to the bitter end before retreating especially since she had lost a key general this time.

Behind such unusual behavior often lay even more terrifying reasons, though Ling Yue couldn’t quite grasp what they were.

Her own plans had been thwarted. She had intended to take the initiative and attack today, but with the enemy retreating first, there was little point in pursuing them.

Ling Yue gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, a sense of unease settling in her heart.

Someone gently took her hand, the cool touch instantly revealing the identity of the newcomer.

“Long live the Grand Princess, a thousand, thousand years.”

Amid the synchronized shouts of the soldiers and the fluttering of banners, Ling Yue suddenly felt her anxiety fade away.

The Grand Princess possessed a certain magic as long as she stood there, as long as she was by her side, there was nothing to fear.

Ling Yue cupped her hands in salute. “Your Highness.”

The Grand Princess merely smiled, her gaze drifting toward the enemy troops as she remarked with a hint of boredom, “It seems you won’t get the chance to fully display your skills today.”

Though disappointed by the missed opportunity, Ling Yue wasn’t in a hurry for immediate glory. Instead, she was preoccupied with another concern.

With the Grand Princess present, she felt as though she had found her anchor. “This situation is far too suspicious. I fear there may be hidden dangers lurking behind it.”

The Grand Princess didn’t respond but suddenly pointed into the distance. “Look, what’s that?”

Following her gesture, Ling Yue spotted a figure breaking away from the retreating enemy ranks, sneaking furtively into the forest.

Based on the attire and weaponry, Ling Yue guessed it was Fu Huayi.

Her pupils contracted sharply. “It’s Fu Huayi.”

The Grand Princess turned her head, her eyes holding an inscrutable smile. “You know her?”

Ling Yue suddenly sensed something amiss and lied again, “General Li mentioned her to me. That person matches his description perfectly.”

She grew tense, so much so that she couldn’t bring herself to meet the Grand Princess’s gaze.

Fortunately, at that critical moment, Li Min stepped in to help. “I did indeed speak of her to General Ling.”

Ling Yue was so moved she could have wept, and she resolved to treat Li Min to a lavish meal later.

But then she remembered her salary hadn’t been paid yet. She was still broke.

Sorry, General Li. Next time, for sure.

The Grand Princess didn’t miss the flicker of gratitude in Ling Yue’s eyes and deliberately drawled, “Oh~ I see.”

Eager to change the subject, Ling Yue noticed the enemy troops had moved farther away and quickly said, “I wonder what tricks they’re up to?”

Li Min stepped forward to volunteer. “Your Highness, I request permission to investigate.”

The Grand Princess glanced at the figure in the woods and let out a soft hum. “No need. Ling Yue.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Come with me.”

Ling Yue thought it unnecessary for the Grand Princess to personally handle someone like Fu Huayi, but she trusted that her actions had their own reasoning. “Yes!”

The city gates swung open, and two horses, one black, one red charged out.

Li Min watched from the city walls as their figures grew smaller in the distance and couldn’t help but murmur, “They really do make a good pair.”

Ling Yue couldn’t hear her muttering, but if she had, she would have teased Li Min for being a hopeless romantic.

The sparse woods offered little cover, and the enemy seemed to have no intention of hiding from them.

After one particular glance back, Ling Yue confirmed it was indeed Fu Huayi.

Fu Huayi’s smug expression twisted into terror the moment she spotted the Grand Princess.

She had only intended to lure out Ling Yue or Li Min, she never expected to draw out Lu He!

But after a brief moment of panic, she regained her composure. She was familiar with the terrain: two tall mountains with a suspension bridge between them.

She had already tested it, the bridge was unguarded and couldn’t support too many people.

After a moment’s thought, she immediately fled toward the bridge.

Seeing her panicked state, Ling Yue couldn’t resist glancing at the person beside her.

The Grand Princess gently pushed her head back. “Why look at me? The rat is getting away, and this is a big one.”

Ling Yue understood her meaning. It was a pity there were too many obstacles here otherwise, she could have demonstrated her archery skills instead of giving chase like this.

Just sighing with emotion, Ling Yue quickened her pace to catch up.

The other party was still as fast as in her previous life, which made Ling Yue secretly resentful.

Soon, they emerged from the woods, and a suspension bridge appeared before them.

Fu Huayi had already reached the middle of the bridge. She turned around and shouted, “You pervert surnamed Lu and that brat with yellow hair, dare you come over?”

Ling Yue was already hesitant, and seeing the other party deliberately waiting there only confirmed her suspicions that something was wrong.

She stopped at the edge of the bridge, unmoving, her eyes fixed intently on Fu Huayi, which drove the latter to desperation.

Ling Yue examined the ropes of the suspension bridge, then looked up at Fu Huayi in the center. Seeing that the other party was in no hurry to run, she suddenly smiled.

She drew the sword from her waist and, under Fu Huayi’s horrified gaze, swiftly cut the rope on the right side.

The bridge instantly became unstable, forcing Fu Huayi to cling to the rope on the other side to maintain her balance.

Now she was no longer afraid of Lu He; instead, she hated Ling Yue even more, cursing loudly, “You little beast! How dare you!”

Ling Yue looked at her as if she were a fool. “Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Now she was certain that there was something wrong with the bridge. Otherwise, in such a situation, the other party should have tried to escape using the intact rope on the other side.

Ling Yue smiled, looking utterly harmless, and Fu Huayi seemed to see a shadow of Lu He in her.

Lu He would also wear such an innocent smile when she had wicked ideas.

The next moment, Ling Yue swung her sword and cut the rope on the other side. Both ropes were severed, but there were still handrails above.

Fu Huayi grabbed one rope with each hand, her feet dangling in the air. She glanced down and felt her heart race, if she fell, she would be smashed to pulp.

With no hope of survival, Fu Huayi devised a plan to sow discord.

Seeing Ling Yue about to cut the ropes again, she yelled, “Wait!”

Ling Yue paused. “Any last words?”

It had always been Fu Huayi who acted arrogantly, but today the tables had turned. Though furious, she had no choice but to swallow her pride.

“General Ling, I felt a connection with you the moment I saw you. Though we stand on opposite sides, I must offer you a word of advice.”

Ling Yue wasn’t buying it. She preferred the other party’s arrogant demeanor.

The Xin Dynasty was truly out of options if someone like this could become a marshal.

This wasn’t arrogance on her part. In her previous life, the only person in the Xin Dynasty who posed a threat to Ling Yue was the deposed crown prince, Song Xuanze, but in this life, he had died young.

Ling Yue was in no hurry now. Perhaps she had spent too much time with the Grand Princess, as she had picked up some of her mischievous tendencies. Frowning, she said, “Marshal, you jest. How could you possibly feel an instant connection with a beast?”

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she added, “So you’re the beast. My apologies, my apologies.”

Fu Huayi was seething with rage. She had always been hot-tempered and was about to retort, but in her agitation, the ropes seemed to fray further.

So she calmed down, forced an awkward laugh, and looked past Ling Yue at Lu He, who was watching the scene unfold. With a serious expression, she said, “General Ling, you may not know this, but the person behind you is cold-hearted and treacherous. She murdered her own mother, father, and sisters. If you continue to serve under her, you will inevitably face retribution. It’s better to wake up now and strike her down.”

Ling Yue fell silent. She turned to look at the Grand Princess, who was also watching her.

The other party offered no explanation, and Ling Yue didn’t need one.

She was growing angry.

Raising her sword once more, Ling Yue’s smile vanished, replaced by pure killing intent. “Your attempt to sow discord is too clumsy. You can shut up now.”

A flash of sword light severed the rope on the left, leaving Fu Huayi suspended only by the right one.

Knowing she would not survive the day, she ceased pleading and resorted to curses instead.

“You dog! You’ll meet a wretched end!”

“Hahaha, you actually believe that swindler? Do you think you’ll always be of value?”

“Fool!”

Ling Yue coldly cut the last rope.

Fu Huayi’s terrified screams echoed through the mountains before everything fell into silence.

The Eldest Princess had been watching from the side. After observing Ling Yue’s troubled expression for a while, she teased, “What? You believe her?”

Ling Yue quickly denied it. “How could I?”

Seeing her still despondent, the princess drew closer, cupped her face, and said with a smile, “What if I told you she was right? What would you do?”

Unable to decipher her intentions, Ling Yue could only respond with a bitter smile. “Then I beg Your Highness not to use poisoned wine or fire, and to spare those around me.”

Ling Yue lifted her eyes. “Truthfully, I’m very afraid of pain.”

The princess suddenly felt a heavy weight in her heart, a suffocating pressure of suppressed emotions.

She pulled Ling Yue into an embrace, whispering soothingly as if making a promise: “It won’t happen. That day will never come as long as I’m here.”

Ling Yue wasn’t one to cry easily, but in that moment, she felt deeply wronged.

Yet she had always been a quiet child, unable to even sob aloud.

Was she being unreasonable? In this lifetime, no one had burned her with fire or forced her to drink poison.

Suddenly, she felt profoundly lonely, as if she alone remembered these pains, as if she alone carried this hatred.

“Cry, then sleep well. I’ll stay with you.”

The gentle comfort came from an enemy of her past life, and Ling Yue couldn’t help but hold the other tighter.

After a long while, Ling Yue whispered, “I’m sorry.”

The princess didn’t understand why she had broken down, but she could feel Ling Yue’s dependence on her. She smiled and said, “It’s alright. I’ll forgive you.”

Ling Yue closed her eyes and suddenly laughed.

Support