Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: “The Imperial Son-in-Law Disappeared for Several Hours on the Wedding Night…”

In the Grand Princess’s Residence study.

Pei Shujing held a map, which clearly showed the terrain around Qing’an Mountain, several hundred miles outside the capital, as well as the sources of news about the bandits’ activities.

Unlike the version the Emperor had, her map was clearer and the information more detailed.

Pei Shujing put down the map, looking at Xiao Yu, who was bowing and standing not far away, and said: “Xiao Yu, you… truly are an expert at gathering intelligence.”

To be able to deduce the hideout of the Cuihua Mountain bandits merely from some clues.

Seeing the small and knowing the great, her sharpness is fully revealed.

“It seems I need to give you more responsibilities, otherwise, your talent would be a waste.”

Xiao Yu chuckled softly: “Your Highness truly overpraises this servant.”

Suddenly, she hesitated: “Your Highness, does the Imperial Son-in-Law need Xiao Zhu to accompany him on this trip?”

Pei Shujing shook her head: “It’s not suitable. It is inconvenient for Xiao Zhu to be involved in military matters.”

Xiao Yu was also secretly relieved. She knew Xiao Zhu’s skills were unsuitable for the battlefield, and if she went, she would inevitably need protection.

The moment the words fell, someone pushed the door open and entered.

“Change into the official uniform… Hm?”

Pei Shujing naturally knew that the only person who could enter without knocking was that person. But even though she was prepared, she was stunned when she lifted her head.

Xie Ning was wearing a silver and black official uniform. Her sword-like eyebrows slanted up to her temples, her eyes sparkled like bright stars, and her chiseled, sharp face looked as if carved by an axe and knife. Her demeanor was dignified and awe-inspiring, captivating one’s spirit.

A look of astonishment appeared on Pei Shujing’s smooth, soft face. She pursed her cherry lips, then recovered and chuckled: “When you wear this attire, you truly are…”

She thought for a long time but couldn’t find the right word.

Xie Ning waited expectantly for Pei Shujing to continue.

“…a fine figure of a dog.”

Xie Ning: ???

Pei Shujing was amused by Xie Ning’s confused gaze. She composed herself and said: “Alright, this trip is dangerous. You must be careful in everything you do.”

Xie Ning also nodded seriously.

Xie Jingqiu knocked and entered. She walked up to Xie Ning, casting a timid glance at the Grand Princess: “Brother, someone just came to the residence to rush you.”

Hearing this, Xie Ning nodded.

“Your Highness, Jingqiu, Xiao Yu, Xiao Zhu, I am leaving. Do not worry!”

Pei Shujing looked at Xie Ning’s tall and straight figure, her gaze subtly drifting. Her heart suddenly moved, and she frowned, asking: “I remember the Imperial Son-in-Law went missing for several hours on the wedding night?”

Xiao Yu nodded from the side: “Afterward, he said he was drunk while seeing guests off and couldn’t find his way back.”

Pei Shujing pondered silently. This didn’t happen in the previous life.

When she was reborn, her mind was focused on killing Xie Jing, so she naturally didn’t pay attention to this small detail. Even when she later realized something was off, she had forgotten about it.

Thinking about it carefully now, everything was too coincidental. She was reborn then, and Xie Jing was also missing for a while then. After he returned, everything was different.

“Go investigate!”

“Go to the place where he was found. This Princess needs to know how many rats there are within a three-mile radius!”

“Yes.”

The Grand Princess lowered her gaze, gently tapping the desk. I hope you don’t disappoint this Princess.

If you are not Xie Jing, this Princess will only be delighted.

If you truly are Xie Jing, you had better die outside, otherwise, the day you return will be the day this Princess cuts you into a thousand pieces!

On the other side, Xie Ning left the Princess’s Residence and saw two people leading horses.

“Commander!” called Tang Zhong and Li Jing.

Xie Ning nodded, looking warmly at Li Jing: “Brother Li, this matter was originally unrelated to you…”

Li Jing waved his hand dismissively: “Although the old man asked me to come to support you, if I didn’t want to come and have some fun myself, how could the old man order me around?”

Xie Ning was touched and nodded. The North-Pacifying Marquis was worried that the five hundred North-Pacifying soldiers would not obey her orders, so he sent Li Jing to assist her.

In truth, she felt very unsure. After all, she was a transmigrator who somehow got mixed up in leading troops into battle.

Even though it was bandit suppression, and everyone thought it would be easy, Xie Ning dared not slack off for a moment.

Especially with the Imperial Guards lurking in the dark, watching her.

Late last night.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She repeatedly considered the plan in her mind, trying to find any flaws.

But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come up with a result. She had no choice but to get up and look at the bright moon outside the window.

She remembered that historical records only contained brief accounts of battles, which led Xie Ning to once believe that war was actually a simple matter.

But since she was tasked with leading troops, she realized that war… is truly cruel.

Five hundred people.

Five hundred lives entrusted to her. The hopes of five hundred families rested on her decision.

Xie Ning did not want to lose a single person.

Even losing one would make her sad for a long time.

But the North-Pacifying Marquis said that in war, people die. Everyone must be prepared to die, including her.

Death… can one truly be prepared?

Xie Ning suppressed the myriad thoughts in her heart. She turned to look at Tang Zhong and Li Jing, saying solemnly: “Gentlemen, let us go to the South City.”

Since the Vermillion Bird Camp was stationed outside the South City, they would also depart from there. Therefore, Xie Ning would meet with the Vermillion Bird Army at the South City Gate.

The three riders whipped their horses, driving their mounts towards the South City Gate.

Xie Ning arrived at the Vermillion Bird Camp and saw a group of densely packed, armored officers emerging from a military tent.

Sitting on her horse, Xie Ning felt uneasy. This scene had played out hundreds of times in her mind. She had considered every possible attitude these North-Pacifying officers might have toward her.

Would they view her as an opportunist and look down on her, or would they treat her as a transparent person or a mascot?

The person at the head, robust in physique and rugged in appearance with a thick beard beneath his jaw, strode forward. Xie Ning knew he was undoubtedly the leading officer.

The arrogance she had expected from a military man did not occur. The leading officer knelt on one knee: “Your subordinate, Liang Cheng, greets the Commander.”

The rest of the officers followed suit, dropping to one knee: “We greet the Commander!”

Xie Ning quickly dismounted and helped Liang Cheng up: “No need for formalities. I am Xie Jing. I believe all of you have heard of me?”

Xie Ning had intended to make a joke about herself, but Liang Cheng saluted very seriously: “Your subordinate expresses thanks to the Commander on behalf of the entire North-Pacifying Army.”

Xie Ning was stunned. Liang Cheng continued in a deep voice.

“The Commander need not worry. Although we military men are crude and fierce, we know how to repay kindness. The sandbox the Commander created is worth a thousand armies. Let alone exchanging for five hundred men, we would gladly offer five thousand!”

“From now on, the Commander does not need to treat us as soldiers of the North-Pacifying Army. Since we have joined the Vermillion Bird Camp, we are the Commander’s soldiers alone. Commander, you can use us boldly. We are very strong, very strong!”

Xie Ning’s blood boiled with Liang Cheng’s words. She heavily patted Liang Cheng’s shoulder: “I ask everyone to assist me fully. In the future, we will share the glory and seize all wealth!”

Li Jing joked with a laugh: “Isn’t it inappropriate to say this in front of me?”

Xie Ning laughed heartily, filled with heroic spirit, no longer burdened by her previous worries.

“Gentlemen, for this bandit suppression campaign, let us march out with me!”

Qing’an County

The five hundred soldiers of the Vermillion Bird Camp, led by Xie Ning, only arrived at Qing’an County by noon the next day. Since they had traveled sixty li the day before, they had stayed overnight at an inn.

As it was late August, the sun was not scorching despite being noon.

Xie Ning sat straight on her horse, gazing at Qing’an County town not far away. The city walls were neither too high nor too low. The city gates were wide open, and people flowed in and out without ceasing.

“Old Liang, everyone is tired. Let’s enter the city and rest first.”

Liang Cheng thought for a moment and agreed: “Then we’ll go get some wine and meat first, to honor our stomachs.”

Xie Ning nodded. Even without thinking, she knew there were bandit informants in Qing’an County, but for now, they had no choice but to enter the city.

A short while later, the Qing’an County Magistrate Jin Zheng, who had received the report, was having lunch with his family. Upon hearing the servant’s report, he put down his chopsticks and said: “Prepare my official robes. The Imperial Guards have arrived. I’ll go greet them.”

His son, Jin Yong, about fourteen years old, said with disdain: “Dad, this is the third time the Imperial Guards have come, right? No one can deal with Li Dabalai (Scarface Li) of Qing’an Mountain.”

The bandit leader of Qing’an Mountain was surnamed Li and had a deep scar on his face, hence the nickname.

“You brat, eat your meal properly. You still have to go to school later.”

Jin Zheng hastily put on his official robes and left the house. He gathered the county officials, mounted his horse, and left Qing’an County. He pondered for a moment and said to the person beside him: “This time, the Imperial Guards will likely return without success again.”

Working in the same county, some things could be concealed from superiors but not from subordinates. Even though the fact that some Qing’an County officials were bribed by the bandits was a secret, over time, Jin Zheng had figured out some things.

But his nature was gentle, and with his wife and children here, even if he had some evidence, he dared not report it up the chain.

Jin Zheng looked at the troops in the distance and was suddenly startled. This team of soldiers had neat discipline and an extraordinary aura, a world of difference from the previous Imperial Guards.

Could they not be the Imperial Guards?

Jin Zheng braced himself and was about to step forward when he suddenly felt a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes fix upon him. The person at the head looked at him with an indifferent expression.

“Your humble official greets the Lord.”

Xie Ning said plainly: “I am Xie Jing, Imperial Son-in-Law of the Grand Princess and Commander of the Vermillion Bird Camp.”

Jin Zheng’s pupils constricted, and huge waves surged in his heart.

Qing’an County was only a hundred li from the capital, so he would naturally receive some news.

How could he not know that the soldiers in the Vermillion Bird Camp were from the North-Pacifying Army? Moreover, the title of Grand Princess’s Imperial Son-in-Law alone was enough to crush him.

Ignoring the pale faces of the officials behind him, Jin Zheng cupped his hands with great joy: “This official has ordered the county office to prepare wine and meat, just waiting for the generals to enjoy!”

Xie Ning observed him for a while, finding that the joy on his face seemed genuine. She nodded inwardly. It seems this Qing’an County is not rotten to the core yet.

“Thank you, Lord Jin.”

Seeing Xie Ning speak politely, Jin Zheng’s smile grew even wider. He invited them to enter the county town.

Five hundred soldiers—not too many, not too few—with horses neighing, marched in formation through the bustling streets of Qing’an County.

This drew crowds of common people. Xie Ning’s hearing was sharp, and she heard some comments: “The capital has sent troops to suppress bandits again. We have to send fish and meat to these masters again.”

“No skill in suppressing bandits, plenty of methods for harassing the people.” An elderly man in a long gown with a goatee, sitting on a bamboo stool and reading a book, spoke loudly without raising his head, seemingly unafraid of Xie Ning hearing him.

Walking along the road, similar comments were heard constantly amidst the noise and commotion.

Xie Ning’s expression changed slightly. She looked at Jin Zheng beside her, seeing a hint of awkwardness on his face, clearly having also heard the critical remarks.

“Old Tang, raise the Grand Princess’s ‘South’ banner.”

All the common people in Qing’an County began to whisper.

“Brother Li, raise your family’s ‘North’ banner too!”

As the flags were raised, the reading old man was startled.

“Old Liang, raise the Vermillion Bird Camp’s battle flag to the highest point!”

At this moment, Qing’an County fell silent.

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