Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 28.2

Chapter 28.2

Outside the capital.

In a flower garden.

“Control your Mother,” Xie Ning whispered sideways to Pei Shujing, who was linked arm-in-arm with her right arm.

The Empress Dowager hooked her other arm, saying lightheartedly: “Ningning, do you want Shujing, or do you want Rongrong?”

Xie Ning was stunned: “Rongrong, who is Rongrong?”

“Naughty.” (Implied self-correction: That’s me.)

Xie Ning: “…”

Sorry, this is truly the first time she’s heard that.

“Ningning, the widowed Empress Dowager, or the Grand Princess who is almost twenty-seven, which one do you choose?”

“…Mother, please don’t be like this. I’m scared.”

“If you’re scared, why don’t you pull your hand back? Do you want to be buried here as fertilizer for the plants?” Pei Shujing’s face darkened nearby.

Xie Ning looked at the surrounding environment. It was full of flowers, grass, and trees. It truly was a good place for burial.

Considering she didn’t want the flowers here to grow any more vibrantly next year, Xie Ning prepared to pull her arm out of the arm of a certain widowed Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager didn’t stop her. She smiled half-threateningly, half-teasingly: “Ningning, you wouldn’t want your true identity to be known by others, would you?”

Xie Ning was speechless.

You’re not even bothering to act anymore, are you!

Also, why does this sentence feel so familiar…

Xie Ning silently slipped her arm back into the Empress Dowager’s arm.

The Empress Dowager smiled: “Ningning, you’re the best!”

“…Hiss…” A sharp pain came from her waist.

Slowly turning her head, Pei Shujing was staring at her with a grim smile.

Xie Ning swallowed hard and immediately returned the threat the Empress Dowager had just used on her to Pei Shujing: “You wouldn’t want my identity to be known by others, would you?”

Pei Shujing: “…”

The force in her hand immediately intensified.

“I was wrong! I shouldn’t threaten you…”

“How dare you say the same words as Mother?!”

Both spoke at the same time and were simultaneously startled.

Xie Ning thought Pei Shujing was angry because she threatened her.

She didn’t expect…

Pei Shujing stopped pinching. She turned her head and looked straight ahead, as if nothing had happened.

Only the Empress Dowager, admiring the surrounding flowers and grass, curved her lips.

In this atmosphere, the three walked along.

Yinyin, who had been playing wildly with the puppy, also ran over, saying sheepishly: “Mother, I’m tired.”

The Empress Dowager also pouted: “But Mother is also tired from walking. It would be nice if someone could carry me.”

Xie Ning felt the restless devil claw at her waist and immediately turned to ask: “Your Highness, are you tired? Do you want me to carry you if you’re tired?”

Pei Shujing silently withdrew her claw and scoffed: “No need.”

However, she didn’t deny being tired.

Xie Ning pointed to the pavilion ahead, then shifted her finger: “How about we go look for somewhere to rest?”

The Empress Dowager was curious: “Oh? Isn’t there a pavilion right ahead? Why not rest there?”

Xie Ning complained internally that it was because Li Jing was also there.

She was now very clear about that person’s character—a blabbermouth.

If Li Jing found out that the Empress Dowager was out having fun, it would definitely be spread throughout the capital.

But Li Jing also saw her. He raised his hand and shouted: “Brother Jing, Brother Jing!”

“Go over and say hello. Otherwise, it’s too rude,” the Empress Dowager said happily.

“Your Highness?” Xie Ning looked to the Grand Princess for advice.

Pei Shujing nodded: “It’s fine. Mother knows what she’s doing.”

“Are you two loudly conspiring right in front of me?” the Empress Dowager asked indignantly.

When they got close, Li Jing was the first to speak:

“Your Highness, Brother Jing, good noon.”

Pei Shujing nodded. Xie Ning was curious: “Why are you here alone?”

Li Jing sighed: “It’s because my older brother is returning, so my mother asked me to pick some flowers to decorate the house.”

“Oh? Is that child Li Yi returning?” the Empress Dowager repeated with a smile.

Li Jing looked curiously at the Empress Dowager: “And you are?”

Although he was the youngest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei, he had never entered the palace to meet the Empress Dowager.

Even when there were banquets in the palace, his father always took his older brother, and he was happy that way.

After all, attending palace banquets was not comfortable at all, and he couldn’t even eat his fill.

“I am Little Xie’s older sister.”

Li Jing nodded in sudden realization: “So you are Brother Jing’s long-lost family member!”

He had also heard about what happened at the palace banquet that day, but the rumor that reached him was sister. He didn’t expect it to be an older sister. It seemed the rumors were wrong.

The Empress Dowager’s smile became genuinely a little warmer.

Xie Ning and Pei Shujing didn’t care about these insignificant details. They were only concerned about one piece of news: Li Yi was returning.

Li Jing slapped his head: “Look at me, I almost forgot. The old man asked me to tell you two that things can begin.”

Xie Ning nodded. The Marquis of Zhenbei meant that she and the Grand Princess could begin preparations for leading the Zhennan Army in the northern campaign.

She took a deep breath and turned to look at Pei Shujing, whose body was slightly stiff.

Xie Ning smiled, patted Pei Shujing’s hand, and said softly.

“Don’t worry, you have me.”

September 10th.

Li Yi, the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Zhenbei, returned to the capital to celebrate a birthday. The Zhenbei Army and the Zhennan Army were preparing for a troop rotation. Undercurrents surged across the land.

The South.

The Zhennan Army.

“General, have you received Her Highness’s order?”

Xue Chang asked while pouring wine for Gao Changxun.

“This move by Her Highness truly puzzles this subordinate.”

Gao Changxun poured out the wine in his hand and refilled his own cup with tea, saying: “According to Zhennan Army regulations, no drinking is allowed while on campaign.”

“We haven’t set off yet, have we?”

“When I received Her Highness’s order, in my heart, the campaign had already begun.”

Gao Changxun then continued to ask: “What puzzles you?”

“How was Her Highness able to make the Zhenbei Army yield this military achievement?”

Xue Chang was very perplexed.

Gao Changxun shook his head: “That is not for us martial men to guess. I only know that our Zhennan Army belongs to Her Highness, and whatever Her Highness desires, we martial men must exert all our strength to retrieve it for her.”

“Of course. Her Highness wants…”

Xue Chang stopped talking there.

He looked up at Gao Changxun in disbelief. Gao Changxun tossed him a confidential letter: “News from the capital. The court is already in chaos.”

Xue Chang read the confidential letter carefully, savoring every word. In the end, he opened his mouth in surprise.

“Who is this Imperial Son-in-Law? How can he be so ruthless?!”

Gao Changxun finally smiled slightly: “How could an ordinary person catch Her Highness’s eye?”

Xue Chang’s mind was completely scrambled, and his hands began to tremble.

He paced back and forth.

“I once thought Her Highness’s relationship with the Emperor was so good that she would hand over our Zhennan Army’s military power to the Emperor.”

“I never expected Her Highness to give me such a huge surprise!”

Xue Chang grew more and more excited: “Then… then… what should we do to help Her Highness?”

Gao Changxun poured a cup of tea for Xue Chang and said calmly: “Calm your mind.”

“We only need to secure the glory of vanquishing a kingdom for Her Highness before talking about anything else. Moreover, do you think this is simple?”

“This war must be swift and victorious to display the might of our Zhennan Army. Additionally, Her Highness will be joining the campaign. We must do our utmost to protect Her Highness. If Her Highness suffers even the slightest mishap, what face do you and I have to live?”

Xue Chang finally calmed down: “Yes, General is right. General, rest assured, I will personally assign troops to protect Her Highness’s safety.”

Gao Changxun shook his head: “Protection is necessary, but don’t overdo it.”

“Also, find an opportunity to see if we can let Her Highness personally execute one person.”

Xue Chang’s eyes lit up. He immediately struck his palm with his fist: “Exactly! Regardless of the outcome of this battle, if Her Highness does nothing, she will ultimately be criticized by the world. But as long as Her Highness personally executes one person, no one will be able to speak ill of her again.”

Don’t assume it’s easy to kill someone on the battlefield. The battlefield is not a game. For Her Highness, with her precious body, to disregard personal danger, fight alongside the army, and personally slay one person…

Coupled with the achievement of overthrowing a kingdom, once this military result is out, let alone the common people, even the generals of the Zhenbei Army won’t have anything to say.

Gao Changxun waved his hand: “That’s enough. Tell the men to raise their spirits.”

“Onward to the campaign!”

“Yes!”

The capital.

The Emperor had been demanding to eat horse meat for days.

But now, with the North and South armies about to rotate, horses were needed for both the military and logistics. At such a time, the Emperor’s desire to eat horse meat was simply creating trouble.

When Wang Yan saw the Emperor, the Emperor was scolding his servants for this very reason. Wang Wan also stood with her head bowed, weeping silently.

Palace affairs were currently managed by Wang Wan. Since she couldn’t even find horse meat, the Emperor naturally had to scold Wang Wan.

As for the Empress, Sun Yu’an was standing nearby, holding a sword and sneering.

Wang Yan lightly coughed, signaling his arrival.

The Emperor put away his anger, glanced at Wang Yan, and snorted.

“This subject has horses at home.”

“What pressing matter brings you here, Minister Wang?” The Emperor didn’t take the bait about the horses. Instead, he changed the subject: “If there is no pressing matter, please do not disturb me while I am handling state affairs.”

The corner of Wang Yan’s mouth twitched. He simply said: “I ask Your Majesty to approve the funds and provisions needed for the North and South armies’ troop rotation this time.”

The Emperor took the memorial and glanced at it: “Don’t you all wish to handle state affairs yourselves? Why come to me for such things?”

Wang Yan was a bit awkward: “Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is running short of funds…”

The Emperor was startled. He widened his eyes at Wang Yan: “What does that mean? Where are the funds of the Ministry of Revenue? Don’t tell me I have to use my private treasury?”

Wang Yan coughed twice. What could he say? Should he tell the Emperor that the Ministry of Revenue had funds and provisions but just wanted His Majesty to contribute a portion as well?

But without him saying it, the Emperor naturally understood the undercurrents.

“Too much bullying!”

“Bullying me too much!”

The Emperor sneered: “They want me to contribute? Fine. Let my good older sister personally come and tell me.”

Wang Yan blinked: “Your Majesty, are you sure?”

The Emperor opened his mouth, suddenly remembering Xue Hanyan’s head staring blankly in death. He ultimately closed his mouth.

Sun Yu’an scoffed from the side.

The Emperor’s face instantly flushed red. Looking at the sword in Sun Yu’an’s hand, he didn’t dare to say anything.

Wang Yan and Wang Wan both stood with their eyes lowered.

The Emperor suddenly felt utterly disheartened. He waved his hand: “Approve it. Take as much as you want from my private treasury. I won’t need it anyway.”

Wang Yan forced a smile: “Your Majesty, what are you saying?”

The Emperor sneered: “She dared to kill a Grand Secretary when she had nothing. If she returns with military achievements, I, the Emperor, will be nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.”

Wang Yan bowed: “Your Majesty, this is just a troop rotation between the North and South armies.”

“Don’t say things that only a ghost would believe!”

The Emperor trembled with anger. Did they truly think he was a fool!

Suddenly, the Emperor was startled: “My dear Minister, do you think there might be an accident in this war?”

Perhaps the Zhennan Army will be completely defeated.

If Pei Shujing dies then, wouldn’t everything be fine!

Wang Yan looked at the excited Emperor with a complex expression. After a while, he sighed.

“Your Majesty, mind your words!”

“You are the Emperor of Great Xia. How can you have such thoughts?!”

The Emperor choked. He knew these words couldn’t be spoken aloud, otherwise, if word got out, he would be afraid of an angry soldier slicing his head off even in his sleep.

He could only change the subject: “So you finally admitted it?”

Wang Yan shook his head: “Your Majesty, please take care of yourself.”

With that, Wang Yan bowed and retreated.

The Emperor extended his hand slightly and gave a miserable laugh: “Wanwan, has your father also abandoned me?”

Wang Wan didn’t speak. She simply handed him a cup of tea: “Your Majesty, please rest assured. My father will always be on your side.”

The Northern Frontier.

Zhenxue City.

Beside the river, a troop of riders galloped past. In the fields on both sides of the river, farmers were busy with the autumn harvest. They were accustomed to seeing these black-armored riders on tall horses.

To be honest, they lived on the frontier, with the Snow Barbarians right next door. If it weren’t for these black-armored soldiers protecting them all these years, they might have been roadside remains long ago.

However, they heard that these black-armored soldiers were leaving, and they would be replaced by the red-armored Zhennan Army.

They couldn’t help but worry. The Zhennan Army hadn’t fought for many years. Would they be able to withstand the Snow Barbarians?

What about their discipline?

If those who came were military ruffians, their good days would be over.

At the same time.

On the desolate, cold ice field, a high platform was erected. All around the platform, countless people were seated in a dense mass. Beside them were their warhorses.

The scene was somewhat noisy. Everyone, from the generals to the warriors below, was whispering to each other.

This was a sign of extreme disorder, indicating the lax military discipline of this army.

Until…

A woman dressed in white wolf fur robes slowly walked up the high platform.

“Woo woo woo!!!!!!!!”

“Woo woo woo!!!!!!!!”

Horns sounded, and the entire audience immediately fell silent.

All the Snow Barbarian warriors instinctively straightened their chests.

The Snow Queen stood on the high platform.

Below, Snow Barbarian warriors responsible for relaying the message were lined up. They would serve as “amplifiers.”

This was a speech, a speech delivered to tens of thousands of people at once.

Pre-war exhortation was a custom that had existed since ancient times.

The Snow Queen raised her hand,

And shouted:

“Warriors of the Sacred Clan, subjects sheltered by the Starfield!”

“Look at the armor on your bodies, look at your saddles, your quivers, your swords!”

“Now, please look down, and see,”

“The land beneath your feet!”

“This place was once the birthplace of our Sacred Clan ancestors.”

“There, is the land we have longed for for hundreds of years.”

“That place will be the beginning of our glory,”

“And the continuation of the rekindling of the Starfield!”

“You are the bravest and most skilled warriors under my command!”

“You are the strongest fighters from all the tribes of the snow plains!”

“The sword, I have given you!”

“The opportunity, the Xia people have given us!”

“My warriors, tell me,”

“What will you do?”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

Tens of thousands of people roared in unison.

The Snow Queen laughed up at the sky.

“Come, my warriors!”

“Under the guidance of the stars,”

“Tear them apart,”

“Crush them!”

“The snow plain is too cold.”

“I don’t want to go back,”

“Do you!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

“Commander, are you truly not going to take the brothers of the Vermillion Bird Camp with you?”

At the Princess’s Residence, Liang Cheng and several soldiers from the Vermillion Bird Army met with Xie Ning.

Xie Ning shook her head: “To be honest, I also want to take the brothers of the Vermillion Bird Camp to claim this merit, but the capital cannot do without you. In a sense, you are even more important than the Zhennan Army.”

Hearing this, Liang Cheng and the others all smiled.

Some even said directly: “Commander, don’t worry. We will definitely keep a close watch on that person.”

Liang Cheng also nodded: “Then we will wait for Her Highness and you to return with glory!”

After the group retreated, Xie Ning looked at Pei Shujing, who had emerged from the side room.

“Your Highness, we should set off.”

Pei Shujing gazed at Xie Ning.

“This journey…”

“To vanquish a kingdom!”

At the end of September.

Xie Ning and Pei Shujing, on their way to the Northern Frontier, passed Li Yi, who was returning to the capital.

They glanced at each other from a distance but did not stop.

October.

On Pei Shujing’s twenty-seventh birthday, Xie Ning wove her a flower crown.

November.

The two arrived at the Northern Frontier, along with the Zhennan Army.

The Zhenbei Army retreated.

The Snow Barbarian army returned in force.

The war began.