The Possessive Villain Is Too Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 51.2

Ye Zhixia pulled Ning Hua back into her embrace once more. “Why wouldn’t there be grain in the larger cities?”

Ning Hua countered, “The common people in the big cities are also lacking—”

At this point, she suddenly understood Ye Zhixia’s meaning. “You mean, while the common people lack grain, the noble families don’t.”

Ye Zhixia swayed with Ning Hua in her arms. “My Ning Hua is so clever!”

She then planted a kiss on Ning Hua’s forehead.

A soldier outside the tent, who had come to report, took one look at the scene, turned on his heel, and hurried away…

–

The most severe resistance the Li Kingdom’s eastern expedition encountered along the way came from noble families unwilling to release their grain.

The local rebel forces of Nansheng, being weak and outnumbered, had not dared to provoke them. But the fifty thousand Li soldiers had no such fear.

After beheading a defiant city lord and distributing grain to the people, the noble families in subsequent cities wisely offered portions of their own stores to aid the populace.

Ning Hua did not push her luck. Once she confirmed the people had received relief, she led the troops onward.

Not only were there no further battles for the cities, but many towns even opened their gates willingly upon hearing of the Li army’s approach.

General Xie was deeply committed to the campaign against Nansheng.

As they neared the Nansheng capital, Sanhuo City, she sought out Ning Hua and Ye Zhixia.

The military camp was stifling, so the three of them retreated to a nearby forest.

For the first time since the expedition began, General Xie wore a troubled expression. “There’s news I must share with Your Majesty and General Ye.”

Ning Hua could tell it was serious and gestured for her to continue. “Speak freely, General Xie.”

The shadows of the leaves obscured the worry on General Xie’s face, but her voice betrayed it. “The lack of resistance we’ve faced isn’t just due to Nansheng’s weakening military. Another reason is that the Nansheng emperor has withdrawn all elite troops to defend Sanhuo City.”

Having led armies herself, Ning Hua knew attackers were at a disadvantage—defenders needed far fewer soldiers to hold a city.

Now, with Sanhuo City heavily fortified, the challenge was even greater.

But Ye Zhixia, standing beside Ning Hua, remained unfazed. “I’ve fought in sieges, both as attacker and defender. Sanhuo’s imperial city has no outer defenses—what’s there to fear?”

This time, General Xie disagreed with her for the first time. “In border conflicts, casualties are expected. But if we’re to take over Nansheng, we can’t afford heavy losses among its soldiers and civilians.”

Ye Zhixia’s eyes gleamed as she regarded General Xie.

A commander who genuinely cared for the enemy’s people and troops—now that was the mark of a true leader!

Ning Hua didn’t want to pressure Ye Zhixia, but in this situation, only she could devise the best strategy.

When Ning Hua had seized power before, she’d had allies inside the city.

Now, Sanhuo’s gates were sealed tight, its defenses impenetrable.

Ye Zhixia closed her eyes in thought, then calmly addressed them both. “First, I’ll go to the front lines and attempt to persuade them to surrender. If that fails, we’ll construct trebuchets to breach the walls. That way, casualties will be minimized.”

The other two were military officers by background and weren’t particularly confident in Ye Zhixia’s plan to persuade the enemy to surrender.

In the heat of battle, without a clear advantage, convincing the opposing side to yield was no easy feat.

Moreover, loyal generals would rather die defending their city than surrender, even in the face of certain defeat—just as Ye Zhixia had once done when holding Jicheng against all odds.

However, if the enemy was the Nancheng imperial court, there might still be a sliver of hope.

At dawn three days later, the Li Kingdom’s army arrayed itself outside the walls of Sanzhe City.

The defending general led several hundred soldiers out of the city to parley with the Li forces.

The sun had yet to grow scorching, and as planned, Ye Zhixia stepped forward to the front lines.

“General Qi, it’s been a long time,” Ye Zhixia said, gazing at the opposing commander with a pang of sorrow—perhaps a lingering emotion from the original host.

General Qi had once been a soldier in another border garrison.

When the original host had fallen in battle, she had been merely a deputy general.

But over the past two years, the imperial court had indiscriminately purged loyal and capable officials. Those who advocated for war either perished due to the emperor’s refusal to provide support or were directly executed by imperial decree.

General Qi had risen through the ranks to fill the vacancies, eventually becoming a full-fledged general.

General Qi glared coldly at Ye Zhixia. “General Ye, when I heard you had sworn to defend Jicheng to the death, I held some respect for you. Never did I imagine you would now be serving the Li Kingdom. Truly shameless.”

Ye Zhixia wasn’t angered by General Qi’s words. Instead, she raised her voice, as if wanting every soldier to hear:

“What I defended was not Jicheng, but its people.”

Then, with impassioned conviction, she declared:

“From the day I joined the army, I vowed to protect the peace of this land and the lives of its people! In the Battle of Jicheng, my conscience is clear. As for what came after—saving the descendants of loyal officials—I have never regretted it!”

“And as for why I became a general of the Li Kingdom,” Ye Zhixia continued, riding slowly back and forth before the enemy troops, “let us set aside the fact that Empress Ninghua treats Nancheng slaves with kindness. Even now, in this great drought, she has opened the granaries to feed the starving people! That alone makes her worth fighting for!”

She raised her spear and pointed it at Sanzhe City:

“Now look at Nancheng! General Qi, on your way here, did you not see the state of the other cities? Then let me tell you—wherever I passed, I saw only corpses strewn across the land, the people suffering in misery!”

Her voice grew louder, her tone more accusatory:

“A ruler should die for his country, an emperor should defend his borders! The Li empress feeds the people of Nancheng—but where is Nancheng’s emperor now?”

“Soldiers before me—who were your former commanders? Were they not loyal to Nancheng? And what became of them?!”

The bright morning light cast Ye Zhixia in a resolute and heroic glow.

Hearing this, General Qi recalled the superiors who had once promoted her.

Generals had died on the battlefield; colonels and captains who refused to surrender had been executed by the Nancheng emperor’s decree…

When she had first become a general, she had indeed been blinded by fame and fortune. Passing through other cities, she had averted her eyes, pretending not to see the suffering of the people.

Now, confronted by Ye Zhixia’s accusations, she was overwhelmed with shame.

This was bad—if even she was swayed by Ye Zhixia’s words, what of the soldiers behind her…?

“Fall back!”

General Qi hastily ordered her troops to retreat into Sanzhe City and shut the gates.

–

Ye Zhixia returned to the rear camp.

Seated anxiously by a low table, Empress Ninghua and General Xie immediately stood up and asked, “Did you convince them?”

Ye Zhixia sat down on a stool, took a sip of tea, and replied, “Wait and see.”

Subsequently, all three of them hurried into the formation, fearing that the situation might take a new turn.

As the sun set in the west, the city remained silent, and Ninghua had already given up hope.

But Ye Zhixia insisted, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

When the moonlight first rose, the Li army, which had been standing in formation all day, should have returned to camp to rest.

However, just as General Xie was about to command an orderly retreat, the city gates suddenly began to creak open.

General Qi led a troop of soldiers out of the city. She still carried herself with an air of arrogance, looking only at Ye Zhixia as she said, “General Ye, please. After all, you remain the god of war in the hearts of Nansheng’s soldiers.”

Today, Ye Zhixia’s words not only awakened General Qi but also moved every Nancheng soldier present.

After the troops returned to the city, her words swept through Sansuo City like a storm.

The soldiers, long discontent with the imperial court, gathered and demanded their superiors open the gates for the Li Kingdom’s army.

Seeing the unity among his men, the officer complied with the situation and sought General Qi’s approval.

After all, if they resisted to the death, the emperor might execute their leaders to appease the Li Kingdom’s ruler, implicating their families—hardly a worthwhile outcome.

Three divisions of troops entered Sansuo City through three gates without encountering any resistance.

It was nighttime, and the citizens were all resting at home. Apart from the rapid sound of hooves, they noticed nothing unusual.

Even when the Li Kingdom’s army entered the imperial palace, the imperial guards offered no resistance—after all, the truly formidable generals had long been executed by the Nancheng emperor.

–

The day after capturing Sansuo City, General Xie appeared in the city with Qi Xin.

Some Nancheng soldiers recognized Qi Xin and cast sympathetic glances her way.

Kneeling before Ye Zhixia and Empress Ninghua, Qi Xin’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I beg Your Majesty to grant me the authority to punish Nancheng’s treacherous officials!”

Qi Xin’s entire family had been slaughtered, leaving her as the sole survivor. Her hatred for the Li Kingdom’s royalty, the Nancheng emperor, and the treacherous officials was the very force that kept her alive.

As Empress Ninghua pondered—she, too, was one of Qi Xin’s enemies—wondering why Qi Xin would kneel before her, General Xie stepped forward.

She knelt on one knee, shedding her usual casual demeanor, and earnestly pleaded, “I am willing to assist Qi Xin in handling this matter!”

Seeing General Xie take charge, Empress Ninghua felt reassured and granted their request.

Qi Xin’s method of dealing with the Nancheng emperor and the treacherous officials was simple and brutal—flogging followed by public execution at the marketplace.

Not a single citizen of Sansuo City mourned their fate.

However, whispers and speculations quietly spread among the people: After the Li Kingdom’s army secured victory, how would they govern Nancheng’s territory?

The Li Kingdom’s capital was far from Sansuo City, and the future of this city remained uncertain.

In the imperial palace of Sansuo City, Empress Ninghua sat on a plush chair by her desk, resting her forehead in her hand, and asked Ye Zhixia, “I have a dilemma now.”

Standing behind her, Ye Zhixia gently massaged her temples. “Let me guess what’s troubling my beloved?”

“My beloved thinks I’m the most suitable to stay and govern Sansuo City, but she can’t bear to part with me.”

With that, she wrapped her arms around Ninghua’s upper body and playfully nipped at her shoulder like a wild beast.

Ninghua’s shoulders trembled slightly before she suddenly turned her head. “Then what do you suggest?”

Ye Zhixia captured Ninghua’s earlobe between her lips, her voice breathless. “I only hold a nominal position in the army here. Once the garrison is arranged, why not let Qi Xin take charge?”

“Qi Xin…” Ninghua’s expression darkened.

After all, the Li Kingdom’s royalty was also Qi Xin’s enemy. Entrusting Sansuo City to her was hardly reassuring.

Ye Zhixia swiftly moved to face Ninghua, beginning to kiss her from her silken hair down to her brows, eyes, nose, lips, and chin…

Finally, she knelt on both knees before Ninghua, who remained seated in the chair, indulging in Ye Zhixia’s devoted service.

The soldier who came to report official business heard strange noises coming from inside the room. Remembering the scene he had witnessed last time, he quickly turned and left.

–

When Qi Xin came to report to Empress Ninghua on the progress of handling the former ministers of Nansheng, Ninghua brought up the matter of having Qi Xin remain in Sankuo City.

She also suggested that Qi Xin bring back the families of the loyal ministers who had been left at the border between Nansheng and the Kingdom of Li.

Hearing that the Empress was still considering the welfare of those loyal families, Qi Xin once again kowtowed to Empress Ninghua.

Ninghua still felt extremely awkward.

However, at that moment, General Xie, who was always inseparable from Qi Xin, knelt down on one knee again.

“Your Majesty, I have one more request!” she said, cupping her hands toward Empress Ninghua.

Ninghua frowned and glared. Why did General Xie keep kneeling so frequently lately?

Ye Zhixia stifled a laugh beside her—she understood all too well. What else could be the reason for someone constantly orbiting around another person?

Empress Ninghua took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to interrogate, and said gently, “Speak, General Xie.”

General Xie’s narrow eyes gleamed with a pleading expression: “I wish to remain in Sankuo City, and I beg Your Majesty… to grant us a marriage!”

Everything suddenly fell into place, connecting like threads.

General Xie had been so enthusiastic about attacking Nansheng, jubilant throughout the campaign. Shortly after capturing the city, she brought Qi Xin to meet the Empress and then assisted her in handling the former Nansheng ministers.

Qi Xin was an enemy of the Li royal family, yet she harbored no hatred for Empress Ninghua—undoubtedly because General Xie, who knew the truth, had told her that Ninghua was an orphan from the battlefield.

“Ask the world what love is, that it makes life and death no barrier…” Ye Zhixia couldn’t help but sigh.

“Once We return to the capital, We shall draft an edict to grant you two marriage!” Ninghua was thrilled. Ye Zhixia wouldn’t have to stay in Sankuo City, and she could entrust this crucial place to her most trusted subordinates—it was perfect!

–

On the day Ninghua and Ye Zhixia led their troops away, Sankuo City was drenched in heavy rain.

The two rode swiftly with their soldiers, yet the rain seemed to follow them wherever they went. The common folk hailed it as a divine miracle.

By the time the army returned to the Kingdom of Li, everyone was utterly exhausted.

To avoid being caught by the rain, they had raced back with all their might.

Upon returning to the palace, the two bathed and changed before retiring to the bedchamber together.

Only then did they truly relax—more so than even after conquering Nansheng.

“So… should we…?” Ye Zhixia asked Ninghua.

Ninghua waved her hand. “Too tired. Can’t do it.”

With a bang, the chamber door burst open as Princess Jiarong hurried in. “I came to say goodbye—I’m leaving right away.”

Ninghua was both sorrowful and shocked. “Mother, where are you going?”

Princess Jiarong tilted her head. “What? Only you youngsters are allowed to fall in love, but I can’t?”

Ninghua: “Huh?”

Princess Jiarong’s face flushed as she spoke of her beloved. “Xiaxia has been managing my business for so long—she must be exhausted. I need to reward her properly!”

Ye Zhixia raised a hand in a “wait” gesture. “Xiaxia?”

Princess Jiarong grinned, her usual grace and dignity nowhere to be seen.

She patted Ye Zhixia’s shoulder. “Take good care of Ningning!”

Ye Zhixia: ?!

After waving at the two, Princess Jiarong hurried off, leaving them staring at each other in the room.

Ye Zhixia looked down at Ninghua’s adorable face and finally couldn’t hold back.

She scooped Ninghua up abruptly.

Ninghua clung to Ye Zhixia like a small animal, her thin robe slipping down.

This time, it was Ye Zhixia who pulled down the bed curtain, pressing Ning Hua onto the bed and kissing her again and again.

Ripples of passion rose, and the two were once again lost in their waves.

–

With everything settled, Ning Hua led Ye Zhixia to the horse ranch.

A calico cat lay on the hay in a stable compartment, while a shadowy tabby nuzzled its mouth against her back.

Ye Zhixia pointed at the kitten and asked, “Qingqing, look, isn’t she adorable?”

Ning Hua smiled brightly. “Absolutely adorable!”

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