The Vicious Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Cuddle with the Heroine - Chapter 28

For Ning Xin, liking someone wasn’t something to be ashamed of, especially when that person was Shen Qingzhi. What truly troubled her was that it would certainly be difficult for them to be together.

But since she already liked her, even if it was difficult, she had to try to fight for it. She wouldn’t give up as long as there was a sliver of hope.

Shen Qingzhi was unaware of Ning Xin’s efforts. She was currently playing a psychological game with Huangfu Zheng, who had been staying there for several days and showed no intention of leaving. Shen Qingzhi had been avoiding him during this time.

Seeing this, Ye Xichang pulled Shen Qingzhi aside for a private chat.

“Girl, do you think this Second Prince might be able to help us?”

“He probably will. If not, I’ll have to agree to his conditions first.”

“Girl, it’s not like I’m saying we should, but why don’t we just go back? We’ve already won. Negotiating a peace treaty now won’t be a loss for us.”

“No, General, I will not retreat until the last moment.”

“In that case, I can only accompany you. If you need any help, just come to me.”

“Thank you, General.”

Just as their standoff was about to end, Shen Qingzhi received a letter. She didn’t know who would write to her at this time, but she had a small guess: Ning Xin.

Seeing the letter, Shen Qingzhi smiled. It was just as she had thought. Besides Ning Xin, probably no one else would go to such trouble to send a letter to her.

The letter read: “It’s been a long time, and I miss you very much. I wonder if Sister Shen is doing well, if you’ve been hurt, and if you have enough medicine. I’m doing well at home. There’s finally news about the plant you asked me to find before. I need to go and check it out myself. If this works out, then the winter clothes and food needed for your current campaign won’t be a problem.”

The letter was short, but when Shen Qingzhi read the end, her heart felt a mix of sweet and sour emotions. Even though she wasn’t by Ning Xin’s side, Ning Xin still cared about her so much. But thinking about Ning Xin having to work hard for her again made her feel a sense of powerlessness.

She was the one who was supposed to take care of Ning Xin, yet in the end, Ning Xin was the one busy running around for her. And she said everything was fine. How could Shen Qingzhi believe that? The winter clothes and food for a hundred thousand troops were to be solved by a teenage girl. Should she still protect this Tian Sheng Kingdom? Were those people in the imperial city, living extravagant lives and only knowing how to scheme against each other, truly worth protecting? Shen Qingzhi felt lost. She carefully tucked the letter into her pouch, changed into casual clothes, and went into the city with the pouch in her pocket.

Their garrison was very close to Mingcheng, so it was easy for her to enter the city. However, since arriving here, she had been so busy that she hadn’t had time to look around the city. Now that there was a ceasefire, she finally had a moment to spare.

Mingcheng was very different from the imperial city. It was desolate, with only a few scattered shops. There weren’t many people on the streets, and everyone walked with a quick pace.

Shen Qingzhi finally made it to a noodle stall, sat down, and ordered a bowl of noodles.

Seeing that Shen Qingzhi was a young woman, the owner kindly advised her, “Miss, it’s not safe here. Why are you out alone? Where is your family?”

“I just came out for a walk. Why isn’t it safe here? Isn’t the garrison right outside the city?”

“You must not have been out much, Miss, to not know the situation here. It’s true the garrison is outside, but they will leave soon. Once the garrison is gone, it won’t be long before another war starts here. You don’t know this, Miss, but all the wealthy and powerful people in this city have already left.”

“Then why didn’t you leave?”

“We don’t have money. Our whole family relies on this one noodle stall to live. If we left, we would probably starve to death on the road. Even if we reached a new place, we wouldn’t have money to buy land, and we would end up starving to death.”

While they were talking, the noodles were ready. As Shen Qingzhi ate, she thought about the owner’s words. She had been thinking about it all wrong before. She wasn’t fighting for the people in the imperial city, but for these real citizens. If her presence here could bring decades of peace, the people’s lives would be much better.

For them, the only things they lacked were food and winter clothes. Now with Ning Xin, she didn’t need to pay attention to Huangfu Zheng anymore. So, she was determined to continue this war. She believed that Ning Xin would be able to deliver on her promise.

After finishing her noodles, Shen Qingzhi felt full, and her resolve was completely firm.

When Huangfu Zheng found out that Shen Qingzhi had gone into the city, he couldn’t sit still. He wanted to go look for her, but just as he was about to leave, he ran into Shen Qingzhi, who had already returned.

Huangfu Zheng’s eyes instantly lit up. “General Shen! I was just about to look for you!”

“Perfect. I have something I’d like to say to the Second Prince as well.”

After saying that, Shen Qingzhi led Huangfu Zheng to the place where they had spoken before.

Shen Qingzhi spoke directly, “I will not agree to your conditions no matter what. If you are willing to help procure the military supplies, then go. If you’re not, I won’t force you.”

“General Shen is indeed a straightforward person, but you have to give me a chance to speak. After thinking it over for the past few days, I’ve come to understand. It was indeed my fault this time; I shouldn’t have used this matter to negotiate with you. I have already reflected on it. General, don’t worry. When I return this time, I will definitely bring back enough military supplies and provisions.”

“In that case, thank you, Your Highness.”

Shen Qingzhi didn’t hold much hope for Huangfu Zheng. Her current unwavering resolve was because she trusted Ning Xin.

Huangfu Zheng’s heart was touched once again. He, a man and a prince, had also had his judgment clouded by the power struggles in the imperial city. His character was not even as noble as a young woman’s.

He had always thought he was different from those people, that he had great ambitions. But in the end, he was still influenced. It was impossible to be in the mud without being stained. Fortunately, Shen Qingzhi had enlightened him. He could have a thousand ways to get rid of Huangfu Yi, but using it as a condition to negotiate with Shen Qingzhi was the one thing he shouldn’t have done.

This time, he would not disappoint Shen Qingzhi again. He would definitely make her see him in a new light.

After coming to this realization, Huangfu Zheng set off on his return journey. Meanwhile, Shen Qingzhi and her troops began to study the war situation again. A young woman like Shen Qingzhi was unwilling to give up so easily, and the older generals like Ye Xichang were also reignited with fighting spirit.

Ning Xin prepared the winter clothes as quickly as possible. Originally, she had planned to hire a security escort agency, but since Qin Cheng was willing to provide people to help with the escort, Ning Xin was naturally happy to accept. If she had to deliver both winter clothes and food by herself, it would be too conspicuous. If Zheng Hao was willing to share the burden, then so be it. Zheng Hao needed political achievements, while she only needed Shen Qingzhi to be safe.

With the winter clothes being delivered by others, Ning Xin only needed to bring the food. She didn’t want too many people to know about all her businesses, so she sent messages to her managers in various places, telling them to hire security escorts to transport the food. She, on the other hand, traveled light with Li Niang and two guards, heading north ahead of them.

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