The Vicious Female Supporting Character Just Wants to Cuddle with the Heroine - Chapter 33

The letter read: “Sister Shen, it has been several days since we parted, and I miss you dearly. I’m sure you miss me too. I’m writing this letter to tell you that someone with ulterior motives is about to arrive. You must be careful not to be taken advantage of.”

These simple words made Shen Qingzhi smile for days. The person Ning Xin was referring to must be Huangfu Zheng, as he was the only one whose name couldn’t be written out. The warning showed Ning Xin’s concern, but what made Shen Qingzhi truly happy was the hint of jealousy she detected in Ning Xin’s words.

However, there was one thing that made Shen Qingzhi unhappy: Huangfu Zheng’s arrival. He did indeed bring a lot of supplies, but the quality of the winter clothes was nowhere near what Ning Xin had sent. The soldiers didn’t even wear them, using them as bed mats instead. The food was also coarse grain, unlike the fine provisions Ning Xin had provided.

These supplies would have been good if they had nothing else, but with Ning Xin’s generosity setting a high standard, Huangfu Zheng’s provisions seemed too inferior. Fortunately, he brought some military funds with him, otherwise, he would have faced even more disdain.

Before he arrived, Huangfu Zheng was full of confidence, expecting Shen Qingzhi to be impressed. But once he got there, he realized they lacked nothing. They could have won the war and returned home even without his help.

He wondered who was so selfless. The winter clothes and food were enough to bankrupt several large merchants. He tried to discreetly inquire about the person but no one in the military camp would talk. They only said a selfless merchant had sent the supplies, and no one knew who it was.

Because Ning Xin didn’t want to be known, Ye Xichang and Shen Qingzhi had ordered the soldiers to keep her identity a secret after she left. The soldiers, grateful for Ning Xin’s kindness, would not reveal anything. Compared to the royalty who didn’t care about their lives, Ning Xin, who had used her fortune to help them without expecting anything in return, was far more important.

Naturally, Huangfu Zheng refused to believe that no one knew who the person was, but he couldn’t resort to torture. So, he cornered Shen Qingzhi and asked, “General Shen, I mean no harm with this question. This person has done so much that my father, the emperor, would surely reward them. Perhaps even make them an imperial merchant. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“This person has no interest in the court. Receiving rewards would only make her feel restricted. Your Highness should stop trying to find out. Isn’t it better this way? All the credit goes to Your Highness. When you return, the emperor will surely reward you.”

Huangfu Zheng understood the sarcasm in Shen Qingzhi’s words but couldn’t retort because he truly needed the recognition. It was indeed beneficial for him that the person remained a secret.

Shen Qingzhi knew this was the case. She had originally intended to show him some courtesy, but since he didn’t care about his reputation, she couldn’t be blamed for being ruthless. “Thank you, Your Highness, for making this trip. When we return, we will inform the emperor truthfully, and Your Highness will get what you desire.”

“General Shen, you are no longer betrothed. May I ask if you have someone you love?”

“Yes, I do. I am hers and hers alone. We will discuss marriage when I return.”

Shen Qingzhi was speaking the truth. She believed Ning Xin had the same intention.

Huangfu Zheng had thought of proposing to Shen Qingzhi, but she had cut off that thought before he could even speak. “May I ask who this person is, General Shen? He must be an exceptional person.”

“Of course. She is the best person in the world to me. She never asks anything of me or makes any demands.”

Shen Qingzhi smiled at the thought. She felt incredibly lucky to be loved by Ning Xin.

This was the first time Huangfu Zheng had seen Shen Qingzhi smile like that. Although she had nothing to do with him, he couldn’t help but feel jealous of the person who could make her so happy. He thought such a special woman should belong to him. Why had she been taken by someone else? He was determined to find out who Shen Qingzhi loved! Shen Qingzhi was so lost in her thoughts of Ning Xin that she didn’t notice Huangfu Zheng’s expression. Her attitude toward him remained indifferent.

Huangfu Zheng kept getting rebuffed in the military camp, and with the war about to resume, he could only lead his team back. If he couldn’t find out here, he was sure he could investigate it back home. It was impossible for someone who had provided so many supplies to leave no trace.

The Northern Barbarians had expected the Tian Sheng army to retreat after pushing them back as before. But to their surprise, the Tian Sheng army kept attacking. The Northern Barbarians were impoverished and only went to war for plunder. They couldn’t withstand Tian Sheng’s relentless attacks. On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, they finally sent an envoy to sue for peace, offering to cede territory and pay reparations in exchange for peace.

Shen Qingzhi directly rejected their terms. “If you want to surrender, then show some sincerity. You’re offering us impoverished land. Do you think we are fools?”

“Our Northern Barbarian lands have always been poor. We have already admitted defeat and are willing to cede land and pay reparations. Does General Shen still want to be relentless? Are you not afraid we will fight to the death?”

The envoy was a nobleman from the Northern Barbarians. He had been resentful ever since he heard of Shen Qingzhi’s reputation, as they were defeated by a woman. So, his attitude was naturally poor.

Shen Qingzhi wasn’t angry. This person was just impotently furious, and she had no interest in useless people. “Go back and tell your king that we will only consider accepting your surrender when we see true sincerity.”

The envoy tried to say more, but Shen Qingzhi ordered her men to throw him out. She had no time for useless chatter.

Ye Xichang and the others now basically followed Shen Qingzhi’s lead. They intended to groom her, as they saw her as the future hope of the Tian Sheng Kingdom. Shen Qingzhi was also very respectful to them. Even if she had her own ideas, she would ask for their consent first, giving them plenty of face.

Ning Xin, on the other hand, had opened a large soap and rouge shop in Chuan City. She had also developed a hand cream. The North was dry and cold, and many people’s hands and feet cracked in winter. She had developed this product, which she knew would sell well once Shen Qingzhi and her army had secured a victory and the northern market recovered. She was determined to make her first fortune.

“Miss, the hand cream for Miss Shen has been sent to the courier station along with your letter. The New Year is approaching. We really must go back.”

“I know. Start packing. We’ll head back now.”

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