The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress - Chapter 20

Willow Frostmoon just arrived at the training grounds to see the female soldiers drilling in perfect synchronization. Their movements were strong and powerful; every sword swing and every stride carried a fierce, sharp energy.

Lin Jingmo stood at the front of the formation, meticulously correcting improper movements.

“The Princess arrives!” a clear voice announced. The soldiers immediately stopped training, lining up in a straight formation to salute their arrival.

Willow Frostmoon waved her hand gently to stop them. “No need for formalities, everyone. I’m just taking a look. Please, continue with your training.”

At her words, the soldiers breathed a collective sigh of relief and returned to their positions.

Xiong Shaoqing, standing in the front row, felt a thrill in her heart upon seeing Willow Frostmoon. She tried to maintain her composure.

Willow Frostmoon walked closer, offering a warm and friendly smile.

Xiong Shaoqing paused, then returned the smile, a swirl of complex emotions in her heart. She remembered how the princess, her elder martial sister, had treated her so well back in Yongning Manor, with no pretense of her royal status.

Seeing her again, she truly felt that her elder sister was still the same person—that genuine kindness and closeness had never changed.

“You were spacing out during the morale boost,” Willow Frostmoon teased.

“This subordinate is ashamed. I was indeed disrespectful just now,” Xiong Shaoqing said, lowering her head in embarrassment. But inside, she felt a growing sense of comfort from this familiarity.

“Don’t be so formal. You’re still you, and I’m still me,” Willow Frostmoon said softly. “I really like the white jade hairpin you gave me.”

A surge of joy instantly filled Xiong Shaoqing’s heart. She finally understood that no matter how much time had passed or how their statuses had changed, their sincere friendship remained as it was in the beginning.

Comforted by this thought, she threw herself back into training, with every movement more focused and dedicated than before.

After the training session ended, the female soldiers gradually dispersed. Willow Frostmoon walked towards Xiong Shaoqing, her eyebrows slightly raised and a small smile playing on her lips. “Junior Sister, you must be tired from today’s training. Come with me to the barracks. We should catch up properly.”

Xiong Shaoqing’s heart warmed. Though she maintained her usual calm expression, a flicker of joy—barely perceptible—danced in her eyes. Her response was short and to the point: “Okay.”

They walked side by side, arriving at the barracks shortly.

Stepping inside, Xiong Shaoqing was met with an elegant and simple layout. Her lips curled into a slight smile as she looked around, her dimples appearing with a playful tone. “Princess, your quarters are much better than my cramped three-person room.”

Willow Frostmoon offered a teasing smile. “Since you like it, why don’t you stay here for the next few days?”

Xiong Shaoqing froze, her mouth slightly agape, unsure how to respond.

A flash of joy appeared in Willow Frostmoon’s eyes. “Don’t worry, there are plenty of separate rooms. It will be very convenient for you. It would be nice to have you here for company.”

Xiong Shaoqing raised her eyes, meeting Willow Frostmoon’s gaze. For a moment, she felt as if she had been burned and quickly averted her eyes, changing the subject to a new topic.

They talked animatedly, from funny stories back in Yongning Manor to the small daily routines in the military. Laughter filled the air, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

When the conversation turned to the banquet, Willow Frostmoon’s expression suddenly grew serious. “There will definitely be drinking tonight. I remember you get a rash from alcohol. Don’t forget to prepare some tea beforehand so you can swap it out.”

Xiong Shaoqing was slightly taken aback, genuinely surprised that Willow Frostmoon still remembered this detail. A wave of warmth washed over her.

“Elder Sister still remembers.”

“Of course I remember. Try the Longjing tea I brought from Yongning Manor.”

Xiong Shaoqing reached for the teacup. Their fingertips brushed, and a warmth spread from her hand to her heart.

Their eyes met once more. A subtle, indescribable atmosphere filled the air—both familiar and tinged with a different kind of flutter, making her heart beat faster yet giving her a sense of peace.

The bonfire party officially began. The roaring flames illuminated every smiling face. The female soldiers sat on the ground, forming large circles. The light of the bonfire danced on their faces, just like the joy in their hearts.

Willow Frostmoon walked slowly to the bonfire, her eyes gentle yet firm. She raised her wine cup and announced in a clear voice, “Sisters, tonight we gather here to share this joy and warmth.”

“I’m here to extend the most sincere greetings and blessings from Her Majesty, the Empress!”

The female soldiers responded in unison, their eyes shining with respect and gratitude.

Willow Frostmoon gestured for Qinglian to come forward. Qinglian approached, holding a jar of wine. The jar had intricate carvings, indicating its noble origin.

“This is a special wine given to us by Her Majesty,” Willow Frostmoon continued. “The brewing process is complex, but it’s not as strong as other spirits, so it’s more suitable for us to drink.”

With that, Willow Frostmoon clapped her hands, and a group of attendants served the wine to the female soldiers at the other bonfire circles.

The soldiers were all deeply grateful, standing up to thank the Empress. They carefully took the cups filled with wine. As they drank it, every face glowed with a look of happiness.

However, in the midst of the crowd, Xiong Shaoqing quietly swapped her wine for the tea she had prepared beforehand, even switching out the cup.

After everyone had finished their drinks, Willow Frostmoon picked up her own cup and gently sniffed it. She noticed a strange smell. She frowned slightly but quickly relaxed her expression and drank the contents of the cup as if nothing was wrong.

She then nodded to Pinklotus ,who was serving her. Pinklotus hurried away and returned shortly with several plates of exquisite pastries, including Hundred-Flower Cakes, Hibiscus Crisps, Lotus-Scented Biscuits, and Cloud-Frost Cheese.

These pastries were from the famous Yongning Manor in the capital.

The palace maids also served the pastries to the other female soldiers. Many of the soldiers, who came from different parts of the country, had never had the chance to taste such delicacies.

“These are the most special pastries from Yongning Manor in the capital. I hope you like them,” Willow Frostmoon said with a warm smile, watching everyone accept the treats with surprise and excitement. The atmosphere became lively, and everyone once again expressed their gratitude.

“There’s no need to be so formal, sisters,” Willow Frostmoon said softly. “Since we’re all gathered here tonight, let’s just enjoy this moment of happiness together like a family.”

With that, she took off her outer robe, leaving on a simple, comfortable dress, and jumped into the circle to dance with the female soldiers. Laughter and cheer filled the night sky.

Willow Frostmoon’s dance was as light as a swallow, and she spun like a flower in the wind. With every move, she seemed to embody the spirit of the world.

Her eyes were at times gentle as water and at others as sharp as lightning. Every movement flowed like a running stream, and every glance shone as brightly as a star.

Xiong Shaoqing sat on the side,her eyes fixed on Willow Frostmoon. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. She stood still, completely captivated and in awe. It wasn’t until a drunken Huang Yu came over and patted her shoulder that she snapped out of it.

The banquet came to an end. The bonfire’s flames gradually softened, and the night grew deeper. The female soldiers still had smiles on their faces, but their eyes showed signs of weariness. They stood up and helped one another back to their barracks.

Xiong Shaoqing had planned to leave with Willow Frostmoon, but she looked over and saw that Huang Yu was completely drunk, sprawled out on the ground.

Huang Yu used to be a street performer and had never tasted such fine wine before. She had drunk too much at the banquet and had completely lost her composure.

“This one… is such a handful,” Xiong Shaoqing muttered under her breath, then quickly went over and lifted Huang Yu, letting her lean against her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Xu Jing was staggering like a boneless, drunken cat. Her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple, her eyes were hazy, and her steps were terribly unsteady. She kept mumbling, “Sister, I… I’m fine, it’s just… this wine is too strong. My legs feel like I’m walking on cotton, hehe.” She hiccuped with a silly laugh and swayed, nearly falling over.

She barely managed to steady herself, her hands grabbing randomly in the air, trying to find support.

Xiong Shaoqing shook her head helplessly as she watched Xu Jing stumble around. A faint smile played on her lips. “Okay, I guess I’m your servant tonight.”

She managed to settle Huang Yu down, then quickly turned and walked towards Xu Jing, helping her to her feet. “I’ll take you back to the barracks.”

Then, Xiong Shaoqing looked at Willow Frostmoon, her expression full of concern. “Elder Sister, the bonfire is out, and it’s getting windy. You should head back. I’ll come find you after I’ve settled them.”

Seeing Willow Frostmoon nod, Xiong Shaoqing turned her attention back to Xu Jing.

Xu Jing was as limp as mud and couldn’t stand on her own. Xiong Shaoqing frowned slightly, crouched down, and with a determined sigh, half-carried Xu Jing toward the barracks.

After a lot of effort, she finally got both of them settled. Xiong Shaoqing breathed a long sigh of relief, straightened her slightly disheveled uniform, and hurried toward Willow Frostmoon’s barracks.

The night was as dark as ink, and the moonlight scattered through the trees around the camp. Xiong Shaoqing rushed along, her heart focused on her promise to Willow Frostmoon.

Suddenly, a gust of wind carried a sound that made her heart tighten. She felt a sense of unease. Not far ahead, she saw a group of men in black surrounding Willow Frostmoon and her personal guards.

The men in black were agile and their moves were swift and deadly. They were clearly well-prepared.

“Protect the Princess!” Linglong shouted in a low voice. The other guards immediately moved to protect Willow Frostmoon, forming a solid wall of defense.

The men in black pressed forward, every move a lethal strike. However, the guards were well-trained and handled themselves expertly. Even with the enemy’s superior skills, they could not break through the defense.

But one of the seemingly calm guards’ eyes flashed with something unusual. He exchanged a look with the leader of the men in black, and a flaw in the defense was revealed.

The leader’s gaze was sharp, and he immediately seized the opportunity. He vaulted over the defensive line, his sharp blade now held to Willow Frostmoon’s throat. He commanded, “Stop! Or she dies instantly!”

The air froze. All the guards, afraid of provoking the enemy, dared not move. Willow Frostmoon was held captive, but her face remained calm and showed no sign of panic. She said calmly, “You cowards dare to be so presumptuous?”

The leader sneered, “Enough with the nonsense! If you want to live, tell your men to back off!”

Willow Frostmoon’s eyes shifted slightly to Plum Blossom, who was hidden in the shadows of the trees. Her voice remained calm but full of authority. “Do you think you’ll succeed? You’ve only walked into a trap!”

She deliberately stalled the leader in conversation, discreetly distracting him.

Xiong Shaoqing, seeing her chance, used her light footwork and moved like a phantom, quickly getting close.

Suddenly, the leader screamed in pain. His blade fell, and Willow Frostmoon took the opportunity to break free. In an instant, Xiong Shaoqing stood with her sword drawn, appearing before everyone. Her eyes, cold and stern, swept over the men in black.

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