Transmigrated into a Scummy Alpha Playboy in Ancient Times - Chapter 124

Early the next morning, when Shen Xingyue woke up, she found her little cat, already awake, lying quietly in her arms and watching her.

Shen Xingyue stretched lazily and smiled at her. “How long have you been awake?”

“For a while now. I haven’t had time to really look at you these past few days,” Su Muyu said softly as she reached out and gently touched Shen Xingyue’s cheek, reluctant to pull her hand away.

Seeing how clingy her little cat was, Shen Xingyue’s heart melted. She leaned over and kissed Su Muyu lightly at the corner of her lips. Her voice was tender as she reassured her, “The civil service exam is basically over. Things should slow down now. I’ll have more time to be with my Princess Consort. How does that sound?”

“Mhm… I couldn’t even see you properly,” Su Muyu mumbled as she burrowed into Shen Xingyue’s embrace.

Shen Xingyue gently stroked her waist, and just like that, her little cat instantly went soft and relaxed.

The two of them chatted for a while before getting out of bed. Today, Taotao and Han Shu were returning, so they didn’t dare sleep in too late.

The young girl was now three months pregnant. Her belly had already begun to show a gentle curve. Han Shu was so worried something might happen to her that he personally looked after her every day.

“Taotao, are you feeling alright?” Zhou Yunqing asked her daughter with a warm smile.

“It’s nothing too bad, just that I feel tired all the time and don’t have much strength. Sometimes I feel a little nauseous,” Shen Taotao replied, smiling. With Han Shu accompanying her every day lately, she didn’t feel as uncomfortable as before.

“Han Shu, this is a critical stage in the pregnancy. You need to be extra careful and take good care of Taotao,” Zhou Yunqing reminded him.

“Don’t worry, Mother-in-law. I’ve already handed over my duties in the army to Han Qiang. He’s stationed there now, so I have more time to be with Taotao,” Han Shu replied with a gentle glance at his quiet and well-behaved wife, his eyes softening with affection.

“Then we can rest assured,” Zhou Yunqing said with a pleased smile.

Su Muyu noticed the slight swell of Taotao’s belly and couldn’t help her curiosity. “Taotao, can I touch it?”

“Of course, Sister Su,” the girl replied with a smile.

Su Muyu nervously moved closer and carefully placed her hand on Shen Taotao’s belly. She found it amazing—was it really possible that a tiny baby would be born in just a few more months?

Shen Xingyue noticed how curious her little cat was and smiled, her eyes full of warmth.

By noon, everyone gathered in Shen Zhengchu and Zhou Yunqing’s courtyard for lunch. But before the meal was even finished, a palace attendant arrived in a hurry, summoning Shen Zhengchu, Shen Xingyue, and Han Shu back to the palace.

None of them dared delay. They quickly boarded a carriage and rushed to the palace.

When they arrived at the Hall of Diligent Governance, Shen Xingyue and the others hadn’t even had a chance to bow before Shen Kaiyuan interrupted them.

“Wang Mingda has fled the capital and taken fifty thousand troops with him. He’s seized several cities in Jizhou and appears to be staging a full rebellion. On top of that, I received word this morning that the northern tribes have invaded two of our northern counties. They’ve looted property, and many civilians and soldiers have been killed or injured. This time, the tribes haven’t retreated as they usually do—they’re lingering near the northern border. It seems like they’re planning something bigger. I can’t help but feel these two events are more than a coincidence,” Shen Kaiyuan said with a heavy sigh.

Shen Xingyue hadn’t expected this turn of events. Over the past few months, the Cui family had been steadily suppressed, and new officials from humble backgrounds had taken over most of their positions. Wang Mingda, meanwhile, had attended court every day, acting loyal and devoted. Even the Empress had let her guard down around him. But none of them imagined he would turn traitor like this.

“Maybe Wang Mingda is secretly working with the northern tribes,” Shen Xingyue said after a moment of thought. “If the two sides are coordinating, they could be planning a pincer attack against Beichuan.”

“That’s exactly what I suspect,” Shen Kaiyuan nodded. “I’ve already sent Xiu Wenying with fifty thousand troops to block Wang Mingda’s forces. I believe many of the soldiers following him were forced into it, but we still need to be cautious. If Wang Mingda gets desperate, he could become dangerous. That’s why I plan to send General Han with another fifty thousand troops to join Xiu Wenying and surround him from both sides. As for the northern border, I’m afraid we’ll also need Han Qiang to lead an army there and strengthen our defenses.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Han Shu replied, bowing deeply. Although he accepted the order, he couldn’t help but feel worried about the girl waiting at home. A mission like this could take at least one or two months, possibly even three to five. He was afraid Taotao wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.

Shen Kaiyuan was also aware that Shen Taotao was carrying a child, and the thought made her feel a bit guilty. But with so few generals she could truly rely on in Beichuan—and one of them having just committed treason—this situation was far too serious. If it weren’t Han Shu leading the troops, she simply couldn’t feel at ease.

She sighed and said, “I know this is hard on you. Taotao is pregnant, and yet I’m asking you to march to the front at a time like this.”

“Your Majesty overestimates me,” Han Shu quickly said, bowing again. “This is my duty.”

After a moment of thought, Shen Kaiyuan turned to Shen Xingyue. “Yue’er, I want you to go with General Han on this mission. Not all of Wang Mingda’s fifty thousand troops will be loyal to him. If you can subdue him, the soldiers under his command won’t need to be punished. You can take command of them directly.”

Although the Han family’s loyalty was unquestionable, Shen Kaiyuan couldn’t afford to gamble with the fate of the nation. Beichuan’s military force totaled six hundred thousand soldiers. The Han family controlled two-thirds of that. The remaining two hundred thousand were split between Shen Kaiyuan herself—with one hundred thousand Imperial troops—and fifty thousand under Xiu Wenying. The last fifty thousand were under Wang Mingda, who had just rebelled.

Giving command of Wang Mingda’s troops to Shen Xingyue would ensure greater security. Shen Kaiyuan had been impressed by how decisively Shen Xingyue handled the crisis at the South Gate. She believed her niece had the ability to lead and make clear decisions on the battlefield.

Shen Xingyue hadn’t expected to be called into action again. But on second thought, maybe it was for the best—at least she and Han Shu could look out for each other. That way, their family wouldn’t worry as much. Of course, between the two of them, Han Shu would probably end up taking care of her more.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Shen Xingyue said quickly, bowing to accept the decree. Even though she didn’t really want to go—this would mean she wouldn’t be able to see her little cat for quite a long time.

“Good,” Shen Kaiyuan said. “Your current civil post is Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, third rank. I am now promoting you to ‘General Who Stabilizes the Nation,’ a second-rank military title. Your main responsibility will be taking over the command of Wang Mingda’s troops.”

Shen Xingyue had no choice but to accept the honor, though she silently sighed—so much for taking it easy. How had she ended up with more work again?

Shen Kaiyuan then walked over to the wall of the Hall of Diligent Governance and took down a golden sword inlaid with colorful gemstones. She handed it to Shen Xingyue and said, “This sword is yours now. It symbolizes my authority. Whoever sees this sword is to treat it as if they are seeing me. Be careful, both of you. Once you return safely, I’ll make sure to give you a proper break.”

“Thank you, Aunt,” Shen Xingyue replied, taking the sword and testing its weight in her hands. It really was quite heavy.

As they left the palace, no one was in the mood to smile—especially Shen Zhengchu. Han Shu had to leave, and now even his daughter was being sent into battle. While he wasn’t too worried about Han Shu—who had grown up on the battlefield and was extremely capable—his own Yue’er had been raised like a precious jewel. How could she possibly endure the hardship of war? Still, he couldn’t voice his concerns here.

Shen Xingyue, on the other hand, was more concerned about Han Shu. “Once we head to Jizhou, we’ll probably be gone for several months. I’m really worried about Taotao. She’s pregnant, and you won’t be home. I’m afraid she might overthink things and harm her health.”

“I’m worried too,” Han Shu admitted. “Why don’t we have Taotao move back into the royal residence? That way, she’ll be surrounded by family who can look after her.”

It made sense. No matter how well the general’s estate was run, there weren’t many people Taotao could talk to, especially with him away. If she stayed there too long without support, it could wear on her mentally. At least back in the royal residence, she’d have the Princess Consort and Su Muyu to keep her company.

“Good idea. I’ll talk to Yu’er and ask her to take extra care of Taotao,” Shen Xingyue agreed. It really did seem like the best solution.

Shen Zhengchu let out a sigh. “The Empress trusts both of you. But this mission is dangerous. You must take care of yourselves. Don’t let Taotao or Yu’er worry.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll be careful,” Shen Xingyue promised.

When Shen Xingyue got home, Su Muyu was working in their bedroom, reviewing the household accounts. The study was on the shaded side of the house and wasn’t as warm, so she had started using the bedroom as her office.

Seeing her return, Su Muyu smiled. “You left in such a hurry. What did Her Majesty say?”

Shen Xingyue took off her cloak, hung it to the side, and walked over to the fire to warm her hands. She thought for a moment before answering. “It’s Wang Mingda—Shen Yiqian’s uncle. He’s defected. He gathered troops in Jizhou and has already taken over several towns.”

Su Muyu was a little puzzled. It was a military matter—why had the Empress summoned Shen Xingyue?

“Isn’t this a battlefield issue?” she asked. “Why would Her Majesty send you?”

“Yu’er, I might have to leave the capital for a while,” Shen Xingyue said softly, rubbing her hands together as she carefully chose her words.

Su Muyu paused her writing and looked up at her seriously. “Where are you going? I’ll come with you.”

“I can’t take you this time. It’s military business,” Shen Xingyue explained gently. “His Majesty has appointed me as the Grand General of Pacification. I’ll be going with Han Shu to suppress a rebellion.”

Since they would be departing in just a few days, Shen Xingyue decided to tell her little kitten everything directly.

Su Muyu’s eyes turned red with worry. She quickly walked over to Shen Xingyue and asked, clearly upset, “Why would His Majesty send you? You’ve never really led troops before. It’s so dangerous to go and fight a rebellion—what if something happens to you?”

Hearing the tears in her voice, Shen Xingyue quickly pulled her into a comforting hug and gently soothed her. “Don’t worry. I’m really just going to assist. His Majesty doesn’t want the entire army under Wang Mingda to fall under Han Shu’s control, because he’s concerned about the Han family gaining too much power. So, I’ve been sent to take over command of Wang Mingda’s fifty thousand soldiers. Most of them were probably forced into this. Who knows—by the time we get there, someone might even open the city gates and surrender.”

“But it’s still dangerous,” Su Muyu said, sniffling. “You’ve never been in a real battle before. And you’ve been so busy these past few months… Now you’re leaving again, and who knows how long you’ll be gone.”

She buried herself in Shen Xingyue’s arms, her voice trembling as she started to cry.

Shen Xingyue sat her down at the round table and wrapped an arm around her waist, gently stroking her back to comfort her. “I know things have been hectic, but I really don’t have a choice. His Majesty already promised me—once this is over, he’ll give me a long vacation. I’ll spend every day with you at home, alright? Don’t cry. It breaks my heart to see you like this.”

Sniffling again, Su Muyu whispered, “When you went to the South Gate to suppress the rebels last time, I barely slept all night. If you go again, I’ll worry every single day.”

Shen Xingyue’s heart melted. She hugged her little kitten tightly. “I know. But I promise I’ll be fine. Han Shu is going too. If you don’t trust me, at least trust her. She’s only twenty, but she already commands 400,000 soldiers in Beichuan. With her there, I’ll be safe and come back to you.”

Su Muyu looked up at her with teary eyes. “Han Shu is going too? Then what about Taotao?”

Shen Xingyue gently kissed Su Muyu’s lips and said softly, “Taotao will have to move back to the royal residence for now. Please take care of her with Mother Consort. She probably doesn’t want Han Shu to leave either—the baby’s only three months old.”

Su Muyu clung tightly to Shen Xingyue’s neck, wrapping her legs around her waist as if trying to stop her from leaving.

Knowing how insecure she felt, Shen Xingyue kept holding her, gently rubbing her back to soothe her.

Even during dinner, Su Muyu stayed in Shen Xingyue’s arms, refusing to move. Normally, she would be too shy to sit on her lap, but tonight, she clung to her without hesitation.

Holding her little kitten so close made it even harder for Shen Xingyue to leave.

That night in bed, Su Muyu stuck to her like glue. One moment she asked for a kiss, the next she asked to be held. Shen Xingyue responded to every request with gentle affection.

Su Muyu was worried about her, and Shen Xingyue was just as worried that Su Muyu wouldn’t be able to sleep well while she was gone. But this was an imperial order—Shen Xingyue had no choice.

~~

Shen Taotao had cried until her eyes were red. She and Sister Shu had just had a baby, and now her aunt was sending Han Shu off to the battlefield. For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

Han Shu gently wiped her tears with a warm, damp cloth and spoke in a soft voice, “Don’t cry, alright? I’m a general—it’s my duty to lead troops and fight battles. This happened so suddenly, and His Majesty is in a hurry. We have no choice but to go. Please don’t cry anymore, okay? Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you back to the royal residence. Mother Consort and the princess will be there. They can help take care of you.”

“Okay,” Shen Taotao replied quietly, sniffling. She looked at Han Shu and added, “Please take care of Sister too. She’s never been far from home or suffered any hardship. Both of you have to come back safe and sound.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Her Highness,” Han Shu said gently. “And you don’t need to be too worried either. It’s just a small rebellion. We should be back soon. It’s Han Qiang who’ll have a tougher time—he’s been sent to the northern border to deal with the Hu tribes.”

She glanced down at Shen Taotao’s belly and smiled as she leaned in, placing her ear carefully against it. Hearing nothing, she patiently whispered to the three-month-old baby inside, “Little one, I’m going somewhere a bit far from the capital. Be good and stay by your mother’s side, alright? Don’t be naughty. I’ll be back soon to be with both of you.”

Shen Taotao burst into tears again at Han Shu’s words. Han Shu quickly pulled her into her arms and comforted her gently, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Otherwise, the baby might start crying too. Don’t worry—I’ll definitely come back safe and sound.”

~~

Three days later, Shen Xingyue began dressing in her armor at the break of dawn. The armor had been sent to her by Shen Kaiyuan. It was sturdy and made from the finest steel—sleek and silver from head to toe, both beautiful and strong. At her waist, she wore the ornate, diamond-studded imperial sword gifted to her by the Empress.

Su Muyu helped fasten her armor in silence, eyes already turning red with emotion.

Shen Xingyue gently pulled her little kitten into her arms and whispered, “Don’t cry. I’ll take good care of myself, I promise. Don’t worry about me.”

But Su Muyu clutched her tightly and murmured through quiet sobs, “It’s cold out there… Please make sure you stay warm and look after yourself.”

“I will. And you need to take care of yourself too—eat well, rest properly, and don’t worry too much about me.” Shen Xingyue leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, then gently pushed her back a little. “I really have to go. If I don’t leave now, we’ll miss the time. Wait for me, alright?”

She gave Su Muyu a warm smile, opened the bedroom door, and found Shen Zhengchu waiting outside. Even he, rarely emotional, had red-rimmed eyes. He stepped forward and said sincerely, “Yue’er, you don’t need to make a name for yourself. If things get dangerous, the most important thing is to protect yourself. Don’t act out of pride or anger. You’re only eighteen—remember what I’m saying. Don’t push yourself too hard. Stay safe, above all.”

Shen Xingyue smiled and replied, “Don’t worry, Father. You know I’ve always been lucky. I’ll be fine.”

Su Muyu and Shen Zhengchu walked with her to the courtyard gate. From a distance, Shen Xingyue saw Shen Taotao still crying in Han Shu’s arms.

She walked over and patted her sister’s shoulder gently. “Don’t worry. Han Shu and I will come back safe and sound. No more tears, okay? The little one in your belly won’t feel good if you keep crying. You and Yu’er just stay safe and wait for us at the royal residence. We’ll return full of energy.”

Glancing at the sky, Shen Xingyue guessed it was time. She turned to everyone and smiled, “Alright, no more goodbyes. We really have to go now.”

She took Han Shu’s hand, and the two of them walked out together. But before they even left the royal estate, Shen Xingyue already started missing her little kitten.

Once outside the main gate, they mounted their horses and rode off to join the larger army waiting beyond the city.

Seeing her bundled up, Han Shu asked with concern, “Are you doing okay? It’ll take a few more days of travel like this. Can you handle it?”

Shen Xingyue smiled and replied, “Don’t worry. I won’t slow you down.”

Over her armor, she wore a thick grey cloak, and her hands were covered with cotton gloves, but she still felt cold. Riding in the open with snow and wind hitting her face was tough to get used to.

Eventually, she pulled on her face mask—it worked as a makeshift scarf, and at least her lower face wasn’t freezing anymore.

The army moved at a slow pace, especially with foot soldiers and laborers trailing behind. Shen Xingyue and the other cavalry couldn’t rush ahead either, staying in the middle of the formation. To avoid disturbing civilians, Han Shu had ordered the army to camp outside cities whenever possible.

But after just one morning, Shen Xingyue already felt numb from the cold. It was as if she hadn’t worn anything at all—cold from head to toe. Riding a horse in the wind while wearing over ten kilos of armor only made it worse.

She looked back at the foot soldiers and laborers behind them and felt a sharp pang of sympathy. If she felt this miserable just sitting on horseback, how must they feel, walking and dragging supplies in this brutal cold?

Han Shu saw Shen Xingyue looking back and asked gently, “Is your body stiff? Want to get off and walk for a while? I’ll come with you.”

Shen Xingyue shook her head. “No, I’m alright. I was just thinking about the foot soldiers and the laborers pushing the supply carts. It looks so hard for them. If His Majesty gives us any rewards after this, I want to give mine to them.”

Han Shu hadn’t expected Shen Xingyue to be so considerate toward the soldiers and workers. She had actually been worried that Shen Xingyue might struggle with the hardships of marching.

By noon, Han Shu gave the order to stop and prepare a meal. She and Shen Xingyue had a few personal guards who cooked for them, but the food was as simple as it gets—just a basic noodle soup with some dried vegetables.

After freezing all morning, Shen Xingyue took one sip of the hot soup and felt like she was alive again. “This feels amazing.”

Han Shu chuckled at her reaction. “You’ll get used to it. We’ll be marching until dark this afternoon, so eat a little more to keep your strength up.”

“Okay.” Shen Xingyue was truly hungry. The soup was nothing more than noodles in a salty broth with a few bits of dried greens, but she ate with great appetite. Before long, she asked a nearby guard for another bowl.

Watching her eat so eagerly, Han Shu finally relaxed. To be honest, although she had gained respect for Shen Xingyue—especially after the way she handled the riot at the South Gate—she had still been worried when she learned that Shen Xingyue would join this campaign. She was afraid the girl wouldn’t be able to handle the long marches or the rough food. But seeing her like this now, Han Shu finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Don’t just sit there watching me,” Shen Xingyue said with a playful pout. “Eat something too. If you go back home all skinny, Taotao will blame me.”

Han Shu laughed and nodded. “Alright.” She quickly picked up her bowl and started eating.

Shen Xingyue was starting to realize that there was no time for comfort during a military campaign. For example, they didn’t even have time to wash their pots properly. They had to hurry on the road and hope to find a spot near fresh water to set up camp for the night.

With such a large army, even stopping for a quick lunch took up a lot of time. Once they finished eating, Han Shu had her guards blow the signal horn, telling everyone to clean up and get ready to move. She gave them an extra half-hour to rest before she and Shen Xingyue mounted their horses again. Another horn was blown, and the cavalry at the front began to move, slowly leading the rest of the troops forward.

That afternoon, Shen Xingyue began to question everything again. Her face and body were frozen, and the water in her flask had already turned cold—with bits of ice forming inside. She forced herself to drink a few sips, even though it sent a chill straight through her.

They didn’t stop until the sky turned completely dark, finally setting up camp along the riverbank.

After sitting on horseback the entire day, Shen Xingyue felt like her whole body was falling apart. Her lower back and shoulders ached, her legs were stiff, and every step felt heavy. She finally admitted to herself that she wasn’t nearly as tough as she’d thought. Han Shu, on the other hand, was clearly built for this kind of life.

Seeing Shen Xingyue struggle to dismount, Han Shu quickly walked over and offered her a steady hand. “Are you okay? Are you in pain?”

Shen Xingyue didn’t try to hide it. “Yeah… after riding all day in armor, everything hurts.”

She honestly felt like she might fall apart by morning.

Han Shu smiled and said, “You’ll get used to it. Tonight, I’ll help you massage your back and shoulders—it should help a bit. We’ve still got several more days of marching, and I’m worried you won’t last if the soreness keeps up.”

“Alright, thanks. I didn’t expect you to be good at this too,” Shen Xingyue replied, trying to stretch her arms, which were so sore they barely felt like her own.

Fortunately, the guards worked quickly. Shen Xingyue and Han Shu’s tent was set up in the center of the camp, with soldiers posted around the perimeter to stand guard. When Shen Xingyue stepped inside, she glanced around. It was more like a shelter than a real tent—just enough to block the wind. Inside, a soldier had set up a small charcoal brazier for warmth. A simple camp bed stood in the corner with some thick bedding laid over it.

Feeling like her entire body was about to fall apart, Shen Xingyue wasted no time taking off her armor and setting the heavy pieces on a wooden chair to the side.

With all that weight finally off her body, she let out a long breath. But even without it, her whole body still ached as if her energy had been drained.

Soon, dinner was brought in. It was a bit better than lunch—sautéed cabbage with sliced meat, a bowl of warm rice, and some hot rice broth. Shen Xingyue sat by the small table, took a few bites, and slowly started to feel a bit more alive.

She finished the full bowl of rice and even asked the guard outside for another bowl of broth. After drinking it, she felt completely worn out and flopped onto the bed without a second thought. All she wanted now was to lie down and rest.

A while later, just as she was about to fall asleep, Han Shu walked in. Seeing her sprawled out on the narrow camp bed with barely any energy, Han Shu took off her face mask and smiled. “Still hurting? Let me give your back a quick massage. When Han Qiang first joined the army, he was just like this—sore all over. After training, I’d massage his back, and it helped a lot. Now he’s a capable general himself. I just hope things are going smoothly for him up north.”

Shen Xingyue wanted to say something comforting, but before she could, Han Shu pressed down on her shoulder, and she gasped sharply. “Ah—ow, ow! That hurts! Be gentle! It feels like you’re breaking my bones!”

“If I go gentle, it won’t work. Your shoulders and back are full of knots. If I don’t loosen them now, tomorrow will be even worse. Just hang in there,” Han Shu said casually. She was used to this—after riding a horse all day, anyone would be sore. And since Shen Xingyue wasn’t used to this kind of physical activity, it was only natural that her muscles had tightened up. The best way to fix it was to press deep and hard. And Han Shu didn’t hold back—after all, Shen Xingyue wasn’t her delicate Taotao. She could take it.

“Ow! I’m serious, go slower! This hurts too much!” Shen Xingyue felt like she was being pounded instead of massaged. Her body was starting to sweat from the pain.

“Just hold on a bit longer. You’ll get used to it. After a few more times, it won’t hurt anymore,” Han Shu said with a straight face, pressing even harder.

By the time she finished, Shen Xingyue didn’t even have the strength to sit up. She lay flat on the bed, completely drained.

Han Shu laughed when she saw her collapse like that. “Was it really that bad? That was just normal pressure. I used to massage Han Qiang all the time, and he never complained.”

“Yeah, well, he’s a guy! I’m a girl—how is that the same?” Shen Xingyue snapped back weakly, but even arguing made her back hurt. She couldn’t manage another word.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to rest. You’ll see what I mean in the morning,” Han Shu said with a smile as she turned and left the tent.

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