Transmigrated into the Scum Female Consort - Chapter 93

The sun gradually shifted southward. As noon approached, a cloud of dust billowed up from the main road.

“Official business! Clear the way immediately!”

Seeing the line of people blocking the center of the road, a soldier charging at the front barked out a warning. However, Commander Chen, leading the formation, raised his hand. Behind him, over thirty soldiers pulled their reins in unison and came to a halt.

Ye Xuejin stole a glance at Yun Chi. Yun Chi shook her head slightly, indicating they were still twenty meters away—not yet within the thirty-foot range.

Opposite them, Commander Chen stared intently at Ye Xuejin and curled his lip into a smile. “Is the Eldest Princess here to welcome this official?” While speaking, he quickly scanned the surroundings, narrowing his eyes.

Ye Xuejin ignored him. She looked past him toward the soldiers and said sternly, “If you are still soldiers of our Great Dashao, lay down your weapons. Those who surrender shall be spared.”

The arrivals were somewhat beyond her expectations. She had thought they were only coming to investigate the missing yamen guards and that the search party would consist of ordinary deputies. She hadn’t expected Commander Chen to lead the group personally, nor that he would bring over thirty regular city guards instead of common runners.

Commander Chen hadn’t expected Ye Xuejin to block the road either. After Old Man Zhang led the deputies back to the mines, all news had ceased. He had originally intended to send more deputies to check the situation, but Chief Secretary Zhu, worried about their incompetence, had specifically ordered him to probe the reality of the situation.

As the Chief Secretary’s most trusted man, Commander Chen should have taken this on without hesitation. However, having witnessed the exile party’s prowess at the city gates, he didn’t rely on the useless lot at the yamen. Instead, he hand-picked thirty-six elites from the military. Even so, looking at Ye Xuejin and her group standing so boldly in his path, he felt a flicker of dread in his heart.

“The Eldest Princess certainly puts on a grand air. Those words should be said by this official instead!” Chen’s smile vanished as he shouted, “Listen up! The person you follow is now a mere commoner and a criminal. If you persist in your delusions and dare oppose the government, that is insubordination—it is rebellion! This official gives you but one chance: surrender, and you shall not be killed.”

His voice fell, but not a single person on Ye Xuejin’s side reacted.

Chen’s face darkened instantly. “Those hiding, come out as well. Since you choose to seek death, do not blame this official for being heartless.”

In the bushes, the young women instinctively looked toward Qi Mingyan. During the introductions, Her Highness had instructed everyone to honor Qi Mingyan as their strategist from now on.

After a brief thought, Qi Mingyan rose composedly. The others followed suit. Seeing that the “ambush” consisted of only five women, the soldiers behind Commander Chen couldn’t help but erupt in mockery.

“What is this? A few weak women?” “They truly don’t take us brothers seriously. Are they playing house?” “Boss, let me go first. I’ll strip their clothes to make colorful flags for the boys!”

These soldiers belonged to the city garrison, the elite force of Yangzhou. A provincial Commander was responsible for leading and managing the military; as elites and Chen’s confidants, they spoke without restraint.

Seeing only weak women in ambush, Commander Chen felt a hint of contempt, but he remained cautious. These brothers hadn’t been at the city gate that day and hadn’t seen the exile party’s divine bravery. He, however, had seen it clearly.

Yet, it seemed only a few from the exile party had come, and they were mostly women. The only men present were the guards who were supposed to be escorting them. This surprised him. He had wondered why these guards weren’t in a hurry to return to the Capital; it turned out they had secretly defected to the Princess.

Chen pondered for a moment and pointed to six men. “You six, show them what real power looks like.” He wanted to see today which “Immortal” was so idle that they would intervene to protect these people again.

At his command, the six soldiers drew their blades and charged. “Brothers, kill!”

Ye Xuejin knit her brows slightly and shook her head at Yun Chi before looking toward Qi Mingyan. Qi Mingyan understood instantly. Staring at the six charging soldiers, she said expressionlessly, “Shoot the horses.”

Five sleeve crossbows fired simultaneously, each releasing three bolts. Fifteen arrows pierced the air. The horses, struck by the bolts, went wild, instantly breaking the formation. The six soldiers decisively leapt from their mounts and continued their charge on foot, brandishing their sabers.

“Xiao Gao, protect Her Highness!” Yu Lu roared, charging forward with his electric baton.

“Your Highness, these small fry are enough for this servant!” Shushi followed close behind.

Ten Song said nothing, her sharp eyes fixed forward as she lunged with a speed faster than both Yu Lu and Shushi.

Ye Xuejin watched them calmly, not intervening. Knowing how to adapt to circumstances and striking with certainty at the right moment were essential qualities for her subordinates. Yu Lu, Shushi, and Ten Song clearly possessed this judgment.

In the blink of an eye, Ten Song reached the six soldiers first. With several quick stabs, she turned and returned to Ye Xuejin’s side. The job was done.

Yu Lu: “…” Wait, I didn’t even get to move yet. I wanted a big fight, and it’s already over? Shushi: “…” The little sister is a hidden expert. Good job.

The atmosphere turned eerily quiet. Yu Lu and Shushi looked at the six soldiers collapsed on the ground, exchanged a glance, and retreated to Ye Xuejin’s side. Fine, they weren’t fast enough.

Qi Mingyan’s eyes shone with brilliance. Her Highness truly was surrounded by “crouching tigers and hidden dragons,” and those divine weapons were extraordinary.

Commander Chen’s eyes also sparked. Last time at the city gate, he had seen that the moment the assassins approached, their weapons vanished into thin air—even their outer robes disappeared. Just now, although the six soldiers fell to the so-called divine weapons, they weren’t disarmed.

If he hadn’t seen it wrong, the divine weapon had to physically strike a person to take effect. That made things easier; as long as the Immortal wasn’t present, he was fine. He thought to himself: How could there be such an idle Immortal, guarding someone every single day? If there were, Ye Xuejin wouldn’t have been stripped of her status and exiled here.

Commander Chen felt his opportunity had come. He waved his hand and shouted, “Brothers, don’t let those sticks touch your bodies! Dodge the hidden arrows! Follow me to slay the rebels and claim your reward! Charge!”

Soldiers are defined by bravery. Though the remaining troops were startled, hearing Chen’s confident words, they charged without hesitation.

Qi Mingyan immediately looked to Ye Xuejin for a signal. Ye Xuejin curled her lips into a smile, took Yun Chi’s hand, and calmly uttered two words: “Thirty feet.”

Yun Chi smiled as well. Within twenty meters, this was her domain.

In an instant, the sabers in the hands of Commander Chen and his soldiers vanished entirely, along with their outer robes—even their shoes were gone. Before they could react, the sleeve crossbows fired again.

“AH!”

The neighing of horses mixed with the screams of men echoed through the air. Commander Chen tumbled to the ground. Though the soldiers quickly gathered to surround him in a defensive stance, they were now unarmed and barefoot on the earth. Their faces and hearts were filled with sheer terror.

Once Chen scrambled to his feet, he was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Which Immortal is this bored?! They really are guarding her every second of the day! He thought hysterically: If you’re going to protect the Eldest Princess like this, just make her the Emperor and be done with it! Why bother with the stripping of titles and exile? Are you just playing with us?!

Ye Xuejin watched the soldiers, who were now like birds startled by a mere bowstring, and walked forward calmly. Yu Lu and the others followed carefully by her and Yun Chi’s side, while Qi Mingyan’s group emerged from the bushes.

Looking at the encroaching Ye Xuejin and the people behind her holding divine weapons, the soldiers were too terrified to speak; they only knew to huddle tightly around Commander Chen.

“Move aside!” Chen gritted his teeth, pushed past his men, and looked at Ye Xuejin, shouting loudly, “Kill me or cut me as you wish, just make it quick! If I even blink an eye, I’m not a man!”

Ye Xuejin slowly curved her lips. “Is that so? Then kill them all.”

Commander Chen froze. The woman before him smiled brightly, as beautiful as a goddess, yet her words terrified him to his core.

“Your Highness, spare me! It was all Chief Secretary Zhu’s orders! This subordinate is willing to follow Your Highness to kill that old thief Zhu! Spare me, Your Highness! Spare my life!”

Chen’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, kowtowing incessantly for mercy. The soldiers’ expressions stiffened in disbelief; more than that, they felt humiliated. To have a commander with so little backbone was a disgrace. After exchanging glances for a moment, they also silently knelt and bowed their heads.

“Who was the one who said they’d use our clothes as flags? Get out here!” Shushi stepped forward and poked Commander Chen with her electric baton, knocking him unconscious with a surge of electricity.

Heh, she finally knew what it felt like to use a divine weapon to subdue an enemy. It felt great—truly as easy as turning over one’s hand.