Wen Yanran gave a slight nod, granting Xiao Xichi’s request, then glanced at Zhong Zhiwei standing beside her.
Zhong Zhiwei made a respectful bow and said, “I wish to remain by Your Majesty’s side.”
As the Commander of the Inner Guards and one deeply loyal to the Emperor, she cared less about building merits by capturing the Marquis of Quanling and more about safeguarding the sovereign personally.
Chi Yi, who had accompanied the Emperor as well, took a step forward, half-bowed in salute, and said, “I wish to join General Xiao in pursuing the Marquis of Quanling.”
Chi Yi did not doubt Xiao Xichi’s loyalty at this moment, but was concerned that the general’s overly cautious style might fail to achieve the effect desired by the Emperor. Thus, she wished to follow along personally, ready to step in with decisive, swift actions when others hesitated.
As dusk fell, Chi Yi, being a civil official, gave Wen Yanran some concern regarding her physical endurance for night battles in the mountains. Yet, as a future influential minister, Chi Yi had always known her own limits well. Her request likely meant she had some confidence, so Wen Yanran saw no reason to dampen her enthusiasm.
Xiao Xichi glanced at the seemingly refined and scholarly Left Vice Commissioner of the City Bureau beside her, never expecting that this official would also be skilled in riding.
Little did she know that when the Emperor engaged in physical training, the inner officials, who held themselves to the principle of “serving the emperor wherever she goes,” had also taken up additional training routines…
Speed was essential in warfare. Xiao Xichi, Chi Yi, and a contingent of imperial guards set out immediately, pressing deeper along the mountain paths. Wen Yanran watched them depart and suddenly remarked, “Captain Zhong, do you think the Marquis of Quanling will come this way?”
Zhong Zhiwei answered truthfully, “The terrain here is unfavorable for swift movement. With more of our soldiers present and their stamina at its peak, it is likely that the Marquis of Quanling will be unable to escape and will naturally be brought before us.”
Wen Yanran clasped her hands behind her back, the corners of her lips lifting slightly, yet her eyes held a profound depth as she gazed into the distance and remarked slowly, “The Marquis of Quanling may indeed struggle to get away, but I fear she may not make it here at all.”
During her retreat, the Marquis of Quanling deliberately left a portion of her armored troops behind, both to mislead the enemy at the mountain pass and to slow down any pursuers. Although these soldiers remained fiercely loyal to their lord, their morale inevitably wavered once their commander had departed. As the sound of approaching horses grew steadily louder, tension mounted among them. Before they could properly react, a shadowy figure swept toward them like a stormwind – a general riding a mighty steed.
Clad in iron armor and wielding a long-handled glaive, the rider showed no intention of slowing down upon spotting the well-ordered formation of armored soldiers ahead. Instead, she spurred her horse faster, charging straight into their ranks.
This was none other than Xiao Xichi. In her hands, the glaive moved like a silver dragon, its gleaming blade reflecting the surrounding flames as she swung it left and right. With every stroke, another head inevitably fell.
At this time, the imperial guards had yet to be equipped with long stirrups or horseshoes, as such gear was still undergoing testing. Instead, leather wraps were used to reduce damage to the horses’ hooves. Xiao Xichi’s flawless mastery of horsemanship alone allowed her to perform with such effortless grace.
She single-handedly shattered the enemy’s defensive formation, then suddenly wheeled her horse around, cutting down several more with a series of swift strikes. Already shattered in morale, the armored soldiers were utterly terrified by this display. Many could no longer stand steadily, and in desperation, they dropped their weapons and surrendered.
Xiao Xichi knew the armored soldiers had lost all will to fight. She laughed heartily and urged her horse onward.
Both sides of the mountain pass were flanked by sheer cliffs, with the path rugged and narrow. Even if the Marquis of Quanling sensed something amiss and attempted to retreat, the terrain made it impossible for her to move swiftly.
Although they had initially planned to advance under the cover of darkness, the ground was strewn with too many uneven stones. To speed up their progress, torches were eventually lit along the way. In the center, a lantern even hung from a wooden cart.
Wen Jinming had remained silent with her eyes closed, but upon hearing a sudden series of dense, frantic screams from behind, followed by the rapidly approaching sound of hoofbeats, she decisively exclaimed, “For someone to arrive so swiftly, it can only be Xiao Xichi!”
The young advisor accompanying Wen Jinming in the wooden carriage was a member of the Cui family. Leaning out from the side, he peered into the distance and was startled to see Xiao Xichi suddenly slow her horse’s pace. Without a moment’s hesitation and disregarding all etiquette, he urgently pushed Wen Jinming into the adjacent backup carriage.
The advisor’s guess was correct – Xiao Xichi had slowed down to target the enemy leader’s head from a distance. She first shouted for those ahead to halt, but receiving no response, she immediately took her longbow from her back. Drawing it full like a full moon, she loosed an arrow that shot forward like a shooting star. As the bowstring thrummed, it echoed like thunder rumbling through dense clouds.
Although the horses ridden by the soldiers accompanying Wen Jinming were all war steeds, the resounding roar left them momentarily unsteady, trembling and unable to advance or retreat calmly.
In terms of archery on horseback alone, this chief of the Qingyi tribe was truly unmatched in her time.
One arrow followed another, loosed from Xiao Xichi’s bow in rapid succession, each striking precisely where she aimed. The armored soldiers on the Marquis of Quanling’s side attempted to return fire, but their arrows lacked both the power and accuracy to pose any real threat to Xiao Xichi.
Her first arrow struck the figure in the carriage; her second severed the enemy’s banner. Then, raising her voice, she declared, “The Marquis of Quanling has been slain by my arrow!”
As the torchlight remained dim, the armored soldiers on Wen Jinming’s side could not clearly discern their leader’s movements. Intimidated by the might of Xiao Xichi’s archery, many believed her words and immediately grew restless.
Another advisor, sensing the turn of events, shouted at the top of his lungs, “Her Highness is clearly safe and sound–”
But Xiao Xichi had no intention of letting him finish. Another arrow shot forth, piercing his throat.
Daring to carry out an assassination attempt, Wen Jinming naturally had warriors of exceptional skill accompanying her. Among them was a young commander who, incensed by Xiao Xichi’s consecutive displays of might, charged forward from the ranks, his long saber swirling like a blaze of silver before him.
Seeing him rush toward her, Xiao Xichi first loosed an arrow. Yet despite the formidable force of her shot, it failed to pierce through the curtain of his blade.
Always confident in her own prowess, she promptly slung her longbow across her back, gripped her glaive, and met the challenge head-on.
Both warriors charged toward each other, using the momentum of their steeds. Their blades collided mid-air with a thunderous crash.
After just a single exchange, their horses were forced to retreat dozens of steps simultaneously. Xiao Xichi felt a slight numbness in her arm and took a closer look at the commander before her, calling out, “Who are you? State your name.”
The young commander answered proudly, “Chen Ying of Qing Province.”
Xiao Xichi nodded. “Impressive skill. A pity you’ve turned traitor. History may record this and bring shame upon your family.”
Having spent years in Jianping and coming from the deeply sinicized Qingyi tribe, Xiao Xichi knew precisely where to strike at the pride of those from noble families. Her taunt struck true, and upon hearing it, a flaw briefly appeared in Chen Ying’s otherwise seamless saber technique.
Chen Ying’s martial skills were no match for Xiao Xichi’s to begin with, and now, with his composure shaken, they clashed back and forth for several dozen exchanges. Seizing the moment as they passed each other, Xiao Xichi raised her glaive and brought it crashing down. Chen Ying blocked horizontally, but an immense force surged through his blade. He managed to withstand his opponent’s strike, yet his steed let out a mournful whinny, its forelegs buckling as it collapsed to the ground, clearly unable to bear the tremendous power.
Chen Ying cursed furiously, “Barbarian from Qingyi!”
Naturally, there were other skilled warriors by Wen Jinming’s side besides Chen Ying. While guarding their lord’s safety, they also maintained the restraint expected of noble clans and had initially refused to join Chen Ying in ganging up on their opponent. However, seeing their comrade in peril, they could no longer stand by. Immediately urging their horses forward, they flanked Xiao Xichi from both sides to pin her down. The imperial guards who had accompanied Xiao Xichi were all elite soldiers under Zhong Zhiwei’s command, well-trained and disciplined. They promptly joined the fray, thrusting their long spears into the chaotic melee.
Chen Ying, having lost his mount, tumbled from horseback and engaged Xiao Xichi in foot combat. Even before, his odds of victory had been slim against her; now forced to fight on foot, he was utterly overwhelmed, struggling to catch his breath under her relentless pressure.
From her superior position, Xiao Xichi wielded her glaive with thrusts, jabs, sweeps, and flicks, pinning Chen Ying down until he could no longer break free. Spotting an opening, she drove the blade forward. A flash of cold light cut diagonally through the air, and Chen Ying’s head fell from his shoulders.
After slaying this formidable foe, she did not join the imperial guards in their assault on the Marquis of Quanling’s armored soldiers. Instead, she urged her horse onward, continuing to pursue the enemy ranks while loosing arrow after arrow from her bow, each shot striking true.
Listening to the sounds of slaughter outside, Wen Jinming closed her eyes, her tone eerily calm. “At this point, our grand undertaking is beyond hope. There is no need to sacrifice more lives for my sake.”
The middle-aged advisor beside her immediately knelt and implored, “Your Highness must not lose heart. Our ranks have yet to clear the mountain pass, making it difficult to deploy our formation properly. That is why the Qingyi barbarian has gained the upper hand. Once we break through–”
Wen Jinming cut him off. “Do you truly believe the Northern Park forces have not laid an ambush at the pass?”
The middle-aged advisor’s pupils contracted sharply. “Could it be…”
They had dared to travel through the mountain pass precisely because they had left a contingent behind to secure their rear at the exit. Yet, judging by the Marquis of Quanling’s implication, those troops meant to cover their retreat were likely already doomed.
Wen Jinming spoke slowly, “Back then, Jianping dispatched two full cavalry regiments from the capital. Even after the turmoil subsided, they delayed their return. Aside from overseeing the spring plowing, they likely had other plans.”
Now she saw her opponent’s scheme with complete clarity, but it was already too late.
From the incident with Great Master Xuanyang, to the snow disasters in the two commanderies, and then to the Northern Park spring hunt – none of her layered, deceptive strategies had achieved the slightest effect. Even without the constraints of the bond between ruler and subject, Wen Jinming felt deep down that she was no match for the forces in Jianping.
Hearing his lord’s words, the middle-aged advisor prostrated himself in a deep bow, tears streaming from his eyes. “Your Highness!” He then grabbed another, older scholar by the arm and urgently asked, “Master Cui, is there still a chance to… bide our time and plan anew?”
By “bide our time,” he meant preserving their lives for now and waiting for a suitable opportunity to pursue their grand ambition in the future.
The one addressed as Master Cui was Cui Yi of the Cui clan. He closed his eyes, remaining silent for a long while, his hands clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, drawing blood.
Wen Jinming’s expression remained calm. “Do not trouble Master Cui. By leading armored troops into the capital, I have already committed a crime punishable by death and the extermination of my clan. Over the years of planning, the Cui and Chu families have supported me wholeheartedly. That we have not succeeded today is my failure toward both of you.”
Although he still had some connections within the court, it was unlikely anyone would dare speak on her behalf now, lest they be seen as accomplices.
Infilitrating troops into the Northern Park was undeniably an act of rebellion. Throughout all dynasties, as long as the central authority retained any measure of power, such matters were always treated with extreme severity – executions were carried out on mere suspicion, let alone solid evidence. Even if the Emperor harbored the slightest doubt, it could bring about one’s demise. Moreover, Wen Jinming had indeed plotted assassination. Now, having miscalculated a single move, the entire game was lost, leaving her with not the slightest chance of survival.
The middle-aged advisor’s eyes were bloodshot as he gritted his teeth. “The Cui clan dares not, but the Chu clan is willing to risk everything for Your Highness!”
He intended to pretend that Wen Jinming had merely been coerced into coming by powerful families, hoping to shoulder the primary blame himself and save his lord’s life.
Wen Jinming sharply cut him off. “If we truly do that, I fear all of us will be buried here.”
She was someone capable of ruthless decisions, but she disliked pointless sacrifices.
Facing death, Wen Jinming finally began to grasp the modus operandi of the Jianping faction – if her advisors truly made such a declaration, the imperial guards, having seized this pretext, would accuse others of plotting harm against the Marquis of Quanling and slaughter everyone on the spot. Of course, the advisors would be killed for their treacherous designs, while she herself would be deemed a casualty, with the excuse being that the imperial guards were too far away to rescue her in time.
The middle-aged advisor also belatedly grasped the crux of the matter. Tears streamed from his eyes, and he choked back a sob.
Wen Jinming smiled faintly. “Cui Xinbai has already died for me. Should I not show some consideration for her family?”
Cui Xinbai was the name of the young advisor who had perished earlier.
After giving her instructions, Wen Jinming actually stood up from the carriage and called out from afar toward Xiao Xichi, “I compelled others to follow me in this undertaking out of loyalty to their lord. All blame rests with me alone!”
Having spoken, she pushed her advisor aside, drew her sword, and in one swift motion, cut her own throat.
Seeing this, Cui Yi, the middle-aged advisor of the Chu clan, the surviving armored soldiers, and commanders all fell to their knees, bowing low and weeping bitterly.
Half an hour later, Chi Yi hurried back to the mountain pass from where they had set out, bringing the head of the Marquis of Quanling to the Emperor. Xiao Xichi, delayed for half the night, did not turn back but pressed forward to rendezvous with her clan members.
By now, it was deep into the night. Wen Yanran wrapped herself in a heavy cloak, appearing to belong to a completely different season than those around her. After learning what had transpired within the mountain pass, she nodded slightly and remarked with a faint smile, “A spring hunt should have been a carefree affair, yet now I’ve made the Grand Tutor and the others worry on my account.”
Wen Yanran had suspected Luo Yue of being problematic for some time but had kept it concealed, partly hoping to use him as bait to address the issues surrounding the Marquis of Quanling early on. Ever since her ascension, the latest notification on her system panel had read “Rebellion in Jianping.” Unable to access detailed information about the event or even know when the so-called rebellion would begin, she could only try to eliminate unstable factors as much as possible to prepare more calmly for the impending challenges.
However, at this very moment, the system panel, which had remained quiet for a long while, suddenly began to flicker. Wen Yanran focused her attention and saw the words “Rebellion in Jianping” slowly turn gray before shifting upward by one row.
“…”
She recalled that the last time the phrase “Ascended the Throne” moved upward, hadn’t it turned red?
Moreover, if the notification was changing, it meant the event had concluded. Yet Wen Jinming’s armored troops hadn’t even entered the city – could this still be considered “Rebellion in Jianping”?
Wen Yanran pondered. With a source of information that showed absolutely no consideration for the recipient’s ability to understand, achieving her career goals after transmigrating was clearly not going to be so straightforward…
Chi Yi stood beside the Emperor, carefully observing Wen Yanran’s every move – with a major threat now eliminated, it should have been a cause for celebration. Yet, the Emperor’s expression showed no trace of joy, instead appearing rather… puzzled?
She thought to herself: Though the Emperor is young, she remains vigilant in times of peace and rarely reveals her emotions, truly a rare and composed sovereign.
