The remaining people objected, only Shòu Hóu agreed.
In Xuē Zǐ Níng's view, even if the big brute was alive, he would be better off dead.
However, what she didn't expect was that the bandit chief actually agreed and was preparing to lead the brothers of the stronghold to rescue him.
Hearing this news, Xuē Zǐ Níng was a little delighted. She could cooperate with that general from the inside and outside to capture this group of robbers. However, would that general discover the secret?
The operation was set for midnight tonight, which meant that before midnight, Xuē Zǐ Níng had to make that young general believe that she was not a robber.
Returning to her room, she had Xuě Yàn impersonate her, and Xuē Zǐ Níng used her Qinggong to leave the stronghold.
The young general's military camp was not hard to find. She quickly found the young general's tent and sneaked in. She discovered that the young general was not in the tent.
As she was about to go out to look for the young general, she heard the young general's voice outside the tent, "Send water to my tent in a moment."
Then, the tent flap was lifted, and a man in armor walked in. He was tall and slender, appearing particularly outstanding under the dim candlelight.
Xuē Zǐ Níng dodged and hid behind a nearby chair.
The young general walked in and directly took off his armor, revealing his inner garment.
Immediately after, the sound of a soldier came from outside, "General, the water is here."
A wooden bucket filled with hot water was placed down. After the soldier left, the young general took off his outer clothes, revealing his back. She hadn't expected that his seemingly slender body could be so strong.
"Who is it?" Suddenly, the young general sensed something was amiss. There was someone else in the tent.
He leaped up, and a stream of water shot towards a direction.
Xuē Zǐ Níng didn't expect the young general to act so swiftly. She retreated repeatedly until she was cornered.
"General, I am not a thief. I came to you for something..." Before she could finish, Xuē Zǐ Níng felt herself being lifted up, and by the time she reacted, she was already in the water.
She tried to struggle, but the young general held her down tightly in the water. Xuē Zǐ Níng struggled with all her might but couldn't break free. She was afraid of water.
"General, I heard a noise inside just now," came the voice of a soldier from outside.
"It's nothing, I was just talking to myself. You can go back and rest!" said the young general.
The sound of the soldier's footsteps receded. Only then did the young general release his hand. Xuē Zǐ Níng emerged from the water, her hair disheveled from the struggle.
Even the most foolish young general knew that the person in front of him was a woman. A slight flush appeared on his stern face. He leaped up, grabbed the clothes draped over the screen behind him, and quickly put them on.
Xuē Zǐ Níng climbed out of the wooden bucket, her clothes dripping wet and water pooling on the floor.
The young general was stunned for a moment. He suddenly picked up a clean towel nearby and said coldly, "Wipe yourself."
Xuē Zǐ Níng didn't stand on ceremony and took the towel to wipe her face and hair.
Under the dim candlelight, the woman's face was exceptionally beautiful, with skin as fair as jade.
The young general turned his face away, no longer looking at her.
Xuē Zǐ Níng put down the towel and got straight to the point, "Do you remember me, General?"
The young general was taken aback. He looked at the woman in front of him and after thinking for a long time, asked, "Are you Bì Hé from Xinghuā Tower?"
Xuē Zǐ Níng's brow furrowed. Xinghuā Tower? Bì Hé? What nonsense was this?
Seeing her silence, the young general turned his face away and said, "It was just a fleeting encounter. Miss Bì Hé, you are in the world of pleasure, why take it seriously?"
Only now did Xuē Zǐ Níng understand. He mistook her for a woman of pleasure?
"General, you really don't recognize me?" Xuē Zǐ Níng walked closer. At this moment, she was only separated from the young general by a table.
Only now did the young general clearly see her face. "You..."
"An accomplice of the big brute," Xuē Zǐ Níng said.
The young general's face, which had been slightly flushed, suddenly became much colder. "You dare to stand before me again? Guards..."
"General, I've come to discuss how to eliminate the bandits with you. The big brute and I are not accomplices."
The young general frowned and said coldly, "Who are you?"
Xuē Zǐ Níng thought for a moment and suddenly asked, "Do you know General Gù Shào Hán?"
The young general's expression changed instantly. Xuē Zǐ Níng knew that this young general must know Gù Shào Hán.
"Who are you?" The young general's gaze became sharp and cold, like a drawn arrow, making people feel uneasy.
"I am General Gù's friend," Xuē Zǐ Níng said.
Upon hearing this, the young general frowned and said coldly, "I know all of my brother's friends. How come I don't remember my brother knowing you?"
Xuē Zǐ Níng was startled. Brother?
Could it be...
"Are you Gù Shào Ān?" Xuē Zǐ Níng asked.
The young general's brow furrowed tightly. Very few people called him by this name anymore. Everyone only knew him as Gù Líng.
"What do you need?" Gù Shào Ān asked.
Hearing Gù Shào Ān's question, Xuē Zǐ Níng breathed a sigh of relief. It was clear that he believed she was General Gù's friend.
"I am not a robber, but Xuě Yàn, a fourth-rank imperial guard by the Empress's side. I was specifically ordered by the Empress to investigate the case of missing girls and children in Jinzhou."
Gù Shào Ān was slightly taken aback, almost disbelieving. Seeing this, Xuē Zǐ Níng took out her token. "This is the token of a fourth-rank imperial guard."
Although they were both fourth-rank, she was a favored official by the Empress. Gù Shào Ān's gesture was not inappropriate.
"Since General Gù has confirmed my identity, let's discuss countermeasures now."
It turned out that Gù Shào Ān was also ordered from above to suppress the bandits. However, the bandits were too cunning. Whenever one was captured, they would be rescued, as if they had an insider among the bandits.
"There's an inside informant," Xuē Zǐ Níng stated.
Gù Shào Ān nodded. "I also know this, but I have purged the army and have not found any inside informants."
"If that's the case, the operation to eliminate the bandits should not be too conspicuous. I see that your skills are excellent, General. Dealing with the bandits should be more than enough."
Gù Shào Ān said, "Lord Xuě Yàn, you may not know this, but the bandit chief's skills are divine. I have fought with him before. If it weren't for a clever strategy, I might not be a match for the bandit chief."
Xuē Zǐ Níng's gaze paused. She hadn't expected the bandit chief to be so formidable.
"Does General Gù have a plan?" Xuē Zǐ Níng asked.
Gù Shào Ān said, "Lord Xuě Yàn said they will come to rescue their companions tonight. Why don't I go directly to their lair?"
"General Gù, you've read my mind," Xuē Zǐ Níng said.
After discussing the countermeasures with Gù Shào Ān, Xuē Zǐ Níng returned to the stronghold. She pushed the door open and found that Xuě Yàn was not there.
Xuě Yàn's sword was left on the ground. Xuē Zǐ Níng's heart sank, and she muttered, "Not good."