"Are you concerned about me?" Xue Xingyue asked Ji Wuran slowly.
Ji Wuran started, turned his head away, and said, "I'm just afraid you'll really eat the poisoned steamed buns without an antidote. What will you do then?"
"Rest assured, even if I eat poison, I won't drag you down," Xue Xingyue said.
Ji Wuran was slightly taken aback by her words and fell silent.
Suddenly, a sound came from the room. Xue Xingyue and Ji Wuran hurried in to find the general, who had been boasting earlier, collapsed on the table like a heap of mud.
Old Man Sun asked, "He's unconscious. What should we do now?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Xingyue said, "Please guard the outside. No matter what happens or what sounds you hear, do not allow anyone to enter this place."
Old Man Sun nodded and replied, "Don't worry, I absolutely will not let anyone in."
Xue Xingyue nodded.
After closing the door, they tied up the general. Ji Wuran doused him with a basin of cold water.
The general, thoroughly chilled by the cold water, quickly regained consciousness.
When he saw that he was bound, he became furious. "Release this general! You two lowly ants, release this general!"
Lowly ants? Xue Xingyue's gaze turned cold. With a wave of her hand, the general felt a sharp slap across his cheek. He trembled with rage and exclaimed, "You dare to hit this general?"
Xue Xingyue sneered, "Why wouldn't I dare?"
"You... do you know who this general is?" the general demanded angrily.
"I don't care who you are. As long as you are a soldier of the Xingchen Kingdom, I can hit you," Xue Xingyue said coldly.
The general was furious, "This general is Vice General Xie's deputy! If you dare to treat this general like this and delay my affairs, it's a matter punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family."
Xue Xingyue's eyes chilled, and she said coldly, "Vice General Xie Yunliu's deputy? Xie Han?"
Xie Han was startled and looked at Xue Xingyue with a hint of wariness. "How do you know this general?"
Xue Xingyue's gaze grew colder. "I didn't expect Xie Yunliu to have arranged for you in the army camp."
Years ago, Xie Yunliu had wanted to place Xie Han in Zhenwuguan, but she had not agreed.
Although Xie Yunliu was resourceful, Xie Han, another member of the Xie family, was a complete simpleton. However, unable to withstand the persistent pleas of the Xie family's old madam, Xie Yunliu had to personally come to persuade Xie Han to join the army.
At that time, with her, Princess Xingyue, present, even if the old madam Xie was dissatisfied, she had to remain silent out of respect for Princess Xingyue's status.
But after she left Zhenwuguan, Xie Yunliu became the highest-ranking official there. Thus, facing the coercion of the Xie family's old madam, Xie Yunliu had no choice but to comply.
It was one thing to arrange a minor military post, but how could such an important position as deputy general be given to Xie Han?
Furthermore, Xie Han was leading troops to the capital for a grand assembly?
A grand assembly in the capital?
Xue Xingyue trembled. She had already heard Xie Han mention a grand assembly in the capital twice.
Could it be... something had happened in the capital?
Thinking of this, she stepped forward and asked, "A grand assembly in the capital. What exactly happened in the capital?"
Xie Han replied arrogantly, "What? Are you scared? Let me tell you, if you delay military matters, how many heads do you have to lose?"
"I'm asking you, what happened in the capital?" Xue Xingyue's gaze was as clear and cold as frost, and a chilling aura emanated from her.
Even Xie Han was slightly startled.
"Speak! If you don't, believe it or not, today will be your burial place?" Xue Xingyue waved her hand, and a whip coiled around Xie Han's neck.
Although Xie Han was arrogant, he was cowardly at heart. He quickly said, "Spare me, heroine, spare me! I'll tell you everything, I'll tell you everything..."
"Speak..." Xue Xingyue commanded.
Xie Han, not daring to delay, quickly recounted that half a month ago, Xie Yunliu had received a secret letter stating that the Jiang family was plotting rebellion and had contact with the First Prince of Qi. He was instructed to be vigilant.
Xue Xingyue knew that this was likely the secret missive she had sent via Feng Wu.
However, a few days ago, someone from the capital arrived saying that the First Prince of Qi had led Qi soldiers to attack the city. The Emperor was desperately holding on with the Imperial Guards. Xie Yunliu, not having received a secret letter from Princess Xingyue, could not act rashly. He dared not advance without proper orders, so he sent Xie Han with twenty thousand troops to the capital first.
Xie Yunliu planned to go to Jiangnan to rendezvous with Princess Xingyue and then proceed to the capital together.
Xue Xingyue was shocked. She hadn't expected Qi to have already reached the capital. Her imperial brother must be extremely anxious. As for the soldiers in Zhenwuguan, they only obeyed her and no one else.
Therefore, she had to rendezvous with Xie Yunliu.
"I... I've told you everything. You are also citizens of the Xingchen Kingdom. Now that the nation is in crisis, release me quickly and let me go to support the capital, otherwise, the country might perish," Xie Han said. Although cowardly, he knew that without the country, there would be no home.
Xue Xingyue looked at Xie Han, then picked up a wine pot, washed the dirt from her face, and soon revealed her true appearance. She wiped her face with her sleeve and then looked at Xie Han, "Now, do you see who I am?"
Xie Han gazed intently and saw that the woman before him was no longer the unpleasant face from before. Now, she was pure, beautiful, and radiating a noble aura.
Wait, this person seemed familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but where?
Xue Xingyue took out her waist token and said, "Since you don't recognize my face, do you recognize this token?"
Upon seeing it, Xie Han felt his blood freeze. No wonder he felt this woman was familiar; it turned out to be Princess Xingyue.
Recalling his earlier behavior, Xie Han felt he had been courting death.
"Your Highness, spare my life, Your Highness, spare my life!" Xie Han kowtowed and begged for forgiveness.
"No one knows about today's events, and this princess does not wish to pursue it. However, I command you to depart for the capital immediately to offer support and ensure the safety of His Majesty and the First Prince. Do you understand?" Xue Xingyue said coldly.
"Your subordinate obeys!" Xie Han said quickly.
Xue Xingyue turned her gaze to Ji Wuran and said, "I order you, Ji Wuran, the Minister of Personnel, to accompany Xie Yun to the capital. Ji Wuran, if Xie Han harbors any ill intentions, you may execute him first and then report."
Ji Wuran was stunned and did not immediately accept. He asked, "Your Highness, what about you?"
Xue Xingyue replied, "I am going to find Xie Yunliu."
"Your Highness, it is too dangerous for you to go alone. Allow me to accompany you!" Ji Wuran said.
Xue Xingyue shook her head. "Ji Wuran, I entrust the matters in the capital to you. As for danger, the capital is a dangerous place."
"I am not afraid of danger, but Your Highness..."
"Ji Wuran, I believe in you, and I ask you to believe in me as well."
On her beautiful and clear face, her bright eyes shone exceptionally.
Ji Wuran knelt on one knee. "Your subordinate obeys the decree!"
Releasing Xie Han's ropes, Xie Han did not dare to delay and led his army away from Kuihua Village.
Xue Xingyue watched Ji Wuran's receding figure and silently thought, "Take care!"
The next day, Xue Xingyue bid farewell to Sun Dahai. Although Sun Dahai wanted to follow, Xue Xingyue refused. If she traveled alone, it would be easier to remain hidden, but taking Sun Dahai would put them both in danger.