The tall and short headmen could no longer hold back and began to punch and kick the man before them.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t know this man’s temperament and feared that if he flew into a rage, he might hurt the two headmen. She urgently called for them to come back.
But not only did they refuse to return, their movements actually grew even more fierce.
The Taoist stood ramrod straight, taking the storm of fists and kicks without flinching.
“Ah Mei, look, your little brothers dislike me so much. Are you really not going to get up and put in a good word for me?”
His tone was leisurely, as if Mei Shisan Niang wasn’t really dead, but was only pretending to sleep to tease him.
This made the fat and thin headmen stop their assault instantly and turn to look at Mei Shisan Niang alongside him.
Thud!
After confirming once again that Mei Shisan Niang had perished, body and soul, the two collapsed to the ground, kicking their legs about wildly and wailing loudly.
Like children who’d had their most cherished belongings snatched away.
The Taoist’s complexion drained of color bit by bit, his lips quivering, yet he still forced out a smile.
“Ah Mei, I know I was wrong. Don’t scare me, alright?”
His palm pressed against Mei Shisan Niang’s cheek. The icy cold touch sent a shudder through his entire body.
“Ah Mei—”
“Enough!”
Jiang Xingyan roared in anger.
“How much longer are you going to put on this act here?”
“Shut up!”
The Taoist flicked his sleeve, and a longsword suddenly appeared in his hand, thrusting straight toward Jiang Xingyan’s brow.
Jiang Xingyan didn’t dodge or evade. Her eyes were fixed firmly on him, filled with fury.
“You didn’t cherish her when she was alive, and now you come here, making such a racket that she can’t even rest in peace—what exactly is your intention?!
Must you make her journey down the Yellow Springs uneasy as well?!”
The sword tip stopped just a hair’s breadth from Jiang Xingyan’s brow.
Instead of seizing the chance to sidestep, Jiang Xingyan actually leaned straight into it.
The tip pierced her brow, and a single drop of blood trickled down from the wound.
Startled, the Taoist withdrew his sword and sheathed it, staggering back several steps.
It was as if he could see through the shell of the person before him, to the soul trapped within.
That soul seemed to ache even more deeply than Ah Mei.
“Belated affection is worth less than grass!
If you had the resolve to cultivate in seclusion, never setting foot in the mortal world again or meddling in Thirteenth Lady’s affairs, I would still respect you as a true man.
But instead, you’re just as pathetic as I am—only learning to cherish after you’ve lost everything completely!”
Everyone: ?
They’d seen people curse others, but never someone who went crazy enough to curse themselves too.
The Taoist before them couldn’t hold it together any longer—his aloof expression cracked apart piece by piece.
“…Who are you to her?”
“I am her superior, the Town-North General of the Western Zhou.
My Ho family soldiers who fall on the battlefield deserve a proper burial from me. I ask that you leave at once.
Stop making a scene here—Thirteenth Lady does not wish to see you.”
Mei Shisan Niang had waited so long for him to turn back to her, yet she only received it after death.
If that was the case, it would have been better not to have it at all.
Jiang Xingyan ignored the Taoist who stood dumbfounded in the courtyard, suddenly looking aged and haggard. She personally stood guard for Sun Yaxiang, allowing her to continue giving Mei Shisan Niang her final dressing and makeup.
Sun Yaxiang had nimble hands and quickly finished preparing everything, then helped Mei Shisan Niang change into a well-fitted garment.
The Imperial Medical Institute now had plenty of hands. Following Grand Imperial Physician Sun’s instructions, they had already procured a sandalwood coffin and filled it with all kinds of fresh flowers.
The tall and short headmen gently laid Mei Shisan Niang inside.
She looked like a young maiden who’d grown tired from playing among the flowers and fallen asleep, as if she might open her eyes and wake up at any moment.
“Ah Mei—”
“Get out!”
Jiang Xingyan shouted down the Taoist.
She didn’t even care to know his name or his monastic title.
All she knew was that everyone who betrayed a true heart deserved to die!
“Nail the coffin shut!”
At the command, the coffin lid containing Mei Shisan Niang’s body slowly closed.
Everyone present wiped away their tears.
Jiang Xingyan knelt on one knee and bowed: “Thirteenth Lady, may you travel well!”
She left the burial arrangements to Grand Imperial Physician Sun and took Sun Yaxiang with her to ride through the night to catch up with the main army on the march.
Along the way, Sun Yaxiang hesitated several times, finally voicing the question:
“General Ho, why is it that sometimes you’re rather insufferable, and yet other times you still seem like a true hero?”
Jiang Xingyan cleared her throat lightly.
“Perhaps people are just that complicated.”
“General Ho, once we’re on the battlefield, you don’t need to worry about me.
I’ve long been prepared to sacrifice myself for the country, just like Mei Shisan Niang.
My grandfather won’t blame you, either.”
Jiang Xingyan didn’t answer her. She spurred her horse, urging her black steed to gallop even faster.
“If I can help it, I want everyone to live.”
The two of them and their horses were swift after all. Before midnight had passed, they caught up with the main army encamped along the way.
Jiang Xingyan and Sun Yaxiang each took their rest and resumed the march before dawn the next day.
Five days later, the army arrived at Jingyu Pass.
Yun Chunfeng had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Xingyan’s arrival, but with Xiao Chonghua present, he couldn’t go greet her. Instead, he had to snort coldly and retreat into his tent.
Jiang Xingyan played her part to the hilt as well: “Hah, what rotten luck!
If it weren’t for the fact that His Highness the Second Prince and his two deputy generals already had such a good working relationship, I would really like to send him to Shanhe Pass instead!
Anything’s better than having to look at each other with mutual disgust here!”
Xiao Chonghua hurried forward to mediate: “Oh, come now, General Ho, why hold such a grudge?
We’re at a critical moment of life and death for the Western Zhou. You two are both pillars before His Majesty—you must work together in harmony. How can you bear ill will toward each other?”
Jiang Xingyan let out a cold sneer: “If it weren’t for His Majesty and His Third Highness, I’d really have it out with certain people!”
With that, she flicked her sleeves and stormed off.
Watching “Ho Ci’s” imposing retreating figure, Xiao Chonghua felt both relieved and anxious.
Before the campaign, his father had repeatedly cautioned him to keep a close eye on these two.
They must never be allowed to form an alliance—mutual dislike and checks and balances were the best outcome.
But ever since arriving at Jingyu Pass, he’d had an uneasy feeling.
If Ho Ci and Yun Chunfeng, because of their feud, secretly tripped each other up, how would they cope with both internal and external troubles?
It was at this moment that Xiao Chonghua finally understood what a true battlefield meant.
So vast and majestic.
Beyond the pass, the Northern Luo bandits had their troops arrayed. Within the pass, everyone was strung tight, not knowing when or in what manner the enemy would strike.
Nor knowing if they themselves might die here in the next moment.
This solemn and stirring atmosphere was worlds apart from his usual business of catching a few assassins.
No wonder “Ho Ci” looked down on him, a prince of the blood, and left him on the training ground, drilling him like a common soldier.
Looking back now, he only regretted that the training time had been too short.
He sighed and turned into his own tent.
Tonight was destined to be yet another sleepless night.
Little did he know that as soon as Jiang Xingyan entered her tent, a chubby little maid was already waiting for her in bed.
She affectionately nuzzled the girl’s soft little cheek, patted her thigh, and coaxed herself to sleep as well.
The moment she drifted into a dream, she saw her Yun Ge, whom she hadn’t seen in days.
She threw herself straight into his arms.
Before he could react, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.
“Yun Ge, I’m so scared.”
