Thinking of this.
Ye Shaohua immediately patted Lady Mei’s shoulder. “Mother, don’t worry. I’m not what they say I am…”
“What do you mean ‘don’t worry’?” Lady Mei patted Ye Shaohua’s hand. “Tell me the truth. Did you accidentally offend him while you were out having fun?”
“I swear, I really didn’t!” Ye Shaohua sighed. “Let me tell you, today at that Xuan Pavilion…”
“Of course you did! I’ve been saying you’ve become more and more of a scoundrel these past few years!” Lady Mei returned to the courtyard. She packed clothes for her while crying, and then sat in the courtyard weeping. “Look at history! Has any other top scholar ever been exiled to the frontier?!”
At this thought, Lady Mei slapped her thigh. “No, I can’t rest easy. I’m going with you! I’ll go ask Young General Yang if family members are allowed to accompany.”
Liu’er was standing to the side holding the poodle. Upon hearing this, she immediately said, “I want to go too, Madame, Young Master. Let me go serve you. I’m strong, I can even protect you when we get there.”
Though it had only been a few years, during this time Liu’er and Lady Mei had truly come to regard her as family.
The frontier was harsh and dangerous; generally, what woman would dare to actually go?
Ye Shaohua sighed. “Mother, relax, I absolutely will not be in any danger. Don’t listen to the nonsense outside. Think about it, with Yang Ziji by my side, what could possibly happen? Once I earn some merit, I might even win you the title of a Lady.”
She knew nothing she said would be of use; she had to bring up Yang Ziji to soothe Lady Mei’s heart.
Once she returned, Lady Mei would understand.
Hearing Yang Ziji’s name did indeed calm Lady Mei somewhat, and she proceeded to give Ye Shaohua lengthy, earnest instructions.
Seven days later, when the army marched out, she stood outside the city walls. She even had someone drive her carriage several miles in pursuit until the figures were no longer in sight before finally turning back.
**
This rebellion involved far too many people.
The deputy generals of the Tian Dynasty initially looked down upon the delicate, scholarly-looking weakling the Emperor had sent. They didn’t take her seriously at all and paid her no mind.
“General! Military Advisor Ye led a hundred men on a reconnaissance mission, but they were ambushed by an enemy force of one thousand!” Yang Ziji was in the midst of discussing strategy with a group of officers when the report came from below.
Deputy Commander Xie, Yang Ziji’s second-in-command for this campaign, despised that delicate-looking fellow the most. He cursed upon hearing the news. “Just what is His Majesty doing? Sending us a military advisor or giving us extra trouble?!”
“Those hundred elite soldiers were specially assigned by His Majesty to protect him. Who would have thought he’d rush headlong into danger so soon!” Deputy Commander Xie detested these pampered aristocratic offspring the most.
Considering they were already at a disadvantage, and now this delicate fellow had gone and gifted the enemy with heads, holding onto this city was going to be extremely difficult.
But Military Advisor Ye had to be rescued.
Thinking this, Deputy Commander Xie said, “General Yang, I’ll take some men to rescue the Military Advisor.”
“No need.” Yang Ziji turned his head slightly, shaking it.
“What?” Deputy Commander Xie was shocked. Yang Ziji had always been close to Ye Shaohua, sometimes even listening only to him.
And now, at this moment, he wouldn’t rescue him?
Had Yang Ziji finally had enough of this delicate fellow?
Thinking this, Deputy Commander Xie felt a bit pleased.
But his happiness didn’t last long. A soldier came running in to report, “General, Deputy Commander Xie! Military Advisor Ye has returned! All one hundred men are unharmed! And he’s brought back the head of the enemy barbarian commander!”
Deputy Commander Xie’s eyes widened to the size of copper bells.
He hurriedly lifted the tent flap and ran out.
Ye Shaohua happened to be ordering someone to hang the head in the military camp.
She was lowering her gaze slightly, carefully wiping the blood off her longsword with a spotless white handkerchief.
She was still wearing her usual white robe, but the normally immaculate garment was now spattered with bloodstains.
Under the sunlight, she looked strikingly handsome, almost unnervingly so.
As if sensing Deputy Commander Xie’s gaze, she glanced sideways slightly, curling her lips into a smile. It was a somewhat different, more sinister smirk than her usual ones, causing Deputy Commander Xie to shiver involuntarily.
“You really aren’t afraid of those people seeking revenge.” Seeing Ye Shaohua return safely with all hundred men, Yang Ziji showed no surprise at all.
Only then did Deputy Commander Xie realize that Yang Ziji had known all along, which was why he hadn’t been the least bit worried…
After this incident, no one in the three armies ever questioned Ye Shaohua again.
Warfare was no simple matter.
Courage, strategy, and cunning were all indispensable.
“Military Advisor Ye, General Yang. Bet you didn’t think I’d see through your ‘Empty Fort Strategy,'” the Prince of the Barbarian State laughed arrogantly, having surrounded Ye Shaohua and the others in the center of the great grassland. “That the famous Military Advisor Ye would be captured by me, Tu Yi!”
“Brother, you can do whatever you want with the others, but leave this one for me.” Tu Yi’s sister looked at Ye Shaohua, tugging at the prince’s sleeve.
Tu Yi laughed again. “Of course! A strategist like this, even I would find it a pity to kill!”
“Fourth Lord, it seems you’re about to be kept as a royal consort,” Yang Ziji chuckled softly. “Who would have thought, even after fleeing to the frontier, someone would still want to make you their consort…”
Deputy Commander Xie, seeing the two of them still casually chatting even after having their martial arts suppressed by a powder, nearly cried from anxiety. “Military Advisor! General! How can you both be so calm?!”
They had been captured, and they still had the mood to joke?
Meanwhile, back in the capital, chaos reigned.
Lady Mei had few connections. She could only go seek out Ye Jin.
However, Ye Jin did not let her in, merely sneering coldly, “Enough. Everyone knows Ye Shaohua was captured by the rebels. Coming to find me now is useless. Don’t you realize even Father and the Dowager won’t see you anymore? Do you still think you’re the mother of a top scholar? Just stay quietly in your courtyard if you want a chance at survival. Don’t come looking for me anymore; I have to marry soon.”
After saying this, she closed the door.
Lady Mei wiped her tears, moving everything out of the courtyard to find someone, anyone, who might have news of Ye Shaohua.
Duan Yunxiu had wanted to come to the frontier for a long time. Finally managing to deal with court affairs, and having received secret letters from Ye Shaohua and Yang Ziji, he set out. Along the way, he heard rumors of Ye Shaohua and Yang Ziji’s defeat and capture. Even knowing it was false, he was still frantic with worry.
He pressed on day and night with the reinforcements.
By the time they arrived, it was already dark.
Tu Yi had lit many torches around the perimeter. Though the light was dim, the opposite side was still visible.
That slender figure, dressed in a long robe that stood out starkly against the soldiers around her, sat sideways to him, head slightly lowered. Though the face wasn’t clear, that exceptionally striking aura and beauty couldn’t be hidden by the weak firelight.
At a single glance, one’s gaze would be drawn to that person.
“Military Advisor Ye, become my consort, and I’ll tell my brother to spare you. How about it?” The Barbarian Princess looked at Ye Shaohua.
Ye Shaohua sat cross-legged on the ground. She was annoyed too. Why did everyone want to capture her for marriage? The words “in your dreams” were on the tip of her tongue.
But before she could speak, a cold, sinister voice sounded from behind. “What did you say?”
The Barbarian Princess had never seen the Central Plains Emperor. Seeing the suddenly materializing Duan Yunxiu, her eyes widened.
Duan Yunxiu’s thin lips were pressed together slightly. His pitch-black eyes fixed on the Barbarian Princess, an aura of cold detachment spreading around him. Such a person, even without speaking, exuded immense presence.
He bent slightly, pulling up the person who hadn’t yet reacted to stand properly, then looked at the Barbarian Princess. “He already has a family.”
