Chapter Two

Time flies.

In the thirty-first year of the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Yunxiu Kingdom, the late emperor passed away. On that very day, the second prince, Mo Beichen, ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Zhaoming.

The kingdom of Yunxiu was surrounded by other powerful states, all eager to seize power upon the ascension of the new ruler. The kingdom's landscape was in turmoil, its fate uncertain.

Three days later, Emperor Zhaoming announced the late emperor's edict appointing Princess Mo Yinghuo as Grand General, ordering her to lead troops on southern and western expeditions.

The entire government and the public were in an uproar and discussing the matter extensively.

"The late emperor always doted on the eldest princess, and before his death, he subtly intended for her to rule from behind the curtain, which was precisely to put the eldest princess in power..."

"Ahem! Some things are better left unsaid, better left unsaid."

"That's still not right to let a princess in her early twenties lead the army into battle."

"General Long, look at the current court. Besides the Marquis of Beiding, who else can hold things together?"

"Indeed, the third, fifth, and sixth princes died tragically and mysteriously, the fourth prince only loved to compose poems, the seventh prince was arrogant and self-willed, the eldest prince was good at literature but not martial arts, and only the eldest princess, who has been good at both literature and martial arts since childhood, is left..."

"The Marquis of Beiding is to guard the northern frontier; we can't let him go."

"However, the eldest princess has no experience, and I'm worried..."

“Worrying won’t help. If you don’t want to die when you’re about to die, fight for a few years and you’ll gain experience. Besides, I think the Princess is just as carefree and patient as the princes.”

"Yes, that's right. Besides, the eldest princess is the current emperor's elder sister. With that, we can temporarily intimidate the Yunxiu Kingdom's army."

...

In the second year of Zhaoming, soldiers sent urgent messages over a distance of 500 li.

"Report! The Eldest Princess has subdued the Southern Jin Kingdom!"

In the third year of Zhaoming's reign, soldiers sent urgent messages over a distance of 800 li.

"Report! Feng Ge has surrendered!"

In the fifth year of Zhaoming's reign, seven warhorses died while the soldiers were running.

"Report!"

During the morning court session, upon hearing the news, Emperor Zhaoming sprang up from his dragon throne with a "thud!" His eyes gleaming as he stared at the panting soldier kneeling before him in the court. Unable to hide his joy, he exclaimed excitedly, "The Princess has won another victory!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Despite being covered in dust from the battle, the soldiers were in high spirits and said excitedly, "Your Majesty, our army broke through the Western Jin Kingdom yesterday, and immediately afterward, the Hu Kingdom sent envoys with a letter of surrender. The Hu Kingdom surrendered without a fight."

Emperor Zhaoming closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them and laughed loudly, "Haha, Fengge, the people of the Southern Jin Kingdom, the Western Jin Kingdom, and the Hu Kingdom will all be people of our Yunxiu Kingdom."

The entire court was filled with laughter and praise.

"The Princess deserves great credit! The Yunzhao Army is invincible!" Prince Mo Qiming said with a cupped hand.

"The eldest princess truly lives up to her reputation as a general of Yunxiu Kingdom and my own elder sister. Proclaim my decree to reward all the soldiers of the Yunzhao Army!" Emperor Zhaoming stood with his hands behind his back, looking out towards the court, and said with pride and joy.

The northern border of Yunxiu Kingdom.

Unlike the atmosphere in the imperial court, the air here was deathly still. Outside the general's tent, a few withered trees and a crow stared expressionlessly at the Xiongnu kingdoms to the north.

"General, according to my calculations, the Princess has achieved four victories." Deputy General Xu Yong looked at the back of Marquis Beiding, his tone somewhat aggrieved.

Marquis Beiding slowly turned around, a bitter smile appearing on his resolute face. He sighed, "This is a good thing, Xu Yong. Yunxiu Kingdom has already unified the south and the west, only the east and..." He suddenly stopped, lowered his head, and gripped the saber at his waist with his calloused hands.

“Only the east and north are missing.” Lieutenant General Suo Qian suddenly stepped forward and said angrily.

"Alas!" Marquis Beiding raised his head, sighed deeply, glanced at the two men, and said slowly, "Xu Yong, Suo Qian, I'm sorry to have to trouble you two to stay here with me, the Marquis of Beiding..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Yong and Suo Qian panicked and shouted almost simultaneously, "General!"

Suo Qian glanced at Xu Yong and continued, "General, you know that's not what we meant. It's just that we feel indignant for you, and... we also feel wronged for the soldiers."

"Yes, everyone knows that the Emperor has given the toughest bone to the Marquis. When the Princess Consort has pacified the east and then led troops to the north, the north will sooner or later be in the hands of Yunxiu Kingdom. However, at that time..." Deputy General Xu Yong saw the Marquis of Beiding's body tremble slightly and could not bear to continue.

Marquis Beiding let out another long sigh, and continued from where his deputy Xu Yong left off, saying, "Back then, everyone in the court and the public would say that it was thanks to the Eldest Princess that the Xiongnu states were subdued. At that time, everyone would also think that I, Marquis Beiding, am not as good at fighting as Her Highness the Eldest Princess." After saying that, he gave another bitter smile.

“General! If it weren’t for our arduous defense here, how could the Princess not have worries about the rear? Moreover, the Xiongnu states are scattered, unlike the southern and western regions, which can be easily defeated. Furthermore, the soldiers can only guard the border according to orders and cannot take the initiative to send troops out…” Deputy General Suo Qian said angrily.

Marquis Beiding suddenly turned around, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and remained silent.

Lieutenant General Xu Yong and Suo Qian exchanged a glance. Having served the general for many years, they were intimately familiar with his temperament and knew he wanted some peace and quiet. They clasped their hands in greeting, and Suo Qian said softly, "General, let's return to our tents first."

On the eastern border of Yunxiu Kingdom, a small, self-contained kingdom of Dongliang blocked half of Yunxiu Kingdom's ocean.

In the evening, the eldest princess led the soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom to garrison at the border crossing between the two countries—opposite to Dongliang Chen City.

Half a month later, at the border of Yunxiu Kingdom, camps stood in rows, and military flags fluttered. The soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom stood tall and guarded their posts, weapons in hand.

The city gates of Chencheng in Dongliang Kingdom remained tightly closed, with city guards taking turns on duty day and night.

The two lieutenants, Gongliang Zhong and Shu Rong, rode their warhorses and, as usual, patrolled the various military camps.

Shu Rong yawned, lazily released the reins, and said weakly, holding the back of her head, "Ah Zhong, what's wrong with Her Highness the Princess? We've been stuck here for half a month, are we going to start fighting or not?"

Gongliang Zhong gazed at the distant city walls of Chencheng, his brows furrowing slightly, but only for a moment before his usual resolute and stern expression returned. He glanced at Shu Rong, who was sitting loosely on his horse, and said in a low but serious voice, "A deputy general, sit properly. What kind of decorum is this for the soldiers to see?"

"Yes, yes, Vice General Gongliang. But I learned all of this from the Princess." Shu Rong yawned again, though it was just a yawn. However, he did sit up straight.

Gongliang Zhong ignored him and continued, "Also, in the army, don't call her Princess, call her General."

Shu Rong nodded helplessly, lightly kicked the horse's belly, leaned close to Gongliang Zhong's ear, and whispered, "Do you think the general is going to pull some kind of trick again?"

Gongliang Zhong glared at him and said in a low voice, "Don't make wild guesses."

"Lieutenant General!" Several patrolling soldiers stopped and saluted as they passed by.

Gongliang Zhong and Shu Rong nodded slightly.

After the soldiers had gone some distance, Shu Rong lightly kicked the horse's belly and said with a mysterious smile, "Deputy General Gongliang, do you know something?"

Gongliang Zhong looked serious, sighed, pulled the reins slightly to slow down, and said worriedly, "Shurong, didn't you notice? It's not that the general is going to use some evil trick, but rather, the outer vassal state of Dongliang is exuding an evil aura."

Shu Rong also looked towards Chen City of Dongliang Kingdom. Just like on his first day, the soldiers guarding the city walls of Dongliang Kingdom were still strolling back and forth leisurely, not at all like they were facing a formidable enemy. Moreover, he noticed that although the soldiers on the walls seemed to be taking turns on duty, it was actually only a few people changing shifts; although the city gates were tightly closed, as if they were holding their ground, he always felt that if the soldiers of Yunxiu Kingdom simply picked up a large wooden pillar and smashed it down, the gates would open.

The city gate was closed, seemingly just for show, as if it were merely a formality. Shu Rong had noticed it long ago, and not only him, but most of the soldiers in the army had this unusual feeling, but there were military regulations, and no one dared to speak out.

The two lieutenants, each lost in their own thoughts, remained silent with furrowed brows, their horses patrolling the military camp one after the other.

Suddenly, the two heard a clear voice coming from not far away, a voice they knew all too well.

"Deputy General Gongliang, Deputy General Shu, come to my tent for a meal later, we have something to discuss."

Not far ahead, a woman rode a warhorse, reins in her hand, a silver spear in her hand, clad in silver armor. She was handsome and elegant, with a fair complexion. If she were to remove the silver spear and armor, and the warhorse, she would clearly be a beautiful woman with delicate features and exquisite eyebrows, standing anywhere. Little did anyone know that this woman was the renowned Princess, a great general who had fought for five years, slaying countless enemies, and whose fame had shaken the court and the country.

Night fell, at the general's camp.

Shu Rong couldn't hold back any longer. She put down her chopsticks and asked, "Your Highness, only Dongliang is missing."

Mo Yinghuo held a wine glass in one hand and rested his chin on the other, saying slowly, "If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move."

“What if the enemy doesn’t move for a hundred years? Our army…” Shu Rong said anxiously.

Gongliang Zhong slammed down his chopsticks and shouted sternly, "Shurong!"

Shu Rong was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes at Gong Liangzhong helplessly.

Mo Yinghuo smiled, looked at Gongliang Zhong, and stood up, saying, "Deputy General Gongliang, you've frightened this general."

Gongliang Zhong sat upright, but his expression was somewhat embarrassed. Shu Rong, on the other hand, covered her mouth and chuckled.

Mo Yinghuo shrugged, picked up his silver spear, and walked out of the tent. He waved to the two men behind him and said, "I'm going out to ride my horse. You two lieutenants, please make yourselves at home."

"Still the same old thing. What on earth is Dongliang Kingdom up to?" Mo Yinghuo thought to herself as she rode her horse, picked up her telescope, and observed the enemy's city walls for a while. Suddenly, she spotted a vibrant tree ahead, seemingly in bloom. The night was hazy, and the tree appeared and disappeared indistinctly. She kicked her horse's flank and trotted over.

In this desolate borderland, amidst endless yellow sands, though the eastern part borders the coast, it is stubbornly blocked by the outer vassal state of Dongliang, preventing even a wisp of moisture from entering. Besides withered trees and yellow grass, there are only pebbles. Surprisingly, a peach tree has sprung up here. Moreover, it is covered in blossoms, each pink flower blooming wildly and unrestrainedly in this frontier region, so striking, yet so breathtakingly beautiful.

Mo Yinghuo frowned, thinking, "When did this peach tree grow in the land of two countries? Why have I never heard the soldiers mention it?"

She stopped and looked around. This place was located at the rear of the military camp, a rather secluded spot where few soldiers passed by. But even if the soldiers concealed their curiosity, they still did pass through the area during their patrols; it was impossible for them not to have noticed. If the two of them knew, Shurong would certainly have reported it to her immediately.

The night sky over the border region is completely devoid of stars tonight; the moon is too bright and clear, and a cold wind blows, causing the trees to shed their red petals.

Mo Yinghuo stretched out a hand and caught a few peach petals. This hand, bathed in moonlight, was slender and snow-white, with a delicate, jade-like tip; one could never tell it had once wielded a silver spear in battle, nor guess how much blood it had stained. At this moment, it was as if a traveler in the desert had seen a green spring, as if a soldier in a military camp had spotted a beautiful young woman, as if he had caught a glimpse of a bright light in the darkness. The princess couldn't help but look up, gazing at the flowers, holding them in her hands, a slight smile playing on her lips, completely captivated.

Flowers in full bloom, horses galloping freely, heroes in their youthful exuberance. But in this world, which woman doesn't love flowers?

Suddenly, she sensed someone watching her. Years of warfare had honed Mo Yinghuo's senses to an extraordinary level, far surpassing those of ordinary people. Almost simultaneously with her senses, Mo Yinghuo tossed her hand; before the peach petals even hit the ground, the silver spear was already in her grasp, and with a swift movement, she launched it forward.

In front of the warhorse stood a tall man with long, flowing black hair that covered half his face. He was also shirtless, with a muscular chest and strong arms, exuding a wild, unrestrained, and devilishly sexy aura of power.

Mo Yinghuo instantly became alert, pressing her silver spear against his chest and coldly asking, "Who are you? State your name!"

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, blowing aside the man's black hair to reveal a face so handsome it seemed unreal. Mo Yinghuo frowned slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

This man is incredibly handsome.

The man didn't answer, but instead smiled slightly at Mo Yinghuo in a friendly manner.

Mo Yinghuo was startled again, wondering in annoyance, "Why is he smiling at me?" He then asked, "What's your name? Are you from Dongliang?"

The man shook his head.

Just as Mo Yinghuo was about to speak, the man suddenly stepped forward, grabbed her silver spear with one hand, and pulled her off the horse. Mo Yinghuo reacted immediately, but was still dragged to the ground. Just as she was drawing her long spear from her waist, the man swiftly grabbed her silver armor and removed it with a "snap".

"What incredible strength!" Mo Yinghuo couldn't help but admire.

These moves, though simple, were swift and decisive, without any unnecessary embellishment. Furthermore, from these moves, Mo Yinghuo could tell that this person had no intention of killing.

"If he wanted to take my life or kidnap me, those few moves alone would have been enough to seriously injure me. He shouldn't have only targeted my armor." Thinking this over, Mo Yinghuo silently retracted Chang Geng to her waist. She turned one hand around, intending to grab his clothes, only to realize that the man's upper body was naked. She couldn't very well try to pull down his pants, could she? Mo Yinghuo realized that this was the first time in her many fights that she had felt so awkwardly ridiculous.

Thinking this, it was too late to retract his action, and Mo Yinghuo struck the man's chest with a palm.

Unexpectedly, the man suddenly trembled, stood frozen in place, his eyes wide, his lips tightly pressed together, breathing heavily, his brows furrowed with anger, and his eyes glared fiercely at Mo Yinghuo.

Mo Yinghuo was also stunned. He unconsciously shook his arm, wondering to himself, "Did I hit a nerve? Besides, I only used half my strength. Looking at his physique, how could I possibly hurt him? Could he be injured? No, judging from his movements, it doesn't seem like it. Also, he ambushed me, so why does it look like I bullied him?"

Thinking it over, he was about to go closer to take a look when the man spoke before he could even take a step. However, his words seemed to be squeezed out one by one from his lips, full of gunpowder and murderous intent.

"Don't come any closer. If you take another step, I'll break your legs." The man said, one hand on his chest, staring at Mo Yinghuo coldly.

Mo Yinghuo, the dignified Princess of Yunxiu Kingdom and the highly decorated General of the Yunzhao Army, was actually threatened like this. Under normal circumstances, Mo Yinghuo would not only take one step forward, but two or three steps... breaking the other party's leg would not be difficult for her.

However, at this moment, Mo Yinghuo dared not take another step forward. She felt that the man opposite her really wanted to break her legs. Of course, with her skills, he couldn't succeed. More importantly, Mo Yinghuo felt as if she had really done something wrong and offended the man in front of her. So, she stopped, picked up the silver spear, and looked at him indifferently.

Once things calmed down, Mo Yinghuo noticed that the man's gray clothes were tightly bound with a belt, clearly indicating that the pants were too big.

“These clothes aren’t his own.” Mo Yinghuo frowned, thinking to herself, “Could it be that he was trying to steal my upper garment just now?”

"General!"

"Your Highness, the Eldest Princess."

The sounds of soldiers' voices and footsteps drew closer.

It turned out that Gongliang Zhong and Shurong had finished eating and came out to look for Mo Yinghuo. When they saw the situation from a distance, they hurriedly led their soldiers and rode over at full speed.

In a short while, the soldiers held several knives to the necks of the shirtless man.

Gongliang Zhong and Shurong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and confusion. Since they had followed the Princess, this was the first time they had seen her so disheveled and disheveled. Her silver armor was lying on the ground, her white robes were torn to one side, and a few strands of her hair were strayed. Even more strangely, the man she was fighting was not only unarmed but also so shabby, his clothes incomplete, his upper body bare.

The sight was so alluring that it stirred up a certain reverie in everyone. The soldiers exchanged glances; it was the first time in all these years that they had seen their general like this. Battles were inherently tedious and boring, but at this moment, they all perked up instantly.

The man glanced at everyone, a sly smile playing on his lips. He chuckled dismissively, exuding an air of calm confidence and imposing presence, far from displaying any fear or despair.

Mo Yinghuo watched him with great interest. She had encountered countless enemies on the battlefield—the wicked, the vicious, the ruthless, the strong—but this was the first time she had seen someone dressed only in clothes, all alone, unarmed, yet exuding an arrogant and self-righteous air. The soldiers' swords were held to his neck, yet they seemed as delicate and powerless as flower petals falling on him, beautiful but useless, easily deflected.

Gongliang Zhong coughed, reminding the general.

Mo Yinghuo realized that everyone was waiting for his orders. Looking at his awkward appearance, he smiled wryly, straightened his clothes, and said to the soldiers, "Lock this man up first and get him a set of clothes that fit him."

As soon as the soldier left, Shurong couldn't wait to ask, "Princess, what happened? Don't tell me you were beaten up like this by that man."

Gongliang Zhong picked up the silver armor that had fallen to the ground, his expression grave. The armor had been torn apart in an instant.

Mo Yinghuo sighed helplessly, smiled bitterly, nodded, and then looked at the man's back in the distance, lost in thought, as if talking to himself, "If this man could be used by me, he would be invincible without a doubt."

Gongliang Zhong nodded, his tone surprisingly approving. "Yes, but, General, we must find out whether this person is friend or foe."

Mo Yinghuo glanced at the silver armor on Gongliang Zhong's hands and smiled, "Not an enemy, but a friend, it's hard to say. I didn't expect to have such a gain tonight, this horse was worth the ride." She looked up and glanced at the peach blossoms in full bloom, "Gongliang Zhong, make me a new set of silver armor, this one doesn't need repairing."

"Yes, General," Gongliang Zhong replied, bowing.

Mo Yinghuo mounted his horse and followed the soldiers back to their tent. No sooner had he left than Shu Rong snapped out of his daze, opening his mouth wide as he called out to Mo Yinghuo, "General... I still have a question to ask!"

They acted as if they hadn't heard and walked away on their own.