In order to get rid of this situation, Xiao Li had no choice but to bring up her identity as the Third Prince, and now she had to bite the bullet and lie.

"Yes, I have seen Your Highness's face in the capital."

"Hmph! How boring."

He thought for a moment, then finally put on a stern face.

"Get down, I don't need you to serve me anymore."

Xiao Li ran away as fast as she could.

Zhao Yunshen was both annoyed and amused. Was he really that scary?

I finally found Gu Li somewhat agreeable, but she's gone again. It seems I really don't have any friends.

When Gu Xiaoyue arrived in the border town, she inquired about Xiaoli's whereabouts everywhere, but she couldn't find her. As a prisoner, she couldn't move around freely.

She followed Xie Shuhuai to a small village called Gucun, which was home to exiles who had come to the border town over the years.

They were assigned a stone house, which was very simple and practically bare, requiring them to buy everything they needed.

Since her mother passed away, Xie Shuhuai has had no relatives left, and Gu Xiaoyue has also been abandoned by her family. Neither of them had any relatives to see them off, nor did they receive any farewell gifts from their families.

Fortunately, Gu Xiaoyue had hidden a fifty-tael silver note in her undergarment, which allowed the two to settle down.

Xie Shuhuai told Gu Xiaoyue about his plans, and Gu Xiaoyue became happy. She waited peacefully in the stone house, dreaming of taking advantage of the opportunity to rise again and return to the capital.

Zhao Yunshen has been feeling down lately. Gu Li seems to be doing her job in a very professional manner, but he just can't shake the feeling that something is off.

Xie Shuhuai was very lucky. He arrived just as Zhao Yunshen was expanding his army and was immediately sent to serve under the Third Prince.

Unfortunately for him, Xiao Li happened to be his immediate supervisor.

As soon as he entered the military camp, Xiao Li was overjoyed. This time, he would never have another chance to curry favor with the Third Prince.

During another bandit suppression operation, Xie Shuhuai was wounded by the bandits' weapon. The blade happened to be poisoned, so he had to have his right leg amputated, leaving him a crippled soldier.

Because he was a new recruit and not yet officially employed, he was sent back to his hometown. Since he was an exiled person and a criminal, he could only return to his old village.

Even the wounded soldiers' subsidies were gone; only a small allowance for the wounded was issued.

Xie Shuhuai's passion was of no use. His teammates sent him home, and Gu Xiaoyue was stunned when she saw his miserable state.

After her teammates left, she burst into tears.

"How are we supposed to live like this...?"

"Why is my life so miserable? Waaah..."

Xie Shuhuai remained silent all day, only staring at the sky with his eyes open. Gu Xiaoyue paid no attention to him, only focused on crying. It wasn't until she got hungry that she came to her senses, by which time a day and a night had passed.

Gu Xiaoyue felt that following Xie Shuhuai was a dead end. After thinking for a moment, she washed up and went out.

Xie Shuhuai laughed heartily, laughing until tears streamed down his face. He laughed and then cried, his face covered in tears, making it impossible to tell whether he was laughing or crying.

Even though Gu Xiaoyue was far from home, she could still hear Xie Shuhuai's voice. She shivered and continued walking forward.

She came to a small red-lacquered door, knocked on it, and the door opened. She was told to wait a moment, and after a while, a lame old man came out.

"Go back now. Lord Tang doesn't want to see you anymore. Don't come here again."

Gu Xiaoyue was stunned. She quickly grabbed the old man's sleeve and asked pitifully.

"Why? Why? He didn't say that yesterday..."

The old man gave her a disdainful look and pulled his sleeve back.

"Your man is useless, and you're so eager to abandon him. Will you abandon my father in the future?"

In the past, adults only showed interest in you based on your looks; what are you now?

The old man closed the door, leaving Gu Xiaoyue sitting slumped in front of it.

She couldn't understand what this had to do with Xie Shuhuai.

Although the border town was chaotic, it also respected soldiers the most. Lord Tang was just a minor official. He had flirted with Gu Xiaoyue before, but only because she was pretty and he wanted to take advantage of her. He didn't really want to marry her.

Now that I've heard Xie Shuhuai is ruined, I feel a sense of shared vulnerability, like the fox mourning the death of its kin...

Throughout the entire border town, no one would bully the families of soldiers, especially the families of wounded soldiers.

Gu Xiaoyue returned home, prepared the food, and fed it to Xie Shuhuai. He did not refuse and ate whatever was given to him. He became even more silent, his eyes unmoving, as if he were merely existing.

Gu Xiaoyue could only find odd jobs on the street, such as washing and sewing, to barely support the two of them.

☆

Xiao Li spent five years in the military camp without any constraints. She thrived during those five years, proving that she was well-suited to life in the military.

Occasionally, I would receive letters from Wu urging me to return the money, as well as my younger brother's childish chatter, telling me about the funny things he had done and the jokes he had made...

Xiao Li also trained an elite force directly under Zhao Yunshen, and she has firmly become the Third Prince's right-hand woman.

A rapid hoofbeat echoed on the quiet official road at dawn. After being relayed by several messengers, an imperial edict finally reached the general's mansion.

Imperial Edict: Zhao Yunshen, the third son of Emperor Xuan, upon seeing this edict, must immediately return to the capital. He shall proceed immediately upon receipt of the decree. So be it!

Zhao Yunshen bowed and accepted the imperial edict. He then quickly reorganized the army and led a troop of light cavalry back to the capital. Xiao Li followed along with them.

Xiao Li could imagine how happy Wu Shi would be to see her, and how adorable her little brother would be, but the first person she saw was her father, Gu Qihang.

"Ah Li, you're back? Father is so happy, hahaha..." Gu Qihang was all smiles, he was proud of his daughter's achievement.

Zhao Yunshen was taken aback. When did Gu Qihang have such a son?

He didn't linger and went straight to the palace to see the emperor.

Xiao Li did not follow. She and a group of generals and guards waited outside the palace for an audience.

"Father, you should go back first and tell Mother I'm back, so she won't be shocked if she finds out suddenly."

Gu Qihang grinned from ear to ear, “Okay, okay, I’ll go home first and prepare a feast to welcome you home.”

Xiao Li nodded, and Gu Qihang happily left.

This dynasty does not discriminate against women serving in the military. There were two female generals in the previous dynasty who were granted official ranks, and there are also female generals in this dynasty. Xiao Li is not afraid of her identity being exposed.

"Father, your son has returned."

The old emperor was truly on his deathbed. He only had three adult princes. The second prince was already deposed, and the eldest prince had recently fallen off his horse and broken his leg, thus losing his chance at the throne. Now, only this one heir remained.

That's why the emperor quickly summoned the third prince back to the capital. Once the prince had issued the edict of succession, the emperor could leave with peace of mind.

The third prince had no interest in the position, but now that the opportunity had fallen into his lap, he had no choice but to accept it. A month later, he ascended to the throne.

The new emperor granted a general amnesty upon his ascension to the throne, but those who were exiled were barred from taking the imperial examinations for three generations. Xie Shuhuai had no merit in supporting the emperor, so they could never return.