Chapter 804: Ghillie Suit Ambush (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Qi Cang swaggered away.

Only the princess and her wife remained in the royal household.

Crackling—crackling—

All that could be heard were their own breathing and the occasional popping of the candles. After an unknown amount of time, Her Highness's weak legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. As soon as she came to her senses, she realized with a start that her back was covered in cold sweat, which had already soaked her inner lining.

Her eyes gleamed with a strange light, and her breathing quickened uncontrollably: "My dear minister, do you think he was sent by Father or my brother to trick us?"

As a princess, she once lived a carefree life.

After her marriage, she and her husband, a highly sought-after scion of a prominent family, lived a harmonious and loving life for a short time. She thought she would be happy like this forever, until she faced another political marriage. No, that one wasn't even a proper political marriage.

She went to celebrate her father's birthday without any suspicion. During the banquet, she drank a cup of wine handed to her by a palace maid and then lost consciousness. When she awoke, it was dark. A strange, muscular man was putting on his trousers with his back to her—it wasn't the prince consort! The bed curtains were in disarray. She had been married for two years at that time; how could she not know what had happened? She immediately summoned someone, intending to behead the culprit and bring him to justice.

The man asked in surprise, "Isn't it because His Highness wishes to consummate our relationship, and that's why the eldest son acted as matchmaker?"

She felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar: 【How dare you!】

[Help! Help!]

It's quite normal for a princess to keep male favorites or have several lovers. Having grown up in such an environment, she naturally wouldn't object. However, her situation is special. Her husband, the Imperial Son-in-Law, comes from a prominent family, and she must consider his reputation and cannot act recklessly. Therefore, before this night, she only had him. Their relationship is good, and they won't consider a third party for the time being.

When did I ever look for this person in front of me?

Faced with her reaction, the latter seemed to understand something.

A mocking smile played on her lips: "Oh, I see."

Princess Wang clutched the bedding: 【What do you mean by this?】

The other party said, "Your Highness, why don't you ask the eldest son?"

As he spoke, he was already dressed and pushed open the door. To the princess's dismay, several palace maids stood outside the door, bowing respectfully as the man came out, seemingly oblivious to the commotion inside and ignoring the princess's commands.

She stormed off to her brother, sword in hand, in a fit of rage.

After a flurry of attacks, she hadn't even touched a person's clothes. Devastated, she threw her sword down: "Are you a beast?! How could you use your own sister to do such a thing! You've utterly disgraced the royal family! I've already sent word to my father; he will surely avenge me!"

Her father will definitely stand up for her!

She was her father's most beloved daughter!

The king seemed to have heard the most outrageous joke, his eyes filled with a calculating look she couldn't comprehend: "Father? Father knows."

Do you know?

Those few words shattered her world.

The elder brother, slightly impatient, said: "It's just that I found you a male concubine, and you're making a scene? You're just a girl; how could you know how dire the situation is outside? Your status as a princess, your father's throne, and my position as crown prince—none of them are secure! If it weren't for your father and me, what right would you have to wear fine silks and satins, adorn yourself with jeweled hairpins and jade ornaments, and be served by palace servants?"

Princess Wangji trembled with anger: "So what?"

[It's just to give you more men, not to make you a prostitute! Which noblewoman doesn't have one or two male confidants? Only you are so stubborn, only sticking to one man?] Brother Wang had an accusing look on his face, as if to say, "How can you be so ungrateful?"

Princess Wang Ji had no idea how she left the palace.

Outside the palace gates, the imperial son-in-law, dressed in a blue robe, had been standing there for an unknown amount of time before turning around at the sound of bells ringing at the four corners of the carriage. The princess, unaware of this, was paler than a corpse that had lay in wait for days: "How long has the imperial son-in-law been waiting here?"

Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant: [Two or three hours, perhaps.]

There was only one thought in Princess Wang's mind.

He knows everything!

The Imperial Son-in-Law had indeed guessed it.

She felt an unprecedented sense of injustice and tried to explain, but the Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant calmly replied: "Due to some conflicts in the court, your father urgently needed the support of military generals outside his faction. Unexpectedly, this has implicated you and caused you this misfortune."

Did you know?

The Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant was of a peaceful nature and disliked conflict. Even after marrying the princess, he didn't seek any official position for himself. Of course, given his background, he didn't need to. Born into a prominent family, he didn't need to do anything; he would naturally rise through the ranks.

How would a commoner like him know these things?

Your father has a conflict with my father and his family.

When he returned from visiting a friend, he found his wife, who had attended a birthday banquet, still locked at the palace gates and hadn't come back. His intuition told him something was wrong! But before seeing the princess, he never imagined they would do such a thing. So heartless towards their own daughter/sister.

The rest is self-evident. If the two sides hadn't completely broken off relations, why would the king and his brother have gone out of their way to find a male consort, a military officer from outside their faction, for their princess who was to marry into a powerful family?

Their intention was to humiliate and intimidate the other party.

Upon hearing this, the princess broke down on the spot, hugging her knees and weeping uncontrollably, all the way from the palace gate to her own princess residence.

I just can't understand the power struggles between men. Why do they have to humiliate her to achieve the goal of humiliating the other person?

If she were of such stature, how could she be humiliated?

A few days later, the Imperial Son-in-Law left.

Before leaving, he said to the much thinner princess, "It was my fault for failing to protect Your Highness. This is my token; if Your Highness needs anything in the future, you can use it. My staying would only put Your Highness in danger."

The first sentence is a promise, and the second sentence is an explanation.

Princess Wang clutched the token tightly.

You're just leaving like that?

Compared to her haggard, almost ghostly appearance, the Imperial Son-in-Law was still as radiant and captivating as ever. His eyes were gentle as spring water, and his voice was deep: "Your Highness's father's command is inviolable, and so am mine. If I do not return this time, Your Highness's reputation will be utterly ruined."

Princess Wang said angrily, "Are you threatening me?"

Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant: "It's my father who's threatening us."

As he stepped onto the carriage using a footstool, the princess hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: "If you were in this situation..."

The Imperial Son-in-Law Commander: [I will show them what it feels like to be trapped in my hands, wishing for death but unable to live!]

Hearing this, the princess's hatred intensified, and she retorted angrily, "Now that I'm the one who's been humiliated, you think you're incapable?"

The Imperial Son-in-Law simply watched her silently.

Once she had calmed down a bit, she released her grip, and a maniacal laugh escaped her chest—how foolish she had been to ask such a question. The masterminds who had humiliated her were her father and brothers. Would the Imperial Son-in-Law and Commander-in-Chief really help her kill them? How could he do that?

Blood ties are something that cannot be severed from birth to death.

Your Highness, take care!

The Imperial Son-in-Law sighed softly and lowered the carriage curtain.

The coachman flicked his whip, and the wheels rolled slowly, carrying away the prince consort she had once cherished in her youth. Neither of them knew when they would meet again, or what their identities would be then. The next day, the princess fell seriously ill, suffering from a persistent high fever.

It wasn't until her closest friend came to visit that she found peace. In her delirium of high fever, she confided in her friend, who, upon hearing her words, looked on with pity and softly said: "Your Highness, those who cannot control their assets are themselves an asset."

"Your Highness, please go and assume your fiefdom."

Those two short sentences exploded in her ears like thunder. She broke out in a cold sweat, and her high fever subsided the next day.

【My darling, what did you mean by that?】 Her close friend was a bit older than her, and acted with composure and calmness. Countless young men from noble families in the capital wanted to pluck this delicate flower with thorns, but she didn't pay any attention to any of the olive branches extended to her.

[Isn't the meaning obvious?] With a snip of her scissors, she trimmed the excess buds from the branch, allowing more nutrients to be concentrated on the largest bloom. [This is naturally telling Your Highness that you must either become the one pruning the flowers, or willingly become the flower being pruned. Some flowers cannot survive without carefully nurtured soil. Does Your Highness know which one you are?]

Princess Wang finally understood—

Why would anyone say that this close friend's smile is poisonous?

Her smile is truly captivating!

Then, the other party asked: "Is Your Highness's shogunate short of personnel?"

Princess Wang's fingernails were almost digging into her palms.

Her brother is a prince, and she is a queen! They were born with a much higher starting point than others! Since that's the case, why should she be content to be a flower manipulated by others? If she wants male concubines, then she should be the one to favor them, not to use her to please them!

Her voice was hoarse: "I'm really desperate!"

Since then, she has begun to secretly study areas she had never known before, subtly showing her father and brothers her obedience and meekness, stirring up their remaining guilt, demanding money, food, and manpower, and even arbitrarily exchanging her fiefdom for one with geographical advantages.

It doesn't matter if the fiefdom is barren.

At least, that was her land!

For so many years, she had proceeded cautiously, each step carefully considered. Finally, taking advantage of her father and brothers' inattention, she volunteered to go to her fiefdom. She found a good excuse—as a princess who enjoyed the support of the common people, she could not hide in the capital and enjoy wealth and luxury during a time of national turmoil; going to her fiefdom would be more conducive to calming the people's hearts!

As expected, he successfully took up his post!

Just when everything was going well, a 16th-rank Grand Master suddenly appeared, claiming to be "Qi Yanqing"!

How could this not frighten and disturb her?

The lady said calmly, "If it were just to trick His Highness out of the country, why bother to enlist the help of a 16th-rank Grand Master? With his strength, he would be a pillar of strength even in a small country..."

Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

His Highness calmed down a bit upon hearing this: "That's true..."

It was a false alarm!

The thought of Qi Cang's arrogant tone made her lips twitch.

"My dear minister, what do you think he's here for?"

The lady calmly replied, "It's not important. What's important is what His Highness can gain from him! Since he has offered to help us, then we'll use him! The strong will only submit to the strong; subduing someone like him is out of the question for now."

You won't lose out no matter what.

His Highness sheathed the dagger back into his pipe.

“I never intended to subdue him. A sixteenth-level Grand Master… with that kind of strength, if he were to ask to use his father and brothers’ connections to do their bidding, they might be willing to submit. The price paid is insignificant compared to the gains.”

Why not use thugs who are offered up on our doorstep?

lady:"……"

His Highness exhaled a breath of stale air: "By the way, my dear minister, after the token was sent out, what was the reply from the Imperial Son-in-Law?"

Her ex-husband has successfully inherited his father's business empire, becoming what is now considered the leading family in the country, with countless retainers and old friends. She needs manpower to manage the fiefdom; relying solely on her beloved daughter would be too much for her. So, she considered borrowing some help from her ex-husband.

Why not take advantage of a man's guilt if you can?

Just a stepping stone!

What's wrong with stepping on it?

The lady said, "They will arrive in three days."

Your Highness: "Also, send someone to investigate Shen Youli. Judging from Qi Yanqing's words, this person is not simple."

"only!"

Judging from Qi Cang's words, this commoner, the courteous and respectful Shen Youli is a woman who has gathered many capable and attractive people. If he were ruthless enough to murder his father and usurp the throne, he could ascend the throne earlier than her. The implication is that she has already embarked on this path?

The information revealed in just a few words was quite explosive.

At this moment, on the rooftop.

Qi Cang, who hadn't left, openly eavesdropped on the conversation below. The old man stroked his beard and muttered to himself, "I knew it. I felt that the princess looked familiar the moment I saw her."

This new lord bears a striking resemblance to the previous one!

He definitely has a taste for this style.

If the lord doesn't go crazy, he won't have any charm to attract him.

Qi Cang patted his behind and left.

——

"Ah owe-"

"Ah owe-"

The suppressed sneezes left Shen Tang's mind blank. After four sneezes, she rubbed her nose and muttered, "Sure enough, the only things in this world you can't stop are sneezes and diarrhea, yawn!"

"Who's talking about me behind my back? When will they stop?"

"The reason why the lord sneezes so frequently might be because of the leaves and grass covering him..." Not far from Shen Tang, a moving straw figure spoke Jiang Sheng's voice. Yes, that was Jiang Sheng, but his voice sounded listless and helpless.

Although his mastery of the scholar's way was successful, he still needed a lot of practical experience to use it effectively. Anyway, his lord had plenty of literary talent, so he was happy to borrow it. The vanguard scouts learned that Huang Lie's troops were showing signs of movement, so Jiang Sheng used the scholar's way seventeen times in one night, leaving his lord with an empty literary palace and dark circles under his eyes the next day.

Before his lord erupted in anger, he said, "Great fortune awaits in the southeast!"

Shen Tang asked, "And then?"

Jiang Sheng looked like he was possessed by an old charlatan.

"It is advisable to lay an ambush and to mobilize troops."

In short, the enemy might appear in the southeast. However, he wasn't entirely clear on when, how many, or exactly where they would emerge. If his lord didn't mind, he could calculate for another night.

Shen Tang: "...No need."

Her face turned ashen: "I'll spare your lord's life."

If it weren't for Jiang Sheng, she wouldn't have known that she could only do it seventeen times.

This number is a complete disgrace!

I'm a 16th-level Grand Master who has survived the tribulation of advancement! How could the reserves of the Literary Palace be wasted so easily!

"If the ambush is indeed in the southeast, then we must immediately deploy troops to hold it!" After all, once a chance to strike is missed, it's gone forever. We haven't received any further specific information from Huang Lie's side yet, so we still need to be wary of him launching a surprise attack.

When Shen Tang sends out troops, he naturally needs to notify his allies.

A two-pronged attack, leaving the ambush troops sandwiched in the middle.

However, during their detailed study of the terrain in the southeast, they discovered an awkward fact: there was indeed a suitable route for smuggling across, but due to the terrain, the number of troops that could be ambushed could not be too large, and it was not well concealed.

While using a spell array can indeed confuse enemies entering its range, this distance does not include high altitudes! The enemy scouts' Courage Totem far exceeds the range limit of the spell array. Looking down from above, the possibility of our forces being exposed is quite high.

"I have a plan!"

Shen Tang slammed his hand on the table, his voice resolute!

"Put on your ghillie suits!"

(σ)σ:*☆

A person who cannot control assets is an asset in themselves. I came across this sentence by chance online; I forgot where I saw it, but I've remembered it for a long time.

(End of this chapter)