Chapter 87 The Legend of the Female Rakshasa
The image of Batu being smashed into the ground with a hammer was like a terrifying curse, deeply imprinted in the minds of every Northern Yan soldier.
At that moment, an eerie stillness appeared on the battlefield.
Then, someone, whose identity is unknown, threw down their weapon and let out a distorted scream:
"Run—!!"
"The female demon is eating people—!!"
This shout was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. The Northern Yan army, already thrown into panic by the "burning of the camps," was now in complete disarray.
Military discipline and honor vanished before the pink-clad girl riding a donkey and wielding a sledgehammer.
Tens of thousands of soldiers fled northwards like a receding tide, wishing they had more legs. Even Xiao Yi, who had been overseeing the battle from the rear with a sinister look in his eyes, was caught up in the chaos and had to retreat in disarray.
He turned back and took a deep look at the seemingly petite but terrifying figure below the city. The madness and possessiveness in his eyes did not subside; instead, they burned even more intensely.
"Female Rakshasa..."
He licked his chapped lips. "Interesting. Only a woman like this is worthy of me, Xiao Yi."
...
A great victory at Liangzhou City.
But for Jiang Mianmian, the joy of victory was mixed with an indescribable "social death" aftereffect.
Inside the Marshal's Mansion, a victory celebration banquet is underway.
Despite the shortage of supplies, the kitchen still slaughtered several pigs and cooked a large pot of stew to celebrate these incredible victories.
Jiang Mianmian sat next to Shen Jin, still wearing a clean pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), but at this moment, she felt that the dress weighed a ton.
Because every general who came in to offer a toast looked at her differently.
It's no longer about reverence for a "princess" or worship for a "goddess".
Rather, it's a combination of fear and fanaticism towards a "humanoid beast."
"This humble general offers a toast to the female demon!"
A drunken lieutenant, slurring his words, approached Jiang Mianmian with a wine bowl in hand. “That hammer blow from the Princess was simply… earth-shattering! I’ve never admired anyone in my life but you!”
"Female Rakshasa?"
Jiang Mianmian's hand holding the wine glass trembled, and the corners of her mouth twitched wildly.
Who? Who is the female demon?
【I'm so cute, so fragile, so kind! How dare you call me a Rakshasa?】
【Don't I have any dignity? How am I supposed to face the high-society ladies of Beijing after this? If they hear 'the female demon' is coming, won't they all be terrified and unleash their dogs?】
Shen Jin sat to the side, toying with his wine glass, listening to her internal roar of despair, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
“Your Highness,” Shen Jin said calmly, “this title sounds…very prestigious. It can even stop children from crying at night.”
"So impressive, my foot!"
Jiang Mianmian couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, "Your Highness, if this reputation gets out, will I still be able to get married? Oh no, I'm already married to you... Then when you go out in the future, people will say: Look, that's the Regent who married a tigress!"
Shen Jin chuckled softly and leaned close to her ear:
"I am willing."
"It's better to marry a tigress than a sick cat. At least... you don't have to worry about her being stolen away at night."
Jiang Mianmian: 【…You have such heavy tastes.】
...
However, Jiang Mianmian underestimated the speed and absurdity of the rumors.
In just one night, eighteen versions of the legend of the "Female Rakshasa of Liangzhou City" had already spread among the Northern Yan army and even among the border people of Dagan.
Moreover, each one is more fantastical and more terrifying than the last.
The next morning.
Yingyi, holding a piece of intelligence sent back by a spy, walked into the study with a strange expression.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
Yingyi suppressed a laugh, "This is the latest intelligence circulating in the Northern Yan army camp... about the Princess Consort."
Jiang Mianmian was munching on a steamed bun when she heard this and became interested: "Oh? How did they praise me? Did they say I'm as beautiful as a flower and have unparalleled martial arts skills?"
Shadow One coughed lightly, unfolded the intelligence, and began to recite:
Version 1: The Regent's Consort was a celestial maiden descended to earth, but she landed face-first... cough, no, she accidentally entered the demonic path. She was eight feet tall, with a waist of eight feet, a face as black as charcoal, and eyes like copper bells. She could eat ten children in one meal!
"puff--!"
Jiang Mianmian spat out a mouthful of steamed bun.
Eight feet tall? Eight feet waist? That's more like a ball!
"Eating children? I can't even take candy from a child's hand, when have I ever eaten a child?"
Shadow One continued reading: "Version Two: That princess is not actually human, but a thousand-year-old black bear spirit raised by the regent! She usually transforms into a beautiful woman to bewitch the prince, but once on the battlefield, she reveals her true form, tearing people apart and swallowing warhorses whole!"
"Cough cough cough..."
Jiang Mianmian pounded her chest, feeling like she was about to have a heart attack.
[A black bear spirit?]
[I'm so fair-skinned! So thin! How do I look like a black bear? I could barely accept being called a fox spirit!]
“There’s also a third version…” Shadow One’s voice trembled, “saying that the mount the princess rode was not a donkey at all, but… that was the illegitimate son of the ancient divine beast ‘Qilin’! Because it was too ugly, it was driven down to the mortal world by the Qilin, and its resentment filled the sky, so its roar was like thunder, capable of shattering the enemy’s courage!”
"Er Gouzi?"
Jiang Mianmian thought of the mill donkey that was gnawing on dry grass in the stable, and that had a bald patch on its head.
[Is he a Qilin's illegitimate child?]
[These people from Northern Yan have such vivid imaginations! They're wasting their talents not writing fantasy novels!]
If Er Gouzi knew his illustrious lineage, he'd probably be so happy he'd eat an extra two pounds of grass!
Jiang Mianmian slumped in the chair, looking utterly hopeless.
"It's over...it's all over..."
She covered her face, "My ladylike image, my stunning beauty, are completely ruined. History books will definitely write: Regent's Consort Jiang was a black bear spirit, riding a bald donkey, wielding a giant hammer, and fond of eating human flesh..."
[I can't live anymore! This is worse than death! This is eternal infamy!]
Seeing her expression as if the sky had fallen, Shen Jin finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He walked over, pulled her up from the chair, and embraced her.
"alright."
He reached out and gently pinched her nose. "Rumors stop with the wise. As long as I know what you're like, isn't that enough?"
"Besides..."
His cautious gaze swept over the phrase "eight feet tall, eight feet in waist circumference" in the intelligence report, his eyes darkening slightly, and his hand lightly caressed her slender waist.
"They say you have an eight-foot waist..."
He whispered in her ear, "I measured her last night, and she's clearly... only 1.8 feet tall."
Jiang Mianmian blushed and elbowed him in the chest:
"You scoundrel! What are you saying in broad daylight!"
But... after hearing what he said, he doesn't seem so angry anymore?
[Hmph, whether I'm a goddess or a demon, I'm still his person. As long as he doesn't mind, who cares what others say!]
"Report—!"
Just as the two were flirting, a scout rushed in, looking serious.
"Your Highness! The Northern Yan army... has made another move!"
The smile on Shen Jin's face vanished instantly, replaced by the regent's imposing demeanor: "Speak."
"Although the Northern Yan army has withdrawn thirty li, they have not truly retreated. According to reports from scouts, they are cutting down a large number of trees in their camp and collecting... collecting poisonous herbs and dead livestock carcasses from the surrounding mountains and forests."
"Moreover, the Northern Yan State Preceptor Wuma Ji seems to be performing a ritual on the altar, making a mess of things."
Shen Jin frowned.
Poisonous plants? Corpse? How to prepare it?
"What are they trying to do?" Jiang Mianmian also chimed in. [Has this old charlatan not given up yet? What kind of trouble are they up to now?]
“Moreover,” the scout hesitated for a moment, then continued, “the wind blowing today is… from the north.”
North wind.
The north wind blowing from the Northern Yan camp towards Liangzhou City.
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Jiang Mianmian, and her expression changed instantly.
Poisonous weeds... a corpse... the north wind...
This is like they're developing biological weapons!
[Poisonous smoke tactic! They want to use the wind to blow poisonous smoke and plague into Liangzhou City!]
[This is outrageous! Xiao Yi and that old charlatan are simply inhuman!]
Upon hearing her thoughts, Shen Jin's pupils constricted sharply.
Poisonous smoke.
This is indeed something that treacherous imperial advisor would do.
Although Liangzhou City has sturdy walls, they cannot stop the wind. Once the poisonous smoke enters the city, all the citizens and soldiers will suffer!
"Pass on the order!"
Shen Jin made a decisive decision: "Prepare the entire city to be on high alert! Close all doors and windows! Prepare damp cloths to cover your mouths and noses!"
"it's useless."
Jiang Mianmian shook her head, her expression grave. "If it really is that kind of smoke mixed with corpse poison and poisonous herbs, an ordinary damp cloth won't be able to block it for long. And once the wind starts blowing, it's continuous."
"What should we do?" Jiang Zhan and Jiang Li also rushed over, looking anxious.
Jiang Mianmian walked to the window, feeling the increasingly strong north wind outside.
[Defeat magic with magic?]
Since they want to release poison, I'll give them... artificial rain!
Although I don't have the power to command the wind and rain, I do have dry ice! I have silver iodide!
[If only we could suppress this toxic fumes, or simply wash them away...]
She turned abruptly to look at Shen Jin:
"Your Highness! I want to leave the city!"
"Going out of the city again?" Shen Jin frowned.
"This time, we won't fight. Let's go... pray for rain!"
Jiang Mianmian pointed to the sky, "Since they're using the wind, then we'll use the rain! I refuse to believe that God would help these bad guys!"
Looking into her determined eyes, Shen Jin knew that although he didn't know how she planned to "pray for rain," she must have a way.
"good."
Shen Jin grasped her hand. "I will go with you. No matter the wind or the rain, I will stand by you."
...
Outside Liangzhou City, the north wind howled.
In the distance, a strange yellowish-green mist had already begun to rise on the horizon, a sign that poisonous smoke was gathering.
Meanwhile, on this hillside, Jiang Mianmian was directing Ying Yi and the others to set up several strange "iron cylinders".
"Goddess, this...this really can bring rain?"
Yingyi stared blankly at the white, blocky objects.
"Stop talking nonsense! Load!"
Jiang Mianmian looked serious.
[Xiao Yi, Wuma Ji, don't you two like to play dirty tricks?]
Today, this goddess will show you what the power of science truly is!
[Artificial rainmaking, launch!]
At her command, several specially made "shells" shot into the sky and disappeared into the thick clouds.
The next moment.
The sky, which had been overcast, suddenly began to churn.
A torrential rain, enough to wash away all sins, is brewing.
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