Chapter 14
The war continued for another six months. Our supplies arrived, and our soldiers fought bravely. Finally, just as we were about to reach the royal court, they surrendered. The Third Princess and the generals were deeply disappointed, but this outcome was a welcome one.
This was considered a quick battle in history.
All that was left was to escort the prisoners back to the capital and wait for negotiations.
My brother and I were packing our things in the mansion when the Third Princess came over and said, "An Ran, do you want to go back to the capital with me? It's safer this way."
My brother and I had discussed this before, and he replied without hesitation, "No, Sister Chenxi. My sister and I came here to study, and my sister has been staying here with me for the past six months. From now on, I have to accompany my sister on a tour."
“But...but..." The third princess hesitated. She must have wanted her brother to go back and propose marriage, but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
Over the past six months, their relationship has grown by leaps and bounds, to the point where they can even secretly touch each other's hands, which is something to celebrate. I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
In modern times, I feel like I can give birth to a child. Although it is very conservative here, hugging and kissing should be fine. Oh, I am so anxious.
I laughed at my brother, and he seemed to enjoy it. I felt like he was teasing me. I never thought he would develop a fishing habit.
My brother is already twenty, and the hard times of the past six months have made his baby fat go away. His slender and lean appearance is almost identical to his previous life, which always makes me think that he is indeed the most beautiful woman in the world, the white moonlight in everyone's heart.
One time, when I was feeling sentimental, my brother accidentally heard me. He laughed so hard that he fell backwards and asked, "Has your reputation become so big since I left?"
Seeing my brother's cheerful expression, free of any dark thoughts, I finally felt certain he had let go of all the pain from his past life. I also finally let go of the anger I'd been holding back.
The day my brother and I left, it felt like the Third Princess was about to cry, and her maid looked so disappointed. My brother looked at her pitiful appearance, got out of the carriage and walked over to her. "In half a year, I'll be back in half a year." Then he hugged her.
The idiot Third Princess didn't even react and didn't even know to return the hug, which made me sigh with regret again.
This time my brother didn't let me off either. "If you're so excited, why don't you find someone yourself? You're sixteen already, it's not like you can't meet someone."
I instantly lay down, "As for me, I guess there are only a few people I can choose from."
My brother disagreed. "Our family is very open-minded. I think what's important is what you like. But what do you like?"
"I don't know either. I'm still young. Let's talk about it after I turn 20." I couldn't help scratching my head.
We followed the road southward, stopping as we went, lingering for a while in each city to learn about the people and experience life. I wandered daily, visiting businesses, farms, mountains, and waterfronts. I felt like I had become a rougher version of myself.
Our vast group, adorned with gorgeous attire, encountered few unsuspecting people blocking our way. Before we left, the Third Princess added a few more guards, further elevating our presence. But no matter how peaceful the world may be, there are always places beyond our reach.
We didn't plan to travel on a budget, so we had someone arrange accommodations in advance. This place is close to the south, not a big place, just a small county town. The weather was neither too hot nor too cold, perfect for traveling. So, as soon as we arrived in Guancheng and settled in, my brother and I took a few people out.
My brother usually wears a veil hat, but it happened to be a bit windy today, so he thought it was too much trouble, so he dressed up like me and went out. But as soon as he came out of the restaurant, he bumped into a woman who was fanning herself with her right hand and hugging a man with her left hand.
I quickly pulled my brother out of the way, and saw the woman pat her sleeve in disgust. A nearby maid jumped out and said, "Are you blind? You almost bumped into our young lady!"
I frowned. Zhixia was about to step forward to argue, but I stopped her, thinking less trouble is better. "Sorry." Then we wanted to leave from the side. After all, we didn't really bump into each other.
Unexpectedly, the woman's eyes lit up when she saw her brother, and she reached out to pull him away. "Sir."
The tall and burly guard next to my brother had already stepped forward. The woman was so frightened that she stepped back repeatedly. "It's a misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding. I just wanted to say hello."
My brother glanced at her and continued walking. I didn't say anything more.
When we got back to our place, I complained, "Look at her. Her eyes are dark and red, and her legs are weak. She must have been with countless men." My brother glanced at me and said, "She's been with all kinds of men. It's not worth getting angry about."
We didn't take it seriously, but two days later, the woman brought people to stop my brother and me. I was so angry that I laughed.
The maid stepped forward and said, "How dare you."
"Bold? You, a bunch of nobody, actually called me bold." The woman waved her fan elegantly, "Sir, my father is the county magistrate here. I urge you to come back with me and be my man. Since you are so good-looking, I will make you a noble lord."
My brother couldn't help but laugh angrily, "Get out of the way."
"Don't refuse a toast and then drink a forfeit. It's your good fortune that I've chosen you." The woman closed her fan and clapped her hands. "Take me away."
"Oh, really? Then I really have to go with you. Let's go." My brother said in a deep voice.
The woman was stunned. "You are sensible."
Then, my brother walked in front, I followed him, and a maid followed behind to report the news.
When we got near the yamen, the woman entered through the side door. My brother and I ran straight to the gate of the county yamen without stopping.
"Why, do you want to see what the county government office looks like? Okay, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll take you to see it." The woman looked at us, then turned around and walked towards the government office.
Two maids at the door clasped their fists and saluted, "Miss." They looked at our group and stopped us, saying, "Miss, no one outside is allowed to enter."
Oh, this government office here is actually quite respectable. "How can you control me? Get out of my way," the woman said, pushing past the others and entering the gate. Ahem, it's too early to praise. We followed her in.
"How about it? Pretty generous, right?" the woman showed off to her brother.
"You are a robber, and your mother doesn't care about you?" Her brother looked at her.
At this point, a group of people arrived. The leader walked in and started scolding, "You're making trouble again! How can you be here? Take your people back to the backyard."
Well, like daughter, like mother. "Sir, we were passing by here, and this young lady wanted to marry my son without any explanation. Isn't that illegal?" I asked the county magistrate.
The county magistrate glanced at me disdainfully, and someone nearby, presumably his legal advisor, stepped forward and whispered in her ear, "We've checked, and it's not from a nearby official. It could be a passing merchant."
The county magistrate said to her daughter, "Take him away quickly and don't disturb me."
This is confirmed. My brother smiled and walked to the front to sit on the county magistrate's chair. I stood beside him, and the guards lined up.
The county magistrate and his entourage were shocked, and the legal advisor shouted, "How dare you." The county magistrate was a smart man, and he quickly stopped her and said, "I wonder who you are? I am blind and cannot recognize you." The woman was also frightened and hid behind.
My brother raised his head and said, "You are the county magistrate. Coincidentally, my name also contains the word 'county'. I am the county lady. I didn't know that you have such great power. A county magistrate's daughter can rape men everywhere. And you, without any control, actually condone and intensify it."
The people knelt on the ground. The county magistrate replied, "It's a misunderstanding. It's all a misunderstanding. This is the government office after all. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. I just want to go to the backyard to deal with it later."
"Oh? So, it was me who misunderstood you?" the elder brother said in a gloomy way.
"Yes, yes, it's all a misunderstanding." The county magistrate smiled.
My brother couldn't help but slam the table: "You are taking me for a fool."
The county magistrate's forehead was sweating, and he gritted his teeth and said, "My Lady, this is a misunderstanding. My husband's family is a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel in the capital. You see, they are all acquaintances."
My brother thought for a moment and said, "Since he's one of us, let's forget about what happened today. But you must be careful in the future and never let something like this happen again."
With that, he stood up and walked out. The county magistrate also got up, nodded, and sent us away. He would probably give his daughter a good beating when he got back.
On the way, the maid who was leading the team came over and said, "Let's go back." My brother got on the horse.
Back at my place, I asked my brother, "What if they're not acquaintances? What if they become desperate?"
My brother replied, "Get everyone to pack up and leave immediately. While robbing a man isn't a serious crime, since they've been so brazen several times, it's probably more than that. I'm also worried about a real fallout. After all, we're outnumbered and at a disadvantage." After a moment's thought, he added, "We can't leave overnight and let her know. There's definitely someone watching us out there."
My brother called in the guards assigned by the Third Princess and said, "I remember that the Lord of the Prefecture is one of our own. You should dress up, quietly take the token, and quickly go to the Prefecture City to dispatch someone to pick us up."
After all the arrangements were made, my brother went to bed. I was worried, so I stayed in his outer room for a while.
The next morning, we went about our business as usual. After lunch, we prepared to depart. Sure enough, after a while outside the city gate, the county magistrate arrived with his men to greet us. "My Lord, why are you leaving without even saying hello? Please allow me to see you off."
"Doesn't this delay the county magistrate's farewell party? With so many people, the farewell ceremony will be quite grand." My brother came out of the carriage.
"My lady, you'd better stay a while longer. How can you take care of everything in just two days?" The county magistrate said with a smile.
"I have somewhere else to go, so I can't stay any longer. Mr. Magistrate, please make way." My brother waved his hand and got into the carriage.
"My Lord, please don't refuse my toast and drink the wine for punishment." The county magistrate's expression gradually became sinister.
I stood up and said, "Unfortunately, we don't like any wine."
The guards all drew their swords and stepped forward, and the county magistrate also drew his sword.
"Then we can't keep you here anymore. Go ahead!" The county magistrate stepped back and commanded.
There were many of them, and some of us were weak and helpless, so I also left the field. When I looked back, I saw that my brother had also left the field.
"Brother, go back." I couldn't help but yell.
"Don't underestimate me." The elder brother also danced with the spear with great vigor.
Wars are always cruel. Although I spent more than half a year on the battlefield, I was stopped every time I went to the battlefield, and I have never really killed anyone.
"The county lady is quite skilled, everyone, come on!" The county magistrate ordered everyone around her to join the battle. Although our men are all skilled in martial arts, they are too numerous to withstand them.
Seeing someone attacking my brother from behind, I couldn't help but open my eyes wide and stabbed forward with the sword in my hand.
With a "puff", it penetrated the opponent's chest, and blood sprayed all over my hand and also splashed some on my face.
I couldn't help but swallow and felt a little out of control.
But the situation did not allow it, so I had to turn back and continue fighting. My brother's worried eyes swept over me from time to time.
Zhixia and the others also gathered around.
A little exhausted.
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