In a flash, Borl Ru recalled the warning given by Tairan before the campaign: a Da Hui princess was involved.

But he never expected to meet Wen Yuesheng in this manner.

Acting swiftly, he grabbed his spear and prepared to face her.

Borl Ru, though slightly weaker than his older brother Borl Lieheng, had earned his reputation as one of the finest generals of Haoshou.

He had killed countless Da Hui officers in his career.

Despite the surprise, he never thought that this powerful Da Hui princess would pose a serious threat to him.

But just as he steeled himself, he heard the sound of galloping hooves.

Wen Yuesheng was now mounted on her horse, poised and calm.

Without even a hint of emotion on her face, she rode straight through the battlefield, raising her blade high.

The sky was still darkening, and the fire blazed as her sword descended like a thunderstrike.

The speed was so overwhelming that it formed an arc of light.

In a flash, the blade cut through Borl Ru’s throat before he could even bring his spear to bear.

A single stroke severed his life.

Borl Ru’s spear never reached its target.

His head fell from his shoulders as Wen Yuesheng’s blade claimed his life.

Wherever her blade struck, there was no hope for survival.

She stood on horseback, coldly surveying the remaining Haozhou officers and soldiers, her voice devoid of emotion. “The commander has been slain.”

The sound of her voice, devoid of warmth, stirred the Da Hui soldiers.

This force, a weak contingent from Luocheng, had achieved an unprecedented victory on their first campaign, annihilating one of the three major clans of Haozhou—the Borl clan.

Under the firelight, the soldiers’ expressions were filled with fervor and excitement.

The sound spread from the main tent and reached every corner of the military camp.

“Flatten this place.” After the last bit of darkness was completely driven away by the morning light at the edge of the sky, the order from Wen Yue-sheng echoed throughout the entire military camp.

“Princess orders, flatten the Haozhou military camp—”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

The military camp at dawn was filled with the overwhelming momentum of the Da Hui soldiers.

This battle began late at night and ended at noon.

Under the assumption that the enemy was unprepared, the 20,000-strong army led by Wen Yuesheng trampled the entire Haozhou military camp.

Countless Haozhou soldiers were killed, and many prisoners of war were captured.

At noon, the victorious army, along with the vast procession of Haozhou prisoners, returned to Qingyun Town.

This remote and desolate small town, after the battle yesterday, subtly revived.

Especially after dawn, many people realized that the Haozhou army, which had attacked under the cover of darkness the night before, had been completely annihilated.

When the head of the notorious general Borqui, who had been terrorizing Qingyun Town, was hung at the town’s entrance, countless people wept with joy.

Human voices began to reappear on the empty streets.

This joy reached its peak when Wen Yuesheng’s victorious army entered Qingyun Town.

Although they knew by dawn that the Haozhou generals had been dealt with, many still felt uneasy after years of hardship.

No one could be sure how long this peace would last or when the Da Hui soldiers would leave.

Would Haozhou return after their departure?

Many were happy, but also felt a sense of unease, as if walking on clouds.

They couldn’t be certain things would return to normal.

Until the news of Da Hui’s victory arrived.

The once seemingly invincible Haozhou army had been defeated that very morning.

What Princess Sining had killed was not just a general who had invaded Qingyun Town, but the entire army.

When the people of Qingyun Town saw the numerous Haozhou prisoners of war, they erupted in loud cheers.

For the first time, so many people gathered in this town that had long been decayed.

They looked at the victorious Da Hui army, overwhelmed with joy and tears.

Countless people gathered around Wen Yuesheng.

Before today, they had been living in hell, not knowing what was happening in the capital.

But after today, from Qingyun Town to several neighboring small towns and even to the entire Yuan City, everyone would recognize the name of Princess Sinning.

Due to the people’s overwhelming enthusiasm, Wen Yuesheng’s army nearly couldn’t leave Qingyun Town.

Because of the urgent situation of the war, Wen Yuesheng didn’t stay in Qingyun Town for long.

But she ordered her subordinates to distribute a batch of weapons, collected from the Haozhou army earlier that morning, to the town’s guard.

Although after this battle, Haozhou would likely not dare to invade Qingyun Town for some time, no one could be certain that no further tragedies would occur before the war was completely over.

These weapons, if necessary, could be distributed to every citizen in the town.

In addition, after Wen Yuesheng arrived in Yuan City, she also sent a new guard to stay in Qingyun Town.

Da Hui’s territory would not allow any enemy army to step foot in it, nor would it become a general’s garden.

For the group of bandits captured by Wen Yuesheng, the last two days had been a complete reversal.

While the army was busy heading to Yuan City for reinforcements, they had not been taken along.

The bandits, handcuffed and shackled, walked alongside the Haozhou prisoners, being led by the army toward Yuan City.

The second-in-command, walking along the way, shook his head and sighed: “…Surrounded by these damn Haozhou people, we just robbed the rich to help the poor, it shouldn’t be such a great crime, right?”

Jiang Yan, walking beside him, couldn’t be bothered to respond.

In order to make it easier to drag them along, the army’s doctor even treated Jiang Yan’s knee and hands.

But the ox cart had been left in Qingyun Town, returned to its rightful owner.

Jiang Yan, whose injuries had not yet healed, silently followed the army.

“I’m beginning to suspect the princess is treating us differently.” The second-in-command whispered to Dogsheng, “We all came from the same village, but look at Cuihua and the others, they’re riding in carts.”

The second-in-command nodded repeatedly: “That’s right.”

The women from their village stayed behind in Qingyun Town after the victory.

Only Jiang Rui and a few others, whose homes were in Yuan City, left with the army.

Because of Jiang Rui’s health, the army had allowed them to ride in the carts used to transport supplies.

And Jiang Rui’s condition had visibly improved day by day.

The second-in-command looked at Jiang Yan and couldn’t help but wink: “Ah Yan, do you think the princess intends to recruit us?”

Jiang Yan gave a cold look but didn’t respond.

The second-in-command spoke seriously: “I told you before, you’re not one of us. Look at me and Dogsheng, we haven’t studied much, we can only stay in the mountains as bandits.”

“You’re different, you’re a great hero.” The second-in-command continued, “I think the princess is someone worth following. She treats your aunt well. You should just follow her.”

“She’s good-looking, too.” Dogsheng added.

The second-in-command wholeheartedly agreed.

They all understood this, and Jiang Yan thought he understood it too.

But it wasn’t until they entered Yuan City and Wen Yuesheng never saw him that Jiang Yan began to wonder.

The news of Da Hui’s victory over Haozhou had spread to Yuan City after several days.

The 25,000-strong army had been completely defeated, which caused quite a stir.

Haozhou temporarily withdrew its forces, and Yuan City had been much quieter in the past few days.

After Wen Yuesheng entered Yuan City, she immediately got busy.

Jiang Yan and the bandits were thrown into the city lord’s mansion.

If no one had brought them food every day, Jiang Yan would have thought Wen Yue-sheng had forgotten about them.

He had been in the military for many years, usually quite patient.

But after several days of being ignored, Jiang Yan couldn’t sit still anymore.

His injuries were healing well, so why hadn’t Wen Yuesheng come to recruit him?

Did she still have some reservations?

Jiang Yan thought about it all night, tossing and turning, and finally decided to take the initiative.

Although he was still handcuffed and shackled, no one was guarding him in the city lord’s mansion.

Just a few days after arriving, a delicate-looking Miss Zhou came to treat his wounds.

After using Zhou Man-niang’s medicine, Jiang Yan recovered rapidly.

In just a few days, he was walking briskly.

But he hadn’t expected that, when he left the bandits’ quarters, he would see his aunt, who was in excellent spirits, looking much better.

Jiang Rui saw him and waved.

Jiang Yan quickly walked up to her.

Before he could say anything, Jiang Rui spoke, “Ah Yan, you should leave in a few days.”

Jiang Yan froze, his face darkening.

Did Wen Yue-sheng not like the Haozhou bloodline in him?

Before he could finish thinking, Jiang Rui, with a bright expression, said, “I’ve discussed it with the princess. All the money you took from looting will be repaid by me.”

“Aunt?” Jiang Yan frowned, “What does this mean?”

Jiang Rui chuckled lightly, with a somewhat smug expression: “You don’t know, Miss Lu said I understand Haozhou very well after all these years, which is very useful.”

“She also said I’m fluent in various Haozhou dialects and needs to hire me.”

Jiang Rui paused for a moment and added, “You know, with our situation, I couldn’t possibly take the princess’s money.”

“I told the princess I’d work for her to repay the money you owe, and you can just leave.”

Jiang Yan was stunned by her words.

He never expected that Wen Yue-sheng would be willing to keep his aunt, but not him.

Angry, he suddenly stood up, disregarding his aunt’s expression, and walked toward Wen Yue-sheng’s study.

It was just the right time—there were no urgent matters, and a letter had arrived from the capital.

Inside the study, Lu Hongying was reading letters from the capital.

Most of the letters were from Jiang Lu and Yan Ling, discussing the current situation in the capital and messages for Wen Yue-sheng.

In addition to Lu Hongying, there were also several generals, including Zhongyong Hou and Liu Yi, discussing military defense plans.

Lu Hongying read a letter smoothly, without paying much attention to its contents, and then began reading aloud, “…Since the princess went on the expedition, it’s been twenty-three days. In these twenty-three days, the princess hasn’t sent a single word. Perhaps she has already forgotten about Yan Ling.”

“Currently, the situation at the borders is unclear, but has a new person appeared by the princess’s side? Having been in the capital for twenty-three days, unable to sleep, I fear the battlefield may have changed, endangering the princess…”

“Moreover, the situation at the borders is growing more intense, and His Majesty intends to send reinforcements. These reinforcements can be led by Yan Ling to the borders. I wonder what the princess thinks, should she meet with Yan Ling?”

As Lu Hongying read, she suddenly noticed something was off.

She froze, the last two words caught in her throat, and her face turned red.

She flipped the envelope to see the writing was strong and bold, very different from the previous letters.

It was written: Sinning Princess personally opened, Yan Ling’s letter.

The messenger had handed all the letters to her.

She read them out of habit, never realizing that the usually cold and distant Yan Ling had written such a letter.

There was not a hint of coldness in the letter—on the contrary, it had some… indescribable meaning.

The room fell silent as Zhongyong Hou and the other generals pretended not to notice.

In fact, Liu Yi was holding the military defense map upside down.

The room was eerily quiet, and no one dared to look at Wen Yue-sheng’s expression.

Wen Yuesheng remained expressionless, even picking up some vermilion ink and writing a list of names. She spoke directly, “Let him handle these people.”

“The reinforcements can be led by him, but once they arrive, he should immediately return to the capital.”

Lu Hongying: …

The princess was truly heartless.

Before she could respond, a loud noise came from outside.

Then, with a crash, Jiang Yan, still with his handcuffs, kicked the iron chains off his feet.

His handsome face was filled with anger as he burst into the room, directly facing Wen Yuesheng, his face full of grievance.

“Why are you keeping my aunt but not me?”

Lu Hongying: ???

Huh?

This happened too?