âThe fatuous ruler has left from the south gate. He thinks he can escape down south,â Xiang Nong stood in the heavy rain and muttered. Then, he casually raised his head and ordered his foster child, âDonât worry about the army camps. Bring your troops to stop the fatuous ruler!â
Xiang Tiange cupped his fist and made a loud sound of assent before heading south with his battalion.
âLetâs go!â Xiang Nong got on to his horse and shouted, âLetâs go and meet the fatuous ruler!!â After leaving the army camp, Xiang Nong and the rebel forces realised that there were many silhouettes all around the campsite. Where is the fatuous ruler?!
âAre we going to go out?â Pei Yan accompanied Ning Xiaoyao and squatted outside one of the army tents. Ning Xiaoyao made a small slit on the tent, allowing the two of them to look out through the hole. They were in the tent where the rebel forces would take their rest. All the rebel soldiers had already been slaughtered by Shadowgale and the others.
Ning Xiaoyao and Pei Yan squatted at the entrance of the tent to keep watch while Shadowgale and the others changed into the outfit of the rebel forces. Ning Xiaoyao released her hand and the slit in the tent closed. Pointing behind her, Emperor Ning asked, âBefore we discuss our following steps, Second Young Master Pei, please explain to me whatâs going on?â
Ning Xiaoyao was pointing at Erya and Xiaoqiu. The two of them were sitting on a wooden stool and innocently gazing at Ning Xiaoyao.
Pei Yan replied, âYour Majesty changed to casual wear and left the palace to infiltrate the camp of the rebel forces right? Otherwise, why didnât Your Majesty choose to leave from the north gate?â Did he think that the rebels were easier to bully than the Northern Hu? That obviously canât be the reason why Ning Xiaoyao chose to leave from the south gate.
âWhat does this have to do with you bringing Erya and Xiaoqiu out?!â Ning Xiaoyao glared at Pei Yan. Earlier, she was distracted by the hundred thousand troops at the scene and didnât take note of the troops Pei Yan brought out of the capital. She would never have guessed that this crazy bastard would take Erya and Xiaoqiu out of the capital ah!!
âThere is no better way to hide our identities than to bring two kids along.â Pei Yan grinned. Pei Yanâs smile made him look handsome as always but that only triggered Ning Xiaoyaoâs anger. âTime was of the essence and I didnât have time to tell Your Majesty.â
Ning Xiaoyao exploded, âCouldnât you have found a proper reason?!â
âIâm serious,â Pei Yan continued smiling. Ning Xiaoyaoâs clenched fist could be heard loud and clear. She really wants to beat this useless guy up ah!!!
âNo one would ever think the ruler of the country would be travelling with two children unrelated to him,â Pei Yan shook his head closely at Ning Xiaoyao and lowered his voice, âYour Majesty, is this reason acceptable?â
âYour Majesty,â Erya shyly chirped in, âThen.. Then should I bring Xiaoqiu back?â
Ning Xiaoyao: ...What could she say? Theyâve already braved the danger and escaped. How could she toss them back?
âWhat is happening below?â Pei Yan pulled opened the slit in the tent. Ning Xiaoyao looked out of the tent, âDo you hear it? Itâs the Northern Hu dialect.â Pei Yan nodded. The language of the Northern Hu and Yongning people were different and it was easy to tell them apart.
âWhen we exit the tent, we will shout that the fatuous ruler ran south,â Ning Xiaoyao twirled the dagger in the hand and whispered, âWe will lead the two groups and run to the south.â
âWhat happens after that?â Pei Yan asked. At this moment, Shadowgale and the others arrived.
Ning Xiaoyao licked her parched lips, âThatâs the exciting part.â
Everyone, including Pei Yan, held their breaths. âOur purpose is not to escape,â Ning Xiaoyao excitedly explained, âOur purpose is to get the rebel forces to fight against the Northern Hu!!â
No one responded and everyone was stunned. âWe donât have enough troops,â Ning Xiaoyao continued her plan without a care, âBut the rebel forces have so many people ah. And all these people are from Yongning. Why shouldnât they protect the country too?â
âThatâs not the point,â Pei Yan finally responded, âWhy would the rebel forces listen to you ah?â
âI am not that influential,â Ning Xiaoyao had self awareness.
âThen what are you going to do?â Second Young Master Pei did not understand. In the rebel forces, His Majesty was known as the fatuous ruler. How was he going to convince the rebel troops to fight against the Northern Hu with their lives on the line?!
âThere is a female camp in the southwest direction of the campsite,â Ning Xiaoyao whispered. Everyone stared at Ning Xiaoyao. No one believes that His Majesty would be thinking about women at times like this. But why would His Majesty suddenly bring up the matter of the female camp ah?
âXiang Nong has no son,â Ning Xiaoyao explained, âHe only has a daughter called Wanwan.â
âYou want to kidnap Wanwan and use her to threaten Xiang Nong?â Pei Yan blurted. âThat move would be useless,â Ning Xiaoyao shook her head, âXiang Nong isnât impotent yet, he could probably deal with the death of his daughter.â
âThen what do you want to do?â
âWeâll kidnap the lady when the Northern Hu comes over. Then weâll kidnap one with a high status,â Ning Xiaoyao put her thumbs together, âYou understand right...â Everyone present looked at each other, then turned to Ning Xiaoyao and shook their heads. They really didnât understand...
âWe wonât strip the lady,â Ning Xiaoyao beamed gleefully, âBut we will strip the Northern Hu man. Then weâll call the rebel forces over and push the blame on the Northern Hu!!â
A Northern Hu man forcing himself on Xiang Nongâs only daughter. In public. In front of so many people.
If Xiang Nong doesnât take revenge, he would be seen as a man who couldnât even protect his daughterâs innocence. How could a man like that be fit to be the Lord of the rebel forces?!
âIn order to make it seem legit, we have to kidnap a few more girls,â Ning Xiaoyao looked out of the tent, âThis will make it seem like the rebel forces didnât know Wanwanâs true identity.â
âWait a minute. Now itâs going to be a group of Northern Hu?â
âI just decided on this. You have an issue with that, Second Young Master?â Pei Yan realised he didnât know how to respond when he was facing this punk. How could he think up such things on the spot?!
âWindy, do you have any objections?â Ning Xiaoyao looked up and asked Shadowgale and the others. Shadowgale and the others shook their heads. They actually came with the thought of sacrificing their lives when they left the capital with His Majesty. Never would they have expected to ride directly into the camp of the rebel forces.
The people outside were all out for their lives and yet they were squatting in their military tent and having a meeting. Shadowgale and the other guards felt a little dizzy. This situation really deviated too much from their imagination!!!
âThis way, that Xiang Wanwan will lose her innocence in name and cannot marry out in the future right?â a kind Dragon Guard voiced out. After saying this, apart from Ning Xiaoyao, Erya and Xiaoqiu, everyone stared at this little bro. You still care about the marital affairs of a rebel lady?! Ning Xiaoyao puffed out her cheeks. What she plans to do is despicable and morally wrong but...
Ning Xiaoyao took a breath, âXiang Nong wants to kill me but I canât ruin his daughterâs innocence? Also, itâs not like Iâm really taking her innocence!!â
Everyone: ...It isnât real but this may cause the young miss to be suicidal, okay?!
âThis comment is rejected,â Ning Xiaoyao waved her hands, âAre there any other issues?â
Pei Yan added, âWhat happens after we save Xiang Wanwan? Do we escape immediately?â
âNo,â Ning Xiaoyao shook her head, âI have decided to join the rebel forces. Fighting to death against the Northern Hu is my new job.â
*Gulp* One of the Dragon Guards choked on his saliva. The military tent was quiet again.
âWhy arenât any of you saying anything?â Ning Xiaoyao asked.
âJoin the rebel forces?!â Second Young Master Pei blasted, âYour Majesty, you think they will let you join?â
âWe are the poor and unfortunate common people who canât wait to kill the fatuous ruler, Ning Yu. Second Young Master, do you think I can join the rebel forces based on this reason?â
âYour Majesty wants to fake death?â Shadowgale furrowed his brows.
âMhm,â Ning Xiaoyao nodded. Mhm your head ah! Pei Yan regretted coming along with Ning Xiaoyao. âHow are you going to fake your death?â
âI have already thought it through,â Ning Xiaoyao patted the bundle on her back. Everyone else: ... His Majesty has already thought it through ah?
Ning Xiaoyao took out something from the bundle. âYou!â Pei Yan exclaimed when he saw what was in Ning Xiaoyaoâs hand.
Ning Xiaoyao covered Pei Yanâs mouth with a âpa!â sound. âIsnât it just the jade seal, what is there to be excited about?!â
Pei Yan pulled away Ning Xiaoyaoâs hand and wanted to shout at him. But then he thought, he is the emperor. I guess itâs not wrong for an emperor to carry around his jade seal ah...
âFind me a corpse later,â Ning Xiaoyao added, âThe kind that has been trampled by horses. Whatâs that called...Horse what soil?â Shadowrain replied, âHorse stamped to soil?â
âYes, yes thatâs the phrase,â Ning Xiaoyao gave a thumbs up to Shadowrain. Pei Yan thought while squatting, âIt wouldnât be convincing if youâre the only one dead, right?â
âEveryoneâs clothes are here.â Ning Xiaoyao pointed at the clothes that Shadowgale and the others changed out of. âFind some corpses and change them into these outfits. Just make it seem like we all died ah.â
âWhat if someone finds out about the identity of these bodies?â Pei Yan asked.
Ning Xiaoyao immediately replied, âDisfigure the faces.â Pei Yan retorted, âIf all the bodies had disfigured faces, wouldnât it seem like youâre just trying to deceive yourself into thinking your plan would work?â
âWhat do you suggest then, Second Young Master?â
âLight a fire. If the bodies are burnt, no one would be able to tell what they look like. This solution is simpler.â
âDeal!â Ning Xiaoyao clapped her hands together, âLetâs settle on this happily. Second Young Master, we can split now. You can go back to the palace and I will go to the female camp!â
Pei Yan stared at Ning Xiaoyao. Ning Xiaoyao blinked her eyes, âYouâre not returning to the palace?â
âIâll accompany Your Majesty to finish the task first.â Pei Yan actually didnât want to accompany Ning Xiaoyao to do crazy things. But after thinking about it, if they managed to get a Northern Hu man to ruin Xiang Wanwan, perhaps they may really be able to force Xiang Nong into going against them.
âYour Majesty,â Erya ran to Ning Xiaoyao, âWhat about me and Xiaoqiu?â Ning Xiaoyao looked at Pei Yan.
âWe want to be with Your Majesty!!!â Erya didnât wait for Ning Xiaoyao to reply before stating resolutely. Ning Xiaoyao looked at Pei Yan and sighed, muttering, âWhatâs the point of having a face like that.â
Second Young Master Pei was amused. âI may be born with such fairy-like looks, but I already have a family. How could Erya be interested in me?â
Everyone in the vicinity felt that His Majesty and Pei Yanâs entanglement wasnât random. These two people both thought differently from everyone else and only they could have a conversation. (Author: o(â¯â¡â°)o)
âHow about this,â Ning Xiaoyao waved at Xiaoqiu who was sitting obediently at the side. When Xiaoqiu ran in front of her, Ning Xiaoyao reached out and picked him up. âFrom now on, Iâll be a strong independent widow with Erya and Xiaoqiu as my daughter and son.â
Everyone else: ...
âWhat did you say?!â Second Young Master Pei lost count of the number of times he was stunned by this bugger today. âWhat did you just say? Can you repeat that for me?â Second Young Master Pei roared at Ning Xiaoyao.