Chapter 887: Enhancing Military Prestige

Editor: Henyee Translations

By the next morning, the giant rock had been completely cleared away, and Chu Qingzhi led the soldiers back to camp.

Tang Jinghong had been waiting at the camp entrance. Seeing Chu Qingzhi, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, “Qingzhi.”

Dismounting her horse, Chu Qingzhi announced, “It’s done!”

Tang Jinghong took the reins of Chu Qingzhi’s horse, admiringly stating, “There seems to be nothing in this world that can stump you.”

Chu Qingzhi’s eyes curved into a smile, “It’s manageable!”

Tang Jinghong, showing concern, said, “I’ve prepared breakfast for you. Eat something, then get some rest.”

Chu Qingzhi, not wanting to delay their journey, replied, “I’ll rest in the carriage.”

“Then I’ll arrange the carriage for you,” Tang Jinghong offered.

Chu Qingzhi nodded in agreement, “Okay.”

…

Above the canyon, two individuals stared in disbelief at the now unobstructed gorge, as if they were seeing an illusion.

“Are you sure you placed a giant rock in the gorge?”

“Absolutely sure!”

“So the rock just disappeared into thin air? Or did some deity help move it away?”

“How would I know? I’m not the only one aware of the rock placement. If you don’t believe me, go ask around.”

“The issue isn’t about belief but rather why the rock is gone.”

“Could Tang Jinghong actually possess some special ability?”

“…”

After discussing the missing rock for two hours, they came up with nothing but terrifying speculations and hurried to report to their superiors.

…

In the camp, Yi Chuanchuan eagerly took on the task of waking up Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin.

“Time to get up and make breakfast. Miss Chu said if you don’t work, you’ll get the whip. Do you know the military whip has barbs? It can tear off flesh.”

“You two lazybones, the sun’s already shining on your butts, and you’re still not up. If we relied on you, we’d be doomed.”

As Yi Chuanchuan spoke, he entered the tent and flipped their blankets.

Rubbing their sore eyes, Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin were visibly irritated.

Rong Shenning cursed, “Yi Chuanchuan, why is it always you, you mouthy jerk? Get out; we’re still not awake!”

Yi Chuanchuan moved their blankets aside, “The camp is about to break, and you’re still sleeping? Miss Chu already solved the rock issue, and here you two are, sleeping like logs!”

Hearing Chu Qingzhi’s name, they jolted awake, hurriedly got dressed, and left the tent, relieved to find no immediate activity.

The cook’s head waved them on, “Take them away!”

Four soldiers escorted them towards the kitchen, where preparing meals for twenty thousand people was no small feat, demanding swift and straightforward problem-solving.

As they were carried off, Rong Shenning yelled, “I am the grandson of the Prime Minister. How dare you treat me this way! I’ll make you pay when I get back!”

Ignored, they learned that military orders were supreme in the camp.

“I’ll remember this.”

“When I return to the capital, you’ll pay!”

“Wait and see!”

No matter how much they protested, they ended up in the kitchen, charged with preparing everyone’s meals.

The air buzzed with activity, cutting sounds mixed with the crackle of fire, creating a lively atmosphere filled with the aroma of rice and steamed buns.

Hearing the noises and smelling the food, Rong Shenning and Du Zhaolin felt like mice who had stumbled into a rice bin, their hunger piqued.

Rong Shenning swallowed hard, “When do we eat?”

The cook glanced at them, “Once you’ve finished your work, you can eat.”

“Are we really going to cook?” Du Zhaolin still hadn’t grasped the gravity of the situation.

“Not exactly,” the cook pointed to a pile of dishes, “Start by washing these. If you haven’t finished in the time it takes to burn an incense stick, you’ll miss breakfast.”

Du Zhaolin protested, “What do you mean?”

“Just as I said,” the cook replied.

Left with the mountain of dishes, no one paid them any more attention.

Rong Shenning picked up a bowl, tempted to smash it, “I’m the young master of the Rong family, with delicate skin, and they want me to wash dishes!”

Du Zhaolin joined the complaint, “It’s too much. I’ve never done such rough work!”

Yi Chuanchuan, arms crossed, leaned against a nearby tree, “I’m here under Miss Chu’s orders to supervise you. You’d better behave and wash those dishes quickly, or I guarantee you won’t have breakfast!”

Yan Zihao, coming over to fetch water for washing up, glanced at the scene, “It’s best to follow orders in the military camp. It’ll save you a lot of trouble.”

After fetching his water, he quietly left, his usual reticence returning as soon as he walked away.

Rong Shenning, frustrated, shouted after Yan Zihao, “Who do you think you are, lecturing us?”

Yan Zihao’s gaze turned icy for a moment before he continued on his way, quickly reverting to his silent, withdrawn demeanor.

“I’m telling you, Miss Chu smashed that giant rock with a single slap.”

“Really? We’ve never seen such profound internal strength.”

“Why would I lie to you? I saw it with my own eyes.”

“I saw it too. No deception here. It’s true. Did you hear a loud noise last night? That was Miss Chu breaking the rock.”

“Now that you mention it, I do remember hearing a loud noise.”

“When we pass by later, you can see for yourself. We’ve piled up the broken rocks on the side.”

“…”

The tale of Chu Qingzhi shattering the giant rock soon spread throughout the camp, significantly boosting her standing and military prestige.

Inside the tent, Jiang Zhanglin had risen early to write. When Fan Jingxu burst in with news about Chu Qingzhi’s feat, he paused, “It doesn’t seem strange for such a thing to happen to Miss Chu, does it?”

Sitting beside Jiang Zhanglin, Fan Jingxu mused, “Powerful, skilled in medicine, and unparalleled in martial arts — how can she be so formidable?”

After a moment, Jiang Zhanglin offered a thoughtful insight, “Perhaps it’s because she’s endured hardships and made efforts that ordinary people can hardly imagine.”

Fan Jingxu opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, finding no counterargument.

Yan Zihao, listening quietly, felt a flicker of emotion. Why do some shine so brightly while others are discarded in the shadows?

Chu Qingzhi and Chu Qingning, sharing a tent, discussed the event. Chu Qingning took on as many tasks as she could, “Fifth sister, from now on, let me handle whatever I can. Let me contribute too.”