My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 73

73

After arriving at the Forbidden Garden by carriage, Gu Qingci felt a bit nauseous from the bumpy ride.

Having a weak constitution was truly troublesome.

Knowing that Gu Qingci would be arriving today, Wen Renyi had specially brought some people to greet her. These were all individuals Gu Qingci had personally selected, and they were the most loyal to her.

“You made a bet with someone? Why would you stoop to such provocation?” As soon as they met, Gu Qingci recounted the events in the court, and Wen Renyi immediately became anxious.

“Don’t get worked up. I did this because I trust you all. I’ve already explained the basic rules to His Majesty—it’s mainly an archery contest, not a life-or-death battle with blades. Relax. At worst, I’ll resign from my post. If I’m no longer the Left Commander, the Feilong Army won’t be disbanded.” Gu Qingci said lightly.

“…The Feilong Army is uneven in skill. Some can’t even hit two out of ten shots. I… I really can’t imagine how a hundred people could defeat a thousand. Since you’ve already made the bet, do you have some clever strategy?” Wen Renyi said dejectedly before suddenly looking at Gu Qingci with a serious expression.

“We’ll talk about that later. What’s the situation with the officers in the Imperial Forest Army today? Why didn’t they come to greet me?” Gu Qingci patted Wen Renyi’s shoulder and asked.

“Beneath the Left Commander, there are two Deputy Generals, as well as Captains, Lieutenants, and Squad Leaders. Originally, if you hadn’t been appointed as Left Commander, one of the two Deputy Generals would have been promoted. How do you think they’d feel about you? Their subordinates are under their control and don’t dare to come either.” Wen Renyi explained.

“Never mind, forget it. I can’t be bothered with them. I’ll discuss it with His Majesty later—if these people refuse to submit, they’ll all have to be replaced.” Gu Qingci said.

Gu Qingci and Wen Renyi returned to the area specifically designated for the Feilong Army.

The people in the Feilong Guard had no conflicts of interest with Gu Qingci and were very friendly toward her, as well as deeply admiring.

They were exceptionally enthusiastic upon seeing Gu Qingci.

Gu Qingci asked Wen Renyi to explain the bet to everyone, and they were all utterly astonished.

“The squad leaders and platoon leaders will come first. Pick three with the worst archery skills, and we’ll teach them together later.” Gu Qingci said.

A hundred people were not too many, but speaking to them without a loudspeaker still required some effort. Right now, Gu Qingci didn’t have the lung capacity to project her voice loudly.

Wen Renyi, appointed as Gu Qingci’s deputy, helped arrange everything for her.

Then, Gu Qingci took these few individuals indoors and gave them a lesson.

She explained the parabolic principles of archery, the factors affecting accuracy, and so on.

Distance couldn’t be measured precisely—it relied on experience. These explanations were just to help them understand the principles of adjusting their posture and strength when shooting. In practice, they still needed training.

However, Gu Qingci also gave them an auxiliary tool.

She installed a simple sighting device, crafted by artisans under Ruan Zhi’s direction, onto their bows and had the three worst archers test it first.

After taking them outside, she set up targets and adjusted the sights for them in the first round.

During her recovery period, Gu Qingci had Wen Renyi lead the troops in training focused on physical fitness, strength building, and core stability.

At this moment, everyone’s strength and stability are quite good.

Gu Qingci helped them adjust their sights, aim at the bullseye, draw their bows, and shoot.

Wen Renyi and the others didn’t even blink, staring intently as the men fired their arrows.

The first round—every single arrow hit the target!

Then, over the next ten arrows, even those who had originally only hit one or two out of ten now managed to land at least six. The misses later on were only due to shaky hands throwing off their aim.

Gu Qingci wasn’t entirely satisfied. After her training, even Ye Muran, a child, could hit a hundred out of a hundred shots with a toy bow.

These men still had room for improvement.

“An archery crash course—no wonder you dared to make that bet!” Wen Renyi and the others were thrilled with the results.

“More practice is still needed. Squad leaders, team leaders, did you all understand the method just now? Give it a try. If you have any questions, ask me. Later, each of you will teach your own teams, and then we’ll see which group performs the best. Also, pick two more of the strongest men—I have a use for them.” Gu Qingci said to the group.

The men began practicing. Some who had already been fairly accurate before became nearly flawless with the aid of the new tools.

Once they had all confirmed the method with Gu Qingci and dispersed to their own units, she discussed other strategies with Wen Renyi.

“General Gu, you won’t have to lift a finger—leave the rest to the Feilong Army.” Wen Renyi said.

“That won’t do. I’ll still need to move a finger or two. I’ll be participating too, and naturally, their side will also have team leaders joining in. These leaders will count toward the scoring. I’ll handle the decapitation strike.” Gu Qingci said.

“How will you do it?” Wen Renyi asked curiously.

Gu Qingci didn’t keep him in suspense and explained directly.

Wen Renyi was stunned once again.

“Lord Gu is truly a genius! Now we just have to wait and see the look on their faces when they lose.” Wen Renyi said with a laugh.

“How are things progressing on your end with the medical research?” Gu Qingci asked Wen Renyi.

“In terms of the antidote, the herbs purchased from the Hu people have arrived and are now being incorporated into the preparation. We’ve been testing it on a few small rabbits, but the results haven’t been great. As for the bl00d exchange therapy you mentioned, my second uncle and a few others have successfully separated serum and plasma. They’ve been conducting agglutination reaction experiments with bl00d from different people to distinguish bl00d types. Currently, it seems the method for identifying bl00d types is becoming more stable. Moving forward…”

Wen Renyi gave a brief update.

“Truly worthy of a medical family. I’ll await your good news. By the way, for now, keep the progress of this matter confidential and don’t inform others.” Gu Qingci said with a smile. Just by informing them that bl00d is divided into different types and understanding the basic principles, they had saved several centuries of exploration time.

Given the current medical conditions, bl00d exchange therapy carries certain risks. Unless absolutely necessary, Gu Qingci had no intention of using this method. If the ingested antidote could be developed first, that would naturally be ideal.

If it couldn’t be developed in time, bl00d exchange therapy could serve as a backup to dilute the toxins in the bl00d. However, completely purging the toxins with current technology was unrealistic. In that case, they would still have to rely on the antidote to clear the residual poison, so both avenues of research needed to continue.

“I understand what you mean. I hope we succeed soon.” Wen Renyi nodded.

After finalizing their plans, Gu Qingci went out to check the progress of the troops’ training and make adjustments.

Six or seven days passed like this, and the accuracy rate of the Feilong Army’s archers had reached over 70-80% hits out of ten shots.

During this time, Gu Qingci didn’t visit the Imperial Guards, only sending word for them to continue training as usual. None of the officers came to report to him, and Gu Qingci already had a rough idea of the situation.

Gu Qingci had to travel to the Forbidden Garden every day. Although it didn’t require much physical exertion, the back-and-forth trips left her body even more exhausted.

Her closeness with Ruan Zhi was limited to hugs and kisses, and she would quickly fall asleep from fatigue, spending the night quietly.

During these ten days, the Wenren family had made further progress in their research on bl00d exchange therapy, conducting some experiments on animals.

They began experimenting on humans, primarily focusing on cases of acute traumatic hemorrhage where the patient would die without a bl00d transfusion.

The Wenren family operated medical clinics, so such cases were not hard to come by.

Gu Qingci was eager to see how they conducted these procedures and the outcomes of the treated cases. However, due to her focus on preparing for the upcoming wager battle, she had been fully dedicated to that matter and planned to visit after the event concluded.

On the appointed day, both sides arrived at the Forbidden Garden.

Emperor Changping also came to the archery pavilion in the Forbidden Garden to observe, accompanied by the Crown Prince, Ye Youli, and several important ministers.

From the elevated vantage point, the difference in scale between one hundred and one thousand people was starkly evident.

Gu Qingci donned light armor and ascended the archery pavilion first, where the other Right Commander also arrived.

After paying her respects to Emperor Changping, Gu Qingci reiterated the rules.

Both sides would first prepare their defensive positions, each given half an hour, before the battle commenced.

The current test was a long-range archery battle, with no close-quarters combat assessment. The primary objective was to protect the commander—if the commander fell, the battle was lost.

Each soldier was limited to ten arrows. Once their arrows were expended, they would be considered out of combat.

Emperor Changping sent overseers to ensure that anyone hit by an arrow would be immediately eliminated and could no longer remain on the field.

“This humble official is still physically weak, so I have prepared a carriage for mobility. If the Right Commander requires any preparations, please feel free to make them.” Gu Qingci added.

The right commander was a tall and mighty burly man. Seeing Gu Qingci’s delicate and fair, pretty appearance, he immediately looked down on her.

Adding to the fact that Gu Qingci was physically weak and poisoned, he didn’t consider her a worthy opponent at all.

“You’d better wear thicker armor. Although the arrowheads have been removed and wrapped with cloth, if you get hit, the impact will still be quite strong.” the right commander said.

“Thank you for the reminder, Commander.” Gu Qingci replied with a smile.

After Emperor Changping ordered the eunuch to announce the start, Gu Qingci and the right commander each went to prepare.

Emperor Changping secretly hoped Gu Qingci would win.

But the gap between the two sides was simply too vast.

However, seeing Gu Qingci’s calm demeanor, Emperor Changping’s curiosity was piqued.

He wanted to see just how well-trained Gu Qingci’s soldiers really were.

As both sides prepared, the approximate distance was set. Gu Qingci’s team adjusted their sights accordingly.

Gu Qingci’s chariot was more sophisticated.

It was a modified crossbow cart equipped with a powerful crossbow capable of firing five arrows at once. The force of this crossbow was equivalent to that of a three-stone bow.

Even in the Tiger Guard, a three-stone bow was considered top-tier, with only a select few able to draw it.

Naturally, Gu Qingci couldn’t draw it either.

The chariot also carried two of the strongest soldiers from the Feilong Army. Their task was to draw the bowstring for Gu Qingci, while her main responsibility was to adjust the angle of the crossbow with her fingers, aim, and then press the mechanism to release the five arrows.

Calculating the accuracy of five arrows at once was something only Gu Qingci could do in the entire team.

The crossbow was a secret weapon, and Gu Qingci didn’t want to reveal it yet, so the exterior was covered with the chariot’s original body to conceal it, leaving only the arrow ports exposed.

After both sides were prepared, the eunuch beside Emperor Changping gave the order, and the battle officially began.

The opposing side had more people and planned to use an arrow barrage tactic in the first wave. A thousand men would shoot simultaneously, disregarding accuracy—without preparation, most would be killed or injured in the first assault.

This was something Gu Qingci and Wen Renyi had anticipated during their discussions. Thus, they didn’t attack in the first wave. Instead, they deployed a shield formation, covering both the front and overhead.

Having fewer troops also had its advantages. In the first wave, they gathered tightly behind the shields, emerging completely unscathed.

After the enemy had loosed several volleys of arrows, gaps were opened in the shields to allow their own archers to return fire, picking off enemy soldiers one arrow at a time.

Each member of the Feilong Army had ten arrows, and almost none were wasted. On the other side, the Right Commander’s Imperial Guards were being called out one by one under the supervision of the eunuch and eliminated.

The Feilong Army suffered no casualties.

Gu Qingci’s mounted crossbow carried thirty arrows, combining the arrows of two soldiers assigned to draw the string for her.

Firing five arrows at a time, she only had six chances to shoot.

Gu Qingci’s target, of course, was the enemy commander.

Before the battle began, five arrows had already been loaded onto the crossbow. Gu Qingci adjusted the angle and waited, poised for action.

The enemy commander was surrounded by layers of soldiers, with only the hem of his robe visible through the gaps. The sheer number of troops made the formation appear impenetrably thick.

First, she needed to “thin out” the ranks and disrupt their formation. Once the enemy commander’s body was exposed, Gu Qingci was confident she could strike him down.

She waited a while longer, allowing her Feilong Army to demonstrate the results of their training over the past few days.

“Minister Gu truly knows how to train soldiers—each of these Feilong troops can hit their mark every time!” Emperor Changping marveled at the sight.

Ye Youli had known about Gu Qingci’s plan beforehand, but seeing it executed still left her astonished.

Others who had previously stood in their respective camps, claiming Gu Qingci was unfit for the role, now found themselves somewhat humiliated.

Even if Gu Qingci’s side were to lose now, it would be a glorious defeat.

“A commanding general’s personal combat prowess isn’t the most crucial factor. What makes a great general is the ability to train troops, command effectively, and secure victories. Since ancient times, there have been scholar-generals. General Gu is a rare talent, and the position of Left Commander is well-deserved!” the Crown Prince added from the side.

Seeing Gu Qingci like this, the Crown Prince was pleased in his heart.

With Gu Qingci’s personal combat prowess now gone, if she could still serve as a military officer, it would mean that even scholars like them could have the opportunity to become military officers.

This was a great advantage for the Crown Prince, whose faction was dominated by civil officials.

Emperor Changping nodded without voicing any opposition.

“Initially, it was said that victory must be proven. Now, the outcome is still uncertain.” Ye Youli remarked, preempting the objections that several other court officials had in mind.

“Then let us wait and see.” Emperor Changping said, inexplicably feeling a glimmer of confidence in Gu Qingci.

The Right Commander had underestimated Gu Qingci’s side, and their defenses were not properly arranged. As a result, within a short time, half of their thousand men had been eliminated.

Only then did the Right Commander begin to panic.

The opposing side had turned themselves into a tortoise shell, with gaps for shooting arrows—a tactic that was downright cunning.

Whenever his side fired arrows, those gaps would immediately close, blocking the arrows.

Truly the behavior of a turtle!

The Right Commander was furious and took to the field himself to shoot arrows.

The Right Commander had attained his position through sheer martial prowess, making him the strongest and most skilled warrior among the thousand men.

He wielded a bow with a draw weight of two and a half dan (approximately 150 pounds).

As his arrow was released, the soldier holding the shield could not withstand the force and was pushed backward, creating an opening. The opposing side swiftly seized the opportunity to shoot back, and Gu Qingci’s side lost several men.

Seeing the Right Commander expose part of his body while shooting, Gu Qingci judged that the time was right and triggered the first volley.

Five arrows shot forth with a piercing whistle, their force so immense that the previously fired arrows seemed feeble in comparison.

With several loud bangs, the soldiers surrounding the Right Commander were knocked down, spitting bl00d.

Before the opposing side could regroup, five more arrows were loaded. Two soldiers beside Gu Qingci exerted their utmost strength to draw the crossbow, and Gu Qingci immediately released another five arrows.

Bang, bang, bang—another wave fell.

The Right Commander, who had been drawing his bow, was struck. As he rose to issue a command, another loud thud sent a sharp pain through his body, and he was flung backward, landing atop the soldiers behind him.

Next, the decisive sound of the horn blared.

“Victory goes to General Gu Qingci, the Left Commander!”

The loud announcement left the Right Commander somewhat dazed.

How could they have lost?

He had never heard of such a skilled archer on Gu Qingci’s side!

On the archery tower, Emperor Changping stood up in excitement.

For a moment, he almost wondered if Gu Qingci had recovered from her injuries.

Otherwise, how could there be someone so extraordinarily formidable?

“Now, all of you have seen it! The outcome is decided! Gu Qingci is truly deserving. Back then, when she slew more than a dozen of the Wolf Tu Army, she was already a hero of the nation. Now, though weakened by poison, her ability to train soldiers is no less impressive. If any of you still refuse to accept this, win against her first before speaking!”

Emperor Changping addressed the other court officials.

Though none of them knew what tricks might have been hidden in Gu Qingci’s carriage, the undeniable truth was that Gu Qingci’s side had won!

Gu Qingci and the Right Commander ascended the tower again to meet Emperor Changping.

Gu Qingci was unharmed, her face neither flushed nor breath labored, while the Right Commander, struck by the three-stone crossbow, still felt a sharp pain in his chest despite the thick armor—a stark contrast to his bold words before the battle.

“General Gu, have your injuries healed?” Emperor Changping asked upon seeing Gu Qingci.

The others also stared at her. Had the earlier claims of poisoning been false?

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble subject dares not deceive the Emperor. The poison has not been neutralized, and I can no longer even draw a one-stone bow.” Gu Qingci replied.

There was no point in pretending otherwise. Moreover, Gu Qingci had no intention of feigning strength while still weak—better to focus on practical matters.

“Then… was it the Feilong Army’s fierce warriors?” Emperor Changping asked.

“Indeed, they were.” Gu Qingci said.

“Bring them to see me later. I shall reward them!” Emperor Changping declared.

Gu Qingci agreed.

“Now that Minister Gu has won, according to our prior agreement, Minister Gu will continue to serve as the Left Commander. It’s a bit of a disadvantage for Minister Gu. What reward would be suitable? What would you like?” Emperor Changping asked, unable to think of what else to bestow upon Gu Qingci, so he posed the question directly.

Having just granted Gu Qingci a position of real authority and elevated her noble rank to the second class, official titles and noble ranks were off the table. If not those, he wanted to see what Gu Qingci would ask for.

“Your Majesty, this humble official has heard that the Imperial Household Department recruits merchants from the private sector as imperial merchants, granting them the privilege to operate official shops. This humble official seeks no other reward but boldly requests Your Majesty to appoint my lawful wife, Madam Zhilan, as an imperial merchant and grant her the right to open official shops. This humble official does not speak recklessly—the currently popular tea was developed by Madam Zhilan’s people and is widely favored among the nobility. The shimmering satin that is highly sought after in aristocratic circles was also created by Madam Zhilan and her team. If Madam Zhilan becomes an imperial merchant, she could generate wealth for Daheng and enrich the national treasury.” Gu Qingci paused before speaking. Since Emperor Changping had asked, she decided to voice her request and see if he would agree.

In the original plot, Ruan Zhi became an imperial merchant after Emperor Changping’s death, with Ye Youli’s support.

Ye Youli, standing nearby, narrowed her eyes slightly.

She hadn’t expected Gu Qingci to make such a request.

Ye Youli had long known of Ruan Zhi’s ambition to become an imperial merchant and had even been asked by Ruan Zhi to help maneuver for it.

However, becoming an imperial merchant was no easy feat—it required Emperor Changping’s personal approval and appointment.

Ye Youli had yet to find the right opportunity, but Gu Qingci had taken the first step.

Emperor Changping was taken aback. He hadn’t anticipated that Gu Qingci wouldn’t seek anything for herself but would once again advocate for her wife.

To be incorporated as an imperial merchant meant being brought into the official system, representing the court in commerce.

Previously, though Ruan Zhi had supplied goods to official shops, she hadn’t received the emperor’s official approval and thus wasn’t considered an imperial merchant.

Once appointed as an imperial merchant, it was customary to confer an official title.

The Imperial Household Department had many trusted eunuchs of Emperor Changping holding key positions, and there was no inherent aversion to allowing women of talent to enter.

But there had been no precedent before.

There was no precedent for this before.

“Very well, I shall issue an imperial decree appointing Madam Zhilan as a royal merchant, initially limited to opening one official shop in Yanjing City.” Emperor Changping said after some thought, imposing a slight restriction.

Bestowing another royal merchant title could secure Gu Qingci’s greater loyalty, which would still be a worthwhile trade-off.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Gu Qingci had initially feared that Emperor Changping might refuse due to Ruan Zhi’s status as a Huà’é woman and had prepared to negotiate further, but to her surprise, the emperor agreed.

This emperor was indeed quite reasonable.

“Very well, let us adjourn for today.” Emperor Changping said with a wave of his hand.

“Your Majesty, this humble official has more to say. May we dismiss the attendants?” Gu Qingci requested.

Emperor Changping glanced at the few people present and motioned for them to withdraw, leaving only Gu Qingci and his trusted eunuch. The emperor then signaled Gu Qingci to speak.

“Your Majesty, the reason for this humble official’s victory was the use of a certain weapon—not because there was a fierce general inside the carriage. The weapon was crafted by artisans commissioned by Madam Zhilan. This humble official wishes to mass-produce this weapon and later introduce it to the military, with components manufactured separately and assembled by trusted individuals. Does Your Majesty find this feasible?” Gu Qingci said, retrieving the blueprint of the crossbow from her sleeve and presenting it to the emperor through his trusted eunuch.

Emperor Changping examined the blueprint, his expression shifting slightly.

The principle was simple, but the key lay in someone conceiving the idea.

No wonder Gu Qingci had been able to launch such powerful arrows from inside the carriage earlier.

“This weapon can be scaled down to make hand crossbows, or enlarged to create city-defense crossbows, mobile chariot crossbows, and so on. The one this humble official used earlier was a chariot crossbow, equivalent to a three-stone bow.” Gu Qingci explained.

Emperor Changping set down the blueprint and looked at Gu Qingci with a graver expression.

“Minister Gu, you are truly a pillar of the state! Worthy of reward, worthy of reward!” Emperor Changping said, feeling a surge of energy in his aged body.

“Your Majesty, this humble official seeks no reward. If Your Majesty wishes to bestow one, please grant it all to this humble official’s wife.” Gu Qingci said.

“You… hahaha, very well! Very well!” Emperor Changping laughed heartily at Gu Qingci’s words.

“I’ve never seen someone who doesn’t want a promotion but only seeks benefits for their lawful wife.

As for rewarding Gu Qingci, I really don’t know what to give her. In that case, let her wife open a few more official shops and grant her more privileges.”

After settling the matter with Emperor Changping, Gu Qingci left the archery pavilion, feeling somewhat relieved.

The position of Left Commander was minor; what mattered more was her importance in Emperor Changping’s heart.

Now, all clues pointed to Xu Dace’s Tiger Guard Army, and Xu Dace’s ambitions were gradually being unveiled.

Raising a private army and colluding with the enemy Hu people—these were no minor crimes.

Once Xu Dace arrived in Yanjing City, it would be up to Emperor Changping to decide how to handle him.

After leaving, Gu Qingci led the Feilong Army back to their base to rest and regroup.

“Your wife sent this. Each volunteer gets one hundred taels. If it works out, another thousand taels will be added. She said she’d find ten Alphas. On our side, the Feilong Army has no shortage of Alphas—each one is in excellent health. We’ll select a few more.” Wen Renyi said to Gu Qingci.

“Another ten should be enough. Make sure they have no illnesses.” Gu Qingci nodded.

The bl00d transfusion therapy was a backup plan. They needed to first identify people with matching bl00d types so that if it came to that, they could quickly find donors.

After confirming with Gu Qingci, Wen Renyi selected ten men.

Compared to Gu Qingci, Wen Renyi knew the Feilong Army better.

Without explaining the reason, he simply told them that the Wen family’s medical clinic would give them free check-ups and needed a bit of their bl00d, offering one hundred taels each.

These men were straightforward and honest, not overthinking things, and immediately agreed.

In the afternoon, Wen Renyi took them to his family’s medical clinic, and Gu Qingci went as well.

The clinic currently had two cases: one was a pregnant woman with severe bleeding, and the other was a man who had lost too much bl00d from an injury. Both had improved after bl00d transfusions and were still under observation.

Because Gu Qingci had mentioned to Wen Renyi that there were countless invisible bacteria and viruses in the environment, everything needed to be sterilized.

The two patients were also isolated in separate rooms.

Gu Qingci wasn’t sure if this sterile environment met the standards, but judging by the Wen family’s arrangements, it seemed quite professional.

If bl00d transfusion is possible, then a complete bl00d exchange should also be feasible.

Gu Qingci had great confidence in the Wenren family.

After making a round at the Wenren family’s medical clinic, Gu Qingci returned to find Ruan Zhi.

Ruan Zhi had already received the imperial edict. Emperor Changping appointed her as a third-rank imperial merchant, registered under the Imperial Household Department, authorized to open official shops to supply the palace with textiles and fabrics.

Most importantly, her official shops could receive silver from the imperial treasury!

This was several years earlier than when Ruan Zhi became an imperial merchant in her previous life!

Ruan Zhi suspected that Gu Qingci must have done something.

When Gu Qingci returned, Ruan Zhi asked her about it.

“His Majesty asked me what I wanted, so I told him. Don’t say it, but His Majesty is really quite nice—he actually agreed. This is perfect. The refined salt, white sugar, and high-proof liquor we developed earlier can now be sold, and we’re representing the imperial court this time.” Gu Qingci said with a smile, her tone light and sweet.

It sounded like sweet nothings.

Or perhaps even sweeter than sweet nothings.

Ruan Zhi looked at Gu Qingci and didn’t bother with unnecessary words of thanks. Instead, she pulled her into an embrace.

“You’ve worked hard today.” Ruan Zhi said softly.

“Then can we take a bath together tonight?” Gu Qingci seized the opportunity to ask for a favor.

“…Alright.” Ruan Zhi agreed.

Previously, Ruan Zhi had found it too embarrassing, and the bathtub at home was too small, designed for a single person.

Gu Qingci had longed for this for ages and begged Ruan Zhi to have a larger one made. The larger tub was indeed crafted, but Gu Qingci had been caught up in incidents and had been staying at Ye Youli’s place.

It wasn’t until Gu Qingci’s leave ended and she officially returned to work that they moved back to their residence in the Forbidden Garden.

Gu Qingci had been busy preparing for the competition, her energy limited, and likely hadn’t even thought about this matter.

Today, my mood is relaxed—she thought of it after all.

After dinner in the evening, Gu Qingci was a bit impatient.

But they still had to let the food settle, so they waited until it was almost time to rest before going.

Ruan Zhi calculated the accounts for a while and had the maids prepare the water. When the two of them went into the inner room, a loud rumbling suddenly sounded outside.

It was thunder.

Ruan Zhi’s body stiffened slightly.

Gu Qingci stepped forward and embraced her, trying to cover her ears.

“ACi, no need.” Though her body was still trembling slightly, Ruan Zhi pushed Gu Qingci’s hand away and spoke.

“Sister, what’s wrong?” Gu Qingci asked, puzzled.

“I shouldn’t have a weakness like being afraid of thunder. I need to overcome it. In the future, you don’t need to worry about rainy or thunderous days. Wait for me in the outer room—let me be alone for a while.” Ruan Zhi said, pressing her hand against Gu Qingci’s shoulder.

“Sister, you’re still scared right now, still uncomfortable. Why do you want to be alone? Do you have to bear it alone, overcome it by yourself?” Gu Qingci didn’t let go, staring intently at Ruan Zhi.

“ACi, I can overcome it. Last time, when I went to find you, it was during a thunderstorm. The fact is, I managed it. That way, in the future, you won’t need to rush to my side every time there’s thunder. Like last time… I must learn to adapt alone.” Ruan Zhi said, her expression serious and resolute.

She should be able to overcome it—last time, in order to find Gu Qingci, she had ridden Chi Huo through the thunder for so long.

Gu Qingci looked at Ruan Zhi, and suddenly her eyes reddened, large tears rolling down.

“Why are you crying?” Ruan Zhi’s heart ached, and she hurriedly wiped Gu Qingci’s tears away.

“Sister, those people had their eyes on me long ago. No matter what I did, they would have ambushed me. It wasn’t because I went to find you during a thunderstorm that I got hurt. Don’t think of it as a mistake, and don’t feel like you have to overcome it alone. When there are hardships, we should face them together, overcome them together. We are ‘us,’ we’re one—you’re not alone. Sister, you’re so smart, how can you be so foolish about this?”

Gu Qingci spoke, her voice choking with emotion by the end.

So that day when she went to find Ruan Zhi, Ruan Zhi had already guessed.

She cares deeply about this matter.

She wants to completely overcome this weakness.

Ruan Zhi is afraid of thunder—it’s post-traumatic stress disorder.

If she forces herself to endure it and tries to overcome it on her own, she doesn’t know if it might make things worse.

The key point is, that would be too pitiful!

“Sister, I don’t want you to be alone. The more times like these, the more we should be together. We’ll overwrite those bad memories with new ones of us together!”

Gu Qingci clung to Ruan Zhi, refusing to let go.

Ruan Zhi’s earlier resolve melted under Gu Qingci’s persistence.

Another rumble of thunder rolled in, and Ruan Zhi shivered involuntarily.

Knowing that Ruan Zhi wanted to overcome her fear, Gu Qingci didn’t cover her ears this time. Instead, she kissed Ruan Zhi’s lips while releasing her own pheromones.

The scent of plum and peppermint liquor enveloped Ruan Zhi, making her slightly intoxicated. Unconsciously, she released her own top-grade Phoenix Snow tea fragrance.

After a long kiss, the thunder temporarily subsided.

Ruan Zhi held Gu Qingci’s hand as they continued into the bathroom.

After removing their clothes, they kissed and embraced in the large bathtub.

Amidst the rumbling thunder, the water rippled and overflowed in waves.

Once again, Ruan Zhi was brought to the edge of the cliff by Gu Qingci.

An impending loss of control loomed.

But this time, Ruan Zhi didn’t retreat or ask Gu Qingci to pull her back forcefully.

She took the initiative and stepped over.

She thought it would feel like stepping into empty air—a sense of weightlessness, a rapid fall, an uncontrollable plunge into the abyss.

Yet, the unknown space beneath her feet suddenly lit up with vibrant colors the moment she stepped forward.

It wasn’t an abyss.

It was the clouds, a paradise.

It was a world she had never been to before, filled with joy and dazzling colors.

So this is what such emotions feel like in this world.

They stemmed from a single person.

Rooted in trust for her, in the unspoken, intense affection she harbored…

Perhaps the buoyancy of the water helped support part of Gu Qingci’s weight. Though she was so weak she couldn’t reach her destination on her own, she saw Ruan Zhi, blooming like a rose in slow motion.

Gu Qingci was mesmerized.

Though she was so weak she nearly slipped underwater and almost drowned a few times, it was all worth it.

Gu Qingci could sense that Ruan Zhi was revealing more of her beautiful, hidden depths to her.

The embarrassing part was that afterward, Gu Qingci had to be helped out of the water by Ruan Zhi.

Her clothes were also brought and put on by Ruan Zhi.

Gu Qingci’s eyes reddened again.

This poison was truly too cruel, too inhumane.

She really wanted to make Xu Dace and the Third Prince experience it too.

“Are you going to cry now? Don’t be embarrassed. Didn’t you say it was fine?” After they lay down, Ruan Zhi pinched Gu Qingci’s cheek and teased.

“…Sister, if I can sleep like this, then it’s fine.” Gu Qingci pouted, trying to bargain for her own reward.

Her hand slipped inside Ruan Zhi’s nightgown, her palm resting on one of the soft mounds.

One moment, Ruan Zhi was thinking of how to comfort her, but the next, Gu Qingci’s hand made her breath hitch.

“Sister…” Seeing Ruan Zhi hesitate, Gu Qingci wheedled in a coquettish tone, relentless in her persuasion.

“…Alright.” Ruan Zhi couldn’t resist her.

If this was what it took to make her stop feeling wronged, then so be it.

Gu Qingci fell asleep with a smile on her lips.

Ruan Zhi didn’t even notice when the thunder outside finally stopped.

As Gu Qingci had said, beautiful memories really could overwrite the painful ones.

In the days that followed, Gu Qingci spent her days at the imperial hunting grounds and returned at night to be intimate with Ruan Zhi.

Having won Emperor Changping’s favor and solidifying her position as the Left Commander, several officers in her unit who had previously ignored Gu Qingci were also replaced.

Life couldn’t be more comfortable.

A few days later, Xu Dace returned to the capital.

That day, Gu Qingci was notified that she had to attend the court session.

Gu Qingci had no choice but to rise early and hurry from the direction of the Forbidden Garden to the imperial palace.

By the time the carriage arrived at the palace, Gu Qingci was nearly jostled to pieces.

After getting off the carriage and entering the palace, she took her place in the grand hall where the morning court was held, quietly waiting for it to begin.

Before long, Emperor Changping arrived, followed shortly by a tall man with his hands tied behind his back and a bundle of thorny branches strapped to his body, who entered the hall.

As soon as the man stepped into the hall, he knelt before the seated Emperor Changping.

“Your Majesty, I am guilty. The fact that such information could be uncovered is my fault alone. I have betrayed Your Majesty’s trust and am unworthy to serve as the commander-general of the Northwest Army! I have brought over a thousand Tiger Warriors with me to plead for punishment. I implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation!”

Hearing the man’s confession, Gu Qingci gasped, her scalp tingling.

This was none other than Xu Dace!

Not only had he come to plead guilty with thorns on his back, but he had also brought the entire Tiger Warrior Guard to seek punishment.

This Xu Dace was a ruthless man!

This was his way of demonstrating loyalty.

A desperate gamble for survival.

It remained to be seen how Emperor Changping would handle this.

The old emperor was somewhat soft-hearted and valued personal connections.

Would he be moved by someone who had contributed so much to the nation now pleading for mercy and swearing loyalty?

Moreover, Xu Dace’s actions were not just about demonstrating loyalty—they also hinted at his confidence. With no one to command the Northwest Army, the Hu people would soon catch wind of the situation and begin harassing the borders.

Once the war intensified, they would still have to rely on him.

As long as there was conflict on the northwestern frontier, Xu Dace’s actions were merely a formality.

But the Great Heng Dynasty wasn’t short of just one Xu Dace. Cao Bang’ang was still around, and among his subordinates, weren’t there any officers capable of taking over?

A few years later, wasn’t Cao Hang doing just as well?

Was Xu Dace perhaps a bit too overconfident?

“General Xu has always been utterly loyal to Daheng, guarding the borders for over a decade and achieving illustrious military feats. Your Majesty must not listen to slanderous words and misunderstand General Xu, lest the hearts of loyal ministers and brave generals grow cold!”

“Your Majesty, this humble official believes the matter should still be thoroughly investigated. Not only to clear General Xu’s name but also to uncover who exactly is behind these false accusations.”

Some court officials were advising Emperor Changping.

“Your Majesty, the northwestern border cannot be left without a commander for even a single day. The news of General Xu’s return to Yancheng will surely reach the Hu people. If they seize the opportunity to invade, the frontier will be in grave danger.”

“Your Majesty, General Cao Bang’ang could temporarily take over General Xu’s command of the northwestern army.”

Others offered their counsel.

What Gu Qingci had intended to say was already voiced by others, so she quietly waited for Emperor Changping to make his decision.

The emperor, seated above, looked as though he had aged many years, his expression weary and exhausted. With a wave of his hand, a eunuch at his side understood and produced a letter.

“Early this morning, His Majesty received an urgent eight-hundred-mile telegram. General Cao Bang’ang was captured by the Hu people seven days ago! Along with several other officers, he fell into a trap—his fate remains unknown.”

The eunuch announced.

This news was nothing short of a bombshell.

It was utterly shocking.

Gu Qingci could hardly believe it.

Cao Bang’ang had actually been captured!

She suspected Xu Dace had colluded with the Hu people to orchestrate this.

Otherwise, how could the timing be so coincidental?

Now Daheng truly had no great generals left—was Xu Dace the only one remaining?!

“My esteemed ministers, who among you is willing to go to the northwest to take command of the border forces and rescue General Cao?” Emperor Changping asked slowly.

The hall fell into silence.

“Your Majesty, General Xu is utterly loyal. The recent findings are likely a trick by the Hu people. We implore Your Majesty to order General Xu to return to the frontier and take charge of the situation!”

“Your Majesty, we beseech you to allow General Xu to return to the frontier and take command!”

Someone had taken the lead, and soon, voices pleading for Xu Dace’s return to the border rose one after another.

Emperor Changping’s expression grew even more disillusioned.

The seed of doubt had already been planted. The uncanny timing made the emperor share Gu Qingci’s suspicions.

“This subject is guilty. As the saying goes, ‘If you employ a man, don’t suspect him; if you suspect him, don’t employ him.’ Since Your Majesty already doubts me, a thorough investigation should be conducted before any decisions are made.” Xu Dace declared, his tone carrying a note of solemn tragedy.

The implication was that he was under suspicion, and unless his name was cleared, he would not return to lead troops in the northwest.

“Does Daheng have no more capable generals left? Who can lead troops to the northwest?” Emperor Changping sighed and asked, well aware of Xu Dace’s implication.

“Your Majesty, General Gu Qingci is more than capable of taking on this responsibility!”

A voice suddenly spoke up in recommendation.

“Your Majesty, General Gu is indeed the finest among the younger generation. She was the top martial scholar, once led troops to swiftly suppress bandits, and trained the Feilong Army, who can fight tenfold their number. This subject also believes that General Gu is fit for this great responsibility!”

Gu Qingci, who had been watching the drama unfold, nearly choked on air.

Why was her name being brought up?

She had only been a military official for a few days, and she was still a “cripple”—fine as a support, but how could she possibly take on the responsibility of commanding an army of 200,000?

Besides, she had no desire to go to the northwest.

Her good days had only just begun.

Could this be a remnant of the Third Prince’s faction trying to get her killed?

There was no way Emperor Changping would agree!

“Good. Gu Qingci, We hereby promote you to concurrently serve as General Who Guards the North. Tomorrow, you will lead troops to the northwest to repel the enemy and must rescue General Cao!”

The thought had barely formed in Gu Qingci’s mind when she heard Emperor Changping’s voice.

Gu Qingci nearly coughed up bl00d—this was suffocating.

Emperor Changping had actually agreed!

Had she been praised too highly before?

Had Emperor Changping gotten the impression that she was truly capable?

“Gu Qingci, receive your orders!”

Emperor Changping gave Gu Qingci no chance to refuse.

Gu Qingci had no choice but to step forward and accept the decree with gratitude.

If she didn’t go, would Xu Dace have to?

Following Gu Qingci’s appointment, Emperor Changping also named several deputy generals and assigned provisions officers, among others.

After the court session ended, Emperor Changping summoned Gu Qingci for a private conversation.

“Minister Gu, I have kept you behind to discuss an important matter. General Cao Bang’ang has sent several letters earlier, mentioning incidents of treason, both on the frontier and within the court. At present, I have few military commanders left whom I can trust. The northwestern frontier now depends on you, Minister Gu.”

Emperor Changping spoke, his tone weary and vexed, tinged with the vulnerability of an ordinary old man, yet his imperial dignity remained undiminished.

This was an order from the emperor.

A command from one in power.

“I will spare no effort!” Gu Qingci sighed inwardly but could only respond thus.

“Good! I have assigned several seasoned generals to assist you. You may also take the Feilong Army with you. The weapons you previously proposed have been partially manufactured—take them all with you. Proceed with full authority!”

Emperor Changping offered a few more words of encouragement before dismissing Gu Qingci to prepare.

As Gu Qingci left, her mind was heavy with worry.

She was being sent to the frontier—away from Ruan Zhi!

How bitter!

Upon exiting the palace gates, Gu Qingci stood dazed for a long while.

Once on the battlefield, with its unpredictable dangers and shifting schemes, the risks would be too numerous.

With her frail constitution, wasn’t this just courting death?

It seemed the bl00d-exchange therapy could no longer be delayed.

Fortunately, after months of experimentation, the Wenren family’s medical clinic had already achieved success in several cases.

Gu Qingci first went to find Ruan Zhi and told her the news.

“If you don’t wish to go, you can plead illness and refuse. The Wenren family has ways to manage it. Afterward, we can leave the capital and abandon everything here in Yanjing.” Ruan Zhi said, seeing Gu Qingci’s furrowed brow. She knew Gu Qingci’s preferences—this journey to the distant frontier, fraught with troubles, was something Gu Qingci would surely resist. Moreover, given her current health, the battlefield would be far too perilous.

“Sister, I’m afraid to go to war, mostly because I can’t bear to leave you. If I go, I will naturally do my best to complete the mission. But if I don’t go, I fear the Hu people will invade, and we won’t have peaceful days either.” Gu Qingci looked at Ruan Zhi and said with a renewed smile.

Ruan Zhi speaking like this moved Gu Qingci deeply.

Only in a prosperous and peaceful era can merchants conduct their business undisturbed.

This peace—she would be the one to protect it.

“Sister, you don’t need to worry. Didn’t we mention a detoxification method before? I’ll use it before leaving, and I’ll protect myself.” Gu Qingci comforted Ruan Zhi.

She took Ruan Zhi with her to the Wenren family’s medical clinic.

The Wenren family prepared various tools for the bl00d exchange and summoned eight healthy Alpha individuals whose bl00d types had previously been matched with Gu Qingci’s.

A large amount of normal plasma was transfused to replace the poisoned bl00d in her body.

The entire process lasted until nightfall.

The bl00d types had been tested, and there were no conflicts—no immediate adverse reactions occurred. All that remained was further observation to check for any delayed reactions.

Throughout this time, Ruan Zhi stayed by Gu Qingci’s side. When the others left, Ruan Zhi embraced Gu Qingci.