My Wife Is The Female Lead In A Scum Alpha Novel - Chapter 81

81

“What?! Are you kidding me?!” After Gu Qingci finished speaking, Wen Renyi and Cao Hang thought they had misheard.

Gu Qingci repeated herself.

She wasn’t joking—she had truly decided to exchange herself for Cao Bang’ang.

“Don’t rush to object. We don’t know how much longer General Cao’s health can hold out, but one thing is certain: he’s suffering in the hands of the Turks. Bringing him back sooner will benefit both him and the morale of the army. General Cao is our pillar. After his time with the Turks, he must have gained some understanding of them. He’ll be far more effective in this position than I would. The Turks are preparing for winter, while we’re about to harvest our autumn crops. A major battle is inevitable.”

Gu Qingci spoke lightly, as if discussing a trivial matter.

But Cao Hang’s eyes reddened.

“I want my foster father back, but not at the cost of exchanging you for him. Do you have any idea what the Turks would do to you? This is unacceptable!”

“My decision is final! This isn’t about personal heroism, nor is it an emotional impulse. It’s the most advantageous strategy. I’m not going there to die—they’ll want to use me to extract greater benefits, so they won’t let me die. Alright, let’s finalize the plan. List all possible scenarios and prepare countermeasures. Once I’m there, I won’t be able to communicate with you often, so we’ll proceed according to the timeline we set…” Gu Qingci said, her expression solemn and commanding.

For a moment, Cao Hang was stunned. As he looked at Gu Qingci, he suddenly realized the difference—and the gap—between himself and his friend.

All this time, he had simply followed orders. Each victory had brought him joy, but he had never considered the reasoning or logic behind those decisions.

No matter what, Gu Qingci went to exchange for Cao Bang’ang’s return. Cao Hang and all the Cao family army, Cao Bang’ang’s personal soldiers and subordinates, etc., would all owe Gu Qingci this favor.

Gu Qingci briefly explained her plan to them.

“Before, wasn’t I pretending that the poison hadn’t been cured? Is there any medicine that can make me appear even weaker, with a feeble pulse, but actually still retain some strength?” Gu Qingci asked Wen Renyi.

In the military camp, Gu Qingci had always avoided taking action unless absolutely necessary.

Only when rescuing Ruan Zhi did she lose her composure.

At that time, it was in the smoke, and the people she brought were all trusted allies, so it was fine.

The Turkic spies embedded in the army didn’t know about it.

This way, the Turkic side wouldn’t immediately shackle her with heavy chains upon receiving her—otherwise, there’d be no chance to do anything.

Wen Renyi thought for a moment upon hearing Gu Qingci’s question, then simply took out the grand medicine package her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father had given her when she came to the northern frontier.

“To alter your pulse, you don’t need medicine. If someone checks your pulse, use this under your armpit.”

“This pill can temporarily increase your strength. One pill lasts about half an hour.”

“This is a detoxification pill. After taking it, the effects of ordinary poisons on you will weaken.”

“This one…”

As Wen Renyi spoke, she gave Gu Qingci all the medicines that could be taken in advance to consume immediately, while the others were hidden close to her body.

Wen Renyi’s expression was grave as she explained, much like Cao Hang’s, as if Gu Qingci were heading to her death.

Gu Qingci, however, felt relatively calm.

The Turkic tribes weren’t zombies that ate people—they also had their strategies.

Weighing the pros and cons.

Then everything would be easier.

Gu Qingci was only afraid that Ruan Zhi would worry.

Fortunately, Ruan Zhi had already left.

Gu Qingci instructed Cao Hang and the others not to send any letters back for the time being.

Ruan Zhi was still on her way back to Yanjing.

As long as they delayed the news for a while longer, the war might be over by the time she returned.

She left several letters for them to send back to Yanjing at scheduled intervals.

After discussing various plans, Gu Qingci sent someone to deliver the message.

When Gu Qingci first arrived, there were many issues within the Daheng army. Moreover, Gu Qingci herself was just a novice in the Daheng military, far less prestigious than Cao Bang’ang. Even if Gu Qingci proposed an exchange, the other side might not agree.

During this time, Gu Qingci had exhausted her wits, employing various strategies and devising tools to counter the cavalry, causing the Turkic cavalry to suffer several defeats.

This not only elevated Gu Qingci’s prestige within the Daheng army but also significantly increased her importance in the eyes of the Turks.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have considered exchanging Cao Bang’ang for Gu Qingci.

But it was just a thought.

How could a military commander and general possibly exchange himself for someone unrelated?

They didn’t expect to receive a reply the very next day after delivering the message.

By the time the Turkic cavalry returned to report, the news that Gu Qingci would exchange herself for Cao Bang’ang had already spread throughout the Daheng army camp.

The ordinary soldiers had simple thoughts, only knowing that Gu Qingci wanted to exchange herself for Cao Bang’ang.

Cao Bang’ang’s trusted followers and his subordinate soldiers even came voluntarily to kowtow to Gu Qingci.

The Feilong Army was pro-Gu Qingci. Several leading squad leaders and platoon commanders came to see Gu Qingci, feeling both puzzled and deeply pained on her behalf.

Even some within the Tiger Guard requested to go with Gu Qingci.

However, most of the Tiger Guard remained loyal to Daheng.

Gu Qingci did not explain anything. She let this sense of grief and indignation linger, channeling it into their fighting spirit on the battlefield.

The next day, the Turkic cavalry responded, agreeing on a time and place for the exchange.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ruan Zhi, who was on her way to Yanjing City, stopped to rest at a post station.

After several days of travel, Ruan Zhi’s glands grew increasingly uncomfortable.

Her estrus cycle had passed—yet it also hadn’t.

Something was missing compared to before.

The scent of Gu Qingci’s pheromones lingered on her body, not yet fully metabolized.

She could still smell Gu Qingci’s pheromones.

But it just didn’t feel right; she was unsettled.

It seemed as though her estrus cycle hadn’t truly ended.

Her glands continued to burn, making her extremely uncomfortable. Ruan Zhi had no choice but to summon a physician for examination.

Few had studied gland-related ailments, and based on Ruan Zhi’s symptoms, the physician could only diagnose that her condition was due to the need for a mate’s mark during estrus.

Ruan Zhi had a sinking feeling.

In her past life, her glands had failed after she fell seriously ill.

In this lifetime, she didn’t know if her gland would still cause problems.

With Gu Qingci by her side, she didn’t want anything to happen to her gland.

The local physicians here hadn’t found anything wrong.

After some thought, Ruan Zhi arranged the team, instructing a few leaders to take the majority of the group back first. She, meanwhile, led a small contingent toward Wucheng.

Wen Renyi had expertise in gland-related matters and might know something.

Moreover, she missed Gu Qingci dearly.

It was also possible that her gland still needed marking.

Regardless, she had to return to Wucheng once more.

On the other side, the Turks and the Daheng forces lined up on either side of the border, preparing to exchange Cao Bang’ang and Gu Qingci in the middle.

However, Cao Bang’ang’s condition wasn’t good—he couldn’t walk and had to be carried over by the Turks. As a result, Gu Qingci brought two men with her to carry Cao Bang’ang and confirm his identity, since Gu Qingci had never met him before.

The Daheng army was filled with grief and indignation. Gu Qingci clasped her hands in salute to the troops before departing.

There was a solemn, almost tragic air about it, as if a hero were marching to their doom.

At the designated meeting point in the middle, Gu Qingci saw the man brought by the other side. The people with her confirmed it was Cao Bang’ang.

An elderly man of about sixty, his hair completely white, his face gaunt.

Lying on the stretcher, he looked extremely weak but was still conscious. His eyes trembled when he saw Gu Qingci, visibly agitated.

“You… you shouldn’t have done this! This old man’s death means nothing!” Cao Bang’ang said, his voice hoarse.

Cao Bang’ang was old, with old injuries to boot. The Turks had wanted to use him to negotiate with Daheng, but Cao Bang’ang refused to let himself become a bargaining chip. He had attempted suicide, but lacking a proper weapon, he was saved by the Turks’ shamans, though his condition only worsened.

In this state, seeing the young, tender-faced general—though it was their first meeting—filled Cao Bang’ang with profound sorrow.

“General, take care. The Northern Frontier army still depends on you.” Gu Qingci whispered as she crouched beside him.

After speaking, she had Cao Bang’ang carried away first, while she followed the two Turks sent to escort her into their camp.

Cao Bang’ang’s condition meant he was no longer of any use to the Turks, so they were genuinely willing to make the exchange.

On the Daheng side, with Gu Qingci’s orders, no one dared to cause trouble.

So this prisoner exchange went relatively smoothly.

Gu Qingci arrived at the camp of the Turkic cavalry and got a clear look at their formation. The front line was entirely composed of Wolf Tu troops.

The warhorses were about the same size as Chihuo, and the soldiers were extremely burly, all seemingly over 1.9 meters tall.

This made Gu Qingci appear particularly petite and delicate by comparison.

When Gu Qingci came, she wasn’t even wearing soft armor, just a riding outfit custom-made for her by Ruan Zhi, crafted from high-quality satin that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, making her look radiant and striking.

“I am Gu Qingci, greetings to you all.” Gu Qingci said with a cupped-hand salute, offering a harmless smile to the crowd.

Originally, Gu Qingci’s appearance was quite striking, but not in an aggressive way—especially when she smiled, it added a touch of innocent charm.

For a moment, the group of towering men over 1.9 meters tall were utterly dazzled.

“You’re Gu Qingci?! Did the Daheng side just send some random omega instead?!” one of them snapped out of it first and blurted.

“General, how could an omega pretend to be an alpha? I am indeed Gu Qingci.” Gu Qingci replied with a smile, releasing her pheromones as she spoke.

“Fourth Prince, she really is Daheng’s Zhenbei General, Gu Qingci.” the two who had brought Gu Qingci confirmed.

Though Gu Qingci hadn’t engaged in direct combat, she had appeared on the battlefield several times, even acting as bait. Among the Turkic cavalry, there were some who had seen her and been lucky enough to escape back—these two were among them.

The man addressed as the Fourth Prince paused, then finally took Gu Qingci seriously.

This appearance was completely different from the Turkic people’s style, and from what they had imagined.

The young general who had repeatedly outmaneuvered them, making them suffer losses time and again, was actually a great beauty!

“Take her back first! Tie her hands and drag her behind a horse!” the Turkic Fourth Prince coldly snorted.

He had no intention of showing mercy to someone just because they were beautiful.

The Daheng people deserved nothing but cruelty.

“Your Highness, my body is frail, and I am poisoned. If you do this, you might as well kill me now.” Gu Qingci said in a soft voice, covering her mouth and nose as she coughed a few times, her eyes and face flushed.

“…” The fourth prince of the Turks was stunned, feeling as if the sound of her voice had melted his bones.

“Your Highness, Gu Qingci is indeed poisoned by us. The second prince said she must be brought back safely.” someone reminded the fourth prince.

“…Get her a horse!” the fourth prince said with a dark expression.

Gu Qingci secretly let out a sigh of relief.

If she were truly dragged along with her hands bound, even without the poison, she would be half-dead.

Gu Qingci mounted the horse, her reins held by another soldier to prevent her from escaping, surrounded by cavalry on all sides.

She smiled at the people around her.

The expressions of those around her became somewhat uneasy.

“Cover her head!” the fourth prince commanded, and someone immediately placed a cloth sack over Gu Qingci’s head.

Unable to see her surroundings clearly, Gu Qingci held onto the saddle, listening to the sounds and sensing the changes in the terrain.

The cavalry barely rested, only stopping at a camp when night fell.

By the time the sack was removed from Gu Qingci’s head, she was already inside a luxurious and spacious felt tent.

As her eyes adjusted to the light, she took in the people around her.

Five or six Turks of varying appearances were staring at her.

“So beautiful! The alpha of the Daheng people are even more stunning than the omega of our land!”

The first to speak was a woman, tall with a large frame, standing over six feet, her features bold and striking, with a prominent nose and deep-set eyes—a distinct exotic beauty.

“Sister, you are also so beautiful. I have never seen someone as heroic and spirited as you in Daheng!”

Gu Qingci smiled at the woman and said, “Your words are very sweet.”

The woman looked at Gu Qingci, her eyes brightening with delight.

“Elder Brother, I want to marry her and bring her into my tent!”

The woman pointed at Gu Qingci as she spoke.

Her words instantly caused the expressions of several people to change.

Gu Qingci choked on the air and coughed several times.

“Ah Lang, don’t talk nonsense. She is an alpha, and so are you. Besides, she is that very Gu Qingci who always infuriates you! Don’t forget, she is extremely cunning.” said a relatively composed man.

“Elder Brother, but she’s even more beautiful than an omega. It doesn’t matter if she’s an alpha. We can remove her glands and feed her the medicine prepared by the Shaman. She’ll become obedient. It’s fine if she can’t bear children—just looking at her every day would be enough.” the woman said, her tone still innocent and lively, but her words sent a chill down Gu Qingci’s spine.

Gu Qingci had intended to use a honey trap, but she hadn’t expected it to work so quickly.

There was actually someone here so obsessed with looks that they wanted to marry her at first sight.

And even planned to mutilate her.

“We’ll discuss this later. First, let the Shaman examine her body, administer the medicine, and then question her.” the man waved his hand and instructed an elderly man dressed in strange attire to step forward.

Gu Qingci breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At least she was still somewhat useful.

She didn’t know what kind of medicine they intended to give her. Wen Renyi had administered some antidotes to her, which could neutralize certain poisons—but not all. For example, the poison currently in her body remained incurable.

The Turkic Shaman fed Gu Qingci a pill and then examined her body using methods similar to traditional Chinese medicine. However, during the examination, he muttered incantations in a peculiar, rhythmic manner.

Gu Qingci’s head began to feel dizzy, and she suspected it was some form of hypnosis.

So, as the man chanted, she desperately tried to distract herself by thinking of Ruan Zhi.

“Reporting to the Second Prince, Fourth Prince, and Fifth Princess, this person is indeed poisoned. Her pulse is very weak. Her willpower is not as strong as General Cao’s—she has already lost her senses. Your Highnesses may now ask her whatever questions you wish.” the Shaman recited for a while before addressing the group.