âAh, so it turns out that theyâre Feng Muhaiâs family.â Ning Xiaoyao had a âI understandâ expression. âOld Gramps, you donât understand the matters of the army right? Come come, Windy,â Ning Xiaoyao yelled for Shadowgale, âIntroduce this Feng Muhai to Old Gramps.â
Elder Li commented, âYour Majesty, this subject knows who he is.â
Ning Xiaoyao: ... But I donât know, ah.
âFeng Muhaiâs maternal aunt is Xie Wenjingâs official wife,â Windy explained. Ning Xiaoyao knew about Xie Wenjing. He was Grand Preceptor Xieâs brother and he was killed by the Empressâ true love on a public road.
âOut of the thirty-six barracks in the capital city and its environs, Feng Muhai is in charge of three barracks. He is regarded very highly by Xie Wenyuan,â Shadowgale added. Deep down, Head Commander Shadowgale was certain that His Majesty knew nothing of Feng Muhai aside from his name.
âWhy did Xie Wenyuan decide to rescue Feng Muhai?â Elder Li asked while looking at Ning Xiaoyao. Ning Xiaoyao suggested, âPerhaps General Feng still has usable troops in his hands?â
âThat is impossible,â Elder Li shook his head firmly. âOh, then I donât know.â Ning Xiaoyao shrugged her shoulders. This made Elder Li choke.
âI really donât know.â Ning Xiaoyao was also getting anxious. Grand Preceptor Xie is plotting to destroy the world right now and she has no way to stop him because she canât find this fellow, ah!
Elder Li didnât speak to Ning Xiaoyao anymore. Old Gramps picked up the memorial from Yan Cityâs governor and looked at it again. He scrutinized each and every word, causing Ning Xiaoyao to wonder whether the memorial possessed some hidden profound meaning she was unaware of.
âOne of Feng Muhaiâs young grandsons is still alive,â Shadowgale informed Ning Xiaoyao. âOkay, so the young infant didnât die.â Ning Xiaoyao wasnât concerned about this. She just wanted to know where Grand Preceptor Xie was hiding now.
âFeng Muhai must be useful to Xie Wenyuan,â Elder Li reckoned.
Ning Xiaoyao asked, âIn what ways?â Elder Li replied, âThis subject doesnât know.â
The subject doesnât know, the emperor also doesnât know. Weâre even finding ourselves at a loss because we were caught unprepared, ah. Ning Xiaoyao hugged her head. Suddenly, she felt like finding something to eat in the kitchen.
Elder Li departed with the memorial from Yan Cityâs governor. There was nothing fruitful from discussing with Ning Xiaoyao so Old Gramps decided to return to his residence to have a discussion with his disciples instead.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Ning Xiaoyao stood up and told Shadowgale, âLetâs go have a meal in the kitchen.â
Shadowgale: ... How could he still be in the mood to eat?
âAt any rate, regardless if we eat or not, we canât come up with any ideas.â Ning Xiaoyao said like a hoodlum, âIn that case, we might as well go and eat.â
âNo one from the Xie Clan has looked for Fifth Young Miss,â On their way to the kitchen, Shadowgale suddenly mentioned to Ning Xiaoyao in a soft voice. Ning Xiaoyao stopped in her tracks and turned her head to look at Shadowgale.
âThe elderly Buddhist nun at the nunnery said that she has no fate with Buddha and was unwilling to shave her head for her,â Shadowgale added.
âSheâs going to be your wife. That means that sheâs destined to have no fate with Buddha, ah.â Ning Xiaoyao knitted her eyebrows and stared at Shadowgale, âWindy, why do I feel that you want to use Fifth Young Miss to find Grand Preceptor? I donât think you should do that?â
Shadowgale didnât reply. âDonât worry about this anymore.â Ning Xiaoyao patted Shadowgaleâs shoulder. âGrand Preceptor even abandoned his own wife. How could he possibly dispatch people to look for Fifth Young Miss? Thatâs impossible.â
âIâm currently by Fifth Young Missâ side,â Shadowgale lowered his voice, âYour Majesty, since I am one of your personal Dragon Guards, Xie Wenyuan will most likely use this as an opportunity.â
Ning Xiaoyao lost all her appetite. There is no doubt about this. Putting feelings aside, Windy is staying beside Fifth Young Miss to use her.
âYour Majesty,â Shadowgale continued, âIf people from the Xie Clan come to look for Fifth Young Miss, I...â
âWindy!â
âYour Majesty,â Shadowgale justified, âI donât want to do this either. But we want to see how Xie Wenyuan will deal with this matter, right?â
Ning Xiaoyao asked, âThen what do you want to do?â
âYour Majesty can summon her once into the palace,â Shadowgale elaborated, âIf Xie Wenyuanâs people are monitoring her, then Xie Wenyuan will definitely find out about this.â
âWhat if Fifth Young Miss wants to kill me?â After being silent for a long time, Ning Xiaoyao finally asked Shadowgale this one question.
âThen Iâll kill her.â
Ning Xiaoyao: ... This canât turn out well anymore. How can they have a romantic relationship if heâs heartless enough to kill her? He might as well be a stranger, ah.
âYour Majesty, I know exactly what Iâm doing.â Shadowgale looked at Ning Xiaoyao.
âThen just donât give Fifth Young Miss the opportunity to kill me. Isnât that the solution?â Ning Xiaoyao felt emotionally exhausted, âThat way, Grand Preceptor canât make use of her either, right? Windy, let us not torment ourselves like this, ok?â
âI must do this in order to test Xie Duoyingâs character.â Shadowgale shook his head. âI have ruminated over this matter. May Your Majesty graciously grant me the permission to proceed.â
âWhy donât we go find you another young lady?â Ning Xiaoyao proposed. Shadowgale looked at Ning Xiaoyao. He smiled for a moment but didnât respond.
That means itâs out of the question. Ning Xiaoyao felt emotionally drained.
âIf I disappoint Your Majesty for the sake of a woman, then I...â
âAlright, donât say anymore.â Ning Xiaoyao walked towards the kitchen with heavy footsteps. She canât let him continue the conversation. If he keeps going, she may even conclude that Windy has fallen in love with her.
âYour Majesty?â
âLet me think for a moment. You canât be careless when it comes to feelings!â
Shadowgale asked, âWhat does this have to do with feelings?â
âIf I say itâs related, then itâs related.â Ning Xiaoyao fiercely stated, âIâm the emperor, you have to listen to me.â If two people like each other, then they should be together. If they donât like each other, then they should say goodbye and part amicably from each other. Even if they canât be friends when they meet again, they also shouldnât become enemies. What is this all about, making use of each other? On one hand, they date and express their affection for each other. On the other hand, they wait for the other to expose their evil true colors? What is this!
Ning Xiaoyao sat down to eat two bowls of white rice. Her mood didnât improve at all, it was still extremely terrible.
âYour Majesty.â Shadowgale accompanied Ning Xiaoyao to eat one bowl of rice. When he saw Ning Xiaoyao place the empty bowl down, he wanted to speak.
âDonât talk, let me think about it more.â Ning Xiaoyao stood up and left. Grand Preceptor Xie is really the bane of people!
Ning Xiaoyao avoided Shadowgale for the entire day. When it reached nighttime, Ning Xiaoyao was sitting behind the desk and writing a letter to Lou Zigui. After writing about what had transpired in Yan City, Ning Xiaoyao also wanted to write about Shadowgale and Fifth Young Miss Xie. She had just written a âXieâ character on the letter when Shadowrainâs voice could be heard from outside the door. âYour Majesty, something bad has happened!â
Ning Xiaoyaoâs hand trembled, causing a few drops of ink to drip onto the letter.
âYour Majesty, there is an old nun outside the palace gate saying that something has happened to Fifth Young Miss Xie,â Shadowgale entered the palace chamber to report to Ning Xiaoyao.
âWhat happened?â Ning Xiaoyao asked.
âThe old nun said that Fifth Young Miss has taken poison.â The brush in Ning Xiaoyaoâs hand fell onto the desk. Did Fifth Young Miss discover Shadowgaleâs plans? So now she has given up all hope towards love, and decided to commit suicide?!
âYour Majesty, what are your thoughts on this?â Shadowrain asked Ning Xiaoyao.
âYou seem very composed.â Ning Xiaoyao looked at Shadowrain.
âWhatâs good about the Xie Clanâs daughters?â Shadowrain started grumbling to Ning Xiaoyao, âAny random woman on the streets would be a better catch than the Xie Clanâs daughters, right?â
Ning Xiaoyao was stupefied by Shadowrainâs complaint. So it turns out the identity as Xie Clanâs daughter really annoys people, eh?
âNot to mention, Windy is a Dragon Guard. How can he get together with a daughter of the Xie Clan?â Shadowrain continued to complain, âRight now, she is even causing more trouble by committing suicide. What exactly does she want?â
âIâll go take a look at her.â Ning Xiaoyao stood up.
âYour Majesty!â Shadowrain exclaimed. They have been going back and forth. Is His Majesty even listening to what heâs saying?
âShe was chased out by the Xie Clan,â Ning Xiaoyao scowled at Shadowrain, âXie Wenyuan is my maternal grandfather so my biological mum is a Xie Clan daughter too.â
A terrified expression briefly appeared on Shadowrainâs face. He lowered his head and no longer spoke.
âYou suggest finding a random woman on the streets,â Ning Xiaoyao jabbed Shadowrainâs head with her finger, âAre those young ladies as pretty as Fifth Young Miss?â
Shadowrain couldnât say anything. True, they werenât as pretty.
âWhereâs Windy?â Ning Xiaoyao asked as she stood by the palace chamberâs door.
Shadowrain replied, âHe went to see Fifth Young Miss.â
âWe should go too.â Ning Xiaoyao walked outside the corridor.
Two hours later, Ning Xiaoyao stood outside the entrance of the Buddhist nunnery. Looking at the four-roomed nunnery before her eyes, Ning Xiaoyao told Shadowrain, âIsnât this place a little too small compared to the Iron Buddha temple?â
Shadowrain didnât reply. What is there to compare?
Ning Xiaoyao was about to walk towards the nunnery when a barking sound could be heard from behind. âWoof woof, Xiaoyao!â It was a mournful shrill that was harsh to the ear. Ning Xiaoyao hastily turned around to look. She realized Big Yellow was barking while shaking its head at her nearby. Big Yellow was a dog from the south side of the capital.
âYour Majesty, Iâll go chase the stray dog away.â
âWait a moment.â Ning Xiaoyao held onto Shadowrain.
âThere are people in the woods,â Big Yellow shouted, âThey want to burn you to death! There is also something on top of the walls. Xiaoyao, you should take a look.â
Ning Xiaoyao hastily turned around to examine the courtyard walls of the nunnery. The courtyard walls were smeared with plaster. At first, Ning Xiaoyao couldnât detect anything wrong with the wall.
Shadowrain saw Ning Xiaoyao staring fixedly at the wall and hastily grabbed a torch from a Dragon Guard. However, despite carefully scanning the wall with the torch, Shadowrain didnât find anything suspicious.
âThere are people hidden in the woods across from us,â Ning Xiaoyao instructed Shadowrain softly, âThird Rain, bring people to outflank them from behind. Strive to capture them alive this time.â
âReally?â Shadowrainâs hand instinctively touched the sword at his waist. âYes.â Ning Xiaoyao reached out to knock the wall with her hand. The layer of plaster fell off and revealed a black wall. It was even emitting a smell.
âOil?â Shadowrainâs face turned ghastly pale.
âWow, they used oil to brush the walls. Damn it, they donât lack money,â Ning Xiaoyao cursed.
Shadowrain rapidly turned around and stared at his surroundings. âIf we approach them head on, wouldnât these people just run?â
Deep down, Ning Xiaoyao calculated the maximum shooting range of the bows and arrows from this world. She exercised her wrists a little and told Shadowrain, âThen donât outflank anymore. Letâs cancel this battle tactic. Instead, Iâll hurl the wall over. Third Rain, when you see the wall fly, charge over there with the bros and kill them.â
Shadowrain: ... Hurl the wall?
Ning Xiaoyao gripped the wall and hollered, âBig Yellow, run to me!â Big Yellow immediately dashed to where Ning Xiaoyao was standing.
Ning Xiaoyao exerted the strength in her hands and lifted half of the wall. She turned around and directly hurled it according to the distance she had calculated in her mind. The Dragon Guards were dumbstruck.
At this moment, Shadowrain had no time to be dumbstruck. He pulled out the sword from the sheath and commanded his brothers, âSeize the assassins!â
Half of the wall landed squarely in the middle of a tree and snapped it in half. Those hiding at the top of the trees fell to the ground, while those hiding underneath the tree failed to flee in time and were crushed head-on by the broken tree and brick rubble.
âXiaoyao!â Big Yellow hadnât reached Ning Xiaoyao yet when he barked, âThe leader is still by the pool in the woods.â
âLetâs go.â Ning Xiaoyao resolutely made a prompt decision. âBig Yellow, lead the way. Later, Iâll feed you meat and bones until youâre full.â
Big Yellow turned to dash into the woods again. That leader appeared very fierce and looked like he had killed many dogs. However, for the sake of the meat and bones, Big Yellow decided to go all out!
Ning Xiaoyao ran faster than Big Yellow. It only took her two steps to catch up to him. So, she simply carried the dog and ran.
Shadowrain saw Ning Xiaoyao running past himself. By the time he was able to react and wanted to give chase, there was already no sign of His Majesty.
Guys, the chapters are so long. lol.. the teaser I gave you was almost 1000 words. AHAHAHAHA. Aaaaiii.. 50 more chapters to go! I'm kinda inspired to write a motivational post. I'll link it next time! <3. I hope it will also motivate you guys.