The shock was too much for Xiang Wanwan. She cried like a baby in front of Xiang Nong. The rebel generals quietly retreated far away. They never should have come over.
Ning Xiaoyao quietly sighed, âDonât cry, the scoundrel didnât succeed.â Xiang Wanwan lifted her head. Now that the area was brightly lit, she was able to recognize Ning Xiaoyao. âItâs you?â she quietly sobbed.
âYes, itâs me, does Eldest Miss still recognize me?â asked Ning Xiaoyao. Xiang Nong reached out and pulled his daughter up from the ground. âYou know Mrs. Pei?â
Xiang Wanwan nodded. By now, the number of rebel troops have sharply increased and their voices rose. The rebel forces treated Xiang Wanwan like a princess. Similarly, Xiang Wanwan also considered herself a princess. So naturally, her temper was fairly unpleasant. However, when faced with her life savior, Miss Xiang put away her previous disdain towards Ning Xiaoyao and displayed her gratitude. She turned to Xiang Nong, âShe came to enlist.â
To Xiang Nong, everything seemed to make sense. So, he became less suspicious of Ning Xiaoyao.
âGreat Lord Xiang, arenât you working together with the Northern Hu to fight the fatuous ruler?â Ning Xiaoyao pretended to be puzzled, âHow did it turn out like this?â Xiang Nongâs face turned pale. So should he have a fall out with the Northern Hu and meet them on the battlefield? Clearly, that wasnât a good idea. But now that something like this has happened, how could he let it go? A Northern Hu general nearly raped his daughter. Even if he, Xiang Nong, could temporarily suffer in silence for the greater mission, his subordinates would not see it this way. Instead, they would think he was a coward. They would be disappointed in him and may lead to the collapse of his armyâs morale.
From the beginning, Ning Xiaoyao has been discretely monitoring Xiang Nongâs expression. She could see his doubts and hesitation on his face. Ning Xiaoyao coldly laughed to herself. Looks like Boss Xiang is debating whether he should choose his daughter or the country. Similar to Lou Zigui. Ning Xiaoyao clenched her fists.
âGreat Lord!â someone shouted from down the official road. Everyone turned around and looked in the direction of the sound. Xiang Wanwan nervously tightened the cloak around her body.
Military Advisor Niu Nanning quickly ran towards them. He was soaked and stumbling.
âIs the Northern Hu going against us?â a rebel general immediately suspected.
âThe guy has a smile on his face.â Ning Xiaoyao whispered to Xiang Nong in the stone pavilion.
âGreat Lord, the fatuous ruler is dead!â Niu Nanning exclaimed before Xiang Nong could say anything. Everyone stood around, flabbergasted. The fatuous ruler is died?!
Niu Nanning arrived at the edge of the stone pavilion and saw Xiang Nongâs joyous expression. Advisor Niu felt truly happy. Ning Yuâs death means Xiang Nong could be the new emperor! It means that he is the new emperorâs number one advisor!
Xiang Nong stared at his own military advisor. Finally, he managed to stutter, âYouâre...serious?â
âGreat Lord,â Niu Nanning kneeled down in front of the stone pavilion and presented the jade seal with both his hands above his head. When Shadowgale saw a rebel holding onto the jade seal, he subconsciously stepped forward.
Ning Xiaoyao lifted her hand a little to stop Shadowgale, then lightly shook her head at him. Shadowgale turned his head the other way and pretended not to see it. What the eyes doesnât see, the heart doesnât grieve over.
Xiang Nong was in shock. For a long time, Great Lord Xiang couldnât find any words as he stared at the four-sided seal.
âWhatâs that?â Ning Xiaoyao decided to act like a country bumpkin after a long period of silence. She was impatient. âItâs a square jade?â
Advisor Niu only noticed Ning Xiaoyao standing next to Xiang Nong after she spoke aloud. He turned to her, âYou are?â
âIs this jade?â Ning Xiaoyao asked.
Xiang Nong took several steps forward and reached out his hand to touch the jade seal. When he finally held the four-sided jade seal in his hands, Xiang Nong believed it was real. This represents imperial power. Heâs not dreaming!
âCongratulations, Great Lord!â Advisor Niu didnât care about Ning Xiaoyao. She was merely a country bumpkin that lacked knowledge. He was not going to waste his time on someone like that. Instead, Advisor Niu got down on his knees and shouted, âCongratulations for attaining the jade seal! Great Lord is the son of Heaven!â
Hearing this, there was a huge commotion amongst the crowd. One after another, everyone got down on their knees and pressed their foreheads to the ground. They loudly yelled, âLong live His Majesty!â
Ning Xiaoyao also got down on her knees and signaled Shadowgale and the others to do the same as well.
Soon, Xiang Nong snapped out of it and calmed down. He told everyone to get up and handed the jade seal to one of his leaders. âWhere is the fatuous rulerâs corpse?â he asked Advisor Niu.
Advisor Niu replied, âGreat Lord, the fatuous rulerâs corpse has already been trampled to pulp by horses. His followers were either killed or decided to die with their emperor. All the bodies have already been burnt. None of them had a good death.â
âWho killed the fatuous ruler?â Xiang Nong continued to ask.
âIt was Senior General Liu.â Advisor Niu rushed to reply. Immediately after, sounds of horse hooves could be heard from the official road. Xiang Nongâs trusted aide, Senior General Liu of the rebel forces, had arrived with his cavalry.
âLiu Shitie.â Shadowgale whispered to Ning Xiaoyao. Xiaoyao nodded to show she understood. Even if he was steel, she wouldnât be afraid! (Note: This is a Chinese pun. The name âtieâ part of the generalâs name means âironâ in Mandarin. So she is saying, well, I ainât afraid even if youâre steel!)
Liu Shitie took large strides and stood to face the stone pavilion. He laughed heartily, âCongratulations, Great Lord! The fatuous ruler is dead and now the jade seal is in your hands. From now on, the world is yours!â
Once again, everyone else congratulated Great Lord and said, âLong live His Majesty!â
Ning Xiaoyao analyzed Senior General Liu. He looked like a tall burly fellow. He was rather tan and gave her the impression of a manly man. Who wouldâve thought someone with his image would be a greedy liar? She wasnât even dead. How did you kill the emperor, huh?
Xiang Nong signaled for Liu Shitie to enter the stone pavilion. Senior General Liu stepped in and didnât even spare a glance at Ning Xiaoyao and her group. Xiang Nong smacked Senior General Liu on the shoulder. âBrother, we should be congratulating each other. This country is not only mine. Bro, you killed the fatuous ruler and attained the jade seal for me. It is a great merit. In the future, if I am the ruler of the country, we shall rule side by side!â
Boss Xiang promised his brother high position and great wealth. Liu Shitie instantly got down on his knees. âThank you, Great Lord!â
âMotherf**ker!â Shadowgale muttered angrily in a low voice. âHe gets to rule side by side just like that?ân/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Ning Xiaoyao repeated the title. Side ruler. It sounds pretty cool. No wonder the tan man lied.
âWhat happened to our Eldest Miss?â Liu Shitie noticed Xiang Wanwan and exclaimed, âWhat happened to your face?â
âItâs the Northern Hu!â Xiang Wanwan replied in a low voice. Liu Shitie immediately looked down and noticed the corpse.
âReport!â a soldierâs voice could be heard from a distance. Xiang Nong looked outside as the soldier ran towards them and got down on his knees. âWolf King of the Northern Hu arrived at our barracks an hour ago. He heard the fatuous ruler had been killed by Senior General Liu and brought his own troops back to their camp.â
The atmosphere instantaneously turned tense. âThose barbarians sure get their news quickly.â Liu Shitie turned to Xiang Nong.
âFather, you must kill the Northern Hu!â Xiang Wanwan raged. Liu Shitie noticed the cloak around Miss Xiangâs body. Then, he shifted his gaze at the Northern Hu generalâs corpse. Earlier, he was too excited to process his thoughts. Now that he was calm, he figured out what happened. His mood had shifted from joy to fury. âHow dare those barbarians!â
With an elder backing her up, Xiang Wanwan felt even more emotional. Her eyes were red. However, Advisor Niu had his lips pursed.
Ning Xiaoyao stared at the garbage who failed to pass the imperial examination even after ten years. If this piece of shit tries to ruin her plan, she will think of a way to crush him now.
âThe Northern Hu wouldnât be so fearless.â Advisor Niu opened his mouth.
âThose guys didnât know who I was.â Xiang Wanwan replied with hatred. Ning Xiaoyao was about to speak but shut her mouth again. With Miss Xiang here, she probably doesnât need to talk rubbish.
âNow that the fatuous ruler is dead, itâs time to get rid of the Northern Hu. They seriously expect us to divide the country equally with them?â snarled Liu Shitie.
Advisor Niu commented, âFrom what I know, Xie Wenyuan has turned to Modou for help.â
Ning Xiaoyao clenched her fists behind her back. That bastard has turned to the Northern Hu? How come she hasnât been able to find out any of his whereabouts?
âWhat are you trying to say, Advisor Niu? You donât think you can fight against the traitor?â Liu Shitie challenged.
âOld Iron!â Xiang Nong intervened. Liu Shitie was born forging ironware. Advisor Niu had been a scholar all his life. Why would a scholar get upset over what an iron worker says? Advisor Niu smiled. âI just think it doesnât make sense. Why would the Northern Hu attack our barracks to kill our men and snatch our women?â
âI saw it with my very own eyes!â Xiang Wanwan was annoyed with Advisor Niu. Does he think she was putting on an act? No wonder her brother (Young Lord) doesnât get along with him! Heâs so horrid!
âEldest Miss. Maybe itâs a misunderstanding.â Advisor Niu was still calm. Honestly, he was stating this for the rebel forces. Although Great Lord Xiang had the jade seal in his hands, they have not successfully invaded the capital yet. Most of the country was still ruled under the Ning Clan. There will be many battles ahead. If they were to start a war against the Northern Hu now, it would not be wise. In fact, it would be foolish.
Xiang Wanwan did not understand Advisor Niuâs painstaking efforts. Actually, most people didnât.
âMisunderstanding? I was nearly killed by a Northern Hu man. You call that a misunderstanding?!â Xiang Wanwan roared.
âEldest Miss...â
âShut up!â Xiang Wanwan screeched.
âWanwan.â Xiang Nong could see how upset his daughter was becoming. Liu Shitie was cynical, âThe bodies of our brothers are still lying in the barracks. Why would my niece end up at the Wuli pavilion for no reason? Advisor Niu, tell me how this could be a misunderstanding? Was it caused by Ning Yu? That fatuous ruler is already dead!â
Advisor Niu was speechless. Deep down, his instincts told him something was wrong. Yet, he couldnât figure out what it was.
âWe should fight them. Even if we disregard the fact that weâre not going to split the land equally, we canât let this issue go. Great Lord, we must fight this war!â Senior General Liu stated.
The vile character inside Ning Xiaoyao was clapping. Wonderfully said!
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