Slightly bending her knees, she could draw her dagger at the fastest speed. Her eyes drifted around, paying attention to the direction of the imperial guard captain. If exposed, she could only kill the highest-ranking imperial guard captain here with lightning speed, create chaos, then find a way to escape.
Just as she was about to speak, a distinctive scent suddenly rushed into Yang Feng’s nostrils. His expression immediately changed dramatically, his eyebrow raised as he gazed intently, examining Qing Xia from head to toe.
“Yang Feng, what are you looking at? What’s this about—just because you jumped three ranks and came to the imperial guards to eat imperial grain, others can’t have good fortune too?” The bearded man slapped Qing Xia on the back. Even with Qing Xia’s excellent skills, she nearly suffered internal injuries from his pat.
Yang Feng laughed heartily, subtly pulling Qing Xia to his side while smiling: “What are you saying, Brother Hong? When someone from our Green Standard Army succeeds, I’m too happy to contain myself. It’s just that this kid has always been frail—I really didn’t expect he could pass the training test to enter the imperial guards. Brother, you must have suffered quite a bit.”
“What? You know each other?” the bearded man said.
“Of course,” Yang Feng blocked in front of Qing Xia, smiling: “We’re brothers who fought on the same street. Don’t let his small stature fool you—he has the most cunning ideas. This is great—now that you’re here, you can share quarters with me from now on.”
Qing Xia now knew that Yang Feng had recognized her but hadn’t exposed her. She couldn’t help feeling touched, though she didn’t know how he had seen through her flawless disguise.
“By the way, little brother, I’m called Hong Dayuan. I’ve been an imperial guard for ten years—everyone here calls me Brother Hong. What’s your name? How should we address you in the future?”
“My surname is Xia,” Qing Xia answered in a rough voice, slightly raising her eyebrows to look at the man standing before her. Since he had already discovered her identity, there was nothing left to hide. “Given name Qing.”
“Then I’ll call you Little Xia.” Hong Dayuan laughed with a deep, resonant voice.
At this moment, the captain of the first imperial guard squad suddenly rode forward, shouting loudly at the formation of over four hundred men: “His Highness is arriving soon—everyone shut up and form ranks!”
The formation immediately stood in perfect order. Yang Feng, his expression unchanged, pulled Qing Xia along and slowly walked to an inconspicuous position. At this time, three gong strikes immediately sounded, and on the broad avenue, a golden and magnificent dragon carriage slowly approached.
The curtain opened, and Chu Li stepped out wearing silver-white armor with a treasured sword at his waist, his face stern as water. A guard carefully knelt on the ground, holding the reins of a horse that was completely black without a single stray hair. Chu Li grasped the reins, mounted in one fluid motion with clean, efficient movements, sitting proudly atop the horse.
“Greetings to Your Highness!” The imperial guards shouted in unison, kneeling on one knee. Over eight hundred men from the first and second squads shouting together created an impressive spectacle.
Chu Li’s eyes were like solid ice, his gaze casually sweeping over the imperial guards. Although she knew he couldn’t possibly see her, Qing Xia still felt as if thorns were pricking her back, uncomfortable all over. Yang Feng beside her slightly turned his head, then imperceptibly shifted his body to shield Qing Xia behind him.
Chu Li raised his hand and waved, saying in a deep voice: “Leave the palace!”
Over eight hundred men simultaneously rose, mounted their war horses, and followed behind Chu Li, walking out through the triple main gates of Donghua Gate with heads held high.
Qing Xia, this imperial spy and abandoned cold palace consort who had been watched by countless open and hidden sentries, just like this, followed behind the very person who had imprisoned her, sitting proudly atop a war horse with chest out and head raised, walking openly and legitimately through the gates of Chu Palace under countless watching eyes!
This was Qing Xia’s first time entering the military headquarters camp. During her last nighttime prison raid, her greatest fear had been alarming this neighboring imperial army. Life’s circumstances were truly unpredictable—she never imagined that one day she would enter this world-renowned military stronghold in such an identity.
In Qing Xia’s previous life, she had participated in many infiltration, penetration, and disguise missions, always able to impersonate gods like gods and demons like demons. Moreover, upon arriving at the military camp, she couldn’t help remembering her youth training in special forces. Getting along with these burly men wasn’t difficult. Furthermore, before coming, she had already conducted thorough investigations.
This wasn’t a lucky accident. To confine her, Chu Li had recently transferred large numbers of Green Standard Army soldiers to guard the palace. The Green Standard Army commander Tan Bian had been promoted to general by Chu Li for his merit in quelling rebellions and sent to defend border cities. When passing by the Privy Council last night, Qing Xia had infiltrated and conveniently set a fire in the western corner. The fire wasn’t large, but it perfectly burned the roster of Green Standard Army troops stationed in the palace to ashes.
Losing military rosters was a serious crime whether in ancient times or modern days. Fortunately, the fire’s scope wasn’t large—if the Privy Council officials had any sense, they would certainly conceal this and not report it, spending these few days sending people to the border city while secretly investigating in the palace to complete the roster. So even if the imperial city guards received news of personnel transfers and reported upward, it would be treated as a minor matter and suppressed. By the time they completed the roster and discovered there was no such person as Xia Qing, she would have long since escaped.
Events unfolded exactly as she had predicted. General Hou Yong of the imperial guards only briefly questioned her before arranging lodging. Qing Xia carried the newly issued clothing, hat, and armor, slowly walking toward the designated camp, naturally greeting the imperial guard soldiers along the way, appearing completely at ease.
Just as she reached out, the tent flap was suddenly lifted from inside. Yang Feng, holding a long spear and looking down, was about to walk out when he saw Qing Xia and couldn’t help but pause.
Qing Xia quickly straightened and stepped aside, making way for Yang Feng.
“Thank you.” He said flatly, then Yang Feng strode past Qing Xia toward the direction of the Eighteenth Training Ground.
The military headquarters camp had excellent accommodation conditions—surprisingly, it was the rare arrangement of two people per tent. Each tent was like a small Mongolian yurt, sturdy and warm, unlike the simple tents Qing Xia had often used during field marches in her past life.
With two people sharing, the space wasn’t very large. In the center was placed a huge felt mat large enough for three people to sleep on. Near the entrance were a small table, two wooden chests, washbasins, and other items. On the small table sat an oil lamp and several carelessly placed books. Besides these, there was nothing else.
Opening one chest, she found it contained numerous books and a few garments—knowing this was Yang Feng’s chest, Qing Xia didn’t look further and closed it. Placing all her belongings in the other chest, Qing Xia knelt before the small table, suddenly feeling somewhat amused. She never would have imagined that after escaping Chu Li’s harem, she would end up in Chu Li’s military camp, even becoming a proper soldier. Just thinking about it made her want to laugh.
“Whoosh”—the tent flap was lifted, and Yang Feng entered carrying a food tray, placing the food on the small table without looking sideways. He said in a deep voice: “You didn’t eat this morning, right? There’s training at the practice ground later—eat something.”
Qing Xia sat cross-legged on the ground, tilting her head up to look at the man crouching before her, no longer disguising her voice: “How did you see through me?”
Yang Feng’s eyebrow slightly furrowed as he remained silent. Qing Xia continued: “If you could see through me, others probably can too. Please tell me.”
“Your disguise is very good,” Yang Feng suddenly nodded, saying: “Don’t worry, others can’t tell.”
Qing Xia’s eyelids narrowed slightly as she examined from top to bottom this man who had been a miscellaneous soldier just days ago but now had transformed into a regular imperial city guard. He was tall but not burly, with elegant bone structure that didn’t appear weak—his entire being radiated a tough, outward-flowing temperament. His sword-like eyebrows extended to his temples, his chin bore faint stubble, his arms were long, and his palms broad. Qing Xia raised an eyebrow and suddenly reached out to firmly grasp the man’s hand.
“So it really is you.” Qing Xia’s lips curved in a faint smile, her eyes crinkling as she gently explored the calluses on the man’s palm, smiling: “You’re the one who’s been delivering medicine and food to me, aren’t you? You smelled the herbal scent on me, right?”
“Not just herbal scent, but also jasmine fragrance.” Yang Feng seemed to have expected she would discover this, showing no panic as he said: “That day, Your Ladyship saved my life. A spring’s kindness should be repaid with a fountain—Your Ladyship need not take it to heart.”
“After struggling so hard to leave the palace, there’s no more ‘Your Ladyship.'” Qing Xia shook her head, suddenly speaking seriously: “From now on, there’s no Qing Xia in this world, only Xia Qing.”
“Good.” Yang Feng nodded in agreement, picking up a piece of dry ration to hand to Qing Xia: “As long as there’s an opportunity to go on external missions, you can safely escape. Don’t worry—eat something.”
The food in this military camp naturally couldn’t compare to the delicacies of the palace, but as Qing Xia ate, she felt an indescribable happiness and joy, finding it fragrant, sweet, and incomparably delicious.
Just as she put down her chopsticks, the tent flap was lifted, and Hong Dayuan’s thick head poked in as he called out in his booming voice: “Assemble at the Eighteenth Training Ground! Little Xia, the captain assigned you a new horse—I brought it for you.”
Qing Xia thought to herself that the living conditions of the imperial city guards were indeed excellent—a newly arrived soldier could not only live in an independent apartment but also be assigned a mount. In modern times, this would be treatment only enjoyed by proper department-level officials.
“Examining swords by lamplight while drunk, dreaming of bugles sounding through connected camps, eight hundred li divided among subordinates’ roasted meat, fifty strings turned toward sounds beyond the frontier, autumn military inspection on the battlefield.”
Having always been accustomed to modern warfare methods involving aircraft, tanks, cannons, and missiles, suddenly arriving at this vast military training ground, Qing Xia was immediately shocked by everything she saw.
The entire military headquarters camp’s one hundred thousand troops all stood on the enormous training ground in orderly formation, with forests of swords and spears and flowing colors of iron armor. Looking around, all were steel warriors solid as stone. White clouds drifted across the sky, cold wind brushed their faces, yellow sand and earth everywhere, iron armor coldly gleaming on their bodies. Qing Xia gripped her horse’s reins, standing in place, watching this magnificent scene, feeling the blood in her veins immediately begin to boil.