“Open the gate! I am the Princess Consort!” Xiao Wenxi reined in her horse before the moat at the city gate, shouting.

She had used the token to leave the city gates earlier, but now they remained closed.

The gate was heavily guarded. The commanding officer’s face was half in shadow, half in firelight, unclear to see. He responded in a gruff voice: “There was just an attack on the city. The Governor ordered that the gates must not be opened. The Princess Consort is still in the residence. What kind of petty criminal are you to dare impersonate her!”

“I am the Imperial-appointed Princess Consort of Southern Shu! I hold the token – you treasonous rebels dare spread such lies!” Xiao Wenxi raised the token high.

Those on the tower wall ignored her, even shooting a cold arrow that would have struck Xiao Wenxi’s horse if not for Zhapu’s quick reactions.

“Sir, we must attack the city, or the Southern Shu residence will face disaster. The young master is still inside,” Xiao Wenxi said anxiously.

Zhapu’s expression was grave as he looked at the gate commander who had another arrow nocked. He said carefully: “Princess Consort, we only have a few dozen men. Even with our martial skills, taking the city would be extremely difficult.”

“Sir, the Prince seemed to sense something was wrong before leaving, but the Tibet situation was urgent and he had no time to make arrangements,” Xiao Wenxi hurried to explain. “Besides giving me the token, the Prince also left me a private force. I’ve already signaled them – they’ll arrive within half an hour.”

“In that case, let’s withdraw and wait for reinforcements,” Zhapu suggested.

Xiao Wenxi didn’t object. They retreated to a safe distance from the gates while keeping watch on all movement there.

About half an hour later, heavy hoofbeats indeed approached from afar. A group of sturdy young men in tight black clothing rode up. Though unremarkable in appearance, their eyes held a coldness, unlike ordinary men.

Zhapu surveyed the seven or eight hundred men and their mounts: “The Prince left the Princess Consort with elite troops.”

Not just the horses but the men were no ordinary soldiers. In battle against regular troops, each could handle two opponents.

“The Prince is far-sighted, likely anticipating unrest in the city after his departure,” Xiao Wenxi showed a gratified smile. “It’s getting late. Sir, we must attack quickly – I fear for the young master’s safety.”

Zhapu nodded. They all charged toward the city gates again, but this time the gate commander was even more alert, clearly viewing them as enemies.

“Open the gates now and I’ll be lenient,” Xiao Wenxi shouted.

“Lenient? Who are you to show leniency to an Imperial Commander?” A mocking voice drifted through the night, familiar to many.

Xiao Wenxi’s body trembled as she looked toward the sound. In the flickering firelight, a slender figure emerged from the shadows.

They wore a lapelled robe with hair half-bound by a green hairpin, and elegant tassels hanging level with their bold eyebrows.

“You…” Xiao Wenxi saw that familiar face and went deathly pale, as if an invisible hand gripped her throat, preventing any sound.

Bu Shulin – the real Bu Shulin!

Zhapu still didn’t know Bu Shulin was female. Seeing that familiar face in an unfamiliar dress, he couldn’t help shouting: “Who are you!”

“Me?” Bu Shulin brushed the beads hanging by her brow. “I am the Prince’s twin sister.”

This was the explanation Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai had agreed upon and reported to Shen Xihe. She was to marry Cui Jinbai, and with the Crown Prince’s return uncertain, if they succeeded today, the Crown Prince’s son would ascend the throne before his first birthday. A child emperor would spark ministers’ greed, and Cui Jinbai couldn’t abandon this situation.

Cui Jinbai would return to the capital to assist the young emperor. As husband and wife, they couldn’t remain secretive, and they had a child who needed to enter the Cui family records. So she had to create a daughter for her late father.

“Nonsense! The Prince never had a twin sister. You’re some demon who took his appearance!” Xiao Wenxi raged, turning to Zhapu: “Sir, she must have bewitched the city guards.”

“Hahaha…” Bu Shulin laughed unrestrained, looking at the woman she had performed marriage rites with, feeling countless emotions.

Fortunately, they had encountered Shen Xihe. Bu Shulin considered herself somewhat clever, but such deep schemes and disguises – she truly couldn’t see through them.

When first receiving Shen Xihe’s falcon message mentioning suspicions about Xiao Wenxi, Bu Shulin even wondered if Shen Xihe had misjudged.

Xiao Wenxi had hidden herself too well from the beginning, never showing any harmful intent toward them. She was cultured, understanding, intelligent, and had always helped them…

“Zhapu, who commands in Shu?” Bu Shulin suddenly spoke.

Zhapu started – this was the code phrase. He immediately waved his hand, and twenty-some people scattered quickly, forming a semicircle with weapons aimed at Xiao Wenxi and her hundreds of followers.

The Bu family’s secret guards recognized code phrases, not tokens. Xiao Wenxi’s expression changed as she seemed to realize something, but she still didn’t speak further, showing she didn’t know the token’s code phrase.

“Sir, don’t listen to her deceptions. The Prince left in haste, he didn’t…”

“Why struggle in vain?” Bu Shulin, standing on the city wall, waved her hand.

The gates lowered, and cavalry waiting behind them instantly charged across the bridge over the moat, their powerful hoofbeats creating an unending thunder.

Bu Shulin leaped down from the wall, her sword flashing cold light as she engaged the leader of Xiao Wenxi’s forces.

Less than a thousand men, yet they thought to control her Southern Shu city!

Bu Shulin’s blade rose and fell, blood spraying as she released all her anger and fear.

If Shen Xihe hadn’t exposed their plan early, truly allowing Shen Twenty-seven to take all forces from the city for relief, these people might have easily captured an entire city.

A long blade swept toward her. Bu Shulin leaned back to dodge, though her left temple ornament was still caught by the blade tip. Her eyes flashed fiercely as she struck back more viciously.

How she wished to dress as a man!

But Cui Jinbai had insisted – if she didn’t want to expose her identity and raise suspicions about Shen Twenty-seven, she could no longer cross-dress. She could wear men’s clothes but must wear lapelled robes openly like capital ladies, with makeup not concealing her femininity.

Bu Shulin had scoffed at this. Cui Jinbai was just jealous that when she dressed as a man, she was more popular in Blackwater than he was.

Those enchanting, flower-like ladies had all been captivated by her gallant bearing.

When Cui Jinbai arrived from settling their son in the city, the battle’s outcome was clear. His restless wife wore a fierce grin of excitement as she fought…