Seeking to come forward at the cost of serious injury had been the best option available to her at the time.

Chen Baoxiang felt that her ordeal at Tianning Mountain had actually turned out to be fortunate — not only had she been given the opportunity to demonstrate her abilities, but she had also managed to let the Princess Imperial understand the enmity between herself and Cheng Huaili.

Previously, the Princess Imperial had wanted her to sabotage the imperial marriage, essentially treating her as a dispensable piece — a dead move on the board. Even if she had truly completed the task, her own fate would have been no better.

But now, Chen Baoxiang felt that she perfectly fit what the Princess Imperial needed, and her usefulness would naturally no longer be limited to that.

She had escaped disaster, and her prospects were even looking rather promising.

She was just thinking about all of this when a commotion erupted outside, followed by a eunuch stepping through the door holding a scroll of bright yellow cloth aloft.

“Where is Chen Baoxiang?”

Bikong’s heart sank, and she quickly helped the person on the bed to sit up.

Not understanding what was happening, Chen Baoxiang knelt down, and then heard the eunuch read out a string of four-character phrases — she could not understand a single word of what he was saying.

Bikong pressed down on the back of her head and thanked the imperial decree alongside her.

After the eunuch left and the crowd of onlookers at the doorway had dispersed, Chen Baoxiang finally asked Bikong: “Why does your face look so terrible?”

Bikong glanced sideways at her. “Did you not understand a word of it?”

“Heh heh.”

Rolling her eyes with undisguised exasperation, Bikong held up the imperial edict and explained: “His Majesty says that you rendered meritorious service in the bandit suppression at Tianning Mountain, and wishes to promote you.”

“That’s good news.”

“If the promotion were to one of the positions under the Princess Imperial’s jurisdiction, then yes, it would be good news.” Bikong’s expression was grave as she pointed to the official post written on the edict. “But His Majesty’s decree is sending you to serve beside Cheng Huaili, as his subordinate deputy officer.”

Cheng Huaili had lost the use of his legs, and his temperament had grown erratic ever since. Having first lost his left arm Lu Shouhuai and then his right arm Cheng’an, he had become increasingly volatile and vicious.

The imperial edict sending her to serve as Cheng Huaili’s subordinate deputy officer was nothing less than a sign of dissatisfaction with her performance at Tianning Mountain — a pretext to transfer her under Cheng Huaili’s command, and then an excuse to have her killed.

When the time came, she would be buried beneath yellow earth, and no one would ever again remember the merit she had earned on Tianning Mountain.

Bikong shook her head repeatedly. “You were still too conspicuous on that mountain — you actually drew the Emperor’s own attention.”

Chen Baoxiang held the imperial edict and mulled it over for a moment, then smiled. “I was born destined never to live a peaceful life. It would have struck me as strange if things had gone smoothly and I’d been given a proper post under the Princess Imperial.”

Then she tugged at Bikong’s sleeve. “Hurry, hurry — find me a carrying frame of some sort. We need to go to the Princess Imperial’s residence at once.”

Bikong was astounded. “You’re going to the Princess Imperial’s residence looking like this? The physician said you need to rest for a month.”

“The situation is urgent. We must set out immediately.”

No one but the Princess Imperial could protect her — but if she went while still in good health, the Princess Imperial might not be particularly moved.

And so Chen Baoxiang dragged her bloodied body and, in a state of wretched, pitiful misery, was carried horizontally on a litter into the presence of the Princess Imperial.

Li Bingsheng was reclining with her newly selected male favorite in her arms, just about to take a bite of watermelon, when she looked down and saw the person below — redder than the watermelon itself.

She quietly spat out a seed, then unfolded her fragrant fan and gently covered her nose. “What is the meaning of this scene?”

“Your Highness, Your Highness, please save me—” Chen Baoxiang raised her hand weakly in supplication, her voice filled with miserable pathos. “This humble official is not afraid of death — rather, I fear that all who are loyal to Your Highness will be slaughtered. If this continues, how will Your Highness ever attract capable people to your side?”

Li Bingsheng listened without betraying any reaction while Bikong finished her report, then said, fanning herself: “Do not speak such nonsense. His Majesty’s grace and favor — how could that be called slaughter?”

“This humble official’s heart is bound to Your Highness. If I am sent under General Cheng’s command, would that not be forcing my heart to be separated from Your Highness? That is no different from slaughter.”

Li Bingsheng was amused. “You and that tongue of yours really do know how to talk. But I have no authority to make His Majesty rescind an edict — so what use is it, coming to beg me?”

Chen Baoxiang looked up at her with an expression of reverent admiration. “Your Highness need only grant this humble official a title, and you can keep me here to continue serving you loyally.”

A title? Men were usually the ones asking her for such things — this was the first time a woman had ever asked her for one.

Li Bingsheng was puzzled.

·

A sudden new luminary had appeared in Shangjing.

The Emperor himself had issued a decree elevating her rank, and the Princess Imperial had taken her on as a sworn younger sister, to honor her meritorious service in protecting the imperial party at Tianning Mountain.

This person was, for a time, without rival in prestige. She was still in the middle of her recovery — and yet she was carried, crutches and all, into the palace for the imperial banquet.

Although the spring hunt had not gone smoothly, the palace banquet still proceeded as usual. Tables were laden with rare delicacies and exquisite cuisine; powerful nobles and prominent officials were all in attendance.

Cheng Huaili looked coldly at the person beside him. “It didn’t succeed?”

The person beside him trembled and lowered their voice: “She was inside the city the entire time, and there were unknown shadow guards around her. We couldn’t get to her.”

“Did I not tell you to invite her to the villa in my name?”

“We sent the invitation, but then Lord Zhang happened to be there, and said that her injuries were too severe for her to be moved. There was nothing we could do.”

“Useless.”

Cheng Huaili simmered with cold fury. A mere woman — someone he had never once considered a threat — and yet they couldn’t touch her.

Just as he was thinking about it, His Majesty summoned him.

He was pushed in his wheelchair to see the Emperor, and heard Li Shu say in a benevolent tone: “Today is a grand banquet — you should pay attention to the younger generation. It will set the Princess Imperial’s heart at ease.”

Ever since the Princess Imperial had taken the woman as her sworn younger sister, she had been paying close attention to her, worrying every now and then that he might fly into a rage and hurt someone. She had repeatedly brought up before His Majesty the idea of formally appointing that woman as the Commander of the Patrol Division.

Of course, neither His Majesty nor Cheng Huaili were willing. Any good-for-nothing could be installed as Commander of the Patrol Division and it would still benefit them — the only one who could not be allowed there was Chen Baoxiang.

As long as he managed to get through today, the Princess Imperial would have no grounds to say anything further.

Cheng Huaili agreed outwardly while thinking privately — he was not truly mad. He was more than capable of keeping up appearances. As long as he could first lure her out from her circle of protection, he had plenty of means to deal with her.

And right now—

He arranged his features into one of his rare benevolent smiles, preparing to step forward and offer his warm concern the very moment Chen Baoxiang entered the hall.

On the other side, Chen Baoxiang’s hands had started trembling the moment she passed through the palace gate.

Zhang Zhixu glanced at her. “Frightened?”

“Not frightened — excited.” Her eyes sparkled with a bright gleam. “It has been a very, very long time since I last saw General Cheng.”

Hadn’t she just seen him when she stole the medicine? Zhang Zhixu was about to ask, but then paused, and realized something.

Every time Chen Baoxiang caught sight of Cheng Huaili, her first instinct seemed to be to hide. The only time she had ever appeared in front of Cheng Huaili directly, she had frightened him so badly that he had lost his wits entirely — and even fainted on the spot.

He turned to look at her face, and the furrow between Zhang Zhixu’s brows deepened slowly. “If you… cannot go into the hall, I can go and make your excuses for you.”

“It’s fine.” Chen Baoxiang smiled brightly, gazing ahead. “I’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time.”

The two of them were still walking at a leisurely pace along the long palace corridor, while in the distant hall, the sounds of strings and woodwinds, dancing and music, voices and laughter already filled the air.

Li Bingsheng was sipping wine with languid indifference when, with a flick of her gaze toward the doorway, she smiled. “They’ve arrived.”

Cheng Huaili, too, exactly as he had planned, pushed his wheelchair forward to receive them. He opened his mouth with a benevolent expression: “Chen—”

One syllable out, and then he saw Chen Baoxiang’s face clearly.