The suddenly rising flames stunned everyone. The Luo family’s forces on the southern valley naturally had people crying out in alarm and horses neighing, but Shaoshang’s forces on the northern side were also greatly startled. Not only because the fire’s momentum was as swift as thunder, but also because the way this fire burned was strange.

The rectangular thatched pavilion was divided in half between Luo and Cheng’s two women, yet the flames seemed enchanted, burning only on the southern half where Luo Jitong sat, while the half of the pavilion where Shaoshang sat remained completely undamaged.

Luo Jitong froze, seeing fierce flames everywhere beneath her feet, while on the opposite side, the two martial maids only needed to kick aside a thin layer of straw on the ground to immediately reveal the lower layer of soaking wet grass mats and wooden boards. She understood—though built with the same materials, the wooden boards and straw on Cheng Shaoshang’s side had all been soaked through with water, while her own side had likely been brushed with oil. As for the fine silk cloth overhead, it was truly thin as a cicada’s wing—the flames licked it once and it was gone. More importantly, the wind in this valley blew from north to south.

Before anyone could think further, the raging flames had already caught up to Luo Jitong and her servants, tearing twisted cracks into their clothing, hair, and even skin, emitting a terrifying burnt smell. The four martial maids desperately protected Luo Jitong as they retreated from the thatched pavilion. Just as they rushed to return to their own guards, they discovered several thin lines of fire spreading rapidly southward across the valley floor, radiating from the grass pavilion as their center.

At the same time, several dozen mounted forces hidden behind the eastern and western hillsides received the signal and galloped up the slopes. Each person held several black round spheres trailing fiery tails, accurately hurling them toward the Luo family’s forces.

Before the Luo family’s forces could react, those black spheres had already exploded beneath the horses’ hooves. Accompanied by intimidating roars and orange-red flames, the southern side of the flower and grass-filled valley had already become a sea of fire.

Shaoshang sat mounted at the very northern position, separated by her own guards, coldly watching the hellish inferno ahead.

A Cheng family general sidled over, wiping cold sweat from his forehead and laughing dryly: “Young Lady, what are these things? So formidable! They nearly scared us to death! Do the Master and Mistress know about this?”

Fu Deng quickly pulled him aside, saying in a low voice: “The Master and Mistress know about it, but haven’t witnessed it before.”

“There must be a name for it!”

“It’s called ‘oil fire bomb’!”

Over these five years, Shaoshang had ceased all her ‘hobbies and interests’—brewing wine, firing bricks, carpentry, ironwork, everything—except for one thing: these oil fire bombs. Because the Grand Empress Dowager’s excursions outside the palace most feared security concerns, she racked her brains day and night, and over two years ago developed this simplified homemade version of ‘hand grenades.’

Due to insufficient materials, the explosive effect wasn’t very good, so Shaoshang worked hard on the burning intensity instead. Burns caused by oil fire bombs couldn’t easily be extinguished with water—one needed a special powder or to jump into a water pit. After the oil fire bombs proved stable in testing, Shaoshang specially trained her subordinate guards’ throwing ability, striving for stability, accuracy, ruthlessness and speed—throwing precisely where aimed.

However, the greatest flaw of this special weapon was its cost—extraordinarily expensive. Each oil fire bomb cost enough for an ordinary farming family of seven or eight people to chew through for half a year.

At this moment, the Luo family’s camp opposite was in complete chaos, wailing continuously. The most serious issue wasn’t even the personnel casualties—the horses, terrified of flames, neighed and struggled, either throwing their riders from their backs or ignoring commands and scattering wildly, causing trampling injuries and deaths in the confusion.

After the oil fire bomb barrage finished, the cavalry on both hillsides began shooting arrows. Because the distance wasn’t far, they could aim carefully, with almost no arrows missing their mark. Combined with the advantage of higher ground, their effectiveness doubled—Shaoshang firmly believed that warfare was a money-burning activity. The more money burned, the fewer lives lost. So she equipped everyone with over two hundred vicious three-bladed arrow heads with blood grooves—exceeding normal allocation by more than three times!

From departure until now, the journey had been smooth and uneventful. Only a few young guards had shot at a couple of sparrows and rabbits. Now these premium goods could finally be fully utilized on bloody human lives. These massive quantities of arrow heads plus the expensive oil fire bombs—even with Shaoshang’s vast estates and generous rewards, she had still accumulated savings slowly over these years.

Waves of arrows rained down from the sky. The Luo family’s forces, with flames still burning on their bodies, suffered another heavy blow. Blood gushed from arrow wounds—a ghastly sight. Though they numbered five or six hundred people, even if only one in ten arrows hit someone, several thousand arrow heads could cover them all. However, the Luo family soldiers weren’t all pushovers either. After the initial shock passed, they raised shields to protect themselves, enduring the burning and beginning to counterattack.

This was when the previously dumbfounded Cheng family soldiers needed to take the stage. Though numbering only twenty or thirty, over these decades they had constantly followed Old Master Cheng in campaigns without ever slacking. By contrast, Shaoshang remembered the Luo family hadn’t been involved in warfare for over ten years. She didn’t believe the Luo family household troops could have much combat strength. On the battlefield, how important was a single experienced, seasoned, ruthless veteran.

Under their command, the forces on the eastern, western, and northern sides responded calmly and unhurriedly, not at all rushing to charge into enemy formation, only steadily shooting round after round toward the enemy masses. Occasionally, a dozen or so attempted to counterattack up the slopes, either shot dead by dense arrow rain or barely climbing up only to be cut down by the veterans’ swords.

The recovered Luo family members saw Cheng Shaoshang sitting high on her horse in the distance and got the idea to capture the leader first. Although a wall of fire spreading left and right from the thatched pavilion as boundary divided the valley into north and south halves, if they could just rush through the fire wall and guard circle to capture or kill Cheng Shaoshang alive, the Luo family might not be without hope of victory.

However, Shaoshang had prepared early. The ordinary household servants, after suffering several heavy blows, didn’t have much combat strength left anyway. Fu Deng commanded the guards to use long spears coordinated with forged swords, waiting at ease for the exhausted enemy, killing one by one those who rushed through at the fire wall’s edge.

As the Luo family’s forces suffered excessively heavy casualties under the pressure of enemies on three sides, they finally discovered that only the southern side from which they came was unguarded. So the timid and cowardly, despite their leaders’ curses, involuntarily retreated toward the southern valley passage.

The fighting had continued for over half an hour. Several leading household soldiers saw things going badly and hastily shouted promises of heavy rewards. The several dozen fierce martial artists began launching attacks toward the north. They first wetted their outer garments at the cliff wall, wrapped their heads and faces, and charged through. Fu Deng’s expression turned serious as he immediately ordered the guards to stand ready in strict formation. However, these people also had weaknesses—

After fighting desperately for some time, the martial artists’ burns and arrow wounds became unbearably painful. Looking at the guards ahead loyally defending to the death, protecting Cheng Shaoshang so tightly that not even wind or rain could penetrate, the seemingly fragile human wall they still couldn’t breach, they inevitably grew agitated.

At this moment, Shaoshang called out loudly: “Honored warriors, please hear my words. I am the Palace Superintendent of Yong’an Palace personally appointed by His Majesty. If you strike me down today, you strike down a court official. Just now I already sent people back to deliver a message. Not only will the Luo family from top to bottom be unable to escape, those who aid tyrants in their evil will also face government arrest. Have you all considered this carefully?” Though she had already resigned, using it to bluff wasn’t bad.

Those martial artists slowed their movements.

Shaoshang continued: “You all work so hard merely for money. I might as well tell you all—that Luo family lady ahead has committed monstrous crimes. The entire Luo family probably cannot escape. When that time comes, where will you all collect your reward money?”

The martial artists’ exchanged glances revealed wavering.

Despite this, there were still three or four stubborn martial artists and ant-swarm-like household servants who killed their way into the guard circle. Shaoshang without a word drew her sword to resist while simultaneously shooting with bow and crossbow—just at this moment, high-pitched horn sounds and drumbeats rang out behind her. She turned to look and saw a large force of troops charging through the valley entrance, with her beloved brother at the very front.

Everyone’s morale surged greatly as they all shouted ‘Reinforcements have arrived!’ and ‘The Third Young Master’s rescue troops are here!’…!

The Luo family’s side had already been irritated and angered by their prolonged failure to break through. Watching the hours drag longer and longer, they had finally fallen short at this moment. Luo Jitong, enduring her burns, glared fiercely at the unharmed Cheng Shaoshang ahead, gritted her teeth, and ordered retreat!

Shaoshang and all the soldiers were utterly exhausted, so Shaoshang ordered pursuit. However, at this moment an unexpected event occurred—the flames covering the ground not only blocked the Luo family’s forces from attacking Shaoshang, but also obstructed Shaoshang’s pursuit. Although they killed and captured quite a few enemy troops, Luo Jitong still escaped under the protection of her trusted guards.

Shaoshang sat down exhausted on a large rock, watching her brother command the soldiers in cleanup operations—extinguishing flames, treating the wounded, gathering the dead, tallying the killed and captured enemy numbers… Though Fu Deng was also utterly exhausted, he still loyally stood beside Shaoshang, smiling: “Young Lady is truly remarkable, to actually have such abilities!”

Shaoshang didn’t answer, only smiled faintly—when surrounding an enemy, one must leave an opening for escape. This too was taught by Huo Buyi.

The sun’s shadow slowly tilted, drawing out long shadows of the people moving about the valley. Watching the constantly shifting human shadows on the ground, Shaoshang suddenly remembered the golden Changqiu Palace at dusk.

Palace maids and eunuchs preparing the evening meal came and went. Human shadows swayed across the white jade floor of the central courtyard, among them one particularly upright and straight figure—he always liked to lean alone against a corridor pillar waiting for her, long lashes lowered, saying not a word.

When Shaoshang emerged, she could just see the clean and beautiful curve of his jaw, his slightly loose bangs like scattered gold softly falling across his brow bone. When he heard her tapping footsteps and turned to smile, he was young and handsome beyond belief.

At that time, Shaoshang always wondered why such a heaven’s favored son who lacked nothing was so often melancholy and lonely, why his smiles rarely reached the depths of his eyes.

Huo Buyi wasn’t skilled at small talk, and Shaoshang was unwilling to stare at him wordlessly. Often after sitting together in silence for a short while, her thoughts would wander. To prevent her from slipping away, Huo Buyi had no choice but to search for topics of conversation.

He would tell her about his experiences traveling to the Western Regions, that cunning and adorable little snow weasel on the snowy peaks, the jokes he made the first time deploying troops in battle formation, respectable strong enemies and contemptible traitorous ministers, the ancient and vast Hexi Corridor, farmers’ satisfied smiling faces in endless seas of rice, the loneliness after costly victories, and the ruined palace halls of the previous dynasty in the setting sun’s afterglow…

He also said that even when she sat right beside him, he still missed her.

Years later, suddenly looking back, they had actually spoken so many words, had so much laughter together. At the time they were young and didn’t realize it, but looking back now only bitterness and melancholy remained.

While she was lost in thought, Cheng Shaoshang finished handling all matters and ran over to find his sister: “…Killed two hundred, captured one hundred. The rest all escaped. I truly failed you.”—Throughout the journey he had rushed desperately, not even daring to drink water, all for fear of failing to save his sister.

Shaoshang smiled with relief: “Don’t worry—they can escape the monk but not the monastery. With all this living and dead evidence, I want to see how the Luo family extracts themselves completely. Without the Luo family, what does that Luo Jitong amount to? Even if she escapes with her life, she can only be a defeated dog that cannot see the light of day!” For Luo Jitong, an obscure and impoverished life would probably be more painful than killing her.

Cheng Shaoshang removed half his armor and sat down sighing: “Yangyang, if Father saw what you did today, he would surely be gratified… And Mother too. The person she misjudged most in this lifetime is probably you.”

“Third Brother flatters me. You and our two elder brothers grew up beside battlefields from childhood, constantly exposed to such things—surely you’re even more capable.” Shaoshang was extremely tired, her tone softening.

Cheng Shaoshang smiled bitterly and shook his head: “Father always says that back in the day, he mistakenly thought campaigning depended on daring to fight and charge. After suffering several losses, he learned that the greater the battle, the more one must remain calm and composed. Father says Elder Brother is calm enough, but strategizes too much, lacking some charging spirit. Faced with today’s situation of one hundred against five hundred, Elder Brother absolutely wouldn’t take action. Second Brother has charging spirit, but unfortunately can’t withstand provocation—he needs someone who can suppress him to keep him in check. As for me, ahem… I won’t speak of myself.”

Hearing these words, Shaoshang wasn’t particularly happy. After a long silence, she said: “I won’t hide it from Third Brother. Back then I was anxious to marry out precisely to escape home early and eventually accomplish something to show those who looked down on me. After all these years, I’ve now discovered that how others view me—I stopped caring long ago.”

Cheng Shaoshang was deeply moved, patting his sister’s shoulder.

“Brother, do you have anything to eat? I’m hungry.”

“I also haven’t eaten anything hot all day! While rushing on horseback I finished all the dry rations… Wait a bit. I just saw someone digging pits and setting up stoves. Food should be ready soon.”

“Alas, these rough fellows—what good food can they make? That lunch nearly choked me to death. We should hurry and bring back the cooks from that wilderness.”

“Yes, and there are pastries from Cuixiang Workshop that I stored in the carriage.”

Shaoshang slowly turned her head: “…When I asked you yesterday, didn’t Third Brother say you’d eaten them all?!”

“Uh… this…”

Shaoshang grew furious and pounced to strike. Shaoshang laughed while blocking: “Alright, alright, I’ll split half with you, won’t I? Stop hitting… stop hitting… Let’s do something proper instead!”

“What proper business?” Shaoshang had no strength left and could only temporarily call a truce.

“Since we’re idle anyway, why not go interrogate the captured Luo family household soldiers?”

Shaoshang’s eyes lit up: “Actually, I thought of that too. Such a large force as Luo Jitong’s couldn’t possibly wander everywhere—they must have a base. If we can question out this location and pursue them through the night, we might even capture Luo Jitong alive!”

“If we’re going to interrogate, do it quickly, or they’ll recover their wits and flee.”

The siblings acted immediately upon deciding. One said to use bribery, the other said to use deception, so they split up. Cheng Shaoshang picked a captured soldier with a shifty expression and thieving eyes, while Shaoshang found one who looked like a dim-witted blockhead.

Each sibling established a tent and opened the bone cup friendship competition.

Shaoshang removed her soft armor and, wearing old clothes splattered with bloodstains, entered the tent. Facing that trussed-up blockhead, she first launched into a spiel of nonsense, starting from her deep sisterly bond with Luo Jitong back in Changqiu Palace, all the way to mounting misunderstandings and sisterly falling-out.

“…Elder Sister Jitong is two years older than me and looked after me in every way, showing care and concern. I didn’t understand palace rules. Once when grinding ink I knocked over Her Majesty’s water stand, and Elder Sister Jitong took the blame. I was grateful in my heart and truly treated her as my own sister!” Shaoshang covered her face with a handkerchief and sobbed, casually borrowing Luo Jitong’s story as material for lies. “Later, when Marquis Huo refused to marry Elder Sister Jitong, she blamed this on me. *Sob sob sob*, I’m wronged! This humble woman is also someone who reads books and knows propriety—how could I seduce Marquis Huo!”

The blockhead didn’t know what grudges existed between his young lady and this Young Lady Cheng, but seeing the young woman before him with tears filling her eyes, her pretty nose tip slightly reddened, crying so pitifully that witnesses couldn’t bear it, he immediately believed half of it.

Shaoshang deceived without the slightest guilt. Heaven gave her such an innocent lotus-flower appearance—she should use it well and not waste it!

“After this confused beating, I don’t even know if Elder Sister Jitong was injured. Thinking that Elder Sister Jitong might be burned, my heart feels like it’s being cut with a knife! If not for my family retainers stopping me, I would rather die at Elder Sister Jitong’s hands than harm her in the slightest! Brave warrior, are you willing to believe me?”

The girl looked over hopefully with her tear-reddened eyes, teardrops falling one by one. That blockhead was already nodding involuntarily.

“Since that’s so, I trouble the brave warrior to tell me where Elder Sister Jitong is now. This time when I find her, I will definitely speak humbly and beseech her, persuade her, no longer provoking her anger.” Seeing the blockhead still somewhat hesitant, Shaoshang decided to add fuel to the fire.

“How could I seduce Marquis Huo? This humble woman still pines for the eldest young master of the Yuan family. When the time comes, please speak to Elder Sister Jitong on my behalf! *Sob sob sob*, you should know this humble woman is also someone with a bitter fate. Engaged three times, engagements broken three times. In the capital there are all sorts of gossip, all saying I’m a jinx. Whether it was Young Master Lou, Eldest Young Master Yuan, or Marquis Huo, every fiancé encountered trouble. I truly cannot stay in the capital any longer…”

“What are you saying?!!” A familiar male voice sharply rebuked.

Shaoshang was crying out her grievances enthusiastically when, hearing this sound, she looked up in shock. The tent flap was lifted high, a tall and towering young man standing upright in the doorway, the setting sun illuminating the armor on his body in brilliant gold. From Shaoshang’s angle looking up, she could just see the clean and beautiful curve of his jaw, his bangs scattered like broken gold, however—

A head thrust diagonally through the doorway. Cheng Shaoshang laughed dryly: “I tried to stop him.”

Shaoshang: …

“What did you just say!” Huo Buyi furrowed his brow.

“Uh…” Shaoshang wanted to say this was complicated and couldn’t be explained in a moment. After deliberating for a long time, she finally said, “You might not believe this, but just now I was even speaking well of you to Luo Jitong.”

—See, this was her ghostly wailing wolf-howling luck from childhood to adulthood.