Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 420 Armored Beauty
"The battlefield is not child's play." Li Zhao's brows furrowed.

Xue Sui smiled and tightened the straps of his armor even more.

"Does Your Highness think I should cook and tend the fire in the camp, or mend your clothes?"

Li Zhao was stunned.

Xue Sui smiled and looked up, "Your Highness, Xue Liu is not a flower kept in a warm pavilion; there's no need to protect him like this."

The last sentence was spoken very softly, yet it was like a fine needle, piercing the softest spot in Li Zhao's heart.

He recalled her ruthlessness under the artificial hill at Puji Temple when they first met, and her calm and calculating demeanor at Youhuang Bureau when they met again.

Xue was always stubborn.

Li Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally relented.

"Let's go. Stay close and don't wander off."

"Your Highness, rest assured!" Xiao Zhao ran over, holding a short crossbow. Her leather armor swayed on her body, and she exuded the fierceness of a newborn calf. "This servant will risk her life to protect you, Miss, and will never let Your Highness worry."

Li Zhao said no more, took the "Guardian Heart" dagger he always carried close to his body from his waist, and handed it to Xue Sui.

"Take this. It's sharper than a regular dagger. Lightweight and easy to handle."

The scabbard felt heavy in my hand, with a familiar pattern.

Xue Sui calmly stuffed the item into his sleeve pocket, raised his eyes and said, "I'm going to General Lu's flank camp and following his movements. That way I won't hinder Your Highness's command or shake the morale of the army."

In this battle, Lu Youan was responsible for guarding a key pass in Laoxionggou. The pass was strategically important, but it was safer as it did not require a direct confrontation with the enemy.

She turned her head away decisively after she finished speaking.

Li Zhao froze for a moment, but did not stop him.

The wind whipped up snowflakes that hit my face, icy cold.

Xue Sui suddenly turned around and said, "After this battle is over, I will embroider a sachet for Your Highness."

Her words drifted over in a hazy, indistinct way.

Like a feather, it gently brushed against His Highness the Crown Prince's tense nerves.

Grandpa Laifu was so anxious that he stamped his feet on the spot. Watching Xue Sui and Xiao Zhao leave with firm steps, he couldn't help but come over and speak.

"Your Highness, perhaps... we could send two squads of personal guards to accompany Miss Xue? On the battlefield, swords have no eyes..."

"No need." Li Zhao's voice was muffled by the wind, carrying a hint of resignation and indulgence. He mounted the jet-black horse, looking down at him.

"You can't stop her from doing what she wants to do."

He watched the departing figure with a deep and thoughtful expression.

"Keep an eye on Black Eighteen in the camp, don't let it run around."

Lai Fu had no choice but to bow and accept the order.

"Let's go!" Li Zhao suddenly pulled on the reins, and the black horse neighed and charged ahead.

The bugle call signaling the army's departure was desolate and chilling.

The clanging of armor and the neighing of warhorses propelled them forward like a surging torrent.
-
The forced march was more grueling than expected.

The mountain road is rugged and steep, with snow-covered ice and dampness, and jagged rocks.

The heavy leather armor pressed down on him, making every step feel like dragging a heavy burden...

Xue Sui's forehead was covered in sweat, and his breath carried a scorching white vapor.

Xiao Zhao stayed close to her side, never falling behind.

The line of people in front suddenly stopped.

The messenger's voice pierced through the cold wind.

"The general has ordered that we rest in place for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Drink water, eat dry rations, and check our weapons..."

Xue Sui sat down against the rocks, unscrewed the water bag, and tilted his head back to pour it in.

The icy water trickled down her throat, jolting her awake, and her mind instantly cleared...

Xiao Zhao handed over a hard, dry wheat cake.

"Girl, have something to eat."

Xue Sui took it, his gaze passing over Xiao Zhao's shoulder and looking towards the brown mountain in the distance, where the snow had partially melted.

The Yunling Mountains have a massive ridge that acts as a natural barrier. Separated by this ridge, the climates at the northern and southern ends are drastically different. The northern slopes are ravaged by snow and wind, while the damp, cold forests of the southern slopes are filled with miasma.

Most of the thirty-six villages are located on the southern slopes where the climate is warmer.

Between that jagged mountain ridge ahead lies the decisive battleground – Old Bear Gully.

Li Zhao's men must have reached the mouth of the ditch by now.

Lu Youan walked over, exuding a chill, carrying a thick felt cloak in his hand.

"It will get colder at night, girl, put this on."

"I'm not cold, General, please use me."

Xue Sui tugged at the sash on his body.

"This little bit of hardship is nothing to me."

She had altered the leather armor, making it not fit perfectly, but it was very slender around the waist and abdomen. Her short hair was messy under the weight of the armor, with a few strands sticking to her smooth forehead, which added a touch of unruly sharpness.

Lu Youan lowered his eyes, his tone becoming even more insistent, "I am used to living a life of hardship. The young lady is frail, and if she catches a cold, I will have no way to explain myself to His Highness."

Xue Sui smiled knowingly and no longer refused his concern.

"Thank you, General Lu. I will need your help on my journey to Laoxionggou."

Lu Youan was taken aback, then nodded solemnly: "It's my duty, Miss, please rest assured."
-
As dusk fell, the setting sun shone like blood, and lead-gray clouds pressed down on the horizon.

The team arrived at a sheltered pass on the outskirts of Laoxionggou and temporarily set up camp.

The campfire had just been lit when a scout rushed in to report.

"General Lu." The scout knelt on one knee, his breath coming in short gasps.

"Several men claimed to be old acquaintances of Miss Xue, and the leader was named Qin Feng... They said they had urgent military information and requested to see the young lady."

Lu Youan looked at Xue Sui.

She nodded and abruptly stood up.

"Please trouble General Lu to bring the person in."

A few moments.

Qin Feng, accompanied by several dusty, well-dressed men, strode over.

A thin layer of snow fell on his shoulders, a steel knife hung at his waist, and his eyes gleamed. When Qin Feng saw Xue Sui's military uniform, his eyes lit up. He gave a hasty salute and then reported in a low voice.

"Girl, we've caught a glimpse of Xiao Yan's tail."

Xue Sui gestured for him to come closer and explain in detail.

Qin Feng immediately squatted down in front of her, picked up a twig, and quickly sketched on the muddy ground.

"Following the girl's instructions, our men staked out Yunling and spotted a group of people furtively transporting things into the mountains south of Laoxionggou..."

What are you transporting?

"Covered with branches, it doesn't look like grain or fodder, and it's hard to see clearly..."

"Didn't they rejoin the main force at the Laoxionggou battlefield?"

"No. The goods were taken in and never came out. The terrain there is secluded, easy to defend and difficult to attack, with many natural caves. Our people dared not risk getting close to observe..."

Xue Sui's expression changed slightly. He said to Lu You'an, "General Lu, I will take a team to investigate. You will set up camp as planned and meet His Highness the Crown Prince."

"No way!" Lu Youan refused without even thinking.

"Sixth Miss, the terrain in the Yunling Mountains is treacherous and too dangerous! I must inform His Highness the Crown Prince..."

"His Highness the Crown Prince is in Old Bear Valley, don't distract him." Xue Sui tightened his boot laces, smiled at him, and said, "If I had to ask him about everything, why would I have come here with General Lu?"

She mounted the horse with swift and decisive movements.

"Xiao Zhao, Qin Feng, I'm leaving."

How could Lu Youan possibly feel at ease?

He strode after him.

"Sixth Miss, I will send two teams to escort you."

“Too many people will only alert the enemy.” Xue Sui smiled and turned around, a sharp, cold light reflecting in his eyes. “Don’t worry, scouting through the woods is my specialty. Assess the situation and retreat immediately. If there is any unusual movement, use the whistle as a signal.”

(End of this chapter)