Chapter 225: Reaping the Blessing of the Unambitious!

"Young General, you really can't blame Subordinate for overthinking."

"It's just that the posture between you and Miss An earlier was really too easy to misunderstand."

Cheng Xin helped bandage the wound while chattering on.

"You still have the nerve to bring it up? Isn't it because you suddenly rushed in?"

Cheng Chengxuan said in a low voice.

Thinking of what had happened earlier, the corner of his lips curved up slightly again.

If this guy Cheng Xin had come in a little later, or simply hadn't come at all…

"Huh?"

"What did Young General just say?"

Hearing that simple-minded voice, the corner of Cheng Chengxuan's mouth instantly flattened, and he glared at him rather speechlessly.

"Nothing!"

On the other side, after returning to her own Tent, An Luo lay on the small bed, hid her head under the blanket, and kept replaying the scene she had seen when she burst into the Tent in her mind; she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Until the sky was just beginning to brighten, she, sporting a pair of panda eyes, finally gave up completely.

Fine!

Get up!

The atmosphere in the Camp today was very tense.

The expressions of the Cheng Family members were more solemn than the last; even Qiuluo wore a dead-serious look.

What happened?

Thinking this in her heart, she also muttered it softly under her breath.

"Yes."

"Tomorrow the army will set out, and within five days we'll reach the Capital."

At some unknown point, Cheng Chengxuan had walked over to her side.

An Luo suddenly felt a little worried.

"What if the Shunhe Emperor doesn't play fair and uses the lives of the common people in the city to threaten you all?"

Seeing her troubled look, Cheng Chengxuan smiled and offered a few words of comfort.

"It's fine, we already have a plan to deal with it."

Saying this, a trace of coldness flashed through his eyes.

"Young General, everything is ready!"

Not far away, Cheng Xin and a few others led their Horses and shouted over in this direction.

Seeing them carrying their Inventory on their backs, An Luo was slightly surprised.

"You're leaving again?"

"Mm."

"But your wound hasn't healed yet."

Mentioning this, she inevitably thought of the scene she had seen last night again, and a faint flush rose on her cheeks.

Cheng Chengxuan watched with a smile in his eyes as she fanned herself beside her face, trying hard to act nonchalant, while still muttering in a transparently self-defeating way.

"So hot, the sun's a bit strong today."

Afraid of pushing her too hard, he didn't expose her, only said with a smile.

"Don't worry, this little injury is nothing."

"I've arranged everything. If you get bored, just have someone take you out for a walk."

"Time's about up, I have to go now."

An Luo nodded.

"Be careful."

Watching their group's backs grow farther and farther away, smaller and smaller, An Luo also turned and walked back into the Camp. She had originally wanted to help pack things up, but the Cheng Old Madam absolutely refused to let her lift a finger.

Insisted on dragging her to drink tea.

After drinking two whole pots of tea in a row, An Luo really couldn't take it anymore and slipped away on the pretext of going back to the Tent to rest.

She thought, since they wouldn't let her work, she might as well go into the space and bake some little cakes for everyone.

As for anything else, her skills really weren't up to it.

It was a good chance to come up with some new ideas, and later when they reached the Capital, open a cake shop or something.

After all, for us big women, no matter what time or space we're in, we should have a career of our own!

Money in hand, heart at ease.

……

In the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Officials waited inside Taiji Hall, every one of them frowning and sighing.

"I heard the Cheng Family Army has advanced another thirty li, looks like they'll be at the city walls any day now — what are we going to do?"

Unlike the others' deep worry, a middle-aged civil official reached up and smoothed his small tuft of a mustache, his expression remarkably calm.

"Anyway, this official has never done anything with a guilty conscience, I'm not afraid of anything!"

As soon as he finished saying this, someone beside him echoed in agreement.

"Exactly, this official isn't afraid either!"

He had never targeted the Cheng Family; let alone doing harmful things, he hadn't even handled a few proper assignments — what did he have to be afraid of?

One after another, several more people proudly declared they weren't afraid.

The others thought it over carefully.

Aren't these the very people who, day in and day out, have no ability and no backing, just coasting through life, utterly invisible at the Imperial Court?

The others: "..."

They really did reap the fortune of being unambitious!

"His Majesty's verbal decree—"

Hearing Shi Gui's voice, the crowd fell silent.

"His Majesty has issued an Imperial Decree: today's Early Court is cancelled."

"Honoured officials, please return."

Having said that, Shi Gui left without waiting for any reaction from the crowd.

The Imperial Officials felt even more uneasy.

"Why was it suddenly cancelled?"

"Could something have happened again?"

"..."

On the other side, Shi Gui was equally sighing and lamenting.

Last night, the Qianlong Guard Camp was suddenly attacked; the enemy went straight for the Kufang where the gunpowder jars were stored.

One fire was set, and all the gunpowder jars inside exploded.

Half the camp was blown away; of the thirty thousand Qianlong Guard, fewer than half still have fighting capacity.

Most critically, all the gunpowder is gone!

Even the raw materials were burned to ashes by the fire.

Upon hearing the news, the Xiyue Emperor was furious and, in his rage, fell ill again.

"Sigh!"

Shi Gui let out a heavy sigh. He had kept watch over the Xiyue Emperor the entire night, not daring to close his eyes for a moment. Though utterly exhausted, he still kept on his feet without pause, fetching the medicine packet and brewing the medicine.

……

The atmosphere in the Capital grew increasingly tense.

The inspections of people coming and going at the City Gate grew stricter and stricter.

Five men dressed as escorts, after the garrison soldiers checked their luggage and travel permits, were allowed in.

After putting some distance between themselves and the City Gate, one of them spoke; his voice was utterly at odds with his rough, rugged appearance.

"Split up. Make contact with the Cheng Family Army scattered across the Five Cities Military Commission. After dark, rendezvous at the Yunfu Inn in the east of the city."

When the words fell, the five dispersed into the crowd.

These five were none other than Cheng Chengxuan and his party.

Cheng Chengxuan was heading toward the Bingma Si in the east of the city when his steps suddenly paused. He glanced at the Eighteen Shop beside him.

After a moment's thought, he kept walking forward.

Better wait until he's back before buying it.

Passing a tea stall, he overheard the patrons at a table chatting idly.

"I heard the Xiyue Emperor locked up the Crown Prince."

"No, no, it was clearly the Empress he locked up!"

Someone nearby corrected them.

"You're both right, but only half right—both the Empress and the Crown Prince have been locked up!"

Hearing this, Cheng Chengxuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

It seems the palace has been quite lively these past few days.

……

At night, in the room at the very end of the second floor of the Yunfu Inn in the east of the city.

"Subordinate greets the Young General."

Those who came were the captains of each squad.

At this moment, Cheng Chengxuan had already removed his human-skin mask. He nodded at them.

"No need for formalities. How have things been on your end these past few days?"

Cheng Wu bared his teeth and slapped his chest.

"Don't worry, Subordinate—we're all doing fine."

"The silver we got from those Corrupt Officials, we used it all to wine and dine the people at the Bingma Si, and we've also sent plenty of gifts to the men in charge at each Bingma Si."

"Now not only is nobody giving us trouble, we've already become thick as thieves with them."

Cheng Chengxuan patted each of them on the shoulder in turn.

"You've worked hard. Well done."

"I called you here today to discuss the matter of the main army entering the city…"

An hour later, the five squad captains, just as when they had come, dispersed and quietly left the inn.

They had only been gone a short while when Chu Yuan came in, grinning like a thief, his tone that of someone who loved watching a good show and never thought things were messy enough.

"If the Shunhe Emperor finds out you used the silver from those Corrupt Officials to bribe the people at the Bingma Si, wouldn't he be driven mad with rage?"

Isn't that essentially using his own silver to open a convenient door for the enemy?