Chapter 983: First Volume, Chapter 983: Reunion on the Battlefield with Jing Ci

First Volume, Chapter 983: Reunion on the Battlefield with Jing Ci

Qin Feng walked over, yanked Ning Hu off the County Magistrate's seat, and dragged him toward the County Yamen's gate, his voice lowered to a whisper: "Why did Jing Ci come here?"

Watching Qin Feng's sudden change in attitude, Ning Hu couldn't help but revel in the amusement: "Heh, how would I know? But hey, Brother Qin, you've always been fearless—so why do you turn into a trembling mess whenever family women are mentioned?"

Facing Ning Hu's teasing, Qin Feng didn't waste words—he clenched his fist and punched him straight in the chest: "That's what a real man does, you understand? By the way, why did Jing Ci show up at this deadline? Is it for Zhang Chao? Or is the Di King still unwilling to give up, trying to use Jing Ci to persuade me?"

Ning Hu shrugged: "If you don't know, how would I know? I'm just a Martial man."

Qin Feng ignored Ning Hu's babbling, walking toward the City Gate while silently pondering.

According to Qin Feng's deduction, if the Di King intended to rescue Zhang Chao, there was absolutely no need to send Jing Ci into the lion's den.

After all, Jing Ci is the Princess of Beidi—if anything happened to her, wouldn't that be sacrificing one thing to save another?

In other words, if the Di King hoped to use Jing Ci to persuade Qin Feng to sound the retreat, he vastly underestimated Qin Feng—this beauty trap had zero effect on him.

It wasn't that Qin Feng didn't love beauties, nor that Jing Ci wasn't beautiful; it was that after living for years among five women at home and two maids, Qin Feng had seen it all—he wouldn't lose his reason at the sight of a pretty face.

This Winter War was of critical importance; even if Qin Feng were the most foolish man alive, he wouldn't abandon the greater cause for a woman.

The Di King was no fool—he wouldn't send Jing Ci to Changshui County if he knew it was meaningless; there must be hidden malice behind it.

But Changshui County was surrounded by Beidi Light Cavalry and had lost all contact with the outside world; Qin Feng knew nothing of the South Line's Beidi War Intelligence, so he had no clue about the Di King's motives.

Still, since Jing Ci had come, he'd deal with her as the situation demanded—no matter how low he sank, he wouldn't be driven off by a woman!

After climbing the City Wall, Qin Feng didn't reveal himself immediately; instead, he had Ning Hu represent him to meet Jing Ci, while he quietly listened from the side.

Below the wall stood a group of fifty men—besides the Draft Horse drivers carrying "gifts," the rest were soldiers guarding Jing Ci's safety.

A lone carriage stood beneath the City Wall; Qi Ya stood on its platform, looking up at the movements atop the wall.

When she saw Ning Hu appear, Qi Ya's heart tightened, but she feigned calm: "Ning Qianhu, it's been so long—how have you been?"

Ning Hu tried his best to appear indifferent, but his acting was terrible—Qin Feng saw at a glance that Ning Hu had truly fallen for Qi Ya.

"Cough, cough—Qi Ya, you're the Personal Maid of the Beidi Princess, and I'm an officer under Lord Qin; we're natural enemies. Why pretend with such false pleasantries?"

"Just say what you came to say!"

Facing Ning Hu's coldness, Qi Ya showed no disappointment—after all, they stood on opposing sides; meeting as enemies on the battlefield without hatred was already rare—what room was there for personal ties?

Qi Ya took a deep breath and said sweetly: "War is the soldiers' affair. Today, the Princess has come to Changshui County solely on personal grounds, to pay respects to Lord Qin."

"Might Lord Qin be willing to grant her a moment?"

Hearing this, Ning Hu immediately snapped: "Personal ties? What personal ties could Lord Qin possibly have with your Princess?"

"This is a battlefield of critical importance—how dare you just ride over like this? Isn't this too childish?"

"If you have no urgent matter, return home at once!"

Rejected again, Qi Ya's brows furrowed, her temper flaring: "Ning Hu, you really are heartless!"

"Changshui County is our Di territory—you've seized it, yet now the Princess has come all this way, lowering herself—and still, you won't even let her meet Qin Feng? This is too much!"

At that moment, the carriage curtain parted, and Jing Ci stepped out, stopping the furious Qi Ya, then looked up at Ning Hu—her eyes filled with sorrow and resentment, yet she forced composure.

"My servant spoke rashly—please, Lord Ning, calm your anger. Could you kindly inform Lord Qin?"

"Even if Lord Qin refuses to meet me, it's fine—I'll finally be able to let go of this hope."

Seeing the once lofty Jing Ci Princess now so humble, Ning Hu felt a pang of pity—after all, across all of Beidi, only this Princess had no personal stance, only the country's interest at heart.

As Ning Hu hesitated, Qin Feng stepped forward, no longer hiding.

The moment she saw Qin Feng, Jing Ci's eyes grew even more forlorn; despite repeatedly telling herself to be strong, her voice betrayed her hurt.

After all, no matter how torn she'd felt inside, she'd always chosen to believe in Qin Feng.

But Qin Feng had always used her…

Jing Ci knew Qin Feng represented Beixi County, even the entire Liang Kingdom—he hadn't come here to make personal connections. Yet learning that everything he'd done was so coldly pragmatic, her heart bled.

Now, meeting Qin Feng again, she could only hold her pain, forcing composure through the lens of her nation's stance.

"Lord Qin, we've met again."

"Might we speak?"

Facing Jing Ci's sincere request, Qin Feng didn't answer immediately—he deliberately ignored her gaze and looked past her at the caravan, his voice low: "In wartime, if your kingdom truly means well, you should send only the Princess and her personal attendants. Why bring soldiers?"

"I've said before: any soldier approaching Changshui County comes but never returns!"

"Kill every armed man!"

As he spoke, Ning Hu and the Tianji Camp Guards instantly raised their Bow and Arrow, aiming at the soldiers behind Jing Ci.

Jing Ci's eyes widened in shock: "No!"

But no one heeded her—next second, a hail of Arrows flew, slaughtering every one of Jing Ci's escort.

This was Qin Feng's unshakable stance: any enemy, any soldier—kill without mercy.

Jing Ci turned to look at the soldiers lying in pools of blood—she could no longer hold back, clenching her fists and screaming at Qin Feng atop the wall: "Qin Feng! You're too cruel!"

"How could they threaten you? Why kill them so ruthlessly!"

Facing Jing Ci's accusation, Qin Feng replied lightly: "Princess, this is the Battlefield."