Chapter 50: Capturing the Leader

I can distinguish who treats me well.

Xuan Rui had guarded her all night. Just as dawn approached and he prepared to withdraw for some rest, the figure nestled in his arms began to whimper discontentedly.

Listening closely, she was even speaking in her dreams, calling out “Mother” repeatedly—

Back when he thought she was Yang Zhi, the Thirteenth Miss of the Prime Minister’s residence, he assumed she was missing her deceased birth mother. But after learning she was the Third Princess, this matter became an unresolved mystery.

She should have been raised by the Empress’s side, with little emotional connection to her birth mother Shu Fei. So who exactly was she calling “Mother”?

Seeing her brows furrowed in evident distress, Xuan Rui had no choice but to tighten his embrace again.

Having no parents or relatives himself, he had never known the taste of longing. Yet hearing her call for her mother repeatedly, he could somehow empathize.

An unfamiliar ache spread through his heart, fine and persistent.

For someone who valued familial bonds so deeply, what would happen if the Prince truly was her biological father?

Concerned about her light sleep and the excess wine she drank last night, Xuan Rui stayed with her a while longer.

Only when daylight fully broke did Yuchi Meng’s booming voice sound outside the tent: “What brings Your Highness here so early? The General hasn’t even risen yet!”

The small figure in his arms stirred, frowning and burrowing deeper against his chest, her legs bending until her knees pressed against his stomach.

Xuan Rui pressed his palm against her knees, relieved when those small feet moved away, and let out a long breath.

But the commotion outside grew louder. Sitting up and throwing on his robes, he decided to go out and handle it.

By then, the person on the bed had woken, gazing at him with drowsy eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He leaned down again, affectionately nuzzling her cheek.

Li Youqing rubbed her temples with one hand, her face pained as she complained, “General, my head hurts so much.”

Though familiar with the effects of drunkenness, Xuan Rui couldn’t bear the discomfort for her. He sighed helplessly, “Rest a while after breakfast. Take it easy today.”

Suddenly, the clashing of weapons echoed outside, followed by Zhenbei Wang Lu Zhan’s roar: “You insolent fool! How dare you block my path!”

“Why is he here again?” Li Youqing panicked, clutching Xuan Rui’s arm tightly. “This is all your fault! You knew he had ill intentions toward me, yet you didn’t send him away. Do you realize he almost barged in here yesterday?”

Xuan Rui felt conflicted. “He’s been persistently following us all this way. Don’t you want to hear what he has to say, Qingqing?”

“Nothing but foul nonsense that pollutes the ears! I refuse to listen. I’d rather die than have anything to do with him!” Her cheeks flushed with anger as she pinched his arm. “Are you breaking your promise? Do you still plan to hand me over to him? Is that why you left me alone here yesterday?”

Xuan Rui was taken aback and about to explain when the tent flap was suddenly thrown open. He swiftly wrapped the blanket around her.

Turning his back to shield her completely, he said sternly, “Your Highness, what is the meaning of barging into my tent so early?”

Lu Zhan stormed in, his fury intensifying at the sight of Xuan Rui only in an outer robe, his bare waist and abdomen exposed. “In broad daylight, what have you done to Her Highness? Without proper betrothal or ceremony, this is insubordination! You deserve a military flogging!”

The phrase “without proper betrothal or ceremony” struck Xuan Rui like a blow to the chest.

The person currently reprimanding her was most likely her biological father.

It was precisely because of this consideration that she had given Zhenbei Wang the opportunity yesterday—if she was willing to listen, she could learn the truth.

Seeing him remain silent, Lu Zhan let out a cold laugh and continued sarcastically, “You, a mere rustic from the countryside, what right do you have to lay hands on the princess? You’re merely taking advantage of her youth and inexperience, and her lack of support in the northwest. Such underhanded behavior is utterly unworthy of being called human!”

Xuan Rui’s expression grew increasingly somber, rage surging within him.

Their backgrounds were worlds apart, and it was still uncertain how much genuine affection she truly held for him.

Even so, what did it matter—

He genuinely adored the young princess. Even if it cost him his life, he would give her everything she desired.

Whether she was of royal blood or not, as long as he could seize control of the northwest and use it to negotiate with Emperor Jian, he could ensure she would never again fear slander, forever upholding her dignity as a princess and living a life of peace and happiness.

“Who, then, is the one taking advantage of this princess’s lack of support, pressuring me again and again? It is you, Zhenbei Wang Lu Zhan. How dare you distort right and wrong so brazenly? Do you truly think this princess is a naive, ignorant little girl?” Having said this, Li Youqing spread her arms and wrapped them around Xuan Rui’s waist from behind, declaring firmly, “I can distinguish who truly cares for me and who only seeks to deceive and use this princess.”

The moment her warm, delicate body pressed against him, Xuan Rui stiffened abruptly. Lowering his gaze to her pale, clasped hands in front of him, he gently held them and said calmly, “Perhaps you should first hear what His Highness wishes to say to you.”

Li Youqing chuckled softly and shook her head. “There’s nothing to discuss. Either kill him outright or help me drive him away. In any case, in this lifetime, I have no desire to lay eyes on him again.”

Her tone carried a trace of desolation, and her face revealed a resilience far beyond her years. Noticing his puzzled sideways glance, she stated calmly, “General Xuan, can you still fulfill the promise you made to this princess? If you pledge loyalty to my dynasty, rid me of this rebel king now, so he may never again have the chance to tarnish my reputation!”

Zhenbei Wang’s expression shifted slightly. Upon closer reflection, the young princess’s words seemed to suggest she already knew something.

A chill suddenly ran through him as he said, “Does Your Highness truly wish for this king’s death so fervently?”

Without further hesitation, Xuan Rui commanded coldly, “Guards, by my order!”

Yuchi Meng and Xiao Ziqi, who had been waiting outside the tent for some time, entered together and cupped their hands in salute. “At your command, General!”

“Muster the troops and deploy formations. Annihilate every soldier the rebel king brought with him.” He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

This man, who had raised him and molded him through one nightmare after another—he had sworn that one day he would crush him underfoot.

Lu Zhan had not expected the other to dare go this far. Glaring coldly, he retorted, “Xuan Rui, do you truly believe you can withstand a hundred thousand border troops? To move against this king now—are you courting death?”

“I’m afraid I can’t withstand them,” Xuan Rui replied with a hint of mockery, his lips pressed into a thin line as he added lazily, “But what choice does a country bumpkin like me have? With nothing but this life to gamble, what else is there to stake?”

His roguishness blended with an innate wildness, his back ramrod straight. Releasing her hands, he took a step forward.

Li Youqing heard the sounds of slaughter outside. Turning, she saw Lu Zhan suddenly draw his blade and lunge toward him. With a cry of alarm, she threw herself forward, trying to push him out of the way.

In the blink of an eye, Xuan Rui sidestepped and drew the sword hanging on the rack, clashing with Lu Zhan’s broadsword before swiftly pinning him to the ground.

His lean leather boot pressed against Zhenbei Wang’s cheek, half-obscured by disheveled black hair, while his eyes burned with bloodthirsty fury.

“You traitorous son—” Lu Zhan never imagined he would truly go this far.

Did he not understand the treachery of the royal family, or the principle that hounds are butchered once the hares are caught?

Or had he truly been blinded by beauty—

Filled with resentment, Lu Zhan struggled to lift his upper body, gazing at the delicate young princess as he murmured, “Qing’er, I am actually your fath—”

A forceful stomp of the boot shattered his words into incoherence.

Xuan Rui then summoned guards to escort him away and lock him in the dark prison.

Noticing the young girl still covering her ears, her eyes betraying lingering panic, he hardened his heart, pretended not to see, and strode out of the tent.

Zhenbei Wang had come to the camp with only fifty personal guards, while three thousand elite troops lay in ambush outside.

All morning, they had been clearing out the Wang’s hidden agents in the vicinity, extending the purge into the city to completely seal off the news of Zhenbei Wang’s confinement in the camp.

Li Youqing sensed the tense atmosphere outside but couldn’t discern whether Xuan Rui’s actions stemmed from rationality or momentary impulse.

Yet, what troubled her most was that he hadn’t directly killed that man.

Restless throughout the day, she barely touched her lunch.

In the afternoon, accompanied by Liu Shi for a stroll, she overheard camp discussions everywhere about Zhenbei Wang Lu Zhan’s treason—colluding with King Bai to betray Rou Lan and causing the deaths of Xiao Ziyan and others.

Even Liu Shi’s eyes reddened when speaking of it, lamenting how the Zhenbei Army generals defending Wu City had died tragically, their bodies torn apart.

“What a damned Wang—worse than pigs or dogs,” Liu Shi, having grown up in the military camp and known Xiao Ziyan and the others, felt heartbroken at the memory.

Li Youqing asked, “Did you only just learn about Zhenbei Wang and King Bai conspiring to seize Rou Lan?”

Liu Shi nodded, then revealed a look of admiration: “But General Xuan is brilliant. He feigned ignorance to lure that dog Lu deep into enemy territory, then captured all the men the old dog brought with him in one sweep.”

Skeptical, Li Youqing questioned, “Is what you’re saying true?”

“Of course! My husband said the same,” Liu Shi, simple-minded, never doubted the words of those she trusted.

Li Youqing, habitually wary of people and events, decided to wait for Xuan Rui’s return to inquire properly.

After riding on the hillside in the afternoon, her mood lightened somewhat. Returning to the tent, she saw a tall figure seated at the table.

Aunt An was setting out dishes nearby, while Liu Shi went to assist, smiling at Li Youqing: “The other day, Madam mentioned craving Scallion Jade Tofu. Come see if this is how my mother makes it.”

Hearing this, Xuan Rui also glanced at the table, where a white jade plate held pieces of jade-like tofu sprinkled with finely chopped scallions.

The dish looked rather fresh.

Aunt An nervously added, “I only had it once in my youth. I’m not sure if it suits Madam General’s taste.”

Li Youqing moved closer, picked up a piece with her chopsticks, took a bite, and looked up at Aunt An with a smile. “It’s delicious. You’ve put a lot of effort into this.”

“That’s good to hear.” Aunt An felt relieved and withdrew with Liu Shi.

Xuan Rui’s eyes held a hint of amusement as he picked up a piece to taste and commented, “It really is quite good.”

“You country bumpkin, what would you know about good food?” Li Youqing mocked him before focusing intently on her own meal.