Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Everything Is Ready Except the East Wind! Gan Qiongying couldn’t control the corners of her mouth from curling upward wildly. Now that she had some money, what was she most lacking? People! She had been worrying about where to find people she could quietly raise, but she didn’t dare to easily buy slaves or guards. If they weren’t loyal, bringing them in would be a huge hidden danger. But these private soldiers she had raised for so long, the secret Princess Duanrong had hidden underground without anyone knowing—these were absolutely reliable! Over two thousand private soldiers, and from Chen Wa’s meaning, each one was an elite! Her steps felt light as if she were flying. She ran a few steps to Chen Wa’s side and even turned back to urge him, “Can’t you move your feet? Hurry up!” Chen Wa was stunned for a moment before immediately quickening his pace. Manyue was left behind by the two of them and hurried back to the room to fetch a cloak for Gan Qiongying, then jogged to catch up. With every step, Gan Qiongying even speculated whether those guards were training right beneath the ground she was stepping on. When Gan Qiongying finally arrived at a hidden entrance to a rockery after many twists and turns, and descended to the training ground via a manual lift, even she, who had mentally prepared herself in advance, couldn’t help but be shocked by the enormous underground training facility. A gust of damp, chilly wind carrying an indescribable smell blew over, seeping directly into their robes. Fortunately, Manyue had brought a thin cloak and quickly wrapped it around Gan Qiongying. Gan Qiongying tightened the cloak and walked forward. Chen Wa rushed ahead to make arrangements. The torches along the underground passageways were all lit, twice as many as usual, illuminating the underground as brightly as above ground. The passageways were quiet all the way, with smooth floors and mottled walls, clearly showing signs of long-term habitation. It wasn’t until they reached the middle section that Gan Qiongying faintly heard the sounds of fighting and the clashing of weapons. The stones on the ground also changed, becoming more uneven. Manyue quickly supported Gan Qiongying and reminded her, “Princess, watch your step.” The path sloped downward. After walking a bit further, Gan Qiongying finally saw someone. The person was dressed in a groom’s attire and knelt respectfully from a distance, not rising until Gan Qiongying and the others approached. His face was filled with barely concealed excitement. Chen Wa crouched slightly, gathered strength, and leaped up, striking the stone wall at the top with a palm. Gan Qiongying then saw the stone wall in front of her suddenly sink, and the stones began to shift rapidly. Countless arrows shot out from the wall, startling Gan Qiongying into taking a step back. Chen Wa immediately stepped forward, shielding Gan Qiongying and Manyue. The arrows clearly had a limited range and didn’t reach where they stood. After all the arrows had been fired, Chen Wa led Gan Qiongying and Manyue forward again. They finally stopped in front of a stone door. Chen Wa reached out and moved a stone carving. When the mechanism was triggered, the sounds in the passageway immediately ceased. As the massive stone door slowly opened, Gan Qiongying saw a group of people kneeling collectively to welcome her. But they weren’t the armored soldiers she had imagined. Instead, they were dressed in ordinary servant’s clothing. Their faces were beaming with smiles. Almost all of them worked in the mansion as laborers, guards, grooms, or in various other roles. Thus, they all knew Gan Qiongying's appearance. Upon learning that the Princess had personally visited this underground training ground, they could hardly contain their excitement. "May the Princess enjoy peace and prosperity!" Their synchronized greeting was so deafening it seemed capable of piercing through the ground and reaching the heavens. However, having made her way here, Gan Qiongying knew the underground training ground had exceptional soundproofing and was situated quite deep below the surface. No matter what sounds they produced inside, they would never be heard from the outside. Otherwise, Gan Qiongying would not have remained unaware for so long that she possessed her own private army. Gan Qiongying was momentarily stunned, closing her eyes briefly. She recognized several of them. There were the gate guards and the cleaning servants. She had never imagined they were so deeply concealed and capable. Usually, she only noticed their robust physiques but had absolutely no idea they were part of her privately trained army. At Chen Wa's signal, the group immediately returned to their positions, each picking up their weapons. Following the flags in Chen Wa's hands, they continuously shifted formations within the vast, oppressively low-ceilinged underground training ground. For a time, the shouts for formation changes and the clashing of weapons filled the air incessantly. Gan Qiongying felt as if she had been transported to an ancient battlefield, profoundly shaken both physically and mentally. She later watched several more sparring matches. The skills of these individuals far exceeded her expectations. In the end, Gan Qiongying naturally waved her hand grandly, generously rewarding everyone. They all kowtowed in respectful farewell, their fervent loyalty and devotion almost palpable, ready to burst forth. After Gan Qiongying and Manyue emerged from underground, she felt physically and mentally invigorated, as if she herself had sparred with those elite soldiers and won a battle. Gazing at the wispy clouds in the sky, an immense sense of confidence welled up within her. With over two thousand elite soldiers, there were countless things she could accomplish, and they were utterly loyal. On her way back, Gan Qiongying felt so light she seemed to float with each step, as if walking on clouds. Now she had silver, she had people—all she needed was to enter the palace and discuss with Gan Lin the specifics of their escape plan. Everything was set, awaiting only the Mid-Autumn Festival night banquet. All preparations were complete; only the east wind was needed! During dinner, Gan Qiongying stared at the dishes on the table, still wondering if Lihua would bring her roast duck today, but Lihua did not return for a long time. Several dishes had already been reheated once when someone finally announced that the Consort had returned. Gan Qiongying immediately went to the door to greet him. These past few days, Lihua seemed exceptionally busy, occasionally returning with the scent of alcohol on him, likely from social engagements. Gan Qiongying never questioned him, only diligently helped him change clothes herself and brought him the ginseng soup he inevitably drank every night, embodying the perfect, virtuous wife. She herself did not realize that she genuinely felt some heartache for Lihua, not entirely because of the five hundred thousand taels. Although Lihua did not bring Gan Qiongying roast duck, he did bring back several snacks. Moreover, he seemed to be in a particularly good mood today, smiling more than usual. "Husband," Gan Qiongying said, gently shaking Lihua's hand while looking at his face, "you've been working too hard lately. Once Manyue brings the ginseng soup, drink an extra bowl. Also, it seems the weather is about to change; you should apply a warm compress to your legs later." Lihua clasped Gan Qiongying's hand in return, pulling her toward him and into his embrace. By now, holding Gan Qiongying had become very natural and familiar to him. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Princess. The merchant guild has been quite busy today. If this happens again, you should go ahead and eat without waiting for me." Gan Qiongying leaned against Lihua's chest and looked up. "I want to wait for you. Without you here, eating alone just isn't as enjoyable." This was truly the honest truth—she had long grown accustomed to sharing meals with Lihua. Lihua reached out and gently touched Gan Qiongying's face. Hearing her words, an indescribable warmth welled up in his heart. He spoke softly, yet with the weight of a solemn promise: "Then from now on, I'll always hurry back early to eat with you. Even if I'm busy with matters, I won't eat outside—I'll make sure to come back and keep you company." "That's really not necessary..." Gan Qiongying chuckled, thinking Lihua was just joking.