The sudden blaze stunned everyone. The Luo family's forces in the southern valley panicked with horses neighing in fright, while Shao Shang's troops to the north were equally startled. It wasn't just the thunderous speed of the fire, but its strange behavior that shocked them.
The rectangular thatched pavilion was equally shared between the two women, yet the flames seemed enchanted—burning only the southern half where Luo Jitong stood while leaving Shao Shang's side completely untouched.
Luo Jitong froze, watching flames engulf her feet while noticing the two martial maids opposite merely had to kick aside a thin layer of straw to reveal damp mats and wooden boards beneath. She understood—though built with the same materials, Cheng Shaoshang's side had been soaked through with water while hers had likely been oiled. As for the thin silk canopy above, it was as fragile as a cicada's wing, vanishing instantly when licked by flames. More crucially, the valley's winds blew north to south.
Before anyone could react, roaring flames clawed at Luo Jitong and her maids, twisting their clothes, hair, and even skin with terrifying cracks and the stench of burning. Four martial maids desperately shielded their mistress as they retreated from the pavilion, only to discover thin lines of fire spreading rapidly southward from the pavilion.
Simultaneously, dozens of riders hidden on the eastern and western slopes received their signal. Galloping to the ridge, each hurled black spheres trailing sparks with deadly accuracy toward the Luo forces.
Before the Luo family could react, the spheres exploded beneath their horses' hooves. With deafening booms and orange bursts, the lush southern valley became an inferno.
From her position at the northernmost flank, Shao Shang watched coldly through her guards at the fiery hellscape ahead.
A Cheng family general wiped sweat from his brow and forced a laugh: "Young Lady, what in heavens is this thing? Terrifying! Does the master and Female Lord know about it?"
Fu Deng quickly pulled him aside, whispering: "They know of it, but haven't seen it in action."
"Surely it has a name!"
"Oil-fire bombs!"
For five years, Shao Shang had abandoned all hobbies—winemaking, brick-firing, carpentry, and smithing—except these oil-fire bombs. Concerned for Empress Dowager Xuan's safety during outings, she'd spent over two years perfecting this crude version of a grenade.
Limited materials meant poor explosive force, so she focused on combustion. Burns from these bombs couldn't be extinguished with water—only special powder or immersion would work. After testing, she rigorously trained her guards in precision throwing.
The weapon's greatest flaw was its cost—each bomb equaled half a year's expenses for an eight-person farming household.
Across the valley, the Luo forces collapsed in chaos. Worse than injuries was the horses' terror—some throwing riders, others stampeding uncontrollably, causing deadly trampling in the mayhem.The oil fire bombs had been exhausted, and the knights on both slopes began firing arrows. The distance was close enough for precise aiming, resulting in nearly every shot hitting its mark. The high ground provided an added advantage—Shao Shang firmly believed that warfare was a costly endeavor, but the more resources you burned, the fewer lives you lost. Thus, she had equipped everyone with over two hundred viciously barbed three-edged arrowheads—more than triple the standard issue!
Since their departure, the journey had been smooth, with only a few young guards shooting the occasional bird or rabbit. Now, these high-quality arrows could finally be unleashed upon human lives in all their bloody glory. The sheer quantity of these arrowheads, combined with the expensive oil fire bombs, had slowed Cheng Shaoshang’s savings over the years, despite her vast estate and generous rewards.
As waves of arrows rained down, the Luo Family troops, still smoldering from the flames, suffered another devastating blow. Blood gushed from their wounds, a gruesome sight. Though they numbered five or six hundred, even if only one in ten arrows found its mark, the sheer volume of thousands of arrows would cover them all. However, the Luo Family’s warriors were not entirely useless. After the initial shock, they raised their shields, enduring the burns, and began to counterattack.
This was when the stunned Household troops of the Cheng Family stepped in. Though they numbered only twenty or thirty, these men had followed Old Man Cheng into battle for decades without faltering. In contrast, Shao Shang recalled that the Luo Family had not seen combat in over a decade. She refused to believe their Household troops could be that formidable. On the battlefield, the value of a seasoned, ruthless veteran was immeasurable.
Under their command, the forces on the eastern, western, and northern fronts responded calmly, never rushing headlong into the enemy ranks. Instead, they steadily loosed volley after volley into the crowd. A dozen or so who attempted to charge up the slopes were either cut down by the relentless arrow storm or, after a hard-fought climb, met their end at the blades of the veterans.
Realizing their predicament, the Luo Family troops spotted Cheng Shaoshang seated high on her horse in the distance and decided to strike at the head to kill the snake. Though a wall of fire, stretching from the thatched pavilion, divided the valley into northern and southern halves, they believed that if they could breach the flames and the defensive ring to capture or kill Cheng Shaoshang, victory might still be within reach.
But Shao Shang was prepared. The ordinary servants, already weakened by repeated assaults, posed little threat. Fu Deng directed the guards to wield long spears and forged blades, waiting in ambush by the fire wall to cut down anyone who broke through.
With the Luo Family’s casualties mounting under pressure from three sides, they finally noticed that only the southern path—their original entry point—remained unguarded. The cowardly among them, ignoring their leaders’ curses, instinctively retreated toward the southern valley.
After nearly an hour of fighting, the leading Household troops saw the tide turning and hastily rallied the remaining dozen or so fierce mercenaries with promises of hefty rewards. These warriors charged northward, soaking their outer garments in the nearby cliffside water and wrapping them around their heads and faces. Fu Deng’s expression hardened, and he immediately ordered the guards to brace for the assault. Yet these mercenaries had their weaknesses—
After a prolonged and exhausting fight, their burns and arrow wounds became unbearable. Seeing the guards’ unwavering loyalty, standing firm like an impenetrable wall around Cheng Shaoshang, their frustration grew as they failed to break through the seemingly thin line of defenders.At this moment, Shao Shang raised her voice and shouted, "Honorable warriors, please hear me out. I am the palace administrator of the Palace of Eternal Peace, personally appointed by His Majesty. If you kill me today, you will be killing an imperial official. I have already sent someone back to deliver a message. Not only will the entire Luo family be unable to escape, but those who aid and abet them will also be hunted down by the authorities. Have you all considered this?" Although she had already resigned, using the title to bluff wasn’t a bad idea.
The martial artists hesitated in their movements.
Shao Shang continued, "You are working so hard merely for wealth. Let me tell you this—the Luo family’s Young Lady ahead has committed grave crimes, and the entire Luo family will likely be unable to escape punishment. When that time comes, where will you collect your reward?"
The exchanged glances among the martial artists showed their wavering resolve.
Despite this, three or four stubborn martial artists and swarms of Luo family servants broke through the defensive circle. Without hesitation, Shao Shang drew her sword to block while simultaneously firing her crossbow—just then, the loud sound of horns and drums erupted behind her. She turned to see a large contingent of troops charging through the valley entrance, led by none other than her beloved elder brother.
Morale soared among her allies as they cheered, "Reinforcements are here!" and "The Third Young Master’s rescue has arrived!"...
The Luo family, already frustrated by their prolonged failure to break through, saw their efforts collapse as time dragged on. Luo Jitong, enduring the burns on her body, glared fiercely at the unharmed Cheng Shaoshang before gritting her teeth and ordering a retreat!
Exhausted, Shao Shang and her soldiers could barely stand. Shaogong ordered a pursuit, but an unexpected turn of events occurred—the flames that had blocked the Luo family’s advance now also hindered Shaogong’s chase. Though many enemies were captured or killed, Luo Jitong managed to escape under the protection of her loyal guards.
Shao Shang collapsed onto a large rock, watching her brother direct the troops in cleanup—extinguishing the flames, treating the wounded, collecting the fallen, and counting the enemy casualties... Fu Deng, though equally exhausted, remained faithfully by her side and smiled, "Young Lady is truly remarkable to possess such skills!"
Shao Shang didn’t respond, only offering a faint smile—"When surrounding the enemy, always leave them an escape route." This too was something Huo Bu Yi had taught her.
As the sun slowly slanted, casting long shadows of the people moving through the valley, Shao Shang suddenly recalled the golden evenings of the Everlasting Autumn Palace.
Palace maids and eunuchs bustled about preparing the evening meal, their shadows flickering across the white jade courtyard. Among them was one particularly tall and straight figure—he often waited for her alone by the corridor pillar, his long lashes lowered in silence.
When Shao Shang emerged, she would catch sight of his elegant and beautiful jawline, his slightly tousled bangs like scattered gold softly resting on his brow. Hearing the sound of her footsteps, he would turn and smile—youthful and impossibly handsome.
Back then, Shao Shang often wondered why this favored son of heaven, who seemed to have everything, was often so melancholy, why his smiles rarely reached the depths of his eyes.
Huo Bu Yi was not skilled at small talk, and Shao Shang disliked awkward silences with him. Often, after a brief period of wordless staring, her mind would begin to wander. To keep her from slipping away, Huo Bu Yi would grasp at any topic to keep the conversation going.He would tell her about his travels to the Western Regions—the cunning yet adorable little snow weasel on the snowy peaks, the amusing blunders during his first military deployment, the honorable adversaries and the treacherous deserters, the ancient and desolate Hexi Corridor, the contented smiles of farmers amidst endless fields of rice, the loneliness after a hard-won victory, and the ruined palatial towers of the former dynasty bathed in the glow of the setting sun...
He would also say that even when she sat right beside him, he still missed her.
Years later, looking back in sudden realization, they had actually shared so many words and so much laughter. Back then, in their youth, they hadn’t thought much of it, but in hindsight, all that remained was a bittersweet ache.
As she stood lost in thought, Cheng Shaogong finished handling the aftermath and hurried over to his younger sister. “...Two hundred killed, one hundred captured, and the rest fled. I truly let you down.” He had rushed the entire way, not even daring to stop for a sip of water, fearing he wouldn’t make it in time to save her.
Shao Shang smiled reassuringly. “No worries. The monk may run away, but the temple can’t. With these living and dead witnesses, I’d like to see how the Luo family wriggles out of this unscathed. Without the Luo family, what is Luo Jitong worth? Even if she escapes with her life, she’ll be nothing but a disgraced outcast forced to hide from the light of day!” For Luo Jitong, a life of obscure poverty would likely be more agonizing than death.
Cheng Shaogong loosened his armor and sat down with a sigh. “Niao Niao, Father would be so proud if he saw what you did today... And Mother—the person she misjudged most in her life was probably you.”
“You flatter me, Third Brother. You and our two elder brothers grew up on the battlefield, immersed in it all. I imagine you’re even more impressive.” Exhausted, Shao Shang’s tone softened.
Shaogong shook his head with a wry smile. “Father always said that in his early days, he mistakenly believed victory in battle came from sheer courage and recklessness. It took a few defeats for him to realize that the bigger the battle, the more one needed calm composure. Father said Eldest Brother has the calmness, but he plans too meticulously and lacks the necessary boldness. In a situation like today—a hundred against five hundred—Eldest Brother would never have engaged. Second Brother has the boldness, but he’s too easily provoked. He needs someone to rein him in. And as for me... well, let’s not talk about that.”
Hearing this, Shao Shang didn’t feel particularly uplifted. After a long silence, she said, “To be honest, Third Brother, back then, I was in such a hurry to marry because I wanted to escape our family as soon as possible and someday achieve something to prove my worth to those who looked down on me. But after all these years, I’ve realized I no longer care how others see me.”
Shaogong sighed deeply and patted his sister’s shoulder.
“Brother, do you have any food? I’m starving.”
“I haven’t had a hot meal all day either! I finished the dry rations while riding... Just wait a bit. Earlier, I saw some men digging pits to set up cooking fires. We should have something to eat soon.”
“Ugh, those rough men—what decent food can they make? I nearly choked to death on lunch earlier. We should hurry and fetch the cooks from that wilderness—that’s the real priority.”
“Right, and there’s still the pastries I saved from Cuixiang Fang in the carriage.”
Shao Shang slowly turned her head. “...Yesterday when I asked, didn’t you say you’d eaten them all?!”
“Uh... well...”
Furious, Shao Shang lunged at him to strike, but Shaogong laughed and blocked her. “Alright, alright! I’ll share half with you, okay? Stop hitting me... Enough! Let’s do something useful instead!”
“What useful thing?” Too drained to continue, Shao Shang called a truce.
“Since we’re idle anyway, why not go interrogate the captured servants of the Luo Family?”Shao Shang's eyes lit up: "Actually, I thought of that too. Luo Jitong couldn't possibly be wandering around with such a large contingent—she must have a base. If we find out where that is and pursue them tonight, we might even capture Luo Jitong alive!"
"If we're going to interrogate them, we should hurry. Otherwise, they'll recover and escape."
The siblings wasted no time—one suggested bribery, the other deception, and so they split up. Cheng Shao Gong picked a shifty-eyed, untrustworthy-looking captive officer to work on, while Shao Shang chose a big, dull-witted fellow who seemed slow on the uptake.
Each sibling set up their own tent, initiating a friendly competition of wits.
Shao Shang removed her soft armor and entered the tent wearing bloodstained old clothes. Facing the big, dim-witted man who was tightly bound, she began spinning a tale, starting with the deep sisterly bond she and Luo Jitong had shared back in the Everlasting Autumn Palace, all the way to the misunderstandings that drove them apart.
"...Jitong A-jie was two years older than me and always looked out for me, caring for my every need. I didn’t understand palace rules back then—once, I knocked over the Empress’s inkstone while grinding ink, and Jitong A-jie took the blame for me. I was so grateful, I truly saw her as my own sister!" Shao Shang sobbed into a handkerchief, casually repurposing Luo Jitong’s story as material for her lies. "Later, when Marquis Huo refused to marry Jitong A-jie, she blamed me for it. Wuwuwu, I’m so wronged! How could I, a young lady who reads and understands propriety, ever think to seduce Marquis Huo?"
The big oaf had no idea what grievances existed between his Young Lady and the Cheng girl, but seeing the delicate young woman before him with tear-filled eyes, her pretty nose slightly red from crying, looking utterly pitiful and heart-wrenching, he was half-convinced already.
Shao Shang felt no guilt about lying—heaven had given her this innocent, white-lotus appearance, so she might as well make good use of it and not let it go to waste!
"After this chaotic fight, I don’t even know if Jitong A-jie is hurt. The thought of her being burned makes my heart feel like it’s being cut by a knife! If not for my family’s private army holding me back, I’d rather die by Jitong A-jie’s hand than harm her even a little! Mighty warrior, will you believe me?"
The girl gazed at him with tear-reddened eyes full of hope, droplets falling one by one. The big oaf found himself nodding involuntarily.
"In that case, please tell me where Jitong A-jie is now. When I find her this time, I’ll beg and plead with her humbly, never angering her again." Seeing that the man still hesitated, Shao Shang decided to stoke the fire further.
"How could I ever seduce Marquis Huo? To this day, my heart still belongs to the eldest son of the Yuan family! When the time comes, I’ll ask you to speak on my behalf to Jitong A-jie! Wuwuwu, you must know I’m a wretched soul—betrothed three times, rejected three times. The Capital City is full of rumors that I’m a jinx. Whether it was the young master of the Lou Family, the eldest son of the Yuan family, or Marquis Huo, every one of my fiancés ended up embroiled in legal troubles. I truly can’t stay in the Capital any longer—"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" A familiar man’s voice snapped sharply.
Shao Shang, in the middle of her tearful lament, looked up in surprise to see the tent flap flung open. A tall, imposing young man stood at the entrance, the setting sun casting his armor in a golden glow. From Shao Shang’s angle, she could see the elegant curve of his jaw and his loosely tousled bangs, gleaming like scattered gold—but—
Another head poked in from the side. Cheng Shao Gong chuckled awkwardly. "I tried to stop him."
Shao Shang: "...""What did you just say!" Huo Bu Yi frowned deeply.
"Uh..." Shao Shang wanted to explain that it was complicated and couldn't be explained quickly. After thinking for a long time, she finally said, "You might not believe this, but I was just saying good things about you to Luo Jitong."
—See, this was exactly the kind of rotten luck she'd had since childhood.
Author's note: 1. Feels like the update schedule is all messed up now, just go with it.
Let me clarify the timeline for you: Shaogong set out around 7 AM, ten hours later would be about 5 PM. Shao Shang encountered Luo Jitong around 3 PM. They drank and chatted in the thatched pavilion for at least half an hour. The fight started around 3:30 PM and lasted over an hour. Shaogong arrived slightly early at 5 PM.
Any questions?
OpenNovel