Shen Miao was leisurely sipping tea. At this moment, when the wind howled fiercely outside, she sat in a corner of the hall, gracefully holding the teacup handed to her by Jing Zhe, slowly savoring the hot tea. She truly seemed like an innocent and naive young lady, simply waiting for the sliced lamb from the kitchen to be ready so everyone could gather around and enjoy the hotpot in comfort.
Luo Ling's expression grew solemn. Luo Sa noticed his unease and followed his gaze to Shen Miao, his face darkening as he asked, "What's going on?"
Luo Ling ignored him and didn’t instruct the guard who had spoken on what to do. Instead, he stood up and walked over to Shen Miao, saying, "Little cousin, may I have a word in private?"
"Cousin Ling, you can speak here," Shen Miao set her teacub aside and smiled at him. "If something has truly happened, it can’t be hidden anyway."
Luo Qian and Luo Tan noticed the commotion and came over as well. The movement drew more attention, and Ma Shi and Yu Shi took notice. Thinking there might be a dispute between Shen Miao and Luo Ling, they naturally sided with the girl. Yu Shi immediately stepped forward, glanced at Luo Ling, and shook her head disapprovingly. "Ling'er, don’t scare Jiaojiao."
Luo Sa snorted at this. "Who’s scaring whom?"
"Big brother, what’s really going on?" Luo Qian, being the youngest and most straightforward, voiced his confusion without hesitation.
Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao, who smiled back at him as if she already knew exactly what he was about to say. Her composed confidence gave Luo Ling pause. After a moment, he sighed helplessly and said, "The city guards have sent word—the Turks. It seems they’re about to enter the city."
"What?" Luo Tan exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth, realizing she had spoken too loudly. The maids and servants were standing far enough away not to overhear, but the last thing they needed was to spread panic among the people gathered here to take shelter from the hailstorm. If word got out that the Turks were entering the city, chaos would surely ensue. Even with Luo Ling and Luo Sa present to maintain order, fear would spread quickly.
Both Yu Shi and Ma Shi came from ordinary backgrounds and had no means of self-defense. Stunned by the news, Ma Shi immediately said, "Ling'er, Sa'er, shouldn’t we arrange protection for Jiaojiao and the others first? How long can our Luo residence hold out? When will your father and the others return?"
Even the most capable women would falter in such a situation, and Ma Shi’s words came out somewhat disjointed. Yu Shi was even more at a loss, but she instinctively added, "Should we find somewhere to hide?"
Luo Tan and Luo Qian paled. They had lived in Xiaochun City all their lives and had only heard stories of the battlefield from Luo Sui, which always seemed distant and unreal. The Turks had never entered the city before, but the horrors of such invasions were well-documented in popular tales. Even Ming Qi’s own soldiers had been known to massacre cities after capturing them, let alone the notoriously brutal Turks.
"Little cousin actually predicted this?" Luo Qian murmured.
Ma Shi and Yu Shi were taken aback. Yu Shi turned to Shen Miao. "Jiaojiao predicted this?""Cousin had previously suggested that the Turks might breach the city walls." Luo Ling looked at her, a flicker of unreadable light in his eyes. "Young cousin must have a plan. If you don’t mind, please share it with me. This is a matter of life and death now."
Luo Ling’s attitude was extremely humble—or rather, the Luo family never had the habit of putting on airs like other noble families. Otherwise, given Luo Ling’s seniority and status, he would never have needed to lower himself to seek advice from a young girl.
This gesture from Luo Ling left Ma Shi and the others utterly astonished. Luo Ling was the most outstanding among the younger generation of the Luo family, yet here he was, consulting Shen Miao.
Shen Miao said, "Ling cousin hasn’t even told me what the current situation is."
Luo Ling waved over the guard who had come to report earlier. The guard seemed surprised that Luo Ling was asking a stranger for advice but answered honestly, "Reporting to the young lady, the guards saw the Turks gathering at the city gates. The general has not yet returned, and the city guards are short-handed..." By the end, he was too ashamed to continue.
Shen Miao had no time to dwell on his embarrassment. Instead, she asked, "Are there many or few of them? Are the Turks scattered or organized?"
Luo Sa stared at Shen Miao intently. The guard thought for a moment and replied, "There are many of them. Though they appear scattered, there are sounds of horses, which suggests reinforcements are coming."
The group collectively drew a sharp breath. Luo Ling and Luo Sa’s expressions instantly turned grim. If they had still harbored some hope earlier, they now fully grasped the severity of the situation. Horses meant an army. The forces that usually held the Turks at bay were currently fighting on the plains, leaving Xiaochun City virtually defenseless—just as another Turkic army arrived.
Shen Miao had been right. Feinting east and striking west, luring the tiger from the mountain—these Turks had grown cunning, even secretly raising another army. This force might not be as strong as the one Shen Xin was dealing with, but it was more than enough to massacre Xiaochun City.
Ma Shi and Yu Shi also realized the gravity of the situation. Ma Shi said, "Should we recall all available hands? No matter what, we must protect you younger ones first."
In times of crisis, the Luo family’s tradition was always to prioritize the younger generation—sacrificing the old to preserve the new. Luo Tan’s eyes reddened immediately as she tugged at Ma Shi’s sleeve. "Mother, I don’t want—"
"If all else fails, we’ll fight them!" Luo Qian gritted his teeth, fury burning in his eyes. "We have the blood of warriors in our veins. Are we to fear these savages? With swords in hand, we’ll fight to the death if we must!"
"Qian'er!" Ma Shi snapped. "What nonsense are you spouting? Charging out now is suicide!"
"If it comes to it, my brother and I will cover your escape," Luo Sa interjected solemnly. "There are carriages in the estate. Flee through the back gate—there’s a mountain path where you can hide without being found."
"No," Shen Miao cut in.
Luo Sa turned to her. "You have a plan?"
Shen Miao shook her head.Luo Qian and Luo Tan both showed a flicker of disappointment on their faces. For some reason, they always felt that Shen Miao possessed great capabilities. Though she appeared delicate and pampered, with soft skin and tender flesh, every time they spoke with her, her calm and confident demeanor gave them a sense of security, as if she were their pillar of strength. But now, seeing that even Shen Miao couldn’t think of a solution, Luo Qian and Luo Tan felt a wave of despair.
"Then let’s do as Second Brother suggested," Luo Ling said. "We’ll send you all to the carriages first, with all the guards from the manor accompanying you. Only Second Brother and I will remain in the Luo residence. We’ll go to the city garrison."
This meant sacrificing the two brothers to buy time for the others. Yu Shi’s tears immediately fell as she clutched Luo Ling’s hand, nearly fainting from distress.
"How can we let the two of you stay here?" Ma Shi shook her head. "We’re family—if we leave, we leave together."
As the standoff continued, Shen Miao shook her head and uttered two words again: "Not possible."
"Little cousin, what exactly do you mean by 'not possible'?" Luo Qian couldn’t help but ask.
Shen Miao glanced at everyone and said, "In Xiaochun City, the Luo family holds the most military power. The leaders of the city garrison are also Cousin Ling and Cousin Sa. The Turks are well aware of this. If they truly breach the city, the first thing they’ll do to boost morale is target the Luo family. As long as the Luo family is destroyed, the people of Xiaochun City will lose their fighting spirit and surrender without resistance. 'To catch the bandits, first catch their leader.' If I were the Turks, I would spare no effort to deal with the Luo family first. For the Luo family to escape unscathed is simply impossible."
Her blunt revelation of this terrifying reality made Luo Tan shudder. She turned to Luo Ling and asked, "Elder Brother, is what she said true?"
Luo Ling stared intently at Shen Miao and replied, "Yes."
Luo Sa’s temper flared again. "This won’t work, that won’t work. If we can’t escape and the Turks are bringing troops, why don’t we just fight them head-on? The Luo family has never produced cowards—why should we fear them?"
"There’s no need to rush," Shen Miao suddenly interjected.
The hall fell silent for a moment. Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao and asked softly, "Cousin, do you have a clever plan?"
"Not exactly clever," Shen Miao replied calmly. Her delicate and lovely features remained composed, standing out amidst the anxious expressions around her. Only then did everyone realize that from the beginning until now, Shen Miao had never shown any signs of panic. Xiaochun City was still a border region, and the sudden arrival of the Turks would naturally cause alarm. Yet Shen Miao, a pampered young lady who had always lived comfortably in Fixed Capital, seemed strangely unfazed.
"The Turks have brought troops but hesitate to advance, clearly harboring doubts and concerns. I think that even though the Luo Family Army has disbanded, its lingering prestige still holds some deterrent power. Their hesitation and cautious probing mean even their commander is uncertain. This is something we can exploit."
Ma Shi and Yu Shi didn’t fully understand Shen Miao’s words, but they felt her reasoning made sense and remained silent, listening attentively. Luo Sa frowned and asked, "How do we exploit it?"
"Buy some time," Shen Miao answered coolly. "My parents, grandparents, and uncles are no ordinary people. They should quickly realize something is amiss here. Once they do, they’ll return to Xiaochun City as fast as possible. Until then, we just need to delay the Turks’ advance.""But how do we delay them?" Luo Tan, being impatient by nature, couldn't help but ask. "As you said, the Turks are clever. They know time is of the essence and will surely attack soon."
"Show them what they fear most," Shen Miao replied with a faint smile. "What they fear is nothing more than the Luo Family Army still having reserves. So let's show them those reserves."
"Little cousin," Luo Qian said anxiously, "where can we find the Luo Family Army right now?"
Shen Miao smiled slightly. "That will require everyone's cooperation. But before that, I wonder if my two elder brothers trust me?" She looked at Luo Ling and Luo Sa. Though her demeanor was gentle and humble, there was an underlying sharpness to it.
Luo Ling gazed at her seriously and said, "I trust you."
Outside the city walls of Xiaochun City, the watchtower was already quite dilapidated, covered in years of accumulated dust and dirt—marks of time's passage. Generations of people had lived here, and heroes and generals had taken turns guarding the peace and tranquility of Xiaochun City.
But just as cracks appeared in the brick walls, the once-impenetrable gates had gradually decayed. Now, on the watchtower, the sparse garrison soldiers paced back and forth, warily watching the gradually approaching sound of hoofbeats and the flickering torches in the distance. Large beads of cold sweat rolled down their cheeks.
The Turks were known for their brutality, and these long-neglected garrison soldiers stood no chance against them. And from the sounds of it, a great number of Turks were approaching. Fear was contagious, and soon, even the footsteps of the garrison soldiers grew heavier.
Just as the enemy in the distance grew restless, someone among the garrison suddenly shouted, "What is that?"
Even the sound of the pouring rain couldn't mask the shock in that voice. Everyone turned to look—within Xiaochun City, countless torches had inexplicably appeared, densely packed and accompanied by thunderous noise. Upon closer listening, there were even the sounds of horses.
When two armies faced off, scouts would naturally climb high to gather intelligence. If the garrison soldiers on the city walls could see it, the Turkish scouts outside would surely notice as well. The sudden appearance of these mysterious troops was especially striking in the rainy night. The deafening shouts, the chaotic pounding of hooves, and the howling wind and rain combined to create an overwhelming sense of grandeur, as if an unstoppable army had arrived.
"It's the Luo Family Army! It's the Luo Family Army!" someone among the garrison cried out, nearly falling to his knees in joy. "The Luo Family Army has regained its former glory!"
The Luo family, that century-old military house, had long been in decline, and the remnants of the Luo Family Army were scattered and few. But that sudden cry seemed to rekindle memories of Luo Sui leading his troops to invincible victories. It was as if new hope had suddenly emerged, and morale soared instantly. The few remaining garrison soldiers drew their swords, their blood and passion ignited as if from within. They roared with battle cries, joining the inexplicable forces within the city, charging forward with unstoppable momentum.With the first drumbeat, morale soars; with the second, it wanes; with the third, it exhausts. The sudden surge of morale and the seemingly increased military force, all under the banner of "The Luo Family Army," clearly stunned the Turks. From beneath the city building, the frustrated Turks could be heard exchanging heated words. Their troops hesitated, not daring to advance. After an hour of stalemate, when both sides were locked in a standoff and the Turks might have sensed something amiss, battle cries suddenly erupted outside the city walls—this time from real troops. Shen Xin and his men had returned.
Though the Turks' forces were elite, they were no match for Luo Sui and Shen Xin, who had years of battlefield experience in troop deployment and strategy. The Turks were quickly routed.
Back in Xiaochun City, at the entrance of the Luo residence, Luo Ling finally relaxed upon hearing the report from the returning scout. He bowed respectfully to Shen Miao and said, "This time, we owe it all to you, cousin."
"Cousin, you're so clever!" Luo Qian exclaimed in awe. "Who would have thought of such a plan?"
Shen Miao had Shen Xin gather all available hands in the mansion and then rallied the townspeople in the streets. They lit every usable torch, with each person holding two, while blacksmiths used horseshoes to mimic the sound of galloping hooves. The townspeople, aware of the dire situation, convincingly imitated the battle cries of soldiers. Combined with the stormy night, it was more than enough to deceive the Turks outside.
Seeing so many torches, the Turks instinctively assumed a large force was present. The sound of hooves, the battle cries, and their fear of The Luo Family Army led them to believe that part of the Luo forces remained in Xiaochun City. Hesitant and wary, the Turks dared not charge recklessly, buying enough time for Shen Xin to return and handle the situation.
It seemed simple, but in moments of crisis, people often panic and fail to think of such tactics.
Luo Sa's attitude toward Shen Miao also softened considerably. "We owe you this time," he said.
Ever since Shen Miao proposed this plan, Luo Tan had been filled with admiration for her. Seeing the plan succeed, she clung to Shen Miao's arm and asked eagerly, "Cousin, tell the truth—have you secretly studied military strategy? I remember Grandfather's books on warfare mentioned something like this."
Shen Miao smiled. "Just a clever trick, nothing more."
"Jiaojiao, don't be modest," Ma Shi said warmly. "Without you today, we'd all be in trouble. You saved not only our household but also the people of Xiaochun City. Thank you."
Shen Miao inwardly chuckled. She truly wasn't being modest—it really was just a clever trick. In her past life, a similar incident had occurred, though she couldn't recall the exact date, only that it was a hailstorm day. The Turks had breached Xiaochun City. Though Luo Sui eventually led his troops back and prevented the city from falling, the cost had been devastating—countless townspeople had perished, leaving the city in tragedy.At that time, in her efforts to please Fu Xiuyi, she was diligently studying military strategies and tactics. She had once consulted Pei Lang about this very matter, and his response that day was exactly as he had said. Pei Lang told her, "The Turks have their reservations and dare not advance recklessly. A direct confrontation would be futile, and fleeing would mean losing morale. It would be better to employ an empty fort strategy to confuse them. As long as we can hold out until reinforcements arrive, the problem will resolve itself."
Pei Lang's words were recorded in her personal notes, and now they came back to her with striking clarity. Shen Miao knew she had little talent for military strategy, but she trusted Pei Lang. During her years in the imperial harem, striving to please Fu Xiuyi and seeking advice from his advisors had unexpectedly given her many valuable insights.
Those were all gifts Fu Xiuyi had bestowed upon her.
"Little cousin, you're too wicked," Luo Qian teased Shen Miao as reports of victories kept coming in from the guards outside. His last traces of unease had dissipated, and he couldn't resist poking fun at her. "You already had everything planned out, yet you scared us like that earlier. You really made us think things were that dire—it terrified me!"
Luo Tan smacked him on the head. "Shame on you, even a little girl is braver than you."
"You're no better," Luo Qian shot back.
Shen Miao smiled faintly but didn't comment. Of course, she had known everything would resolve itself in the end. But she had deliberately made the situation seem grave to make the Luo family realize that relying solely on the remnants of the Luo Family Army was not enough—not only to protect Xiaochun City but even to safeguard the Luo family itself. Without sufficient strength, one cannot protect those they wish to shield. The Turks were watching covetously, and sooner or later, they would return. When that day came, what would the Luo family do?
Only by making them truly aware of the crisis would the Luo family feel the urgency. The younger generation—Luo Lianyin and Luo Liantai—and even Ma Shi and Yu Shi would spare no effort in urging Luo Sui to rebuild the Luo Family Army. As for Luo Sui himself, he had eyes to see and ears to hear. The scales in his heart would eventually tip.
It was impossible for Shen Miao alone to persuade someone as stubborn as Luo Sui. Moreover, given her identity, Luo Sui would naturally have reservations. But the Luo family was different.
Sometimes, to achieve something, the most direct approach isn't the best—subtlety is key. In her past life, Shen Miao had always been straightforward about what she wanted, saying and doing everything outright, only to lose tragically in the end. In contrast, Mei Furen had mastered the art of subtlety and manipulation with remarkable finesse. Shen Miao hated Mei Furen, but she had to learn from her the skills she herself lacked.
By dawn the next day, Xiaochun City had finally settled into peace.
The Turks had suffered a humiliating defeat this time. Thanks to Shen Miao's empty fort strategy, the Turks had been thrown into confusion and hesitation. Coupled with the presence of fierce generals like Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, they had suffered unprecedented losses and retreated deep into the grasslands. It would likely be a long time before they could muster the strength to return.
Despite the victory, the atmosphere in Xiaochun City remained tense, especially within the Luo residence. The Turks' incursion meant that Shen Miao's earlier dire predictions had become reality. With such a menacing neighbor constantly watching, no one could rest easy.
After learning that the empty fort strategy had been Shen Miao's idea, Luo Sui regarded her with even greater admiration. Shen Xin, of course, was immensely proud, repeatedly boasting that his daughter surpassed even the most capable men.Two days later, Luo Sui announced before the Luo family that he intended to reorganize the Luo Family Army.
The entire Xiaochun City erupted in cheers, with people spreading the news excitedly. Even the younger generation of the Luo family was thrilled. Only Shen Miao remained calm, as this was an outcome she had long anticipated. The events of the night the Turks launched their surprise attack had ultimately steeled Luo Sui’s resolve—rather than being chased down in disgrace, it was better to seize the opportunity to rise again while still strong.
As for funds, Luo Xueyan still had some savings, and when it came to training soldiers, both Shen Qiu and Shen Xin, who had been itching for a chance to prove themselves, eagerly accepted the task. Recruiting all those seasoned warriors who had long since retired from the battlefield to return and train troops was no easy feat. But the Luo family was full of fierce generals, and once they set their minds to something, they committed fully. In no time, Xiaochun City buzzed with activity.
Thus, the days passed peacefully yet purposefully.
One day, Shen Miao was sitting at her desk reading when Luo Tan rushed in frantically, nearly knocking over a chair by the door. Gu Yu was startled, and before Shen Miao could even speak, she saw Luo Tan panting heavily, pressing a hand to her chest as she said, "Cousin, have you heard—?"
"Heard what?" Shen Miao asked.
"It's about that Young Marquis Xie!" Luo Tan gestured animatedly. "The one I mentioned before—the one who rivals Cousin Qiu in reputation. Didn’t he volunteer to lead the campaign against the enemy in the northern frontier?"
Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at Luo Tan and nodded slowly. "I know of him."
"You must have heard the news before, right? That Young Marquis Xie has been winning battle after battle, driving the Xiongnu all the way to the edge of the desert," Luo Tan said. "Everyone’s saying that when he returns to the capital, his achievements might even surpass Lin'an Hou’s. The Emperor will surely reward him with a high-ranking position."
This wasn’t untrue. Shortly after Shen Miao arrived in Xiaochun City, Xie Jingxing had led the Xie Family Army to the northern frontier. His valor on the battlefield had left people in awe—whether it was his strategic brilliance or his ruthless, fearless duels with enemy commanders, his ferocity had struck terror into the hearts of his foes. Many had doubted whether Xie Jingxing could command the loyalty of the Xie Family Army, but under his leadership, they achieved one remarkable victory after another, finally silencing the last of the skeptics. People now hailed Xie Jingxing as Ming Qi’s most outstanding young man, destined to surpass even Lin'an Hou in greatness. Whenever Shen Xin and Luo Sui discussed him, they praised him unreservedly, calling him a rare genius. Shen Miao, who already knew of Xie Jingxing’s prowess from her past life, was unsurprised.
She listened patiently as Luo Tan spoke, but then noticed Luo Tan’s eyes reddening. A sense of foreboding gripped her, and she asked softly, "What’s wrong?"
"He’s dead." Luo Tan couldn’t hold back anymore—tears spilled down her cheeks. "Young Marquis Xie is dead."
Xie Jingxing had been a hero in Luo Tan’s eyes, just like Shen Qiu, someone she deeply admired. Now, her tears flowed uncontrollably. "Yesterday, the enemy ambushed him from behind and surrounded him. He was pierced by countless arrows, and his body was skinned and hung from the city Building as a warning." Luo Tan sobbed. "Little cousin, he’s dead."
He’s dead.
Jing Zhe’s teacup clattered to the floor, and she immediately turned to Shen Miao in alarm. Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing had some connection—what would Shen Miao’s reaction be if he was truly gone?
What was Shen Miao’s reaction?
Shen Miao sat at her desk, quietly watching Luo Tan cry. Her expression was eerily calm, as if Luo Tan hadn’t just delivered shocking news but merely commented on the pleasant weather or blooming flowers. Yet the more serene her face appeared, the tighter her grip became on the pages of the book in front of her.
Xie Jingxing was dead?
Pierced by countless arrows, skinned, and hung from the city Building as a warning—the exact same fate as in her past life. Was it really him?
Shen Miao’s thoughts drifted hazily, as if trying to discern whether this was a cruel joke or reality. But what surfaced in her mind was that day in the courtyard of the Hall of Extensive Learning, when the sticky rice ball had lured her out to talk, and a tall, graceful youth had emerged from behind the trees. Dressed in an ivory-white robe with silver-threaded trim, he was strikingly handsome and proud, walking toward her with effortless elegance.
The corners of his lips had curled into a roguish smile, his peach-blossom eyes glinting with amusement—three parts teasing, six parts testing, and one part an ineffable youthful charm.
"So it’s you," he had said.
–––––– Author’s Note ––––––
"The End" ╮(╯▰╰)╭—just kidding, it’s the end of Volume One ╮(╯▰╰)╭
Off to the hospital to get the other wisdom tooth pulled. See you tomorrow :3 Rebirth: The Divine Doctor’s Poisonous Consort
Main Text: Chapter 122 – He’s Dead.
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