Su Su thanked the woman and was about to leave when the woman's face fell and she quickly stopped her.
In a dissatisfied tone, she said, "I saved you, carried you all the way back from the wilderness with great effort, and now you just want to leave like this?"
Su Su asked, "Then what would you have me do, madam?"
The woman looked her up and down and said, "I don't care. I saved your life, so from now on you must obey me. I have a son who happens to be unmarried..."
Su Su's lips curved slightly as she chuckled, "You want me to marry your son?"
From the curved jade, Su Su knew the woman was lying. She had merely collapsed under a large tree not far from the town. When the woman found her, she first took her earrings but gave up when she couldn't remove the bracelet.
Just as she was about to leave, seeing Su Su's beauty, she had another idea.
Who would have thought that idea was to make Su Su her daughter-in-law?
What wishful thinking. Su Su didn't bother with her for taking the pearls and jade, since the woman had provided her with two days of shelter. Even staying at the best inn, the earrings would have covered half a month's stay. But for the woman to want her person as well was going too far.
The woman said, "My son is outstanding among men, a person of some standing in Cangzhou." With the war going on, he can protect you. I advise you to behave properly, or I'll have the neighbors see how ungrateful you are."
Su Su was astonished by the woman's shamelessness.
She had no intention of beating up a mortal, so she calmly said, "You can keep the earrings as repayment. I cannot marry your son—I am already married."
The woman glared at her, "What earrings? Don't talk nonsense! I've never seen any earrings! You're actually married?"
Then she looked at Su Su with the eyes of someone judging an unclean temptress, as if she wanted to rush over and scrub a layer of skin off Su Su.
Thinking the woman would give up, Su Su turned to leave. Unexpectedly, the woman grabbed her sleeve, "Then be my son's concubine! Yes, a concubine! Don't even think about running away."
This young girl was so beautiful—her infatuated son would definitely not refuse. She was just a little seductress; the woman doing her this favor was her good fortune.
Su Su turned back, finally angered. Her eyes turned cold and sharp as she looked at the woman, "Are you sure?"
The woman shrank back slightly, frightened by her gaze, "Of course I'm sure!"
A faint purple light swirled in Su Su's left eye. The leaves in the yard turned into sharp arrows and flew toward the woman. The woman had never seen such a bizarre sight and screamed, covering her head—
"Sprite! You're a Sprite!"
Su Su twirled her finger, and the leaves chased after the woman. With a cry, the woman fell to the ground.
The leaves drifted gently down as well.
Before the woman could recover, a young girl's face leaned close to hers. Su Su said with a cheerful smile, "Madam, I've thought it over. I'll be your daughter-in-law. What do you think~"
The woman's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Su Su clapped her hands and stood up, preparing to leave. It was just a minor illusion spell, not even using any magical power—showing how weak the woman's mind was.
Before she could leave the courtyard, a figure rushed over worriedly, helped the woman up, and glared at her angrily, "What did you do to my mother?"
The man was quite handsome, but his thick eyebrows made him look fierce. He was likely the "son" the woman had mentioned.
Su Su remained silent, frowning as she looked at the man.The man carried a heavy murderous aura, clearly having killed many people. When she turned around, the man who had been harshly scolding her froze, clearly not expecting to see such a beautiful young girl in his own courtyard.
Remembering that his mother had sent word saying she'd found him a potential wife, his gaze toward Su Su instantly became complicated.
Su Su asked, "Are you a soldier in Cangzhou?"
The man replied loudly, "Indeed." His name was Kang Ting, and he was a minor commander guarding the city gates.
Su Su inquired, "How goes the war between Great Xia and Zhou Kingdom?"
Kang Ting was taken aback. The young girl before him had dignified beauty that somehow evoked an untouchable aura. Though her voice was gentle, her gaze toward him was icy cold.
Kang Ting said angrily, "You struck my mother! Don't think about leaving today."
Su Su shook her head, "I didn't harm her. If she hadn't harbored ill intentions—first taking my belongings, then trying to detain me—I wouldn't have frightened her."
Kang Ting naturally knew what kind of person his mother was. He narrowed his eyes at Su Su, "You should stay and apologize to my mother!"
His mind stirred slightly, wondering where his mother had found such a beautiful girl. Though... she couldn't compare to Prince Xuan's nation-toppling consort, this young girl possessed an extraordinary purity and liveliness that was hardly inferior to the Princess Consort.
Seeing Kang Ting intended to fight her, Su Su's eyes turned cold, and she showed no further mercy.
Moments later, she was stepping on Kang Ting's back, while the burly man on the ground turned purple with rage.
"I'll have you know, you wild girl! I'm Princess Consort's personal guard! Today you won't leave Cangzhou alive!"
"Princess Consort?" Su Su looked at the man on the ground with complex emotions. Was this person Ye Bingshang's guard?
Thinking she was afraid, Kang Ting said, "You hurt my mother! The Princess Consort will never let you get away with this!"
Su Su said, "I'm truly terrified. But since it's already happened, why don't you take me to see the Prin...cess Consort, so she can vent your mother's grievances?"
Kang Ting: "...You!"
Su Su kicked him, "Let's go, to see the Princess Consort."
This was easier than expected—she didn't even need to figure out how to get into the Cangzhou government office.
This ignorant wild girl, relying on some minor skills, actually thought she could do as she pleased in Cangzhou government office.
Everyone in Great Xia knew that the Princess Consort was kind-hearted, wielded spiritual artifacts, and protected Cangzhou City. No one bothered to question that Ye Bingshang was merely a secondary consort—everyone now automatically regarded her as Xiao Lin's wife, praising them as a match made by heaven.
She was beautiful and extremely protective of her own. Once this wild girl entered, he would report how she had insulted his mother and frame her as a Zhou Kingdom spy. The Princess Consort would definitely punish her severely!
With these thoughts, Kang Ting brought Su Su to the Cangzhou government office.
The Cangzhou office had winding paths leading to secluded spots. Maids were fanning Ye Bingshang.
Sitting under a tree, her willow-like eyebrows slightly furrowed with worry about something.
Someone came to report: "Princess Consort, Commander Kang is in trouble! A woman attacked him and his mother, and arrogantly made him bring her to the Cangzhou government office."
Ye Bingshang said in surprise, "What?"
"The woman is right outside."
Ye Bingshang gathered her skirts, frowning seriously, "In such times, someone dares to cause trouble in Cangzhou and harm our commander?"
Walking around the rockery, Ye Bingshang spotted Su Su immediately.
After so long apart, the young girl in a white fairy dress with pale golden edges was gazing at the lake in the Cangzhou government office.As people had said, she was indeed holding Kang Ting hostage without a trace of fear, her small face pale and clean with a faint pink glow.
Tantai Jin...had not tortured her.
When Kang Ting saw Ye Bingshang, a glimmer of reverence shone in his eyes, and he respectfully called out, "Princess Consort!"
He hoped Ye Bingshang would order the young girl behind him arrested to vent his anger.
Unexpectedly, Ye Bingshang froze for a moment, gently pursed her lips, and spoke softly to the girl behind him, "Third Sister."
Her tone carried not only politeness but also a hint of respect.
Kang Ting was instantly dumbfounded, his face turning deathly pale.
Th-third sister?
Everyone knew Ye Bingshang was General Ye Xiao's daughter, but the only legitimate daughter was the family's third young lady. So the girl behind him was...General Ye's treasured pearl!
Su Su responded to her, "Eldest Sister."
The two exchanged a glance, and Ye Bingshang suddenly scolded Kang Ting, "You must have done something to Third Sister and angered her. How dare you bully someone of her status? Apologize at once!"
"This subordinate...this subordinate begs Third Young Lady's forgiveness!" Kang Ting knelt resentfully.
At the mention of status, the people of Cangzhou looked at Su Su with strange expressions.
Su Su understood—the whole world knew she was not only Ye Xiao's daughter but also the wife the Zhou Kingdom's emperor had married while he was a hostage.
If you asked the people of Great Xia who they hated and feared most, the answer would undoubtedly be the same—the terrifying and ruthless emperor of Zhou.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Zhou and Xia were still at war. The army of Tantai Jin, the mad emperor, was right outside the city walls. How could his woman be here in Cangzhou?
Su Su looked at Ye Bingshang and flashed a bright smile. "Eldest Sister is too polite. Of course I won't hold a grudge against your subordinate. He's loyal, calling you 'Princess Consort' at every turn. I'm delighted for you."
Ye Bingshang remained unperturbed. "Third Sister, you jest. The soldiers in the mansion are all loyal patriots, loyal to His Highness, of course."
Sometimes, the malice between girls hides sharp edges in just a few words.
Su Su had no intention of competing with her at this moment and nodded casually. Since Ye Bingshang began using the heart protecting scale, her aura had subtly changed. She still appeared gentle and fragile as water, yet something about her was different.
Su Su couldn't quite put her finger on it but began to guard against this seemingly harmless eldest sister.
At that moment, Kang Ting said, "Princess Consort, please forgive me. I didn't mean to offend Third Young Lady either. It's just that when I returned home, I saw her hitting my mother. My mother is elderly, frail, and ill. She saved Third Young Lady, only to be treated like this. I was momentarily enraged..."
Ye Bingshang sighed and shook her head at Su Su.
She seemed to be lamenting her arrogance and immaturity but didn't reprimand Su Su directly. Instead, she told Kang Ting, "I will send someone to treat your mother. If anything is truly amiss, Cangzhou will take full responsibility."
Su Su: "..."
What a heavy accusation. The more Ye Bingshang refrained from blaming her, the more immature she appeared.
"Eldest Sister, are you my sister or this commander's sister?" Su Su frowned in confusion. "Why do you condemn me without hearing my side, assuming I'm at fault?"
Seeing Ye Bingshang about to speak again, Su Su found it utterly tedious.
What was the point of arguing with Ye Bingshang here? The war was critical, and the Demon God's Evil Bone had yet to be extracted.Su Su said listlessly, "Elder sister may think whatever she wishes. During this training journey, I've learned many things and might be able to help in fighting the demon soldiers. As a citizen of Great Xia, bearing General Father's blood, I also wish to serve Great Xia."
Ye Bingshang neither agreed nor disagreed, telling Su Su to rest first.
The return of Third Miss Ye was no secret in Cangzhou Prefecture, quickly spreading throughout, including the matter of the third young lady bullying Kang Ting, which became known to all.
When Xiao Lin returned from the city wall tower, he heard about these events.
After washing his hands, for some reason he remembered the pitiful little Sang Jiu from the Prajna Floating Life. He sighed softly: "Send someone to inquire around Kang Ting's neighborhood about what exactly happened."
His subordinates were highly efficient, returning shortly with a report that explained most of the situation.
"Kang Ting's shameless mother is known throughout the surrounding area. She took the third young lady's jewelry and tried to force the third young lady to become her daughter-in-law."
Xiao Lin's expression turned cold: "Punish Kang Ting according to military regulations."
The subordinate acknowledged the order.
Soon, news of Kang Ting's punishment spread throughout Cangzhou Prefecture. If Ye Bingshang had won the people's support in Cangzhou, then Xiao Lin was absolutely the legend of Great Xia.
No one dared question his decisions - Kang Ting must have committed wrongdoing.
When Ye Bingshang learned of this matter, she lay on her side on the bed, gripping the sheets tightly.
Xiao Lin was extremely busy. Logically, he should have gone to ask Su Su about the situation in Zhou Kingdom. But after thinking for a long time, he still didn't go.
He admitted that the Prajna Floating Life had affected him. The Conch Princess's tears had burned a hole in his heart. The feelings that had arisen in him weren't honorable, so to maintain reality, he could only forget the Prajna Floating Life and devote himself wholeheartedly to Bingshang.
He was an upright person who had never changed.
If Pian Ran were still alive and could see into his heart again, she would know he still remained faithful to Ye Bingshang.
Su Su didn't seek out Xiao Lin either. When it came to boundaries, she understood them even better than Xiao Lin.
After all, as a Cultivator who loved no one, it was fine not to understand, but once she understood the complexities of the human world, she would strive to handle them better than anyone.
She wrote a letter listing all the methods she currently knew for dealing with demons, planning to send it to all the generals, preferably also sending it to Ye Xiao's hands -
Ye Xiao had recovered from his injuries and was recently on his way to the border.
The demons Tantai Jin could command were all minor demons. The truly great demons were all suppressed beneath the Desolate Abyss. And the Cultivators still hadn't opened the Immortal Sect.
Su Su knew why.
Most Cultivators were indifferent. Before the great demons emerged, they considered dynastic changes normal - the world belonged to the capable.
Though there were minor demons causing trouble, such as Crimson Flame Bees, Blood Ravens, and tiger demons, the human world had its own Monster Exterminators and Taoist priests to counter them.
Besides Su Su and the curved jade, no one knew the Demon God was about to descend.
Cultivators pursued the supreme and longevity - the prosperity of the human world was merely fleeting clouds in their eyes. Unless Tantai Jin awakened, they absolutely wouldn't intervene, including her own sect leader father, who five hundred years ago was also a cold Cultivator.
But by the time the Demon God awakened and they wanted to intervene, it would be too late for regrets.
Just as Su Su released the messenger pigeon, she heard the distant sound of war drums.
In the dark night, someone was saying: "The Zhou Kingdom tyrant's tiger demon has come again to eat people!"
This statement stirred panic among everyone.
Since the war began, Tantai Jin's tiger demon had periodically attempted to come and kill people.That tiger was truly despicable, carrying the Taoist sent by Tantai Jin on its back. It would eat as many people as it could before fleeing.
Eating a commander would be considered a gain, but even consuming common soldiers wasn't a loss.
Its presence was gradually eroding Cangzhou's morale.
Su Su rushed out and indeed saw torches burning atop the city tower.
A tiger demon taller than Cangzhou's city walls roared at the soldiers. Xiao Lin, who had donned his battle armor at some point, calmly shot arrows at the tiger demon.
The tiger demon knew to fear him. Opening its massive jaws, it snatched several people and fled.
Xiao Lin's arrows shot toward it while the Monster Exterminator beside him, expression stern, also launched attacks at the tiger. The Taoist on the tiger's back hurriedly counterattacked.
Soon the tiger fled with its tail between its legs—
This time it had taken ten people.
Though these were the smallest losses recently, what proved most frustrating was the group of armored Corpse Demons waiting beside Tantai Jin, poised to strike.
Xiao Lin remained composed. "Send someone to check if anything has happened within the city."
After a long while, a soldier came to report.
"Nothing has happened in the city, except..." The soldier paused. "Kang Ting and his old mother are both dead."
Their heads had been crushed to pulp, a horrific sight, with a flock of Blood Ravens pecking at the remains.
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