Xiao Ji had come under orders to capture a spy from Nanliang.
To prevent the target from disappearing into the crowd, nobody inside the pleasure house was allowed to leave until the spy was apprehended.
Shang Changge was naturally detained as well.
Hearing that the target was a Nanliang spy surprised her a little—but not entirely.
Nanliang.
One of the two small kingdoms that would rebel two years later.
The other was Nanliang’s neighboring state, Jinlou.
She hadn’t expected Nanliang spies to have already infiltrated the royal capital at this point.
However…
This incident hadn’t appeared in the original novel.
Was it a consequence of the Wen family’s downfall?
It seemed the plot wasn’t fixed after all.
The future could be changed.
“Tsk.”
The realization immediately lifted Shang Changge’s spirits.
Originally, she had been worried about the male protagonist’s supposed protagonist’s luck.
But now?
Perhaps he wasn’t so invincible after all.
“Let me go! Let me go!”
“There are plenty of people from Nanliang in the capital! What gives you the right to call me a spy?! What gives you the right to arrest me?!”
The suspect was captured quickly.
Judging by his attitude, however, he was highly dissatisfied.
Even while being restrained by two soldiers, he still struggled to raise his head and shout loudly.
The man was dragged before Xiao Ji.
The instant he saw the General, he visibly shuddered.
His arrogance evaporated.
Even his voice weakened.
“E-Even if you’re the Great General…
Y-You can’t arrest someone without evidence…”
Riiip—!
Xiao Ji reached out.
The human-skin mask covering the man’s face was torn away in one motion.
His true appearance was immediately revealed.
Xiao Ji’s eyes were as cold and sharp as an icy abyss.
Standing tall above him, he naturally looked down upon everyone.
“General Wei.
Long time no see.”
The man possessed rugged features.
At those words, his pupils contracted sharply.
Fear flashed instinctively through his eyes.
Alongside unwillingness.
“How did you discover me?”
The substitute he had left behind in his residence looked identical to him.
Not only that, but his mannerisms and behavior had been carefully copied.
Other than his wife, nobody should have been able to tell the difference.
How could Qingyan possibly have discovered the truth?
“You don’t need to know.”
Xiao Ji casually tossed aside the discarded mask.
Taking a handkerchief from Duoming, he wiped his hands.
The look he gave the man was utterly merciless.
Like he was already looking at a corpse.
“Take him away.”
Xiao Ji had arrived swiftly.
He departed just as swiftly.
The disciplined soldiers withdrew in an orderly fashion.
Before long, they were gone.
Shang Changge rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she watched them leave.
“Was that my imagination?”
She could have sworn Xiao Ji had paused briefly when passing by her.
Qingyao heard her speaking but hadn’t caught the words clearly.
“Miss, what did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Shang Changge wasn’t interested in dwelling on such a trivial matter.
“Let’s go.”
The evening was still young.
Rather than returning to the Princess’s Residence, she planned to continue wandering around South Street with Qingyao.
After all, they’d already gone through the trouble of disguising themselves.
Wouldn’t it be a waste not to enjoy it?
“Miss! Mung bean shaved ice!”
“Want some?”
“Yes!”
“Buy it.”
“Miss! Meat skewers!”
“Buy them.”
“Osmanthus cakes!”
“Buy them.”
No matter what Qingyao pointed at, Shang Changge responded with a generous wave of her hand.
Buy.
Buy.
Buy.
By the end, they had purchased so much that both of them were carrying bags filled with snacks and trinkets.
“Miss, General.”
“Buy it.”
…
…
Only after speaking did Shang Changge realize something was wrong.
She looked up.
An eyebrow rose.
The person who had just taken several bags from her hands was none other than Xiao Ji.
She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t interrogating the Nanliang spy.
Why was he here instead?
Still, she hadn’t forgotten her original objective.
Winning him over.
A mischievous gleam flashed through her beautiful eyes.
Her natural social-butterfly tendencies immediately took over.
Smiling brightly, she addressed him with shocking familiarity.
“Ah Ji, what are you doing here?”
Xiao Ji: …
Qingyao: !!!
The Princess just called the Great General… what?
Ah… Ah Ji?!
Duoming happened to arrive a moment later.
And unfortunately for him, he heard that earth-shattering “Ah Ji” the instant he arrived.
His foot slipped.
He nearly face-planted into the street.
Who is this girl?!
Who?!
She actually called our General “Ah Ji”?!
That intimate?
Since when were they this close?
What exactly is their relationship?
And why don’t I know about it?!