Xuanji bowed respectfully and asked for instructions from Jiang Qingshu.“How may I assist you, my lord?”
“If we avoid open warfare, do you have any strategy to weaken Emperor Yan’s power?” Jiang Qingshu asked in return.
Xuanji pondered for a moment before replying, “The Great Yan Empire is currently at the height of its strength. If you want to shake its foundations without spending a single soldier, the only way is to target Emperor Yan’s sons. The emperor is naturally suspicious. As long as we exploit that weakness, he will destroy his own heirs.”
Hearing this, Jiang Qingshu was secretly delighted. This Xuanji truly possessed extraordinary wisdom—she had really found a treasure.
“And if I asked you to walk straight into the tiger’s den yourself, would you be willing?”
Xuanji cupped his hands and bowed.“To receive one’s ruler’s salary is to serve one’s ruler loyally. I would give my life without hesitation.”
“You flatter me, sir. On your trip to the capital, pay special attention to Prince Li. That prince is ambitious and constantly making moves in secret. You may begin with him.”
“Rest assured, miss. Stirring up storms is my specialty.” Xuanji seemed oddly excited.
Jiang Qingshu knew he was both courageous and resourceful, someone who thrived on challenges. This task should not trouble him.
The Great Yan Empire was about to be reshuffled.
Jiang Qingshu understood clearly that the dog emperor and his sons pursued the Jiang family so relentlessly simply because they had too much time on their hands.
If several major incidents suddenly erupted at such a moment, they naturally would no longer have the energy to focus on the Jiang family fugitives.
By then, even if Xuanji failed to kill them, he would still leave them severely weakened.
Once she safely reached the northern frontier, she would recover her strength while persuading her father and brothers to “build a new foundation elsewhere.”
As for Tianwen City, she did not believe a place with such harsh entry rules could truly be wonderful.
More importantly, entering Tianwen City meant giving up revenge—and she could never swallow that humiliation.
With Xuanji as her strategist, together with her father, brothers, and the help of her mysterious space, she refused to believe they could not overthrow those people.
“Sir, please come with me…”
Jiang Qingshu led Xuanji to a secluded stone forest. At the edge stood a horse tied to a tree, carrying two bulging packs on its back.
“You are heading straight into danger. How could you travel without a mount or funds? Water, food, and silver for the journey have all been prepared.”
After hearing her words, Xuanji laughed awkwardly.
“Hehe… well…”
“Do you still have another problem, sir?”
“Um… may I ask, miss… do you still have that wine from earlier?”
Though somewhat helpless, Jiang Qingshu still handed him two wineskins filled with Moutai liquor.
This man behaved freely and lazily, but he never neglected serious matters.
Before Xuanji departed, Jiang Qingshu used a pigeon whistle to summon a carrier pigeon and handed it to him. The bird had belonged to the original owner of this body; no matter where she went, it could always find her.
Thus, Xuanji could use it to send her information.
“I shall take my leave first…”
Jiang Qingshu watched him ride off into the evening glow before turning to reunite with her family.
She wondered how Linbao was doing. Had he cried while looking for her?
She herself could not understand why she felt such instinctive affection for the child, as though Linbao truly were her own son.
Perhaps it was the lingering emotions of the original owner influencing her.
“Waaah…”
Children’s cries rose and fell across the wilderness.
“An’er! Ding’er! Run faster!” Jiang Yifeng’s stern voice rang out behind his two sons.
“Wah… Father, I think my legs are broken…” the eldest son, An’er, cried while staring at the sandbags tied to his legs.
“Useless! You’re the older brother! Look at Linbao—he carries the same weight as you and still endures it. How can you even have the face to cry?”
After the incident of being trapped in the burning forest, the Jiang family realized that relying on a few men for protection was far from enough.
Even the women and children had to master at least one means of survival.
Learning lightness skills was the best option.
So over the past two days, Jiang Yifeng had tied sandbags to the children’s legs and begun training them with weighted exercises.
Of the five children, only Linbao puffed out his cheeks and persisted stubbornly. The other four collapsed wherever they fell.
Furious at their lack of determination, Jiang Yifeng ordered that no one would eat until they completed ten laps.
That was why the little ones were now running and crying at the same time.
“Aren’t we pushing them too hard?” Tang Shuangshuang asked painfully as she watched the children suffer.
“Would you rather watch them get killed?” Jiang Fengyu’s eyes darkened.
“Of course not!”
“No one is more reliable than oneself. Only by becoming strong can they protect themselves when it truly matters.”
Tang Shuangshuang’s eyes suddenly grew moist.“Brother Yu… I’m scared.”
Jiang Fengyu took her hand into his own and lowered his eyes, giving her a gentle reassuring smile.
“Focus on recovering. I’m here.”
Tang Shuangshuang withdrew her hand and wiped away her tears before looking toward the children in the field.
“That child Linbao really is impressive.”
The little boy’s cheeks were flushed red and sweat covered his face, yet he still refused to stop running. It was truly heartening.
“Yes. Even at such a young age, he already understands that only strength can protect one’s family.”
“Linbao, come here. Auntie will wipe your sweat…”
“Linbao—”
Just as Tang Shuangshuang approached him, Jiang Qingshu returned.
“Little sister!” Jiang Fengyu exclaimed joyfully.
“Big brother, sister-in-law, I’m back.”
“Mother—!”
The moment Linbao heard her voice, he completely forgot about the sandbags tied to his legs. He tried to sprint toward her, only for the resistance to trip him face-first into the dirt.
In an instant, his round little cheeks turned into rice balls coated with yellow mud.
“Linbao~” Jiang Qingshu laughed helplessly and hurried over to scoop him up.
“Mother, did you not want Linbao anymore?” Ignoring the scrapes on his face, the little dumpling wrapped his tiny arms tightly around her neck.
Something deep within Jiang Qingshu’s heartstrings trembled painfully.
“How could Mother not want Linbao? Were you good? Did you cry?”
This was the first time mother and son had been separated for two whole days; one could imagine how the little boy had felt.
“Linbao didn’t cry! Linbao is already a real man now.”
“Really?”
Seeing his puffed-up little grown-up expression, Jiang Qingshu reached under his arms and tickled him.
The ticklish Linbao immediately burst into giggles.
Just as mother and son immersed themselves in the joy of reunion, Jiang Kun and his wife emerged from the grass hut.
“Shu’er…” Jiang Kun’s calm, deep voice carried a faint tremor he could not suppress.
Sun Yuluo and Jiang Luoyou looked at the unharmed Jiang Qingshu, and both mother and daughter’s eyes instantly reddened.
“Father, Mother, I’m fine. I’m back.” Jiang Qingshu felt warmth spread through her heart. Being cared about truly felt wonderful.
“Come inside and tell us how you escaped,” Jiang Kun urged anxiously.
Jiang Qingshu followed them into the hut and calmly fabricated a story about how her master had rescued and healed her.
After hearing it, the Jiang family grew even more respectful toward her mysterious and powerful master.
“With such a massive fire, to actually rescue Shu’er from it… could that truly be done by human hands?”
“Just what kind of extraordinary person is your master?”
Jiang Qingshu put on a mysterious smile.“Master said that once we reach the northern frontier, she will naturally meet all of you.”
“That expert must have her own reasons. Let us simply follow fate,” Sun Yuluo said. Even her previous suspicions had gradually transformed into admiration.
“Now that Shu’er has safely returned, we’ll continue our journey tomorrow morning,” Jiang Kun declared seriously.
“Alright.” Jiang Qingshu nodded, only to see Jiang Luoyou approaching her with a mischievous grin.
“Before we depart, big sister has to train with us too, right?”
Jiang Kun waved his large hand.“Good idea. Off you all go!”
Jiang Qingshu looked confused.“Train? Train what?”
“Third brother is teaching us how to fight ten enemies alone…”
Jiang Qingshu immediately developed a headache. With the original owner’s delicate, fragile body, fight ten enemies alone? Well, if the opponents were children or idiots, perhaps it might still be possible.
While inwardly mocking herself, the two sisters arrived at the simple training ground Jiang Chengyu had arranged.
More than a dozen vines hung from above, each tied to fist-sized stones. Second sister-in-law and little sixth brother Jiang Lingfei were currently practicing dodging them.
Having once worked in martial arts, Jiang Qingshu recognized instantly that this training was designed to improve agility. Trainees had to weave through the swinging stones.
The exercises progressed from few to many, from easy to difficult. Once someone lost their rhythm, they would end up covered in bruises.
After looking around, Jiang Qingshu realized Tang Shuangshuang was missing.
“Xiao Wu, where’s sister-in-law?”
The moment Jiang Luoyou heard her mention their sister-in-law, her face lit up excitedly.
“Big sister can’t train with us right now… because she’s pregnant…”