Chapter Nineteen: Leading You to Victory and Reward!

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Qiu Ning Shen grasped the arm of a guard. “Where is General Gu? Why hasn’t he come out?”

“There’s an assassin in the forest. General Gu has not emerged yet,” the guard replied.

An assassin? Qiu Ning looked toward the Empress seated on the high platform. It was as if the Empress was waiting for her gaze. Their eyes met, and the figure above curled her lips into a sly, meaningful smile.

Qiu Ning frowned—could there be something wrong with this assassin?

Within the forest, Yan Gu led the imperial guards to subdue the black-clad assailants. Only three remained alive. Approaching them, Gu’s eyes scanned their waists. His expression darkened; each of the three wore the Shen family soldier’s token.

Without a flicker of emotion, Gu removed their tokens and pocketed them. Then he raised his sword and struck, blood sealing their throats.

“General, aren’t we supposed to keep them alive?” one of the imperial guards asked.

Gu wiped his hand clean. “They’re likely fanatics—no use interrogating them.”

“Retreat!” Gu vaulted onto his horse.

Qiu Ning anxiously watched the forest’s exit, sensing that the assassins’ purpose went beyond mere murder.

“Ning Ning! What are you looking at?” Ziyue Xu tapped her from behind.

In recent days, Ziyue had been with Mu Nian Shen in the army. Today, he seemed darker, clad in armor, appearing much more heroic.

“You should stick close to my father instead of wandering about. Don’t come back empty-handed from the free hunt,” Qiu Ning said, distracted and irritable.

Yet Ziyue kept chattering beside her. “Ning Ning, haven’t you missed me all these days?”

“Why do you always ignore me?”

“Ning Ning, what exactly are you staring at?”

Qiu Ning’s mind roared with frustration; she wanted to cover her ears. “Ziyue Xu!”

Just as she turned to silence him, a commotion ahead caught her attention. It was Gu, having hunted down a leopard.

The Emperor of Yongqing smiled on the high platform. “Well done! Truly a young general worthy of praise! Rewards!”

Gu presented the leopard and accepted the Emperor’s reward with thanks.

Eunuch Li stepped forward. “The free hunt begins now. Those who capture fierce beasts shall be rewarded!”

With that, nobles and soldiers surged into the forest.

Qiu Ning approached Gu. “There’s something wrong with those assassins inside.”

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“There is, but it’s been dealt with,” Gu said calmly.

“What’s wrong? Could they be the Empress’s agents?” Qiu Ning asked worriedly.

Gu raised his eyes slightly. “They were from the Shen family army.”

Qiu Ning’s grip tightened. “Impossible! Someone is framing us. Gu Yan, you must believe me!”

He fixed her with a steady gaze and smiled faintly, his voice low. “I believe you. That’s why I killed them all and took their tokens.”

Qiu Ning exhaled in relief and turned to look at the Empress. Catching her gaze, the Empress met hers with a slight curl of her lips, as if to say this was only the beginning.

A chill settled within Qiu Ning. Was the Empress forcing her hand? Having assassins disguised as Shen family soldiers meant that if the attempt succeeded, the Shen family would be collateral damage; if it failed, the Emperor’s suspicion would fall upon the Shens.

Seeing Qiu Ning’s worry, Gu whispered, “Don’t worry. She won’t touch the Shen family.”

Qiu Ning noticed several wounds on Gu’s waist. “You’re hurt? Come, let me dress your wounds.”

Gu allowed her to lead him into the tent, where the army medic was waiting with a medicine box. “General, I’m—”

Before he could finish, Gu gave him a meaningful look. The medic immediately understood and changed his words. “I’m here to deliver medicine. There are several injured nobles in the other tent—they are quite precious and require your own attention.”

Qiu Ning frowned. “Precious? Can they fight on the battlefield? They make a fuss over every scratch. You must let me dress your wounds first!”

The medic was scolded soundly, feeling wronged but unable to protest. He cast a pleading glance at Gu.

Gu held Qiu Ning’s hand gently. “It’s nothing serious. Don’t trouble him. I’ll handle it myself.”

“You should leave now,” Gu gave the medic a dismissive look.

The medic bowed. “Thank you, General. Excuse me.”

Outside the tent, the medic shook his sleeve. “Hmph. I must ask this young man for two jars of good wine when I return!”

Gu stripped off his coat, feigning difficulty as he began applying the medicine. Qiu Ning couldn’t stand it and took the ointment and gauze from him.

“There’s still a wound on your shoulder,” she said.

Gu smiled inwardly as Qiu Ning carefully tended his wounds, a thin sweat beading on her forehead. She handled him gingerly, afraid to hurt him.

“Ning Ning,” Gu whispered.

“Hmm?” Qiu Ning looked confused.

“What? Only he is allowed to call you that?” Gu’s tone was tinged with jealousy.

Qiu Ning was speechless. “He’s still a child. Why are you acting the same way?”

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Gu pulled Qiu Ning close. “A child? From now on, you mustn’t call him Ziyue.”

Taken off guard by the sudden closeness, Qiu Ning’s cheeks flushed crimson. Gu stood bare-chested, his muscles clearly defined, especially his chest and abdomen. She was nearly pressed against him and quickly stepped back.

“His name is Ziyue, all right?” Qiu Ning thought Gu must have taken the wrong medicine today.

Gu grinned at her flushed face. “Come, help me with the bandages.”

“No, you wait for the medic yourself,” Qiu Ning said stubbornly, but still picked up the gauze.

After finishing the dressing, they exited the tent. Gu ordered someone to bring his horse and helped Qiu Ning mount. “Let’s go claim our rewards!”

Before she realized it, Qiu Ning was already on horseback. Gu slowed his pace through the forest, observing the surroundings carefully. When he spotted his prey, he drew a long arrow and spurred his horse forward. With a sharp whistle cutting the air, a fleeing elk was struck down. It staggered to its feet again, driven by the will to survive.

Qiu Ning took aim. Pushing off fiercely with her feet, she leapt from the horse, drawing her short blade from her waist and stabbing the elk’s vital spot. The elk twitched violently before collapsing.

Qiu Ning stood and raised her brow at Gu. He smiled indulgently from horseback and extended his hand. “Ning Ning, will you join me in claiming our reward?”

Joyful, Qiu Ning paid no mind to what he called her. She placed her hand in his, mounted, and they rode out of the forest.

Qiu Ning presented the elk. “I, your humble subject, have hunted this elk and humbly offer it to His Majesty.”

The Emperor of Yongqing’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Excellent! A heroine who outshines men. Mu Nian Shen, you have raised a fine daughter. Like father, like daughter!”

Mu Nian Shen beamed with pride, unable to contain his joy. This was far better than those aristocratic sons—he was truly basking in his daughter’s glory.

The Emperor waved his hand. “What reward do you desire?”

“Your humble subject dares to request a royal amulet. Should the Shen family face hardship in the future, this amulet will grant the imperial pardon,” Qiu Ning knelt, watching the Emperor’s expression closely.

Mu Nian Shen, still reveling, nearly fell off his seat at her words. He too turned to gauge the Emperor’s reaction.

The Emperor squinted slightly, then smiled gently. “You, girl, wish to trade a single elk for a royal amulet? Are you trying to win big with a small stake?”

Qiu Ning bowed, forehead touching the ground. “Your humble subject dares not. The elk was difficult to hunt—it struggled to rise after the arrow struck. Only when I pierced its vital spot with my dagger did it die. Therefore, I seek a reward. Had I missed, I would never dare to ask.”

The Emperor’s gaze darkened briefly, then returned to normal as he laughed heartily. “Very well, I grant it! This amulet shall be yours today.”

Qiu Ning bowed again. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!”

The Emperor clearly understood her meaning: she sought to turn a small offering into a great gain, but also showed she possessed the skill to strike true. If he accepted this ‘blade,’ the royal amulet was the price; if not, her ‘blade’ might fail. This Shen family daughter was no ordinary woman.