Linglong and Yun Yao were quite close; she had confided everything to Yun

Linglong saw that Ma Xiaowei was present and didn't want to leave, but she couldn't refuse Yun Yao's request, so she walked out of the General's Residence looking back every three steps. Ma Xiaowei watched Linglong's retreating figure and let out a snort of laughter. "Husband, that little girl seems interested in you. Confess now, have you two done any of the things that we have done?"

The palace maids wisely withdrew. Ma Xiaowei, dressed in a soldier's tunic, possessed a unique charm. I lifted her up and set her on a chair, and she settled onto my lap. One of my hands drifted towards her soft breast. To conceal her bosom, Ma Xiaowei had wrapped it with several layers of gauze, and when I felt it, it was hard and swollen—quite strange.

Ma Xiaowei deliberately put on a stern face, displeased. "Stop that for now. Why didn't you kill Lin Gu just now?"

I replied, "You mentioned wanting to subdue him, but the more capable a person is, the less likely they are to yield easily. That's why I had to let him go first."

Ma Xiaowei retorted, "I was just saying that casually. How could you not consider the bigger picture?"

"I did consider it. Isn't it also because I wanted to make you happy? Whatever you say, I will find a way to make it happen."

Ma Xiaowei ignored the strange hand on her chest and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Husband, you truly know how to sweet-talk a girl. No wonder you have over twenty wives. I... I am so moved. If I asked for the stars, would you go and pluck them for me?"

I responded, "Of course. It's just that the stars look small from afar, but in reality, they are enormous. 'Plucking' isn't the right description, but I can take you up to see them."

Ma Xiaowei sang, "Look how beautiful the stars are, I'll pick one and give it to you with my own hands. Little Wei, do you know how much I love you? I want to take you flying up to the heavens..." Husband, is it like this?"

The joyful Ma Xiaowei today was certainly not comparable to the one yesterday who was utterly shamed and grief-stricken. Once a knot in her heart was untied, and their relationship had made a breakthrough, how could she not be happy? Her stern face just now was entirely feigned; otherwise, those two girls wouldn't have left.

I kissed Ma Xiaowei's cheek. "Yes, you seem happier than Xiao Rui right now."

Ma Xiaowei said, "Of course, Xiao Rui can't compare to me, because now I have your affection. Move your ear closer; I need to ask you something."

Puzzled, I leaned in. Ma Xiaowei whispered secretly, "Tell me honestly, did you and Linglong sleep together?"

"No. At most, I touched her a few times through her clothes. She’s still a child; I wouldn't be so indiscriminate."

"It’s good that you know she's still a child. In any case, I don't want to be ranked behind her. I know I disappointed you yesterday afternoon, but please endure for a few more days—just a few days. Then, I... I can sleep with you."

Ma Xiaowei's dependence on me also deeply touched me. I patted her chest and assured her, "Don't worry, Xiao Wei. You will be the first woman after I arrive on Gemini, number twenty-three. Once I find the other three girls, I’ll take you all back to Earth. As for the pressure from the court, once we return to Earth, we won't need to worry about it because the technology level of our homeland is hundreds of times higher than yours. When we roll in with planes and cannons, let's see who dares not be afraid. Plus, we have spaceships; you can come back to visit anytime you miss home. It's just that our ship isn't fixed yet, and we haven't found the other three girls, so it's best we don't make our relationship public for now."

Ma Xiaowei followed my instructions, not calling me Prince Consort or Xianggong. She nestled into my embrace. "Husband, you are so good to me. With you here, I don't have to worry about anything. Xiao Rui was right; only when I sleep with you will you truly be good to me and solve everything for me."

I chuckled, "But we haven't slept together yet."

Ma Xiaowei blushed. "Wasn't what I did yesterday afternoon enough? Why didn't you tell me before you sprayed that stuff? The stuff on my body was manageable, but the residue in my hair took more than ten washes to get rid of, and I almost gave myself away when Xiao Rui asked me about it last night."

I inquired, "Were you two together again last night?"

Ma Xiaowei clapped a hand over her mouth, stammering, "You made me do it! How can I not build a good relationship with her first?"

I chuckled inwardly. Ma Xiaowei was too naive; she believed any excuse I gave her. In the future, I could start a 'Wife-Bathing Hotline,' sending all the densest, most hapless men on Earth who couldn't find a wife up to Gemini. Although all the women here have small chests, they are all quite attractive, and with the persuasive tongues of today's men, they'd surely manage to secure a wife to take back to Earth.

"Did the two of you do that again last night?" I reached inside her clothing to release the gauze binding her chest. Those treasures now belonged to me; what if they were damaged by the tightness?

Ma Xiaowei nodded shamefacedly, then whispered, "Will you come tonight? I'll find a way to send her away and tell you the detailed account. You will definitely be satisfied..."

The object snapped to attention. Ma Xiaowei certainly knew what that thing was, as it had entered and exited her mouth thousands of times yesterday afternoon, ending up covering her chest and hair with it.

"Yes, I'll definitely come. Xiao Wei, you are such a good girl. Go back quickly and change your clothes. Don't pretend to be a personal guard anymore; what if you squeeze your chest and ruin its beauty?"

Delighted by her beloved's praise, Ma Xiaowei was ecstatic. "Mmm, I'll listen to everything you say. But will pretending for a little while be alright? You were squeezing both of us yesterday afternoon, and nothing happened."

I patted Ma Xiaowei's rear. "Hurry back to your room. I need to go check on Lin Gu's situation. To help your father and brother recruit more talent, and to make you happy, I must subdue him somehow."

Ma Xiaowei kissed my face affectionately. "I'll wait for you. Xiao Rui was moaning your name while climaxing last night; it was quite thrilling. You must come back soon!"

Spurred on by Ma Xiaowei, I walked out of the main hall almost like a shrimp. My trousers were loose, but it seemed the part beneath had recently grown taller and fatter. If I didn't bend over, the personal guards might notice something amiss. "Where did they go?" I asked Kong Wu.

Kong Wu reported, "Sir, scouts just reported that they are gathered near the West Gate, likely discussing their next move."

"Let's go, let's sneak over and see."

Lin Gu's heart was filled with conflict. Jiu Xia urgently advised him, "Marshal, don't hesitate any longer. I saw that Zhao Qianhu has already defected to the Imperial Guard. We should kill our way out of Pingyuan County immediately, or if he traps us here, our lives will be forfeit."

Lin Gu shook his head. "I don't think so. If he had truly defected to the Imperial Army, why would he let us go just now? Besides, once we retreat, it will be difficult to get back in. If Pingyuan County falls into the hands of the Imperial forces, even if we manage to return to Huyang alive, our lives won't be safe, because Pingyuan County's geographical position is too vital. That's why Prince Shou ordered me here for reinforcement."

Jiu Xia pressed, "Then what should we do? We can't just watch the outside forces be slowly eaten away by the Imperial Guard, can we? Marshal, listen to the roar from the main camp—they are throwing 'Heavenly Thunder' again. Our troops can't withstand that kind of assault."

Lin Gu was still contemplating when Jiu Xia added, "Marshal, have you wavered? Are you perhaps going to defect to the court?"

Lin Gu reacted as if his tail had been stepped on; he nearly jumped up. "Nonsense! I have been loyal to Prince Shou; how could I defect to the Imperial Army? I'm thinking about how to secure Pingyuan County while letting reinforcements enter the city."

Liu Dan walked over from a distance. He said to the two of them, "Gentlemen, this is all I can do. Actually, General Zhao was right just now; you should seriously reconsider. There is no good end for rebels. My brothers have also decided to abandon the darkness and embrace the light."

Jiu Xia was naturally furious, but this time he was wiser. He glanced at the patrolling soldiers around them and let go of the hand gripping his sword. Lin Gu, however, felt a surge of anger; hearing Liu Dan speak, it seemed the city guards had already decided to defect to the court, it was only a matter of time. Once the Imperial Guard occupied Pingyuan County, retaking it would become infinitely harder. Furthermore, if the Huyang army wanted to advance towards Shuangcheng, Pingyuan County would block their path.

Unable to think of a better plan, Lin Gu said to Jiu Xia, "Since you are eager to break out, let's do this: you take five hundred men and fight your way back to the main camp. I'll take five hundred men to stay at the West Gate to provide support. You reorganize your troops, abandon all baggage, and fight your way in as much as you can. It's better than being slaughtered outside. If we can get three or four thousand men inside, we'll have confidence in controlling the situation within the city. Then, all problems can be resolved; we just need to wait for more reinforcements from Huyang."

Jiu Xia, initially terrified seeing the city guards swarming in, repeatedly nodded when he heard he could leave. What he would do upon returning to the main camp was another matter entirely. "Yes, Marshal! Your subordinate obeys."

Lin Gu turned to Liu Dan. "Liu Qianhu, are you willing to lend us another hand?"

Liu Dan had already secretly received orders. He replied, "Marshal Lin, please command me. Regardless, we are still defending the city for now. As long as it's within my power, I will do my utmost."

Lin Gu instructed, "Open the city gate and cooperate with General Jiu to break through the siege, allowing him to return and reorganize before re-entering the city."

Liu Dan asked, "And what about you, Marshal?"

Lin Gu replied, "I will stay here and cooperate with you to defend the West Gate. The situation inside the city is uncertain; I cannot leave it."

Liu Dan sneered inwardly but said outwardly, "Very well then, Marshal Lin. However, I can only keep the gate open for a short while. Sending troops out to assist is impossible. My brothers in the other Qianhu detachments have already heard the news; everyone knows about General Zhao's decision just now. Some things are no longer up to me to decide. Please forgive me, Marshal Lin."

Lin Gu insisted, "Just opening the gate will suffice. Regardless, I must thank you; without your help, we wouldn't have known so much about the situation inside the city. General Jiu, let's go!"

Jiu Xia raised his sword and led five hundred men to the West Gate tower. The guards lowered the main crossbar, opening a gap in the gate. The five hundred men filed out, and the gate was immediately closed. The surrounding Imperial Guard quickly spotted the group. Once the five hundred men were clear of the archers' range on the city walls, the Imperial Guard's weapons began to fire.

Initially, Jiu Xia and his men could use their wooden shields to ward off the arrows, but before long, the Zhi Mao Ji (javelin throwers) were brought forward. Javelins were loaded and pulled back, and upon the command, sharply pointed spears flew forth. Thud, thud—over a dozen men fell. Those wooden shields were completely useless against them.

The Imperial Guard's signal flags changed constantly. Soon, forces from the other two gates were diverted, bringing more weapons to join the annihilation of this group of five hundred. Poor Jiu Xia had thought that a distance of a few li could be covered quickly by running, and he would return to camp. He didn't realize that sometimes advancing one step in battle required the price of unceasing blood. But now, he finally understood.

Watching the soldiers around him fall one by one, Jiu Xia's heart turned cold. If this continued, he wouldn't scratch the enemy in the slightest but would instead be wiped out. However, their weapons with the longest range were only bows, and those arrows couldn't even reach the enemy formation. What they said in the General's Residence was true: the Imperial Guard's advanced weaponry and disciplined ranks were not to be underestimated.

Jiu Xia waved his sword and shouted to those taking cover from the spears and arrows on the ground, "Brothers, charge! Staying here is death; charging out is our only chance to save our lives!"

The soldiers knew that staying in the open ground meant certain death; only by rushing back to the main camp was there a chance to live. Thus, they followed Jiu Xia and sprinted toward the camp where they had bivouacked last night.

But their numbers were too small. Nearly two hundred men had perished in that short span. Now, these three hundred-plus men rushing towards several thousand Imperial Guards were like an egg hitting a rock. Compounded by their obsolete weapons, the battle was completely one-sided. Lin Gu, watching from the city tower, gritted his teeth and pounded his chest.

Losing Jingzhou due to carelessness! Who could have predicted that the Pingyuan County garrison, which had held out for so long, would suddenly turn treacherous? Who could have known that the plan to enter the city would be thwarted so abruptly? The Imperial Guard didn't originally have so many troops; why were their numbers growing? Did they practice the art of scattering beans to conjure soldiers?

As the fighting circle around the five hundred men tightened, tears fell from Lin Gu's eyes. One wrong move cost the whole game. Now, his only hope was to persuade the city defenders to hold out until the new reinforcements arrived, and then, coordinating with the nearly ten thousand men outside, they could surely defeat the Imperial Guard.

Outside the West Gate, Jiu Xia lost all fighting spirit. Only five of his personal guards remained; all five hundred soldiers were gone. The Imperial Guards, clad in thick armor, kept closing in. They moved in groups of three, shielding each other's backs. Some held long Pu Dao (broadswords), excellent for sweeping cuts; others wielded flexible Xiuchun Dao for close combat; and still others carried long spears, occasionally stabbing the opposing soldiers in the legs. These weapons complemented each other well—long and short coordinated, upper and lower lines balanced. The ordinary peasant army stood no chance against them. Even if a brave man managed to close the distance, several heavy cuts were often blocked by the thick armor, preventing any significant injury to their bodies.

"I surrender! I surrender!" Jiu Xia yelled, raising his sword. His last personal guard fell. He was never a steadfast warrior and now only looked for the easiest path.

Unfortunately, the Imperial Guard had orders: anyone exiting the city was to be executed without question. They cared nothing for whether he was a general or a marshal. Swords and spears converged, stabbing into Jiu Xia. Puff, puff—both his arms were severed, and then his stomach was pierced by a long spear, causing a length of intestine to spray out from the wound.

Jiu Xia's eyes rolled back, blood pouring from his mouth as he collapsed. In his final moments, he still had the presence of mind to regret risking leaving the city. He should have stayed inside; it would have been safer. Even if the garrison surrendered, he could have tried to blend in, which would have been far better than being hacked into eighteen pieces.

Lin Gu, watching from the tower, saw it all clearly. Not a single one of the five hundred men stood up again. After slaughtering everyone, the Imperial Guard quickly reversed their lines—the weapon carriers became the body movers, and vice versa. In no time, outside the South Gate, nothing remained but patches of bloodstains.

Liu Dan said behind Lin Gu, "Marshal Lin, you have seen it too. The Imperial Guard is too formidable; we are no match for them. It’s best to follow the current situation and be pragmatic."

Lin Gu stubbornly replied, "Others may surrender, but I cannot. Besides, there are still ten thousand troops outside the city; that force cannot be dismissed lightly. I will figure out a way to get out."

A personal guard behind him suddenly exclaimed to Lin Gu, "Marshal, look quickly! The main camp is on fire!"

Lin Gu was shocked. He looked into the distance and confirmed it: thick smoke billowed from the direction of the main camp. Clearly, the fighting there was even more intense. The Imperial Guard was setting fires. Tents and other structures are flammable, and with the recent dry weather, if the fire started in the center of the camp, it would be unstoppable.

Liu Dan sneered secretly. This old stubborn man was still holding out. Now that you have no leverage, let's see if you'll still resist. If Lord Zhao hadn't given the order, I would have cut you down long ago.

A watch post was erected on the city tower. Lin Gu declared, "I'll go up to check the situation."

The personal guard protested, "Marshal, you mustn't. That spot is too high. If the Imperial Guard outside the city fires their javelins, we have no defense."

Lin Gu gave a desolate smile. "What do I have to fear now? Let them shoot if they want to."

Liu Dan didn't stop him, allowing Lin Gu to climb onto the lookout post. He saw balls of flame being thrown up repeatedly and falling into the center of the distant main camp. Shortly after the flames landed, a column of fire shot toward the sky. Faintly, he heard the cries of soldiers—the entire main camp was in chaos. Ten thousand men were lost!

Seeing Lin Gu on the verge of jumping from the post, I ignored him. If he couldn't withstand this much pressure, there would be no use keeping him. Gu Fei reported to me, "Sir, scouts outside the city are reporting back."

I instructed, "Send him to the General's Residence; we are returning immediately."

Yun Yao and Linglong had not left with Lin Gu's group. After leaving the General's Residence, they had gone home. Later, when personal guards informed them of my whereabouts, they rushed over from home to guard me. Hearing they had to go to the General's Residence again, Linglong seemed reluctant.

"Master, the Princess needs rest. I think it would be better to go to our residence instead," she said.

How could I not understand Linglong's thoughts? She wanted to keep me away from Ma Xiaowei as much as possible, perhaps even trying to get intimate with me before Ma Xiaowei did. After all, being the first wife on Gemini was a very tempting position.

I said to Linglong solemnly, "There are things you children don't understand. Our two Royal Highnesses are the supervisors on this expedition. They are here on behalf of their father to inspect us. If we withhold any matters from them, even if the Princesses don't get angry, if someone reports to the court officials after we return to Shuangcheng, we will face severe consequences. They will say we disregard the court, that we are secretly amassing troops, that we harbor intentions of rebellion..."

Linglong interjected, "Master, stop talking. We'll go."

Upon receiving the report, Ma Xiaowei and Ma Xiaorui sat in the main hall, formally dressed. Ma Xiaorui secretly made meaningful faces at me, which I chose to ignore. Ma Xiaowei pretended not to look at me, but I knew in her heart she had called me 'Husband' several times.

The scout reported, "Your Highness, Lord Zhao, General Gu sent men to persuade the enemy camp, but unexpectedly, they executed our envoy to establish authority among their soldiers! Following Lord's orders, General Gu launched a siege annihilation operation. Seeing that the enemy camp had a large quantity of incendiary materials, we brought in improved incendiary bombs—our Chief Shi's improvements greatly increased their power. The enemy camp was turned into a sea of fire. Over three thousand people perished, and the remaining six thousand have all surrendered. They are being held and will be reorganized after the battlefield is cleared."

I waved my hand. "You may leave. Once everything is settled, the Princesses and this Marshal will naturally reward everyone according to their merit."

Only the five of us remained in the hall. Ma Xiaorui tossed aside the elaborate princess ornaments on her head and jumped up, exclaiming, "Zhao Qian, you are amazing! Twenty thousand reinforcements were defeated like that, and our force has grown stronger! Hooray!"

The ten thousand troops outside the city, deprived of Lin Gu and Jiu Xia, and restricted everywhere by the Imperial Guard, had no chance of avoiding defeat. This staged trap, although it hadn't killed Lin Gu yet, drawing him into the city where he couldn't command those ten thousand men was the same as killing him.

The strength of the bandit suppression force was growing stronger. Besides the expansion of personnel, the most crucial factor was the constant improvement in the soldiers' combat capabilities. Moreover, when even Lin Gu, whom they considered one of the more formidable figures in the Shuangcheng Kingdom, proved to be nothing special, I began to feel full of confidence for the future.

Ma Xiaowei rose and bowed to me. "Marshal Zhao, Xiao Wei thanks you on behalf of my father, the Emperor. If it weren't for you, the bandit suppression army would likely have been pushed back to Shuangcheng long ago."

Linglong quickly jumped in, "Your Highness, no need to be so polite. Our Master is merely repaying your kindness for saving his life by forging the Imperial Edict. It is only right; you don't need to feel indebted to him."

Ma Xiaowei blushed. In truth, she knew that the incident of forging the Imperial Edict had caused more trouble than help. However, from it, she could also tell that he had feelings for her even then; otherwise, why would he have risked his life to save her in the Wencheng Wude Hall?

Ma Xiaorui declared, "Marshal Zhao is a great hero, and he has saved both my sister's and my life. I have decided..."

Linglong quickly interjected, “Your Highness the Sixteenth Princess need not trouble yourself with such trivial matters. It is already past noon, and the master of our residence has prepared a celebratory banquet. We ask for the gracious permission of both Princesses to withdraw.”

A sigh escaped me. This time, in an effort to prevent the two princesses from using the celebratory feast as an excuse to keep them there, Linglong and Yun Yao had rushed back to the manor and prepared the food and wine beforehand. If they were going to be watched this closely, how was I supposed to slip out tonight to find Ma Xiaowei? I still wanted to know exactly what she and Ma Xiaorui had gotten up to last night.

Ma Xiaorui’s eyes darted, and she addressed Linglong, “I’m surprised by how swift you are. Very well, since your residence has already prepared the dishes, it saves my sister and me some trouble. Sister, shall we go together? I trust Marshal Zhao won't be so stingy as to deny us a meal.”

Linglong replied, “Your Highness, we only have simple fare here. I suggest you both dine at the manor instead. After all, the skills of the Imperial Kitchen are far beyond what the servants in our humble home can match.”

Ma Xiaowei offered a faint smile. “It doesn’t matter. My sister and I are not fussy eaters. If Sister Yun Yao has no objection, then we shall go.”

Yun Yao certainly wouldn't object; she couldn’t find a reason to. Ma Xiaowei had deliberately passed the decision to Yun Yao, precisely because she knew Yun Yao disliked confrontation. Sure enough, Yun Yao nodded. I hadn't wanted to object in the first place, and with Yun Yao agreeing, I had no further opinion. The one most strongly opposed was Linglong, her little mouth pouted high in the air.

“We only instructed the kitchen to prepare meals for three people.”

Ma Xiaorui turned to Linglong. “Don’t worry, we brought our own food.”

Linglong was speechless, knowing this battle, too, had ended in her defeat.