For the next two days and nights, everyone was utterly swamped. First, they had to clear the battlefield, but on the very night the fighting ended, the rain intensified. In haste, they could only use the horse traps and defensive trenches to bury the dead. The slain warhorses were hauled into Black Dragon County Town to be prepared as rations, and from that point onward, dried horse meat became a staple in the Twin City Nation.

Afterward, the soldiers worked through the night, braving the rain to repair the section of the city wall they themselves had damaged, all while trying to placate the civilians within the city. Three days passed in this manner, and during these three days, the skies remained overcast, the rain constant. What was truly terrifying was that the downpour grew stronger, accompanied by gale-force winds. If they had still been camped outside the city, many of the barracks might have begun to leak. It was a blessing that the bandits had launched their attack early, giving them this opportunity; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Most of the ten thousand wounded soldiers suffered only minor injuries, and within a few days, their wounds began to heal, rapidly restoring their combat readiness. However, the manpower lost in battle could not be immediately replaced. Although they captured some bandits, these men could not be reformed and integrated like the rebels of Huyang; they could only be imprisoned for now, with plans to send them back to Twin City later—either to be executed or to die of old age in prison.

On the third day, Ah Mao's interrogation work made significant progress. A captured bandit pointed out that the prisoner suspected to be the leader, taken on the battlefield, was indeed Chunyu, the nephew of the Iron Horse Tribe leader from the Ten Thousand Horse Nation. Chunyu was a renowned warrior within the Iron Horse Tribe, possessing immense strength and ferocity in battle. Over the years, he had repeatedly led incursions into the Ten Thousand Horse Nation, plundering countless women and provisions.

From this man, they should be able to glean much intelligence regarding the Ten Thousand Horse Nation’s military reports. However, after being identified, Chunyu stubbornly refused to admit his identity. Even when subjected to the cruelest tortures by the Eastern Depot, he remained defiant to the death. He drank several large pots of chili water and merely laughed; in the end, the hulking brute was tortured until he was emaciated, trembling, and unable to walk, yet he still gritted his teeth and refused to utter a single word. I immediately 'bestowed' eight characters upon this man: 'Born great, died glorious,' for his 'heroic spirit' could rival that of heroes like Liu Hulan and Sister Jiang.

Ultimately, this man could only be escorted back to Twin City via airship. What Madar decided to do with him was his own affair. Regardless, they had captured a high-ranking official, so some formal pleasantries were due. The ministers who spent their days squabbling in court could also take this opportunity to witness the nobility of the Ten Thousand Horse Nation. Perhaps seeing Chunyu might frighten those ministers into cooperation, leading him to confess everything.

Although, in my opinion, the results of this battle were nothing to boast about, Madar and Ma Xiaoda felt differently. When comparing this battle report with the previous one—where Zhang Guan sacrificed ten thousand lives to break three thousand cavalry and capture Flying Dragon Prefecture—this current victory, achieving a decisive defeat of ten thousand enemy cavalry with the sacrifice of just over two thousand men, was nothing short of world-shaking, enough to silence the Pang faction. Although they used every excuse to defend the 'gloriously' sacrificed Marshal Zhang, the only defense that held weight was the difference in weaponry. Yet, the one who initially refused to purchase arms from the Imperial Horse Guard was Wan Licai. Now, their words seemed utterly hollow. This matter could only be set aside for the time being; the dead cannot be resurrected anyway.

The plan for future combat was to wait for the rain to stop and the skies to clear before continuing the advance toward Flying Eagle Prefecture on one flank, and then having both armies march south together to seize the five counties of White Dragon, Yellow Dragon, Flying Fish, Flying Crane, and Flying Crocodile. This would complete the border defense. If conditions allowed, they might press further south—what Ma Xiaoda called marching directly to the Yellow Dragon.

Although our army suffered heavy losses in this battle, we gained even more experience. After these few days of recuperation, if we had to fight the bandits again, I would feel significantly more confident. In terms of physique, the bandits are not particularly tall; in terms of blade sharpness, their sabers are no longer faster than ours; in ground combat tactics, they cannot match the formations of the Twin City soldiers. Their only advantage lies in their warhorses, but if our Cavalry Camp continues to expand, this sole advantage will vanish. Through captured spoils from several battles, the number of horses in the Cavalry Camp has reached over two thousand, but compared to the forty thousand bandits remaining, this number is insignificant.

Around noon, the storm subsided, and the rain lessened. After lunch, it became a fine drizzle, causing many who had been lying low to emerge. Among them was Danshi. He had been stranded by the storm and temporarily unable to return to Twin City. He had considered hitching a ride on an airship for a thrill, but before he could even propose the idea, Ma Xiaoda had rejected it. Airships were off-limits to virtually everyone except individuals of the utmost importance, unless they were racing back to face execution.

Lately, Danshi had been engaged in internal conflict; Bai Shi’s words were like a thorn lodged deep in his heart, and the image of Zhang Guan’s pulverized remains haunted his mind. The personal guard walking beside him, noticing his commander’s gloomy demeanor, tried to console him, "My Lord Commander, once the rain stops, we can return to Twin City, and you can enjoy the vibrant life again. What troubles you so?"

Danshi, clad in a straw raincoat and bamboo hat, looked outwardly indistinguishable from any other traveler, not revealing that he was the esteemed commander of the Imperial Guard.

"Vibrant life? I don't know if I can enjoy it anymore. You’d be troubled too if you were in my shoes."

The guard looked confused. "Why is that, My Lord Commander? I don’t understand your meaning."

Danshi replied, "My Royal Father’s marriage proposal to the Emperor has been successful. That makes me practically a prince consort. If rumors of my indiscretions with other women reach the Inner City, do you think I’ll live to enjoy anything?"

The guard nodded. "I forgot about that matter. However, for you to enjoy the beauty of the Fifteenth Princess, even if you must abstain from other women from now on, it’s entirely worth it. After all, in Twin City, besides the women belonging to Eunuch Zhao, only Madam Jin, the proprietor of the Black Beauty Seafood House, can rival the Fifteenth Princess’s goddess-like figure."

Danshi sneered, "Jin Meili is a rose with thorns. She’s from the Jin Kingdom, and the Eastern Depot and a group of ruffians protect her; better not provoke her if possible. As for the one surnamed Zhao, I truly cannot swallow this insult. Recently, he has been too close to the Fifteenth Princess. Damn it, it’s like he’s trying to seduce my woman. I cannot let this slide."

The guard said, "My Lord Commander, there are some things you might not know. Actually, many people know the Fifteenth Princess is very close to Eunuch Zhao. Back when the Huyang rebels, led by Wang, besieged the edge of Twin City and surrounded the Imperial Horse Guard, it was the Fifteenth Princess who, under the guise of an imperial decree, diverted the border reinforcements. Unfortunately, those reinforcements were lackluster, leading to the death of the commanding marshal at the time, and Marshal Zhang Guan was also implicated. Afterward, Eunuch Zhao took the blame for the Fifteenth Princess, leading over ten thousand troops to suppress the Huyang rebels, risking his life. But that fellow has a tough life; tens of thousands of rebels couldn't kill him. Instead, he achieved a great victory, incorporating one hundred thousand foreign troops for the court, earning high praise from the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Later, rumors circulated in the palace that by the Moon Sea in the Imperial Garden, Eunuch Zhao saved the lives of three princesses in a row, kissed the Sixteenth Princess, and even placed his hand on the Fifteenth Princess's chest, pressing and kneading..."

"Stop!" Danshi’s face changed dramatically.

"That Zhao! I, Danshi, swear eternal enmity with you! First, you stole Xiao Yu'er from me, a matter I dropped after listening to my Royal Father and Uncle Prince Chi. Now, you dare to target my Princess? Are you even human? Damn it, must every beautiful woman in the world belong to you to use?!"

The guard quickly tried to placate him, "My Lord Commander, please calm your anger! There are many ears around; do not let outsiders overhear such words."

Danshi strode toward a secluded spot on the city wall. The guard's words stoked his indignation. Recalling the male silhouette he had seen that night, it somewhat resembled Eunuch Zhao. Thinking of him pressing and kneading Ma Xiaowei’s chest by the Moon Sea exactly as the guard described, thinking of him sitting comfortably on his saddle while Ma Xiaowei blew him, his hand reaching inside her clothing to grope wantonly... Danshi felt a wave of nausea. He needed a place to vent his fury and curse that man thoroughly.

Danshi finally found an unoccupied area and vented his frustration by kicking and cursing. Then, he began to seriously consider exactly who the man was with whom Ma Xiaowei was having an affair. Thinking it over now, the man must be someone who could enter the palace easily, possess immense power, and have sufficient charisma to make Ma Xiaowei submit, willing to do such things for him. This man had to be him!

Once, twice, and a third time—this could not be tolerated. The two of them must have slept together; otherwise, they would not have reached such an intimate level. He was foolishly eager for his father to propose marriage, believing he was acquiring a treasure when he was actually picking up someone else's leavings, while green grass should be sprouting from his own head.

But how could he fight him? Zhao’s influence was currently sky-high; the Crown Prince favored him, and the Emperor relied on him. Even the entire assembly of court officials dared not speak out against him carelessly now, lest he throw down his tools, and who would defend the border? If the bandits reached Twin City, everyone would likely perish.

"My Lord Commander, you must devise a plan to win back the Fifteenth Princess. It is a true pity for such a lovely woman to be out of your arms," the guard suggested.

Danshi said resentfully, "That shameless wretch steals one beauty after another, and now he has targeted my Fifteenth Princess. Yet, I cannot think of a single way to counter him. In a direct fight, can we beat him? In cunning, that fellow secretly cultivates his power while flattering Grand Tutor Pang—can we outmaneuver him? In terms of looks or talent, perhaps that lad Zhang Guan could match him, but I know myself too well: I am definitely not his match. What should I do?"

The guard was also troubled. Zhang Guan was indeed promising, handsome, and suave, but what good did it do him? He offended Zhao’s woman and suffered a fate where he couldn't even keep his corpse whole.

Even Danshi himself was starting to have doubts. It seemed not that the Emperor’s daughters were jinxed to bring misfortune to their husbands, but that this damned bastard had too strong a life force—anyone who vied for his women met a grim end. He recalled how he nearly died from a stray arrow just because the Fifteenth Princess gave him a playful scoff; the memory still made him break out in a cold sweat today.

"My Lord Commander, I think the best course is to kill with a borrowed knife," the guard finally proposed a strategy.

"Speak, how do we borrow a knife to kill?" Danshi asked.

The guard replied, "For now, we cannot challenge him openly. First, the Inner Eight Princes would never agree, and even if we fought, we are no match for him. But we can gather evidence and present it to the Emperor to see him executed!"

"Execute him?" Danshi questioned.

"Exactly! A grave offense like illicit relations with the Princess, if it reaches the Emperor's ears, what do you think the result will be? The Emperor despises such licentious behavior most of all. Will he let him off lightly then? Moreover, during these past few days staying at the Marshal's residence, I discovered a secret."

"A secret? Tell me quickly! Why didn't I notice it?" Danshi asked anxiously.

The guard explained, "Because your focus was too obvious. When you were present, they were exceptionally cautious. But I am merely an insignificant nobody, entirely overlooked. Several times, I overheard him speaking a strange language to that beautiful woman, Yun Yao. From this, we can deduce that this Eunuch Zhao is definitely not from Gourd Village in Flying Fish County, Flying Eagle Prefecture, of our Twin City Nation."

Danshi frowned. "That point alone might not serve as evidence. I heard the Emperor knows he comes from a distant, different place."

The guard persisted, "Even if the Emperor knows, it makes no difference. The Emperor currently disregards that background because we haven't presented evidence. If we find proof that he is hoarding military power, plotting to declare himself king and establish a new court, do you think the Emperor will continue to rely on him?"

"That’s right!" Danshi exclaimed. "The Crown Prince is young, and although the Emperor intends to find reliable advisors for him, appointing an outsider is always inappropriate. If we gather evidence of his treason, we won't fear the Emperor losing favor with him. Then, we'll see how arrogant he can be! Without the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Horse Guard, what basis does he have to compete with me for the Fifteenth Princess? Furthermore, he already has a wife; the Fifteenth Princess's marriage to him is absolutely impossible! I must report this to the Emperor. He seduced my fiancée—I will not rest until justice is served!"

The guard licked his lips. "Then let us begin gathering evidence now. It would be best to bribe those closest to him; that way, even a false accusation can be made to look real."

Danshi ran through the shadows of individuals in his mind. "His personal guards were recently replaced. If anyone has been with him the longest and knows everything about him, it must be that young girl, Linglong."

The guard licked his lips again. "Don't mention it, even that thirteen-year-old girl is quite fetching. That old lecher certainly has an eye for women."

Danshi kicked the guard. "What are you thinking about? I need you to help me strategize, not fantasize about women!"

The guard hastily composed himself. "Yes, yes, My Lord Commander, I lost focus."

Danshi continued, "Although that little girl is a beauty in the making, she is still just a child who knows nothing of romance. Her weakness will be the easiest to exploit. If we fail with her, we’ll try other routes. We can claim we are investigating on the Emperor's orders. Even if she reports it to Eunuch Zhao, he won't be able to touch me."

The guard gave a thumbs-up. "My Lord Commander is brilliant. However, it would be best if she doesn't realize what we are doing. If the Crown Prince truly brings this matter before the Emperor, I fear you might have trouble handling it."

"I naturally understand that. Come, let's go find her."

A temporary tent was erected at the base of the city wall. The tent was tattered on all four sides from the wind, with only the top remaining intact. A dozen or so soldiers huddled around a bonfire, drying their damp clothes. Soldier A spoke, "Huang Da, I heard you and Huang Er got a lot of reward money—is that true?"

Brother Huang Da, who had played the role of the bandit leader on the battlefield, chuckled mysteriously without answering. Soldier A turned to Huang Er, "Hey, are you two afraid we'll steal it from you? You won't even fart. You guys are really disappointing."

Younger Brother Huang Er replied, "Everyone in our Thousand-Household Unit knows about this; it can't be kept secret. My brother and I each

"Don't you dare disbelieve it. Why is it that everyone else is fine, but only Zhang Guan, trailing behind, falls off the carriage, and the horse keeps trampling over him? I'm telling you, it's because his fate is cursed by the Heavens. You all don't know, Lord Zhao was once known as the Bird God; he's the Bird God and Fire God incarnate. If an ordinary mortal clashes with him, there’s only death waiting. As for the Grand Imperial Guard Commander, he knew full well that our Lord Zhao fancies the Fifteenth Princess, yet he dared to propose marriage in front of the Emperor. Look at him, sickly as a dying ember; he won't last a few more days. Just wait and see if I’m wrong."

"Hush! Don't speak nonsense! If others overhear some things, it will be detrimental to the Lord!" Someone immediately stopped them upon spotting a straw-cloaked figure lurking nearby, leaning sideways to eavesdrop.

Dan Shi had vaguely heard whispers about Zhang Guan having his limbs cut off, then talk of his fate being cursed, and finally hearing himself dragged into the conversation. He had to halt his steps, intending to listen more closely, but this movement was quickly noticed by the soldiers.

Dan Shi was momentarily furious. After all, no one wants to hear curses predicting their older brother’s imminent demise. He stepped forward a few paces and said coldly, "You few are utterly spewing nonsense! I have seen Commander Dan; his features suggest great wealth and a long life. It is you lot who have the look of short-lived men."

The soldiers, seeing the intruder as nothing more than a commoner in disguise, immediately crowded around, fists clenched.

"Hey brat, you're pretty bold, aren't you? Since we became soldiers, we never cared much about our lives. But looking at how you shrink back, are you perhaps a turtle?"

Although Dan Shi hadn't heard the soldiers' entire conversation, he now knew Zhang Guan’s death had another cause. Zhang Guan wasn't maimed by bandits; he was cut down by his own people! Furthermore, from these soldiers, he confirmed the affair between the Fifteenth Princess and Supervisor Zhao. In that instant, anger and elation surged through Dan Shi. The anger stemmed from the Princess being cuckolded before she was even formally taken; the joy was that he seemed to have found evidence to overthrow that utterly villainous thief—the affair with the Princess was one charge, but the unauthorized use of private punishment to kill a Marshal on the front lines was an even greater crime.

"How dare you curse me? Do you know who the hell I am?" Dan Shi roared in anger, completely forgetting his own attire. His personal guard, though dressed in the Grand Imperial Guard uniform, had been sent ahead so he could eavesdrop unnoticed.

The soldiers busy warming their clothes were also enraged. "Who the hell are you, some mongrel that crawled out from nowhere? It's one thing to eavesdrop on our talk, but you dare to bite like a dog! Which of us offended you, man?"

Slap! Dan Shi was a minor prince, and currently, the legitimate Commander of the Grand Imperial Guards. These low-ranking soldiers dared to call him a mongrel? He lunged forward and slapped one of them across the face.

The other soldiers, seeing their comrade bullied, immediately swarmed him. These men lived on the edge of a blade and naturally had short tempers. Though there were the Three Great Disciplines and Eight Points to Observe, the rules didn't specify enduring slaps and insults without retaliation. Since the other party struck first, they completely forgot the prohibition against fighting civilians and lifted Dan Shi to the ground, savagely beating him.

Their blows were not weak and feeble like Dan Shi's; a single kick from a beast-hide boot was enough to leave him gasping for two minutes. In just a short while, Dan Shi was beaten so badly he was breathing but not inhaling, utterly winded. He still managed to mutter weakly,

"I am the Commander of the Grand Imperial Guards! If you beat me, you don't want to live anymore! I will report you to the Emperor!"

The personal guard, seeing his master lagging behind, turned back to search for him. He spotted his master’s bamboo hat near the city wall and then, looking down at the edge of the city where a man with half his face exposed was being brutally beaten, realized it was none other than Commander Dan! He cried out and ran over.

"Stop! Stop! How dare you, audacious lackeys, beat Commander Dan! Are you attempting treason?"

Someone had overheard Dan Shi muttering, and when a Grand Imperial Guard suddenly rushed over, they became even more certain that this fellow had high standing. The men exchanged meaningful glances and, with a loud rush, scattered in all directions. When the personal guard reached Dan Shi, the area around them was empty, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Commander, how could they strike you? Didn't you tell them your identity?" the personal guard asked while helping Dan Shi up.

Dan Shi stood up unsteadily. "I did, but they wouldn't listen! I will report them to the Emperor! Supervisor Zhao secretly consorted with the Princess and abused his authority by enacting private executions! After all my hardship and injury, I finally uncovered this matter for the Emperor! I will have them all executed! Oh, did you see what they looked like? Help me identify them later."

The personal guard was aghast. "Commander, you sent me away early! By the time I returned, they had already dispersed. How could I possibly know what they looked like?"

Dan Shi wiped the blood from his nose. "Ah, that's bad. They all looked pretty much the same, and that cursed bamboo hat obscured my view. What shall we do? I wanted them to help testify against that villainous Supervisor Zhao and clear Zhang Guan's name."

The personal guard sighed helplessly. "They must be the garrison troops stationed in Black Dragon County. We'll find them if we search slowly enough."

Dan Shi looked at the sky. "But what if the rain stops and the sky clears? They will set off immediately to continue guarding the border. Can we follow them and check through twenty thousand men, one by one? I fear that after a major battle, it’s questionable if any of them will even be alive."

The personal guard admitted, "That is indeed difficult."

Dan Shi gritted his teeth. "Damn it, I’ll record this score for now. They will pay one day! From what I overheard, anyone who messes with that woman surnamed Zhao doesn't end well. This whole thing is quite bizarre. The day the Fifteenth Princess gave me a bit of a kind look, I was nearly shot dead by an arrow. Today, before I even did anything substantial, I was beaten up for no reason. Half my life force seems to have drained away. They hit really hard. Is that fellow truly so resilient? Even I, a dignified minor prince, cannot suppress him?"

"Commander, I suggest you see a doctor immediately. Your injuries are not light; if you suffer any lingering effects, it will be a great problem. The state has important matters requiring your attention."

Suddenly, a surge of spirit filled Dan Shi. "Indeed, I cannot fail! I must bring down that Zhao fellow! I refuse to believe I will always be suppressed by him. Let's go; we need to gather evidence against him."

All official matters were concluded. Since the storm hadn't stopped, military deployment was impossible. Thus, I spent my days simply fooling around with Yun Yao and Hua Qingqing. Hua Qingqing had arrived from Flying Dragon Manor; there were too many wounded soldiers, and she was needed to guide the accompanying physicians.

One afternoon, when the wind had died down and the rain had softened, Hua Qingqing and Yun Yao returned to their rooms for a nap. They had been up late the previous night and were exhausted, needing a midday rest. Taking this opportunity, I quietly slipped into Ma Xiaowei's private chambers. She was staring blankly out the window. Hearing footsteps, she turned to look.

"Zhao Qian, the rain is stopping. Are you preparing to lead the troops to Flying Eagle Prefecture? It's not that I'm anxious, but I fear the longer the delay, the greater the advantage to the bandits."

I sat down on the chair beside Ma Xiaowei's bed. "The weather hasn't cleared. If it remains gloomy like this, who knows if another heavy rain will fall? Moreover, the intensity of the rain over the past two days has caused roads to wash out, making travel conditions unsuitable."

Ma Xiaowei knew I had already made up my mind, so she dropped the subject. She walked behind me and said, "You didn't come to keep me company last night. Tell me, what were you doing?"

I laughed. "Of course, I was keeping my two wives company. You were the one who said I shouldn't tell them about you yet, otherwise, you could have joined us."

Ma Xiaowei knew she was deceiving herself. With Yun Yao around daily, how could she not know about the matter between us? But she was a Princess with a delicate sense of propriety; she was unwilling to openly reveal that relationship before the Emperor issued a decree.

"I won't play games with you. I don't know what Sister Qingqing is thinking. Didn't you say she previously refused the custom of two women serving one husband? She wouldn't even accept Sister Xiaorou joining."

I said, "Circumstances change a person. Perhaps the environment here is different, coupled with the fierce storm last night. If I accompanied Yun Yao, I couldn't accompany her, and if I accompanied her, I couldn't accompany Yun Yao. In the end, she half-reluctantly let me hold her close to Yun Yao’s side."

"Was it very comfortable?" Ma Xiaowei asked, kneeling halfway before me, tilting her small head.

I nodded. She then asked, "Was it exhilarating? More exhilarating than when you do it with me?"

I nodded again.

"Both are exhilarating; each has its unique flavor. I enjoy your differing personalities and methods of intimacy."

Ma Xiaowei huffed. "Then did you ever consider if I was frightened last night?"

I pulled Ma Xiaowei's head into my embrace. "Then join them. It saves any squabbling. I can't split myself, you know. Sharing the same room might actually feel more stimulating."

Ma Xiaowei laughed and slipped out of my grasp. She pulled a letter from under her pillow. "Here, this is from my sixteenth younger sister. Read it if you want. I don't know what you men are thinking; you always seek thrills."

Ma Xiaowei sat on the

Danishi, seeing Linglong consumed by her anger and offering no reply, took her silence as assent and continued, "Miss Linglong, I am willing to help you with this matter. Provided you actively cooperate with me when the time comes, I guarantee you will see him weep."

Linglong assumed Danishi was merely trying to curry favor with her; such attempts were commonplace in her daily life. Though her initial instinct was to punish him, when the moment arrived, she found herself utterly unable to harshly reprimand him or bear the thought of him suffering the slightest grievance.

"Forget it. Don't involve yourself in this," she said. "I have my own plans."

Danishi, however, was not ready to give up.

"Don't say that, Miss Linglong. You certainly can't succeed alone. Only if I speak to the Emperor frequently on your behalf will we have any chance of success."

Linglong suspected Danishi intended to report her to the Emperor regarding him and the two princesses—she was already furious with the princesses.

"Do as you wish. I have no time for your chatter."

Linglong turned and walked away. Danishi still called out after her with lingering worry, "Miss Linglong, when the time comes, you must present his transgressions to the Emperor. Our success hinges entirely on that!"