Chapter 338: Princess Xiangyang

Chapter 338: Princess Xiangyang

"Without this misunderstanding, the Jin army would not have gained such a talented general as you."

Qin Xiaoyao gave an awkward smile and remained silent.

"Have you found the person yet?" Empress Jia suddenly asked.

"Not yet. However, Prince Huaiyin has already issued orders to help me find the person. He said there should be news soon," Qin Xiaoyao replied truthfully.

Although she also wanted Empress Jia's help to find the person, thinking it might be faster, she was somewhat reluctant.

She wanted to keep her distance from the Empress and avoid owing her any favors.

Her intuition told her that getting too involved with the Empress would not end well.

Moreover, her husband had a grudge against her.

If the Empress, who wasn't paying attention to her husband, started to do so, she might uncover his identity, causing more trouble.

Empress Jia glanced at Qin Xiaoyao but did not press the matter.

"In that case, just wait and see," she responded.

Then, Empress Jia turned to look at the Emperor.

"We've been talking for quite some time. Your Majesty, why don't you let Minister Qin demonstrate his martial skills? I would love to see them as well," she said with a hint of coquettishness.

The Emperor found this suggestion very pleasing.

Everyone's gaze immediately turned to Qin Xiaoyao.

“Minister Qin—” the emperor called out.

“As you command, Your Majesty.” Qin Xiaoyao rose and clasped her fist in response.

She then scanned the area with her eyes.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, may I gather a few leaves?”

“Do as you see fit, Minister.” The emperor, though puzzled, nodded in agreement.

Qin Xiaoyao then went to a nearby tree and plucked a few leaves.

“What a pity to spoil such a beautiful spring day, but I must do so.” After returning to her place, Qin Xiaoyao bowed to the emperor and empress before speaking.

The emperor watched Qin Xiaoyao with curiosity. “Ha ha, go ahead, Minister.” He gave his permission generously.

Empress Jia nodded in agreement from beside him.

Qin Xiaoyao then turned around.

She channeled her powers into the leaves she had plucked.

Then, she launched the leaves toward a nearby cluster of blooming peonies.

In an instant, the peonies were cut cleanly from their stems and fell to the ground in unison.

The emperor stared in disbelief.

Empress Jia stood up in surprise.

"Excellent! Wonderful!"

"General Qin is truly the greatest warrior of our Great Jin!" At that moment, a clear voice suddenly came from the pavilion behind them.

Qin Xiaoyao followed the sound and saw a bright and beautiful young girl dressed in pale yellow clothes clapping her hands as she walked toward them.

Qin Xiaoyao was puzzled about the girl's identity.

Empress Jia and the emperor exchanged a knowing glance with smiles, then looked toward Qin Xiaoyao.

"This is my youngest daughter, Xiangyang," introduced Empress Jia.

Qin Xiaoyao quickly bowed.

"I greet you, Princess Xiangyang."

"General Qin, please don't be so formal!" Princess Xiangyang swiftly walked up to Qin Xiaoyao.

"A leaf is so fragile, yet General Qin can use them as flying daggers to sever the branches of the peonies. Xiangyang is truly impressed!"

"Just a trivial skill, Princess flatters me," replied Qin Xiaoyao.

She indeed hadn't used her full strength.

Otherwise, those flying leaves could sever not just the peony branches but even take a life.

"General Qin is too modest!"

"Xiangyang has heard people mention that some martial heroes of the jianghu can injure others with a plucked leaf, but I've never had the chance to witness it. Today, I've finally seen it!" Princess Xiangyang looked at Qin Xiaoyao with admiration.

Qin Xiaoyao felt a bit overwhelmed by Xiangyang's intense gaze.

"Ha ha, that's enough, Xiangyang," it was Empress Jia who spoke again.

"General Qin, my little daughter doesn't like the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she loves swords and spears."

"After hearing about your exploits, she's been begging us to introduce her to you."

"I hope you don't mind."

"Your Majesty flatters me. It's an honor to be held in such high regard by the princess," Qin Xiaoyao bowed.

Empress Jia glanced at her daughter and, seeing the admiration in her eyes, felt a bit helpless.

If she didn't know Qin Xiaoyao was a woman, she might have thought something else entirely.

"The emperor and I were thinking of asking you to take Xiangyang as your disciple. That way, she can learn some real skills, and we'll be at ease. General Qin, what do you think?" Empress Jia added.

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiangyang's gaze toward Qin Xiaoyao became even more fervent.

Qin Xiaoyao's expression stiffened slightly.

"Teacher, please accept me as your disciple! I promise to train hard and not disgrace your name!" Princess Xiangyang had already grabbed Qin Xiaoyao's arm and shook it slightly in a coquettish manner.

"Very well, I will accept," Qin Xiaoyao finally agreed.

Though just a princess, Xiangyang was the apple of the emperor and empress's eye.

Now that Empress Jia intends to curry favor with me by making me Princess Xiangyang's mentor, her intention is quite obvious.

But it's fine like this. Since Empress Jia is trying to win me over, she probably won’t move against me in the near future.

However, I hope the King of Huaiyin doesn’t read too much into this.

"Giggling, ‘This is great! Master, please accept your disciple’s bow!’" Princess Xiangyang's eyes sparkled with excitement as she bowed to Qin Xiaoyao.

Qin Xiaoyao quickly helped her up.

"Princess, this is too much! You’re going to make me feel uncomfortable!"

"No problem! Since Xiangyang has chosen you as her master, you deserve this respect!" Empress Jia said with a smile.

She then gave them time to talk.

Princess Xiangyang, being lively by nature and now Qin Xiaoyao's disciple, chattered away with Qin Xiaoyao.

She asked how Qin Xiaoyao had captured the bandit chief in Lingquan Town and killed the second-in-command.

She also asked how Qin Xiaoyao had killed Xiao Tu and Xiao Yuan.

Even though she had already heard about these accomplishments, she wanted to hear them straight from Qin Xiaoyao.

While Qin Xiaoyao’s account differed slightly from what she had heard, the overall story was similar.

Qin Xiaoyao also shared her own insights and thoughts on the situations, which only made Princess Xiangyang more enthusiastic.

"Master, you are truly a role model for women of our Great Jin! When you lead troops into battle, how about you take me with you? I also want to fight on the battlefield and make contributions to our Great Jin like you!" Princess Xiangyang's eyes gleamed with excitement.

As a princess, the throne was out of her reach, and she had no interest in it either.

As for marriage and becoming a woman of the inner court, she was even less interested.

She also wanted to make contributions and leave a legacy in history, just like her master, and become a different kind of Great Jin princess!

"The battlefield is no place for amateurs. Weapons don’t discriminate, and it’s not something you should get involved in, young one." The emperor suddenly interjected, his gaze filled with both affection and concern.

Empress Jia's attitude was different.

"Going to the battlefield is not impossible. However, with your basic skills, it’s far from enough."

"If you want to follow Minister Qin into battle, you should at least have a fraction of her skills, wouldn’t you say?" Empress Jia said with a smile.

She then looked towards Qin Xiaoyao.

"Since Xiangyang has this ambition, I'll have to trouble Minister Qin to take extra care."

"If she truly has the capability, I'll let her go and fulfill her ambitions!"