Chapter 162: The Old Flutters Are Gone

Chapter 162: The Old Thrill Was Gone

All of Nanshuo city, thanks to the combined efforts of the soldiers brought by Xiao Lingchuan and the surviving civilians, gradually came back to life.

They cleared away the collapsed houses, repaired the broken city walls, and swept the streets clean.

The soldiers Xiao Lingchuan had brought were no longer just border guards; they became a vital force in Nanshuo’s reconstruction, hauling stone, repairing dwellings, and reclaiming wasteland. Their sweat soaked into this once-devastated land, nurturing new hope.

What comforted Jiang Shuning the most, however, was how Xia Yan had changed.

Xiao Lingchuan, maybe because he saw Xia Yan was a fighter, or simply wanted someone to share military duties, actually put a squad of soldiers under her command.

Grabbing this chance, Xia Yan was like a fish returning to water—she came alive completely.

Every day, she drilled her soldiers on the open ground outside the city, their shouts ringing out.

At first, the soldiers weren't convinced, seeing her slim build and new face, and often tried to pick a fight.

“Hey, this 'Little General,' all soft and delicate—can she really lead us in battle? Remember, Nanshuo often faces provocations from Nanyue’s enemy troops. Don't piss your pants in fear!” a burly soldier sneered, drawing a burst of laughter.

Xia Yan didn't get mad. She just shot him a cold look, casually pulled an arrow from her quiver, and without even putting it on the bowstring, snapped her wrist. The arrow flew with a “whoosh,” sticking deep into a tree trunk a hundred paces away, the feathers still shaking.

“Anyone who's not sure, step up and fight me,” Xia Yan said, her voice clear and sharp, with an authority you couldn't ignore.

The soldiers stood there, stunned.

How strong did you have to be to do that?

From then on, they didn't dare underestimate this seemingly gentle “General Xia” anymore.

They had no idea that this “Little General” was not only a martial arts expert but also a woman.

Since she wore her hair in a man's topknot every day, dressed in the same tough gear as the soldiers, and purposely deepened her voice, no one saw through her act. They all called her “General Xia,” and a lot of young soldiers looked up to her, always bugging her to spar.

A few days back, a small group of Nanyue enemy soldiers, not ready to give up, tried a sneak attack at night from the back hills, hoping to steal some grain.

Xia Yan led her soldiers and used rocks and logs to beat the Nanyue troops back, without losing a single person.

This made Xia Yan even more respected in the army.

She kept busy every day drilling soldiers, checking defenses, and studying battle formations, so much that she totally forgot about the Second Prince.

It wasn't until a few days ago that the Second Prince, Xiao Jinyu, came looking for her, saying he wanted to spar with her.

At the time, Xia Yan was teaching soldiers spear techniques on the training field. When she saw Xiao Jinyu show up, she just nodded a little to say hi.

Her heart was calm, no ripples at all—the old excitement she felt in the capital was gone.

“Brother Xia, I hear your skills have gotten a lot better. How about we go a few rounds? It'll help me loosen up,” Xiao Jinyu said with a smile.

Xia Yan stuck her long spear into the ground and answered simply, “Sure, Your Highness, go ahead.”

The two went back and forth for dozens of moves.

Xia Yan's moves were fierce, balanced in attack and defense, and she didn't fall behind at all.

Xiao Jinyu, on the other hand, maybe because he'd been sick, seemed to struggle a bit.

Finally, with a clever fake-out, Xia Yan lightly tapped the tip of her spear on Xiao Jinyu's shoulder.

“Your Highness, I concede,” Xia Yan said, pulling back her spear and standing straight. Her voice was calm, with no pride or the old nervousness.

Xiao Jinyu paused, then smiled and said, “Brother Xia is really something. I admit defeat.”

He looked at Xia Yan's lively face, his eyes full of admiration.

Jiang Shuning, watching from a distance, couldn't help but smile, feeling relieved.

Xia Yan had really moved on.

Even if the Second Prince got married later, she'd definitely handle it calmly.

As Nanshuo slowly got better—patients getting treated on time, the city being rebuilt—Jiang Shuning had no idea that far away in the capital's Chancellor's mansion, Jiang Tianze was sick with worry over her.

“Uncle! Big Sister went to visit relatives in Xuzhou—why hasn't she returned yet? It's been over a month! Could something have happened?”

Jiang Tianze barged into Chancellor Jiang's study every few days, asking the same question over and over.

Chancellor Jiang, annoyed by his persistence but unable to tell the truth, could only brush him off: “Perhaps she got along well with the relatives in Xuzhou and decided to stay a while longer. Focus on your studies and stop worrying about such things.”

Jiang Tianze didn't believe a word.

Xuzhou only had a few distant relatives, with whom they rarely interacted. What relative could make Big Sister linger for over a month?

He felt Chancellor Jiang was hiding something, and his unease grew stronger.

That night, unable to sleep, Jiang Tianze got up and quietly sneaked into Chancellor Jiang's study.

By the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he searched the study carefully.

Suddenly, he spotted a new letter on the desk, as if just received.

He pulled out the letter and unfolded it. Familiar, delicate handwriting met his eyes—it was Big Sister Jiang Shuning's handwriting!

Jiang Tianze eagerly read on.

In the letter, Jiang Shuning first reported to her father that she was safe and well, asking him not to worry.

Then she mentioned that Nanshuo was being rebuilt, the disaster caused by Nanyue's venomous cats was under control, and the poisoned patients were receiving proper treatment. Everything was improving.

She estimated that in another month, she would return to the capital with the army.

“Nanshuo…”

The blood in his veins seemed to freeze in that instant.

Big Sister had gone to such a dangerous place!

Jiang Shuning wouldn't return for another month—how could Jiang Tianze wait?

A day apart felt like three autumns; his longing for Jiang Shuning had driven him to madness.

The next day, he lied to Third Madam Jiang and Chancellor Jiang, saying he needed to focus on his studies in seclusion at Lishan Academy for a month or two. After gaining their consent, he packed his belongings, mounted a fast horse, and headed toward Nanshuo.

Without a travel permit, he couldn't take the main roads, so he traveled through wilderness and forests all the way south.

Fortunately, he had been skilled in making poisons since childhood, and the toxins he carried kept wild beasts and snakes at bay.

Along the way, he encountered two bandits who, seeing he was a youth, tried to rob him. Instead, he subdued them, stripped them of their belongings, and poisoned them to death.

“Consider it ridding the world of pests!” he sneered at their corpses.

Then he rode on without rest, traveling day and night, finally arriving at Nanshuo just as the first snow of early winter fell.

Looking up at the characters “Nanshuo” on the city gate, a smile curled at the corner of his lips: “Big Sister, I'm here!”

The next moment, he collapsed unconscious at the city gate…