Chapter 127: A Fight Breaks Out
When Han Xing arrived, she saw Jinsui alone and at ease with her horse, and urgently asked, “Where are Miss Yan and Lord Gu?”
Jinsui casually pointed, “They went hunting for fire foxes.”
Han Xing was greatly alarmed, “They went alone? That’s not good!”
Jinsui chuckled, “What are you rushing for? Are you afraid they’ll fight?”
Han Xing couldn’t mention that Miss Yan had been peeking that morning, and Miss Yan was full of anger towards Lord Gu!
Lord Gu was indifferent to everyone except the Prince, and he and Miss Yan had disliked each other for a long time.
Both of them were armed now! How could the Prince be so careless as to let them be alone together?
She hurriedly said, “This subordinate believes there are many misunderstandings between Miss Yan and Lord Gu, and it might not be safe for them to be alone. I will go after them.”
Jinsui quickly stopped her, “Wait, I finally created an opportunity for them to be alone, don’t disturb it!”
Han Xing was stunned, “What does the Prince mean by that?”
Jinsui chuckled like an old matchmaker, “Don’t you think Lord Gu and Miss Yan, a talented man and a beautiful woman, are a good match?
They say men are most attractive to women in the hunting grounds. Lord Gu is skilled with a bow, perhaps Miss Yan will be smitten when she sees his heroic posture while hunting!”
Han Xing’s face turned pale, and she quickly lowered her eyes to hide her panic, whispering:
“Lord Gu is only a Seventh Rank Imperial Guard, and even a personal guard of the Prince, he is not worthy of the Yan Family’s eldest daughter. This action by the Prince will anger the Yan Family Head.”
Jinsui was fantasizing, imagining Lord Gu and Miss Yan falling for each other, and what benefits she, as the matchmaker, would receive.
However, she heard something amiss from Han Xing’s words. She never expected that Captain Han, who looked so upright and majestic, handsome, and skilled in martial arts, would be so insecure inside!
That’s right, it was insecurity. He was talking about Lord Gu’s status, but it was also about himself.
A Seventh Rank Imperial Guard is not worthy of the Yan Family’s eldest daughter, then he, an Eighth Rank Captain, is even less worthy of a woman of noble status.
This time, Jinsui had to give Captain Han a good lesson. She immediately stood up and said, “Captain Han, what you said is wrong.”
Han Xing quickly lowered her hands and listened respectfully. Jinsui continued, “Since ancient times, it has been said, ‘Do princes and generals have a seed?’ Although the world divides people into ranks, we should not look down on ourselves!”
“What does it matter if you are an Eighth Rank Captain or a Seventh Rank Imperial Guard? Have you defined your future like this? Who knows if you will be enfeoffed as a marquis or appointed as a general in the future?”
“If others look down on us, it is because they are blind. We must not look down on ourselves.”
“What about the Yan Family’s eldest daughter? As long as you like her, even if she is a Princess, we must strive to win her! Instead of denying ourselves first.”
“You have also seen with your own eyes that the Zheng Family is also a noble family of a hundred years, but they are all useless fools who destroyed their own family overnight.”
“Even for the Royal Family, dynastic changes are common. Birth is determined by heaven, we cannot choose it, but we can choose our efforts after birth!”
“I will not allow you to say such things about being worthy or unworthy anymore. All my subordinates are elites, worthy of any woman in the world!”
Han Xing looked up at the Prince, feeling a surge of excitement from his words, and also felt that their Prince was truly unique in the world.
He always seemed so confident, whether it was demanding people and supplies from Jiang Nansheng with just a few men, arriving at the border city with nothing, or daring to offend the Zheng Family to death.
Or daring to confront the Tartars head-on with only a few thousand border soldiers.
If you say he’s bragging, he does it without any psychological burden, as if in his perception, it’s a fact and not bragging at all.
Once he sets his mind on something, no matter how difficult, he will charge through to the end.
A fierce tiger has no ravines before it.
What the Prince said to Yan Shiyi Lang was also his true reflection.
Following such a master, even his subordinates felt that all the difficulties in the world became easier.
But this idea applies to external enemies, not to women and emotions!
He was thinking about how to persuade the Prince not to arbitrarily play matchmaker for Miss Yan, as it would offend the Yan Family.
Just then, he heard Miss Yan’s startled cry from not far away: “You audacious scoundrel, get lost!” followed by the sound of rapid whip cracking.
Jinsui and Han Xing exchanged glances, then rushed towards the source of the sound, shouting as they ran, “Don’t fight, don’t fight!”
Jinsui panted and said to Han Xing, “You, you were right, they really will fight.”
Han Xing’s head was spinning, what was this all about!
When the two of them ran into the forest, they saw Miss Yan wielding her whip like a storm, constantly lashing at Gu Changxiao.
Gu Changxiao did not use a weapon, but he did not yield to Miss Yan either. As soon as he grabbed the whip, he yanked it hard, throwing Miss Yan to the ground.
Unlike Han Xing and Miss Yan’s fighting style, Han Xing only defended and would never hurt Miss Yan.
But Gu Changxiao seemed to want her to admit defeat herself. Each time he threw her down, he would let go. Yet Miss Yan was stubborn, she would get up after falling and continue to attack, only to fall again…
When Jinsui and Han Xing arrived, she was already covered in mud and dry grass on her head and face, her eyes full of rage, and the whip in her hand was swung at Gu Changxiao like a sword.
There were two arrows near Gu Changxiao, and further away was a bow and arrows cut in half by a knife.
It seemed Miss Yan had already shot arrows at Gu Changxiao, but it was unsuccessful, and her bow was cut in half by him, so she started fighting with a long whip.
Jinsui broke out in a cold sweat. Whether Miss Yan had truly injured Gu Changxiao, or Gu Changxiao had injured Miss Yan, the border city would have completely made an enemy of the Yan Family!
She thought of Han Xing’s worry just now, she had been too naive!
She rushed forward and stood between them, “Stop!”
Miss Yan’s whip could not be retracted and was about to fall on Jinsui. Gu Changxiao suddenly stepped forward to protect her, and the whip landed squarely on his back.
At the same time, Han Xing also stepped forward and snatched the whip from Miss Yan’s hand, “Miss Yan, calm down!”
Miss Yan saw that she had hit the Prince, had her weapon taken away, and after fighting for so long, she hadn’t injured this Gu fellow at all, but instead made herself look disheveled.
She was both anxious, angry, and upset, stomping her feet and saying, “Prince, you must uphold justice for Twelve Niang, it was this vixen who attacked first!”
Jinsui: “…Vixen, vixen? Where? Who?”
Gu Changxiao: “Me!”
Jinsui almost burst out laughing. Seeing two fire foxes at Gu Changxiao’s feet, she kicked one of the fire foxes and said, “Miss Yan is talking about this, right?”
Gu Changxiao snorted, “She was scolding me.”
The situation at the time was that Gu Changxiao had shot two fire foxes in a row, and was thinking of using their pelts to make a hat for Daoist Ji, when he heard Miss Yan provocatively say:
“You hunt fire foxes so diligently, but in the end, the Prince will give them to me as clothes. Why not just surrender and save yourself the trouble.”
Gu Changxiao ignored her and continued looking for fire foxes. Just then, a third fire fox rushed out. They both shot arrows, but Miss Yan’s arrow hit Gu Changxiao’s arrow.
Both arrows shot into the grassland, and the fire fox quickly darted away.
Miss Yan mocked, “You are of the same kind, how can you kill each other.”
Gu Changxiao didn’t understand this remark. He felt that if he didn’t have a good talk with Miss Yan, she would keep causing trouble, and he wouldn’t have any peace today.
“What do you mean? Miss Yan, if you have something to say, just say it directly, why beat around the bush.”
Miss Yan snorted, “Don’t you understand? I’m calling you a vixen! These stinking foxes are your companions! Do you understand?”
Gu Changxiao: …
In my life, in Chang’an, I’ve been called a traitor who killed his father and usurped the throne, a treacherous official, and by enemies, a demon.
This is the first time I’ve been called a vixen! But isn’t vixen a term for women?
Seeing him feigning ignorance, Miss Yan put her hands on her hips, “Why are you pretending to be stupid with me? Your intentions towards the Prince are written all over your face!”
This statement greatly shocked Gu Changxiao. It was his biggest secret, a secret that could not be discovered by anyone, and Miss Yan had just revealed it.
He said urgently, “Don’t talk nonsense! The Prince is not someone you can slander!”
Miss Yan was not afraid of him and continued to scold, “Don’t think I can’t see it, you, a dignified man, are acting like a little vixen to seduce the Prince, a vixen!”
“Do you think someone like you can touch our Prince? You’d better leave quickly, if the Prince finds out, he will tear you into five pieces!”
Gu Changxiao was furious, “I’ve tolerated you for a long time! If you continue to talk nonsense, don’t blame me for laying hands on you, a woman!”
Miss Yan didn’t like hearing this, “What’s wrong with being a woman? If you have the ability, let’s compete. I think you can’t beat me, a woman, and you’re still bragging.”
Then the two of them started fighting. Miss Yan shot two arrows at Gu Changxiao first. Although Gu Changxiao was angry, he was still rational and did not truly injure Miss Yan.
He just pulled her off her horse and let her whip herself a few times.
When Jinsui and Han Xing ran over, they saw this scene.
Jinsui helped Miss Yan up first. Upon hearing that these two fire foxes were the cause of the trouble, she quickly said:
“Miss Yan, don’t cry. I apologize on his behalf. Tomorrow I will send ten fire fox pelts to the Yan Family for you to make clothes. Please calm down.”
Jinsui’s words were not helpful; instead, Miss Yan started crying, “I don’t want them! I want the Prince to drive away this vixen! He has ill intentions.”
She then pulled on Jinsui’s sleeve and cried, “Prince, although you, you cannot marry, you cannot be so reckless with such a vixen!”
“My Second Brother said that in Chang’an, you call this homosexual preference. But this is at the border city, Prince, please don’t be homosexual at the border city! Also, don’t be homosexual with this annoying fellow.”
Jinsui wished she could immediately grab Yan Shiyi and beat him up! What nonsense had he been telling Twelve Niang!
At this moment, she dared not look at Gu Changxiao’s expression. Being called a vixen and rumored to have homosexual preferences, any man would be furious.
It was generous of him not to have truly fought with Miss Yan.
She quickly comforted Miss Yan and said decisively, “Don’t listen to your Second Brother’s nonsense. You know he’s brainless! Both Gu Changxiao and I like women, we would never like men!”
As soon as these words were spoken, no one saw that Gu Changxiao’s face turned a shade paler.
Miss Yan was about to say that she had secretly seen Gu Changxiao touch the Prince’s face.
Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in the forest. Han Xing and Gu Changxiao said in unison, “Be careful!”
The two of them lunged forward. Gu Changxiao protected Jinsui, and Han Xing protected Miss Yan.
With a swing of their swords, several cold arrows were cut down.
Han Xing blew a whistle, and a Black Feather Army soldier rushed out, “Protect the Prince, capture the assassin!”
Jinsui said to Gu Changxiao, “It seems you underestimated their courage!”
She quickly went to pull Miss Yan, “It’s dangerous, let’s return to the city!”
Miss Yan had no intention of arguing about Gu Changxiao anymore and quickly pulled Jinsui, “Prince, let’s return to the city together!”
Jinsui shook her head, “We cannot lead them into the city. They must be annihilated here.”
As they spoke, Yan Family Bodyguards arrived. Jinsui said to Han Xing, “You escort Miss Yan back to Yanzhou City.”
Miss Yan said urgently, “I can also protect the Prince, I won’t be a burden to you.”
As she spoke, the sound of fighting came from the forest. Gu Changxiao said, “Quickly retreat to the fortress,” and leaped into the forest to fight the enemy.
Jinsui said sternly, “Miss Yan, please don’t be willful!”
Miss Yan’s expression immediately froze. The Prince had never spoken to her so sternly.
Allowing Han Xing to help her onto the horse, Jinsui knew that if she stayed with Miss Yan, it would only harm her.
She quickly led her personal guards away in another direction. In her haste, she didn’t notice that behind a rock not far away, Zheng Yun was pointing to a black-clothed man:
“It’s the young man next to the woman in red, wearing a dark red outer garment. Is that the Li King?”
The black-clothed man saw the young man’s face clearly and shook his head, “No!”
Zheng Yun was overjoyed, almost kneeling and laughing wildly. Fortunately, the black-clothed man reacted quickly and dragged him into hiding.
“Heaven helps me! Truly heaven helps me! I didn’t expect this villain to be so audacious as to impersonate the Li King!”
“Haha, Zheng Pengpeng, you are willing to be a dog for the fake Li King and make me a sinner of the Zheng Family. Just wait and see how I reclaim the position of Head of the Family!”
The black-clothed man said, “We must quickly report this news to the Imperial Commissioner.”
Zheng Yun nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, Li Heng has been bribed by this villain and dares not identify the villain’s true face. Only the Imperial Commissioner and Huo Imperial Guards can join forces to eliminate this villain and restore justice to my Zheng Family!”
Zheng Yun never expected that things could turn around like this. He thought he would have to live in a mountain stronghold for the rest of his life, making a living by raising bandits, or change his name and surname to leave Yandi.
While he was distressed, Huo Imperial Guards found him and told him this earth-shattering secret.
This Li King, who was so arrogant at the border city, was actually fake!
Huo Imperial Guards had come to the border city to verify this matter, but was imprisoned by the audacious fake Li King. He finally escaped and was looking for witnesses to report to the Imperial Commissioner.
As long as the Imperial Commissioner presides over justice, even if the fake Li King has thousands of border soldiers, he can be overthrown in one fell swoop!
Zheng Yun was skeptical at first, as the matter was too unbelievable. In their eyes, impersonating a prince, making a group of officials submit, and leading troops to fight the Tartars.
Even with the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard, one would not dare to commit such a capital offense!
If exposed, it would lead to the extermination of nine generations of his family!
Seeing his disbelief, Huo Zi’an proposed that he report to the Imperial Commissioner, and Zheng Yun only needed to be a witness.
In this way, if the Imperial Commissioner discovered that the Li King was fake, he could avenge the Zheng Family. If the Imperial Commissioner could not find out, Zheng Yun could still escape immediately!
Zheng Yun agreed. His first task was to take someone who knew the Li King from the Imperial Commissioner’s side to secretly observe the Li King’s true face, to determine the truth of Huo Zi’an’s words.
At the same time, Huo Zi’an also persuaded Prince Yu’s men in the team to join forces with Zheng Yun’s bandits to assassinate the Li King again.
If he was real, it would complete Prince Yu’s mission. If he was fake, it would also force out the real Li King.
Thus, both sides hit it off. They sent people to find out that the Li King was hunting outside the city today, so they ambushed and assassinated him here.
If there was any coincidence, it was that the person responsible for identifying the Li King happened not to see Gu Changxiao, but only Jinsui riding back to the border city.
Then, with Zheng Yun’s identification, he reported to the Imperial Commissioner with certainty: “That Li King is indeed impersonated by a villain!”
