[The Queen Returns: The Sequel to My Brother-in-Law's Glory] (Part 4, Chapter 38)

Chapter 38
The withered leaves and grass draped the fields in a desolate hue, and the late autumn morning was shrouded in a thick fog.
The four-wheeled carriage moved along the yellowed ridges, creating an atmosphere that was both oppressive and eerie. My group of five, in the swaying carriage
, headed towards the capital. Besides Shen Huaifeng and me, Huang Li and Yang Ying were also in the carriage, along with a military coachman.
Huang Li had cried all night. She, Min Xiaolan, and Yang Ying had been inseparable; now one was dead and the other seriously injured.
She was deeply saddened. As soon as the carriage left the city, she insisted on sitting next to the coachman, hoping that the scenery along the way might soothe her
grief. However, Shen Huaifeng never asked me why I had abandoned the main road and chosen the side road. Logically, strategists
are all wise men, and I was curious to know what insightful advice he had for my plan. After crossing the field ridges, the side road finally became less
rugged than before. I glanced at the sleeping Yang Ying and asked casually, "Strategist, how many days do you think it will take us to reach the capital?"
Shen Huaifeng replied, "If all goes well, we should arrive in ten days. The side road is twice as fast as the main road."
"Does the strategist think we'll have a smooth journey?"
I casually glanced at the scenery outside the carriage, which then sped up.
Shen Huaifeng sighed, "It's extremely dangerous. Yesterday, someone dared to assassinate the General but failed. I doubt they'll
give up so easily."
I smiled slightly, "It seems the strategist is a wise man."
Shen Huaifeng smiled wryly along with me, "We can't play dumb in front of the General."
My eyes darted around, and I asked casually, "Please tell me, strategist, what's the difference between taking the back road and the main road?"
Shen Huaifeng pondered for a long time, a faint layer of anxiety appearing in his deep eyes, "Alas, the General's reputation
is rising rapidly, like the sun at its zenith. On the surface, he has established... " A great victory indeed! However, in reality, the General and the court have reached
a point of superficial harmony but deep discord. In the Emperor's eyes, the General's decisiveness and boldness may have been seen as arbitrary rule. The Emperor issued fifteen
imperial edicts ordering you to cease the attack, but you ignored them. While it is said that a general in the field may disobey the Emperor
's orders, defying fifteen edicts is even more ruthless than Yue Fei in his time. Now that you have won a great victory, doesn't this clearly demonstrate that the Emperor's
fifteen edicts to halt the attack were meaningless? How can the Emperor bear this? Now the Emperor does not want you to return to the palace... "I'm even less willing
to let you wield the glory of a great victory and command a large army. Summoning you back to the capital is likely just a temporary measure. If the General returns to the capital to receive his reward, he
naturally won't be able to lead troops. If he travels by official road, he'll be outnumbered and vulnerable, and might be ambushed by
government troops along the way. There are many pretexts for such ambushes. If the General is captured, the Emperor can find a fabricated charge to eliminate him."
I remained expressionless, but my heart was in turmoil. Shen Huaifeng was telling the truth. He glanced at me, then changed his tone
, praising, "General, what a brilliant plan! A two-horse, four-wheeled carriage..." "Once it appeared, news of it would probably spread quickly through the post stations
. The general was with two young ladies, one of whom was injured. Everyone thought the general
would have to take the official road, so his change to a side road must have surprised many. Heh, the general is indeed a great general
, a master strategist. I admire him immensely."
I remained calm, gently touching my wounds. After a night's rest, the wounds had basically
healed. He Bihan's wound-healing medicine was indispensable for such a miraculous effect.
Shen Huaifeng paused for a moment, then continued, "Although the side road is difficult and fraught with danger,
the waterways are clearly separated, making friend and foe distinct. Anyone who dares to obstruct us is an enemy. General, you can take the plunge. With your
unparalleled martial arts skills, and with the covert protection of heroes like He Bihan, I believe the side road will
be far safer than the main road."
I couldn't help but clap and laugh, "The strategist is insightful and has foreseen everything."
I couldn't help but admire this wise man. I hadn't wanted to return to the palace last night. As Shen Huaifeng said, I
was already at odds with the court, and returning would be like walking into a trap. But I couldn't stay away, because I deeply loved
Princess Xiangjun, and she loved me deeply too. The fact that she sent her three personal maids to take care of me showed
how deep her feelings were. Alas, now that Min Xiaolan and Yang Ying are dead and injured, I must give Princess Xiangjun an explanation.
"The only thing I don't understand is why the general would take an injured girl along on such a perilous journey."
It's no wonder Shen Huaifeng was puzzled. Even though he knew these women were Princess Xiangjun's personal maids, he
still couldn't understand why I would bring Yang Ying along. Carrying such a heavy burden on such a dangerous road seemed unwise
.
I replied blankly, "She is destined for me."
I wanted to ask more about myself, but the words caught in my throat. The
word "Huang" that Min Xiaolan mentioned before her death filled me with suspicion. Could it be that Huang Li forced Min Xiaolan to poison me? I didn't want to think about it.
Suspecting Huang Li of poisoning me was like suspecting Princess Xiangjun of poisoning me, but Huang
Li was the only one with the surname Huang around me. Did Huang Li also have her own unspeakable secret?
After traveling several dozen miles, we gradually entered a mountain road covered with lush forests and grass. The carriage swayed violently, but the driver's skill was superb,
and no matter how much it swayed, the carriage kept moving forward. A mountain breeze blew by, and Shen Huaifeng and I could hear Huang Li's
voice. She wasn't tired or sleepy, asking all sorts of questions, and the driver was very patient, answering every question. It was like a leisurely stroll
through nature, but Shen Huaifeng and I were both on edge, ready to go. Fortunately, this section of the mountain road was safe again.
After crossing the mountain road, we entered an open area, and Shen Huaifeng and I relaxed our vigilance and didn't feel drowsy.
"Fish..."
The driver cracked his whip, and the swaying carriage suddenly stopped. He turned around and said in a deep voice, "General,
trouble has come again."
Shen Huaifeng and I jumped out of the carriage almost simultaneously, him on the right and me on the left, one in front of the other. I went to the carriage and
told Huang Li to get in. Without saying a word, she immediately shrank into the carriage. The coachman cracked his whip and pointed to
an open area ahead, saying, "These two plots of land are different. There's no grass, just bare ground. The grass under our feet, though
withered and yellow, still has a little green. About ten feet ahead, it's all yellow mud." I strained my eyes to look ahead and was
secretly astonished. Any other coachman would have driven past long ago and wouldn't have noticed this subtle change. Just as I
was about to step forward, Shen Huaifeng stopped me: "General, wait."
I looked at Shen Huaifeng in confusion. He picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground and casually threw it. The stone
flew more than ten feet, landing on the muddy ground and silently disappearing into the mud. Shen Huaifeng clapped his hands.
His face was grave as he said, "They've hollowed out an area of nearly ten zhang in radius, covered it with camouflage. If people or vehicles get stuck
, they'll be buried alive. Such a massive operation must have required at least several hundred people digging. These people are probably lying in
ambush nearby."
"I know, they're forcing me to retreat. Humph."
My nose, like a hunting dog, caught the scent of danger, but I had nowhere to retreat. If I didn't get back to the capital in time
, I would have another charge of disobeying the imperial decree, a charge completely different from disobeying the imperial decree to fight.
Shen Huaifeng nodded helplessly: "Given the General's temperament, retreating is impossible, and taking a detour is also out of the question. The only
way is to use these people's corpses to fill this trap. This way, you can deter the others, and
the journey ahead will be much smoother."
I was deeply moved, vaguely guessing who wanted to assassinate me and who had laid this trap
. Gazing at the gray sky, I was suddenly filled with heroic spirit: "Military Advisor Shen, I know why I was wounded. With
my skill and as the commander-in-chief, it would be difficult for the enemy to even get close to me, let alone cut me three times or shoot me twice.
There's only one reason I was injured: I was fighting desperately. I was determined to defeat the enemy, to defeat them at all costs."
Shen Huaifeng's eyes shone brightly, his thin face flushed with excitement: "Yes, General, you are incredibly brave,
sacrificing yourself to kill the enemy. Although the enemy wounded you, they..." "
I'll make my own soldiers fall before you." I said coldly. "But today, I'll have my own soldiers fall before me. How pathetic."
With that, I leaped up and shot towards the nearest pine tree, five zhang tall and with arms that could encircle it
. The pine tree wasn't dense; if you didn't look closely, you wouldn't be able to see the two men in black hiding inside. As I pounced, the two
men in black noticed me and hurriedly fell from the pine tree, trying to escape in different directions. Unfortunately, I didn't give them that chance
. My palm strike could envelop any living creature within three zhang. With two muffled groans, the two men in black fell to the ground,
still breathing. It wasn't that I was merciful; rather, I wanted them to die in the trap I had dug. I kicked
out twice in quick succession, and the two men in black flew like bullets towards the muddy ground ten zhang away.
With two loud bangs, two holes were smashed into the muddy ground, followed by two shrill screams that rang out continuously.
With my fingers hooked like hooks, I absorbed the pine cones from the ground. With a simultaneous swing of my arms,
I unleashed a burst of internal energy, hurling the pine cones that flew out, carrying a sharp force that pierced the bushes, trees, and grass dozens of feet away. Screams of agony followed
. I roared, "Li is here! Those who block my way shall die!"
My voice echoed far and wide, reverberating through the silent mountains and startling countless birds.
I turned back and smiled bitterly, "Military Advisor Shen, protect the two girls for me."
Shen Huaifeng took two steps forward, "General, I'll go with you."
"No need."
With that, I leaped to the foot of the pine tree, raised my palm, and with a "bang," struck the tree. Pine
needles scattered, branches fell. I continued striking the pine, bang...bang...bang...the thirty-ninth strike. The pine swayed
, its roots loosening from the soil. I took a deep breath, gathered all my strength, and struck the trunk five more times.
With a "crack," the entire pine tree was uprooted, slowly tilting before crashing to the ground. I stepped forward,
embraced the trunk, channeled my energy into my dantian, and with a shout, lifted the entire pine tree. I channeled my energy again, and my clothes moved without
wind. With a whooshing sound, a powerful and unparalleled aura surged forth, flowing through my limbs and bones. I slowly raised the large
pine tree horizontally above my head and hurled it forward with all my might. The pine tree whistled as it flew towards the trap ten feet away. With a deafening "boom
," the trap in the mud collapsed completely, revealing a huge pit. Dust billowed and gravel flew everywhere,
and gasps of surprise rang out all around. Taking advantage of the dust obscuring my vision, I stretched out my hand like a hook and sucked up the pine cones from the ground. Then I leaped up and
pounced towards the opposite bank of the pit. As soon as my feet touched the ground, the pine cones shot into the surrounding bushes and grass. This time, there were no screams;
they had probably all run away.
I smiled coldly and continued forward. My senses told me the killing intent was still there, so the ambush was still in progress. Sure enough, ten steps later,
a figure appeared before me—a middle-aged man holding a broken sword. I didn't recognize him,
but seeing the broken sword, my heart pounded, and my pupils contracted sharply. I remembered that the broken sword
, made of ebony, was the most terrifying weapon in the world, and that ebony was the bone of the old Taoist priest of Qishan. The broken sword
was the pen of the failed scholar, Chunshubi. Could this weathered man before me be the failed scholar, Chunshubi?
"The failed scholar?"
I asked earnestly. He was an elder, and I couldn't call him by his name directly. I remembered hearing the name Chunshubi a long, long time ago ; it was legendary. Children crying at night 　　would stop crying immediately
if you said "Chunshubi." 　　The man's tone was unusually gentle: "The Great General's reputation is widespread. I imagined him to be a burly, eight- 　　foot-tall middle-aged man, but he's a refined young man. Truly 　　, the younger generation is formidable." I could tell the middle-aged man had implicitly acknowledged his identity. I felt immense 　　pressure from his calmness and composure; it was a sign of confidence. Only those with complete confidence in their own strength can remain calm when facing an enemy. 　　I was calm too, confident in my own abilities. More importantly, I had long since disregarded life and 　　death. A person who isn't afraid of death can sometimes face an enemy with composure. 　　"Let's begin," 　　I said coldly. At this moment, any unnecessary words disgusted me. I was the Great General; to say even a single extra 　　word to my opponent seemed like a sign of weakness. I had forgotten that my opponent was a renowned martial arts master. 　　"Alright." 　　I simply twirled the sword, my gaze sharp as lightning, even able to see the serrated notch on the broken blade. 　　A mountain breeze carried dust across the sky, like the ashes of burnt paper money slowly falling 　　. It was unclear who was dead between me and the simple-minded pen. 　　I lunged forward, swift as lightning. As a great general, I needed to seize the initiative. 　　The simple-minded pen easily deflected my attack with a single sword strike, but I didn't stop. I stretched out my left arm and grabbed 　　at the broken sword's blade. This was a completely unconventional move. Generally, only a fool would try to grab an opponent's 　　sword, as it's a suicidal tactic. Grabbing a sharp blade would almost certainly result in injury, especially since the broken sword could cut through 　　iron like mud.

In a flash, Chunbi had no time to think. He instinctively retreated, retreated, and retreated again,
creating a curtain of swords like flowing mercury before him, a seemingly impenetrable defense.
I gathered my inner energy and punched the sword curtain in mid-air. With a whoosh, the sword curtain shattered, instantly transforming into a dazzling
white streak that coiled around my body, covering my limbs, denser than a cloud of dust. I was greatly shocked; I
had never seen such superb swordsmanship, never such speed. I roared, circulating my energy five times
, unleashing five punches in quick succession. The force of my punches was like a mountain, slightly obstructing the fierce sword light, before I retreated with lightning speed.
The mountain wind howled, scattering the dust. Chunshubi stared at me blankly, not daring to pursue
. I was secretly surprised; I hadn't expected Chunshubi to have such a keen sense of life and death. If he had chased after me, I would have certainly
killed him. I had never retreated in battle, not even after being slashed three times or shot three times by the enemy
. But today I retreated—a great humiliation. I had thought that this humiliation would bring me a fatal blow.
Unfortunately, Chunshubi didn't pursue. I knew I had met a master today, an extraordinary master.
"It will be difficult for me to defeat you. The title of Commander of the Imperial Guards is well-deserved. I can't even discern your lineage, nor
what kind of martial arts you use."
Chunshubi twirled his sword, his eagle-like eyes fixed on me.
I didn't speak; I was pondering how to kill my opponent.
But then I saw a figure, a tall and slender one, dressed in coarse gray clothes, with an air of otherworldly grace. It
was my strategist, Shen Huaifeng. I was surprised that I hadn't noticed him crossing the vast trap and arriving
less than three zhang (approximately 10 meters) beside me. But regardless, with Shen Huaifeng's help, Chun Danbi was doomed.
I looked up at Chun Danbi and was surprised to find him quietly taking half a step forward. This subtle movement startled me .
Logically, Chun Danbi and I were evenly matched, and now with an ally, he should have felt
panicked, perhaps even retreated. Why had he taken a step forward instead? Unless he had an unwavering determination to win, unless Shen
Huaifeng wasn't my ally.
At this moment, he was either an ally or an enemy.
Although I was wary of Shen Huaifeng, I had always considered him a friend, not an enemy, at least a comrade-in-arms in my army,
my strategist. We had faced life and death together; I refused to believe Shen Huaifeng was an enemy.
"Military Advisor Shen, are you here to help me?"
I asked directly. At this critical moment of life and death, indirect questioning was pointless.
Shen Huaifeng was taken aback, his brow furrowing. I immediately understood; his hesitation was the answer. I
sneered, a strange sadness welling up inside me, along with countless questions: "Don't be so pretentious. When I was injured, Military Advisor Shen
could have easily done it. Why wait until now?"
Shen Huaifeng probably hadn't expected me to be so direct. He looked slightly embarrassed, but quickly regained his composure
: "The situation was different then. The war wasn't over, Yuanjing City hadn't been captured, and the Emperor's secret decree dictated that
you could only be killed after Yuanjing City was taken. Besides, I thought you were dead. The military doctor was killed by Qian Jizhong, and your knife wound reached
the bone. That arrow pierced your abdomen, even your intestines were visible."
I nodded: "Yes, not to mention you, even I thought I was going to die. Unfortunately, I didn't die; I
came back to life."
"It's miraculous. Even now, I still don't believe it was He Bihan's wound medicine that saved you. However, that's not important.
You still have to die. When the emperor commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die. Originally, the emperor was worried that you would betray the country and defect to the enemy, but your bravery
in killing the enemy has blocked your escape route. Now I understand the emperor's wisdom. The emperor knew all along that you would desperately seek
merit to marry Princess Xiangjun. Eager to gain merit, you would definitely disobey the imperial edict. You disobeyed fifteen imperial edicts, which is already an unforgivable crime
."
Shen Huaifeng's face was solemn, his feet neither too far forward nor too far back, poised to strike. He and Canjian and Chunbi formed a pincer movement, creating
a pincer attack. It seems I'm doomed.
Shen Huaifeng sighed, "General Li, you should just kill yourself. The Emperor has decreed that if you commit suicide,
you will be given a grand funeral."
I laughed furiously, "What a fine saying, 'When
the emperor commands a subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die!' Even if I were to commit suicide, I would first like to see what's so special about Military Advisor Shen."
Actually, I was unwilling to accept this. My thoughts were with Li Xiangjun. I had never seen the young Li Xiangjun
from hundreds of years ago. Was she really as beautiful and lovely as she is now? Was her dancing really that beautiful? Were her breasts
big and round? Heavens, I don't want to die until I see Princess Li Xiangjun. I don't want to die.
Shen Huaifeng coldly said, "Then you won't just commit suicide, but disobey orders. You'll die a gruesome death
."
As he spoke, he slowly pulled a strangely shaped object from his robes, like a broom, but entirely black.
Upon seeing it, my pupils contracted sharply again, and I couldn't help but blurt out, "Ebony? Are you the old Taoist Henggu from Qishan?"
A smile flickered across Shen Huaifeng's old face: "That's right. I also have a humble name, Shen Henggu. Half a year
ago, at the request of the chief eunuch Zhu Caibing, I changed my name to Shen Huaifeng and joined the army as a strategist. Unfortunately, I'm not good at military campaigns
and have ended up with many injuries. In a one-on-one fight, even the General might not be able to defeat me. If you add the Broken Sword, you will undoubtedly lose.
Listen to this old Taoist's advice, give up."
"With the Broken Sword and Ebony joining forces, who in the world can stand against me? I'm doomed. Before I die, I want to know who assassinated me yesterday
. That person's skills were quite good."
I secretly gathered my strength, preparing for a desperate last stand.
Shen Huaifeng said with a touch of sadness, "To be honest, after spending half a year with the General, I deeply respect his character.
It wouldn't hurt to tell him more. The Chief Eunuch Zhu Caibing
was none other than the Seven-Step Meteor Blade from twenty years ago." I was astonished: "What? The Seven-Step Meteor Blade, the martial arts leader from twenty years ago?"
Shen Huaifeng said calmly, "Indeed. Those who obey both Broken Sword and me are naturally extraordinary. The Emperor has gathered many
martial arts elites; whoever controls the martial arts world controls the entire realm." "
Very good, very good! I, Li, am honored to have the attention of three peerless masters.
I wonder if the Seven-Step Meteor Blade still exists? I used to see Chief Eunuch Zhu almost every day in the palace. I never imagined I was so blind to his greatness.
If he's nearby, why not show himself so this junior can pay him homage?"

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