Chapter 81

Upon hearing this, the surrounding soldiers were all stunned. Wei Ji swept his eyes over the crowd, and the soldiers instantly understood his meaning, not daring to say more, only gripping their weapons and surrounding the two groups.

The female assassin looked at Wei Ji hesitantly, sneering: "I heard that the Crown Prince of the Great Chu is already twenty years old. Little general, how old are you?"

Wei Ji calmly said: "Appearances can often be deceiving when it comes to age, and rumors can be false. I am only nineteen this year, not even of age until next year. What do you really want to say to me?"

The female assassin's heart was filled with doubt. She glared at a nearby guard and shouted: "Is he really the Crown Prince?! If you dare to lie, I'll kill him immediately!!"

Wei Ji sighed inwardly. Even if he did lie, they certainly wouldn't know. How is this a threat? The guards beside Wei Ji had followed Chu Shaoling for many years as his personal guards. At this time, no matter what, they could not give up Chu Shaoling. They could only go along with Wei Ji's words: "This is indeed the Crown Prince."

Wei Ji did not want to waste time with this assassin. He said indifferently: "You keep saying you have something to say to me, what are you waiting for? What do you want? Silver? Grain?"

"Hehe, what do I want? I want your life!" The female assassin pressed the blade closer to Wei Ji's neck, threatening in a low voice, "I'll ask one last time, are you really the Crown Prince? If not, say it early, so you don't lose your life for the sake of protecting the Crown Prince!"

Wei Ji glanced at the female assassin, saying softly: "Untie my clothes."

The female assassin hesitated for a moment, then flipped her curved knife, the blade instantly cutting open the clasps at the collar of Wei Ji's clothes. The female assassin immediately pointed the blade at Wei Ji's neck again. There were red marks dotting Wei Ji's neck. The female assassin couldn't help but blush, scolding harshly: "What exactly do you want?!"

Wei Ji said in a deep voice: "Take out this chain, can you read Chinese characters?"

Only then did the female assassin notice the gold chain around Wei Ji's neck. She moved the tip of the knife down and pulled the chain, revealing the gold seal inside, the jewels inlaid on it glittering in the surrounding firelight.

"Chu, Shao, Ling, Seal." The female assassin smiled charmingly. "It really is the Crown Prince. Your Highness, as long as you obediently listen, I'll spare your life."

Wei Ji nodded slightly: "Alright, what do you want?"

"Withdraw the troops immediately! Withdraw now!" The female assassin pressed the blade closer to Wei Ji's neck, saying fiercely, "As long as you withdraw, Liaoliang will also immediately withdraw from Karakash. In the future, we'll mind our own business, whatever damn treaty, we'll pretend we never heard of it! How about it?"

Wei Ji pursed his lips. It was indeed Liaoliang as expected. Wei Ji said in a deep voice: "Have you already met the envoy I sent?"

"Of course. Your emperor wants to withdraw troops, but still wants to undermine Liaoliang's foundation. I've heard one of your sayings, 'The heart is not satisfied, the snake swallows the elephant', excessive greed is ultimately not a good thing." The female assassin threatened in a low voice, "Promise, and we'll leave immediately. For ten years, no troops will invade Karakash. You'll have an explanation for the Great Chu Emperor too. How about it?"

She can speak Chinese, recognize Chinese characters, meet the Great Chu envoy, and make such a big decision. Wei Ji silently assessed the woman before him. This woman's status in Liaoliang is definitely not ordinary. Wei Ji's heart stirred slightly. It seems he needs to capture this assassin alive.

Wei Ji suddenly looked to the east and shouted: "Come save me quickly!!"

The female assassin instinctively turned her head to look in that direction. Wei Ji no longer delayed. He broke free from the female assassin's right hand gripping his arm, his left hand reaching back to grab the curved knife from the female assassin's hand. With a twist of his wrist, the curved knife was pressed horizontally in front of the female assassin's neck!

The situation was reversed in an instant. The female assassin struggled indignantly. Wei Ji directly used force to press the female assassin to the ground, saying in a deep voice: "Don't struggle, you can't beat me."

Chu Shaoling had finished handling the matter with Bai Yunjiang and brought people over. Seeing Chu Shaoling arrive, everyone hurriedly bowed in salute. Chu Shaoling looked at the situation and frowned: "What are you doing?!"

The female assassin raised her head to look at Chu Shaoling. Although Chu Shaoling had not tied up his hair or worn the dragon-patterned robes of the Crown Prince, just looking at his aura was extremely intimidating. The female assassin was stunned for a moment before realizing that this was the real Crown Prince. She immediately flew into a rage, cursing at Wei Ji instead.

Wei Ji ignored her, carefully searching the female assassin, and found another packet of poison. Wei Ji breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Fortunately, this assassin had come at him with real weapons. If poison had been used in the military camp, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The assassin had wanted to run to the granary just now, probably harboring the intention to poison it.

The personal guards explained to Chu Shaoling what had just happened. Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoling scolded harshly: "Are you all dead?! Why haven't you captured her yet! So many of you watched the General be held by an assassin, what are you doing?!"

Everyone hurried forward to tie up the female assassin. The personal guards couldn't raise their heads after being scolded by Chu Shaoling. The situation just now was indeed urgent. Except for Wei Ji, no one else had reacted in time. By the time they came to their senses, the female assassin's knife was already at Wei Ji's neck. At that point, who dared to say Wei Ji wasn't the Crown Prince when he claimed to be? It was a rule taught in the close guard camp, at times like this, there always needs to be a scapegoat to stand out.

Chu Shaoling looked coldly at this farce, saying in a deep voice: "Tie her to the war flag for me, I want to interrogate her personally."

Wei Ji took the torch held by the nearby soldier and burned the packet of poison in his hand. He turned and retreated behind Chu Shaoling, saying softly: "Your Highness, this woman's identity is probably not low. It would be better for Your Highness to hand her over to your subordinate for detailed interrogation."

"No need." Chu Shaoling walked to the female assassin's side, slightly leaning down to look at her condescendingly, saying coldly, "What's your name? What are you in Liaoliang?"

The female assassin glared fiercely at Chu Shaoling and said: "Just kill me, I was unlucky to fall into your hands today. No need to ask more!"

Chu Shaoling sneered: "Compete with me in ruthlessness? Come, strip this woman's clothes and let her hang here. Whenever she's willing to talk, come tell me."

The female assassin was greatly alarmed upon hearing this, angrily saying: "Are you even human?! Beast!"

Chu Shaoling chuckled: "What a joke, you run to my territory to kill, and you still ask if I'm human?"

The female assassin's eyes were red with hatred. After a while, she said: "My name is Zhuo Yu."

Wei Ji instantly understood in his heart. 'Zhuo' was the royal surname of Liaoliang. This woman should be from the Liaoliang royal family.

"Zhuo Yu," Chu Shaoling smiled, "It seems I have been neglectful to the Third Princess."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. This female assassin was actually a Liaoliang princess.

Zhuo Yu said angrily, "I've already told you everything! Just kill me, it's better than being humiliated by these beasts."

Chu Shaoling ignored Zhuo Yu's shouting and said coldly, "How did you sneak in today? How many accomplices do you have? Where are they now? Speak!"

Zhuo Yu stared at Chu Shaoling without saying a word. Wei Zhan said solemnly, "I also think it's impossible that only one person entered. Your Highness, why don't we blow the horn and search tent by tent."

"No need to bother." Chu Shaoling took the curved saber that Wei Ji had seized from Zhuo Yu, walked over to her and stabbed it into her left arm. Zhuo Yu screamed in pain. Chu Shaoling smiled faintly, "Pass the order to the army, say that I will give her a stab for every incense stick of time until all the assassins appear."

Wei Ji looked at the blood winding down Zhuo Yu's arm and felt a chill in his heart. He had to admit, although Wei Ji often disagreed with Chu Shaoling's methods, his tactics were always the most effective. In less than half an hour, almost as soon as the message reached everywhere, the hidden assassins all surrendered. There were five in total, all women.

Chu Shaoling ordered Zhuo Yu to be untied and said in a deep voice, "How many soldiers has Liaoliang gathered now?"

Zhuo Yu did not answer, but looked coldly at Wei Ji and said, "Dying under your hand is worth it."

Wei Ji sighed, "Such a good woman, why do you have to engage in killing and fighting?"

Zhuo Yu sneered, "Having failed today, naturally you can pretend to be kind. If it had succeeded, it would have been a great achievement for Liaoliang! Then the throne would have been mine. Forget it, there's no point in saying more now."

Zhuo Yu's face suddenly turned pale. Wei Ji's heart jumped and he said urgently, "She has hidden poison in her mouth!"

Zhuo Yu knew there was no more hope of victory and feared severe torture, seeking only a quick death. Wei Ji looked at the other women beside him. Several had also taken poison, blood oozing from their orifices. Before long they fell. Before dying, Zhuo Yu still glared fiercely at Chu Shaoling. After a while, she also closed her eyes.

Chu Shaoling had not expected to extract intelligence about Liaoliang from Zhuo Yu's mouth. If Zhuo Yu were a man, he could have hung his corpse in front of the army to consecrate the flag, but since Zhuo Yu was a woman, Chu Shaoling did not want to dwell on it too much. He immediately ordered a simple burial for Zhuo Yu and had her transported back to Liaoliang in his own carriage to preserve Princess Zhuo Yu's final dignity.

Wei Ji was still uneasy and ordered a search of each tent before he was at ease. Chu Shaoling's face was gloomy. He immediately ordered Bai Yunjiang to be brought over.

By this time, Bai Yunjiang had sobered up from the alcohol and heard bits and pieces of what had happened outside. When he was escorted to Chu Shaoling, he was so scared that he trembled. Seeing that Chu Shaoling was unharmed, he finally put his mind at ease, knelt down to confess his guilt and said, "This general was muddled, this general was confused, please punish me heavily!"

Chu Shaoling was too lazy to waste more words. He nodded and said, "It's best that you can confess your guilt. General Bai Yunjiang, for drunkenness in the camp and dereliction of duty, you are sentenced to death by beheading, to be carried out immediately."

Bai Yunjiang did not expect that Chu Shaoling would really kill him. He said in disbelief, "Grand General! This general only drank a few jars of wine, how can you take this general's life for that?!"

Chu Shaoling sneered, "Yes, you only drank a few jars of wine, but because of drinking and neglecting your duties, there was no patrol tonight, and the night watch soldiers were not arranged, so these assassins were let in!! And you still have the face to argue with me?!"

Bai Yunjiang was still unresigned and said loudly, "But the assassins didn't really kidnap the Grand General! They just gave Wei Ji a scare, no one was hurt, so how can you really take my life?!"

In his urgency, Bai Yunjiang spoke without choosing his words. He looked at Wei Ji angrily and said, "It's all because of you!! Did that assassin hurt you? With your skills, even if the assassin had kidnapped you, couldn't you have escaped? She didn't touch you at all and you urged the prince to kill me! What kind of heart do you have?!"

Lian Yu, who was standing to the side, couldn't bear to listen anymore. He said anxiously, "Could it be that as long as the prince is not hurt, it's no big deal?! Tonight's incident was so dangerous! If General Wei hadn't decisively blocked that assassin, if she had really hurt the prince in the slightest, your whole clan's lives would not have been spared! Instead of being grateful, you spew such talk?!"

Tonight, Wei Ji had done a really good job. Under the blade, he calmly dealt with the assassin and captured the princess of Liaoliang alive. The officers who used to resent Wei Ji were now convinced. They used to think he was just a little boy favored by Chu Shaoling, but now they saw he was also a man.

Chu Shaoling was too lazy to listen to Bai Yunjiang's sophistry. He waved his hand to have Bai Yunjiang taken away. Before long, the soldiers brought Bai Yunjiang's head. Chu Shaoling said coldly, "You have all seen Bai Yunjiang's end. Those who are incompetent and still covet others' positions, what's the point of keeping them?!"

The crowd bowed, "The Grand General is wise and decisive."

The night was already late. Chu Shaoling ordered everyone to withdraw. Wei Ji followed Chu Shaoling back to the main tent. As soon as he turned past the screen, Wei Ji knelt down on his own. Chu Shaoling was stunned for a moment and smiled, "What is it this time?"

Wei Ji pursed his lips and said with his head bowed, "This subordinate made Your Highness worry today, this subordinate's crime deserves ten thousand deaths."

Chu Shaoling's heart ached. He walked over and helped Wei Ji up, "Today's incident is not your fault. The assassins came prepared, it was unavoidable, I know."

Wei Ji breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "It's not just because of this. What I mean is, I shouldn't have let her take me hostage in order to get Zhuo Yu to talk. I knew in my heart that she couldn't hurt me, but Your Highness didn't know. Your Highness must have been extremely worried when you saw that situation just now. I am guilty."

Chu Shaoling embraced Wei Ji, lowered his head slightly and bit Wei Ji's lips, not too lightly or heavily. He said fiercely, "Knowing your mistake is good. You said that in the future, you will not avoid me in anything, but you must also have some discretion! Not everything can be interfered with, do you know or not?!"

Wei Ji nodded and said softly in a pleasing tone, "I understand. Like today, I knew I was very safe before I dared to deal with her. I am not disregarding my life. If I am hurt or in pain, Your Highness will be heartbroken. For Your Highness, I will not let anything happen to myself. This body of flesh and bones is Yours first before it is mine. I understand."

Hearing these words, Chu Shaoling's heart couldn't help but heat up. He gently rubbed Wei Ji's body a few times and said in a low voice, "So you also know that this body is mine?"

Wei Ji blushed at these words. That was not what he meant.

Chu Shaoling kissed Wei Ji's forehead dotingly and coaxed in a low voice, "You have made a great contribution today and have not yet been rewarded. What do you want?"

Wei Ji shook his head, gently wrapping his arms around Chu Shaoling's waist, and whispered, "This servant is already very happy that Your Highness is not angry with me. In my heart, I was afraid, afraid that Your Highness would be angry."

Chu Shaoling felt even more distressed in his heart. It was because he was always worried that the events of the previous life would happen again, so whenever Wei Ji stood up for him, he would feel irritated and anxious. Sometimes Chu Shaoling himself also understood that there was actually no danger.

Chu Shaoling embraced Wei Ji and kissed him tenderly, whispering, "My temper is not good, but it's different for you. Don't be afraid. In the future, if I am fierce again, just tell me directly that you are unhappy. Don't always endure it yourself."

Wei Ji shook his head, "This servant is not unhappy. As long as Your Highness is not angry with me, I am at ease."

Chu Shaoling sighed softly in his heart. This silly thing was really here to subdue him.

It was already late at night. Chu Shaoling held Wei Ji and lay down together, gently rubbing Wei Ji's lower back. After a night of commotion, the two of them were not very sleepy. Wei Ji thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, even the princess of Liaoliang can come out to assassinate."

"Yes, the people of Liaoliang are valiant and fierce. Remember I told you before, Liaoliang once had a queen." Chu Shaoling chuckled coldly, "Her making a scene like this is actually convenient. There's no need to wait for the reply from the Liaoliang King anymore. We can directly start the war. Since Liaoliang dares to send someone to assassinate, how can we let go of this opportunity when they are seeking death?"

This was indeed a good pretext to start a war. Wei Ji nodded. Seeing the faint dark circles under Wei Ji's eyes, Chu Shaoling felt distressed and coaxed, "Go to sleep quickly. There are still many things to do tomorrow."

Wei Ji nodded and closed his eyes.