Chapter 12: Undercurrent

The person who emerged from the bushes wore a light cyan dress, with black hair tied up high, clear eyes and eyebrows, and a proper appearance.

She stepped forward quickly, with a serious and respectful demeanor.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

She lifted the hem of her dress to curtsy, but was stopped mid-air by Pei Yuanshao’s internal energy.

“No need for formalities.” After saying this, he turned to look at her, his ink-black eyes showing little emotion, and asked in a deep voice, “What has happened? What compelled you to come personally from North Ring County?”

Guan Yunyun clasped her hands and stood bowing to one side, raising her head to meet the calm eyes of His Highness.

Her heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t show it on her face. Although she had come in a hurry, with such news, she had to report it personally to feel at ease.

She took a deep breath and reported, “Your Highness, news has come from the northern frontier that the Northern Rong have invaded!”

Pei Yuanshao turned the beads on his left wrist, the beads colliding and making a crisp sound.

He didn’t respond, his gaze falling on the string of beads, his eyes obscure and unclear.

Guan Yunyun’s voice continued to report, “General Mo led an army of 100,000 to meet the enemy, but suffered a disastrous defeat. What’s more unexpected is that the Northern Rong seem to have come prepared this time, sending an iron cavalry to infiltrate the camp of our northern army, burning all our rear granaries.”

Pei Yuanshao turned the beads faster and faster, then with a “snap”, the string broke.

The beads fell along his fire-red outer garment and hit the ground.

He looked at the beads rolling on the ground as if nothing had happened, parting his lips, his voice low and deep, yet extremely certain, “Guan Er, those old fellows in the capital can’t sit still anymore.”

Guan Yunyun lowered her head, a trace of surprise sliding across her pretty face.

From His Highness’s tone, the Northern Rong’s actions seemed to be connected to the capital as well?

Her heart was turbulent, but her face remained unchanged.

This batch of secret guards had all been personally selected, transferred, and trained by the Long Emperor. A year ago, His Highness had divided them into two teams and infiltrated them into Jinling and the northern frontier respectively.

All were well-trained and knew what to ask and what not to ask.

If it weren’t for His Highness’s unusually relaxed and strange expression today, she would never have shown such emotion on her face.

The commander of the northern army was His Highness’s and the Empress’s blood-related aunt.

Now that such a big incident had occurred in the north, she had originally thought that His Highness…

The expected anger didn’t come, His Highness’s demeanor was surprisingly calm, as if it was within expectations.

Guan Yunyun was pondering silently.

Then came that person’s deep explanation from above, “The provisions were secretly swapped by the spies I deployed a day before the Northern Rong invaded. I’m afraid the calculations of those old fellows in the capital will fall through.”

Guan Yunyun suddenly raised her head, clearly overwhelmed by the information His Highness had just given. She opened and closed her mouth, her baby face complex with emotions.

After a while, realizing her lapse in manners, she bowed her head to make amends, “Your Highness is truly far-sighted.”

The Long Emperor has always been intelligent, never doing anything unnecessary. If something was done, there must be a purpose to seek.

Just like a year ago, using the pretext of falling from a horse to drastically change his personality, and taking the opportunity to retreat behind the scenes.

Taking advantage of the situation to push forward the three-dynasty elder Jia Tai Fu to assist the young Empress in controlling the court. And marrying Jia Tai Fu’s young son into the palace, conferring him the title of Emperor Consort.

The Cui Tai Fu faction was originally a neutral faction, serving as honest and upright officials, never participating in the struggle for imperial power.

The Long Emperor secretly maneuvered to draw them into the center of power, becoming a great support for the Empress.

It was widely circulated in Jinling City that the current Long Emperor was unbearable as a man, excessively licentious, and indulging in male favorites.

However, only the court officials who had truly witnessed His Highness’s swift and decisive methods were apprehensive and didn’t fully believe it.

Even though the Emperor was exiled to the north, he was still constantly monitored by people in the capital.

Guan Yunyun looked up at the figure of the man in red clothes in the distance, her eyes full of admiration.

A dignified man who could stir up storms with his bare hands! Such a figure was their master.

She cleared her throat, lowered her head, and reported even more respectfully, “There’s another matter. After the consecutive defeats of the northern army, news came from the capital that the Southern Marquis has been dispatched with 50,000 personal troops to reinforce the north and jointly resist the enemy.”

“As expected.” Pei Yuanshao rubbed the mole at the corner of his eye, smiling ambiguously, “Those old ministers in the cabinet must be wanting to use this opportunity to infiltrate the Southern Marquis’s personal troops into the north! Huh? You should send someone to deliver this news to my aunt, I want to see who is really the biggest mole in the northern army…”

After speaking, Pei Yuanshao took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to her.

Guan Yunyun received it with both hands. Although she didn’t know how His Highness would arrange things this time, if someone wanted to move against the 300,000 troops in the north, His Highness would certainly not sit idly by.

She put the letter in her bosom and bowed, asking, “Does Your Highness have any instructions for North Ring County?”

Pei Yuanshao stood with his hands behind his back. Having just carried a night soil bucket, his clothes had an indescribable stench.

He frowned slightly, smoothing out the wrinkles on his shoulder.

Turning back, he said casually, “There is indeed one matter on your side.”

Guan Yunyun stood quietly to one side, listening attentively.

“It’s very likely that Pei Yunzhi will send assassins to Huashi Town today, probably to kill me. Your husband can be used as a shield, after all, the eldest son of the Yong’an Marquis’s family is the nephew of that Tai Shi in the palace. If someone touches a person he wants to protect, that one is not to be trifled with either.”

Guan Yunyun raised an eyebrow, “The Second Prince? Why would he suddenly take action?”

Pei Yuanshao smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, “Just a fool, being manipulated and used as a pawn by others.”

After saying this, he glanced at the night soil bucket not far away, squinting his eyes with a smile that didn’t quite reach them, “Tomorrow, the news of me carrying night soil buckets in a miserable state should reach your husband’s ears. Given your husband’s personality, after hearing that my peasant wife is on her deathbed, and that my future situation will become increasingly difficult, his mood will surely improve. What could be better to vent his anger?”

Guan Yunyun understood immediately, “At this time, if those from the capital send assassins, and we inadvertently leak the news to the Xie family, given the grudge he bears against the Second Prince from years ago, he will surely protect Your Highness!”

Pei Yuanshao nodded imperceptibly.

Years ago, Chen Nianci had seduced the Southern Marquis, planning a clumsy drowning scheme, which was caught red-handed by Pei Yunzhi. Everyone in Jinling City knew that the Second Prince Pei Yunzhi liked the Southern Marquis.

No young master from the noble families dared to have any improper thoughts about the Southern Marquis, only Chen Nianci, relying on the love of his aunt and uncle, dared to approach. Unfortunately, being stupid, he planned a drowning scenario, which backfired.

Pei Yunzhi seized on his mistake and forced him to marry far away to the daughter of a county magistrate in the north.

Thus, the hatred between them became as deep as the sea. The Chen family has always been sharp-eyed, if they knew that the assassins sent to kill him were dispatched by Pei Yunzhi, given that person’s personality, he would certainly interfere.

Anything that displeased Pei Yunzhi would make him increasingly happy to do.

Chen’s jealousy towards him compared to his hatred for Pei Yunzhi was like comparing a molehill to a mountain.

Moreover, his current living conditions are difficult, with his peasant wife bedridden, and he has pitifully fallen to the status of a night soil carrier. Such a miserable situation would surely be more satisfying than his death.

After talking with Guan Yunyun for a while, the night had grown late. Pei Yuanshao, being fastidious about cleanliness and with his body reeking, hurriedly said a few words before dismissing her.

He carried the night soil bucket home, slipped into the bathroom, and bathed for a full half hour before finally getting dressed.

When he walked into the kitchen, he came face to face with Liu Changning.

Liu Changning, having eaten some cooked food, was in a good mood and took the initiative to greet him, “Back from emptying the night soil?”

Pei Yuanshao’s face was expressionless as he passed by her, intending to pour a cup of tea in the kitchen. It was just a casual glance, but in the corner where straw was piled, he saw a basket of medicinal herbs, among which two black lingzhi mushrooms with roots were particularly eye-catching.

His peach blossom eyes suddenly widened, unable to hide the shock on his face.

It should be known that although there were many medicinal herbs on the back mountain, due to years of herb gatherers going up the mountain to pick them, such precious herbs had become rare.

Not to mention the precious lingzhi, which has extremely high medicinal value. Even in the mansion of the enlightened Long Emperor, they were scarce.

He stepped forward, and up close, the roots of the black lingzhi were clearly visible, covered in soil, perfectly preserved.

Pei Yuanshao’s body stiffened slightly. He turned his head very slowly, his gaze meeting her moist eyes.

Pointing at the basket of medicinal herbs, he took a deep breath and calmly asked, “How did you get these herbs?”

Liu Changning crossed her arms, following his slender fingertip to look inside, her eyes flickering.

She tilted her head and answered nonchalantly, “A few days ago, I heard Aunt Daniu say that bathing with medicinal herbs during the dog days of summer can dispel cold. You know I have a cold constitution, and recently I’ve been sweating profusely, so I went up the mountain today to pick some herbs. Is there something wrong?”

“These two lingzhi were also picked along with them?” Pei Yuanshao stared at her intently, his eyes not wavering.

“Lingzhi? You mean these two strange big mushrooms?” Liu Changning’s eyes suddenly widened, her slightly calloused hand pointing at the two “black mushrooms” in the corner, her face full of surprise.

Pei Yuanshao’s smile disappeared completely. He looked down at her suspiciously and asked, “Mushrooms?”

Seeing the person opposite nod, he pursed his lips and asked as if looking at an idiot, “How did you get this?”

Liu Changning looked utterly bewildered, “Didn’t I just say? I got it when I went up the mountain today. At noon, I happened to be chased by a wild boar, and who knew I’d be so unlucky, the mountain paths were slippery, and I fell from a steep slope into some bushes. When I looked up, I saw these two strange black mushrooms under a broad-leaved tree. Thinking they might be edible, I picked them and brought them back, planning to have you make a pot of mushroom soup.”

Pei Yuanshao looked at her honest face. In the candlelight, although she seemed a bit fairer, her features were still ordinary.

He must be possessed to think she could compare to Shennong.

Pei Yuanshao rubbed his forehead, the doubt on his face gradually fading. He glanced at her again – if this wasn’t a simpleton, what was?

It was truly a case of a fool’s luck, with good fortune.

At this moment, she had an annoying smile on her face. Thinking of the scene not long ago when he personally emptied the night soil, the stench overwhelming.

The smile at the corner of his lips faded by three degrees. After all, she was a country girl, how could she be reborn and immediately swim in shallow waters to become a dragon? If that were the case, wouldn’t it be a joke?

Pei Yuanshao curled his lips, a flash of self-mockery in his eyes. He seemed to have been paying too much attention to her lately. Even if she was a prodigy, what did it matter to him?

Now was a crucial moment. Jing Huan heading north to Langhuan would certainly take action. As long as she moved, the hidden hand of the Empress Mother in the north might surface. Once he dealt with the matters here, it would also be time for him to leave.

She would eventually be nothing more than a stranger to him.

***

My Clingy Little Husband (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.

Introduction:

One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.

One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.

As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.

From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.

But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.

Mini scene 1:

One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.

Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”

Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”

Mini scene 2:

After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.

Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.

Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”

Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”

Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.

[Reading Guide]

1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.

2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.

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