She hurriedly knelt on the ground: “I didn’t know the Upper Cavalry Commander had arrived. Please forgive me, Madam.” Qiu Shuzhi waved her hand kindly: “Stand up.”

Yanshun County had made Ji Mei very respectful towards Qiu Shuzhi. She accompanied Qiu Shuzhi: “Madam, let me take you to see the General.” On the way to see the General, Qiu Shuzhi surveyed her surroundings. The lax military discipline made her feel worried.

Some of these idle soldiers didn’t even bother to wear armor, some simply closed their tents and slept soundly, with snoring sounds occasionally heard. Acts that would have been punishable by beheading in the past were now commonplace.

“Don’t worry Madam, you’ll get used to it.” Ji Mei smiled bitterly.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi’s tightly furrowed brows, she knew she couldn’t stand these people’s slack behavior. But she didn’t know that Ji Mei had come all this way like this. Not just the Yulin Army, but all the military camps in the capital were more or less the same.

They would only put on a show when patrolling the imperial city at night, but even that was just for show. After all, those in the palace were all nobles, and offending any of them could cost one’s head.

Qiu Shuzhi followed Ji Mei to a large tent.

“Madam, the General is inside. Please go in.”

Qiu Shuzhi smiled slightly: “Thank you.”

As soon as she entered, she smelled a cheap perfume. The fat-headed General was embracing his favorite male companion lovingly.

This was no military camp, it was clearly a brothel.

Her heart sank as she lowered her eyes and bowed: “Upper Cavalry Commander Qiu Shuzhi greets the General.” The favorite peeled a grape and placed it mouth-to-mouth into the General’s mouth. Qiu Shuzhi lowered her head, the scene too unbearable to watch directly.

General Li Mian smacked his lips a few times and said with a mouthful: “No need for formalities, Madam Qiu. Now that you’ve joined the Yulin Army, we’re all family.” “Do you have any martial arts skills?”

Qiu Shuzhi kept her head lowered from beginning to end: “In reply to the General, this humble official learned some martial arts from a master since childhood.”

Before the Qiu family fell from grace, they had spent a high price to hire a martial arts teacher for her. Later when the family declined, she still didn’t slack off on what she was supposed to learn.

If she didn’t have some martial arts skills, she wouldn’t have dared to protect the emperor in front of the imperial carriage at that time.

The General laughed loudly: “That’s good then. Pick a team of men yourself, and lead me on the imperial city patrol tonight.” “This humble official has just arrived and fears it would be inappropriate to lead the team guarding the forbidden palace.” “What’s inappropriate about it? You’re the Upper Cavalry Commander, it’s your job.” As he spoke, the favorite suddenly let out a cry, then blushed: “You naughty thing!” “This humble official obeys the order.” Qiu Shuzhi estimated that if she stayed any longer she would witness a live spring scene, so she hurriedly retreated.

Walking out of the large tent, Qiu Shuzhi felt relieved.

Ji Mei came forward and asked: “Madam, did the General say anything to you?” Qiu Shuzhi smiled leisurely: “Are you willing to follow me?”

Although the Yulin Army was in disarray, Ji Mei remained as before. Such talent was hard to come by.

Ji Mei’s eyes lit up: “Of course this humble official is willing.”

“Then hurry up and pick a team of men you trust. We must be in high spirits for tonight’s city patrol.” “Yes, Madam!”

A long-absent excitement flashed in Ji Mei’s eyes. She had waited so many years, transferred through military camps for decades, with her skills having no place to be put to use. One superior after another ate until they were fat-headed, but none had any real ability. After being pent-up for so long, she had finally met Qiu Shuzhi. She immediately became energized and selected several people from the army who, like her, were full of ambition to join Qiu Shuzhi’s team.

At nightfall, the palace gates were closed, and no one was allowed in or out except the Yulin Army.

The cold night wind whistled, and a light rain had already started falling in the night sky. Fortunately, the rain was not heavy. The palace lanterns lit up small patches of light and shadow, illuminating the entangled fine rain.

Qiu Shuzhi wore a long sword at her waist. Worried that the rain would get heavier, she had instructed the Yulin Army to wear bamboo hats in advance. Officials on both sides held night lanterns to light the path ahead.

When they reached the Imperial Garden, they could faintly hear sounds of laughter and cursing, especially a man’s voice that was delicate to the bone. The officials on both sides listened until their ears tingled – this voice was more enchanting than even the boys in brothels.

As the procession drew closer, the lights in the Imperial Garden grew brighter, and the figures in the garden became clearer.

Lan Xuezhao wore Miao ethnic clothing, with a captivating teardrop mole at the corner of his eye and an alluring smile.

“Your Majesty, come quickly!” He giggled coquettishly, hiding his bare feet in the peony bushes. Silver bells hung from his wrists and ankles, chiming with each step.

Yue Shen wore a bright red robe adorned with golden ginkgo leaves. A red silk ribbon covered her eyes, making her fair skin appear even whiter and her aura more alluring.

She groped around with both hands, her lips curling up: “Where did you run off to? Don’t let me catch you, or you’ll be in for it!” Qiu Shuzhi was surprised at how different Yue Shen was from usual.

She was always pursing her lips, gloomy like an old woman. How unlike today when she was so carefree and lively.

At 16 years old, she already had three thousand concubines in her harem, each one beautiful and charming. She was truly a model of female supremacy.

However, tonight she was here to patrol and shouldn’t disturb the little emperor’s activities. She lowered her head and prepared to silently pass by.

Lan Xuezhao stood in the flower bushes watching Qiu Shuzhi, twirling a white peony in his hand. Under the lamplight, the petals were snow-white and translucent, accentuating the alluring teardrop mole at the corner of his eye.

Seeing Qiu Shuzhi trying to leave quietly without a sound, he smiled coyly, took off the bells on his wrist and threw them at her feet.

The silver bells chimed crisply. Qiu Shuzhi looked at him in the flower bushes in surprise. Lan Xuezhao’s eye corners were flirtatious, his smile revealing a hint of craftiness: “Your Majesty, I’m over here!” Yue Shen, her eyes still covered, was unaware and rushed over following the sound of the silver bells, laughing: “Caught you!”

Yue Shen’s arms embraced very closely. Having grown up pampered since childhood, her skin was even more delicate than a man’s, like tofu that would break at a touch. Her arm strength was also small, softly hugging Qiu Shuzhi’s waist, just like a little kitten.