Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 640 - 638

Chapter 640: 638

More than halfway through December, a heavy snow had fallen a few days prior, significantly cooling the weather.

In the northwest, the soldiers led by Di Shaowei and those of Li Jun had fought three winning battles and, after reclaiming a city, were now stationed there.

Within the military camp of General Li, the general, along with his military strategist and several vice generals were strategizing how to break the military formation of Imperial Court’s army.

"News from Imperial Capital said that drunken Ministry of War had praised the intelligence of Rui’an Countess, saying that she’s the one who cracked our deployment map. She even redesigned a formation. Unfortunately, no matter how much they pressed him after he got drunk, he didn’t reveal the secret of that formation."

"Strategist, can you solve it?" General Li turned and asked his strategist.

The strategist loosened a bitter smile. As a man past his early years, losing to a girl not yet fifteen was gnawing at him: "The person who placed this formation understands the art of Qi Men Dun Jia much deeper than I do. At the moment, I cannot solve it."

After hearing these words, General Li calmly reassured, "Strategist, don’t worry. Our army has taken a hit, and the new soldiers have not yet arrived. Let’s recuperate first. It’s not too late to launch an attack after we have broken the formation."

"We have no other choice. I will go back and check ancient books again." The strategist nodded and this was the reason he chose to follow General Li; his broad mind and respect for the talented.

When they have little provisions left, how could they stay calm? And yet, General Li was still comforting him.

He knew the best method was to capture another city and grab some provisions. But now, because of the opponent’s formation, they had failed in two attempts. If he hadn’t ordered the troops to retreat in time, they might have already faced a disastrous defeat.

"We can’t afford to consume our food!" One of the vice generals pointed out the harsh reality.

"You needn’t worry about provisions. I have a plan," General Li reassured as he heard this.

"The biggest problem lies in the deployment of troops. If we can’t abduct Rui’an Countess, we better..." The vice general made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Even the boss of Bat Village failed in attempting personally. We don’t have anyone here anymore who surpasses him in martial arts." General Li frowned upon hearing this. The deaths of the several people from Bat Village saddened him. Highly skilled in martial arts, they were certainly of great use.

"Failure only means we try once again! I refuse to believe she has such good luck to continuously escape! Otherwise, even if our strategist succeeds in cracking this formation, and she creates another new one, are we still going to fight this world?"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing these words. Wasn’t this precisely the crux of the matter?

"What about assassination with poison?" someone suggested.

"No! The Rui’an Countess carries an antidote pill that counteracts all poisons!" General Li shook his head in disapproval.

The Vice-General responded: You can’t abduct her and you can’t poison her! There’s no way left to live!

A few people gathered discussing how to kill Xiao’er...

And what was Xiao’er doing on this cold winter day?

Xiao’er’s grandmother, Mrs. Liu Lin was about to celebrate her 50th birthday, so she and Mrs. Liu are checking the birthday gifts that were sent back.

In this era, not many people lived long lives. Many died in their fifties or sixties, so many people only celebrated a few big birthdays in their lives.

After thoughtful consideration, Mrs Liu decided to celebrate her own mother’s birthday back home, worrying whether she would have the chance to do so later.

Once Mrs Liu decided to go back to celebrate her mother’s birthday, her children immediately agreed to accompany her.

Mrs Liu was a bit hesitant. Jingrui and Jinghao were due to start their official duties next year. She worried this trip could delay their studies.

Waving her little hand, Xiao’er said: "Learning requires a balance. Staying in a room reading will clog one’s mind! Going back to celebrate a birthday and relaxing along the way might be a good thing. Besides, we can’t study during the New Year in the Imperial Capital anyway."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu complied.

Xiao’er especially wanted to go back. Why? Because staying in the Imperial City for the New Year was exhausting! Apart from the first day of Lunar New Year, they had to attend banquets almost daily. The food was unpalatable, and it was simply torture.

If they were to return to Shengping County to celebrate the birthday, not only would it make her grandmother happy and satisfy filial duty, but it would also avoid the social obligations in the Imperial Capital — it was undoubtedly hitting multiple birds with one stone.

Shen Chengyao also felt a need to return for the birthday celebration, but it was year-end and there were many things to wrap up and report, so he could not take leave for now. He could only let the children accompany Mrs. Liu back.

Although many official roads had been repaired and the journey back to Shengping County would be much quicker than before, the round trip would still take at least one and a half months. Hence, they would have to spend the New Year in Shengping County.

Shen Chengyao planned to finish all his pending work in advance and then ask the emperor for a half-month leave before and after the New Year. That way, he could also return to Shengping County for the New Year. Staying alone in the Imperial Capital while his wife and children are back home would not feel like the New Year.

Mrs. Liu carefully folded the clothes she made personally for Mrs. Liu Lin and Master Shi, as well as for her two nieces. She packed everything from undergarments to overcoats and from head to toe in a box, so there would be no need to search for them when they return. It could be given away directly.

As Xiao’er packed her luggage and checked the birthday gifts, she was just thinking about sending someone to invite Shangguan Xuanyi for dinner when Shangguan Xuanyi and Shangguan Xuanhao arrived.

Shangguan Xuanyi had some business to discuss with Xiao’er.

Clues to the new conscript soldiers of General Li had finally been found. The mountain bandits who Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi encountered on the day the Third Prince carried out a coup were deserters from that batch of soldiers.

From the limited information, they gathered, Shangguan Xuanyi sent people to investigate, finally uncovering a thread of clues and made contact with the spy they had infiltrated beforehand. The emperor asked Shangguan Xuanjun to return to the Imperial Capital to prepare for his engagement, leaving Shangguan Xuanyi to take his position, and deal with the new soldiers.

Shangguan Xuanjun will be getting engaged shortly after the new year, so the emperor wanted him to prepare for the wedding in peace. Shangguan Xuanjun was marrying the granddaughter of the Imperial Master. The emperor always had deep respect for his tutor, and since his son would soon marry the tutor’s granddaughter, not even for the sake of getting a good night’s sleep could the emperor send Shangguan Xuanjun to the battlefield.

Shangguan Xuanyi felt all sorts of envy and jealousy. How nice would it be to get married? You wouldn’t have to work!

However, Shangguan Xuanyi was just feeling sour. He was hoping Shangguan Xuanjun would get married quickly, so he wouldn’t block his way.

He was determined to end the war with Li Jun before the arrival of spring; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to prepare for his own marriage.

Therefore, he was here to bid farewell to Xiao’er, but unexpectedly, Xiao’er was also preparing to return to Shengping County to celebrate.

"It’s good to go back and celebrate, but we will need to arrange for additional hidden guards."

Just as Xiao’er was about to decline, Shangguan Xuanyi said: "If you reject this, then don’t go back. Stay in the Imperial Capital!"

Xiao’er decided to keep her mouth shut. He won this one!