She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

”I said you’re stupid, I meant that Miss Han.”

”Mr. Han?”

When Han Lei heard this, her heart skipped a beat. As she feared, someone had indeed mistaken her for a monster.

She quietly approached, poking her head out from behind the haystack to secretly spy on the two soldiers deep in their conversation.

”Yes, that’s her. Ever since Miss Han arrived, the dying soldiers suddenly recovered, and during those days of food shortage, as soon as she came, we suddenly had so much food. If she’s not a monster, what is she?”

”I don’t think it’s possible, right? If Miss Han were a monster, then why didn’t she harm those wounded soldiers and instead save them? Monsters are supposed to harm people, aren’t they?”

”I can’t figure it out either. Anyway, since ancient times, there have been no women in military camps. Miss Han must have used sorcery to enchant the Marshal to bring her in.”

What the hell, using sorcery to enchant?

The more Han Lei listened, the angrier she got, unable to help but curse inwardly.

As the two were engrossed in their chat, she suddenly turned and appeared right in front of them.

Before the two could react, Han Lei had already flung open her cloak and delivered a fierce kick to one of the soldier’s ankles.

The soldier let out a yelp and crouched down, clutching his ankle.

The more Han Lei thought about it, the angrier she became, swinging her small fists mercilessly at his head.

”I’ll show you how to enchant with sorcery! Let me see you enchant one!”

The other soldier saw clearly who had arrived, his jaw dropped in shock as he retreated.

”Miss... Miss Han!”

Han Lei ignored him and continued to pummel the soldier crouching on the ground, her delicate yet furious voice resounding through the sky—

”You ungrateful wretch! Don’t they say a drop of kindness should be rewarded with a fountain of gratitude? Not only do you not repay my kindness, but you eat the food I gave and call me a monster. I’ll beat you to death, you ungrateful scoundrel!”

”Spare me, Miss Han! Spare me, Miss Han...”

Upon hearing Han Lei’s voice, the soldier crouching on the ground realized he was in trouble. Despite the pain in his ankle, he quickly covered his head and kept begging for mercy.

”You dare call me a monster, then don’t eat my food if you dare! Let me tell you, even if I were a monster, I’d be a good one!”

”If you spent less time being idle and more time on your duties, you wouldn’t have time to spread rumors. I’ll beat the living daylights out of you! Beat you to a pulp!”

Watching Han Lei, who was animated and fierce yet cute, the other soldier gulped and became petrified, standing frozen in the wind and snow...

Meanwhile, in the central command tent.

Zhao Zun sat behind his desk, with Ping Chuan standing behind him. Across the desk was the trusted aide Commander Xiao Zhengfei, who had disappeared for over ten days, and beside them stood a fair-skinned, dignified man dressed in soldier armor.

”Prince, the soldiers of the trusted aide camp have been cleared out, here’s the list.”

As Xiao Zhengfei spoke, he pulled out a rough piece of paper from his coat and presented it with both hands to the desk.

Zhao Zun took it, opened it, and stared unblinkingly at the two names written on it.

”Just these two?” Zhao Zun’s face was dark as ink.

”Yes, Marshal.” Xiao Zhengfei lowered his head with clasped fists.

”What did they confess?”

”Two days before the Turkic’s second assault, they took leave, went out into the city, and drank. Someone approached them in a tavern saying their wives and children were captured as leverage. They were asked to persuade the Prince to use the chain bridge in the mountain pass when delivering food to Yong’an City. Upon success, not only would their wives and children be released, but they would also receive a thousand cows and sheep.”

Xiao Zhengfei reported the interrogation result truthfully with his head down. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Zhao Zun. As the commander of the trusted aides, he was entrusted with his master’s life. Yet, his subordinates were selling out a military operation; he couldn’t escape blame.

Fortunately, heaven showed mercy, and the mysterious Miss Han appeared to save them, inadvertently disrupting the Turkic’s ambush plan. Otherwise, his fate would be limited to two outcomes—

First, dying heroically in battle.

Second, presenting his head.

Zhao Zun coldly asked, ”Have the confessions been cross-checked?”

”Yes, no discrepancies.”

”Heh!”

Zhao Zun laughed coldly, his voice full of sarcasm, yet his mind was deep in thought.

The Turkic indeed had a plan.

After failing to raid after the autumn harvest and facing a shortage of clothing and food, they assaulted again in winter, calculating that they wouldn’t have time for supplies. The only option he had was to send food from Ling’an City to Yong’an City, hence the plan to ambush the Marshal.

Success would bring chaos to Beiguan and the Turkic would seize it. Failure would mean retreat with no losses.

What a clever plan!

Wonder who devised it. Since when did the Turkic have such talented individuals?

”How did you handle it?” Zhao Zun leaned on the desk, rubbing his brow.

”According to military law, they have been flogged with twenty lashes, the rest awaits the Prince’s decision.” Without the Prince in Ling’an City, Xiao Zhengfei dared not make other decisions aside from the flogging.

Zhao Zun took a deep breath, looked at Xiao Zhengfei, and finally spoke after a while.

”First send someone to check on their wives and children, if indeed captured, find them and rescue them. The rest will be dealt with when I return to Lin’an City.”

”Understood! Subordinate will...”

Before Xiao Zhengfei could finish speaking, Han Lei’s voice came from outside the tent.

”Brother, is the Prince here?”

”Yes! The Prince said, Miss Han is here, she can come in directly.”

”Alright, thank you!”

Upon hearing that Han Lei had arrived, Zhao Zun gave a slight wave, and both Xiao Zhengfei and the soldier dressed man stepped aside. Zhao Zun cleared his face of coldness, adjusted his demeanor, and sat up straight.

Soon, Han Lei walked in. She had an outdoor singing speaker slung over her shoulder, holding a pair of microphones. The black speaker hanging over her white fur cloak was exceptionally conspicuous.

”Oh? Xiao Zhengfei? Haven’t seen you in days.” As Han Lei entered, she saw Xiao Zhengfei in armor and the man beside him. ”Why are you in armor, is there a battle again?”

”Greetings, Miss Han!” Xiao Zhengfei quickly cupped his hands in greeting. ”I have matters to attend to, I must take my leave.”

”Mm, go ahead!” Han Lei nodded with a smile.

Xiao Zhengfei stepped outside, still needing to complete the orders from the Prince. He was genuinely grateful to Han Lei, hence waited for her to enter, greet her, and then leave.

Since Han Lei entered, the man dressed as a soldier had been curiously observing her with arms crossed, eyes twinkling like he’s searching for treasure.

This was the mysterious woman who single-handedly repelled the Turkic ambush and saved Zhao Zun, as mentioned by Commander Xiao?

She certainly seemed unique. Not to mention, her chin-length short hair was quite rebellious and unconventional.

Han Lei wasn’t aware of his scrutiny but looked at Zhao Zun sitting behind the desk.

”Prince, I want to discuss something with you.”

Zhao Zun curled his lips, intrigued, ”Oh? Let’s hear it.”

”Prince, actually, I want to ask for a part-time job with you.”

As Han Lei spoke, she forced a flattering smile on her face. The person in front was her boss now, and to get a good job, she had to butter up the boss!

”Part-time job?” Zhao Zun frowned at her forced smile. ”What do you mean?”