The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 422 Continue the Blade

The problem now is that there are hundreds of thousands of people in Chongyan Pass. How can she possibly find that person, or those people, among them?

Within the entire Chongyan Pass, she knew only a handful of people by name.

What she's doing now is like finding a needle in a haystack.

She wandered aimlessly, searching for a way to break through.

Because she had no clue what to do, she seemed quite "leisurely strolling," while not far from her were brown-skinned people walking hurriedly and looking nervous.

She and they were in the same space, yet it felt like they were separated into two different worlds.

"The general is dead!"

A panicked cry broke the noise, and everyone's eyes turned to the person who had shouted it.

Zheng Xun was suddenly struck by inspiration and had an idea.

Whoever that person is, upon learning of Ding Cheng's death, they will surely be unable to resist investigating.

She should go back and take a look; maybe she can find some clues.

She was quick to leave, returning to the scene before most people could even react.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Si didn't leave either, and the two got together again.

"Is Your Highness certain of your guess?"

"Ah."

Xiao Si scratched his head: "Let's hurry up and find the person, otherwise we'll always be on edge staying in this place."

"I have sent a message back that He's army will not enter the pass for the time being."

Xiao Si frowned, then quickly relaxed: "But this is a rare opportunity; if we miss it, it'll be..."

He suddenly realized halfway through his sentence and said, "That's true."

The Great Yong Kingdom is different from the Brown Kingdom.

Therefore, Dayong should not be defined by the behavior style of the Brown Kingdom.

Upon reflection, His Highness's decision is not surprising at all.

The reason he chose Dayong instead of the closer He Kingdom was because the Dayong royal family had principles.

People with principles are the ones you can entrust your trust to and rely on.

“Your Highness, I don’t care about any trials anymore. Let’s cooperate. I’ll tell you everything I know, and you must find that person.”

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Think about it."

Xiao Si does care about his future, but it would be too foolish and heartless for him to neglect his duties for personal gain.

He didn't know that when he said those words, Zheng Xun's spiritual power was surrounding him the whole time.

Not sensing any sign of him lying, Zheng Xun's smile became more genuine: "Good lad."

[That's it, that's the real way to pass the test.]

The result doesn't really matter; the only way to pass the test is to gain my approval.

And now, you've passed.

Xiao Si looked up abruptly the moment her inner thoughts appeared.

He stared at Zheng Xun's unmoving mouth, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Zheng Xun met his gaze calmly: "What's wrong?"

Xiao Si opened his mouth for a long time, but in the end, he didn't say a word.

"nothing."

Convinced that he had heard his thoughts, Zheng Xun trusted him even more: "In that case, come with me."

Zheng Xun led him carefully into the camp.

Xiao Si already knew Zheng Xun's abilities, but she still couldn't help but feel apprehensive on the way.

Fortunately, they were still not discovered.

Zheng Xun whispered a word of advice: "Don't stare at one person for too long."

There are some people in this world who are born with keen intuition.

If your gaze is too strong, you are very likely to be noticed.

Xiao Si nodded slightly.

The two then began to focus intently on the people nearby.

Whenever Zheng Xun noticed someone's unusual expression, Xiao Si could accurately say the person's name, life story, and connection with Ding Cheng with just a point.

His head wasn't big, but for some reason, it could hold so much stuff.

What were the people in the tents doing at this time?

They were arguing.

"With so many people guarding him, General Ding was killed without a sound. Judging from the state of his body, the general was subjected to inhuman torture by thugs before his death, yet not a single person noticed! Useless! A bunch of useless fools!"

Xiao Si couldn't help but glance at the "villain" himself.

Zheng Xun refused to admit that the villain was herself. She innocently spread her hands and silently opened her mouth: "Continue."

Xiao Si could only suppress his curiosity.

The argument on the other side continued.

"You make it sound so easy, but you go and try to defend it. Let's see if you can handle it."

"What use are you if you can't defend against it?"

"Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk. This time it was the general, next time it might be you. Whether we can defend against it or not, we'll see next time."

"Alright, what time is it now? All you do is argue!"

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"If you ask me, we should just pack up and go home."

"Coward. Do you believe that when you go back today, the Emperor will cut your head off the next day?"

"letter……"

"I estimate that Dayong will launch a general offensive soon. The most urgent task is to elect a person who can take charge. It will be fine once General Murong arrives."

"That makes sense! Then you do it?"

"No, no, no, my abilities are limited..."

Normally, if Ding Cheng died, many people would rush to grab food like vultures that have been starving for three days.

But now, this position has become a hot potato that no one wants to touch.

Everyone was afraid that the Great Yong would really invade, and that they would soon have to hand over this power. If they offended Murong Ze, they might be retaliated against.

All things considered, this position is a losing proposition.

No one wanted to get involved in such a big problem, so the camp fell silent for a while.

"Actually, the most important thing right now is to protect yourself. What you just said is very true. Nobody knows who will be the next to suffer. Everyone, I can't get involved in this kind of thing. I'd rather go to the front lines and fight the enemy."

After speaking, the man clasped his hands in a respectful bow and gracefully withdrew.

The remaining people discussed it for a while longer before quickly dispersing.

Their current thinking is simple: with Chongyan as the last hurdle, they can hold out for two more days until Murong Ze arrives, at which point all problems will be solved.

As for now, just fight casually, as long as you don't give them any leverage.

Anyway, they don't need to charge into battle themselves; it's just a matter of talking, and almost no one can refuse.

As they emerged from the tent, Xiao Si suddenly said, "This Dayong is rotten to the core."

Those in power indulge in debauchery and extravagance, never treating those below them as human beings; those below suffer endlessly, and in their desperate struggle to survive, many resort to theft, robbery, and vandalism.

It seems that many people assume that the right path will lead nowhere.

Those who cannot resist temptation will fall into depravity along with it.

Those who harbor lofty aspirations and retain a benevolent heart are either melancholic or cynical.

In this brown country, there is no hope of things getting better.

"At first, I was very curious. The royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials all do inhuman things, so why didn't anyone rise up in rebellion? Later, I tried it and almost lost my life. So, I had to find another way. Since the Brown Kingdom is beyond saving, let's completely overthrow it and bring in fresh water from outside."

Such a dynasty should have disappeared long ago.

Zheng Xun did not intend to tell him for the time being that the fate of the He Kingdom rested on Qi Yongji alone.

This truth is too cruel.

He is a man of principle, and he probably can't accept the truth of this world right now.

Yes.

How can the fate of a nation be tied to one person?

Such a corrupt dynasty as the Brown Kingdom should have been destroyed long ago by natural replacement.

At that time, after the growing pains, a new dynasty will be born, and the country will be reborn.

But ironically, Qi Yongji's existence allowed the dilapidated Brown Kingdom to continue.

That would have been bad enough, but they not only caused trouble for themselves, they also dragged the people of Dayong into suffering.

Expanding territory...

This word seems utterly ridiculous when applied to Qi Yongji.

why?

These thoughts flashed through his mind. Zheng Xun patted Xiao Si on the shoulder, his eyes filled with a deep, boundless pity: "Stop lamenting. Your lifeline has arrived. Your lifeline is me."

Xiao Si: Pfft!

He chuckled for a while, clutching his stomach, before getting back to the main topic: "Your Highness, can you tell who is acting strangely?"

Zheng Xun pondered for a moment: "There's a hint, but it's uncertain."

"Then... what does Your Highness plan to do next?"

Zheng Xun gave a meaningful smile: "Since they are so afraid of being targeted, I have no reason not to grant their wish. I've decided to go and kill two more people."

Xiao Si's lips twitched slightly: "Please be careful."

“You should tell them to be careful,” Zheng Xun said, reaching for the dagger in his sleeve. “Go and dig up the place where the fuse was buried, and see if you can lure the target there. Remember to have someone track and investigate the people I just mentioned.”

Xiao Si: "Your plan is very thorough, so what's the point of killing people?"

"To create panic."

After all, it's easier to fish in troubled waters.

Xiao Si couldn't figure out her true thoughts, so he could only honestly say, "Then I'll go first?"

"Go, child."

Xiao Si was so shocked by the word "child" that she ran away as if fleeing.

Zheng Xun, who remained where he was, quickly wiped the smile off his face.

She randomly chose a direction and picked an unlucky guy to follow.

Once they reached a secluded spot, she quickened her pace, raised her knife, and slit the other man's throat.

This time, she didn't need to get anything out of him, and she didn't care about his identity at all.

Therefore, she did not give the other party a chance to react.

Seeing the man collapse to the ground, Zheng Xun still checked his pulse and heartbeat.

To prevent the opponent from faking death, she also stabbed them twice more in two other critical locations.

She only left after making sure everything was perfect.

Not long after, the body was discovered.

All the important people in the military camp gathered around, leaving the front lines without a commander.

Of course, they no longer cared about these things.

"See, I told you there wouldn't be just one."

This time, the assassination attempt finally caught everyone's attention, and they used their expertise and skills to carefully examine the scene.

Unsurprisingly, they found no clues about the killer at the scene.

Zheng Xun found a spot not too far away and sat down, listening to their discussions and arguments, calculating how long his special ability could last.

Out of concern for the war, they did not argue for long.

Soon, the remains were collected, and the crowd dispersed again.

They became a little wary and didn't leave alone. Instead, they left in twos and threes with people they knew.

Unfortunately, it's useless.

Zheng Xun used the same method and quickly dealt with two more.

Meanwhile, He Wuyu, outside Chongyan Pass, said: "Cancel the plan..."

Her brows furrowed.

Beside him, General Bu said, "But Murong Ze will be here soon."

“No,” He Wuyu interrupted him, “His Highness’s investigation revealed that Ding Cheng has buried countless gunpowders inside Chongyan Pass, just waiting for us to go in and wipe them all out.”

General Bu felt a chill run down his spine: "Has Ding Cheng gone mad?! Isn't he afraid of blowing up his own men?"

"Perhaps he didn't care about the lives of ordinary soldiers."

"Beast!"

"However, it doesn't matter whether you care or not, he is already dead."

“Dead…” Yao Hui slapped her thigh. “Does that mean I can’t get this head?”

He Wuyu rubbed his temples: "His Highness hasn't returned yet. Chongyan Pass is so dangerous. What if something happens... how am I supposed to explain this to Jiaojiao and the Emperor?"

"Explain what?"

Just then, Zheng Jiao, who had just finished leading his troops in a surprise attack, lifted the curtain and walked in.

He Wuyu approached and explained to her in a low voice.

"The most urgent task is to bring His Highness back."

This is the crown prince of the Great Yong Dynasty.

In the present-day Yong Dynasty, there are a few capable members of the next generation, but none of them can compare to His Highness.

If something were to happen to Her Highness, it would not only be her own life that would be lost, but also the future of the Great Yong Dynasty for decades to come.

She desperately wants His Highness to come back soon.

If it weren't for her lack of ability, she would have wanted to take her place immediately.

Although her expression remained relatively calm, Zheng Jiao could still detect her anxiety.

"General, the most urgent task is to think about what we can do."

Zheng Jiao's tone was unusually calm.

Zheng Jiao wasn't without worry about Zheng Xun; she simply understood her younger sister's abilities and thoughts better.

Moreover, she sensed a hidden danger in He Wuyu's recent actions.

As a general, she has always been the most calm and stabilizing force in the He family army.

But Zheng Xun's appearance shattered all of that.

Perhaps because her concern for the royal family and the Great Yong Dynasty was ingrained in her very being, she took Zheng Xun's safety far too seriously.

She became less and less like herself, less and less like a qualified general.

It's not easy for a girl to get into this position.

If this leads to a serious mistake, or if it results in the loss of countless soldiers' lives, not only will He Wuyu feel guilty, but it will also cause irreparable damage.

He Wuyu was silent for a moment, then suddenly wiped his face: "I understand. And... thank you."

Why thank me?

When people are caught in a certain emotion, it is often difficult for them to get out of a dead end.

It was she who reminded He Wuyu of this, and perhaps next time it will be He Wuyu who reminds her.

Sensing the worry in Zheng Jiao's words, He Wuyu smiled reassuringly and said, "Don't worry."

Turning her head, she wiped the smile off her face: "Our offensive has lasted so long, if we suddenly slow down now, it will definitely arouse suspicion."

She only said one guiding sentence, leaving the rest to the others.

"If you have doubts, then have doubts. We can't let our people take risks."

"No! If Murong Ze becomes wary because of this, it will be difficult to take Chongyan Pass."

"No, the more they doubt, the less they dare to act rashly."

He Wuyu tapped the table: "Continue the feigned attack, but don't actually take it. Wait for His Highness's next instructions."

"So we're just going to watch His Highness take risks while we cower in the back like cowards?!"

"I'm not a coward!"

"Me too!"

He Wuyu raised his hand, signaling them to be quiet: "Of course we're not idle."