Chapter 36: Returning in Triumph

The news soon reached the ears of Qin Qingxue.

"Impossible. Li Ye only took a ragtag group of five thousand men with him. How could they possibly defeat the bandits of Vulture Mountain? Who on earth is spreading such reckless rumors?"

Qin Qingxue found it completely unbelievable. The army had only been gone for a few days. Even if the stronghold lacked a defensive advantage, it was impossible to conquer it in such a short time.

Shi Wushuang, dressed in his trademark white robes, looked every bit the elegant gentleman, yet he too was deeply astonished. "I am familiar with the terrain of Vulture Mountain; it is extremely perilous and easy to defend but hard to attack. Furthermore, the bandits there are descendants of the previous dynasty’s remnants. They are fierce in battle, comparable to an elite force. Five thousand soldiers? Even fifty thousand might not guarantee a victory."

"Hmph, perhaps Li Ye is just looking to claim credit and is killing innocent people to fake a military achievement," Qin Qingxue sneered.

Ever since her fallout with Li Ye, everything Qin Qingxue did had been fraught with obstacles. Her household finances, in particular, had become severely strained, reaching the point where their expenses far exceeded their income. Qin Qingxue was plagued by headaches, wondering when she would ever be able to repay the massive debt she owed Shi Wushuang. This only deepened her hatred for Li Ye.

"However, according to the rumors, Vulture Mountain has been completely wiped out. Killing innocents wouldn't work; that kind of trickery cannot deceive the Emperor," Shi Wushuang remarked.

"Perhaps the rumors are exaggerated. When he returns, he will likely claim he fought a great battle and killed a certain number of bandits."

"That must be it! If he truly does that, it will be much easier to deal with the Sixth Prince." Qin Qingxue’s eyes lit up, as she vaguely guessed Shi Wushuang’s intent. "You mean..."

"It is simple. The Sixth Prince claims to have defeated the bandits of Vulture Mountain in a short time. We only need to expose his lie. He will immediately become a laughingstock. The Emperor will feel utter disgust toward him and may even impose a severe punishment. An out-of-favor prince is much easier to handle."

"A brilliant plan! We shall wait for the army to return and see what he says, then we will investigate carefully to expose his deceit."

A cold glint flickered in Shi Wushuang’s eyes, his face filled with bottomless malice. Because he was not facing Qin Qingxue directly, and it was night, she failed to notice his expression. She could never have dreamed that the man known for being "as pure as jade" could harbor such a terrifying look.

"Qingxue, I believe this is a great opportunity for you!"

"What kind of opportunity?" Qin Qingxue asked, looking at Shi Wushuang with curiosity.

"The Sixth Prince did not clean out Vulture Mountain; he likely even suffered a defeat. Once this is exposed, the royal family will lose all face. That is when you should volunteer to lead a campaign against Vulture Mountain. It will be the perfect moment to earn merit," Shi Wushuang suggested.

Qin Qingxue hesitated. "That may be true, but the imperial court has sent armies there many times, and they all returned in defeat. I have no experience in attacking such a dangerous place. I have no confidence in winning."

Shi Wushuang folded his hands behind his back, looking supremely arrogant. "Do not underestimate the power of the Yunlu Pavilion. I can summon a large number of our disciples to assist you. Conquering Vulture Mountain will not be difficult. Besides, have you not noticed something?"

Qin Qingxue was delighted by Shi Wushuang’s support. The Yunlu Pavilion was hailed as the foremost sect in the world; with their help, victory was certain. However, she was confused by his comment. "Noticed what?"

A flicker of disdain crossed Shi Wushuang’s face. "Your recent victory over the barbarians was met with paltry rewards from the Emperor. Although he never mentioned it, I believe your separation from the Sixth Prince has displeased him. Claiming you only defeated the barbarians without annihilating them was likely just an excuse. Furthermore, the fact that your military command has been stripped from you confirms my suspicions."

Shi Wushuang was secretly appalled by how simple-minded Qin Qingxue was. He had to point out such obvious suppression to her. He found such a foolish woman utterly repulsive. How did she ever have the audacity to look down on a prince of the realm?

Qin Qingxue asked, puzzled, "Didn't His Majesty say he wanted me to study ways to defeat the barbarians? The next time I take the field, I will surely defeat them!"

Shi Wushuang nearly choked on his own anger. The more he learned, the more he realized she was an idiot—though a more easily controlled one. Suppressing his rage, he forced a smile. "After this great battle, the barbarians have suffered heavy losses and will certainly not dare to invade the Great Yuan again in the short term. If you can wipe out the bandits and earn further military glory, wouldn't you be able to reclaim even greater military authority?"

"That makes sense! You are truly so good to me. Once I expose the Sixth Prince’s lies, I will immediately petition His Majesty for the command to suppress the bandits."

"That’s the spirit. You are the first female general of the Great Yuan Dynasty; you cannot remain idle at home. Not only I, but the entire Yunlu Pavilion will fully support you in becoming the Commander-in-Chief, holding control over all the armies of the Great Yuan."

Qin Qingxue was thrilled, imagining a glorious future. She became even more devoted to Shi Wushuang.

Three days later, Li Ye returned with his troops. Upon reaching the capital, he separated the bandits from the army, having them camp outside the city walls, and entered the city with only his soldiers.

Many citizens gathered to watch. The sight of so many bandits left the populace in shock. Many had questioned whether Li Ye was falsifying his reports, believing it impossible to defeat the bandits. Yet, seeing the massive group of over ten thousand bandits, they were stunned and forced to believe it. However, seeing that the imperial troops suffered almost no casualties, their armor clean and untouched as if they hadn't seen battle, many became confused.

"This isn't right. How was this battle fought? When has a war ever been fought without deaths? Why do the returning troops have no injuries at all?"

"There are so many bandits from Vulture Mountain, and they look fierce. How on earth did he win?"

"This battle is so strange; it’s as if they had agreed to it beforehand and just surrendered."

"Something is fishy. There must be a hidden secret here! I refuse to believe the Sixth Prince was the one to conquer Vulture Mountain."

...

As Li Ye led his army back, there were few cheers. Riding at the front, he could clearly hear the whispers of the crowd.

Xiao Cui was furious. After such a great victory, not only was there no welcome, but everyone was suspicious of fraud. "These people are detestable! They are actually hoping for military casualties. Do they not know what it means to subdue the enemy without fighting?" She added, "To dare suspect Your Highness's achievements—they should not be forgiven."

Li Ye smiled and advised, "Do not be angry. The reaction of the people is actually better. Even if what they say is unpleasant, it works in my favor."