Chapter 84 Conspire With The Devil

After leaving the camp, Yun Shang finally had the chance to check the landscape. They were surrounded by mountains on both sides, but there was a wide flat area in between, where the army of Prince Jing and that of Yelang were encamped.

Judging from the noise, the soldiers were facing off quite a distance away. Yun Shang mounted her horse and followed Prince Jing toward the noise.

As she approached, Yun Shang was shocked at the scene before her. She had never seen such an astounding spectacle in her previous life. Even though she had learned about military formations from her grandfather in this life, her knowledge was restricted to strategies and ideas. This was her first experience with a real military confrontation. The flat ground was crowded with tens of thousands of soldiers. That along with the deafening war drum, charged Yun Shang.

"Prince Jing is here. Prince Jing is here..." Prince Jing's presence was noticed by the soldiers. They made way for Prince Jing and Yun Shang so that they could reach the front. On the opposite side, Yun Shang could see the Yelang soldiers lined up. A man in black armor was standing on the chariot in front of the soldiers. Yun Shang couldn't see him clearly because of the distance. Beside him stood a young woman in bright red. Her face had been covered with a white handkerchief.

Yun Shang recognized her identity immediately. It was Hua Jing.

"Not surprising." Yun Shang smiled.

Prince Jing turned and glanced at Yun Shang. He spoke, "Princess Hua Jing is disgracing you by using your name, and you don't care?"

Before Yun Shang could answer, the Yelang soldiers stopped beating their drums. They heard a man saying, "Prince Jing, I have Princess Hui Guo here. Surrender now or I'll kill her."

Prince Jing laughed and spoke equally loudly. "Do think you can fool me with just any masked woman? Kill her if you want. Please, show no mercy. If you can't hurt this young lady, I could do you a favor." Prince Jing reached for the bow and arrow being held by his servant. He aimed at the woman on the chariot.

"But Prince Jing, your brother will blame you!" Prince Qingsu was stunned.

Prince Jing sneered. "I just got a carrier pigeon from my agent yesterday and according to the message, Princess Hui Guo is safe at the Imperial City. Now that Prince Qingsu doesn't want to get rid of this fake Princess, I don't mind giving you a hand..." Then he let go of the arrow, which flew directly toward the woman.

When the arrow was only a meter away from Hua Jing, Prince Qingsu swung his broadsword and blocked the arrow.

"Oh, you seem quite nervous, Prince Qingsu. Is she your lover?" Prince Jing laughed as he threw the bow to the servant.

Prince Qingsu did not reply to Prince Jing. Instead, he lifted Hua Jing's head and said something to her. Yun Shang smiled, "Why does she use my name?"

Prince Jing put on a grim smile. "She must think that if she does something undesirable, she could always shift the responsibility to you. In her mind, your reputation is worth nothing."

Then he said loudly to the soldiers. "This woman poses as our Princess Hui Guo. What should we do?"

The soldiers shouted, "Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!"

"And the country of Yelang slanders Princess Hui Guo. What about that?"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The Yelang soldiers were in a dilemma. After some time, Prince Jing heard Hua Jing's voice. Because of the distance, her words could barely be heard. "Uncle, help! It's me. Help..."

Prince Jing said flatly, "You don't sound like Princess Hui Guo at all. Prince Qingsu, if you wanted to find a counterfeit, you should have done some homework. Soldiers, line up!"

A huge cloud of dust rose as thousands of soldiers ran to make their formation. Soldiers on both sides of Prince Jing lined up as two wings, enveloping the enemy.

"Now, you have seen everything. Go back to the camp." Prince Jing turned and said to Yun Shang. "There are too many people. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of you."

Yun Shang knew she would be of little help in battle. Moreover, Prince Jing might be distracted by her. So, she nodded and returned to camp.

Qian Yin was pacing restlessly at the gate of the camp when she saw Yun Shang. Qian Yin rushed to Yun Shang, "Your Highness. Finally you have

a Jing sneered. "Yun Shang, I prepared this special gift for you. I hope you will like it. I've scarified a lot after all." She felt much better thinking so.

She didn't know that the person she was setting up was now in Prince Jing's encampment and they had just met.

When Qian Yin came in with a basin of hot water, Yun Shang had awoken. Qian Yin stepped forward and helped her sit up. "Luckily, it's warmer here than in the Imperial City. But my legs still feel cold. I prepared some hot water to warm your feet, Your Highness."

Still a little confused, Yun Shang nodded and placed her feet in the water. However, the water was so hot that she shivered at the sudden warmth. After a while, she sighed. "It feels good."

Now, Yun Shang was finally wide awake and she smiled. "Don't call me Your Highness. Others could hear you. Just call me Master."

Qian Yin nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Master, I sent a message to Ning Qian. She replied saying that she is now in Xiyi town with the Emperor's Son-in-Law. She wanted to take him back to the Imperial City, but because of the war, inspection posts are very strict. She's waiting for Your Highness's order."

Yun Shang nodded. "It's alright. Let him stay here then. Just remember to make sure it looks like he is being held by the army of Yelang. Maybe he will be useful to us one day."

"Mister Xiao, I'm Prince Jing's servant. His Highness asked me to send some food to you. May I come in?" Someone asked cautiously from outside the tent.

Yun Shang wiped the water off her feet and put them on the bed. "Yes, please."

A man in military uniform entered. Yun Shang could vaguely see his figure through the screen. He put something on the table and bowed to Yun Shang. "My name is Luo Ding. If Mister Xiao has any need, please feel free to call me. Now, please excuse me, Mister Xiao."

After Luo Ding left, Yun Shang asked. "Is Prince Jing back? How was the battle this afternoon?"

Qian Yin smiled. "Yes, Prince Jing returned a while ago. But, he is in the middle of a meeting in General Yang's tent. As for this afternoon, Prince Qingsu of Yelang withdrew the troops before they even started to fight."

Yun Shang nodded. "Prince Qingsu thought he had Princess Hui Guo, and that Prince Jing would agree to save his niece. So, he didn't want to fight today. But he didn't expect that Prince Jing wouldn't care about his hostage at all, and even wanted to kill her. He wasn't prepared, so he had to withdraw. I wonder what he will do to Hua Jing."

"Your.. Master, I heard that Prince Qingsu is a fierce person. If Princess Hua Jing is of no use now, he might kill her." Qian Yin answered.

"I don't think so. Hua Jing will not give up like that. After all, she was able to persuade Prince Qingsu to believe that she was Princess Hui Guo. Maybe she will find a way out. I'm so looking forward to her next move."