Chapter 21 Man in the Shadows
Her scumbag father evidently didn’t believe her words.
His eyes were clouded with coldness, “Do you know whose private residence the Warm Fragrance Garden you are living in is?”
Before sending her mother onto the sedan chair from Warm Fragrance Garden, Wen Xueling had already thought up an excuse. She opened her mouth and eloquently narrated a fabricated story.
Before the mother and daughter traveled north to the capital, they had once saved a young man in the Northern Frontier. He, upon learning they were going to the capital, gave her a jade pendant to repay their kindness, declaring that if they ever needed help, they could bring it to a certain place for assistance.
“Father, that day Fangfei Courtyard was set on fire by villains, clearly intending to kill Mother and me.”
A bitter smile played on her lips, her eyes reddening as she said, “Ling’er asked someone to inform older brother at the Prime Minister’s Estate, but older brother never came.”
“Ling’er kept Father’s words in mind, not daring to rashly visit with Mother. So, I had no choice but to use the jade pendant to seek help.”
Warm Fragrance Garden was the residence that person had arranged for them.
And as those seeking help, they did not know who the owner of the residence was.
Wen Jingshu’s eyes pierced her moist almond-shaped eyes, secretly pondering whether her words were true or false.
Two lines of clear tears rolled down her face. Wen Xueling met his gaze with a fragile and innocent expression, looking pitifully, “Father, Ling’er truly doesn’t know......”
Seeing her anxious and helpless demeanor, he waved his hand, “Alright, all this crying and sniffling is utterly lacking in the composure of a young lady from a prominent family. In the future, learn more from your sister An’an, and don’t bring shame upon the Prime Minister’s Estate outside.”
Shame? Does the Prime Minister’s Estate even have any shame left now?
Wen Xueling feigned timidity, shrinking back as she said, “Ling’er understands.”
Unable to get any more information from her, her scumbag father had no choice but to let her leave.
In the study, Wen Jingshu’s expression was gloomy as he stood by the window, looking at her frail departing back.
A sudden blizzard hit the Northern Frontier. The barbarians took the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. The Liang Family Army was already at their wit’s end, but the General-of-Pacifying-the-Nation’s Estate somehow received news.
Not only did they manage to transport provisions to the military camp before the heavy snow blocked the roads, but they also sent a batch of never-before-seen crossbows.
One arrow could injure several people!
Wen Jingshu had never heard of such powerful combat weapons.
The report of their comeback victory had already reached the capital. The Emperor was overjoyed, and even designated the Xie Family Army’s former encampment outside the capital to Liang Jue.
That place held Xie Siyu’s childhood memories......
Wen Jingshu’s sinister black eyes gathered an inhuman chill. “Go investigate who offered this strategy to the General-of-Pacifying-the-Nation’s Estate.”
Such a formidable person, if they could be recruited for their own use, would undoubtedly be a great asset to the Prime Minister’s Estate.
With that, a dark shadow swiftly left outside the study.
Meanwhile, Wen Xueling, who had returned to Folding Willow Courtyard, received a new secret letter from Liang Jue via a hidden guard. Seeing the content “Liang Family Army achieved a great victory,” a smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
The Battle of the Northern Frontier was perilous due to its terrain.
In her previous life, she had once glimpsed a map in Slave City, which was precisely a topographical map of the Northern Frontier.
Her photographic memory allowed her to reproduce the map exactly as it was, along with sufficient provisions and the assistance of the crossbows.
In this battle, the Liang Family Army was bound to win!
For several consecutive days, Wen Xueling buried herself in painting in her room.
With Wen Jingshu’s previous words about “killing the chicken to scare the monkeys,” Wen Xueling and her mother’s lives had improved significantly.
There were no longer any deductions in their meals and winter provisions.
Her scumbag father even seemed to have specifically instructed the guards at the back gate to allow her alone to leave the mansion, but forbade Mu Qingyu from doing so.
This act was more like using her mother to keep her in check.
Wen Xueling knew very well that her scumbag father didn’t fully believe her words and still suspected her relationship with Liang Jue.
She occasionally left the mansion to buy some pastries and food, to add clothes and jewelry for her mother, and also some medicinal herbs for strengthening the body.
Everything had traces to follow.
Wen Jingshu watched her identical routine every time she left the mansion, gradually losing patience, and no longer sent people to monitor her.
A month passed like this.
Besides the hand-thrown incendiary devices she had developed, Wen Xueling had also created a crossbow capable of launching the incendiary devices much further.
The actual power still needed to be tested to be known.
The night her scumbag father left the capital on official business.
Wen Xueling brought her newly developed incendiary devices to a remote mountain forest on the outskirts of the capital.
This place, untouched by human feet, was her carefully selected, perfect location for testing incendiary devices.
When she arrived, Liang Jue and his people had already arrived.
Rather than letting them covertly observe from the shadows, it was better to directly invite them to watch openly and honorably.
Only Wen Xueling knew the method for making the incendiary devices.
Even if Liang Jue and his people saw the results, they wouldn’t be able to develop it. Wen Xueling was very confident about this.
Following the instructions of the person who taught her in her previous life, she had people pile up sandbags to create a safety barrier. Looking at the distant open space, she quietly extended her hand.
Liang Jue: “Hmm?”
She smiled at him: “You throw it. I'm weak and can't throw far.”
Wen Xueling was genuinely shrinking her neck in fear this time, hiding in the safety of the sandbag perimeter, signaling him with her eyes to hurry up.
Liang Jue: “…...”
At first, he also didn’t take it seriously and casually tossed it into the open space.
Bang!
A nearly ten-zhang deep crater suddenly appeared in the middle of the snowy ground. Mud and snow particles flew everywhere, splattering Liang Jue’s face.
“Why didn’t you say earlier that this thing was so powerful?!”
Liang Jue lowered his head, looking at Wen Xueling, whose head was covered by his cloak. Her small face was fair and clean, while his face was covered in mud spots.
Wen Xueling poked her head out from the cloak, innocently blinked at him, and whispered, “I said I was weak and couldn’t throw far, and told you to throw it far. Who knew your strength wasn’t that great either?”
Liang Jue was so angry that his beard flew up.
Just then, Wen Xueling took out a more refined incendiary device and handed it to him, smiling, “This one goes even farther.”
Liang Jue gritted his teeth: “How much farther is ‘even farther’?”
Wen Xueling stood up and glanced at the open space ahead, pointing at a stone at the foot of the mountain, saying, “Just over there by that big stone.”
She was fully covered by Liang Jue’s cloak, and heard his exasperated voice saying, “Hold it tight, dammit!”
“My new cloak, I haven’t even had enough time to show it off. If you dare to damage it, I’ll throw you into the mountains to feed the wolves.”
Wen Xueling pouted, inexplicably finding his furious words more pleasant to listen to than her scumbag father’s.
Boom!
Half of the mountain collapsed with a roar. The immense power made Liang Jue’s eyes widen in disbelief. He could hardly believe that this tiny object was the result of the explosion.
In the shadows, on a certain tree, the silver-masked man in black had his indifferent pupils imperceptibly tremble. His thin lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes held a myriad of thoughts.
If this thing were used on the battlefield, the enemy might not even have a chance to speak.
This woman truly is an extraordinary talent.
Liang Jue was stunned for a long time. This time, he even forgot to wipe the mud spots from his face, and once again felt a tug on his arm.
He lowered his head, his gaze complex, and asked, “There’s more?”
Wen Xueling nodded.
She took out a carefully crafted crossbow and handed it to him, saying, “Old Liang, you have good skills. Please test this crossbow for me. Shoot it towards......that tree.”
Wen Xueling’s finger was pointing directly at the man’s hiding place.
Liang Jue: “?”
Huh? Was he discovered?
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