Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 204: Iron Ore

Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Iron Ore

His heart sank like a stone to the bottom of the lake, breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason.

This was not a good time to discuss matters.

Xie Jue asked, "The Emperor summoned you the day before yesterday. What did he say?"

Fang Chuning, not one to lie to him, replied, "He spoke of Jiangnan’s border defense and also of marriage. He wants to arrange a match for me."

"Hmm." Xie Jue’s expression remained calm, his eyes lowering slightly.

Fang Chuning gazed at Xie Jue’s indifferent, cold face and softly said, "I refused."

Xie Jue had more to say, but then they suddenly heard the sound of birds and beasts. It was the imitation call of the Shadow Guards—a signal. Xie Jue and Fang Chuning stopped discussing personal matters, their gazes focusing intently on the approaching figures in the northwest. Under the blazing midday sun and with a clear line of sight, the two of them spotted four silhouettes.

They weren’t Beiman!

The figures were dressed in black, their faces masked and blades in hand. Silent and swift, they moved with precision, quickly heading their way. Fang Chuning placed a single hand on his sword hilt, calming his breath and focusing his spirit. The group reached the base of the tree, revealing only their sharp, piercing eyes. One among them raised his hand, signaling the others to climb the towering tree. Hidden in the ground below, the Shadow Guards and Chen Lin had already sprung into action. In mere moments, three of the attackers lay dead. The remaining one, shocked and attempting to flee, was cut down mid-air as Fang Chuning descended like a hawk, his blade flashing coldly—one strike to the throat.

Four lifeless bodies lay silently beneath the tree. The Shadow Guards and Chen Lin quickly dragged the corpses to a trap behind the hillside, covering them with dry grass. Once the scene was cleared, they resumed their positions. The entire process was executed with deadly efficiency and an eerie silence. After the bloodstains beneath the tree were cleaned, the Shadow Guards melted back into hiding.

"Jinyi Guard sword techniques," Fang Chuning remarked.

Xie Jue nodded. Last night, before Emperor Jianming summoned Fang Chuning, Xie Jue had already mentioned that there would be ambushes by Jinyi Guards and the Forbidden Army in Xiyanshan. Fang Chuning, however, wasn’t the least bit surprised; Fang Lingjun had warned him earlier. She had revealed that the poison arrow trap was orchestrated by Chen Mo, and she overheard Chen Mo intending to kill the Marquis. Emperor Jianming planned to entrap them in the woods.

If Marquis Zhenbei was a ship, then Xie Zhang was the helmsman, and Xie Jue was undoubtedly the compass, steering the vessel clear of storms and whirlpools. Emperor Jianming had instructed Fang Chuning not to accompany Xie Jue into Xiyanshan. But Fang Chuning, a man of keen perception and intelligence, had already discerned the underlying meaning.

Upright and resolute, he replied to Emperor Jianming, "Commands have been given on the battlefield. Xie Jue has specifically named me to go, and I must follow military orders. If we were to replace me now, where would Yanyang’s honor be? The Beiman would mock us as cowardly, fearing death—and the Fang Family cannot afford to be disgraced."

Yet in his heart, he knew: no matter how perilous, he would go through fire and water with Xie Jue. Once he sensed the Emperor’s hints, there was no way he would let Xie Jue face danger alone.

By accompanying Xie Jue into Xiyanshan, he would, perhaps, compel Emperor Jianming to act with more caution and restraint, forced to not overstep.

But he was overthinking it!

Within an hour, they had ambushed and killed two groups of assailants, their methods identical—lying in wait. Nine lives were claimed within the forest. After the second wave was eliminated, Xie Jue and Fang Chuning led their men westward. After each kill, they relocated—a signature tactic. Striking twice at the same location would easily expose their position.

Chen Lin, well-versed in the traps set by the Jinyi Guards and Forbidden Army, dismantled the mechanisms. Then, he guided Xie Jue and Fang Chuning to another safe spot where they climbed up a tree and disappeared into the canopy once more.

Xie Jue feigned sleep on the tree. Just past noon, the sound of birds and beasts came again. Dugu Jing was leading a group of Beiman below. They were visibly irritable; Dugu Jing growled, "Where on earth are they hiding? We’ve scoured the entire mountain and found no trace!"

"They’re definitely holed up in the mountains, too scared to show themselves, waiting for nightfall like cowards!"

"Cunning Yanyang scum!"

Both Xie Jue and Fang Chuning were fluent in the Beiman language, understanding every word. Dugu Jing spoke rapidly, teetering on the edge of rage. Xie Jue and Fang Chuning simply watched as they passed below. The Shadow Guards and Chen Lin, concealed among the thorns, blended seamlessly with their surroundings and were nearly undetectable. Their eyes tracked Dugu Jing and the Beiman until they vanished into the distance.

Dugu Jing was hunting Xie Jue as though he were tracking a stag. But Xie Jue and Fang Chuning—they were alike in their patience. They were not anxious to kill Dugu Jing. First, they needed to clear out the Jinyi Guards and Forbidden Army lying in wait within the forest.

The two of them initially suspected that the Jinyi Guards and Forbidden Army might be following Dugu Jing, intending to reap the benefits of his efforts. But as Dugu Jing passed, no sign of the other forces appeared. Xie Jue and Fang Chuning exchanged a glance—could they have miscalculated?

They both saw hesitation in each other’s eyes. The forest was too quiet—eerily so. Even the sunlight seemed to dim, inch by inch.

The camp.

Fang Lingjun was playing polo with Fengyu. Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and the others had recovered from their injuries and, heedless of past lessons, were back together, playing again. The instigator, Cai Wensen, had been punished by Fang Lingjun, his hands tied and suspended from a tree for fifteen minutes. Cai Wensen felt that such a punishment was worth it to appease his companions, even cheerfully suggesting they extend it by another fifteen minutes.

Afterward, they all teamed up for a polo match, challenging the team led by Lin Yunong. The match was lively and boisterous. Feng Shu quietly slipped away after Fengyu scored a goal.

As long as Ayu is happy!

During this return to the capital, Feng Shu noticed her younger sister becoming more cheerful, laughing more often, and making new friends. Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and the others played well with her. Feng Shu thought to herself, this was a good thing.

On her way back to the camp, Feng Shu encountered the Crown Prince. Surrounded by a retinue as though he were the moon among stars, he seemed to have just concluded a discussion with civil officials. Slightly weary but maintaining an impeccable demeanor, he was accompanied by two Ministry of Revenue officials and several trusted aides.

Before Feng Shu could bow, the Crown Prince raised his hand lightly and said, "Dispense with the formalities. Second Miss, I happen to have something to discuss with you."

"Yes," Feng Shu responded, puzzled. What could he want?

The two Ministry of Revenue officials glanced at Feng Shu, bowed to the Crown Prince, and took their leave. The Crown Prince approached, prompting Dongxue and Xia Zhu to step back. He said, "The Ministry of Revenue mentioned the matter of the twelve-state iron mines. I have a question to ask you."

"Your Highness flatters me. Whatever I know, I will certainly share without reservation."

What was going on with the twelve-state iron mines?

The Crown Prince began slowly, "The Ministry of Revenue received reports from the Twelve States Governor stating that the state government’s control over the iron mines is steadily weakening. Six of the mines have been mined without authorization, their output unaccounted for, defying regulations and concealing the truth. I need to know the real situation of the twelve-state mines."

Iron mines were state-controlled; merchants were only granted mining rights, while ownership rested with the local state government and Yanyang. No mining was permitted without state orders. The twelve states, however, had a unique situation: rife with banditry and roaming outlaws, some had taken to the mountains, forming alliances with merchants to mine secretly. Despite military efforts to eradicate these bandits, the mines continued to fall under outlaw control. Currently, the twelve states had already seen three cities rendered hollow, with displaced people spreading chaos, often seizing mines as bandits did, clashing frequently with the state government.

As tensions escalated without resolution, scheming merchants exploited the displaced populace’s resentment of the government, employing them to mine ore. This often led to conflicts with government troops. Over time, the state government began to relinquish its oversight of the mines, content as long as taxes were paid on time.