The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1695: 825 Overbearing Beauty Has Arrived! (2 taels) _3

Chapter 1695: 825 Overbearing Beauty Has Arrived! (2 taels) _3

Gu Jiao pinched the faces of the two men: “Adults? You haven’t even fully grown your hair yet, humph.”

Gu Yan: “I’m only half a day younger than you!”

Gu Jiao was resolute in her decision that the three young men must return to Zhan Country with their aunt and uncle.

Gu Yan said with a sullen face: “You won’t let us stay, fine, but at least take this.”

With that, he placed a Mechanism Box on the table.

“And mine.” Gu Xiaoshun took his out as well.

These were precisely the life-saving Hidden Weapons made for them by Master Lu. Last time, they secretly placed them by Gu Jiao’s pillow, only for her to put them back.

Gu Jiao squinted at the two of them: “You’ve even learned to negotiate now. Who taught you those tactics?”

If they had asked her to take it from the start, she would have definitely refused.

But they first proposed a more outrageous demand, making this smaller request seem insignificant by comparison.

Gu Yan raised an eyebrow and huffed: “No one taught us, we’re self-taught, naturally gifted.”

Gu Jiao’s lips twitched. It seems these days, you two have been eavesdropping on us doing bad things, and you’ve learned all our little tricks!

In the end, Gu Jiao accepted them.

Because only in this way could they be a bit more at ease.

After tidying up, Gu Jiao made her last trip to her aunt’s room.

Aunt was asleep.

Gu Jiao didn’t wake her, walked over, and gently placed a jar of preserved plums on her aunt’s table.

Then she came to the bedside, and whispered into the ear of the sleeping aunt: “You can only eat three a day, no more. Once you finish them all, I’ll be back.”

The August night was slightly cool.

After tucking in her aunt, Gu Jiao tiptoed out of the room.

The Armor made a rustling noise, which she quickly quelled. She glanced back at her aunt, sighed lightly, turned around, and closed the door.

In the darkness, the Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were rimmed with red.

A tear slid down, and she closed her eyes again as if nothing had happened.

…

At the hour of the tiger, the Hei Fengqi began to break camp.

Fifty thousand cavalry were about to embark on their westward expedition.

The imperial edict for the expedition was issued only three days ago, but Gu Jiao had given orders ten days in advance to prepare for the march. Thus, everything was already in order, making Hei Fengqi the most unhurried and organized among all the troops.

Gu Jiao arrived at her barracks, where Master Hu had been waiting early. Seeing her approach, Master Hu took small, quick steps over.

Though the weather had turned cooler, he still hadn’t discarded his fan.

He cupped his hands in salute and said: “My lady, just now all six commanding officers reported that the three major camps have assembled and await your orders at any time.”

Gu Jiao said: “Take me to see them.”

Master Hu quickly responded: “Yes.”

All the training grounds were filled with Warhorses and Cavalry. There were ten thousand men in the Vanguard Camp, twenty-five thousand in the Assault Camp, and fifteen thousand in the reserve camp.

The reserve camp was mainly for supplies, logistics, medical care, and backup Hei Fengqi.

This time, due to the disparity in manpower, even some Hei Fengqi under three years old were brought along, with the youngest just over two and a half.

The horse trainer saw Gu Jiao approaching and his face darkened.

It was obvious he was very averse to this arrangement.

Master Hu cleared his throat and explained: “There’s no choice, the supplies are too many. To maximize the combat strength of adult horses, the fodder has to be pulled by these young ones.”

Two and a half-year-old horses can already work, but this isn’t ordinary work—they’d be galloping for miles on a dangerous mission with unknown perils.

They might never return.

The young horses were very excited, bouncing around behind the lead horse, not yet understanding what awaited them.

Gu Jiao took a deep look at the bouncing young horses and said: “Horses under three years old should stay behind.”

The lead horse: “…!!”

The horse trainer looked at Gu Jiao in astonishment.

Gu Jiao seemed oblivious to his gaze, patting the neck of the lead horse, and then turned to inspect the other camps.

She could feel the unfamiliar stares from everyone, and even though she held the position of commander, she hadn’t been truly accepted or acknowledged.

They followed her orders not out of respect, but simply because obeying commands was their duty.

By the time Gu Jiao finished her inspections, it was the hour of the rabbit.

After autumn set in, the night receded less brutally, and the Horizon remained pitch-black.

Gu Jiao stood at the breezy vantage point with the Hei Feng King, patting the Armor on its back, and softly asked: “Are you ready, Boss?”

The sixteen-year-old Hei Feng King’s Aura was fully unleashed, radiating battle intent.

The Warhorses on the training grounds felt the Hei Feng King’s battle spirit, and it was as if they were suddenly filled with endless fighting spirit; their eyes and breaths transformed.

The cavalry looked at their mounts in astonishment.

Such a scene… had never occurred before.

Yet this was not the most shocking thing.

The newly appointed Commander Xiao, standing in front, took something from Hei Feng King’s saddle and extended a hand towards Master Hu.

“Bring the flagpole.”

Gu Jiao said.

“Oh, oh! Yes!”

Master Hu hastily handed over the prepared empty flagpole, offering it with both hands, “My lady, here you go. You mentioned it to me once before, so I prepared it early.”

He didn’t quite understand why she needed a flagpole.

Wasn’t the flag of Dayan Country already being carried by the cavalry of the Vanguard Camp?

Next second, Gu Jiao unfurled the cloth in her hand with a snap!

No, that wasn’t cloth!

It was a banner!

Black-edged and white-bodied, with an eagle soaring across the sky at its center!

“A Flying Eagle… It’s the Flying Eagle Banner!”

Someone among the cavalry couldn’t help but exclaim.

The Flying Eagle was originally the symbol of Hei Fengqi, later evolving to become the emblem of the entire Xuanyuan Family, and the Flying Eagle Banner became the Xuanyuan Family’s command flag.

Since the demise of the Xuanyuan Family, all Flying Eagle Banners had been destroyed.

Gu Jiao slipped the banner onto the flagpole, gripping it with both hands, and mounted the horse deftly.

She didn’t utter a word, only holding the Xuanyuan Family’s command flag firmly with resolute determination in her eyes.

The old troops of the Xuanyuan Family all had moist eyes.

A sixty-year-old veteran on horseback suddenly broke into tears.

“Wei Renchong, it’s time to go, what are you looking at!”

Outside the reserve camp, a Soldier reminded the bemusedly staring Wei Renchong.

Wei Renchong did not answer.

He was dumbfounded, watching the youth on horseback.

The boy’s shoulders were still immature, yet he resolutely took up the Xuanyuan Family’s command flag.

He bore a burden that should not belong to someone of his age, determined to protect the kingdom the Xuanyuan Family had shielded with their blood.

And what was he doing!

Wei Renchong, what are you doing!

“Wei Renchong, stand up, do not lose to me. I’m only sixteen, would you not feel ashamed to lose to me!”

“Wei Renchong, I, Xuanyuan Sheng, do not place my trust just anywhere. Do not fail me!”

“Wei Renchong, have you lost your mind or what! Can’t you dodge when an arrow is aimed at your forehead!”

“Wei Renchong… break through… do not… die here…”

Wei Renchong’s memories were running rampant, he couldn’t tell apart Xuanyuan Sheng and the boy on the horse for a moment.

The Xuanyuan Family’s command flag flapped in the wind under the dawning sky, producing a fierce and resounding noise.

Gu Jiao said solemnly: “All Hei Fengqi, heed my orders. We follow the Princess into battle, carrying out an imperial command to quell the rebels! The journey ahead is perilous and uncertain, life or death unknown. Anyone who does not wish to go can stay behind! I will not punish you!”

No one stayed behind!

Gu Jiao withdrew her gaze, lifting the command flag high. Her eyes were filled with killing intent: “Move out!”