Villain Lady

"Less than a month, Your Highness."

A month.

It was not a time that Prince Ji Sheng expected to hear. He tapped the table and looked at Wei Liuying. "In other words, General Hao won't be able to come here if there's a problem?"

Wei Liuying slowly nodded her head. Should Prince Ji Shu try to eliminate Prince Ji Sheng in a frontal battle, the soldiers would be forced to have a fight with their comrades. It would be a very sad battle.

And the only method to stop it was by eliminating the leader.

If they have to come with military showdown, Wei Liuying knew that Prince Ji Sheng would need all help he could get. Having General Hao helping him would be a great helping hand as they would be able to win in terms of number. But if the tribes were to start attacking at this time, the new area they have just claimed would be in danger once more.

They have to pick either to face the internal battle or handle the outer battle.

"Do you think you can convince General Hao?"

"It'll depend on the situation there and also the movements of Nu Tribe."

One of the three big tribes, Nu Tribe, have been reigning the northeast ever since a long time ago. They didn't try to create as much trouble as Xiong Tribe because they still could live peacefully one way or another. Even though there were several attempts of attack because of some conflict of interest, there was never any large war like with Xiong Tribe.

Now that Xiong Tribe was pushed back, it was not without a price. Asking Prince Ji Sheng to go for another war with the northern tribes would deplete the human resources far too quickly. In addition, they would require a lot of food, which was hard to grow at the north area like this.

They have to rely on the farmers who lived near the border and was close enough to the river to make sure the plants didn't die out. 

"Do you need anything to help you out there?"

"I just need transportation," Wei Liuying replied. She did get her salary, but buying horse when she only needed to make short trip and taking care of it was too much of a hassle. It would be better if she asked Prince Ji Sheng to prepare one for her.

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. "it's easy. What else?"

"Recommendation letter saying that I want to learn about the tactics that involved the sea."

"…Fine. Anything else?"

Wei Liuying tilted her head and shook her head lightly. "I don't think that there's anything else that I need."

"I haven't rewarded you for what you did back then during battles with Xiong Tribe because I can't mention what you did in their headquarters," Prince Ji Sheng said. There was no award ceremony yet because of the Emperor's condition and the fact that the war was not quite ended yet. However, Prince Ji Sheng still gave reward that was within his capabilities to his men when it all ended.

It was a simple ceremony where Yang Xian read the names and the reward that he gave. For Wei Liuying back then, it was simply some monetary reward that didn't seem to worth that much.

Wei Liuying blinked her eyes. "I can ask for anything?"

"As long as you don't step on the line."

For a moment, Wei Liuying thought about what she wanted. She tapped the table. "Can you give an Imperial Edict?"

"Don't ask for making you a commoner and order to leave your current position," Prince Ji Sheng said unhurriedly.

Wei Liuying's lips twitched. For some reason, she had the feeling that these were the rewards that Yang Xian had asked from Prince Ji Sheng. If it was all written in Imperial Edict, only the edict from someone at higher status could change it. And if the content was to relieve Yang Xian from his position, other people would not try to interfere at all.

Instead, they would celebrate.

There were countless people who would be more than happy when Yang Xian finally step down from his position. After all, many thought of him as a threat.

"I don't want to ask that."

"What do you want?"

"I want an edict to be free from my family and can get married with the one I want," Wei Liuying replied.

Prince Ji Sheng arched his eyebrows. He looked at Wei Liuying and nodded lightly. If Wei Liuying were to return back to her previous identity, it was clear that she would be tied down to Wei Family once more. If her father tried to interfere with whatever she wanted to do again, she would not be able to accept it.

"Alright, I'll write the edict and pass it to you."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. It was then he thought of something. "And the person you want to marry, is it Xian?"

Wei Liuying blinked her eyes. "Your Highness, I'm still a bit too young to get married."

An adult in the capital city and to the south was 16 years old for women. Even though at the north the hairpin ceremony was done when they were 15, which was earlier, Wei Liuying still hadn't done hers. With the war raging on, there was simply no time for her to have the hairpin ceremony.

"I didn't say that you have to get married right away, but I'm asking if he's the one you want to marry," Prince Ji Sheng elaborated.

This time, Wei Liuying was silent for a longer time. The two of them never tried to breach the lines they have drawn as master and disciple. Even though there were some awkward moments because Wei Liuying was staying in the same tent with Yang Xian sometimes and also in his house, they respected each other's privacy.

It was to the point that Yang Xian ended up punishing the soldiers for trying to peek on their conversation one time.

But if she had to be honest, the only person she would want to marry would be Yang Xian. They might have their differences and shortcomings, but she knew that she could always be herself when she was with him. 

She knew how hard it was for him to hide everything from her considering that she was quite sharp. However, all this time, she had never once realized his scheme that he had prepared for her until he revealed it to her at that battle a few months prior. 

How cunning.

Excluding the fact that he basically created schemes to tie her with him, she did have some interest on him. She also didn't dislike having him thought so much just to get her.

After a while, Wei Liuying responded, "Yes."