Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Pawn

Wen Zhiyan had been in a daze, but at these words, it felt as if she had been struck hard across the back. Before she even realized it, she had pressed herself against the door, listening to their conversation more intently.

"I have done as Young Master Song commanded, but you know, sir, that my establishment, Drunkenly Listening to the Wind, is a business. Keeping a girl as lovely as a flower who cannot work, and paying people to wait on her, is really..."

Song Baiqing spoke with a severity Wen Zhiyan had never heard before.

The attitude of the Third Squad Leader was so matter-of-fact that it caused the surrounding members of the Night Hawk Commando to frown. They acknowledged that these men were capable, but their arrogance was simply too much. Regardless of the circumstances, they had been completely wiped out, and that was an undeniable, ironclad fact.

Because water could wash their hands clean, the mother and child felt an immense affinity for it. Yet, he could not wash away his own birthmark, and he and his grandmother lived in misery every day. After his grandmother passed away, he remained trapped in a depth of sorrow from which he could not extricate himself.

After the troops had taken cover, the 239th Regiment’s reconnaissance company, led by Company Commander Wu Shuangxi and Deputy Commander Wang Guiman, conducted a scouting mission to the Japanese camp at Majiawan. They discovered that an entire Japanese regiment of over two thousand soldiers had occupied the village of Majiawan. These soldiers had driven the villagers out of their homes and moved in themselves.

Zhao Zhigang still lay quietly on the bed, unmoving. But if he could hear and understand what Yan Pojue was saying at this moment, a relieved smile must surely have appeared in his heart.

Ye Qingcheng was more than happy to escalate any matter to an international issue at a moment's notice. What she enjoyed most was seeing trouble brew between the Emperor and Xia Xun, though she had overestimated the situation.

As Ye Li had expected, the man began to run a fever that afternoon, mumbling about the cold even after being covered by three quilts.

The matron who arrived had a square face and looked quite ordinary, save for her eyes, which glinted with a sharp, shrewd light from time to time.

Now that the Empress Dowager had bestowed such grace upon the eldest branch of the family, could it be that they had betrayed him in secret and pledged their loyalty to her?

Ye Qingcheng was actually very excited. That man had appeared again, and in the guise of Xia Xun. Did this mean that news of him could be found within the Great Xia Kingdom?

Xia Xun stood up, and Ye Qingcheng tucked the Soul Jade away. Even though six months had passed, she still treasured this piece of jade dearly. Although she had lent it to Xia Xun to use, she insisted on storing it in her own cloud ring every time.

Feng had once promised that the Imperial Guard would never be disbanded and would always follow Feng Guozhang. Whether Feng Guozhang was in Nanjing, Beijing, or during his periods of retirement, these officers and soldiers had remained by his side. After the unification of the North and South, the Nanjing government issued specific directives regarding this Imperial Guard.

When the Fatty left, he taught Gui Ling all the methods and hand seals for controlling and maintaining the great formation. Because of this, Gui Ling understood the formation well and was able to retrieve the great sword with ease.

After the fire was lit, the three envoys followed, remaining motionless as they guarded Adriana’s carriage. Adriana, having quarreled with Hebrida, locked herself inside the carriage and refused Carabis’s invitation to join him for dinner.

"Wah!" The infant in Old Master Tan's arms suddenly began to cry loudly. Old Master Tan held the baby with both hands, constantly trying to coax him.

Since the death of Sun Ce, Taishi Ci had seen little combat, remaining in Wu Commandery to guard the city and deter the Shanyue tribes, which made it difficult to improve his martial arts. However, Guan Yu had followed Liu Bei on various campaigns and later, under the command of Pang Shanmin, had repeatedly clashed with the elite warriors of Cao’s camp. Taishi Ci could be certain that Guan Yu's martial arts had now reached the pinnacle of perfection.

"Time-Lag Demon Eye, activate!" The flashing golden light faded from his eyes, leaving behind pupils that resembled the face of a clock.

It turned out that the moment he fired his gun, Jing Xiang had aimed the muzzle in another direction; he had never intended to kill anyone.