Chapter 22: Summoning Thirteen Back to the Capital to Become the Princess’s Consort

"Don't move." She pressed her palm against the wound, and a soft, emerald light spilled from between her fingers.

Dongfang Jiebai’s pupils constricted. He felt a warm current surge into his meridians, and the burning pain vanished instantly. Gazing at Ji Ci’s profile, he felt in his heart that she was a little immortal. When the green light faded, the wound had not fully healed, but the poison had been neutralized. Ji Ci quietly infused a strand of vital energy into the injury—enough to ensure recovery without being too fast or raising suspicion.

Dongfang Jiebai sheathed his sword and turned around, only to see Ji Ci scurrying over to the corpse, rummaging through its belongings.

"What are you looking for?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ji Ci didn't even look up. "Checking for bank notes."

Dongfang Jiebai: "..."

She was righteous and confident. "Do you know what the most painful thing in life is?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"It's dying with money left unspent!"

He chuckled softly, reached out to pull her up, and wiped the dust from her cheek with his thumb. His voice was low. "Stay further back next time. You don't need to intervene while I am here."

Ji Ci pouted. "They were bullying you! I couldn't just let you suffer a loss!"

Dongfang Jiebai looked at her small, blood-stained face, which looked completely indifferent to the danger. He pinched her cheek gently, his voice filled with a doting tone he hadn't even noticed himself. "Alright, you protect me from now on."

Ji Ci nodded vigorously, looking remarkably cute and guileless. Dongfang Jiebai’s gaze darkened, and his knuckles tightened. It seemed some people were tired of living.

Inside the tent, candlelight flickered. Dongfang Jiebai touched the wound on his shoulder. It had already closed; such a recovery speed was something even the best medicinal salves could not achieve. Since his little fox had revealed such a trump card to him, he would certainly never let her suffer the slightest harm. As long as he lived, his little fox would live a carefree life. In this lifetime, he would protect her with his life.

A smile curled his lips. He tapped his long fingers against the desk and summoned Bai Yi, instructing him, "Tell Thirteen to return to the capital and infiltrate the Princess's mansion as a consort."

Bai Yi’s mouth twitched imperceptibly—this was not an easy task. "I will handle it immediately, Master."

At that moment, Thirteen was dressed in a gown, maneuvering through the largest pleasure house in Ningzhou. Poor Thirteen had no idea that danger was closing in on him.

He masked his voice and giggled, "Magistrate Zhu, have another cup~"

Zhu Huifei, the rotund and greasy Magistrate of Ningzhou, had his filthy hand draped over Thirteen’s waist. Thirteen had been undercover here for three months to investigate the salt smuggling case, and he had already gathered about seventy or eighty percent of the evidence. The current suspicions pointed squarely at Zhu Huifei.

To seduce Zhu Huifei, Thirteen had racked his brain, learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—truly selling his talents but not his body.

"Miss Orchid is exceptionally charming today." Zhu Huifei reeked of alcohol, his greasy fingers sliding down Thirteen's spine.

Thirteen frowned, suppressing his nausea as he looked at the wandering hand on his backside. Instantly, he put on a fawning smile and spun into the man's arms. "Magistrate Zhu, you haven't visited in so long; I've missed you to death."

"Then this beauty must serve me well tonight." Zhu Huifei’s large mouth began gnawing on Thirteen’s face.

Thirteen felt like vomiting, but his smile didn't waver as he poured cup after cup of wine for Zhu Huifei. He was inwardly burning with anxiety. If his master didn't let him stop soon, he feared his chastity would be lost right here!

To Thirteen’s eager anticipation, twenty days later, he received an even more shocking mission. Become a consort? For that shrew of a princess? The master’s woman? Hmm... was he allowed to sleep with her?

To ensure the message was correct, Thirteen’s hands trembled as he sent out another carrier pigeon for confirmation. When the reply arrived, it was three pages long, filled entirely with insults calling him an idiot. The last line contained the crucial information: the master had another woman, and she was right by his side!

"Should have said so earlier! I thought I had to seduce the master's woman!" Thirteen sighed in relief, threw the letter into a brazier, and tidied up his room, transforming into a handsome scholar. He decided on a new approach: disguise himself as a candidate traveling to the capital for the imperial exams, and "accidentally" encounter the princess on her travels. He would pretend to be robbed by bandits, get rescued by the princess, earn his status through the exams, and become the Princess's husband.

Thirteen nodded in satisfaction. Being a consort had no future, but being a husband was a choice. Only by infiltrating the enemy's inner circle could he truly serve his master.

Dongfang Jiebai was completely unaware of Thirteen’s plan. When the two finally met, Dongfang Jiebai’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

At the border, the army marched for two months and finally reached Yanmen Pass. The common people had fled or scattered; there were few left in the city. Ji Ci, transformed into a little fox, was tucked inside Dongfang Jiebai’s cloak, with only her pointed ears peeking out. Dongfang Jiebai ordered the army to set up camp outside the pass, where there were mountains and water.

Ji Ci was sleeping groggily; when she opened her eyes, she saw Dongfang Jiebai’s handsome face. She hopped out of his arms to survey the terrain.

The terrain here was easy to defend and hard to attack—a good location. About three miles away, there was a water source. Ji Ci squinted as she looked into the distance; water was crucial for marching and fighting. She had to remind Dongfang Jiebai to send men to guard it. Before she could even lower her little paw, she saw a team of scouts leaving the camp, heading in the direction of the water.

The problems she could think of, Dongfang Jiebai had naturally considered as well. Knowing his little fox wouldn't wander off blindly, he let her play.

Ji Ci ran into the city. There weren't many people left; it was even more dilapidated than Xiping Prefecture. She checked the soil quality—it lacked nutrients, and growing crops here would be difficult. Thinking of the mountain-high pile of wheat and rice seeds in her space, she felt much more at ease. If there was grain, people could survive.

It was already late at night when Ji Ci finished her reconnaissance and returned to the camp. She gave a small kick and jumped onto Dongfang Jiebai’s bed. He caught her and poked her cold little nose. "Had enough fun?"

Ji Ci hopped excitedly, her fiery red tail swaying in the moonlight like a puppy’s. "There isn't even a wild dog nearby! How am I supposed to gather intelligence?"

She suddenly stood on her hind legs and gestured with her front paws: "Can you find me some like this—ones that go 'woof woof'?"

Dongfang Jiebai couldn't help but laugh as he watched the little fox clumsily mimic a dog, his eyes filled with gentleness. "Alright."

Ji Ci nodded in satisfaction, flicking her tail. As expected of her male lead, his comprehension was perfect! She only had to gesture a few times, and he understood immediately. Truly a teachable spirit!

[New mission: Help Dongfang Jiebai defeat the enemy army. Reward: 300 points. Transformation progress: 205/1000.]

The amber fox eyes suddenly lit up. "Can I pre-draw the transformation?"

[Warning: Forced transformation will trigger a three-minute electric shock penalty.]

Ji Ci tilted her head and calculated—an electric shock was fine. She had to become human eventually, and if she didn't, she couldn't play her part.

Although Dongfang Jiebai didn't know what an electric shock was, seeing the little fox’s ears droop suddenly, he knew it wasn't good. Worried that she might get hurt, he gently held those restless paws, his thumb stroking the soft, pink pads. "Come with me to the main tent tomorrow to discuss military affairs, would you like that?"

Ji Ci’s ears perked up instantly. Wasn't this like someone handing her a pillow just as she felt sleepy? She was determined to make these ancient people witness the power of modern military theory!