Jin Shuwei and the soldiers watched these desperate and fierce women with their mouths agape, frozen in place. They were, at that moment, cursing the Holy Maiden of Qinghuang Kingdom, whose status was second only to the Great General of the Protectorate.
However, if the National Master and the Princess weren't real, how would they have dared to do this?
Huang Liansheng, seeing a mouthful of aged phlegm on her clean shoes, trembled with rage. Her face contorted as she pointed at Granny Zhong and the others, her voice hoarse as she ordered, "Guards! Drag these wicked women out and behead them!"
Several guards, who had already drawn their swords, stepped forward towards Granny Zhong.
"I'd like to see who dares!" Bai Sheng suddenly slammed the table and shouted sternly.
Everyone present was startled and turned to look at her.
Even Granny Zhong and Tian Guihua were shocked; they had never seen a lady throw such a tantrum.
The soldiers walking towards Granny Zhong stopped in their tracks because anyone who dared to roar at their Holy Maiden face-to-face must have an extraordinary status.
Since they were extraordinary, the soldiers couldn't act impulsively, lest they offend someone they shouldn't.
Bai Sheng rose with an imposing presence, her gaze sharp and her aura compelling as she walked over.
Zuo Ye followed closely behind her, head held high and chest puffed out, appearing as though he didn't put the Holy Maiden in his eyes at all.
Prince Yu, Consort Mei, Third Uncle, Little Aunt, Zuo Siming, Zuo Yun, and others also followed behind Bai Sheng, each with an arrogant and fearless expression.
Even the four little ones stood beside Bai Sheng with their short arms crossed and chins held high, nostrils pointing towards the sky.
Huang Liansheng scanned their faces one by one with a scrutinizing gaze. When she saw Zuo Ye, a flash of admiration crossed her eyes.
After a moment, she fixed her gaze on Bai Sheng's veiled hat and gritted her teeth, saying, "You, who are you?"
Bai Sheng let out a cold laugh, "Who am I? Huang Liansheng, you should know very well.
I am Huang Xuesheng, the Princess of Qinghuang Kingdom, who was pushed off the observation deck at the age of five and became a fool, and who was again pushed into the Great Xia prisoner camp by you when Fengcheng fell, becoming a slave of Great Xia!"
My heavens! This information was immense!
Back then, it was the Holy Maiden, no, the County Princess, who pushed the Princess off the observation deck, and then pushed the already foolish Princess into Great Xia's prisoner camp, making her a slave of Great Xia.
If this news were true, it would be... too explosive.
Jin Shuwei and all the soldiers were stunned, no one daring to breathe too loudly.
A flicker of panic crossed Huang Liansheng's face, but she quickly regained her composure. She looked at Bai Sheng and, with a show of bravado, shouted, "What Great Xia spy is this, daring to slander me here! I, this Holy Maiden, love my cousin too much to frame her! You, a Great Xia spy who dare not show your true face, dare to impersonate the Princess of Qinghuang!"
Bai Sheng's cold eyes bore into Huang Liansheng, and she questioned sternly, "Huang Liansheng, you've only just seen me, and without any investigation, you are convinced I am a Great Xia spy? Are you so eager to have me beheaded? What is your true intention? Don't you know yourself?!
I am the true Princess of Qinghuang Kingdom! Today, I have returned to my homeland with my family. The reason we have stopped at the border for several days is not because I am incapable of crossing these mere five hundred border guards.
It is because I respect them and their loyalty! If I wished to return to Qinghuang, no one could stop me!
My husband alone could easily defeat these border guards! What are you, a mere insidious person, worth?! Relying on the title of Holy Maiden, you put on airs and feign innocence! Even dogs find you disgusting!"
San Gouzi, standing beside Bai Sheng, immediately made a few "yuck" gestures, astonishing the soldiers.
Bai Sheng advanced step by step. Huang Liansheng took a step back, her voice trembling as she loudly commanded, "You—you—Guards! Guards! Arrest all these Great Xia spies and behead them immediately!"
None of the soldiers moved, including the guards who had drawn their swords with Huang Liansheng.
"Captain Jin! Are you rebelling?" Huang Liansheng glared at Jin Shuwei, her eyes bulging.
Jin Shuwei looked troubled and cupped his fists, saying, "Holy Maiden, please forgive me. The Princess's identity is not yet confirmed, and this subordinate dares not act rashly. It is best to wait for the Great General of the Protectorate to arrive before making a decision."
Huang Liansheng's face turned ashen. She suddenly turned, drew a guard's sword, and lunged at Bai Sheng.
Just as the soldiers were greatly alarmed, they saw the Princess nimbly dodge the Holy Maiden's sword and then powerfully kick the Holy Maiden in the back without mercy.
Granny Zhong, Tian Guihua, and the others immediately stepped aside, creating a perfect spot for Huang Liansheng to fall face-first.
The Holy Maiden's guards' faces changed drastically, and they all placed their hands on their sword hilts, but hesitated and dared not move.
"Holy Maiden!" Han Shuang, Huang Liansheng's personal maid, immediately ran to help her up and then sternly yelled at the dozen or so guards, "What are you standing around for? Can't you see the Holy Maiden being bullied by this Great Xia slut?"
"Slap, slap, slap!" Tian Guihua, standing behind Han Shuang, grabbed her hair and slapped her several times, saying fiercely, "Slut! His Royal Highness the Princess is not someone like you, a slut, can insult!"
"Stop!" A stern shout suddenly came from behind the soldiers.
Everyone turned to look and saw a man in general's attire on a tall horse, stopping at the edge of the crowd.
The man was about twenty-something, with ordinary looks but a robust build. Upon seeing Huang Liansheng, he immediately dismounted and rushed over.
"Deputy General Xu, save me, sob sob..." Huang Liansheng burst into tears upon seeing the man.
Deputy General Xu walked up to Huang Liansheng, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully, "This subordinate begs your pardon for arriving late to your aid."
Using "saving the sovereign" was quite a boast! Granny Wu eyed the man coldly.
Huang Liansheng, as if suffering immense injustice, pointed at Bai Sheng and said, "Deputy General Xu, this woman is impersonating the Princess of Qinghuang and has injured me, this Holy Maiden, for no reason. Quickly, kill her!"
Deputy General Xu's face contorted with rage. He drew his sword with a swish and placed it at Bai Sheng's throat.
Seeing this, Captain Jin's face changed greatly. Deputy General Xu, you acted too hastily.
Previously, Captain Jin had only half-believed that this woman was the true Princess. Now, he had a ninety percent certainty.
It wasn't worth offending the true Princess for the sake of the County Princess who had framed her.
Bai Sheng lowered her eyes to look at the cold glint of the sword blade and snorted, "Deputy General Xu? Do you truly intend to do this?"
Deputy General Xu's face was filled with anger, and he made no move to withdraw his sword.
"Take the sword away!" Zuo Ye looked at Deputy General Xu, his voice as cold as that of the King of Hell. Even if the King of Heaven himself ordered it, no one would put a sword to his darling's neck.
Deputy General Xu blinked in surprise upon seeing Zuo Ye but still did not move.
Zuo Ye became angry. He grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it forcefully. With a crisp "crack," Deputy General Xu's face turned pale as he let out a cry of pain, and the sword clattered to the ground.
"You—Captain Jin! I order you to arrest these Great Xia spies at once!" Deputy General Xu's wrist was broken, and he was sweating profusely from the pain.
Captain Jin cupped his fists and said righteously, "My apologies, I cannot comply. They are very likely the Princess and the National Master. No one is to be moved until the Great General of the Protectorate arrives. Moreover, this subordinate is in the south and only obeys the orders of Deputy General Li."