19 I will beat you to death, you son of a bitch.

“Stupid is as stupid does. I’m talking about that Miss Han.”

“Doctor Han?”

Han Lei’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. Sure enough, some still regarded her as a monster.

She crept closer, peeking out from behind the haystack, watching the two soldiers chatting excitedly.

“Yes! That’s her. Ever since Miss Han arrived, the wounded soldiers on the brink of death suddenly recovered, and during the days of food shortage, she miraculously produced so much grain. What else could she be if not a monster?”

“I find that hard to believe. If Miss Han were a monster, why would she save those wounded soldiers instead of harming them? Monsters usually prey on humans, don’t they?”

“That’s what puzzles me too. Anyway, there’ve never been women in the camp since ancient times. Miss Han must have used some kind of bewitching magic to seduce the commander, which is why he brought her in.”

Damn, bewitching magic?

The more Han Lei listened, the angrier she became. She couldn’t help but curse silently. Seizing the moment when they were engrossed in their gossip, she suddenly appeared before them. Before they could react, Han Lei whipped off her cloak and delivered a fierce kick to one soldier’s ankle.

The soldier yelped and crouched, clutching his ankle.

The more Han Lei thought about it, the angrier she got. She swung her fists furiously at his head.

“I told you, bewitch me with your magic! Go ahead, show me your bewitching!”

The other soldier, upon recognizing her, gasped in shock and shrank back.

“Dr… Doctor Han…”

Han Lei ignored him and kept pounding the soldier on the ground, her sweet yet furious scolding echoing loudly—

“You ungrateful bastard! They say a drop of kindness should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude, yet you not only refused to repay me, you even insulted me as a monster after eating my grain. I’ll beat you to death, you thankless bastard!”

“Miss Han, please spare me! Miss Han, have mercy…”

Hearing Han Lei’s voice, the soldier on the ground realized he was in deep trouble. Forgetting the pain in his ankle, he clutched his head and begged desperately.

“You dare call me a monster? Then don’t eat my grain! Even if I’m a monster, I’m a good one!”

“Not doing any real work, just spreading lies and confusing people. I’ll beat you to death! Beat you to death!”

The other soldier, facing this fierce and adorable female, swallowed hard and froze in the snow…

Meanwhile, in the central command tent,

Zhao Zun sat upright behind the desk. Ping Chuan stood behind him. Across the desk was Xiao Zhengfei, the commander of the personal guards who had been missing for over ten days, and beside him stood a young man clad in soldier's armor, with fair skin and an imposing presence.

“Your Highness, the personal guard has cleared the area. Here is the list,” Xiao Zhengfei said, pulling out a rough piece of paper from his chest and presenting it with both hands.

Zhao Zun took it, opened it, and fixed his gaze on the two names written there.

“Only these two?” Zhao Zun’s expression darkened like ink.

“Yes, Marshal,” Xiao Zhengfei bowed his head.

“What did they confess?”

“Two days before the second Turkic incursion, these two were on rest. They agreed to sneak out of camp to drink in town. Someone found them in a tavern and said their wives and children had been captured and were being held hostage. They only needed to persuade Your Highness to take the iron chain bridge through the mountain pass when delivering grain to Yong’an City. Once the plan succeeded, their families would be released, and they would be rewarded with a thousand cattle and sheep.”

Xiao Zhengfei bowed his head and faithfully reported the interrogation results. Ashamed to meet Zhao Zun’s eyes, as the commander of the personal guards entrusted with the master’s life, he bore responsibility for the betrayal within his ranks.

Thankfully, heaven showed mercy. The mysterious Miss Han appeared and saved them, indirectly foiling the Turkic ambush. Otherwise, his fate would have been one of two: either die fighting in the ambush or beheaded as punishment.

Zhao Zun asked coldly, “Have they been interrogated separately?”

“Yes, their stories match exactly.”

“Hmph!”

Zhao Zun sneered, his voice laced with sarcasm, but his mind plunged into thought.

The Turkic attack was clearly premeditated.

After failing to loot during the autumn harvest and faced with shortages of clothes and food, they launched a second siege in winter, calculating that there wouldn’t be enough time to gather supplies. The only way Zhao Zun could send grain was from Ling’an City to Yong’an City, which is why the ambush plan targeted the commander during the grain delivery.

If successful, the Northern Pass would fall into chaos, allowing the Turkics to capture it. If failed, they would retreat without losses.

What a brilliant plan!

No one knew who had devised it. When did the Turkics get such capable strategists?

“How did you handle the situation?” Zhao Zun rubbed his brow, leaning on the desk.

“According to military law, they have been flogged twenty times each, but the rest requires Your Highness’s judgment.” Since the commander was not in Ling’an City, Xiao Zhengfei dared not act beyond corporal punishment.

Zhao Zun took a deep breath, looked up at Xiao Zhengfei, and after a long pause spoke.

“Send someone to check on their wives and children. If they truly have been kidnapped, find and rescue them. As for the rest, I will deal with it once I return to Lin’an City.”

“Yes! I will do so immediately…”

Before Xiao Zhengfei could finish, Han Lei’s voice came from outside the tent.

“Young man, is the commander here?”

“He is! The commander said Miss Han may enter directly.”

“Good, thank you!”

Upon hearing Han Lei had arrived, Zhao Zun waved slightly. Xiao Zhengfei and the soldier-clad man stepped aside. Zhao Zun wiped the chill from his face, composed himself, and sat upright.

Soon, Han Lei entered, carrying a trendy outdoor karaoke speaker slung across her shoulder and holding a pair of microphones. The black speaker hung conspicuously over the white fur collar of her cloak.

“Oh? Xiao Zhengfei? Haven’t seen you for days,” Han Lei said as she entered and spotted Xiao Zhengfei and the armored man. “Why are you wearing armor? Is there a battle coming up?”

“Greetings, Miss Han!” Xiao Zhengfei quickly saluted. “I have matters to attend to and will take my leave now.”

“Alright! Go ahead,” Han Lei smiled and nodded.

Xiao Zhengfei stepped out, still needing to carry out the commander’s orders. He was truly grateful to Han Lei and waited for her to arrive and greet him before leaving.

Since Han Lei’s arrival, the armored man beside Xiao Zhengfei had been standing with arms crossed, curiously studying her. His eyes sparkled as if exploring some treasure.

So this was the mysterious woman Xiao Zhengfei spoke of, who single-handedly repelled the Turkic ambush and saved Zhao Zun?

She did seem rather unique. Not to mention, her ear-length short hair was somewhat rebellious and unconventional.

Han Lei paid no attention to his gaze and looked instead at Zhao Zun seated behind the desk.

“Commander, I want to discuss something with you.”

Zhao Zun curled his lips, intrigued. “Oh? Do tell.”

“Commander, actually, I want to ask for another part-time role here.”

Han Lei forced a flattering smile. This man was now her big boss, and to get a good position, she had to curry favor.

“A part-time role?” Zhao Zun frowned at her strained smile. “What do you mean?”