When the Female Lead Becomes Obsessive – Chapter 97

Volume Five: Those Years When I Was the Prime Minister

Seven Days

Prime Minister Ling of the Tianyang Kingdom.

Her fame had spread across the four seas; she was a household name¹.

Across the four nations and thousand cities, there was not one who did not know of her great renown.

This person was erudite and multi-talented, with an outstanding appearance.

The world often said of her: peerless elegance, without equal in the world.

Wen Nuan nodded her head impassively. “I know of her, but what does Prime Minister Ling have to do with my surname being Ling?”

Zhao Yan took the torch and illuminated the steps at Wen Nuan’s feet. “Because the surname Ling has already been claimed by the imperial family and has become an imperial surname². Aside from the imperial children and Prime Minister Ling’s clan, no one is permitted to bear the surname Ling.”

An imperial surname?!

The surname Ling was already rare to begin with. Now, passed down to Wen Nuan’s generation, she was the only one left with it.

But as far as she knew, Ling had never been an imperial surname. How could it have been claimed by the imperial family?

Though unsure of the reason, Wen Nuan feigned ignorance and nodded. “Oh. Thank you for the reminder, Captain Zhao. I nearly made a grave mistake.”

Zhao Yan waved her hand. “It’s nothing. A Master³ like you must be secluded from the world and unaware of this unique decree in the Tianyang Kingdom. One who does not know is not to be blamed.”

She looked at Wen Nuan. “Does the young lady wish to change her surname!?”

Wen Nuan shook her head. “I’m afraid this surname cannot be changed.”

“Why not?”

“If I do not change my surname, will I be put to death?” Wen Nuan asked curiously.

Zhao Yan waved her hands. “No, no. Her Majesty the Empress Regnant is benevolent and loves her people. How could she slaughter a commoner for such a small matter? It’s just…”

“Just what?” Wen Nuan saw her hesitate. “Captain Zhao, if you have something to say, you might as well speak freely.”

“If the young lady insists on using the surname Ling, I’m afraid you will have to make a trip to the capital.”

Wen Nuan raised her brows. “Why?”

“It is the Empress Regnant’s decree. If anyone with the surname Ling is discovered, they must be brought to the capital for verification.”

“What is the purpose of this?” Wen Nuan wondered. “Does the Empress Regnant enjoy collecting people with the surname Ling?”

It’s been three years. Has she developed such a hobby?

“I suspect Her Majesty the Empress Regnant must be looking for Prime Minister Ling,” Zhao Yan sighed. “After all, three years ago, after Prime Minister Ling resigned from her post, the Empress Regnant dispatched people to search for her traces, but it was like a stone sinking into the great sea, without a trace⁴.”

It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

Some people said that this Prime Minister Ling was likely a banished immortal from the heavens who had descended to the mortal realm to undergo a trial⁵, and now that the trial was over, she had long since ascended back to immortality.

Wen Nuan’s steps faltered, and she let out a soft sigh. “Is that so?”

Zhao Yan shrugged. “As for the specific reason, we aren’t clear either. How could we, as subordinate officials, possibly presume to fathom the thoughts in Her Majesty the Empress Regnant’s heart?!”

Wen Nuan did not ask any more questions.

Zhao Yan led Wen Nuan to a clean lodging, planning to take her and the prisoners of war to see the General at dawn.

A sleepless night passed, and the sky filled with brilliant light.

Zhao Yan prepared horses and led Wen Nuan and the prisoners who had been interrogated the previous night toward the military camp.

Along the way, the carriage wheels rolled over the yellow sand, making a rustle… rustle… sound.

Deputy Captain Shi Zuo⁶ glanced at the woman sitting in the carriage, nudged Zhao Yan, and asked in a low voice, “Zhao-jie, are you really going to take this woman of unknown origins to see the General?”

Zhao Yan nodded. “I am. What’s wrong?”

“I’m still a little worried.”

Although what this woman had done last night had deeply shaken them, people were always wary and on guard against things that were unknown yet powerful.

Shi Zuo knew that Wen Nuan was formidable and strong, which was why she was even more guarded and vigilant about her purpose.

“I know she saved the people of Songge City last night, but I’m afraid she has ulterior motives. If she harms the General, the blame on you and me will be great.”

Zhao Yan glanced at Wen Nuan, who was feigning sleep in the carriage, and shook her head. “I just have a feeling she’s a major figure.”

“A major figure?” Shi Zuo was momentarily stunned, then joked, “What kind of major figure? Surely not Her Majesty the Empress Regnant?”

“Tsk, don’t be a smart-mouth,” Zhao Yan slapped her lightly. “Lest someone with ill intentions overhears. You’ll have it coming then.”

Shi Zuo giggled and covered her mouth. “Then what kind of major figure do you think she is, Zhao-jie?”

She trusted Zhao Yan completely. Whatever Zhao Yan said or did, Shi Zuo believed in and obeyed with all her heart.

“Her surname is Ling, so…” Zhao Yan looked at the large military tents in the distance, her eyes deep. “I suspect she is related to Prime Minister Ling.”

Shi Zuo froze.

Zhao Yan leaned closer and whispered to Shi Zuo, “By the way, I need you to immediately make a trip to Fenggui Gorge⁷…”

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In the military camp stood dozens of tents. The largest one, with the military flag of the Tianyang Kingdom planted on top, was Li Panxuan’s main general’s tent. The slightly smaller one next to it was the military affairs tent, where the officers studied enemy defense strategies and discussed battle plans.

Zhao Yan led the prisoners and Wen Nuan into the Tianyang Kingdom’s military camp without any hindrance. The soldiers in the camp stared at the five hundred prisoners from the Minqiu Kingdom, gasping in shock and admiration.

Zhao Yan had wasted no time, immediately reporting the matter of the Minqiu Kingdom’s sneak attack on Songge City to Li Panxuan overnight. So, by the time they arrived at the camp, nearly all the soldiers knew what had happened in Songge City the previous night.

“Amazing, Zhao Yan! To think you captured so many prisoners!?”

“Zhao Yan, you’re in for a promotion!”

“That’s right, General Li will definitely reward you. Don’t forget about us sisters then, hahaha…”

“Zhao Yan, you have to treat us to drinks and meat.”

…

Zhao Yan smiled and cupped her fist in response to each of them.

The prisoners were led away by the camp soldiers to be locked up and await their fate. The carriage could not proceed deeper into the camp and was stopped at the perimeter wall, so Wen Nuan had to disembark and walk.

Her white robes were a complete mess, covered in both blood and mud.

I should avoid wearing white in the future, Wen Nuan sighed internally. It’s really not durable at all.

“Master, please follow me,” Zhao Yan walked to Wen Nuan’s side. “I already reported to the General last night. The General knows you are coming and has been waiting early in the military affairs tent.”

Zhao Yan had specifically reported the events of last night in Songge City to Li Panxuan in meticulous detail. Upon hearing that a Master wished to visit the camp, Li Panxuan had immediately approved Zhao Yan’s request.

“Alright. Thank you, Captain Zhao,” Wen Nuan nodded.

“It’s nothing. Master can just call me Zhao Yan,” Zhao Yan waved her hand and led Wen Nuan to the military affairs tent. She said to the soldier guarding the entrance, “Please inform the General that Zhao Yan requests an audience.”

The soldier immediately entered the tent to report. A moment later, he came out and said, “Captain Zhao, the General invites you in.”

“Many thanks,” Zhao Yan looked at Wen Nuan. “Master, please.”

Wen Nuan followed Zhao Yan inside. In the tent sat four women and one man. The moment Wen Nuan saw the man, she raised an eyebrow.

Zhao Yan knelt and saluted. “This subordinate official, Zhao Yan, greets General Li, Vice General Cheng, Vice General Wang, Strategist Chang, and Doctor Fang.”

In an instant, the tent fell silent.

Zhao Yan felt a sense of unease. She looked up, only to see everyone staring with terrified expressions at… her back?!

She turned to look at Wen Nuan and saw her calm and composed face.

She tugged on the corner of Wen Nuan’s sleeve and whispered, “Master, you… you have to salute.”

Though the Master is formidable, she’s ultimately a commoner. She must salute an official to show respect, or else she could be charged with the crime of great disrespect.

“Oh, I have to salute?” Wen Nuan met Li Panxuan’s shocked gaze and smiled faintly. “This commoner, Ling Zhixia, pays her respects to…”

“You must not!” Seeing that Wen Nuan was about to bow to her, Li Panxuan felt like her heart was about to explode and immediately shouted to stop her.

Zhao Yan was startled by General Li, thinking that Wen Nuan had angered her by not saluting in time. She immediately pleaded, “I beg the General’s forgiveness! The Master was simply awestruck by the General’s magnificent presence and forgot to salute. I implore the General to give the Master a chance.”

Li Panxuan: “…”

She could be awestruck by my magnificent presence?!

What kind of earth-shattering joke is this!

Li Panxuan ignored Zhao Yan’s words, walked before Wen Nuan, and cupped her hands. “This humble general, Li Panxuan, pays respects to Prime Minister Ling.”

Vice General Wang and Vice General Cheng had seen Ling Wen Nuan when they returned to the capital with Li Panxuan to report on their duties. They immediately dropped to their knees and saluted. “This humble general, Wang Zhao, pays respects to Prime Minister Ling.”

“This humble general, Cheng Nanfang, pays respects to Prime Minister Ling.”

Strategist Chang had also seen Ling Wen Nuan once when the army returned to the capital, and Doctor Fang came from the Imperial Medical Academy in the capital and had also seen her during a visit to the palace. Both immediately fell to their knees.

“This subordinate official, Chang Ziqing, kowtows to Prime Minister Ling.”

“This subordinate official, Fang Minghe, kowtows to Prime Minister Ling.”

Zhao Yan stared, dumbfounded, at the scene before her. A moment later, she came to her senses and kowtowed to Wen Nuan. “This subordinate official… This subordinate official, Zhao Yan, kowtows to Prime Minister Ling.”

She’s… Ling Wen Nuan, Prime Minister Ling. No wonder she dared to use the surname Ling.

Thinking about it carefully now, in all the land, who besides Ling Wen Nuan would dare to defy imperial authority and refuse to change their name?!

Such presence is truly outstanding, in a class all by itself.

Wen Nuan sighed. “I have long since resigned from my post. I am but a commoner now. You need not pay me such great ceremony. Rise.”

Everyone looked at Wen Nuan, then at Li Panxuan. Seeing that she didn’t move, they didn’t dare to either.

Li Panxuan bowed her head respectfully. “No wonder Songge City could be saved. It turns out it was because Prime Minister Ling was devising strategies. Li Panxuan thanks Prime Minister Ling for her help. Without Prime Minister Ling, Songge City and its people would have likely met with great disaster.”

Seeing her still bowing, Wen Nuan stepped forward to help her up, then glanced at the kneeling crowd. “All of you, rise now.”

Everyone took a deep breath and rose, standing to the side, not daring to act presumptuously.

“I was merely passing through Songge City on my travels. I naturally couldn’t stand by and watch people die. General Li overstates the matter,” Wen Nuan said faintly.

Li Panxuan pointed to the seat of honor. “Prime Minister Ling, please sit.”

“No, that is your seat. We mustn’t put the cart before the horse,” Wen Nuan politely declined, taking a seat on a chair to the side.

Li Panxuan sat stiffly in the seat of honor, looking at Wen Nuan. “Prime Minister Ling, this humble general heard from Zhao Yan that you… wished to see me?”

“Ever since the Minqiu Kingdom and the Pingzhou Kingdom began cooperating, Wulang City⁸ and Raoshui City⁹ have been taken in succession. Last night, the Minqiu Kingdom dispatched a battalion to launch a sneak attack on Songge City, yet you left only a single company to defend it. Does General Li have some brilliant plan or deployment in mind?” Wen Nuan smiled faintly.

The smile so frightened Li Panxuan that she leaped right out of her chair. Her body trembled as she hastily said, “It… It was this humble general’s negligence and obstinance. I thought that as long as… the front line was secured, I would have no worries about the rear. I ask… Prime Minister Ling to mete out punishment.”

“How could a commoner like me punish the great General Li?” Wen Nuan said softly, still smiling. “I had originally thought that after losing two cities, General Li would have learned her lesson. I did not expect General Li to remain so willful. This commoner is truly in deep admiration of General Li’s perseverance.”

Hearing this, Strategist Chang dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed. “It was this subordinate official’s flawed planning, full of too many loopholes, which gave the enemy an opportunity. I am willing to accept punishment on the General’s behalf. I ask Prime Minister Ling to mete out punishment.”

Vice General Wang and Vice General Cheng knelt together. “We ask Prime Minister Ling to mete out punishment.”

Zhao Yan and Doctor Fang exchanged a look and also knelt immediately. “We ask Prime Minister Ling to mete out punishment.”

The tent was so quiet that only heavy breathing could be heard. One by one, they lowered their heads, none daring to look directly at Ling Wen Nuan.

Because of alarm, because of respect, because of fear…

Everyone in the world knew that Ling Wen Nuan of the Tianyang Kingdom was resourceful and cunning, with a deep and unfathomable mind.

Furthermore, her appearance was outstanding and her temperament peerless. She was an unparalleled marvel of the age.

Ling Wen Nuan’s beautiful face often wore a gentle expression as serene as light clouds and a gentle breeze, making people feel as though this person cared for nothing, a person indifferent to fame and fortune.

But those who had come into contact with Ling Wen Nuan knew well that this person never let her joy or anger show on her face, making it impossible for others to see or guess what she was thinking. If one day she were to suddenly smile at you, then you ought to reflect on what you did wrong. Were you about to die?

It was said that the time Ling Wen Nuan had smiled most gleefully was when she slaughtered the entire clan of the former Prime Minister, Ji Wenxuan¹⁰. That night, the mournful cries of the former Prime Minister’s family and Ling Wen Nuan’s wild, triumphant laughter echoed throughout the capital, causing all who heard it to turn pale with fright and tremble in their boots.

After that, the already chilling Ling Wen Nuan became even more terrifying. The world practically turned pale at the mere mention of her name.

They admired her talent and strategy, yet were terrified of her actions. Those who liked her loved her to the point of being unable to extricate themselves, and those who hated her loathed her to the point of grinding their teeth, yet were powerless to do anything.

Afterward, a saying began to circulate in the Tianyang Kingdom.

Though named Warmth, she is of frozen ice.

When her face breaks into a smile, your clan is annihilated.¹¹

Just when the world believed that the overwhelmingly powerful Ling Wen Nuan was about to rebel, unwilling to submit to another, and ascend the throne to become the master of the world herself, she suddenly resigned from her post in the imperial court before the Empress Regnant, saying she wanted to retire to the countryside and live a life of wandering the four seas and roaming the martial world.

The matter of Ling Wen Nuan’s resignation was shocking and unconventional, causing a public uproar.

Many speculated that this was just a ploy by Ling Wen Nuan, a way to eliminate the threat she posed in the Empress Regnant’s heart in order to protect herself, with plans to make a secret comeback later.

But in the end, Ling Wen Nuan truly disappeared from the court and retired to the pugilistic world. Only then did people realize she hadn’t been joking; she had truly left.

For three years, Her Majesty the Empress Regnant of the Tianyang Kingdom issued widespread proclamations, but the search yielded no results, as if the person Ling Wen Nuan had never existed in this world.

But those who had met Ling Wen Nuan knew clearly in their hearts that even if a talent like her left, disappeared, her lingering authority would remain in everyone’s hearts, unable to dissipate for a long, long time.

Fingertips tapped against the table, producing a crisp sound.

Cold sweat slid from Li Panxuan’s brow into her eye, which stung and itched, but she did not dare raise a hand to wipe it away.

Wen Nuan’s tapping paused. She looked at Li Panxuan, her tone calm. “Seven days. Take back Wulang City and Raoshui City, and while you’re at it, take Menggui City¹² too, all in one go.”

Everyone jolted.

Seven days. It would already be difficult to recapture Wulang City and Raoshui City. For Ling Wen Nuan to also have her sights set on the Minqiu Kingdom’s Menggui City—this was simply an impossible fantasy¹³.

Li Panxuan said with difficulty, “Prime… Prime Minister, seven days… I’m afraid…”

“Li Panxuan, have I ever gone back on my word?”

Li Panxuan swallowed hard. “Prime Minister Ling’s word has always been as good as nine sacred tripods¹⁴; she has never gone back on a promise.”

“Then if I say they will be taken, they will be taken. Understand?”

Li Panxuan looked up at the serene and composed Ling Wen Nuan before her, and the anxiety and panic in her heart instantly calmed by a great deal.

That’s right. Ling Wen Nuan is here. What is impossible?

She took a deep breath, cupped her fist, and declared with a resounding voice, “This humble general accepts this command!”

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