The Birth Of A Villainess

The rope tied around her wrists wasn't that tight and secured. It was merely wounded around her wrists, and knots were made to lock it in. That is why Lin Xiaofei could break away from the rope without anyone's help.

"I already arranged and sent a letter to the general of the Zheng Empire sent to battle with the Chu empire's army," Erkin sipped from his teacup before continuing, "But why are you interested in this war? Why are you helping the Zheng Empire?"

The letter he sent to the army of the Zheng Empire was his promise to aid them with weapons. Although the Zheng Empire already had their own weapons at the ready, they were too far away from their city and near the borders of the Chu Empire.

Hence, when the war breaks out, even with a powerful and several soldiers in their army, the Zheng Empire might lose in the middle of war if they don't have enough weapons to use and change their old and broken ones.

This was also what Lin Xiaofei was worrying about.

As someone who lived in the palace as Yu Fangzhu's favorite concubine and closest companion to the Emperor's favorite concubine, she knew too many secrets about the Royal family. It didn't only revolve around how wicked and disgusting these people were who treated themselves like gods.

She knew that they were too lazy and complacent, unlike the previous monarch and royal family, and weren't well prepared when the time of war arrived. The weapons from the military academy and ministry were never polished and replaced with new weapons.

With Qu Xing Xu's army and the Zheng Empire's army, it was uncertain how many would remain with their weapon still intact.

"I am from the Zheng Empire." Lin Xiaofei told him the truth. Erkin could investigate after this war ended and find out her true identity in the end anyway, so hiding the truth of her identity was no longer needed.

"Now, I know why you wanted me to send weaponry and food supplies to their side," Erkin mumbled. "But why not now and wait for next month?"

Lin Xiaofei's order was to send out the supplies for both the weapons and food only after the following month after the start of the battle between the two empires. That was something Erkin couldn't understand.

If Lin Xiaofei really desired to help her empire win, why not send it now to boost up the army? And it will also make them feel relaxed...

Wait.

Erkin glanced up and saw that her eyes were smiling at him as though she could read what he was thinking.

"When the battle starts, the Chu and Zheng Empire will try to win the first few weeks of the war. Numerous deaths will happen, and it will spread widely. The Chu Empire will surely use a dirty trick in order to weaken the morale of their enemy's army and ambush. By that time, the Zheng Empire will feel the strain and helplessness." She took a pause. "And that's when we will strike."

"But isn't the Duke of Xin present there?" Erkin asked. "I've heard some troupe and some of my officials singing about his glorious victories in the battlefield. He beheaded several great generals and even pushed back the rebels, and his own army was made of elite soldiers. Surely, he wouldn't let his empire lose, right?"

Erkin didn't tell a lie, nor was he wrong about his assumptions. Qu Xing Xu brought his own army to the frontline, and even his other brothers were there. However, Lin Xiaofei felt uneasy about something. She just couldn't tell what it was and why she was feeling this way.

Ever since she knew that he would need to go to the north and fight with the Chu empire, she started feeling that something felt off and wrong. She just couldn't point at where and what it was.

Thus, she decided to involve herself in this war without telling him.

"He might not lose. But that doesn't mean someone else wouldn't want the Chu empire to win."

"You mean..." Erkin was shocked by her statement. He understood what she was telling him.

Around this time, Qu Xing Xu had already arrived at the northern base of the Zheng empire. It was located in Henzhou, a small city at the border and occupied by farmers and soldiers. It used to be a peaceful city, but ever since the news of Prince Ziyin's disappearance and the two empire's conflicts began to circulate, the Henzhou citizens couldn't sleep at night.

People couldn't sleep at night and wished that the war would soon end without sacrificing the lives of the citizens. However, the Chu Empire's army was too many to count and spread across the horizon as they stood several meters away from the gates of Henzhou city.

Inside the Henzhou gate, some soldiers and ordinary citizens frantically ran around and hid behind the doors of their houses and dorms. They had to wait until the main force of the Zheng Empire arrived and could only rely on the hundreds of soldiers guarding the gate.

But how could a few hundreds of soldiers stand against tens of thousands of soldiers outside?

"Hahaha! Look at them, hiding behind their mother's skirt! They're too afraid of us, General Han. Why don't we just attack them now instead of waiting for the Zheng Empire to come?" A newly promoted general asked General Han.

General Han was one of the greatest generals of the Chu empire. He wore red metal armor and a black cloak behind his back. His head was balding, and his old age was catching up to how he looked.

Currently, he was ordered by the Chu Emperor to capture Henzhou city. However, he couldn't do it. Not because his tens of thousands of soldiers were too weak against a few hundreds of Zheng empire soldiers, or because he was afraid of them. But because he felt it was not fair and honorable to do it like that.

He was known for his fairness since he was younger until now, and he has no plans to change that now.

So, he will wait until the main force of the Zheng Empire arrives.

'Boom!'

From inside Henzhou city, a huge horn was blown, almost surprising everyone from both sides.

Slowly, the ground shook, and pebbles started to dance around before the trembling of the earth began to quicken.

The Zheng Empire's army has come.