A brilliant golden rainbow descended from the Nine Heavens.
Without slowing down in the slightest, it crashed arrogantly onto the open ground outside the gates of Changsha Commandery.
Boom—!!!
The earth trembled violently.
A few bricks from the long-neglected walls were shaken loose by the vibration.
The garrison atop the city walls was terrified.
"Enemy attack! Another great demon is attacking—!!!"
You Wujiang watched the familiar golden light piercing through the billowing dust, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Such a domineering way of making an entrance.
Who else could it be but Her Highness?
"Don't panic, she's one of us!"
You Wujiang shouted lightly.
Immediately after.
He tapped his toes against the battlements and, like a great roc spreading its wings, leaped down from the dozens of meters high city wall.
The dust gradually dispersed.
Revealing a figure clad in black robes.
You Wujiang stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands.
"Your Highness... you arrived so quickly?"
Calculating the time, it had been barely half a day since they parted ways.
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly: "Mm."
You Wujiang hesitated for a moment and glanced behind her.
"Your Highness... how is the situation in Hengyang?"
"I felt like there were no more great demons left for me to kill, so I came over."
"..."
What arrogant words!!
Just then.
Rumble—
The city gates swung wide open.
Hundreds of cavalrymen in black armor with red patterns swarmed out instantly.
The lead steed was particularly magnificent.
The person on the horse wore bright silver fish-scale armor and a cloak. Seeing this, You Wujiang quickly stepped aside and whispered to Jiang Yuechu.
"Your Highness."
"This is the Demon Quelling General guarding Changsha Commandery, General Gongsun."
Jiang Yuechu looked up.
As the figure approached, the person on the horse immediately dismounted, took off her silver helmet, and handed it to a nearby soldier.
Her long black hair was already half-white, yet it was casually tied in a bun with a simple wooden hairpin.
She didn't have the face full of coarse flesh or the murderous aura one might expect.
On the contrary.
This general guarding a whole region was actually a middle-aged woman.
Though there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes.
They could not hide the gentleness in her brow.
If not for this suit of armor.
Had she been wearing a scholar's skirt, she would look like the kind-hearted matriarch of some wealthy household.
While she was pondering.
The woman walked over and spoke:
"Motherfucker!"
"Which dumbass made such a huge racket out here just now?!"
"..."
The air suddenly went silent.
Jiang Yuechu was slightly stunned.
Even though she had lived two lives and was well-traveled.
Watching this gentle-looking woman spout such a string of highly maternal-themed profanities.
She still felt a bit... Upon hearing this.
You Wujiang's face turned pale.
Although he wasn't very skilled in the twists and turns of officialdom.
He wasn't stupid either.
Saying such things in front of the current Grand Princess.
If this reached Chang'an... even if the other party was a Demon Quelling General, the censors would probably criticize her so much that even her ancestral graves would be dug up.
"Cough, cough, cough!!!"
You Wujiang broke into a fit of violent coughing, forcefully interrupting the female general's next words.
He stepped to the side, blocking the space between the two, and desperately winked at General Gongsun.
"General Gongsun! Watch your words!"
General Gongsun froze, frowning with a face full of confusion.
"Watch what words? Inspector You, is your fucking eye twitching?"
"..."
You Wujiang felt his vision go dark.
"Your Highness, please forgive her! General Gongsun has a straightforward personality and did not mean to offend!"
Immediately after.
He turned back to the still-bewildered General Gongsun and said through gritted teeth:
"This lady..."
...is the Commander of the Longyou Military Commission, Silver Robe Inspector..."
...and even more so, the current Grand Grand Princess Zhaoyue of the Tang Dynasty!"
Gongsun Lan's face froze.
Grand... Grand Princess?!
Thinking back to her shout just now... Slap!
Without another word, Gongsun Lan raised her hand and gave herself a slap on the mouth.
The force was so great that several red marks were left on her fair skin.
Her original ruffian air was instantly reined in completely.
She said respectfully: "This general, Gongsun Lan, greets Her Highness the Grand Princess!"
"I did not know Your Highness had arrived and spoke foully, offending your phoenix presence. I beg Your Highness to punish me!"
Jiang Yuechu did not get angry because of that curse.
"It's fine."
Gongsun Lan wasn't one to be awkward either. She casually smoothed her slightly messy hair at the temples and stepped aside: "The wind is strong out here, Your Highness. Please enter the city to talk."
...They entered the city.
Even though a demon threat was currently at hand.
The air still faintly carried a spicy and savory aroma.
On the long street, although the usual hustle and bustle were gone, two or three shops along the road were still open.
However, their doors were half-closed, showing a bit of caution.
Gongsun Lan led the way. Her bright silver fish-scale armor was dazzling, yet she walked with great strides, lacking even a hint of a lady's reserve.
She casually took the wine flask from her waist, tilted her head back, and took a gulp.
"Don't mind me, Your Highness."
Gongsun Lan wiped the wine stains from the corner of her mouth and gave a chuckle.
"This Tanzhou region is very damp."
"If you don't drink a few mouthfuls of strong liquor and eat some spicy food, your bones will rust sooner or later."
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly.
Her gaze swept across the street corner.
A few brave children were hiding behind door cracks, staring with their big, dark eyes, watching curiously.
"Your Highness, the Dusi office is a desolate and broken place."
Gongsun Lan turned a corner and pointed to a shop by the street.
"If you don't mind, why don't we just grab a bite here?"
"Their Stinky Tofu is a masterpiece."
You Wujiang's eyelids twitched as he listened from behind.
The dignified Grand Princess.
A noble daughter of the imperial family.
You're asking her to squat at a roadside stall and eat Stinky Tofu?
Just as he was about to speak and stop her.
He saw that Jiang Yuechu had already stepped forward and sat down at a reasonably clean table.
"I'll follow the host's preference."
Gongsun Lan's eyes lit up, and she slapped the table.
"Boss!"
"Bring out all your best stuff!"
Before long.
Several plates of black, crispy fried tofu squares were brought out.
They were drizzled with bright red chili oil and sprinkled with green scallions.
An indescribable smell, both stinky and fragrant, instantly hit their noses.
There were also several bowls of steaming rice noodles, topped with a thick layer of braised beef.
Jiang Yuechu wasn't formal either.
She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, with juice overflowing.
"Not bad."
Jiang Yuechu gave her evaluation.
Seeing this, the smile on Gongsun Lan's face deepened.
She didn't even use chopsticks; she just picked up the bowl and slurped a large mouthful of noodles.
"Refreshing!"
Setting down the bowl.
Gongsun Lan let out a burp, and her expression became a bit more solemn.
"Your Highness must have come for the demons, just like Inspector You, right?"
Jiang Yuechu nodded.
"Right now, the most troublesome thing outside Changsha Commandery is the Golden Lion Demon King at Juzizhou Head."
"Lotus Planting Realm?"
"Exactly."
It was You Wujiang who answered.
"I just arrived in Changsha Commandery today and fought with it, but unfortunately... it managed to escape by luck..."
Jiang Yuechu slowly raised her eyelids, her gaze calm.
"Even you couldn't defeat this Golden Lion Demon King?"
You Wujiang was stunned.
"Uh... yes..."
Jiang Yuechu stood up and shook her head.
"Then there's nothing to worry about. If it appears next time, I'll take care of it personally."
"..."
What kind of words were those?
What do you mean 'if even I couldn't defeat it, there's nothing to worry about'?
That really hurts my heart!!!