Chapter 148

Qin Zhao said, "My dear senior sister, it would be great if you could accompany me. I can't bear to be without you."

Yu Qingzhu paused and asked, "Can you bring people with you when you go to war?"

Qin Zhao replied, "I am the princess and have a certain degree of autonomy. It's a small matter to bring a few people, and I can decide for myself."

Yu Qingzhu nodded thoughtfully and said, "Alright, I understand."

Qin Zhao's lips curled slightly, "Then I'll leave first."

"Okay."

Qin Zhao walked out of Wujidi Hall.

knew what Qin Zhao was thinking and couldn't help but complain, "Host, you're so bad! You pretended to be deeply affectionate just to deceive Yu Qingzhu into going with you. She truly regarded you as her senior sister and cared about you sincerely."

"It's not really pretending, I truly feel reluctant. Yu Qingzhu is a good person, and being with her feels very easygoing. However, I do need a highly skilled doctor to accompany me. Otherwise, if soldiers get injured or fall ill, am I supposed to treat them myself? It might be fine in normal circumstances, but in a strictly hierarchical military environment, it's not possible. Losing the sense of distance between me and the soldiers is equivalent to losing authority."

"But the military has military doctors."

"Qin Zheng gave me a temporary military rank, and it's even the highest command. Do you think those experienced soldiers would listen to me? Neither the soldiers nor the military doctors would obey my orders. If I want to establish myself on the northwest border, I must have my own people."

...

The next day, after Qin Zhao finished lunch, she arrived at the Huo residence.

The residence had prepared a venue for martial arts competitions.

Huo Chengjin's parents, younger sister, and younger brother were already waiting at the scene.

As soon as Qin Zhao arrived, she was invited by Old Madam Huo to take a seat of honor.

Huo Xiaosu sat on the left side, looking solemn.

Qin Zhao touched the blue-and-white porcelain pattern on the tea cup, killing time.

At the appointed time, Huo Jun and Huo Chengjin appeared on time!

Huo Jun wore a black martial arts outfit, with a man's hairstyle and two strands of sideburns fluttering in the wind, giving her a somewhat dashing appearance.

Huo Chengjin wore a blue martial arts outfit. His originally handsome face was overshadowed by Huo Jun.

Both of them chose a sword as their weapon.

Huo Chengjin said, "Sister, I don't want you to leave the Huo family, so I will do my best."

Huo Jun replied, "Our wishes conflict, but our attitude is the same. Weapons are ruthless, so if I accidentally hurt you later, I apologize in advance."

Huo Chengjin heard Huo Jun's calm and threatening words and sneered, "Heh, who injures whom remains to be seen!"

Both of them bowed to each other. When Huo Chengjin was halfway through the bow, he suddenly raised his head and swung his sword towards Huo Jun! Qin Zhao's expression froze. She didn't expect Huo Chengjin to resort to trickery in such a public setting!

He truly had no shame.

Huo Jun heard the sound of breaking wind and immediately raised her sword to block it. "Huo Chengjin, you!"

Huo Chengjin attacked while saying, "Deception has always been a part of warfare. If you can't understand this, going to the northwest border to participate in the war would be nothing but a farce. It's better to stop now!"

Huo Jun responded, "I was indeed wrong. I actually mistook you for a gentleman, but you're just a scoundrel."

She brushed off Huo Chengjin's sword and stabbed directly at his abdomen.

Huo Chengjin blocked her sword, took a few steps back, and said, "When on the battlefield, who cares about how you win?

Sister, if you don't understand even this basic principle, then don't go and throw your life away!"

Huo Jun replied, "You don't want me to go to the border battlefield, yet you keep using the rules of the battlefield to justify your shameless actions.

You're clearly playing double standards."

Huo Chengjin was hit where it hurt and became furious, launching a more fierce attack against Huo Jun!

However, Huo Jun's swordsmanship was impressive, and within a few moves, she neutralized Huo Chengjin's sword techniques.

Huo Chengjin's thinking momentarily stalled.

Seizing the opportunity, Huo Jun disarmed him!

She calmly said, "You've lost."

Huo Xiaosu stood up in anger!

Huo Chengjin stared at his hands, seemingly unable to believe that he had lost to Huo Jun so quickly!

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Qin Zhao applauded for Huo Jun.

However, Huo Chengjin picked up the sword from the ground and once again swung it fiercely at Huo Jun, determined to fight to the death.

Huo Chengjin's sword was less than a meter away from Huo Jun, but she remained composed in her position!

Qin Zhao nervously sweated for her!

In a sudden twist, a scream pierced through the air!

Huo Chengjin's right hand was cleanly severed by Huo Jun, and blood spurted from the wound!

Huo Chengjin fell to the ground in pain, his eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness, fixated on Huo Jun!

The people around rushed in and surrounded the two.

Trembling, Huo Xiaosu pointed at Huo Jun and shouted, "Huo Jun, you heartless person, he is your younger brother!

How could you be so ruthless!"

Huo Jun's gaze turned cold, "When his sword was aimed at my neck, where was your excitement then?" Qin Zhao greatly admired Huo Jun's decisiveness. Last night, she said it would be the last time she called Huo Xiaosu 'father,' and today she indeed only referred to him as 'you.'

Huo Xiaosu seemed to have realized this too, but the words got stuck in his throat as he blurted out one by one, "You, you, how could you be so heartless? I am your father!"

"Hmph." Huo Jun laughed, "Apart from saying that you are my father and he is my brother, what else can you do?

Family bonds need to be nurtured, they don't automatically generate just because of a certain relationship."

Huo Xiaosu exploded, "You rebellious girl! I'll kill you!"

Huo's mother hugged Huo Chengjin and wailed, further irritating Huo Xiaosu. He rushed to the weapon rack, picked up a knife, and was about to kill Huo Jun.

Suddenly feeling a pain in his neck, he turned his head and saw Princess Zhaoyang holding a sword against his throat!

His rationality returned, and he gradually regained his composure, saying, "If Your Highness dares to kill me, you will incur the Emperor's punishment.

Please don't act recklessly."

Qin Zhao said, "When you were young, such words might have had some persuasiveness.

But now, you are just a bothersome old man in the Emperor's eyes.

If I kill you, there won't be any problems."

Huo Xiaosu's neck tightened, and he said with difficulty, "Your Highness, you can try!"

Qin Zhao exerted force, and the sword left a bigger gash on Huo Xiaosu's neck.

Blood gushed out.

Huo Xiaosu began to feel fear, and his body trembled slightly.

Qin Zhao smiled and said, "General Huo, please don't misunderstand. I have no ill intentions towards you.

Although this sword is pointed at your neck, it is for your protection.

Given your current physical condition, facing Huo Jun would only lead to a dead end."

Huo Xiaosu solemnly replied, "I am her father, she wouldn't dare to kill me!"

"You have a poor memory, have you forgotten what she said last night?

You can deceive me, but don't deceive yourself."

Qin Zhao continued, "Huo Chengjin is crippled without his right hand, he is nothing but a useless person.

I advise you not to seek revenge out of momentary resentment and end up killing the only hope of your Huo family."

Huo Xiaosu looked puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The Emperor has requested Huo Chengjin to accompany me to the northwest.

But given his current condition, going would be equal to death!"

She changed her tone and said, "I have a proposal that can perfectly resolve the current situation of the Huo family.

General Huo, would you like to hear it?"

Huo Xiaosu replied, "Your Highness, please speak. If you dare to deceive me, even if it costs me my life, I will seek justice for my son!"