Chapter 4

“Are you mad?”

“If I don’t kill her, I might survive. If I do, I’m dead for certain!”

Chen Wu protested at once.

With a cold laugh, I pulled a bottle from inside my robe and tossed it onto the ground.

“I knew you wouldn’t dare. Give her this.”

He hesitated. “What is it?”

I laughed again. “Relax. It’s not poison. It won’t kill Xu Zhaozhao. I just want this bottle to help you understand the position you’re in.”

…

Still doubtful, Chen Wu picked up the bottle and took it to her.

“General Xu, here’s the antidote.”

Xu Zhaozhao snorted and raised her hand to take it.

But the instant she swallowed it, she snatched up the sword on the ground and thrust it at Chen Wu.

“You lowborn filth! You dared defile me! I’ll kill you!”

Unfortunately for her, the moment she tried to exert herself, her wrist went limp. The sword dropped to the ground.

She stared in disbelief. “What’s happening…?”

I came out from behind the tree with a cold laugh and lifted my chin at Chen Wu.

“See, Officer Chen? I told you. A woman as vicious as her would kill you the moment you gave her the real antidote!”

Chen Wu snorted. “A vicious bitch indeed!”

Xu Zhaozhao looked utterly stunned.

“Who are you?”

“What did you give me?”

I gave a soft scoff and spoke two words.

“Anesthetic powder.”

I had stolen it from the army physician.

Xu Zhaozhao went rigid. “Why did you give me that?”

I laughed coldly and brought out a knife from behind my back. “So what’s coming hurts a little less, of course. And so you scream a little more quietly…”

Her eyes widened as she stared at me in disbelief.

“W-what are you going to do?”

I smiled and tossed the knife straight to Chen Wu.

“Officer Chen, peel the skin off her face.”

Xu Zhaozhao stared at me in terror.

“W-who are you? What have I ever done to you? What do you want?”

I seized her chin and stared into her eyes.

“You don’t need to know who I am. You only need to know that once your face is ruined, you’ll become the lowest camp prostitute here. And I—”

I smiled as I spoke.

“I’ll take your place as the young general, Xu Zhaozhao!”

…

Xu Zhaozhao stared. “You’re insane. If my royal father finds out, he’ll have you torn to pieces…”

“He won’t find out.”

I looked at her with complete certainty.

“Because I know everything about you.”

“I know you’re the eighth child of the ducal household, its youngest princess. You began martial training at eight. At ten, you presented the emperor with a brilliant plan for flood control, and he personally named you ‘the capital’s foremost young lady.'”

Xu Zhaozhao froze.

I continued calmly.

“But I also know you stole that flood-control plan. And your martial skills amount to little more than a few tricks.”

“You were afraid of being exposed. Afraid you wouldn’t find a good husband. So you secretly disguised yourself as a man and slipped into the army, hoping to make a name for yourself and go on dazzling the capital as its great ‘female heroine.'”

“If you’d truly wanted to accomplish something, I might have respected you. But since coming to camp, you’ve pocketed wounded veterans’ compensation, withheld the camp women’s winter clothes and padded shoes, and hoarded emergency military provisions. Everyone else has been a stepping stone for your honors and wealth…”

“Well, Princess? Am I right, or am I wrong?”

…

Xu Zhaozhao said nothing. Her face was white as paper.

She had finally realized that she seemed to have provoked a malevolent, venomous ghost who wanted her dead. Wanted it very, very badly!

“Who… are you?” she asked in despair.

How could an ordinary camp prostitute know so many secrets of the ducal household?

I did not answer. I merely waved to Chen Wu. “Do it.”

The next instant,

Xu Zhaozhao’s agonized, hopeless scream tore through the riverbank.

“Aah!”