Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Shen Sangwan was bored throughout the journey. Although there was a beautiful woman sitting next to her, she was currently resting with her eyes closed against the carriage wall.

Unable to find an excuse to start a conversation, she set her sights on Xiaotong.

"Xiaotong, wake up and chat with me."

【...】

Xiao Tong always had the illusion that his master would turn to Xiao Tong when something was wrong, and to the system when nothing was wrong. Although he was cursing the main system, he always felt that he was being cursed along with it.

He reluctantly gave a reply.

How much money is my dear master planning to spend?

I've noticed you get itchy if you don't get a beating every day.

[My lord, the Empress is right in front of you, why don't you go talk to her? Can you please stop tormenting me!]

She's a wolf in sheep's clothing; I don't want to talk to her, I'm scared!

At this moment, Xiao Tong deliberately stared at Wen Yuening, observing the changes in her expression.

Then a conclusion was drawn—the other party might actually be able to hear his master's thoughts, and perhaps even his words.

"Master, we're doomed!"

"It will take at least three days to get to Wuzhou, and I'll be spending those three days and two nights with her in one place. You know what, I'm actually a little apprehensive."

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should stop talking. Haven't you noticed that the Empress's eyebrows are slightly furrowed?"

"Xiao Tong, could you investigate further and uncover all the other identities the Empress has?"

[Xiao Tong?]

[Ahem—! My lord, to investigate the Empress's background, you will need to complete the subsequent tasks before you will have the authority to access this information.]

What new information is currently available?

【None yet.】

"Even if it were true, Master, I wouldn't dare tell you in front of the person in question!"

"What's the difference between this and defecating in public?!"

Wen Yuening, who was pretending to be asleep, listened to their conversation with a blank expression.

"The big bad wolf disguised as a lamb?"

Am I that scary?

"And what is this vest?"

"Is this person before me truly the same prince I know?"

She carefully reviewed the information the guards had gathered and found no discrepancies. But why was the other party using words she didn't know? And who was the boy she was talking to?

There was no one else around, and it wasn't the first time she'd heard it, so she was quite curious.

〖well--!〗

Xiaotong had a very strong premonition that what her master was about to say would probably lead to her death.

"Help me! Help me! Main system, please help me! Can you please shut the master up? I'm scared!"

"Xiao Tong, tell me, the Empress is perfectly content being my cheap little brother's wife. Has the main system lost its mind and had to create a 'stealing someone else' quest? Is it because it's always been lonely and can't stand seeing someone else have a wife?"

"I mean, she's incredibly beautiful, smart, and most importantly, my cheapskate brother treats me so well. It's just so immoral of her to be stealing someone else's wife."

"My lord, please stop! You've revealed all your secrets. What's the difference between this and running naked in front of the Empress from now on?!"

[Xiao Tong?]

What's wrong with you today? Is the signal bad? Is your internet constantly dropping?

【...】

Could someone please dig a hole for me? I'll lie down in it myself.

Xiao Tong watched as Wen Yuening's eyebrows were furrowed in a knot, and she felt utterly hopeless.

"Main system?"

"Poaching customers?"

"Has someone else taken over her body? But why are her habits, even some of her little gestures, exactly the same?"

"If the person before us isn't in His Highness's body, then where has the real His Highness gone?"

Wen Yuening's head throbbed more and more as she thought about it, her thoughts in complete disarray.

Shen Sangwan hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation. Even though Xiaotong didn't respond, she continued to rant and rave.

Not only did Xiao Tong's ears go numb, but Wen Yuening's brain was also about to explode.

"Your Highness!"

Shen Sangwan, who was in the middle of a lively conversation, was startled by Wen Yuening's sudden shout.

Seeing Wen Yuening slowly open her eyes, Shen Sangwan hesitated and asked, "Wh-what's wrong?"

"The journey has been rather tedious. I would like to discuss disaster relief matters with Your Highness. Does Your Highness have any good ideas?"

'Whew—that scared me to death!'

Judging by her posture, anyone who didn't know better would think she'd overheard me rambling on and on!

"I heard that General Mo, whom we sent earlier, was attacked by bandits before he even entered the city, and his whereabouts are still unknown. This is likely due to collusion between officials and bandits. What are Your Highness's plans?"

Wow, your information network is amazing!

Sigh! I wonder if I'll be able to mooch off them in the future?

"The mountain bandits are just ruthless bandits, and they are probably no match for the soldiers who can fight on the battlefield. This time, Your Majesty has allocated five thousand Yanmo soldiers. I have already ordered fifty men to go ahead and scout the situation outside Wuzhou City. We will make further plans after they arrive."

"If they are content and retreat to their lair, I can let them stay a few more days until the disaster in Wuzhou is resolved, and then I will take them down."

"If they are not satisfied and keep being greedy, then we will have no choice but to order them to be wiped out first. Otherwise, we will be attacked from both sides and put ourselves in a passive position."

Wen Yuening looked at Shen Sangwan, who was talking eloquently, her hawk-like gaze sweeping back and forth before finally settling on his face, staring at him quietly with a look of inquiry.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the intense gaze, Shen Sangwan glanced to the side, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

[Xiao Tong is acting strange today, and the Empress is acting strangely too. Is it possible for the virus to spread across species?]

"Your Highness has considered everything carefully."

"???"

I've said a whole bunch of stuff, and all you say is one bland, uninteresting comment?

I don't want to talk to you anymore!

Does Your Highness believe in cause and effect?

"???"

This statement seems completely incoherent; why did it suddenly come out like this? Should I believe it or not?

"I didn't believe it before, and now, I neither believe it nor not believe it."

Hehe, let's use ambiguous language like a bald monk and let the other person figure it out themselves.

Xiao Tong was no longer seeing or hearing; he just wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

They've embarrassed themselves so much they're practically galaxy spitting out the shame.

After Shen Sangwan finished speaking, Wen Yuening did not continue, but only sighed softly.

I don't know if it's sadness or helplessness.

The horse-drawn carriage clattered along the way towards Wuzhou, with the intention of only stopping for one night's rest.

However, considering that Wen Yuening was still injured, Shen Sangwan did not rush the journey.

It took three days to reach the outskirts of Wuzhou, about ten miles from the city.

[Master, Master, there is danger. There are approximately a thousand people, and the fifty Yanmo soldiers you dispatched have not been detected.]

When Xiao Tong's voice rang out, Wen Yuening and Shen Sangwan opened their eyes at the same time.

Just then, flocks of birds in the distant woods took flight in fright.

"Shuyun, issue the order to put the soldiers on high alert."

"Yes."

"You are injured, so stay in the carriage and don't move around."

"Ruoli, Ruoxin, protect the Empress."

Shen Sangwan lifted the carriage curtain and leaped down.

The chestnut horse followed behind the carriage, and Shen Sangwan grabbed the reins and mounted the horse.

"Xiaotong, are those fifty people already dead?"

【possible. 】

Can a battle-hardened veteran be no match for a ruthless bandit?

Even if it was a sneak attack, surely the entire army shouldn't have been wiped out?

"call out--"

"call out--"

Several arrows were shot towards Shen Sangwan and her group.

"Protect His Highness!"

Shuyun shouted, and the soldiers raised their shields and formed a human wall in an orderly fashion.

An arrow grazed Shen Sangwan's cheek and landed squarely on the side window of the carriage.

"Your Highness, these are arrows from the Nu River army!"