She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Shen Man stood with her hands behind her back, looking at the terrified expressions of the Mi Kingdom guards, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

She waited quietly for news. The atmosphere around her was heavy and oppressive. The guards of the Mi Kingdom stared at the uninvited guests as if they were facing a formidable enemy, but dared not make any rash moves.

After leaving the city gate, the guard did not go to the palace to report the news, but went directly to the Princess's residence to request an audience with Meng Qi.

When the city gate guards stumbled into the Princess's residence, Meng Qi was talking with the Princess in the main hall.

Upon hearing the guard's report, he frowned and waved for the guard to come in.

"General, a group of Crimson Flame people have appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be the city lords of Crimson Flame Border City. They are carrying a batch of powerful weapons and say they want to see the Emperor to discuss an arms deal with him!"

The guard knelt on the ground, his voice trembling, "I dared not disturb His Majesty, so I came to report to the General!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Qi's face instantly darkened, his gaze sharp as a hawk's: "What? A group of Crimson Flame people have arrived, and they want to discuss arms deals with the Emperor?"

Alarm bells rang in Meng Qi's mind.

A group of Crimson Flame horse traders appeared yesterday, and today a city lord from the Crimson Flame Border City has arrived. Isn't all of this too much of a coincidence?

"Yes, General. The thing they brought looks small, but it's incredibly powerful. I saw them casually throw it on the ground, and it blasted a huge hole in the ground." The guard said, gesturing as he spoke.

"You may step back now. There is no need to alarm the Emperor. I will change my clothes and go with you to the city gate to take a look!" Meng Qi said to the guard after a moment's thought.

The guard nodded in agreement, then got up and left.

Princess Su Jingrou was no ordinary woman; she was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age and was a woman of great learning.

Not only that, she was also skilled in horseback riding and warfare, displaying a heroic and valiant spirit, making her a true all-rounder in both literature and martial arts.

"My lord, although we are adjacent to the Crimson Flame Border City, we have never had any dealings with each other. Today, the city lord of the Crimson Flame Border City has come here unexpectedly and wants to do weapons business with the emperor. Could there be some conspiracy involved?"

Su Jingrou frowned, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

"Yes, I also find this matter strange. I'll go and meet them to see what their purpose is!"

Meng Qi turned around and went back to his room to change into a low-key black outfit. He fastened his usual double maces to his waist and was about to leave when he saw Princess Su Jingrou grab a long whip from the table and stride after him. "Husband, I'll go with you!"

"Arou, the city lord over there has come uninvited, and with so many powerful weapons. It's obvious he has ill intentions. I can't let you take such a risk!"

Meng Qi reached out to stop his wife, looking at her tenderly, "Leave this to me."

Seeing the worry in her husband's eyes, Su Jingrou slowly put down the whip: "Then be careful. If you sense anything is wrong, sound the alarm immediately."

Meng Qi nodded, strode to the gate of the mansion, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the city gate.

Perhaps because he himself had something to hide, Meng Qi did not want Su Jingrou to come into contact with the Crimson Flame People.

He had always been the hero his wife admired. If she knew that he was actually a traitor in the Meng family army, the culprit who caused the army's annihilation, he might lose everything he had now.

Yesterday, after returning from the city gate, his right eyelid started twitching intermittently, which made him feel uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

But clearly, apart from Duke Cui Chengdao of Xingguo, no one else knew about what happened back then...

A thousand thoughts flashed through Meng Qi's mind, but his horse did not delay at all, and soon he arrived at the city gate.

He rode his horse out of the city through the small gate that had been reserved next to the city gate, and saw the group of Crimson Flame people standing not far away.

To his surprise, the leader was a tall and very beautiful young woman.

Meng Qi rode forward, about to question him, but Shen Man spoke first: "I am Ding Man, the city lord of Chiyan Border City. This must be General Shenwei. I have long admired your name!"

Meng Qi suppressed his doubts, dismounted, and cupped his hands to Shen Man, saying, "I never expected that the city lord of the border town would be a woman! May I ask what brings you here, City Lord?"

Shen Man pointed to the box containing the bomb and laughed, "This is a treasure I brought from the border city. I'd like to do some business with your emperor and get some money to spend! By the way, that's where we just tested the weapon. General Shenwei can see its power!"

Following the direction Shen Man pointed, Meng Qi saw the large crater that had been blasted out not long ago, and was secretly shocked by the power of these weapons.

"Lord Ding, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. My Mi Kingdom has never traded weapons with other countries," Meng Qi said solemnly.

Shen Man's lips curled up slightly, a sly glint in her eyes: "General, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. You have witnessed the power of these weapons. If your country possesses them, you will surely be invincible on the battlefield."

Furthermore, my Crimson Flame Border City borders your esteemed country, and our mutually beneficial relationship is advantageous to both sides. This city lord believes that General Divine Might should first inform your Emperor, just in case he needs it!

Hearing Shen Man's words, Meng Qi became even more determined to stop the deal. If the Emperor possessed such a powerful weapon, wouldn't his value as the Divine Might General be greatly diminished?

"Lord Ding, please return. I, the general, can make the decision on this matter. My Mi Kingdom has no need for these weapons."

"I've heard that General Shenwei was originally from Chiyan. Can't you help me make this deal, since we're from the same hometown?"

"General, rest assured, if this succeeds, I, the city lord, will certainly not shortchange you!"

Shen Man's words were spoken casually, but they stirred up a storm in Meng Zhuo's heart.

His expression changed drastically, and his hand unconsciously reached for the double maces at his waist. "How did you know that I, the general, am a member of the Crimson Flame Clan? What else do you know?"

Shen Man chuckled lightly, "General, there's no need to panic. I'm sure everyone in the Mi Kingdom knows that you're a member of the Crimson Flame Clan. It's not surprising that I, the city lord, know this, is it?"

Meng Qi's face turned ashen. He felt that the woman in front of him was not as harmless as she appeared.

He knew all too well that once his identity as a traitor was exposed, he would be doomed.

"What exactly is your purpose in coming here?" he asked in a low voice, his eyes full of vigilance.

Shen Man's gaze was firm. "What do you mean by this, General Shenwei? I have already said that I have come here to conduct a weapons deal with His Majesty of your country."

"If the deal goes through, I, the city lord, will immediately lead my men back to the border city; if the deal falls through... Oh, by the way, I heard that General Shenwei's surname is Meng. What a coincidence! I have a friend whose surname is also Meng!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Qi suddenly drew his double maces from his waist, the maces gleaming with a chilling light.

Just as he was about to question them, he heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats behind him.

He looked back and saw several people riding fast horses, raising dust as they approached. The leader, clad in black iron armor, was none other than Zhou Zheng, the commander of the guards beside the Mi Emperor.