Chapter 241: A Lovesick Fool, But Blind

The County Magistrate of Kunyu County was a man named Xu Shuangnian. He had originally been the magistrate of Shanglin County, but was ostracized and reassigned to the even more remote Kunyu County.

Upon learning that Prince Wei was coming for an inspection, Xu Shuangnian decided to eliminate the bandits in Kunyu County. He hoped to present this political achievement to Prince Wei and perhaps use it as a stepping stone to advance his career.

Encountering Niu Jiahua had been an accident. Xu Nianqing was not his original name; he was born Xu Qingyun. His name, Qingyun, evoked the idea of a rapid rise through the ranks.

After Xu Qingyun learned of her identity, he took the initiative to approach her, hoping she would take him back to her mountain stronghold.

He never expected that Niu Jiahua was a bandit—and a lecherous one at that. She had no intention of taking him back. Instead, she found a cave on the way and tried to have her way with him.

Xu Qingyun fled in a panic, only to lose his footing and fall from a cliff. It was unclear whether he survived, but in any case, he was no longer the same person.

The body of Xu Qingyun now housed the soul of another. Though they were not the same man, their objective of eradicating the bandit den was identical.

Perhaps, to this new soul, political achievements were irrelevant. Whether they were bandits or not didn’t matter. It was just something to be done along the way, a trivial matter.

"They actually got wiped out? A bunch of useless fools!"

’Xu Nianqing’ rose to his feet. "Where is Xu Shuangnian?"

Hearing Xu Qingyun refer to his own father by his full name again, the servant at the door found it absurd, but answered nonetheless, "The master just returned from the government office."

’Xu Nianqing’ found Xu Shuangnian and said without preamble, "Have the County Captain dispatch another five hundred soldiers. I will lead them myself and annihilate Tianhu Village in one fell swoop."

Xu Shuangnian looked troubled. "Qingyun, it’s not that I won’t agree, but the County Captain doesn’t listen to me at all. I simply can’t mobilize that many soldiers."

"I’ve heard that Tianhu Village has a ferocious female bandit who kills without blinking. Most of the soldiers we sent this time were lost at her hands. I’ve only just taken office; if too many men die, it will be hard to answer for. I think we should try a different approach."

Xu Nianqing said, "The first battle has already been fought. A County Magistrate losing to a band of outlaws... do you really think you can hold on to your position?"

Xu Shuangnian frowned. "Qingyun, is that any way to speak to your father?"

A flash of disgust crossed Xu Nianqing’s eyes. He turned away, his face cold. "Write a letter to Prince Wei and explain your identity. I’ll deal with the County Captain."

Xu Shuangnian replied, "The County Captain won’t even give me the time of day, so how are you going to deal with him? And Prince Wei... I hear he’s impartial and incorruptible. Not a single corrupt or incompetent official can escape his notice. If I approach him with no achievements to my name, wouldn’t I just be asking for trouble?"

"Xu Xinrou."

Xu Shuangnian was stunned. "How do you know that name?"

Xu Nianqing said, "Xu Xinrou entered the palace as a palace maid. After gaining the Emperor’s favor, she gave birth to a daughter. Following her accidental death, this daughter received the Emperor’s compassion and was officially adopted by the Empress Dowager, who gave her the name Xuanyang."

Xu Shuangnian was truly shocked. "Xuan... Princess Xuanyang... Isn’t that the Empress?"

He was so agitated his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. In disbelief, he stammered, "How is that possible? The Empress is Xinrou’s daughter?"

Xu Nianqing couldn’t understand. "Why didn’t you know about this?"

By the time ’Xu Nianqing’ had known of this man, Xu Shuangnian, he was already dead. And since his own birth mother was not the Empress, there were many details he could not have known.

Xu Shuangnian shook his head, dazed. "I didn’t know. Back then, your grandfather spent the entire family fortune only to secure the post of a County Magistrate. He had intended to marry your aunt into a prominent family, but she was cast aside like a worn-out shoe. He even offended a powerful person in the process, which led to Xinrou being sent directly to the palace to serve as a palace maid."

"Your grandfather had originally secured a post in a county near the Capital City, but in the end, he was dispatched to the most remote county on the border. He remained a County Magistrate for twenty years."

"We didn’t know the late Emperor had favored your aunt, but we did know that she gave birth to a daughter and was granted the title of Zhaoyi. His Majesty even rewarded your grandfather with a promotion to Guanzhou. By the time we were settled there, several years had already passed. Your grandfather wrote a letter requesting to return to the Capital City to report on his duties and visit the Zhaoyi. But before his request was approved, word came from the court that the Zhaoyi had passed away."

"They wouldn’t even let us attend the funeral; she was buried immediately. Afterward, there was never any mention of the child, so we assumed she had passed away as well. After all, she was only a few years old. And being of Royal Family blood, they wouldn’t feel the need to specifically inform us if she were gone."

"How... How did she become Princess Xuanyang...?"

Before, Xu Shuangnian had never even heard of Princess Xuanyang. Being so far from the Capital City, much of the news never reached him. But since the Empress ascended the throne, who under heaven didn’t know her name? And who didn’t know of Princess Xuanyang?

He had only known that Princess Xuanyang was the Empress Dowager’s daughter, a legitimate child of the Central Palace. How could he have known she had been adopted by the Empress Dowager and was actually his own sister’s child?

Xu Nianqing understood. It was all because their official rank was too low.

Xu Shuangnian trembled for a long time before he finally composed himself. He asked, bewildered, "Qingyun, how do you know all this?"

Xu Nianqing couldn’t very well say he was Lu Nianqing, and that the Empress was supposedly his birth mother.

"I found out by chance. I can’t explain it to you. Also, from now on, my name is no longer Xu Qingyun. It’s Xu Nianqing."

One moment he learned he might be the Empress’s own uncle, and the next his son was demanding to change his name. Xu Shuangnian was momentarily at a loss for words, but Xu Nianqing had already walked out the door.

’The Xu Family... So it’s *that* Xu Family.’

Xiao Li knew that the family of Xuanyang’s birth mother was still alive, but they had never been in contact. Besides, she wasn’t the original person in this body; she had never once considered acknowledging these relatives.

’Who would have thought I’d end up meeting them like this?’

’No wonder that Xu Qingyun resembles me. Turns out we’re cousins.’

’And Lu Nianqing’s appearance is also very similar to my original self, which must be why he was able to be reborn in Xu Qingyun’s body.’

The relationships were both simple and complex. But for Xiao Li, it wasn’t that complicated at all. Whether it was relatives or some supposed ’son,’ she wouldn’t acknowledge any of them. If they dared to cause trouble in her presence, she would cut them all down.

She couldn’t care less about relatives, but knowing Prince Wei was coming was good news. ’If I stick with that bastard Xiao Jingyi, I can definitely get back.’

But for now, she had to put aside the matter of her return. Xu Nianqing went to the County Captain and, in no time at all, returned with a token. He mobilized all of Kunyu County’s soldiers, preparing for another assault on the mountain.

Xiao Li hurried to find Niu Jiahua. After searching for a while, she finally located her, only to find that she had tied up Zhou Yang.

"Did he attack you?"

Xiao Li had entered the city with them, and before they parted ways, she had warned Niu Jiahua that Zhou Yang intended to kill her.

Niu Jiahua angrily kicked Zhou Yang. "He attacked me for no reason and even tried to tie me up, so I had to tie him up instead!"

Zhou Yang trembled. "Who are you talking to? Who are you? Give me back my Jiuhua!"

Xiao Li was speechless. ’Fuck... I thought this guy was ruthless, but he’s just a goddamn lovesick idiot.’

Niu Jiahua didn’t immediately understand what he meant. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I *am* Niu Jiahua. Have you lost your mind?"

Zhou Yang refused to accept it, his eyes filled with hatred. "You’re not! I heard it all! Granny Liu said you’re an evil spirit! She said you possessed Jiuhua’s body and killed all those people! Give me back my Jiuhua!"

’A lovesick idiot, and a blind one at that.’

’Yep, that’s my final assessment.’