Chapter 129: Chapter 71: Confrontation

Shen Ruoxi’s gossip in the military camp never ceased, and the news of her separation from Xiao Chengyi had already spread to every corner of the camp.

When Shen Ruoxi returned to her room, she immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere.

Especially Qing Ning, who, after seeing Shen Ruoxi sit down, hurriedly placed water and snacks beside her. Her attentive demeanor made Shen Ruoxi suspect if she had contracted some incurable disease.

“What are you doing? Your flurry is making me dizzy,” Shen Ruoxi said, frowning helplessly.

Qing Ning carefully sat down and tentatively asked, “That General Xiao…”

Shen Ruoxi’s expression turned cold as she decisively said, “Do you think I care? The divorce decree was something I requested from His Majesty. Now, to me, he’s just a stranger. It’s best if he stays far away from me. Don’t overthink it, he can’t affect my emotions in the slightest.”

At this moment, Feng Ming walked over and suggested, “Then let’s return to the Capital City. It’s better to stay far away from him, avoiding unnecessary annoyance.”

For once, Qing Ning stood on the same side as Feng Ming and quickly added, “I agree. Now there’s only Xia Pass left. With the Marshal’s wisdom and arrangements, conquering it is only a matter of time.”

Shen Ruoxi, however, firmly shook her head, her tone powerful and resolute, “I came this time to bring back the spirits of my father, brothers, uncles, and the twenty thousand spirits of the Shen Family Army.

As Xia Pass remains unconquered, they certainly do not wish to return to the Capital. If I leave now, wouldn’t it have been a wasted trip!

I must personally witness our soldiers capturing Xia Pass, then bring back the spirits of my family. Not even Xiao Chengyi and Ning Zhen, or anyone else, can change my decision.”

Upon hearing her words, Qing Ning and Feng Ming felt a sense of grief, and suddenly Feng Ming boldly declared, “I will definitely fight alongside Miss Shen to reclaim Xia Pass.”

Qing Ning, unwilling to be outdone, quickly stated, “I will too.”

Shen Ruoxi looked at the two young, energetic faces and nodded appreciatively.

Then, she picked up the crossbow placed nearby and said, “I need to go to the Crossbow Camp, I have some modifications to discuss with Zheng Duwei.”

“Let’s go together!” Feng Ming suggested.

Shen Ruoxi didn’t object, and the three of them headed to the Crossbow Camp together.

As soon as they arrived, Shen Ruoxi’s gaze was immediately drawn to Ning Zhen who was standing side by side with Zheng Duwei, furrowing her brow and lamenting inwardly: truly enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road, no matter where I go!

Ning Zhen also didn’t expect to encounter Shen Ruoxi here. She curled her lips into a sneer and spoke first, “Military Doctor Shen, why aren’t you with the wounded? Why have you come to the Crossbow Camp? Could it be that you’re trying to show off again?”

Qing Ning, upon hearing this, immediately became infuriated, “Who do you think you are! Show off? Is there anything more showy than saving the Marshal’s life? Can you almost reclaim Peng City without bloodshed?”

Ning Zhen’s face turned beet red for the first time experiencing such humiliation in the military camp, her eyes glaring angrily, “Without the crossbows I created, do you think you could have easily reclaimed lost land?

As for saving the Marshal and taking Peng City, it was because I wasn’t there. If I were, the Marshal wouldn’t have needed to take such risks! Taking Peng City would have been easier!”

“Such arrogance! Be careful not to bite your tongue with that windbag!” Qing Ning’s chest heaved with anger, ready to retort further, but was held back by Shen Ruoxi.

“We are all here for taking back Xia Pass, so stop the bickering,” Shen Ruoxi’s voice was cold as she addressed Qing Ning.

Qing Ning gave Ning Zhen a ferocious glare and resentfully stayed silent.

Shen Ruoxi’s gaze swept over Ning Zhen coldly and said, “I’m here to see Zheng Duwei, not you! Please make way, Military Guard Ning.”

Before Ning Zhen could respond, she felt a sudden bump; it was Zheng Duwei, who brushed past her without any regard, walking straight to Shen Ruoxi with a face full of smiles, “Military Doctor Shen, you’re here.”

Shen Ruoxi politely nodded slightly, “I wanted to discuss some improvements to this crossbow.”

“Please, have a seat,” Zheng Duwei warmly invited her.

“Thank you,” Shen Ruoxi thanked him and sat down casually.

Ning Zhen’s arm throbbed painfully from the bump. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the scene, her face darkened like a cloud ready to release rain, “Zheng Duwei, have you forgotten, it was I who designed and created the crossbows, what do you mean by this?”

Zheng Duwei maintained that seemingly kind yet insincere smile, “Military Guard Ning, Military Doctor Shen certainly has better ideas that you’re unaware of. She is indeed a blessing to our camp and must not be neglected.”

Ning Zhen trembled with rage, gritting her teeth so hard they could be heard clicking, on the brink of shouting angrily: “If she can’t be overlooked, does that mean you can treat me this way!”

However, in the end, she swallowed her burning anger, glaring fiercely at Shen Ruoxi with a look that seemed to want to devour her whole, filled with endless resentment.

Why had everyone been so respectful to her before, but ever since Shen Ruoxi arrived, everything had changed?

Her heart full of resentment and unwillingness, she couldn’t understand why most of the officers and soldiers in the military camp were upright people.

No matter how capable she, Ning Zhen, was, so what? Entangling with another’s husband without official status and already pregnant, who could respect such behavior?

Moreover, Shen Ruoxi was the sole heir of the Loyalty Marquis.

Plus, she had brought good fortune to the camp from the moment she arrived, saving two soldiers from the brink of death, gaining unparalleled admiration from everyone!

Ning Zhen’s face darkened as if it could rain, thinking indignantly that Shen Ruoxi received recognition merely due to her father and brothers.

Resolute, she determined to outshine Shen Ruoxi on the battlefield, to show everyone who truly had real abilities!

Despite feeling utterly unwilling, she forcibly swallowed her grievance.

Meanwhile, Shen Ruoxi appeared unaware of Ning Zhen’s murderous gaze, looking at Zheng Duwei with calm eyes, she spoke slowly, “Zheng Duwei, I examined this crossbow, indeed it is more convenient than traditional bows and arrows, and has much greater lethality…”

Ning Zhen felt a surge of pride upon hearing those words.

This crossbow was an ancestral heirloom, slightly modified by her, sure to wreak havoc when employed on the battlefield.

“Naturally, who else could have made it,” Ning Zhen’s expression swelled with arrogance.

Ignoring her, Shen Ruoxi casually said to Zheng Duwei, “However, upon inspection, there are still many drawbacks. If made more compact and wearable on the arm, it would further reduce our soldiers’ losses.”

Ning Zhen became furious, “Shen Ruoxi, you’re trying to grab the spotlight without regard for occasion? This is a military camp; you are going to great lengths simply to defeat me. Do you realize your aggressiveness might endanger all the officers!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep