Chapter 15 Keeping Secrets

Seeing that her two companions had turned pale with fright, the village chief's wife hurriedly added, "Oh, don't panic just yet. Qingping City was captured a month ago, but our 'Three Days General' has driven the enemy out of Xilin Country, and the two nations are now at a temporary ceasefire."

"Three Days General?" Upon hearing that the two countries had ceased hostilities, the two women's complexions improved slightly, yet another question arose, "Wasn't Young General Murong the defender of Qingping City?"

In the past, what they had heard most about was the Ever-Victorious General, General Murong of Xilin Country. However, a few years ago General Murong retired to the capital to enjoy his old age. In these few years, the defense of Qingping City had changed hands three times, the last defender being General Murong's only daughter and the only female general of Xilin Country, Murong Xin. So who was this "Three Days General" they had never heard of before?

Qin Xiaoruo found life here unbearably dull and was in need of something to spice up her monotonous days. After hearing the village chief's wife's words, her eyes lit up, and she blinked, ready to listen to the story.

The village chief's wife looked around cautiously before whispering, "The news of the fall of Qingping City would unsettle the villagers, so I'm telling you this, but you mustn't let it out!"

"Of course!" Now that Qingping City was secure, there was no longer any reason to worry. The two women's hearts settled, and their interest in gossip was sparked; they assured the village chief's wife with a pat on their chests.

Qin Xiaoruo nodded fervently, almost ready to swear to the heavens, "Aunt Liang can rest assured, I won't talk recklessly."

If she were to let something slip, that would be another matter entirely, Qin Xiaoruo added in her mind.

Of course, the village chief's wife couldn't pick up on the subtext of Qin Xiaoruo's words. After looking around once more, she led the two women and Qin Xiaoruo to a secluded spot before beginning her mysterious tale, "Remember how the villagers were prepared to leave after hearing the news that Qingping City had fallen? My old man sent my brother Laosan to Qingping to find out what was happening. He nearly lost his nerve when he learned that, a month ago, Feng Zhao Country's Ever-Victorious General attacked Qingping City by surprise, and Young General Murong was caught off guard and the city gates breached..."

Qin Xiaoruo was listening with great interest when suddenly the sound of two women gasping for air reached her ears, "But isn't Qingping City known to be easy to defend and hard to attack, with the river as a barrier? Even if Young General Murong was negligent, the enemy forces couldn't have possibly breached Qingping City so quickly, could they?"

For the past few years, Xilin Country and Feng Zhao Country had been locked in constant conflict. Because of Qingping City's natural defenses, the people of Yincheng had been able to live in peace. Therefore, when the village chief told the villagers that the fall of Qingping City was just a rumor, they believed without verification, not realizing the news was, in fact, true!

The faces of the two women turned from pale to ashen, filled with a sudden fear.

"Who's to say otherwise?" The village chief's wife said with growing anxiety, "Years ago, my husband mentioned Feng Zhao Country's Ever-Victorious General; despite his young age, he's highly skilled in warfare. He has caused losses for several small countries bordering Feng Zhao, and even when General Murong was still here, he only just managed a draw against him. It's not surprising that Young General Murong was defeated by him, right?"

"We've also heard of the 'Ever-Victorious General' from the enemy nation, and we know how formidable he is, but Qingping City isn't just something that can be easily taken, is it?" The two women hoped that what the village chief's wife was saying wasn't true, for if it were, wouldn't Yincheng also be in grave danger?