The Reincarnated Female‑Oriented Villain Who Laughs Madly While Holding Command Over 100,000 Troops - Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: The “Humble” Gu Yixuan

Inside the Grand Canal of the capital, a lavishly decorated pleasure boat drifted smoothly with the current. A carrier pigeon soared through the sky and fluttered down onto the lattice of the boat’s window. A young girl dressed as a maid stepped forward, retrieving the letter tied to the pigeon’s leg.

After reading its contents, the maid’s face changed instantly. She rushed back inside the boat, stopped in front of a curtained area, and whispered, “Miss, the Wang brothers’ assassination attempt failed.”

There was a short silence behind the curtain, then came a crisp and melodious voice, as clear as a yellow oriole. “I understand. You may leave.”

The maid nodded, bowed toward the curtain, and slowly withdrew.

“My calculations shouldn’t be wrong… was it because an Earth-rank assassin wasn’t strong enough?” the girl behind the curtain murmured. “What a pity Uncle Lin and the others went to the capital. If they were still here, they could’ve killed Gu Yixuan for sure!”

…

15 kilometers outside the capital.

Gu Yixuan had ordered the army to camp there while he personally led 300 personal guards and his generals back to the capital to report the war’s outcome to the Emperor and receive his rewards.

Looking at the city slowly appearing on the horizon, Gu Yixuan sighed with emotion.

In the original plot, Gu Yixuan was assassinated, and the assassin left behind “evidence” indicating the Azure Cloud Empire as the culprit. Enraged, the Emperor immediately launched a campaign against them.

The one appointed as commander-in-chief was Gu Cangbei, but because of the grief of losing his son and a relapse of an old illness, he died on the way to the frontlines before even reaching the border.

After the father and son of the Gu Family died, no one in the Azure Veil Empire dared to take up command. The Emperor, overwhelmed with fury, collapsed from coughing blood in the Golden Throne Hall, and the entire campaign was suspended.

The once glorious Gu Family fell into decline. Only the Duchess of Dingguo and her second son, Gu Yichen, remained to support the crumbling household. And Gu Yichen was the protagonist of Phoenix Blood Long Song.

In truth, Gu Yichen was not a blood relative of the Gu Family, but the child of Fu Yunfei, the Grand General of the Southern Yue Empire from twenty years ago. He also had a childhood betrothal to the female lead.

In his youth, Gu Cangbei had traveled through the Southern Yue Empire and befriended Fu Yunfei. Though they became sworn brothers, they ultimately served different empires and had no choice but to clash on the battlefield.

When the Southern Yue Empire was destroyed, Gu Cangbei, moved by their past bond, secretly spared a single child of the Fu Clan despite the Emperor’s orders to exterminate them all. He brought the child back to the Azure Veil Empire and raised him.

Gu Yichen learned of his true identity from the female lead. After confirming it with the Duchess of Dingguo, he exploited the Emperor’s trust in the Gu Family to gain control of the Azure Veil Empire’s military forces.

With the support of the army and the female lead’s intelligence, they quickly overthrew the royal family and successfully restored the Southern Yue Empire. From then on, they lived happily ever after.

“What kind of ridiculous plot is this? Let’s not even talk about how the Emperor trusts the Gu Family unconditionally. The protagonist grew up in the Azure Veil Empire for eighteen years and didn’t develop even a shred of loyalty?”

“And then he used that trust to launch a coup against the royal family. Fine, he overthrew them, but couldn’t he have just become Emperor himself? At least then my Gu Family would’ve had a taste of imperial power!”

“But no, he had to be brain-damaged enough to give the throne to the female lead and help her restore her empire? Is that what love means? Sorry, but as a single guy, I’ll never understand.”

After recalling the general plot, Gu Yixuan couldn’t help but rant. What kind of twisted genius wrote this story? No wonder so many people cursed it back when the novel came out.

“Young Master, we’ve arrived,” Gu Shan’s voice rang out.

Gu Yixuan looked up and saw Liu Chengqi, Minister of Rites, dressed in a purple robe standing at the forefront by the eastern gate of the capital. Behind him were dozens of officials and countless citizens craning their necks in anticipation.

“All troops, halt!” Gu Yixuan commanded.

The 300 elite cavalrymen simultaneously reined in their steeds. The horses neighed in unison, their cries echoing across the eastern gate. Seated atop his horse, Gu Yixuan wore dark red armor that gleamed with a blood-like shine under the sunlight.

Some timid officials, seeing the fierce and wolf-like armored soldiers, trembled at the knees and had to lean on their companions to barely stay upright.

Noticing this, Gu Yixuan’s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain. He dismounted swiftly and strode toward Liu Chengqi.

Liu Chengqi said, “By the Emperor’s command, I have waited here for some time to greet the General. The enemy from the Azure Cloud Empire was only repelled thanks to your skilled command. You’ve brought great glory to our empire!”

“On behalf of the people of the Azure Veil Empire, I welcome the General’s triumphant return!”

As he spoke, Liu Chengqi extended his hands from his wide sleeves and solemnly saluted Gu Yixuan.

Gu Yixuan quickly stepped forward, supported Liu Chengqi’s arms, and said with sincere eyes, “Minister Liu flatters me. This victory was achieved through the Emperor’s divine power and the brave sacrifices of countless soldiers on the battlefield. I merely acted on imperial command and don’t deserve such high praise.”

Hearing this, Liu Chengqi’s mouth twitched. No wonder the Emperor liked this kid—his flattery was truly something no ordinary person could replicate.

But seeing Gu Yixuan’s “humble” attitude, Liu Chengqi said nothing more. He took a gold-inlaid wine goblet from an accompanying official and handed it to Gu Yixuan.

“This is the Panlong Drunk, a wine His Majesty has treasured for years. He never drinks it himself, but today he bestows it upon the General to celebrate the great victory!”

“Your subject, Gu Yixuan, thanks His Majesty for his immense favor!” Gu Yixuan received the wine goblet respectfully and downed it in one go. The amber liquor was cold on the tongue at first, then turned into blazing fire as it scorched his throat.

“Enter the city!” Gu Yixuan shouted as he mounted his horse again. Hooves thundered as the armored soldiers followed close behind, advancing toward the city gates.

Only now did Gu Yixuan finally understand the feeling captured in Du Fu’s poem: [In spring’s delight, the horse’s hooves race, and in one day, all of Chang’an’s blossoms are seen.]

Both sides of the street at the gate tower were lined with citizens. Their gazes toward Gu Yixuan and his soldiers were filled with reverence.

“It’s all thanks to General Gu that we repelled the Azure Cloud Empire’s invasion!”

“This reminds me of when Duke Dingguo returned in triumph. It was just like this, wasn’t it?”

“Well, not quite. Back then, the Emperor personally came out of the city to greet Duke Dingguo.”

“Even so, General Gu is only twenty and already commands 100,000 troops. He’s no less than his father. Truly a tiger’s son is no dog!”

Among the crowd, a man in a bamboo hat gripped the sword in his hand tighter after hearing the citizens’ chatter. When Gu Cangbei returned victorious from the campaign against the Southern Yue Empire, the Emperor and all his officials went out to welcome him. To the people of the Azure Veil Empire, it was a moment of glory—but to those like him, orphans of Southern Yue, it was an unforgettable humiliation.

“Did the young lady’s plan fail? What a shame about the Wang brothers… they even had a drink with me before they left. I didn’t expect…” the man in the bamboo hat whispered, then slowly faded into the crowd.

At that moment, atop a carriage outside the crowd, a young maid stood, cheerfully pointing at Gu Yixuan on horseback, chattering excitedly, “Miss, look, look! That young general is so handsome!”

The curtain of the carriage lifted slightly, revealing a pretty and delicate face. Her eyes briefly flashed with a strange emotion as she looked at the youth on horseback, but quickly returned to calm.

“Once the crowd disperses, we’re leaving. Don’t keep ‘Father’ waiting.” When she said the word “Father,” her eyes were filled with deep hatred.