Xi Qingyue had no idea that the people from Willow Tree Village were making their way toward Xin'an City. If she had known, she would certainly have laughed with delight.
At that moment, she was wandering around the grounds of her residence with Xi Weilan and Nanxing. The three of them made a complete circuit around the courtyard walls.
Xi Qingyue had planted a vast expanse of vines along the walls, covering the entire surface. Dense, needle-like thorns covered the vines, and any ordinary person who tried to climb over the walls would either die or be left with a serious injury.
Nanxing found this rather puzzling and could not help asking, “Commandery Princess, these walls might keep out ordinary people, but they won’t stop martial artists.”
Xi Qingyue gave her a mysterious smile. “Of course they won’t stop true experts. But the moment they come in, I’ll be able to sense them. You won’t need to patrol specifically anymore. Isn’t that much more convenient?”
These vines had been cultivated with her wood-based supernatural ability. She would know whenever anyone approached. Anyone trying to sneak in and cause trouble would have to see whether they had the life to leave again.
Hearing this, Nanxing curiously reached out and touched one of the thorns. She had never seen thorns that long—each one was as long as her finger.
Xi Weilan crouched on the ground, her eyes darting around. After a while, she pointed excitedly at the earth and shouted, “Sister, dig a pit here! If someone secretly flies in and happens to land right here, they’ll fall straight into it and never get out!”
Nanxing’s finger suddenly hurt. Distracted by Xi Weilan’s words, she pricked her finger on a thorn.
She suddenly felt that compared with the two commandery princesses, she still had a great deal to learn.
Xi Qingyue also looked at Xi Weilan in surprise. They had used traps back when they were living in that dilapidated little courtyard in Willow Tree Village, and the child had actually remembered it all this time.
Xi Qingyue had not used this method because she felt it was unnecessary. A true expert might not fall into a trap even after getting inside.
But when she saw the expectant look on Xi Weilan’s face, she smiled and nodded. “All right. Let’s make plenty of traps. We’ll tell everyone about them afterward and warn them not to go near the walls unless necessary.”
She stamped her foot, and a several-meter-deep pit instantly appeared before them.
Xi Qingyue used earth spikes to cover the bottom of the pit, then planted sharp spikes all around its edges. Near ground level, she created a thin wooden platform and covered it with soil so that it looked no different from the surrounding ground. She stored the excess soil in her space.
With that, Xi Qingyue became busy again. Xi Weilan and Nanxing followed behind her excitedly, marking every trap they made.
Mu Jin returned to the residence at precisely that moment. She went to Xi Qingyue’s courtyard but did not see the person she was looking for—or Nanxing—and could not help feeling puzzled.
Xi Qingyue had not arranged for any other maid to stay by her side, and most of the guards had been sent out to handle various matters. The academy alone had taken up more than half of them. Aside from the cooks and the guards stationed at the gates, there was practically no one else in the residence.
After thinking it over, Mu Jin headed toward the rear garden. As she walked, she found the route troublesome and simply flew up onto the roof to take a look around.
When she spotted Xi Qingyue and the others, she smiled slightly and immediately flew over.
Xi Qingyue had sensed her the instant she returned, but since it did not seem to be anything important, she said nothing.
Now, seeing Mu Jin flying toward them, Xi Qingyue’s lips twitched. Could Mu Jin be the first unlucky victim?
“Commandery Princess, I’m back!” Mu Jin called out as she descended beside them.
Nanxing was instantly alarmed, and Xi Weilan cried out, “Sister Mu Jin, watch out!”
Just as Mu Jin was about to land, Xi Qingyue flicked her hand from a distance, sending Mu Jin flying away and dropping her onto the ground some distance off.
Mu Jin landed with a bewildered expression. Had she missed something?
Why did it feel so wrong? Why had the commandery princess struck her for no reason? And what was she supposed to watch out for? Did one really need to be careful inside one’s own residence?
She sat up and looked at the three of them in confusion. Xi Weilan ran over with a bright smile.
“Sister Mu Jin, you almost fell into a pit just now! There are lots of spikes inside. If you’d fallen in, it would have been awful!”
A chill instantly ran down Mu Jin’s back. Surely not? She had only been gone for half a day, and the residence had already changed again.
She asked Xi Qingyue uncertainly, “Commandery Princess, if I fell in, would I die?”
“Of course not.” Xi Qingyue shook her head with complete composure.
Mu Jin patted her chest in relief. “That’s good. If I won’t die, then it shouldn’t be a problem.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Xi Qingyue added with a cheerful smile, “You wouldn’t die, but you’d wish you had. There are so many earth spikes inside that you’d turn into a hedgehog. It would hurt terribly.”
She was not exaggerating. Mu Jin truly would not die. Even if she were left with only one breath, Xi Qingyue could save her. But suffering would be unavoidable.
Mu Jin was instantly speechless. She had nearly become the first person to suffer because of the trap they had dug.
Thinking of something, she immediately glared at Nanxing. “Nanxing, go to the gate and warn everyone. No one is to approach the courtyard walls, and no one is allowed to fly into the grounds.”
She was afraid there would soon be a second unlucky victim. If it was one of their own people, they should avoid that if possible.
If someone ignored the main entrance and flew in, they could only blame themselves for whatever happened. Hopefully, no one would be foolish enough to do that.
Nanxing realized how serious the matter was and hurried outside.
Xi Weilan patted Mu Jin on the shoulder, then took a lollipop from her little cloth pouch and handed it over with a beaming smile. “Sister Mu Jin, this is to comfort you after your fright. No one else has gotten one!”
Mu Jin accepted it with a smile. “Thank you, Commandery Princess!”
She felt that from now on, she would have to walk carefully even inside this residence. Who knew when the two commandery princesses might come up with another new trap? They had nearly caught one of their own people this time.
She unwrapped the lollipop and began eating it, then rose and straightened her clothes.
Suddenly, Xi Qingyue looked at her with a smile. “Mu Jin, have you still not found a suitable candidate? Why don’t you become the county magistrate? I think you’d be quite suitable.”
At that, Mu Jin waved her hands repeatedly. “Commandery Princess, I can’t do that. I’m capable of killing people and setting fires, but if you make me do this kind of work, I’ll probably lose several years off my life. Please have some mercy on me. Besides, there’s nothing major happening in the city, and things are fairly peaceful for now. We still have time to bring someone over from the capital.”
Xi Qingyue nodded in agreement. “All right. Ask Nan Yun whether he wants to be the county magistrate. If he doesn’t, we’ll find someone else.”
“Yes, Commandery Princess.”
Mu Jin felt the possibility was still very small. People like them were fine as guards, but making them sit obediently in an office and deal with administrative matters? They certainly would not be able to sit still.
After Xi Qingyue finished speaking, she went back to working on the traps. She made numerous traps around the entire courtyard wall, placing each one according to the spots where someone using qinggong would likely land after jumping from the wall.
Mu Jin carefully watched from the side and memorized every location, lest one of their own people fall victim again someday.
The days passed leisurely. Xi Qingyue enjoyed a remarkably comfortable life, as relaxed as the retirement of a hundred-year-old elder.
One morning, as usual, she was practicing swordplay in the courtyard with Xi Weilan.
She had only just sheathed her sword when Nanxing came hurrying over. “Princess, it’s happened—Prince Kang has rebelled.”
Xi Qingyue was delighted. “Oh? That was quick. Is someone coming to fight us?”
Xi Weilan chimed in excitedly from the side, “Big Sister, I haven’t used that huge spear in ages! You have to take me along to fight too.”
Xi Qingyue smiled and ruffled her hair. “Sure. I’ll definitely bring you with me.”
Nanxing, standing nearby, was instantly stunned. Was she supposed to be excited too?
