Xiao Yinghao had been fighting the Qingman for nearly fifteen years on the border. She knew their military situation well. But when she looked at the map Gu Fangchen had drawn, it didn't match the information she had.
She frowned and examined it carefully. The more she looked, the more alarmed she became.
Because the paper didn't just show the deployment map, it included detailed profiles of the enemy. From the main general's cultivation, age, and hobbies, to how many people were in his family, and even that one of their scouts liked to catch crickets in his spare time.
Below that were several possible defensive alterations based on different situational changes.
And at the top of the page, written in neat, confident handwriting, were the words:
"A Babysitter's Strategy Guide to the Qingman Routes, Even Babies Can Understand It."
"?"
The princess looked up, only to see that Gu Fangchen, after handing her that one sheet, hadn't stopped. He focused intently, recalling from memory, and drew another seventy or eighty maps in one go.
Suppressing her urge to scold him for the ridiculous titles, Xiao Yinghao picked them up one by one, flipping through them. As she read, her initial shock gave way to numb disbelief.
Nearly a hundred maps, each one simulating a potential battle scenario between the two sides. Every possible response from the Qingman was considered, detailed to the point where she felt as though she were facing the Qingman Khan himself.
Every variation made her feel like she was fighting the real Qingman.
Combining her current intelligence and experience, Xiao Yinghao could confirm that at least eighty percent of these were plausible!
What shook her most was that some of the intelligence mentioned here was information she herself had only recently received, there was absolutely no way Gu Fangchen could have obtained it!
How did this man know all this?
Her sharp eyes narrowed as her fingers brushed over the paper. Then she remembered, Gu Fangchen also knew her own White Dragon Army Formation...
In fact, compared to the Qingman deployment map, that was the most inexplicable thing of all. It couldn't be explained by logic.
The White Dragon Army Formation was her original creation. She had never taught it to anyone. She would know if she had.
Gu Fangchen, of course, understood that the princess hadn't called him to her chambers in the middle of the night merely to use him as a plaything. He coughed lightly and said:
"Your Highness must be wondering how I know all this?"
Xiao Yinghao's gaze turned cool. "Indeed. You've lived in Great Wei since birth, never even been to the frontier. How can you know the Qingman so well?
"And as for my White Dragon Army Formation, where did you learn it?"
That was the real reason she'd called him here.
If not for that formation, he could never have impersonated her consort, nor commanded the White Dragon Army. Without it, he could never have reversed the tide against the Qingman or helped her break free.
Objectively, what he had done was unorthodox, borderline underhanded. But subjectively, he had saved her life. The Blood River Repentance Formation was meant to trap her, it was truly formidable. Had Gu Fangchen not intervened, she would have been gravely injured after days of confinement.
Even if she'd eventually regained control of the situation, Gu Yuye would have seized command of the Autumn Peace Road.
For that, Xiao Yinghao was indeed grateful.
But her pride as the "Goddess of War" couldn't stomach anyone rivaling her in military mastery.
A youth suddenly appearing out of nowhere, knowing her White Dragon Army Formation? Of course she was curious, and a bit competitive.
Gu Fangchen blinked innocently, then began to lie with perfect calm.
"Actually... my master began teaching me miscellaneous arts when I was three, formations, strategy, the art of war. I used to sneak into Gu Yuye's study often. He never guarded against me, so I found some of Your Highness's records, among them, the White Dragon Army Formation.
"As for these Qingman defense maps, they're the result of my master's network of informants. Over the years, I've merely compiled and refined them myself."
Yes, that was perfect. In the past, Gu Fangchen's reputation for being useless was so bad that no one would have stopped him from wandering into the prince's study.
Because, he couldn't read a thing anyway.
Xiao Yinghao blinked. "Master... Senior Ding?"
Gu Fangchen nodded gravely.
Her brows lifted slightly. Though few knew it yet, Gu Fangchen's identity as Ding Xingfeng's disciple had already been mentioned among the White Dragon Army.
Still, she eyed him skeptically. "So, you're saying you learned the White Dragon Army Formation from scraps of intelligence?"
Gu Fangchen put on his most solemn face. "Your Highness may doubt me, but surely not the Marquis of Yi Prefecture himself? My master personally attested to my gift in the art of war. If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself."
Ah yes, Old Ding, the perfect scapegoat.
First, his fame was immense. No one would question his abilities. Even though he'd never taught anyone, his supposed "teaching skill" was beyond dispute.
Second, he'd been in seclusion for decades; few living masters truly knew him. To everyone else, he was the legendary Martial Saint who slaughtered armies and inspired awe.
And while Ding Xingfeng was famous for martial invincibility, he did dabble a little in tactics.
Though, to be fair, his "dabbling" was about as effective as ten holes with one still blocked.
In other words, he knew nothing.
His entire strategy consisted of "charge first, decapitate second."
It worked only because everyone else was too terrified to fight.
Still, Gu Fangchen could use that name freely, unless the Emperor or the Sage of Confucius himself asked questions, no one would doubt him.
Now that his cultivation had risen into the Divine Path, his spiritual composure made lying effortless. No trembling pulse, no irregular breathing, no way to sense deceit.
Xiao Yinghao, seeing how serious and slightly offended he looked, and remembering Ding Xingfeng's legend, found herself... half-convinced.
But still, "a genius in the art of war" was pushing it.
She narrowed her eyes. "I know some people are prodigies, capable of instant understanding, but military formations aren't something you can just glance at and master."
To her, he was talented, yes, but exaggerating. A young man puffing up his ego.
And strangely enough, though she usually despised glib-tongued men, she didn't mind it from Gu Fangchen.
Perhaps because he actually had substance.
Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow. "If Your Highness doesn't believe me, why not test me?"
"Oh?" Her lips curved. "A match, then. Best of three."
Among her peers, there was no one who could rival her in tactics. Seeing him provoke her, she felt an old spark of excitement.
With a flick of her hand, the air rippled, an illusory battlefield appeared. Troops arrayed in shifting lines, two sides opposed, each "commanding" their forces.
Gu Fangchen knew this was the simplified simulation used for tactical exercises. Not identical to real battle formations, but close enough.
And in that, he was an expert.
He looked up at the princess.
Freshly bathed, she wore a casual peony-colored long gown and white gauze trousers, light, soft, and close-fitting, tracing every curve.
Gu Fangchen swallowed. Having "experienced the mountains and valleys" earlier, he knew better than to linger on that view for long.
Her face, still faintly flushed from before, carried that intoxicating blend of arrogance and allure, eyes like cool amber, beautiful, dangerous.
A tiny mole above her collarbone made her all the more distracting.
He licked his lips. "If there's victory and defeat, there should be stakes, shouldn't there?"
Xiao Yinghao caught the tone, smiling faintly. "What would you wager?"
Gu Fangchen knew better than to push too far. The earlier "reward" was a fluke. If he tried again, he'd risk angering her. So he replied smoothly:
"I'll let Your Highness decide."
She was surprised, but when she looked closer, she saw him avoiding her gaze, eyes darting, flickering.
It seemed the boy had tasted temptation, spoke impulsively, but now feared rejection.
Her lips curled. How amusing.
"Very well," she said softly. "Everyone knows I'm called the Goddess of War, unmatched in tactics. Even in simulations, this is no game. If you win, I'll be your captive. You may do whatever you wish."
She was even role-playing now.
And not just any role, the real thing. Damn, the immersion was too strong.
Gu Fangchen's mind ran wild at the image of the proud princess as his prisoner, bound, defiant, lips bitten in stubborn pride...
Of course, if he said any of that aloud, he'd be the one tied up.
He cleared his throat. "And if I lose?"
"Then you'll be mine to deal with."
He nodded seriously. "The rewards are clear enough. What about... the punishment?"
"?"
"Cough, nothing."
"Then please, Your Highness, make the first move."
She narrowed her eyes. Bold of him, to give her the first strike.
Was he being courteous, or arrogant? Either way, she would crush him for it.
She moved her piece.
Gu Fangchen followed calmly.
He wasn't trying to flatter her. All his studied strategies involved countering her aggressive playstyle from the second move onward.
Soon, her smile faded.
Within a quarter of an hour, she was no longer moving idly, each placement now took deep thought.
An hour later, she exhaled slowly.
"I've lost."
Sweat beaded her forehead. She felt as if she had been ensnared in a spider's web, every move, every countermove, all foreseen.
He had studied her completely.
No wonder he'd mastered her White Dragon Army Formation.
"Good thing you're not Qingman," she murmured.
Gu Fangchen blinked. "You're not going to accuse me of being a Qingman spy now, are you? Lock me in the palace dungeon, torture me until I confess, ?"
"The Princess's residence doesn't have a dungeon."
"Oh, thank, "
"But one could be built specially for you."
"..."
She held the stern face for two seconds, then snorted. "Do you think me so petty I can't accept defeat?"
Gu Fangchen grinned. "Your Highness's skill is unmatched. This was only theory, mere paper tactics. On the battlefield, I could never compare."
"Enough flattery." She folded her arms. "You wield my White Dragon Army Formation like an extension of your own body. Don't call that 'paper tactics'."
He sighed. "I mean it. At Autumn Peace Road, if my cultivation hadn't been so low, I wouldn't have relied on the mine-guarding array at all."
"So," she said, eyes half-lidded, "you're saying if your cultivation were higher, you could beat me easily?"
He blinked rapidly, wisely saying nothing.
For the first time in her life, Xiao Yinghao had lost. But the way he handled it, with humor, grace, and skill, made it hard to stay angry.
Defeat was defeat. And if someone this young could challenge her so completely... it was frightening.
The princess's image of Gu Fangchen changed once more.
At Autumn Peace Road, his tactics had seemed simple, direct, even crude. Now she understood that was his style: no tricks, no flourish. Just pure prediction and execution.
A machine of reason and precision.
She raised her hand; the battlefield illusion dissolved. She turned to him.
"Well then, I'm your captive now, my lord. What will you do with me?"
She even offered him her wrists, head tilted proudly.
The princess truly knew how to play her part.
Gu Fangchen's heart skipped. Whether dominant or submissive, she fit the role perfectly.
But no, he couldn't break character. Not now. Otherwise, the mask he'd built at the Hall of the Violet Extremity would shatter.
He reached out and took her hand.
Her fingers stiffened. His palm was warm and solid, rougher than hers.
For a moment, she thought of pulling away, but didn't.
Though she dreamed of one day becoming an empress, she had never actually held a man's hand before.
This... felt different.
Their eyes met.
"Your Highness," he murmured. "May I?"
She understood immediately, biting her lip in irritation.
Why did it feel like he was pushing boundaries again?
Still, a wager was a wager.
She nodded once, grumbling, "Weren't you bold a moment ago? Why ask per, mmph!"
Before she could finish, he kissed her.
Her proud phoenix eyes misted over. The crimson at their corners deepened into liquid fire.
He lingered for a moment, but soon realized, with her power, he couldn't push any further.
Reluctantly, he let go and stepped back.
The princess stood there, dazed.
Gu Fangchen, fearing her wrath, coughed and quickly vaulted out the window.
"Ah, Your Highness, remember to use my strategies against the Qingman! Guaranteed victory!"
Those were real. No holding back.
And winning her trust was worth far more than that kiss.
...
Xiao Yinghao blinked, then scowled when she saw the window creak open.
She pressed her lips together, touched them lightly, still damp.
That bastard had definitely tried to go further.
"Hmph. Insufferable."
She shut the window with a loud bang, sat down, and began studying the maps again.
...
The next morning.
Gu Fangchen opened his eyes and saw Xue Xiang, who was supposed to have shared his bed, standing at the window with her hands clasped behind her back.
She turned slightly when she heard him stir.
"Ah, wait! Don't, turn, around yet!"
Gu Fangchen scrambled, pulling the blanket up to his chest.