The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 237
Translated by Pure
Chapter 237 Trekking Towards Older Sister Mountain
Fu Zixian stood by the door, visibly stunned at the sight of Wen Yantong. His gaze traveled up and down her figure, fixating on her face.
Wen Yantong and Mu Yang stood quietly, observing Fu Zixian's reaction with anticipation. It wasn't until later that Wen Yantong couldn't contain her laughter and initiated a greeting. "Fu Zixian, it's been a while."
Only then did Fu Zixian snap out of his stupor. He turned around and closed the door, swiftly approaching her with disbelief etched on his face. "You... shouldn't you be in Chaoge?" he questioned incredulously.
Wen Yantong ran her hand through her wet hair and replied, "Yes, but here I am in Yibei now, aren't I? I came specifically to see you guys."
Fu Zixian, suppressing his frustration, finally admonished in a low voice, "You are too willful!"
Mu Yang chimed in, "Too willful!"
Fu Zixian continued, "Yibei is in turmoil. You shouldn't have come here. I'll arrange for someone to escort you away immediately."
Wen Yantong's eyes widened in protest. "No!"
Fu Zixian met her gaze squarely. "It's very dangerous here."
"I know," Wen Yantong affirmed. "It's precisely because of the danger that I came here."
Mu Yang, his anxiety evident, questioned, "Why would you, a maiden, choose to come to such a perilous place?"
Wen Yantong replied, "It's because you guys are here that I am here."
Mu Yang shook his head with a sigh. "This is not the time for games. You should return. We'll go back and accompany you once the chaos subsides."
Wen Yantong spoke with sincerity, "I truly have important matters here. From this moment onward, I will also become a member of your army to help restore order, and I will stand alongside you in quelling the chaos."
With determination, she presented the jade plaque given by Cheng Xin.
Fu Zixian accepted it, examining it closely, and fell silent immediately.
While Cheng Xin's jade token held no military significance, its association with the Fifth Imperial Prince suggested that Wen Yantong hadn't infiltrated alone. Cheng Xin's support from behind the scenes indicated Wen Yantong's serious intent, as Cheng Xin wouldn't have taken such matters lightly.
Mu Yang pondered aloud, "You can't participate in battle, so why would Brother Qianyuan send you here?"
Retaking the jade token, Wen Yantong retorted, "Stop asking such senseless questions. With the Little Marquis's whereabouts unknown, time is of the essence. I want to have a brief meeting with the other high-ranking military officers."
Fu Zixian hesitated for a moment before responding, "We already held a meeting this morning..."
Pushing back her long hair, Wen Yantong's delicate face exuded seriousness. "Well then, we’ll have the second meeting of the day. And I want it done now."
When Wen Yantong displayed such seriousness, she exuded a certain leadership style. Though Fu Zixian wasn't entirely certain of her intentions, he complied, considering the jade token in her possession.
As the Deputy Commander-in-Chief in the army, second only to Chi Jingxi, Fu Zixian possessed the authority to convene conferences.
However, several high-ranking military officers were out patrolling, and the news had to be relayed by word of mouth. By the time everyone had gathered, two hours had already elapsed.
The wind in Yibei lacked the gentle touch of Chaoge's breeze. Instead, it carried a parching heat that swiftly dried Wen Yantong's long hair.
Securing her hair with a ribbon into a ponytail, Wen Yantong donned a colorful dress commonly worn in Yibei.
Once everyone had gathered, Wen Yantong proceeded to the council room. Pushing the door open, she immediately drew everyone's attention.
Inside, a long table occupied the room, with individuals seated in pairs according to their rank. An empty chair stood at the center, with Fu Zixian positioned beside it.
As the unfamiliar sight of Wen Yantong caught everyone's attention, murmurs and whispers filled the room. They hadn't anticipated the sudden appearance of a girl in their midst, sparking quiet chatter among them.
A man with a somewhat bloated figure voiced his concern, "How did this girl manage to infiltrate here? Drag her out immediately!"
Wen Yantong nonchalantly waved her hand, "Let's not be too hasty to assert authority."
All eyes followed her as she made her way around the long table, heading towards Fu Zixian's position.
Suddenly, Mu Yang rose to his feet, retrieved a cloak hanging on the back of a chair, and draped it over Wen Yantong. While roughly fastening the cloak around her, he remarked, "The night breeze in Yibei is chilling. You should have worn thicker clothing. Otherwise, you'll end up bedridden for three days."
Upon hearing Mu Yang's remark, Wen Yantong deduced that he must have experienced being bedridden for three days upon his initial arrival.
She acknowledged his comment with a slight nod before taking her seat on the empty chair.
The murmurs in the room suddenly intensified. The individual who had been challenged by Wen Yantong couldn't contain his agitation any longer. Slapping the table, he shouted, "Who gave you the audacity to occupy that seat! Why haven't you risen yet!"
At the long table, individuals were seated on both sides, leaving only one empty chair on her side. Wen Yantong discerned that this chair likely belonged to Chi Jingxi. She had opted for this seat due to the lack of additional space and for ease of communication.
Fu Zixian's demeanor grew stern as he addressed the fat man named Pang. "Why does Deputy General Pang have so much to say today?"
Pang, visibly embarrassed, forcefully retorted, "This is a crucial meeting. How can we allow a woman to intrude and occupy the Commander-in-Chief's seat..."
Fu Zixian folded his arms, his tone becoming deeper. "Pang Zhi!"
Promptly, Pang stood up and rendered a military salute. "This subordinate is present!"
"What are the rules of procedure set by the Commander-in-Chief?" Fu Zixian asked coldly.
Pang Zhi, with a flushed face, responded, "Do not speak excessively before the discussion, actively participate during the discussion, and strictly adhere to the decisions made after the discussion"
Fu Zixian remained impassive. "As long as you understand, remember to go receive your punishment on your own after the discussion."
Pang Zhi felt a lump in his throat but could only reply, "Yes!"
Wen Yantong observed with a cold gaze, her expression devoid of any hint of relaxation.
In truth, Wen Yantong felt compelled to applaud Fu Zixian silently. Within a short span of time, Fu Zixian, initially somewhat reserved and shy, had exhibited remarkable authority today.
Despite his easily-acquired status as a military officer due to his familial background, Fu Zixian might have been susceptible to ostracism and bullying. However, he had effectively managed such challenges, garnering respect from his subordinates.
Observing Fu Zixian conclude his admonition, Wen Yantong retrieved Cheng Xin's jade token from her belongings and displayed it before the assembly. "I am part of the third reinforcement team," she announced, "and I have also been tasked with quelling the rebellion in Yibei."
As everyone scrutinized the jade token in Wen Yantong's hand, most were unsure of its origin. However, considering the girl's boldness in displaying it and the support she received from Fu Zixian, they presumed it to be legitimate. Consequently, no one dared to raise objections or question its authenticity.
A lengthy silence enveloped the room, filled with contemplation and uncertainty.
"How long has the Little Marquis been missing?" Wen Yantong inquired.
"Today marks the sixteenth day," Fu Zixian responded.
"What are your plans?"
"During this time, we've been searching for any signs of the Commander-in-Chief’s whereabouts. Just last night, we received information suggesting that an enemy unit was spotted approximately ten kilometers from the mountains. We speculate that the Commander-in-Chief encountered enemy forces there, and with his route blocked off, he may have sought refuge in the mountains," Fu Zixian explained.
"Is it the Sister Mountains?" Wen Yantong asked.
Fu Zixian's expression shifted to one of surprise. "How did you know?"
"It's not important how I know," Wen Yantong replied. "Are you intending to search for him in the Younger Sister Mountain?"
"That's the plan we devised earlier today," Fu Zixian confirmed. "After nightfall, we will dispatch two teams. One will approach Younger Sister Mountain from the east, while the other will proceed from the west."
"Change the plan now," Wen Yantong asserted. "We will head to Older Sister Mountain to search for the Little Marquis after nightfall."
An immediate objection arose from someone in the room, while Fu Zixian furrowed his brow in confusion.
Mu Yang interjected, "Our decision to head to Younger Sister Mountain was based on geographical considerations and tracking..."
"Listen to me," Wen Yantong interjected, raising her hand to silence the room. With a commanding presence, she addressed the crowd in a deep voice, "I understand that you believe Younger Sister Mountain is the likely hiding place for the Little Marquis due to its proximity to a water source. However, consider this: the Little Marquis is not familiar with Yibei's terrain and may not realize that there's a river beyond Younger Sister Mountain."
Pausing briefly, Wen Yantong continued, "Moreover, the enemy soldiers, who are familiar with Yibei's terrain, could also anticipate this choice. Given the Little Marquis's intelligence, he might opt for the opposite direction. Therefore, I believe he went to Older Sister Mountain."
