Chapter Twenty-Seven: An Extraordinary Small Legion

“Brother, let me introduce you. They’re all my closest friends,” Ye Ling said with a cheerful smile. She glanced toward the carriage and then casually gestured to her side. “This is Wen Rong, this is Shao Xue, and this one, the most enchanting, is Shen Miao. Hehe…”

The girl named Shen Miao rolled her eyes at Ye Ling, then laughed, “Brother Ye, I’ve heard so much about you—truly, I’ve heard about you for ages.”

Ye Ling’s smile froze. Shen Miao’s words were ambiguous, making it impossible to tell if she was being malicious or simply joking.

“You, sometimes your heart’s as small as a needle’s tip,” Shen Miao said helplessly, giving Ye Ling a gentle push. “I was just making a casual remark. If I held a grudge against your brother, would I call him ‘big brother’? And who ran errands for you just now?”

“You know Ling’s old troubles,” Wen Rong shook her head, then smiled at Ye Xin. “Brother Ye, don’t mind us. We’re used to teasing each other.”

“It’s fine, really,” Ye Xin replied with a smile. He had intended to display a bit of his usual unruly manner, but the girls’ expressions were warm and friendly, free from judgment. It was the first genuine kindness he’d felt from strangers since returning to Jiuding City. So, he let go of the idea of acting out, especially since he didn’t want to upset Ye Ling.

“Shen Miao, I was wrong…” Ye Ling admitted, looking embarrassed.

The girls radiated a striking youthful energy. Even Ye Xin, with his self-control, felt his mood shift. He had already met Wen Rong in the ancient forest, so that needed no elaboration. Shen Miao and Shao Xue each had their own distinct charm. Shen Miao possessed a bewitching allure; her large eyes seemed veiled in a mist, her figure graceful. If judged purely by feminine appeal, Shen Miao was undoubtedly the most seductive among them.

Shao Xue, on the other hand, seemed somewhat cold. While the other three girls smiled brightly, she alone scrutinized Ye Xin with a stern expression.

“So this is really Young Master Ye?” Shao Xue suddenly said. “He doesn’t quite match the rumors.”

“Then what should I do?” Ye Xin replied indifferently. “Should I grin foolishly and banter with you?”

“Brother!” Ye Ling protested, her tone coquettish.

“What we see may still be false; what we hear is not necessarily true,” Wen Rong said. “Rumors are just rumors.”

“Exactly,” Shen Miao laughed, “I’ve always wondered, how bad can a child not yet fourteen truly be? Some people talk about your brother as if he’s a terrifying beast.”

“Thank you…” Ye Ling bit her lip and whispered, “Thank you all.”

“Oh, don’t thank us yet,” Shao Xue said. “Let’s go, or Instructor Xie will be waiting. Otherwise, we’ll suffer.”

With that, Shao Xue strode toward the academy, Wen Rong and the others following. Ye Ling took a few steps, then called back, “Brother, come on!”

Just then, Tie Shudeng hurried out from inside. Spotting Shao Xue and her friends, his eyes brightened, and he smiled, “Wen Rong, you’re here.”

“Hey… Are you pretending we don’t exist?” Shao Xue called from the front.

“I don’t have time to argue with you today,” Tie Shudeng replied, then looked again at Wen Rong. “I need to go to the palace. Father will surely question me about the front line, so I probably won’t be free all day. Are you… free tomorrow?”

“Unfortunately not. Brother Yunjin has already made plans for us to go on an outing tomorrow,” Wen Rong replied.

Tie Shudeng looked disappointed, but Wen Rong continued, “You’ll be staying in Jiuding City for a while anyway.”

“Yes, yes,” Tie Shudeng nodded repeatedly. “Wen Rong, I’ve brought back some wonderful news!”

“I’m not deaf; you shouted loud enough for me to hear,” Wen Rong laughed.

“Haha… When you have time, I’ll tell you all about it,” Tie Shudeng said, only then noticing Ye Xin. He signaled, “Xin, come here. I have something to say to you.”

“So now it’s my turn?” Ye Xin grinned.

“Enough chatter,” Tie Shudeng said, grabbing Ye Xin’s shoulder and walking off to the side.

Wen Rong and the others stayed where they were, watching Tie Shudeng and Ye Xin depart. Shao Xue’s eyes glinted, “Rong’s insight is spot on—if even the Third Prince is willing to lower himself to make friends, Young Master Ye must have his own strengths.”

“It’s not insight—it’s simply that I’m closer to the Third Prince and hear him mention Ye Xin often. So, I never believed the idle gossip,” Wen Rong replied.

“You can’t believe everything, but you can’t dismiss it all either,” Shen Miao laughed. “Young Master Ye once beat up my brother.”

“Really?” Ye Ling was surprised.

“Don’t worry, my brother didn’t take it to heart. He can’t afford to provoke Ye Xin, so he just avoids him. As for that guy…” Shen Miao’s gaze swept past the group toward a corner, “He’s been beaten so many times he’s fuming!”

Everyone followed Shen Miao’s gaze and saw the Fifth Prince Tie Renhao, Seventh Princess Tie Huizhen, and Deng Duojie huddled in a corner, whispering.

“They’re all twelve or thirteen, their bodies growing, their desire to compete awakening. It’s normal to want to establish a leader,” Shao Xue remarked coolly. “But Fifth Prince Tie Renhao is too stubborn. If he can’t win, why keep fighting? Yet he insists, again and again. If you ask me… he deserves it.”

“You can’t say that,” Shen Miao shook her head. “He is the sovereign’s son, after all. Who dares bully him in the palace? Only Young Master Ye dares defy authority like that, so Tie Renhao naturally won’t let it go.”

“Something feels off…” Wen Rong seemed to recall something, glancing at Tie Shudeng’s retreating figure, then shaking her head. “It can’t be—probably just my imagination.”

“What?” The three girls fixed their eyes on Wen Rong.

“It’s nothing, just idle thoughts,” Wen Rong said.

“Wen Rong, that’s what annoys me about you. If you have something to say, say it! Stop being so mysterious!” Shao Xue complained.

“Yes, Wen Rong, just tell us—what’s bothering you?” Shen Miao echoed.

Wen Rong smiled wryly. “Ye Ling, why does your brother dislike Fifth Prince Tie Renhao so much—why does he humiliate him again and again?” In truth, what she suspected went deeper than she dared express, but such conjecture shouldn’t be spoken lightly.

“How should I know? I was still young back then,” Ye Ling replied.

Shao Xue’s eyes suddenly flashed. “I get it! Young Master Ye’s animosity toward Tie Renhao—is it because someone incited him? Tie Shudeng?”

“That can’t be. Tie Shudeng would never do that!” Shen Miao was stunned.

“I agree,” Wen Rong glared at Shao Xue. “You think you’re so clever? Don’t make wild guesses! I’ve always been close to Tie Shudeng—on this, I’m not mistaken.”

“Hehe… You can’t fool me!” Shao Xue grinned mischievously. “Everyone expects Tie Shudeng to become ****, since Tie Renhao’s performance these past years has been disappointing. He was probably always foolish, and getting beaten by Young Master Ye all the time made it worse. Haha… Let’s not talk about him. But if you really trust Tie Shudeng, why do you keep him at arm’s length?”

“I truly can’t stand you!” Wen Rong fell silent for a moment. “Do you remember our oath?”

“Of course,” Shen Miao replied.

“When I had you swear, I knew you all felt it was a bit pointless—especially you, Shao Xue,” Wen Rong said. “Our destinies aren’t in our own hands. Some of us may soon be married, some will enter the army to fight for their families, some might be lucky enough to join the Qingyun Sect after the selection. So the oath we took, the corps we formed—it might become a joke in a few years.”

“It’s not a joke—it’s memory, nostalgia!” Ye Ling said, word by word.

“Whatever it is, I just hope we leave no regrets while we’re together,” Wen Rong smiled. “I also hope you all grow stronger and wiser, so you can face future trouble and danger more effectively.”

“I know you’ve done so much for us.” Even Shao Xue, usually the coldest, was moved by Wen Rong’s words.

“What we’ve said today is our little secret; no one must tell a soul! Otherwise, I’ll never treat her as a sister again,” Wen Rong’s expression turned icy. “Especially you, Ye Ling—don’t tell your brother a word of this!”

“Why… why not?” Ye Ling asked with difficulty.

“Look at your brother—could he ever keep a secret?” Wen Rong replied. “There are two possibilities: either we’re judging a good man with petty hearts, and if the Third Prince learns your brother suspects him, would he still treat him as a friend? Or, the Third Prince truly hides his schemes well. If your brother exposes him, he’ll be infuriated, and what fate will your brother meet then? Ye Ling, your family needs the support of the Third Prince and the Han family to get through these times!”

Ye Ling turned and looked toward Ye Xin and Tie Shudeng, seeing them chatting cordially. She sighed softly, “The Han family… Yesterday, we held a banquet at home. I personally sent them an invitation, and they ignored me completely.”

“The Han family’s ultimate goal is to help the Third Prince Tie Shudeng ascend to the throne. Without his word, how could they act on their own?” Wen Rong explained. “If you invite them today, they’ll definitely send someone. Do you believe me? I’ll bet you.”

“That makes sense,” Shao Xue agreed. “The Third Prince’s public display of friendship with your brother is a clear stance. The Han family will surely respond.”

“That’s why I believe the Third Prince Tie Shudeng isn’t the kind of person you suspect. The Ye family’s situation is so delicate. If he weren’t a man of loyalty, he wouldn’t risk angering the sovereign to befriend Ye Xin.”

“You’ve forgotten the Wolf Corps?” Shao Xue sneered.