Frontier Hero: From Receiving a Convicted Woman to Becoming an Emperor for All Time

The sky cleared after the snow.

Shen Chuxiao sat in the courtyard, wiping his crossbow bolts. The meat from the porcupine he had hunted earlier had already been cooked, and several jars of oil had been rendered. The porcupine quills, after a little trimming, could also be used as handy close-combat weapons.

It's a pity we couldn't find the potent aconite poison. If we could add it to the poison, its lethality would be even greater.

Wang Yilu sat to one side.

Her gaze remained fixed on him, a hint of worry in her eyes.

The village has been in turmoil lately, and with Shen Chuxiao's killing of five border soldiers—she knew the reason behind it, yet she remained worried day and night. However, being always sensible, she refused to reveal it.

After a long period of silence.

The young woman finally couldn't help but whisper, "My husband."

Shen Chuxiao looked up.

"I think... I'm starting to like you." She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, her cheeks flushed, and mustered her courage to look up. "Why don't you marry me?"

Shen Chuxiao understood the meaning behind her entrustment.

A slight stirring ran through her heart, but she suppressed her emotions: "Now is not the time."

Wang Yilu's eyes reddened slightly: "Do you not like me at all? Otherwise, after spending so much time together, why are you always so distant from me?"

Shen Chuxiao rubbed her head and said seriously, "We'll have a proper marriage first, then the wedding night."

There was not a trace of frivolity in his eyes.

Only sincerity.

……

Hundred miles away,

Inside the Ling Shuang Pass, shrouded in cold air,

The general's mansion had a sense of impending doom.

Rumors have been circulating in the area recently.

Barbarian spies have infiltrated and caused trouble, making the border situation extremely precarious.

On the main seat, Lu Chenzhou was dressed in a cold silver armor, his long hair tied up with black jade, his face was cold and heroic, and he had a terrifying aura that could intimidate the three armies.

She pressed her fingers against the table, her knuckles turning white, her heart heavy with the weight of the border crisis.

All the border generals standing below the hall bowed their heads in solemn silence.

Everyone was tense, not daring to utter a sound.

The scout knelt on one knee: "General, the Black Stone tribe's food supplies are running low, and morale within the tribe is low. Since the beginning of winter, they have launched three probing attacks. I predict that the barbarians will definitely launch a major assault on the pass before the end of the year."

After a brief pause,

He added, "Furthermore, three of our scout commanders and two of our deputy generals have been assassinated. The perpetrators were all top-tier experts who left no trace, most likely the work of assassins planted by the barbarians."

As soon as he finished speaking,

The room was deathly silent.

A lieutenant general scoffed, "They're just a bunch of barbarians. Why be so cautious? If they dare to come, kill them all."

Lu Chenzhou raised his eyes, his icy gaze sweeping over them.

"This year is an unprecedentedly severe cold. The barbarians have run out of food and cannot raid the pass for supplies. The entire tribe will not survive this winter. Desperate measures are taken, and people in dire straits will turn against each other. Your underestimation of the enemy will only lead to your own demise sooner or later."

The general lowered his head and remained silent, but he was still unconvinced.

The scout added, "General, there is one more thing—the five border guards who went missing earlier have been confirmed not to have died at the hands of the barbarians."

With a major border war looming, high-ranking military officers being assassinated one after another, foreign spies infiltrating the border, and border defenses being repeatedly compromised—all these are major threats weighing heavily on our minds.

With several ordinary soldiers missing, she simply didn't have the time or energy to investigate thoroughly.

However, there are spies lurking within Ling Shuang, so any unusual activity cannot be easily overlooked.

She immediately ordered: "Send word to the entire army to reinforce the defenses of all city gates, impose a strict curfew throughout the city, and double the number of scouts to patrol and guard against any unusual movements by the barbarians."

After giving instructions on border defense matters, she looked at the people below and asked, "Have you found any clues regarding the case of the five missing soldiers?"

The deputy general in charge of military affairs presented the case file: "General, the five were last seen near Qing Shi Village. The traces at the scene appear to be from a barbarian raid, but there are actually many flaws. We need to send someone to verify the details on-site."

Lu Chenzhou's gaze swept over the generals: "Lin Shang."

A captain stepped forward and replied, "Your subordinate is here."

"This matter is entrusted to you for investigation."

Lin Shang was a trusted confidant whom Lu Chenzhou had personally promoted, and he was known for his calm and meticulous approach to things.

"Take only two personal guards and return quickly. Find out the truth, but do not cause trouble or disturb the people. The overall situation on the border is of utmost importance; do not waste too many troops on these trivial matters."

"This humble general will remember this!"

Lin Shang accepted the order, turned around, and strode out of the council hall.

……

Qingshi Village

Shen Chuxiao, who was sharpening his weapon, heard the sound of approaching hooves.

Judging solely from the rhythm of their footsteps, he could tell that the newcomers were all soldiers dressed in border armor, and that their purpose was crystal clear as they rushed straight towards his courtyard.

They eventually came knocking on our door.

The killing of five atrocities committed by border soldiers could not possibly have been completely concealed from the military's intelligence.

He had expected this, but he did not expect the authorities to investigate so quickly and even locate his home so precisely, clearly having already found many clues.

Wang Yilu gently took his arm: "Husband, are you here to investigate that matter?"

"Um."

"No matter the outcome," she said softly but firmly, "I will be with you through life and death."

In a short while,

Three fast horses stopped outside the courtyard gate.

The leader was none other than Captain Lin Shang, who had been ordered to investigate the case.

His gaze swept across the entire courtyard, and when it landed on Wang Yilu's beautiful face, he paused slightly, a barely perceptible emotion flashing in his eyes, instantly recognizing her.

He had seen this young lady once from afar at Lord Wang's residence, but now she was dressed in plain clothes and had fallen to such a state.

Shen Chuxiao, fully aware of the situation, asked, "Sir, you have come from afar. What official business do you have here?"

Lin Shang quickly suppressed the surging emotions within him, cleared his mind of distractions, and resumed his cold, businesslike demeanor, his gaze fixed firmly on Shen Chuxiao: "You are Shen Chuxiao?"

"It is I."

"Lin Shang, the captain of Ling Shuang Pass, is hereby ordered by the general to thoroughly investigate the case of the five missing soldiers." He looked directly at Shen Chuxiao. "Come back to the camp with me and cooperate with the investigation."

Shen Chuxiao's gaze was indifferent: "I've been law-abiding, why should I go with you?"

Upon hearing this,

The two guards behind him impatiently placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. "The border troops are investigating a case. How dare you, a mere villager, contradict them? You're courting death!"

Lin Shang raised his hand to stop him.

"You are the person most closely related to the case. It's your duty to cooperate with the government's investigation."

As he spoke, Lin Shang's gaze shifted to the young woman beside him, his tone suddenly softening: "This young lady, is she the daughter of Lord Wang Jingyuan?"

Wang Yilu didn't understand, but he nodded nonetheless.

Her identity as a criminal was impossible to hide, especially since the movements of someone who had once held a high position of power were naturally known to the court's informants.

A warmth flickered in Lin Shang's eyes.

Brickhead instructed his personal guards, "You stay outside, I'll question them alone."

Upon entering the house,

His aura shifted, his gaze locking onto Shen Chuxiao, and he asked in a low voice, "Shen Chuxiao, you privately killed our Great Jing border guards, deliberately staged the crime scene to confuse the public, indirectly causing three of our elite scouts to mistakenly enter a dangerous situation and be ambushed and killed by barbarian assassins. These crimes alone are enough to convict you and sentence you to death!"

Shen Chuxiao remained composed and did not deny it.

He knew this was a test from the other party; after all, if there were solid evidence, they wouldn't be saying things like this.

of course,

Shen Chuxiao did not deny it, "Those border soldiers usually bully and oppress innocent people in the countryside. They even tried to commit indecent acts and humiliate my wife in public. It was only right and proper for me to kill such evil people. I have a clear conscience."

Lin Shang revealed an expression that said, "I knew it."

"Even if soldiers commit wrongdoings, they are punished according to strict military law. When has it ever been the place of a common civilian to privately commit torture and murder?"

Lin Shang gripped the sword at his waist.

The murderous aura was leaking out.

"You've been lurking in Qing Shi Village, your movements are shrouded in mystery, and your origins are unknown. Tell us your true identity. Could you be a spy planted by the barbarians within the pass?"

"Your Excellency is turning black into white. They were the ones who committed the evil deeds first, and I only intervened to protect my wife."

Shen Chuxiao didn't budge an inch, and pulled his sleeves tighter.

A crossbow capable of firing five shots in a row is concealed within the sleeve.

"If adults can't distinguish right from wrong and blindly favor the wicked, then what difference is there between you and those barbaric villains?"

The two locked eyes, their gazes locked in a fierce, direct confrontation.

A conflict is about to break out.

Lin Shang's gaze fell on the man's hands, which were tucked into his sleeves, and a barely perceptible smirk appeared on his lips—the hidden weapon in his sleeve had not yet been launched. He suddenly laughed loudly: "No need to be so tense. I just want to test your character and courage."

"Put away the hidden weapons in your sleeves. Even if you succeed in your sneak attack, you won't escape Ling Shuang Pass."

He paused for a moment.

He suddenly asked Shen Chuxiao, "Do you know why I'm the one who came to find you?"