“What it means is that the Ninth Prince doesn’t know what we’ve encountered here, and given his temperament, he’s not likely to wait patiently.”

Jiu’er smiled. “Perhaps by now, the Ninth Prince has already launched the attack first.”

These words proved eerily prophetic. The moment she finished speaking, an urgent report came from outside—a scout rushed in hurriedly, heading straight for the eldest prince. “Eldest Prince—”

But with so many people present, he wasn’t sure whether he should speak or not.

Before he could decide, another scout, led in by the inner guards, had already arrived. “Your Majesty, urgent news from the battlefield!”

What battlefield news could there be now? Other than the standoff with the Beimu army, there was no other conflict at all.

“What… what’s happened? Speak quickly!” Seeing the king’s face already pale with shock, Prince Sang had no choice but to ask on his behalf.

Seeing so many people present, the scout wasn’t sure of the full situation, but since Prince Sang told him to speak, he had to report at once: “The border city is in crisis—Beimu’s Ninth Prince has launched an attack!”

The Ninth Prince had launched an attack!

The Ninth Prince, whose temper was anything but pleasant, had truly attacked once the peace agreement failed to arrive in time!

King Ruhe’s legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

It was Tuoba Ermeng who rushed over in time to support him.

But now what should be done? What should he do? His eldest son had privately forged weapons—who knew if he genuinely intended to rebel.

Right now, the very general who commanded the border city stood before him. With a crime as severe as rebellion, how could he risk sending him back to the border city? Wouldn’t that be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains?

But without the eldest prince, what was there left to fight this war with?

“Father, since Beimu’s Ninth Prince has already launched his attack, it means he no longer wishes to negotiate peace with us. Father, I beg you to let me return to the army—I will surely defeat the Ninth Prince!”

Tuoba Keyan wanted to step forward, but Prince Sang and even the guards held him back, fearing he might get too close to the king.

“Father, even now, you still don’t trust your own son?”

Tuoba Keyan grew desperate. He could set aside everything else—even discovering that his camp had been found hadn’t worried him this much. But now, knowing the Ninth Prince had already attacked, he was truly anxious.

If he wasn’t allowed to return now, his army would be wiped out by Zhan Qingcheng!

“Father, so what if I forged weapons? In all these years, what have I ever sought for myself? Whether it’s the weapons I forged or the soldiers I trained, all of it has gone toward the battlefield.”

“Father, all I ever wanted was to win more land for our Ruhe, to make our kingdom stronger. Father, what exactly have I done wrong?”

King Ruhe looked at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

Whatever else might be said of his eldest son, over the years he truly had done much good for the people of Ruhe.

But secretly forging weapons—that was something no ruler of any era, in any nation, could tolerate.

Once such a precedent was set, there would be no way to silence the doubts that would follow.

“Father, now that the Ninth Prince has already attacked, even if we let our eldest brother go back now, it’s likely too late to do any good.”

Tuoba Ermeng, looking at the father he himself was supporting, said gently, “Father, why not let me and Feng Jiu’er hurry to the border city together, to see if we can still negotiate with the Ninth Prince and salvage our peace agreement?”

…

Tuoba Keyan was finally imprisoned by King Ruhe. As for the battle at the border city, King Ruhe had now fully handed it over to his second son, Tuoba Ermeng, to manage.

Feng Jiu’er wrote a secret letter and had Xing Zizhou’s men send it by carrier pigeon to the Ninth Prince. As for Tuoba Ermeng, he set out at once, traveling to the border city together with Feng Jiu’er.

Jiu’er entrusted Xiao Yingtao to Qiaomu and Xing Zizhou’s care, since Xiao Yingtao was in no condition to travel just yet and would need to rest a few more days in Ruhe’s capital.

Now that Tuoba Keyan had been imprisoned by King Ruhe, the immediate danger they faced in the capital had been temporarily resolved—though whether someone might still secretly move against Jiu’er remained uncertain.

For that reason, Xue Gu insisted on staying by Jiu’er’s side. Qiaomu also felt it was necessary; otherwise, Jiu’er had originally planned to leave Xue Gu behind to look after Xiao Yingtao.

Feng Yinan also set out with Feng Jiu’er. He firmly believed that as long as the nation was at peace, his family would be safe too, and so he chose not to go back first to check on Tasangdong.

When the nation prospers, the people can find peace.

Three days later, Jiu’er finally saw, on the battlefield, the figure she had been longing for.

He sat astride a tall steed, clad in silver armor, golden sunlight spilling over him, as if his entire figure were wrapped in a halo of light.

At first glance, he seemed to radiate brilliance on his own, dazzling enough that one dared not look at him directly.

To her, the Ninth Imperial Uncle, no matter where he stood or who he was with, was always the most striking presence of all.

The two armies stood behind them. Jiu’er rode her horse out from among the Ruhe troops, heading straight toward the Ninth Prince.

Xue Gu seemed unwilling to face him; seeing Jiu’er ride toward the enemy camp, she turned and walked away.

Feng Yinan followed close behind Feng Jiu’er. The distance between the two sides looked short, but in truth, it wasn’t close at all.

Tuoba Ermeng held the peace treaty in his hands, staying with the army, waiting only for Jiu’er to return so he could formally pay his respects to the Ninth Prince.

Everything seemed to be proceeding calmly, in perfect order—yet no one noticed that, within the ranks of the Ruhe army, a glint of silver light flashed under the sun.

When she was only about five li from her Ninth Imperial Uncle, joy welled up in her heart. Jiu’er kicked her heels hard against the horse, and the horse was just about to break into a gallop.

But then, in the wind, a sudden whoosh—an icy arrow shot toward Feng Jiu’er’s back at a speed no one could have anticipated.

“Young Master, watch out!” Feng Yinan, right behind Feng Jiu’er, saw the silver light streak past him and fly straight at Jiu’er. He tried to stop it, but it was already too late.

Among the tens of thousands of soldiers, no one had expected a sneak arrow. Feng Jiu’er, riding ahead with her mind entirely on her Ninth Imperial Uncle, hadn’t noticed the danger behind her at all.

By the time she felt the chill bearing down on her and tried to dodge, it was already too late.

The silver light vanished into Feng Jiu’er’s back, and she fell from her horse with a cry. The Ninth Prince swung his great blade, and in an instant dust and wind swirled wildly.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Five li away, he couldn’t reach her in time. Seeing Jiu’er tumble off her horse, Zhan Qingcheng’s eyes turned red in an instant, and he spurred his horse straight toward the enemy ranks.

“Protect the Ninth Prince!”

Behind him, the army roared and surged forward, swords drawn.

Within the Ruhe ranks, someone cried out in terror: “They never meant to negotiate peace—they mean to wipe us all out!”

“Don’t let Beimu’s army cross the border! Brothers, kill!”

“Kill!”

“Kill!”

In an instant, killing intent rose on every side, and even Tuoba Ermeng could not hold the army back!