“Jiu’er, I am fine — truly, I am quite well.” Jian Yi lowered his gaze to look himself over and withdrew his hand from between Feng Jiu’er’s palms.
Finding nothing amiss, Feng Jiu’er reached out and checked his forehead again.
“Jian Yi, how long did I sleep? During this time, did the Crown Prince’s people make any moves?”
Without waiting for Jian Yi’s reply, Feng Jiu’er picked up her boots from beside her and began pulling them on.
“Xue Gu said you slept a full day and night. There has been no movement on the Crown Prince’s side for now. We just arrived — the rest of the troops should all be able to get here by today.”
Jian Yi, unable to offer much help, sat to the side watching the young woman before him straighten her clothes.
“Good.” Hearing Jian Yi’s words, Feng Jiu’er let out a breath of relief. “How did I sleep for so long again? It is so strange!”
Once she had straightened her clothes, Feng Jiu’er turned to look at Jian Yi. “I am going out to assess the situation. You can stay here, or…”
“Go with you.” The words had barely fallen before Jian Yi stood up.
Looking at the heroic man’s healthy, rosy complexion, Feng Jiu’er curved the corner of her mouth slightly — something of a comfort.
It had been quite some time since she and this fellow had traded barbs. She actually rather missed it.
She hoped he would make a full recovery soon, and that he would no longer be so withdrawn and melancholy.
Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi had just stepped out of the tent when Tuoba Keyan was still waiting not far away.
Seeing them emerge, Tuoba Keyan stepped forward to meet them.
“Jiu’er, how are you feeling?”
Feng Jiu’er raised both arms and stretched lazily, taking the opportunity to do a round of stretching exercises.
“Excellent!” She tilted her head and gave Tuoba Keyan a smiling glance. “Keyan, why are you here? Have you had breakfast yet?”
“Xue Gu said he kept watch over you for a full day and night.” Jian Yi’s voice sounded.
Feng Jiu’er immediately furrowed her brow and lowered the hands she had still been swinging.
“A whole day and night? You did not rest the night before last either.” She went over and tugged at Tuoba Keyan’s clothing, walking forward with him.
“Go and eat something, then rest properly for the day.”
“All right.” Tuoba Keyan nodded.
It happened to be breakfast time, and after a full night of mental tension, everyone gathered in the same tent for the meal.
Breakfast was nearly finished when Feng Jiu’er looked over at Tuoba Keyan.
“Keyan, go rest now. Qiao Mu and Xing Zizhou as well — all of you, take a rest for a while.”
“This is a drawn-out battle. None of us can afford to collapse. We must rotate our rest. Well rested, we will have the energy to be battle-ready at all times.”
“Bai Xue, you go and rest too. If anything comes up, I will have someone go and notify everyone. Those resting can rest without worry.”
Feng Jiu’er felt some guilt, not knowing quite how to put it.
Sleeping for a day or two at a stretch — her own body was beyond even her own control. She was helpless about it.
“All right.” Qiao Mu drank a cup of tea and stood up.
Tuoba Keyan gave a nod without a word, stood up, turned, and left.
“Jiu’er, then I will go and rest for a while too.” Huo Bai Xue picked up her handkerchief, dabbed her mouth, and stood.
The three of them departed. Xing Zizhou, however, made no move.
Xiao Yingtao glanced sideways at the person beside her, furrowed her brow, and said, “You did not sleep all night either. Jiu’er told you to go and rest — did you not hear?”
Xing Zizhou reached out his large hand and lightly ruffled Xiao Yingtao’s hair.
“With you showing such concern for me, I am not tired in the slightest.”
Xiao Yingtao gave Xing Zizhou a sidelong glance, grabbed his hand, pushed it away, then lowered her head and refused to look at him again.
He withdrew his hand. Xing Zizhou looked at Feng Jiu’er, his expression becoming somewhat serious.
“Jiu’er, a confirmed report has just come in. The enemy’s reinforcements are taking a water route and will arrive ahead of schedule — approximately five days from now.”
“Five days?” Xiao Yingtao’s eyes went wide with disbelief.
“Yes.” Xing Zizhou nodded. “The Crown Prince’s side has been making no move — perhaps they are waiting for their reinforcements, or perhaps there are other reasons.”
“Jiu’er, what is your view on this matter?”
The timeline had suddenly been cut in half — not something Feng Jiu’er had anticipated.
But such was the reality, and it could only be accepted.
“Two nights ago, Bai Xue told me that Mo City still has fifteen thousand troops.” Feng Jiu’er glanced around at those remaining in the tent and said, “If things truly come to it, she would ask her father to send out a force to obstruct the Crown Prince’s reinforcements from advancing.”
“However, that is not a long-term solution. Mo City cannot be left without garrisoned troops.”
Her gaze shifted, and Feng Jiu’er looked at Zhao Yusheng.
“When can the thousand surrendered soldiers arrive? Perhaps I can also go and have a talk with the Crown Prince.”
“That will not do.” Xue Gu was the first to object.
“Exactly — we cannot have you going to take risks again.” Xiao Yingtao also shook her head emphatically.
“If Jiu’er wishes to communicate with the Crown Prince, she can use our messenger birds. Given how close the distance is, it would take only half an hour at most.” Zhao Yusheng’s voice rang out.
“But would the Crown Prince give up his attack on us for the sake of a thousand surrendered soldiers? That possibility seems unlikely.”
“It is unlikely.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head. “Xing Zizhou — has any good news come from Phoenix City?”
The matters of Phoenix City were on Feng Jiu’er’s mind at every moment, and she thought of it day after day, wanting to know the situation there.
But she lacked the courage to find out.
The Eighth Prince’s capabilities were clear to everyone — he was absolutely not someone easily dealt with.
In the past, Feng Jiu’er would have felt that if the Ninth Imperial Uncle and the Eighth Prince joined forces, they would surely be unstoppable and ever-victorious.
Yet in the blink of an eye, the one attacking the Ninth Imperial Uncle had turned out to be the Eighth Prince himself.
“The specific situation is not clear. There are only reports that the Eighth Prince’s forces are showing signs of being unable to hold their ground.” Xing Zizhou replied quietly.
“Although the Eighth Prince’s army is considerably larger in number, we all believe that the Ninth Prince certainly has the ability to quell this battle once more.”
Hearing Xing Zizhou say this, Feng Jiu’er settled somewhat.
She had not dared to ask — she was genuinely afraid she might hear an unwelcome answer.
No news is good news. Her person was safe and well. Nothing would happen to him.
She opened her palm and looked at it. Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together, drew a deep breath, raised her eyes, and looked at everyone.
“If we can hold out until the Ninth Imperial Uncle arrives, this battle need not be feared at all.”
Indeed — in any battle where he was present, there was simply no possibility of defeat.
Just as Phoenix City, right now, would certainly be able to hold. Certainly it would.
“Very well. I will first negotiate with the Crown Prince and see what his intentions are.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and continued, “Rest assured — for now, I will not go in person.”
“Jiu’er, to use our messenger bird to communicate with the Crown Prince, you must have one of his personal belongings for the bird to catch his scent. Do you have anything like that on you?” Zhao Yusheng asked softly.
Feng Jiu’er lowered her head, untied something from her waist, and held it up before everyone.
“This is…” Zhao Yusheng looked at the command token and furrowed his brow.
“The Crown Prince’s command token — how did it end up in your hands?” Seeing the token clearly, Xing Zizhou was both puzzled and excited.
Feng Jiu’er stood up, walked over, and passed the command token to Xing Zizhou.
“Take a look — is it genuine?”
These things were beyond Feng Jiu’er’s knowledge. There was nothing to be done about it — her experience was simply too limited. Fortunately, among her people, there was no shortage of those with wider knowledge and experience.