“Very well, I will stay then.” Nanmen Zhuo nodded and stood up. “Jiu’er, I’ll head over to rest first. Let me know once you’ve made a decision.”

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er waved her hand dismissively.

Nanmen Zhuo always knew when to excuse himself at critical moments — this, at least, Feng Jiu’er found satisfactory.

Setting aside the question of trust, he was willing to leave on his own, and she would not stop him.

Nanmen Zhuo departed, pulling the door shut behind him for those who remained inside.

Xiao Yingtao glanced toward the door, then looked away and poured herself a cup of tea before sitting down.

“Jiu’er, when do we march out to fight?”

“If we’re going to fight, we catch them completely off guard.” Feng Jiu’er drained her cup, knelt upright, and refilled it.

“The matter of the surrendered soldiers — that must be Feng Qingyin’s doing. That woman is truly deranged. Just to get rid of me, she can think of any scheme imaginable.”

Feng Jiu’er had always been this way — when outsiders were present, she kept her words in check. But now that it was just her own people, she spoke without any restraint.

“I had a feeling all along it was Feng Qingyin’s scheming.” Xiao Yingtao’s face was also flush with anger. “It’s just that we didn’t even have time to gather evidence.”

“Fortunately, Jian Yi was there to help — that’s how we managed to turn from passive to active.”

The moment Jian Yi was mentioned, everyone instinctively turned to look at Feng Jiu’er, including Xue Gu.

Xiao Yingtao gave a light cough, as though she had only just realized she had perhaps said the wrong thing. She cast a glance at Feng Jiu’er, then lowered her head.

“Why is everyone looking at me like that?” Feng Jiu’er swept her gaze around the room and raised an eyebrow.

“If Jian Yi receives my letter and doesn’t come back, I have ways to drag him back here. He’s quick-witted enough — he’ll be fine.”

“We strike out tomorrow. I’m done waiting.” Feng Jiu’er settled back into her seat with a cup of hot tea. “What is the point of waiting? We’ll only be waiting for the Crown Prince’s reinforcements to arrive. Why give them that chance?”

“Besides, now that Feng Qingyin knows Mo City sent troops to block the way, she may well set her sights on Mo City next.”

“Bai Xue, send word to your father later and let him know the situation.”

“Understood.” Huo Bai Xue, seated across from Feng Jiu’er, gave a nod.

Feng Jiu’er raised her cup, finished the tea, and swept her gaze across everyone once more.

“Let’s think it through — how do we fight this battle? Draw up a combat plan as quickly as possible. Rest for the night. We attack at first light tomorrow.”

“Agreed.” Qiao Mu raised her teacup and, with a tilt of her head, drained it in one go.

“Agreed.” Xiao Yingtao also lifted her cup and looked around at everyone. “Shall we use tea in place of wine for this one toast — to our victory? What do you say?”

“Agreed.” Feng Jiu’er smiled and nodded.

Xiao Yingtao was immediately lit up with excitement. She went around and topped up everyone’s cups with tea.

“Come, to our victory — and to our friendship. Bottoms up!” Xiao Yingtao raised her own cup.

“Bottoms up!”

“Cheers!”

“Bottoms up!”

One by one, they raised their cups and drank together.

Setting down her cup, Feng Jiu’er turned to Huo Bai Xue.

“Since Mo City is our target this time around, Bai Xue, your input on the battle plan is indispensable.”

Huo Bai Xue nodded and stood up.

“I’ll go and fetch the relevant maps and charts for everyone to reference.”

“Very well.” Feng Jiu’er nodded and gestured for her to go.

Huo Bai Xue left, and returned shortly after.

She set down the books in her arms and unfolded a map, spreading it out across the table.

“Jiu’er, this is the most detailed terrain map of our Mo City, along with information on the surrounding areas. Please, everyone — come and take a look.”

Feng Jiu’er, Qiao Mu, and Xiao Yingtao, who had been seated at the low table, all rose alongside Huo Bai Xue.

Zhao Yusheng, Tuoba Keyan, and Xue Gu stood and walked over to join them.

The seven of them discussed their strategy inside the side chamber, while two brothers stood guard outside.

Early the next morning, just as faint streaks of pale light began to appear on the horizon —

Two hours after Feng Qingyin had used a counterfeit command token to redirect ten thousand soldiers northward, a thunderous boom rang out. The city gates that had been sealed shut for only a few hours swung open once more.

This time, Feng Jiu’er took the initiative and struck — catching the enemy in considerable disarray.

With Feng Qingyin having diverted ten thousand troops, even though the Crown Prince’s forces still held an advantage in numbers, they could not withstand the assault.

The enemy’s ranks retreated steadily, forced to fall back northward.

Zhan Yuheng did not truly regain consciousness until five days later.

He slowly opened his eyes. The first thing they landed on was Feng Qingyin’s face — taut with profound anxiety.

That morning, the imperial physician had said Zhan Yuheng would wake today, so of course Feng Qingyin had not left his side.

“Crown Prince Brother — you’ve… finally woken up. Crown Prince Brother… sob, sob…”

The moment she saw Zhan Yuheng open his eyes, Feng Qingyin choked up and threw herself into his arms.

“Crown Prince Brother, you’ve finally come to. You frightened me half to death. Crown Prince Brother… sob, sob…”

Zhan Yuheng gave a slight frown and pressed a hand to his chest as he sat up.

Feng Qingyin dared not lean in too close. As he sat up, she straightened herself as well.

“How many days have I been unconscious?” He lowered his gaze to the person before him, his eyes utterly devoid of warmth.

Feng Qingyin raised her eyes to meet his, and tears fell like a string of broken pearls, drop after drop.

In the days he had been unconscious, he had called out Feng Jiu’er’s name countless times and referred to himself as “I” — yet now that he had awoken and seen her, he used the royal “this prince.”

Was the gap between her and Feng Jiu’er truly that vast? Why was he still unwilling to give her even a proper glance?

Feng Qingyin pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and stood.

“Several days have passed. Are we no longer inside Ya Mu City?”

“What?” Zhan Yuheng had only just risen when a wave of dizziness struck him.

Seeing him press a hand to his forehead, Feng Qingyin immediately moved to support his arm.

Zhan Yuheng shook her off with a light flick of his hand. “Send Qing Yun in.”

Feng Qingyin stumbled after being brushed aside and barely managed to steady herself — only to hear her own husband issuing commands as though she were a servant.

She bit her lip, lowered her head, and turned to leave.

A moment later, Qing Yun strode in with purpose, dropping to his knees before Zhan Yuheng.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.” He cupped his fist in salute.

“What is the current situation?” Zhan Yuheng’s cold voice rang out through the tent.

“Reporting to Your Highness, our forces have already fallen back to the outskirts of Ding City.” Qing Yun replied with cupped fists.

“Ding City?” Zhan Yuheng turned his head sharply, his voice dropping to an icy extreme. “Were we not still at Ya Mu City?”

“Our forces outnumber theirs by twenty thousand. How did this happen?”

“Your Highness, ever since you were wounded, we were driven from Ya Mu City within two days. Your subordinate failed in his duty — please mete out punishment as you see fit!” Qing Yun replied in a low, careful voice.

Zhan Yuheng drew a deep breath and settled himself on the bed.

“What is to be done going forward? Where are the fifteen thousand reinforcements now?”

Feng Qingyin stared at Qing Yun, growing more anxious by the moment.

Had she not taken it upon herself to divert ten thousand troops, they would never have suffered such a crushing defeat at Feng Jiu’er’s hands.

“As for what comes next…” Qing Yun composed himself, then looked up at Feng Qingyin.

Feng Qingyin immediately turned away and said softly, “Crown Prince Brother, let me go and find the imperial physician. The physician said—”

Zhan Yuheng’s gaze, which had been resting on Qing Yun, shifted. It landed on Feng Qingyin, and he cut her off.

“Until everything is explained clearly, no one is going anywhere.”