Di Nian contemplated for a moment, then said: “Reports from inside the pass state that the ministers dispatched by Northern Jian have arrived. If our Great Ping envoys also arrive, we shall enter the Northern Jian camp inside the pass to discuss matters of war between our nations.”

Although she knew in her heart that Northern Jian would make such a proposal, she maintained a neutral expression and nodded: “Since the Northern Jian army has been defeated, and both the eastern and western sides of Jin Gorge Pass are held by our forces, I fear they would never agree to come to our camp for negotiations.”

Di Nian’s brows furrowed tightly. “If I were to allow you to enter the Northern Jian camp for discussions, how could I possibly feel at ease? If something were to happen, how could I ever face His Majesty again?!”

Meng Tinghui calmed herself before responding: “Does the General recall when the two of us went to quell the rebellion in Liuqi? At that time, outside Liuqi City, the General was also concerned about me entering the city alone, but what was the outcome?” She stood up and walked over to examine the map spread on the commander’s desk, continuing as she looked: “If we’re discussing danger, entering the Northern Jian camp is not even one-tenth as perilous as entering that rebellious city back then. If I could return safely, then there’s even less chance of anything untoward happening now. Moreover, our Great Ping army of tens of thousands is stationed outside Jin Gorge Pass. Since Northern Jian is seeking peace, they certainly wouldn’t do anything to harm me. Even in the worst case, if Northern Jian were to kill me, what benefit would they gain?”

After much consideration, seeing her resolute expression without any sign of wavering, Di Nian asked: “Is His Majesty truly comfortable letting you enter the pass to negotiate peace?”

She gave a faint laugh and nodded: “If His Majesty weren’t at ease with this, how could he possibly have issued the edict assigning me this task? If this plan succeeds, it will be a great accomplishment for me, and His Majesty will be pleased to see it come to fruition.”

“What are His Majesty’s intentions this time?” Di Nian asked again.

Meng Tinghui replied: “To use the peace negotiations as an opportunity to delay the Northern Jian army while focusing our full strength on eliminating the three rebel forces first.”

Di Nian’s expression darkened somewhat. “With the three rebel forces spreading havoc, I cannot escape blame.”

“General Di need not feel that way,” Meng Tinghui said, running her hand over the Jiankang route on the map. “With external war and internal rebellion in the northern territories, the General’s ability to push back the Northern Jian forces to within Jin Gorge Pass and capture Northern Jian’s Zi Prefecture is already a remarkable achievement. The remnant rebels from the previous dynasty have been plotting for over twenty years, and their sudden rebellion has given them the advantage. They operate in darkness while we are in the light, making them inevitably difficult to eliminate.”

Di Nian looked at her. “I hope so.” He shifted his right leg slightly and lowered his eyes. “I know that you have the privilege of sending confidential memoranda directly to His Majesty. I hope you will not mention my injury to him.”

Meng Tinghui responded promptly: “Very well.” She turned and added, “But you must also promise me not to go into battle before your wound has healed.”

Di Nian hesitated, unwilling to agree.

“Otherwise, if Grand Scholar Shen were to learn of this in the capital,” she continued slowly, “who knows how worried she would become.”

His thick eyebrows suddenly raised: “She…”

Meng Tinghui smiled. “She misses you to the point of madness, waiting outside the imperial street at night for reports, refusing to leave.”

Di Nian’s dark eyes shone brightly. After a moment, he said: “Very well, I promise you. Before my wound heals, I absolutely will not go into battle.”

She felt an inexplicable bitterness in her heart, but covered it by saying: “While the General recuperates in camp, the northern situation cannot be delayed long. Since I have already arrived at the main camp, I should enter the pass as soon as possible to discuss peace with Northern Jian. Would the General please arrange to notify those inside the pass of this matter immediately?”

Di Nian nodded. “I’ll have someone arrange it at once.” Seeing that she looked unwell due to many days of fatigue, he advised: “Delaying a day or two won’t matter much. You’ve traveled from the capital northward; you really should get some proper rest first.”

Meng Tinghui was indeed exhausted and didn’t argue with him. She simply replied: “Although Tang Cheng is the deputy envoy this time, there’s no need for him to enter the pass with me. Let him remain in camp to assist with my correspondence.”

“I cannot possibly allow you to enter the pass alone,” Di Nian’s brows knitted together again.

After brief consideration, she said: “Then let Huang Bo accompany me. With Huang Bo’s quick thinking and agile skills, surely General Di can set your mind at ease.”

Di Nian’s face grew serious. “We’ll discuss this matter later. You should go rest now.” With that, he called loudly for someone to enter the tent and escort her to her quarters.

Meng Tinghui had no choice but to follow his instructions and go eat and sleep.

A small tent had been specially set up for her on the eastern side of the main camp, quite far from the soldiers’ tents across the way, but close to the central command tent for her convenience in handling affairs during her stay.

When the soldier escorted her there, Huang Bo was already waiting outside.

“Envoy Meng,” Huang Bo’s expression relaxed slightly upon seeing her approach. “Cai Yue has sent some food over. Please eat and then rest early. I’ll stand guard for you.”

Meng Tinghui invited him inside and said: “You’ve worked hard from the capital to Jin Gorge Pass. Now that we’ve reached our army’s main camp, there’s no need for so much caution. You don’t need to guard me tonight; go and get some sleep. At the latest, the day after tomorrow, you’ll accompany me into the pass to meet the Northern Jian envoy.”

Upon hearing that she would allow him to accompany her into the pass, Huang Bo was immediately overjoyed. “That’s excellent! This way, I won’t have to worry about anything happening to you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even be able to sleep soundly, wondering how to report to His Majesty.”

The camp meals couldn’t compare to those in the capital; the food was coarse and not fresh. Her mind was already restless, and seeing the meal made her lose her appetite even more. She ate only a little before saying: “Years ago, when I had just entered court service, I relied on Imperial Guard Huang’s protection. I will never forget the assistance Imperial Guard Huang has given me.”

Huang Bo didn’t dare accept such praise and began to stammer, “Envoy Meng is too k-kind…”

Meng Tinghui interrupted him: “However, you must promise me in advance that during the peace negotiations with Northern Jian, regardless of what happens, you must follow my instructions. Otherwise, I won’t allow you to accompany me into the pass.”

Huang Bo hastily agreed: “Of course!”

Thinking of the imperial guards in the camp, she expressed some concern: “Most of those guards are privileged members of the imperial army who haven’t experienced much combat. This place is unlike the Three Offices in the capital; they must be vigilant.”

Huang Bo smiled and said, “Please don’t worry. These guards are merely waiting to escort you back to the capital. Once the peace negotiations with Northern Jian are concluded, you and Envoy Tang will be departing. Nothing will go wrong.”

Meng Tinghui’s expression darkened slightly, but she merely gave a soft “Mmm” and gestured for him to retire and rest. After Huang Bo left, she walked to the couch in the corner of the tent and lay down without thinking about anything.

She slept for an entire day and night.

When she next opened her eyes, it was the sound of the tent bell that woke her.

Her entire body ached, and her inner thighs were swollen and painful from riding horseback. Although she knew someone was looking for her outside, she lay on the couch for a long time, unable to get up.

Besides her, there were no other women in the camp, making many things inconvenient.

The person outside didn’t dare enter rashly and called out loudly from outside: “Reporting to Envoy Meng, someone has arrived from the Northern Jian army. They have arranged with General Di to escort the envoy into the pass at noon today. The General has instructed me to seek your orders.”

Meng Tinghui spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse: “Grant Northern Jian’s request. I will go to the central command tent to see General Di shortly.”

The messenger acknowledged the order and withdrew, leaving the tent quiet inside and out.

She closed her eyes briefly, then struggled to sit up, got out of bed, and performed a simple washing. Then she went to the desk to spread paper and grind ink.

Outside, the sunshine was bright, the air carried the scent of green grass, and there was a faint smell of powder. Occasionally, the sounds of soldiers drilling came from a distance, accompanied by the crisp clanging of weapons.

When she began to write, her fingers trembled slightly.

But she still finished in one go, with small, neat, regular script arranged orderly on the thin paper, just as she had done every time for so many years.

She sealed it with wax, placed it in the box specially designated for confidential memorials, added locks and seals, then went out to call for Huang Bo.

Huang Bo came promptly in response to her summons. “Envoy Meng, are you going to see General Di?”

Meng Tinghui nodded, handed him the box, and said softly: “First, take this to the military postal official so it can be sent to the capital immediately, then accompany me to the central command tent.”