Gao Yongrong stood by the riverside, her gaze fixed on the ship growing more distant, her figure motionless.

Liu Hui hurried up to her, saying in a low voice: “Empress Dowager, just now the Empress Dowager also witnessed with her own eyes and heard with her own ears! Even she acted thus—Li Mu’s treacherous heart is as clear as day!! This minister has already advised the Empress Dowager many times before. Today I risk death to speak plainly once more. Since ancient times, there have been no ministers who lost their positions, only rulers who lost their kingdoms! If Dayu were truly lost, we ministers need only change our official robes and can still serve as officials. But if that day truly comes, where will His Majesty go? Where will the Empress Dowager go?”

Liu Hui’s expression was agitated, even his voice trembling slightly: “This is not this minister taking advantage to seek private revenge, but rather that if Li Mu is not eliminated, there will be endless future troubles! This minister earnestly entreats the Empress Dowager—you can no longer consider family affection. For Dayu’s sake, when action must be taken, it must be taken decisively. Only thus will it be Dayu’s fortune and the fortune of all the people!”

“Minister Liu has shown consideration. I know how to handle this matter.”

Gao Luoshen responded indifferently.

She turned her face, her two gazes seeming to cross layers of mountains and passes, casting toward that distant southwestern direction, staring and watching for a very long time.

“A’Mi, you do not heed my words. I told you, you would regret this.”

Her eyes flickered, her lips moved slightly, murmuring as if to herself with such words emerging from her mouth, then immediately leaving behind the still-unreacting Liu Hui, she turned and walked away step by step.

…

Far away, thousands of li distant, Hou Li, the heir apparent of Chouchu Kingdom, was this day observing beast trainers in the beast garden where he kept fierce animals. The performance was barely satisfactory. Amid the successive roars of tigers and leopards, he couldn’t help but think again of that little white tiger he had once encountered years ago.

Such a divine beast—his failure to tame and make it his own that day remained a regret even now when he thought of it.

As he was secretly feeling this pity, he suddenly saw a subordinate hurry forward, saying that an imperial envoy from Dayu had arrived, representing the current emperor to pacify the borders and comfort the people, commanding him to go receive them. He couldn’t help but be startled.

Due to Li Mu’s influence, Chouchu had long submitted to Dayu, presenting tributary memorials and claiming vassalage, but had never sent anyone to Jiankang. These past few years, though Jiankang had also sent down rewards, this was still the first time seeing an imperial envoy.

His father the king, Hou Ding, had been somewhat unwell these past two years. Since last year, the kingdom’s affairs had gradually been handed over to him to manage. Hou Li inquired about the envoy’s identity and learned his name was Yao Xiang, a civil official. Not daring to be negligent, he changed clothes and hurriedly led people to meet them, bringing the Jiankang envoy’s party into the city, conducting himself with the propriety of a vassal.

After Yao Xiang gave him some words of encouragement, he ordered Hou Li to dismiss those around them. Only then did he produce an imperial edict, stating that Li Mu had recently openly defied orders, betrayed the court, and plotted rebellion. His journey to Chouchu was to represent His Majesty and the Empress Dowager in delivering commands for the Hou father and son to assist the court in capturing Yicheng. Upon success, merits would be calculated and rewards granted.

Hou Li was utterly shocked, only then understanding the true purpose of this Jiankang envoy’s journey.

Chouchu’s submission to the Dayu court had been entirely due to Li Mu’s influence initially. His admiration for Li Mu was sincere—how could he consent to follow the court’s orders to attack Yicheng? He immediately refused, whereupon the other party suddenly struck.

When Hou Ding learned the news and hurried over despite his illness, he saw his son had already been captured by a scarred man who claimed to be Rong Kang, Governor of Badong, acting on the court’s orders to attack Yicheng and commanding Chouchu’s cooperation.

His great army was already deployed outside Chouchu. At his single command, they could launch an attack on Chouchu at any moment.

…

Tai City willows, Moling trees, Zhuque Bridge, Fragrant Grass Ferry—Luoshen was born here and raised here.

In her memory, Jiankang was such a beautiful city, connected to her by countless threads of affection that could never be severed.

But it was only today that she first realized that even this city, when it no longer contained the last person who could tug at her heart, when the day of departure came, could inspire not half a trace of reluctance.

Half a month later, the ship reached Jiangling and docked. A contingent of advance troops waited on the shore, led by none other than Li Xie, who quickly stepped forward to greet them.

His appearance here meant what it did—Luoshen understood perfectly. Looking toward the followers behind him, knowing they must be those who had come out from the capital guard camp together with him, she expressed her thanks.

Li Xie respectfully returned the courtesy: “Madam speaks too highly. To serve as faithful hounds for the Grand Marshal and Madam is the good fortune of myself and my brothers. Wherever the Grand Marshal goes in the future, we these people will be there, following unto death.”

He had married Lü Niang last year, with Luoshen serving as matchmaker at the time. Now that he had left Jiankang, naturally Lü Niang could no longer remain there either. Luoshen inquired about her arrangements.

Li Xie hastily replied: “Thank you for Madam’s concern. My wife was previously arranged to quietly go to Yicheng. She is with child. Now she has arrived there safely, all is well, and she is hoping for Madam to arrive soon so she can serve Madam in the future.”

So Lü Niang had already gone to Yicheng. Luoshen finally set her heart at ease, and learning she was already pregnant, was even more delighted, hastily offering congratulations.

Li Xie’s eyes were full of barely concealed joy. He invited Luoshen to board the carriage, and joining with Fan Cheng’s people, the entire party totaling several hundred, set out on the road toward Yicheng.

Jiankang had been left far behind. From the day they headed north from Jiangling, the road became safe.

Li Mu should still be around Tongguan now. Luoshen didn’t know how the situation and battle progress were developing there, but she knew he must be worried about her safety. She was eager to arrive and send him news that she was safe, so he could completely set aside all worries and freely do what he needed to do.

There were also A’Jia, A’Ting, Shen Shi and the others, all waiting in Yicheng for her arrival. She hadn’t seen them for several years now.

That city also held countless memories of her time together with Li Mu.

After this separation of several years, she wondered—were the yellow bamboos by the stone pavilion in the rear courtyard of the governor’s residence still standing as before? Was the water in the well where she had helped Li Mu cool off during summer evenings still clear and cold as before? Were the flowers she had planted by the window still blooming as before?

Her heart yearned for home like an arrow in flight. Even in dreams she wanted to reach Yicheng quickly. Why would she fear the hardships of travel? Traveling at dawn and resting at dusk, heading north all the way, by the end of the eighth month, they were finally gradually approaching Yicheng.

At noon this day, reaching the foot of a mountain ridge with the sun blazing overhead, Luoshen saw everyone was weary and called for all to rest briefly.

Between the water route and land route, they had already traveled for nearly two months. From here to Yicheng, finally only a few hundred li remained.

After crossing this mountain ridge, within three or four days, they should be able to arrive.

Having journeyed and transferred all the way to here, Luoshen was already quite exhausted, but thinking of arriving soon, her spirits were greatly renewed. Sitting in the shade of trees at the mountain’s foot, she drank several mouthfuls of water handed by her maid and gazed into the distance. Just then, the soldiers who had been sent to cross the mountain and scout returned, galloping swiftly on horseback, shouting: “Beyond the mountain there are large military forces heading toward Yicheng!”

In recent years, all forces that had previously been active in this area had been swept clean by Li Mu. Yicheng had a garrison of about twenty thousand for regular defense, with Guo Zhan and Dai Yuan remaining to guard it. This place was not very far from Yicheng.

Luoshen’s first reaction was that the troops should be Yicheng’s garrison forces.

But quickly, she realized things might not be so simple.

Li Xie and Fan Cheng questioned that soldier for several exchanges. Li Xie mounted his horse and quickly headed toward the mountain ridge with several men, while Fan Cheng assembled all the soldiers around Luoshen, his expression extremely grave.

Luoshen asked him: “The army isn’t our people?”

“It doesn’t seem to be. But we were far away just now and couldn’t see very clearly. Madam need not worry yet. Captain Li has gone to investigate. When he returns, we’ll know the details.”

Luoshen’s heart skipped a beat.

If the army currently advancing toward Yicheng beyond the mountain ridge wasn’t their own people, who could it be?

At this very moment, she suddenly recalled the words her cousin Gao Yongrong had said that day when she left Bailu Zhou.

She had told her that Li Mu had no tomorrow. If she left, she would surely regret it.

At the time, she had paid little attention to those words.

But at this very moment, a heavy sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in her heart.

…

When Li Xie returned, he had captured a straggling scout.

From this person’s mouth, Luoshen heard terrible news.

That army came from Badong in the southwest, personally led by Governor Rong Kang, with fifty thousand troops marching urgently, their target being to assault and capture Yicheng.

This was not the most frightening part.

The most frightening part was that Chouchu had also been controlled.

With twenty thousand against fifty thousand, plus Chouchu assisting from the side—how could Yicheng respond?

She climbed up the mountain ridge, and the scene that met her eyes made her heart race with terror.

Just on the other side of the mountain ridge, across that vast and boundless wilderness, valleys and hills were filled with a massive army. The army was like dense swarms of ants, heading toward Yicheng. In the distance, dust flew, and faintly the roars of wild beasts reached her ears on the wind.

Those were the beast army corps from Chouchu.

They could no longer go to Yicheng.

The group quickly finished their deliberations.

Li Xie immediately rushed toward Yicheng to deliver the message, while simultaneously sending people to race to Chang’an, having Chang’an dispatch troops to reinforce Yicheng.

Luoshen would temporarily remain where she was. Fan Cheng found a concealed hiding place and established a temporary camp site, where the party temporarily settled.

Three days later, those sent toward Yicheng to gather information returned.

Rong Kang’s army had already reached the outskirts of Yicheng and launched fierce siege attacks.

During these years, to facilitate communication between Chang’an and Yicheng, and even more to ensure Chang’an could receive any news from Yicheng with the fastest efficiency, Li Mu had established relay stations every fifty li along the military road connecting the two places.

Messengers changed horses every fifty li, traveling day and night. Messages transmitted at eight hundred li emergency speed could reach Chang’an within two days.

Li Mu had heavy troops stationed in Chang’an. Luoshen believed that after Gao Huan and Sun Fangzhi learned of the attack on Yicheng, they would surely organize reinforcements at the fastest possible speed.

Fast would be seven or eight days, slow would be ten days. Within ten days, reinforcements would definitely arrive.

With Yicheng’s high and sturdy city walls, plus the twenty thousand well-trained garrison troops within the city, Luoshen believed that even if surrounded on all sides, the defending forces persisting until the day reinforcements arrived should not be a problem.

She waited day and night in anxiety and expectation for replies from Chang’an.

Several days later, news finally came back. But the gravity of the situation had far exceeded Luoshen’s original imagination.

Just as Murong Ti sent a national letter to the Southern Dynasty seeking peace, Northern Yan had not ceased attacking Tongguan in the slightest. Murong Ti personally led the expedition, mobilizing the entire nation’s forces—over two hundred thousand troops advancing west with full strength.

Li Mu’s army was now around Tongguan, fiercely battling Northern Yan’s great army. In the short term, they absolutely could not break away.

And her own elder brother Gao Yin had actually chosen this moment to lead troops toward Chang’an. Not only had he already cut off the military road between Yicheng and Chang’an, but reportedly his journey was under court orders to replace Li Mu’s position as Chang’an Governor and take over Chang’an.

This sudden new development completely shocked Luoshen.

She never dreamed that the Gao family would become so deeply involved in this conflict that originally occurred between the imperial family, Li Mu, and Murong Ti.

At this point, she finally understood Gao Yongrong’s complete plan.

Detain her in Jiankang as a hostage, while simultaneously dispatching Rong Kang at the fastest speed to attack Yicheng and sending Gao family troops to occupy Chang’an.

Yicheng was Li Mu’s place of origin, while Chang’an was the rear base ensuring Li Mu’s army received grain and supply provisions.

If Gao Yongrong’s plan could succeed, what this would mean for Li Mu’s great army currently engaged in fierce battle with Northern Yan was self-evident.

So the previous confrontation with her had been merely a beginning.

This series of lightning military strikes was the real arrow she had aimed at Li Mu from behind.

She also finally understood why Gao Yongrong had spoken such words to her that day upon departure.

She had still underestimated her cousin’s bottom line.

No longer was there any doubt—clearly, between her cousin and Northern Yan’s Emperor Murong Ti, beyond the so-called ceasefire negotiations, the two must have reached some private, unknown understanding.

Chang’an was also about to face crisis. Obviously, they could no longer hope for that side to dispatch troops to rescue Yicheng.

What should she do?

She was ice-cold all over, almost unable to stand, slowly sitting down.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze along with her.

Fan Cheng stood before her with several hundred soldiers, his expression extremely grave.

She sat motionless, like a stone statue, only feeling the blood in her body surging like tidal waters, washing against her eardrums with thunderous roaring. Her entire body constantly broke out in cold sweat, and soon perspiration had soaked her garments, clinging tightly to her back.

A gust of wind passed, and she shivered. Suddenly, something appeared before her eyes.

She remembered.

That small box her father had left her the night before he departed that year! These several years, she had carefully preserved it, and when leaving Jiankang this time, had carried it with her.

She suddenly stood up and rushed toward the tent where she temporarily spent nights, charging inside, opening her chest, quickly pushing aside clothing, and soon found that small case.

She picked up the key beside it and with trembling hands inserted the key into the small lock’s keyhole and turned.

Accompanied by a soft “click,” the lock opened.

Luoshen’s heart pounded violently, her palms soaked with perspiration, sweat rolling down from her forehead, blurring her eyes.

She raised her sleeve, quickly wiping away the sweat, opened the box, and clearly saw a tiger tally placed inside.

Under the tiger tally lay a neatly folded letter.

These two items lay quietly in the case, as if they had been waiting for her opening for a very long time.