Outside, Gu’s army showed no intention of attacking the city again. Instead, they furled their banners and silenced their drums, as if resting and reorganizing. Shen Guiyan continued sending people out to investigate Gu Chaobei’s whereabouts.
“Your Majesty! There’s news!” The scout had gone out less than a day ago but had already returned, saying jubilantly: “This humble one seems to have discovered His Majesty’s trail. Thirty li north of Yecheng, a large army is heading toward Yecheng!”
“What?!” Shen Guiyan stood up happily: “Does that mean His Majesty is truly unharmed?”
“Yes, that army’s banners all bear the yellow dragon pattern. This humble one saw it clearly.”
Presumably they were marching secretly to capture Gu Chaonan’s army in one fell swoop? A stone fell from Shen Guiyan’s heart as she let out a long breath of relief.
“If His Majesty is safe, then Gu Chaonan is undoubtedly a rebel!” Vice General Zhang also clapped his hands happily: “This way, our side is the righteous army, and morale will surely soar!”
Nuo’er also clapped his hands, circling around the First Prince’s wheelchair. Ming Sigu pressed down on the top of his head with one hand, and his little hands and feet couldn’t reach anyone, making him cry out in protest. Everyone in the room was amused.
Xu Zhuangzhou didn’t laugh. He only looked at Shen Guiyan and said softly: “A place thirty li away—scouts from the city can reach it. Why hasn’t His Majesty sent word back?”
Shen Guiyan was startled and looked back at him with some surprise. Vice General Zhang’s smile paused. After thinking for a moment, he said: “If this humble general remembers correctly, this young master is General Gu Chaonan’s wife’s…”
“Younger brother.” Xu Zhuangzhou smiled as he completed the sentence: “And a brother who has had a very good relationship with her since childhood. It’s just that our temperaments differ, so I didn’t follow her in seeking dominion over the world.”
One sentence made Vice General Zhang extremely nervous. He hastily stood up to shield Shen Guiyan and the First Prince: “Since your relationship is good, why is sir in the city rather than outside?”
Xu Zhuangzhou looked toward Shen Guiyan. The latter’s expression remained fairly calm as she said: “He is someone recommended by Grand Tutor Zhou.”
Master Zhou had taught her literacy and propriety since childhood and was also someone who cared about the world. Shen Guiyan trusted him, which was why she had followed his advice to keep Xu Zhuangzhou by the First Prince’s side.
“That’s correct. This humble one was entrusted by Grand Tutor Zhou to come protect the First Prince.” Xu Zhuangzhou touched his nose and chuckled softly: “However, because of my relationship with my elder sister, I’m inevitably subject to misunderstanding. Grand Tutor Zhou precisely wanted to make use of this relationship.”
Vice General Zhang didn’t quite understand. He turned to look at Shen Guiyan, who nodded with a smile: “No matter how ruthless Mengdie is, she wouldn’t harm her own brother. Grand Tutor Zhou must have considered this point, which is why he sent him. General Zhang need not be nervous.”
He hadn’t fully grasped the reasoning, but since the Empress said there was no need to be nervous, he relaxed his stance and continued sitting to the side—after all, his shoulder was still injured.
Still, he couldn’t help but remain on guard. Blood relations and family affection—who would help outsiders oppose their own elder sister?
Shen Guiyan harbored the same doubts, so she didn’t plan to heed Xu Zhuangzhou’s words. Instead, she had the scouts continue investigating.
She wouldn’t open the city gates without seeing Gu Chaobei’s face, so even if someone wanted to impersonate the Emperor’s personal troops, it would be useless.
After waiting a day, when the scout returned to report, the faint sound of battle horns could already be heard outside.
“Is Gu Chaonan attacking the city again?” Shen Guiyan frowned.
The scout cupped his fists: “His Majesty and General Gu have started fighting. The two armies are engaged in battle one li outside the city. The fighting is intense.”
Shen Guiyan’s eyes reddened. She immediately stood up, draped her cloak over her shoulders, and headed toward the city tower. Vice General Zhang followed behind, urgently wanting to observe the battle situation.
“Your Majesty, looking from this distance, General Gu’s side has somewhat stronger military strength.” Vice General Zhang said: “Blue represents Gu, yellow represents the Emperor. There’s more blue and less yellow—this is somewhat ominous.”
The scout also returned to report: “There are signal flares requesting assistance ahead. His Majesty has not been seen leading the campaign personally. The vanguard units of both sides are engaged in fierce battle.”
It truly was Gu Chaobei who had returned—otherwise who would oppose Gu Chaonan? Shen Guiyan was extremely excited and hastily looked at Vice General Zhang: “Muster the troops. Go out to help.”
“Yes!” Vice General Zhang immediately descended from the city tower, assembled five thousand soldiers, equipped them with fine bows and strong crossbows, and opened the city gates.
The people in the distance were still engaged in fierce battle, and no one seemed to be trying to take advantage and head toward Yecheng. Shen Guiyan completely set her mind at ease, waiting for news from Vice General Zhang.
The defenders wore red. Entering among the yellow and blue, they helped the yellow forces eliminate quite a bit of blue. Afterward, the red forces suffered heavy casualties and grew fewer and fewer.
Shen Guiyan felt somewhat anxious. At dusk, Vice General Zhang returned to the city with a contingent of remnant soldiers. There were no pursuing troops behind them—the yellow and blue sides each withdrew to their respective camps.
“How is the situation?” Shen Guiyan supported Vice General Zhang and asked anxiously.
Vice General Zhang said: “This humble officer has injuries and couldn’t charge to the front, but His Majesty’s personal troops seem to have weak combat power. Not many generals were seen either. The one leading the army is someone this subject recognizes—Vice General Liu, who accompanies His Majesty.”
Since there were people he recognized, this confirmed even more that these were the Emperor’s forces. Shen Guiyan gritted her teeth: “Today this palace was too cautious. Now that we’ve seen clearly, tomorrow we’ll help His Majesty with full force to eliminate Gu’s army!”
“Your Majesty, the city’s defenders total twenty thousand. How many should be dispatched?” The reinforcement commander cupped his fists: “Too few won’t boost morale, but if too many go, the city will be empty—that’s also not a good plan.”
“Morale doesn’t necessarily depend on numbers.” Shen Guiyan thought for a moment: “Are there extra sets of armor? Can you give this palace one?”
What? Vice General Zhang was dumbfounded: “Your Majesty, you want to go to the battlefield?”
Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together, shrinking her neck slightly, and said in a low voice: “This palace is also very afraid of death, but if even a woman goes into battle to kill the enemy, our soldiers will surely have high morale, right?”
Right was certainly right. If even the Empress donned armor and took the field, not only would the defenders’ morale soar, but to protect the Empress, they would fight even more bravely—this would be all benefit and no harm to their side.
But this Empress didn’t know martial arts—how could she go to the battlefield?
“Tomorrow, this palace will bring Xu Zhuangzhou along.” Shen Guiyan said earnestly: “He can stay by this palace’s side for protection. This palace won’t overestimate myself and charge to the front—it’s just to boost morale. Like a mascot, enshrined in the rear will be sufficient.”
It was truly a desperate measure. Otherwise, defending the city and the reinforcements simply couldn’t both be accomplished.
Vice General Zhang said somewhat disapprovingly: “Currently Yecheng is entirely dependent on the Empress for its defense. If Your Majesty takes risks…”
“There won’t be much danger.” Shen Guiyan smiled: “His Majesty is still here.”
As long as Gu Chaobei was there, he wouldn’t let her get hurt.
As for Xu Zhuangzhou, this was a good opportunity to test him. If he was truly wholehearted toward her side, he would certainly protect her completely. If he harbored second thoughts, he could be eliminated in advance to prevent him from harming the First Prince.
Most importantly, she had selfish motives—she wanted to see Gu Chaobei sooner. This was the real reason she was willing to take risks.
Vice General Zhang compromised. He prepared to dispatch five thousand people the next day to escort the Empress out of the city for rescue operations. To ensure the Empress’s safety, he specifically had her ride in a war chariot at the very tail end of the army. This way, even if the situation turned unfavorable, there would be an opportunity to send the Empress back to Yecheng.
Bamboo baskets were prepared beneath the city walls.
That night, Shen Guiyan went back to personally coax the First Prince to sleep, then organized her belongings. She removed all the pearl hairpins from her head and tied her hair in a neat, clean bun. She discarded all her silk garments and put on battle attire—black armor with red trim.
Looking at herself in the mirror, in a trance she seemed to see Gu Chaobei. He wore full military regalia, smiling at her with a roguish expression: “Yan’er, did you miss me?”
Yes, she really wanted to tell him to his face: “Longing for you makes one age; why does your carriage come so late?” Every time he made her wait so long, every time there was no word from him—this man was truly terrible!
Perhaps she could see him tomorrow?
At the break of dawn, the defenders slowly left the city. Shen Guiyan followed at the very back, listening to Vice General Zhang’s repeated instructions: “The Empress must not be too eager to see His Majesty. You must stay at the rear of the formation.”
Earlier he had always shown her no warmth, but now he was as long-winded as the nannies in the palace. Shen Guiyan couldn’t help but smile. She nodded in agreement and boarded the war chariot.
According to Vice General Zhang’s arrangements, her safety was guaranteed. Only when she actually reached the battlefield did she discover that there were people everywhere in front—all their own people—and she couldn’t see any trace of the Emperor at all.
With great difficulty, the yellow-clad soldiers and blue-clad soldiers gradually came into view, but they were still very far away. Even if she disregarded the Empress’s dignity and jumped up on the war chariot, she could only barely make out the yellow coiled dragon pattern.
The battlefield was brutal, yet the soldiers in front protected her extremely well. Perhaps because she was in the rear, today the red-clad defenders were especially fierce. They fought their way into the blue army’s camp and almost, together with the yellow army, could have swallowed up the blue forces.
Before she could see enough, the soldiers ahead swiftly drove the war chariot, bringing her back at a run.
“What’s happening?” Shen Guiyan looked back anxiously: “The withdrawal gong hasn’t been struck yet, has it?”
The reinforcement commander beside her said gravely: “According to our agreement, once our soldiers suffer over a thousand casualties, we send the Empress back to Yecheng.”
No way! She hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Gu Chaobei’s shadow, yet she already had to return.
“Thanks to the Empress’s good fortune, today our soldiers were brave and slew many enemies.” The commander smiled: “Your Majesty should return first.”
Having come out for this trip with nothing to show for it, Shen Guiyan sighed deeply. Upon returning, she discussed with Vice General Zhang: “This palace went to observe today. Tomorrow, send someone to coordinate with His Majesty first. If we attack together, surely we’ll have an eighty percent chance of victory.”
Vice General Zhang waved a letter in his hand: “His Majesty’s side sent word saying Your Majesty is not permitted to endanger yourself. For the battle outside the city, Yecheng’s defenders need not provide reinforcements.”
Her heart warmed. Shen Guiyan took the letter to look at it. It wasn’t the Emperor’s own handwriting—it should have been written by someone on his behalf amid his busyness.
He too was on the battlefield—why did he think only she was endangering herself? Shen Guiyan touched the letter paper with a smile and said: “Very well. Tomorrow, this palace will only observe the battle from atop the city gates.”
Vice General Zhang breathed a sigh of relief: “That would be excellent.”
These past two days the fighting had been lackluster. Perhaps His Majesty was conserving strength, waiting for this final strike tomorrow!