In this time of turmoil and uncertainty, this victory was exceptionally precious, and the battle report was sent to the capital by express horse.

Emperor Tai’an learned of the capture of Woli, the nephew of Northern Qi’s great general Wuye, and also learned that this meritorious deed was accomplished by Qi Shuo, who had sustained serious injuries in the process.

This nephew of his truly exceeded his expectations time and again.

Emperor Tai’an felt somewhat moved and, while sending the news to Prince Jing’s mansion, bestowed numerous rewards. He also appointed two imperial physicians to head north with the supply convoy two days later.

From the time the battle report was sent back to when the imperial physicians would arrive would take considerable time. Whether or not the Heir of Prince Jing would be able to make use of the physicians was one matter, but this demonstrated imperial grace.

Princess Consort Jing received the news of Qi Shuo’s injury, and tears immediately flowed from her eyes.

Qi Huan and Qi Qiong were so frightened their faces turned deathly pale, their minds immediately jumping to the worst possibilities.

“Has something happened to Father? Or is it Elder Brother?”

Princess Consort Jing’s bloodless lips trembled. Just as her pair of children were about to die of anxiety, she forced out a sentence: “Your elder brother has been injured…”

“Where is Elder Brother injured? Is the injury serious? How did he get injured…” Qi Qiong asked question after question, tears brimming in her eyes.

Qi Huan slammed the table: “I said it should have been me who went!”

“It only says that Shuo’er was injured while capturing a young Northern Qi general alive, and that the injury is not light…” Princess Consort Jing’s heart clenched tight, wishing she could grow wings and fly to the northern territories.

The atmosphere in Prince Jing’s mansion immediately became extremely somber. As for the meritorious deed Qi Shuo had accomplished, to the prince’s mansion it was merely icing on the cake—how could it compare to the importance of his safety?

Qi Qiong returned to her chambers and cried for a while. After wiping her tears, she went to the General’s Mansion to find A’Hao.

This battle report that could be called a minor victory would soon be transmitted everywhere in the form of official gazettes, and the General’s Mansion would naturally learn of it then. Rather than wait until that time, it was better to tell A’Hao early.

The General’s Mansion and Prince Jing’s mansion were so close to each other. If not seeing each other daily, the two women would meet once every few days at least. Hearing the gatekeeper’s message, to Lin Hao this was just an ordinary meeting between good friends, until she saw Qi Qiong’s uneasy expression and snow-white face.

“What’s wrong, County Princess?”

Qi Qiong opened her mouth, but before speaking, her eyes had already reddened.

Lin Hao’s heart sank, and she grasped Qi Qiong’s hand.

The other’s fingertips were ice-cold with a slight dampness, causing Lin Hao to involuntarily develop an ominous premonition.

“County Princess, what exactly has happened?”

“A’Hao—” Qi Qiong finally couldn’t control her emotions and threw both arms around Lin Hao in an embrace. “News came from the north—my elder brother has been injured!”

Lin Hao’s expression changed immediately. All the hot blood in her body surged toward her heart, making it beat wildly: “A’Shuo is injured? How serious is his injury?”

Qi Qiong’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head: “The details aren’t clear. It only says he sustained serious injuries while capturing a young Northern Qi general alive…”

Lin Hao’s heart, which had been about to leap out of her throat, eased somewhat, her tone taking on a strange quality: “Captured a Qi general? Did the battle report that came back mention this Qi general’s identity?”

“It seems to be called—” Qi Qiong thought for a moment, uncertainly saying, “It seems to be called Woli. I don’t know if I remembered wrong.”

“Is he the nephew of Northern Qi’s commander-in-chief Wuye?”

“Yes!” Qi Qiong’s gaze at Lin Hao filled with confusion. “A’Hao, how do you know? Has the General’s Mansion already received news?”

But judging from A’Hao’s earlier reaction, it didn’t seem like she knew about Elder Brother’s injury.

“A’Shuo wrote to me before, and his letter mentioned the general situation with Northern Qi.” Lin Hao casually found an excuse. In reality, after receiving Woli’s portrait, she had specifically made inquiries, and thus learned information about some prominent generals among the Qi army engaged with the Zhou forces.

A’Shuo’s letter hadn’t mentioned the identity of the young man in the portrait, but based on the information she had obtained, she had analyzed that the young man in the portrait was very likely that young general called Woli, and the County Princess’s words had confirmed her speculation.

“So that Qi general called Woli was captured?”

“He was taken prisoner, and Imperial Uncle even bestowed many rewards.” As Qi Qiong spoke of these matters, there was no joy in her expression.

And after Lin Hao confirmed that Woli had been captured, her tightly strung nerves relaxed somewhat.

Since her speculation had been confirmed, then Qi Shuo’s next step would be to return to the Northern Qi military camp using Woli’s identity. In that case, Qi Shuo’s serious injury should not be real.

“County Princess doesn’t need to worry too much. A’Shuo will be fine.”

Qi Qiong nodded randomly, but in truth hadn’t put her mind at ease at all.

“Although Imperial Uncle has assigned imperial physicians to accompany the supply convoy north, when it comes to treating external injuries, imperial physicians may not necessarily have more experience than military doctors…”

Qi Qiong actually wasn’t the type of young lady who talked especially much, but in front of Lin Hao she couldn’t help but speak continuously, as if this could ease the worry in her heart.

Lin Hao tightened her grip on Qi Qiong’s hand: “County Princess, believe me—A’Shuo will definitely be fine.”

Qi Qiong pressed her lips together: “A’Hao, won’t you… let your imagination run wild?”

After learning that her elder brother had sustained serious injuries, countless frightening thoughts had already cycled through her mind, completely beyond her control.

“Perhaps it’s a connection of hearts. My intuition tells me that A’Shuo will be fine. You and the Princess Consort must keep your spirits up and not worry yourselves sick.” Lin Hao suppressed her burning cheeks as she made up this explanation.

A’Shuo definitely wouldn’t want his family to worry about him.

As for why the news that came back revealed nothing, this was also easy to understand. Such confidential matters, once learned by others, would have unthinkable consequences. Naturally, the fewer people who knew, the better.

“Really?” Qi Qiong’s tear-reddened eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift. “That’s wonderful.”

She returned home and immediately repeated Lin Hao’s words to Princess Consort Jing.

After hearing this, Princess Consort Jing’s heart also eased by half.

Though talk of a connection of hearts sounded far-fetched, who wouldn’t want to hear good words at such a time? People always preferred to believe things that were favorable to them, even to the point of self-deception.

And after Qi Qiong left, Lin Hao instead became restless.

No matter how much reason told her this was part of Qi Shuo’s plan, she still couldn’t help but let her thoughts run wild.

Plans couldn’t keep up with changes—what if he really had sustained serious injuries?

Even if it was just minor flesh wounds, what if they worsened?

He had to go deep into the enemy camp—what if he was discovered?

When Lin Hao thought of how Qi Qiong had mentioned that imperial physicians would accompany the supply convoy north, she even felt the impulse to make a trip to the northern territories.

In the end, this impulse was suppressed by reason and transformed into thread wound with tender feelings, sewn stitch by stitch into shoe insoles.

In the northern territories, heavy snow fell and water froze into ice. The fighting between the two armies had temporarily ceased because of Woli’s capture.

Wuye sent an envoy to negotiate.

“He wants to exchange those few captured soldiers of ours for his nephew?” After hearing the envoy’s words, Prince Jing was furious. “No way! That brat caused my son to sustain serious injuries—I can’t let him off so easily!”

General Xu at his side couldn’t help but advise: “Your Highness, why don’t we discuss this further?”

Don’t refuse outright—this is several people for one person, so calculated it’s not a bad deal.

Prince Jing waved his hand dismissively: “Nothing to discuss. A few ordinary soldiers in exchange for his precious nephew? Dream on! Unless—”

“Unless what?” the envoy hurriedly asked.

Prince Jing looked at him askance: “Unless you add five hundred warhorses.”