At this moment, Grand Commander Luo’s mood was beyond furious.

To think he’d harbored the notion that Prince Kaiyang wanted to marry his daughter, and when reinforcements appeared during their escape from the capital, he’d even assumed that young man had arranged them.

And the result? Not only did that young man not come to propose marriage, but instead came with a great army to attack them!

“What kind of person is this—eating all that good wine and meat at the tavern for nothing!” Grand Commander Luo angrily slammed the table.

“Prince Kaiyang paid for his wine and meals at the tavern,” Luo Sheng stated matter-of-factly.

Grand Commander Luo faltered, glanced around, and lowered his voice: “Sheng’er, at this time you cannot let old sentiments cloud your judgment—”

Luo Sheng sighed helplessly: “Father, you’re overthinking this.”

“In any case, men can be utterly ruthless when it comes to power and position.” Grand Commander Luo looked at the composed young woman and sighed heavily. “Sheng’er, just don’t think of him as the Prince Kaiyang who drank at Youjian Tavern.”

Luo Sheng lowered her eyes and nodded slightly: “Your daughter understands.”

Seeing this, Grand Commander Luo felt somewhat reassured and stood up: “Prince Kaiyang’s Zhaoyang Army is difficult to deal with. I’ll go make arrangements.”

The thought of Prince Kaiyang joining forces with Lei Ming gave him a headache.

Watching Grand Commander Luo depart, Luo Sheng walked to the window. Outside, gardenia flowers bloomed vigorously, their fragrance carried to her nose by the wind.

They were currently residing in what had been the prefectural magistrate’s office.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and Luo Sheng turned around.

Luo Chen walked over: “Elder Sister heard, didn’t you? Prince Kaiyang is leading troops to attack.”

“I heard.”

Luo Chen was silent for a moment, then looked into Luo Sheng’s eyes and asked: “Is Prince Kaiyang truly coming to annihilate us?”

“Why do you ask that?”

Luo Chen studied Luo Sheng’s expression and said carefully: “Perhaps… he’s only coming to see Elder Sister.”

“With thousands upon thousands of troops?” Luo Sheng countered.

Luo Chen was stumped by the question, surprise appearing in his eyes.

He’d thought Elder Sister might have such notions, never expecting her to be so rational instead.

Luo Sheng raised her hand and patted Luo Chen’s shoulder lightly.

The young man was already quite a bit taller than her, though his features still carried a hint of youthfulness.

Luo Sheng said softly: “So many people are now following us, entrusting their lives and fortunes to us. We can only prepare for the worst and make the most complete preparations. We cannot harbor false hopes.”

“I understand.” Luo Chen naturally understood all this.

He was just… worried she might be distressed.

When she occasionally fell into a daze, wasn’t she thinking of that person?

At this moment, Grand Commander Lei, who had gone personally to welcome Wei Han, was in high spirits.

Excellent—he’d been worrying about what a hard nut to crack Luo Chi was, and now reinforcements had arrived!

“Your Highness has had an arduous journey. This official has already ordered wine and food prepared, though conditions are crude. I hope Your Highness won’t mind.”

“Grand Commander Lei is too kind.” Wei Han nodded in thanks but politely declined Grand Commander Lei’s hospitality. “I intend to first go see Grand Commander Luo.”

Grand Commander Lei was stunned, then deeply moved: “Your Highness has traveled so far—you should rest well first. The matter of battle need not be rushed.”

“Speed is precious in warfare.” Wei Han didn’t quite agree with Grand Commander Lei’s words.

Grand Commander Lei was stunned again, then laughed heartily: “Your Highness is right. Rather than choosing an auspicious day, let’s seize today. This official will join forces with Your Highness to attack and strive to take Heyang City in one decisive push!”

Wei Han’s expression remained calm: “Two completely unfamiliar armies without coordination will find it difficult to display cooperative advantages. How about this instead—Grand Commander Lei concentrates forces to completely wipe out Prince Henan’s remnant troops, while Heyang City’s side is left to me.”

Grand Commander Lei, upon hearing this, felt this arrangement was also quite good.

If not for Prince Henan’s interference these past days, he would have dealt with Luo Chi long ago. Since Prince Kaiyang wanted to attack Luo Chi, he could free up manpower to deal with Prince Henan.

“Everything is at Your Highness’s discretion.”

Grand Commander Lei wasn’t one to dither and immediately mobilized troops to depart.

Wei Han took the water canteen Xu Xi passed to him and drank several mouthfuls with his head tilted back.

Xu Xi frowned and asked: “Your Highness, are you truly going to attack Miss Luo’s father?”

The battlefield was the greatest forge for people. The young man who had once chopped firewood in the back courtyard of Youjian Tavern had now grown into a reasonably qualified personal guard.

Wei Han looked at Xu Xi with a calm expression: “What of it?”

Xu Xi pressed his lips together and said through gritted teeth: “If that’s the case, then I won’t go!”

Compared to his stubbornness back at the tavern, the young man who had experienced trials now understood reverence, yet at this moment he mustered his courage to speak his mind: “Miss Luo showed me kindness. I cannot repay kindness with enmity.”

Saying this, the young man looked deeply at Wei Han, thinking to himself: He’d always thought there was some unclear, ambiguous relationship between His Highness and Miss Luo—was it actually this pure?

He couldn’t help but think of that small courtyard. Although it only had one ugly persimmon tree, everyone could quiet their hearts to appreciate it.

It seemed they couldn’t return anymore…

Thinking this, the young man felt somewhat pained.

Miss Luo had shown him kindness, and His Highness had shown him kindness too. He didn’t know what would be the right thing to do.

In his mind were only memories of Miss Luo and His Highness standing side by side appreciating the persimmon tree. He absolutely could not imagine them meeting with weapons drawn.

“Miss Luo showed you kindness?” Wei Han seemed to think of something and pressed his thin lips together slightly.

Xu Xi’s expression grew serious: “Yes, and now I understand gratitude.”

Wei Han nodded slightly: “Understanding gratitude is good. Since you’re unwilling to go, you can stay behind.”

Seeing Wei Han leave with a team of mounted soldiers, Xu Xi was somewhat dazed.

What exactly did His Highness mean?

“Great General, Prince Kaiyang has arrived at the city walls!” A soldier ran in to report.

Grand Commander Luo rose abruptly: “Prepare for battle!”

The stronger the opponent, the less they could weaken their own morale, or things would only get worse.

The soldier’s expression was somewhat strange: “Great General, Prince Kaiyang only brought fewer than a hundred men.”

“Fewer than a hundred?” Grand Commander Luo froze.

Fewer than a hundred meant… he thought he could fight one against a hundred?

Thinking this way, it infuriated Grand Commander Luo terribly.

That damned young upstart looking down on people!

He would take a thousand men out of the city and kill that young man along with everyone he’d brought.

Grand Commander Luo’s face was covered in frost as he prepared to mobilize troops to leave the city.

The soldier quickly said: “Great General, Prince Kaiyang has requested to see Miss Luo.”

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t help but look toward the armor-clad young woman who had remained silent.

Luo Sheng calmly stood up: “Father, I’ll go see him.”

“Sheng’er—”

“Father, rest assured. I’ll take a thousand men out of the city. I won’t let the other side gain the upper hand.”

Hearing she would take a thousand men, Grand Commander Luo felt reassured.

Sheng’er had thought of the same thing as him—she truly was his own daughter.

Heyang City had no moat surrounding it. From atop the city walls, one could see the somewhat meager-looking force in the vast open space beyond the city. The leading youth in scarlet robes bright as fire sat astride a white horse like a dragon, gazing this way from afar.

The city gates opened and Luo Sheng charged out with soldiers. In the blink of an eye, only several zhang separated them from the other side.

Looking at that familiar youth, she smiled: “We haven’t seen each other in months. I didn’t expect to meet Your Highness again in this place.”

Wei Han sighed softly: “I didn’t expect it either.”

He’d campaigned eastward to suppress rebellion, his heart and mind constantly thinking of returning to Youjian Tavern to drink and converse cheerfully with Miss Luo beneath the persimmon tree.

Yet it had come to nothing.

Looking at the young woman whose smile was detached, Wei Han felt inexplicably somewhat wronged: “Miss Luo, I want to eat minced pork noodles.”