◎When the spring wind rises again in the future, the dragon flag will fly once more at the border.◎

Criminal father, Luo Qushu.

Looking at the handwriting on the envelope, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Less than four thousand words contained his entire life. He repeatedly called himself callous and unfeeling, and in the end even referred to himself as “criminal father.”

Yet this “unfeeling” man was willing to stay with Cui Qingping at the border until the very end, willing to give up his chance at freedom to remain steadfast for the Cui family until death.

This “callous” man, in the end, advised his daughter to “put yourself first, and if you have spare capacity, pass this letter to a reliable person,” to obtain a broad world and live freely.

“Why…”

Luo Wanqing finally couldn’t help herself and spoke hoarsely: “Why did the Eastern Capital receive the news nearly a full month late, and the news they received was false?”

With that, Luo Wanqing turned to look at Xie Heng: “After receiving the news, since Minister Cui returned to the Eastern Capital that year, His Majesty should have known what happened on the battlefield. Why did the Cui family still have to die?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. Luo Wanqing suppressed the moisture in her eyes, unable to understand: “Who is the ‘Pavilion’ my father mentioned? Since he knew I had exceptional talent, why didn’t he let me find my way to survive? Why did he believe Li Guiyu would protect me?”

“Was Uncle wrong?”

Xie Heng asked softly. Luo Wanqing was startled.

Xie Heng thought for a moment and said gently: “Xiniang, in Uncle’s eyes, he had seen the Third Prince at his most admirable, and the Third Prince was a disciple his brother had exchanged his life for. Rather than believing in his badness, Uncle preferred to believe in his goodness. And Uncle indeed didn’t bet wrong—until the very end, Li Guiyu always left you a way to live. He never truly could bring himself to harm you. As for letting you find your way…”

Xie Heng smiled and only said, “This letter was already a fantasy for Uncle. He thought his daughter could become an eagle, but he couldn’t make too much effort for something with so little hope.”

“If he didn’t believe, why did he start planning from six years ago…”

“This wasn’t a plan.”

Xie Heng interrupted her, clearly pointing out: “Before everything happened, before Uncle came to Jiangnan, Zhang Qiuzhi was already going to fixed locations at fixed times on the first, eighth, and tenth. These three locations and times weren’t specifically set up for this letter—this was perhaps their organization’s communication method.”

Luo Wanqing was stunned. Xie Heng analyzed seriously: “Zhang Qiuzhi was your father’s subordinate. These three times and locations were set by your father. Back then, your father perhaps used your birth date as his usual code. These three locations at these three times were perhaps the fixed meeting times and places for your father’s subordinates. That’s why Zhang Qiuzhi regularly brought Zhang Yiran there for so many years, and your father also went there for so many years.”

Listening to this, Luo Wanqing gradually calmed down. Xie Heng continued: “Six years ago, you were only fourteen, just an ordinary young lady. At that time, for your father to choose to leave you a letter was already his wild imagination.”

And it was precisely this wild imagination that became the most important clue they now had.

“As for what happened in the past…” Xie Heng smiled slowly, “Can’t you see it?”

With that, Xie Heng’s tone became lighter as he said slowly: “Someone in the Eastern Capital intercepted the messages from the border. The border’s messages arrived a month late. And when my uncle returned, the Eastern Capital could no longer tolerate him or the Cui family.”

“When… did the Eastern Capital receive news that fighting had begun at the border?”

Luo Wanqing thought blankly, recalling that year.

But at that time, she didn’t care about such things at all. She only vaguely remembered that the Cui clan had committed treason, the Cui family was imprisoned, ten border cities had fallen, and the Wang and Zheng families had intercepted the eastward-advancing cavalry at Heyu Pass…

“The sixteenth day of the sixth month,” Xie Heng’s voice sounded.

Luo Wanqing instinctively felt this timing was somewhat sensitive, then saw Xie Heng turn to smile at her, as if knowing what she was thinking, explaining: “The sixth day after my mother’s death—just enough time for a messenger eagle to fly a round trip from the Eastern Capital to the border.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing instantly remembered that line from the letter: “The thirteenth day of the sixth month, the Cui family head vomited blood in his tent.”

Three days—just enough time for a messenger eagle to fly from the Eastern Capital to the border. Cui Qingping vomited blood on the thirteenth day of the sixth month because, after defending bitterly for a month, he heard news of his sister’s death.

At this time, at the border city of Yuezhou, provisions were unheard of, arrows nearly exhausted, swords broken, and armor shattered, yet the Eastern Capital court had forced his two sisters to death and plotted against his nephew, the Crown Prince.

“His Majesty said that on the sixteenth day of the sixth month, he received a letter from my uncle telling him: ‘The Northern Rong invade, your subject defends against foreign enemies externally and tigers and leopards internally. If there is discord between ruler and subject, your subject cannot accomplish much alone. I hope Your Majesty will think thrice and act cautiously, treating me with tolerance and forgiveness. If the heir apparent is not of Cui blood, your subject’s protection of Great Xia will be difficult to secure.”

Xie Heng seemed to have read that letter countless times, speaking each word exceptionally clearly.

“If the heir apparent is not of Cui blood, your subject’s protection of Great Xia will be difficult to secure.”

What ruler could tolerate such arrogant and threatening words?

But according to what her father wrote in the letter, on the thirteenth day of the sixth month, after Cui Qingping received news that his sister Cui Muhua had committed suicide in the palace and Empress Cui Lianyi and Crown Prince Li Shengzhao had disappeared, he was still defending bitterly.

“The next day, when the Northern Rong army attacked the city again, the defending general saw the situation and advised the Cui family head to abandon the city and retreat. The Cui family head, thinking of the civilians, defended the city without retreating.”

How could such a person use border warfare to threaten the ruler into compromise?

“So His Majesty was greatly angered,” Xie Heng paid no heed to Luo Wanqing’s incomprehension, placing the lamp aside and taking the letter from Luo Wanqing’s hands, continuing: “The next day he imprisoned the entire Cui clan and sent a reply demanding that Uncle defend to the death, or the entire family would be buried with him. However, my uncle didn’t let His Majesty have his wish. On the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, the Eastern Capital received news of the Cui clan’s treason. The court allowed the Wang and Zheng families stationed behind the ten border cities to conscript troops and prepare for war. On the tenth day of the seventh month, they reported a great victory at Heyu Pass.”

This was wrong.

Listening to the timeline, Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the words in the letter Xie Heng held.

“The twentieth day of the sixth month, provisions were exhausted, civilians were all evacuated, led by soldiers to Heyu Pass for refuge. The defending general again advised retreat, but the Cui family head defended the city without retreating.”

“In the early seventh month, for several li behind the city, vegetation was completely consumed, yet the Cui family head still defended the city without retreating.”

On the seventh day of the seventh month, Li Guiyu was hanged before the battle lines to force open the city gates.

On the tenth day of the seventh month, Jiang Fengwan was shot dead before the gates of Yuezhou city. Li Guiyu entered the city, Cui Qingping learned of the slaughter of thirty thousand civilians at Heyu Pass, his hair turned white overnight, and he began to withdraw troops.

On the twelfth day of the seventh month, Luo Qushu left Yuezhou city.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, Yuezhou city fell.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the first border city, Yuezhou city, finally fell.

Yet the Eastern Capital received news of Cui Qingping’s surrender and the front lines’ collapse on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, and received news of great victory at Heyu Pass behind the ten border cities on the tenth day of the seventh month.

The news of treason was false!

The ten border cities had been abandoned from the very beginning. No one had ever intended to rescue them. They were forcing Cui Qingping to give up, forcing Cui Qingping to commit treason.

Yet the border kept waiting.

But they couldn’t wait for rescue.

Those ten cities—whether soldiers or civilians—from the very beginning, they were already chess pieces sacrificed by these Eastern Capital nobles in their power games.

Yet they didn’t know.

Whether Cui Qingping, Luo Qushu, the border soldiers, or even the civilians who had retreated from the border.

Every one of them was persistent and waiting with hope, rushing toward Heyu Pass.

Fifth month: defended the city without retreating.

Sixth month: defended the city without retreating.

Seventh month: the city fell, and people died.

Without provisions, without supplies, those hundred thousand people persisted from the fifth month through the sixth month to the seventh month, finally completely despairing and collapsing when the civilians they had painstakingly sent to the rear were shot dead outside the gates of Heyu Pass.

“What about the Cui family head? What about those people?”

Luo Wanqing snatched the letter back, looking at that line “The next day, the Cui family head ordered family retainers to lead troops in retreat while finding your father, wanting to send something to Jiangnan…” and confirmed: “Didn’t they retreat on the next day? What about those soldiers? What about those civilians?”

“After the ten border cities fell, the Northern Rong massacred the Han people in the ten cities.”

Xie Heng spoke calmly: “Later, when I went to the border, Han people couldn’t enter at all. Even those who managed to enter by chance, the people from that year, were almost nowhere to be seen. As for my uncle—” Xie Heng looked up at her, “You should know that on the fourteenth day of the eighth month, he returned to the Eastern Capital, knocked at the palace gates at dawn, and then committed suicide in the palace that night.”

“Suicide?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t believe it at all: “He committed suicide?”

“His Majesty said the aristocratic families originally wanted to execute him in the streets for treason, but His Majesty, remembering their childhood friendship and feeling compassionate, granted him poisoned wine in the palace.”

“Do you believe His Majesty’s words?”

Luo Wanqing asked urgently in return.

Xie Heng was silent. After a moment, he said slowly: “I’ve seen the letter my uncle sent him. It was indeed my uncle’s handwriting, with his seal and the secret code unique between him and His Majesty. No one could imitate it.”

“But… how is this possible?” Luo Wanqing couldn’t understand. “Setting aside what my father said about the Cui family head defending until the city fell on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, even without today’s letter, logically speaking, the Cui family head was a person of the highest rank, not a three-year-old child—how would he dare speak so boldly?”

“I never understood it in the past either,” Xie Heng said, taking back the letter from Luo Wanqing’s hands, looking down and stroking it. Xie Heng changed the subject: “But seeing this today, if the other party could intercept communications between the border and the Eastern Capital, they must be someone extremely close to His Majesty. Such a person forging a letter might not be impossible.”

“Do you believe His Majesty was deceived?”

Listening to Xie Heng’s words, Luo Wanqing gradually calmed down, analyzing his words and thinking: “Why? Because His Majesty had no reason to bring down the Cui clan?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak, seeming to ponder. After thinking for a long time, he said softly, “When His Highness came out of the palace, he told me what happened on the tenth day of the sixth month from his perspective.”

“What happened that day?”

Though the Northern Rong launched their attack on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, all the turmoil began on the tenth day of the sixth month when Cui Muhua died in the palace and Cui Lianyi and Li Shengzhao disappeared, making everything uncontrollable.

“That day was the fixed monthly family banquet between His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress. So, as usual, he entered the palace at noon to speak with Her Majesty the Empress in the palace. At this time, Wang Qingfeng suddenly arrived at Weiyang Palace with an imperial edict, saying ambiguously that they should confess truthfully and hand over the hiding place to be spared from death.”

Wang Qingfeng was Wang Shenfeng’s bodyguard, the third grandmaster in the world after Zhang Chunzi and Yang Chun. He appeared outside the Empress’s palace with an imperial edict and troops, surrounding Weiyang Palace.

Luo Wanqing frowned and immediately asked: “What thing?”

“Unknown.”

Xie Heng shook his head, only saying: “His Highness also didn’t know what thing. At that time, Her Majesty felt something was wrong and wanted to verify the imperial edict. As a result, Wang Qingfeng directly said they were defying the edict and plotting rebellion, and brought troops to kill them. With Wang Qingfeng in charge, Weiyang Palace couldn’t resist. Fortunately, my mother arrived in time, and with Xing Ling’s help, the Crown Prince and Her Majesty managed to escape, but…”

Cui Muhua died in the palace.

“Was that imperial edict real?”

Luo Wanqing thought about it. Xie Heng said calmly, “Fake. Every imperial edict must have a copy recorded in the archives. I checked later—there was no such edict.”

“Then it was forged by the Wang family…”

“But without His Majesty’s tacit permission, the Wang family couldn’t do such a big thing.” Xie Heng reminded: “Yang Chun was still in the palace, the palace guards were His Majesty’s people, yet that day they seemed non-existent, even joining in the siege of my mother and me.”

“Then…” Luo Wanqing was somewhat confused. “Why do you still think His Majesty was deceived?”

“Since there were such clues, I naturally suspected His Majesty. I wanted to figure out what His Majesty was looking for and why my mother died that year. So I had you approach Zheng Biyue.”

As Xie Heng spoke, Luo Wanqing remembered that night at Purple Cloud Mountain when Xie Heng had interrogated Zheng Biyue alone.

Knowing she was confused, Xie Heng continued: “When my mother died, Zheng Biyue happened to be in the palace. That night at Purple Cloud Mountain, she told me that in the palace that day, she happened to overhear Wang Lianyang and her palace maid plotting, saying His Majesty still had doubts and asking them to try interrogating Her Majesty the Empress under pressure—this was their chance to force the Crown Prince and Empress into rebellion. Later, Zheng Biyue was discovered and hastily sent away. Back then it should have been the Wang and Zheng families working together, so Zheng Biyue heard something but didn’t die. They should have told His Majesty that the Cui clan had something His Majesty wanted, but he didn’t dare directly confront the Cui clan, so he tacitly allowed the Wang family to pressure the Empress and Crown Prince.”

“But the Wang family never intended to interrogate—they only wanted to force rebellion.”

Luo Wanqing understood, thinking: “They tried to use a fake imperial edict to directly kill the Crown Prince and Empress. If successful, even if His Majesty realized later, there would already be a rift with the Cui family. With Northern Rong as external enemies and after they blocked news from outside Heyu Pass, His Majesty would have to rely on them. Your mother got advance notice and entered the palace, ultimately being trapped with the charge of attempted assassination and treason. Lady Xie, to preserve you and the Xie family, severed ties and committed suicide in the palace.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng nodded and continued: “After my mother’s death, with the Crown Prince and Empress missing, and no survivors in Weiyang Palace, His Majesty couldn’t know what had happened and let them turn black into white. But regardless, my mother was dead, and His Majesty would certainly worry that Uncle might harbor resentment. Just six days later, Uncle’s threatening letter arrived, making His Majesty even more convinced Uncle harbored rebellious thoughts, so he imprisoned the Cui clan.”

“After the Cui clan was imprisoned, news came of Minister Cui’s treason, Northern Rong troops advanced east, and His Majesty, in panic and anger, had no time to think further.” Luo Wanqing understood.

“So he gave the Wang and Zheng families the privilege to expand their armies.” Xie Heng confirmed with a mocking smile, “And the Wang and Zheng families indeed achieved great victory at Heyu Pass.”

When news of the great victory at Heyu Pass arrived, it reassured Li Zong and made the entire Eastern Capital rejoice.

At this time, when Cui Qingping returned, what would Li Zong want to do?

He couldn’t trust Cui Qingping anymore.

He wanted that thing.

And Cui Qingping’s only chance of survival lay in their old friendship, but for His Majesty to believe in their friendship, he first had to hand over that thing.

“I believe His Majesty gave Uncle a thread of hope.”

Xie Heng held Luo Wanqing’s father’s letter, turning it under the lamplight: “They had known each other since childhood, close as brothers. The night Uncle returned to the Eastern Capital, the city outskirts were full of assassins. I went to persuade Uncle to leave the Eastern Capital, but he chose the Eastern Capital, chose His Majesty.”

Under the lamplight, the paper gleamed as Xie Heng smiled bitterly: “His Majesty couldn’t have been unaware of his sincerity. Actually, on his way into the palace, there were assassins everywhere. His Majesty had countless opportunities to have him shot, but His Majesty didn’t. He allowed Uncle to walk to the palace gates and cry out: ‘Criminal subject Cui Qingping has returned, begging Your Majesty to send troops against the Northern Rong!'”

This was the friendship and lifeline the Son of Heaven granted. He could have died quietly and silently.

“But I think that what my mother, aunt, brother, and the entire Cui clan couldn’t provide, Uncle probably couldn’t provide either. But at the same time, His Majesty knew he had sent something to Jiangnan. To this day, His Majesty believes that what was sent to Jiangnan is what he wants.”

Thus, this Xuantian Box sent to Jiangnan became the greatest barrier between ruler and subject.

When Li Zong pressed for the whereabouts of what he wanted, and Cui Qingping knew nothing, Li Zong only knew that he had quietly sent an iron box to Jiangnan.

So Cui Qingping’s explanations, the real truth, became lies in the face of this hidden iron box.

Moreover, for Li Zong, the truth was a sharp blade.

If Li Zong believed what Cui Qingping said, he would have to bear the guilt of causing the fall of ten border cities, the massacre of civilians, and the wronging of the Cui clan due to his greed for some object, his suspicion of generals, and his failure to detect treacherous ministers.

So Li Zong couldn’t believe it.

He could only believe Cui Qingping was lying, that the Cui clan intended rebellion.

He absolutely couldn’t believe that Cui Qingping had never thought of betraying Great Xia from beginning to end.

When he defended the border in isolation without help, he didn’t give up waiting for Li Zong.

When he received news of one sister’s death and another sister and nephew’s disappearance, he didn’t suspect the ruler and still waited for Li Zong.

When he learned his entire family was imprisoned, he was still waiting for Li Zong…

He waited until the end, until thirty thousand civilians died at Heyu Pass, until the city fell, and people perished. When he returned to the Eastern Capital, he was still waiting for his ruler, Li Zong.

Every step of Cui Qingping’s was being forced toward treason, yet he never betrayed until death. He gave his ruler the most loyal sacrifice—but what about Li Zong?

How could Li Zong admit that it was his greed, his suspicion, that destroyed such loyalty and friendship?

From the moment Cui Muhua died, as long as there was any reason to indicate Cui Qingping’s disloyalty, he would rather believe it.

“So…”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help murmuring: “What exactly does His Majesty want, and what exactly is in that iron box?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. Seeing his silence, Luo Wanqing turned her head and saw him leaning against the bed, holding her father’s letter between two fingers, turning it in mid-air.

The darkest hour of the night had passed. Dawn light filtered through the pale, dull window paper, falling on his noble and handsome features, appearing especially gentle and bright.

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized this was the first time she had seen Xie Heng in daylight.

So intimate and real, without any concealment—this was Xie Heng.

She didn’t speak for a moment, quietly watching him.

Noticing her gaze, Xie Heng looked over and raised an eyebrow: “What are you staring at me for?”

Luo Wanqing paused, not wanting to let him be smug, and turned her gaze away with feigned coldness: “I wasn’t looking at you—I was looking at the letter.”

“Looking at the letter?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng laughed: “Then after looking for so long, didn’t you notice anything wrong?”

Luo Wanqing was startled and quickly looked back to see Xie Heng holding up the paper.

Light passed through the thin paper in front of her, but three characters couldn’t let light through, appearing dark and heavy under the illumination.

They read:

“Ren Wu Wu”

The eighth year of Changshun was the Ren Yin year, the fifth month was Wu month, and the fifteenth day was Wu day.

These three characters were precisely the time when the Northern Rong truly launched their surprise attack. Their appearance at the end of this paper made their meaning abundantly clear.

Luo Wanqing looked at Xie Heng beside her in surprise.

Xie Heng smiled broadly, only saying: “Still say you weren’t looking at me?”

“When did you discover this?”

Luo Wanqing took the letter and turned it around to examine it.

Xie Heng leaned on his side, propping his head up against the bed edge, smiling as he watched her: “While talking with you.”

“Then why didn’t you go try it immediately?”

Luo Wanqing frowned. Xie Heng was in no hurry, only looking at her with a smile: “Want to go together?”

Luo Wanqing’s movements paused as she looked up at Xie Heng, her gaze heavy.

After thinking for a moment, Luo Wanqing only said: “Young Master—aren’t you afraid I’ll see something I shouldn’t?”

Hearing this, Xie Heng smiled. He seemed prepared, taking a pill from his sleeve and placing it in front of Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing looked at the pill puzzledly, then heard him explain softly: “This is Yuan Sha.”

Luo Wanqing looked up at him. Xie Heng smiled and said, “A palace secret poison. One antidote pill must be taken each year—without the antidote, death is certain within a year. If you’re willing—”

Xie Heng leaned forward slightly, gazing into her eyes, his tone serious yet tempting: “Entrust your life to me. From then on, we’ll be one body, and I’ll have no more secrets from you.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Looking at this person who didn’t hide his calculations from her, she felt like she was looking at a white snake coiled before her.

He flicked his forked tongue, displaying his fangs, yet she felt no fear whatsoever.

She knew this pill was his explanation to Xie Heng for everyone else.

From the moment he began sharing secrets with her, he had already put his own life on the line.

But his life was never his alone—it was the lives of many, many people.

He could gamble with himself, but he couldn’t bring others to the gambling table.

If she betrayed him, he would die together with her.

This was already the greatest trust Xie Heng could give her.

“Xiniang?”

Seeing her long silence, Xie Heng couldn’t help but speak up.

Hearing his voice, Luo Wanqing didn’t hesitate. She picked up the pill and put it in her mouth, then stood up, grabbed a piece of clothing, leaped out the window, and said calmly: “Let’s go.”

Xie Heng smiled and followed her out the window, returning to his room.

The two opened the secret chamber, jumping down from above. After landing in the secret chamber one after the other, Luo Wanqing stopped and waited for Xie Heng to step forward.

Xie Heng walked to the cabinet, opened the locked cabinet, and Luo Wanqing held the lamp for him, watching him take out the Xuantian Box from the cabinet.

“Since you met the Cui family head in the Eastern Capital bamboo grove, didn’t he tell you what this iron box contained?”

Watching him carefully wipe the box, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but ask.

Xie Heng’s tone was calm, as if talking about someone else’s affairs: “No.”

The thin dust was brushed away as Xie Heng’s face carried a smile: “He didn’t even tell me he had sent out a box. When I wanted to take him away and asked what had happened, he told me that if I couldn’t find the truth myself, I should never touch the truth.”

With that, Xie Heng stepped aside to make room, gesturing: “You open it.”

Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled: “Why should I open it?”

“My most precious possession should naturally be entrusted to my most precious person.”

Xie Heng stood to one side, smiling at the Xuantian Box: “I’ve searched for it for six years and prepared for six years. Please open it for me, Xiniang.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked back and understood that just as she had been fearful when receiving her father’s letter, how could Xie Heng not feel anxious about something he had searched for six years?

She said no more, lowering her gaze to turn the gears. The sound of the gears turning echoed in the room, becoming the only sound in the entire space.

Ren, the Ren Yin year.

Wu, the fifth month.

Wu, the fifteenth day.

With a soft “click,” the box sprang open. Luo Wanqing slowly opened the wooden box. The moment its contents were exposed, Luo Wanqing’s pupils contracted sharply.

A golden tiger tally lay quietly on top of a blood-stained book. Though it hadn’t seen daylight for years, the moment it encountered lamplight, it immediately flowed with dazzling brilliance.

“Tiger tally.”

Xie Heng spoke calmly without any disturbance.

He stepped forward and took the heavy tiger tally from the box.

Under the tiger tally was a blood-stained book. Xie Heng took out the book and flipped through it briefly, seeing page after page of names.

“A roster.”

With that, Xie Heng continued downward and pulled out another booklet with papers tucked inside. He scanned it and confirmed the contents: “Military journal, copies of correspondence between Uncle and His Majesty.”

Further down was a sheet of letter paper with Northern Rong script, stamped with the private seals of Wang Shenfeng, Zheng Pingsheng, Minister of War Sun Zhengli, and even the Grand Eunuch Yang Chun. These private seals were arranged one after another. Xie Heng smiled: “Documents of collaboration with the enemy.”

Finally, there was a folded silk cloth.

“What is this?”

Xie Heng was somewhat puzzled.

He took out the silk cloth and unfolded it, revealing an extremely detailed topographical map.

Xie Heng spread it out and hung it in the room, raising the lamp to illuminate the map.

Under the firelight, Luo Wanqing could see this map.

This topographical map depicted the entire northern border. Unlike past maps that focused on Great Xia territory, this map extensively depicted areas north of Great Xia, drawn in great detail, clearly not the work of Great Xia people.

More eye-catching was a red line starting from the fifth border city, passing through adjacent continuous snow mountains, crossing the mountains, and circling to the rear of Northern Rong.

Another black line went straight from the ten border cities, eventually converging with the red line.

Luo Wanqing stared at this topographical map blankly, suddenly remembering that line from her father’s letter: “The next day, the Cui family head ordered family retainers to lead troops in retreat while finding your father, wanting to send something to Jiangnan…”

“What about those soldiers? What about those civilians?”

“After the ten border cities fell, the Northern Rong massacred the Han people in the ten cities.”

The question she had asked Xie Heng earlier still echoed in her ears. Looking at this map at this moment, Luo Wanqing suddenly had the answer.

Why send an iron box thousands of li from the border to Jiangnan?

Why did this iron box also contain a military tally?

If it was only to vindicate the Cui clan, with the Cui clan already gone, seeking justice, why go to such lengths, expending so much effort, sacrificing the lives of people like Zhang Qiuzhi and Luo Qushu one after another to send an iron box?

If the army controlled by the military tally had completely vanished, what meaning would such a dead object as the military tally have?

It was because people were still alive.

Luo Wanqing looked up at Xie Heng, her heart surging with emotion. She understood in an instant.

It was because those hundred thousand people were still alive!

This roster contained the names of the exiles; this map showed where they had gone.

From beside Que City, climbing over snow mountains, heading west all the way—beyond the snow mountains’ end, at the foot of Kunlun, lay fertile plains, the homeland of Ji Ruifang.

“The tenth day of the seventh month,” Xie Heng’s voice suddenly came from behind. Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the map, listening to Xie Heng read from Cui Qingping’s military journal.

“Luo Qushu delivered intelligence to Jiang Fengwan. Jiang Fengwan stole documents of collaboration with the enemy from Wang Shenfeng and others from the Northern Rong military camp, handing them to Luo Qushu for transmission. From the rear, Heyu Pass sent another message that thirty thousand civilians had been shot dead at the city gates. Provisions will last at most ten days. When the city falls, Heyu Pass and Northern Rong will certainly attack from both sides—the battlefield civilians and soldiers will have no way to survive.”

“Now there are only two paths. First, send troops to Heyu Pass for fratricidal conflict. If so, the Cui clan’s treason will be confirmed. The Northern Rong will reap the benefits while the Central Plains fall into chaos again, and the ten border cities are destined to be lost. This would be a calamity for the nation—unthinkable to pursue.”

“The second path: go to Que City, enter the Tianshan mountain range, and ask the Kunlun Palace people to guide us. If we can climb over Tianshan and reach Kunlun, circling behind the Northern Rong, then persuade the Imperial Capital to send troops for a pincer attack—the Northern Rong can be destroyed. However, Tianshan is bitterly cold and harsh. Upon reaching Kunlun, it’s unknown how many will survive. The Eastern Capital’s attitude is unclear—if they refuse to deploy troops, these hundred thousand people will have no way home. This is a path of unknown life and death.”

“Tonight the lamps burn sleepless. After consultation with all generals, we have decided to march through Tianshan. I alone will return to the Eastern Capital. If I can persuade His Majesty to send troops, our great cause can succeed. If not, my second son, Cui Zixiu, will lead the troops stationed at the foot of Tianshan, preparing for battle and waiting.”

“When the spring wind rises again in the future, the dragon flag will fly once more at the border.”