The iron claw before him sank inch by inch, finally disappearing completely, swallowed beneath the grassland marsh.

Its owner could also be considered a ruthless person who had once been above ten thousand others, yet in the end, this was all there was—buried between heaven and earth.

When a person is about to die, how insignificant they become, like a mere ant.

And was he any different?

Shu Shenhui could no longer hold on either.

Blood loss left him utterly weak. He began to feel the marsh mud slowly rising at an imperceptible speed. Or rather, he was continuously sinking. The death that could swallow everything finally pressed against his chest, and his breathing became difficult. Even though he bit his tongue, trying to use the pain to stay conscious, his fingers gripping the reed clump gradually became numb until they lost control and began to loosen.

At this moment he felt no fear—only fatigue. Beneath his feet seemed to be a tremendous force constantly pulling at him, trying to suck him down. He could not resist and wanted to surrender, to close his eyes and sleep. Just as his eyelids slowly drooped, his ears seemed to catch the sound of someone calling.

Was someone calling his name? That voice was so familiar.

At first, he thought it was a hallucination before death.

It was said that before dying, people often thought of the most unforgettable person in their life and heard the voice they most wanted to hear.

He slowly let his eyelids droop again. However, the calling sound beside his ears never ceased.

“Shu Shenhui—”

When that voice full of sorrow and despair again reached his ears with the wind, he felt as if stabbed by a needle, shivered, and suddenly became completely alert.

It was her.

She had escaped danger!

Shu Shenhui suddenly opened his eyes and became conscious. He opened his mouth and made a responding sound from his throat.

He was calling her name. However, when the sound came out, he discovered that his voice had become so hoarse and weak, as if torn to pieces by the wild wind overhead, scattered into the rustling sound of the reed beds, almost inaudible.

“Sisi—”

He used all his strength to call back to her once more. Then he finally heard her response.

She told him to hold on.

He struggled to maintain consciousness, painfully tightening his grip that had begun to loosen, finally grasping the reed stems again and slowing his descent.

On shore, after her initial wild joy, Jiang Hanyuan soon broke into a cold sweat.

Judging by the distance, from here to his position should not be very far, yet there was nowhere to set foot in front of her, and she had no way to fly across.

Her subordinates tried to find a path nearby, but like her earlier attempt, they could not gain footing anywhere. And nearby, they could not immediately find anything that could support her in reaching his side.

With reeds blocking the view between them, she could not see him, but he was undoubtedly severely injured. If they delayed further, he might truly be unable to hold on.

Jiang Hanyuan continued shouting his name loudly to prevent himself from falling unconscious while feeling extremely anxious, wishing she could leap into the marsh before her.

“Let’s cut reeds and trees to weave rafts and lay them down!”

A subordinate who had previous experience shouted, then immediately led men into action.

Jiang Hanyuan’s teeth were slightly trembling.

She stared fixedly at the place where he had made sounds. Though only several zhang separated them, it seemed as distant as a chasm between heaven and earth.

She did not know if he could wait for their rescue.

Suddenly, “Wait!”

She shouted, ordering them to bring the dead Di soldiers, and ran over to them. Her subordinates were initially startled, then understood, quickly bringing corpses and throwing them all into the marsh ahead. Like building a floating bridge, she leaped on—her feet sank only slightly. She continued inward, stepping on bodies, finally reaching the towering reed bed. Using her short blade to cut through, her view suddenly opened.

She saw him! He was almost completely submerged.

She removed her armor and placed it in front of him to help support him, then lay down and reached out, grasping his cold, stiff hands.

“Shu Shenhui, hold on a little longer! We’ll be up soon!” she shouted in his ear. He was awakened by her again, slowly raised his eyes, his scattered gaze becoming clear and finally settling on her face. He stared at her unblinkingly for a long time, then suddenly nodded at her, grinned, and this time, in a weak but clear tone, called her name again:

“Sisi.”

Jiang Hanyuan could no longer hold back—tears rolled down once more.

She still remembered their parting last year at the fork in the ancient road outside Yunluo City—she to Yanmen, he to Chang’an. How could they have imagined then that when they met again, it would be such a scene?

“It’s me.”

She sobbed in response.

The human bridge gradually could not bear the pressure and slowly began to sink. She continued gripping his hands tightly, not relaxing for a moment. Just as they were about to sink completely, her subordinates arrived. They had cut nearby branches, woven reeds into ropes, tied the branches together, and laid several platforms that could support four or five people. Pushing them into the marsh, working together, they finally pulled him inch by inch from the muddy swamp.

Shu Shenhui felt as if he had had a long dream, extremely deep and extremely comfortable, like true sweet slumber. He seemed to have never slept so peacefully and securely. When he slowly awakened, his consciousness still floating as if in a dream, he was somewhat reluctant to wake up.

But soon, he remembered everything.

He had left Chang’an, following her footsteps, pursuing her to the northern lands… an unexpected flood had trapped her in the fortress…

He suddenly opened his eyes. As soon as he moved, a wave of pain from his body seized him. He could not help but curl up. After a moment, when the pain slightly subsided, he turned his face and his gaze fixed.

He was on a bed, and she was beside him, leaning over nearby.

An oil lamp burned at the head of the bed, its dim light illuminating half her profile. Her eyes were closed, lashes lowered, face weary—she had fallen asleep like this.

He quietly watched her for a moment, bent his arm, supported his body, and slowly sat up. She seemed to sense something, her lashes moved slightly several times, she opened her eyes, straightened up, and immediately showed joy on her face.

“You’re awake?”

She was smiling, yet her eyes began to redden. He could see this.

He had been severely injured with excessive blood loss and had been unconscious for several days. During this time, she had not removed her clothes or left his side, staying near to care for him. Medicine warmed on the stove—she brought it to feed him. The medicine was very bitter, but he drank it down in a few sips. She asked if he was hungry and was about to go out again when he grasped her hand, stopping her busy steps.

“I’m much better and don’t want to eat anything. You must be very tired. You should lie down too,” he said softly.

Jiang Hanyuan looked at him for a moment, then lay down fully clothed, resting her head beside his.

“Where is this?” He glanced around at the old but solid stone room.

“The military town of Xirou Sai.”

That day, after rescuing him, he had completely lost consciousness. She brought him to the nearest military town to temporarily settle and treat his wounds.

The war had also ended.

Later that night, Zhou Qing and Zhang Mi decided to risk everything.

The one trapped across the river was none other than the female general, not to mention that even the Regent Prince had risked danger to cross the river with uncertain fate—how could they continue to remain inactive?

Also inspired by the Regent Prince, they sent soldiers skilled in swimming with sturdy ropes tied around their waists, chose a section of river with relatively calm current, and used the same method to attempt forced crossing. Once someone successfully reached shore, they would secure the rope on the opposite bank. When multiple strands were formed, they would lay wooden planks to cross the river and finally join with Yang Hu. The Di army had not yet fully recovered from that breakout battle, and seeing reinforcements pursuing again, their morale collapsed completely. With no heart to fight, they fled.

“Everything is settled. The floodwaters have also receded. Rest peacefully—the most important thing now is to heal your wounds first.”

He quietly closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something and reached to touch his waist, but felt nothing.

Jiang Hanyuan took out the jade pendant from her person.

“Are you looking for this?”

When changing his clothes, she had discovered he kept this jade pendant close to his body.

He was indeed looking for it. From the day he received it, he had carried it without leaving it behind. It was something he had given her long ago when he was still a youth and she was the young soldier he thought she was.

Shu Shenhui took it, looked at it for a while, then slowly said: “Sisi, I don’t deserve your kindness to me.”

Jiang Hanyuan shook her head.

“No, you are very good, extremely good. When we married, it was also my own choice. Do you know what my only dissatisfaction with you is?”

He looked at her.

“After we separated, you never told me what happened to you, and not only that, you kept it from me.”

“I know you didn’t want to implicate me. But from the day you sent the Prince Regent to Yanmen to propose marriage to me for this court and this war to recover the northern lands, I was already implicated by you. To say you were fickle might be going too far, but you wronged me—this should not be excessive. How could you possibly completely cut ties with me?”

He was silent for a long time, then said quietly: “I know.”

“In the first half of my life, I can honestly say I have not wronged Great Wei, not wronged the court, not wronged the ancestral temples. I have wronged two people. One is you, one is my mother. Toward you, I am unworthy; toward my mother, I am greatly unfilial.” His voice was low and suppressed.

“I won’t argue with you about the past. But from today on, remember this: besides your realm, your court, your emperor, you are also Jiang Hanyuan’s man. If you dare act like that again in the future, regardless of your reasons, I will never forgive you again.”

She spoke word by word like this.

Shu Shenhui kept looking at her, and when he heard her say these words, he laughed quietly, but as he laughed, the corners of his eyes reddened.

He silently drew his arms in, slowly embracing her body tightly.

Conditions here were crude, with insufficient medicine. A few days later, when his condition stabilized somewhat, Jiang Hanyuan decided to return with him to Yanmen, where he could receive better care.

Before leaving, Jiang Hanyuan ordered the noble leader she had previously wounded in the legs to be brought before her.

The leader’s leg injuries had not healed, and he was carried in a prostrate position on the ground. Thinking he was about to be executed, his face was ashen when he suddenly heard her instruct those nearby: “Release him.”

The leader was stunned, raised his head, and saw that the female general had already turned her gaze like a sword toward him.

“Go back and tell Lord Zuochang: we Wei people do not love war, but we do not fear war either. From now on, if you dare invade the south again, our Great Wei forces will certainly break through the northern capital. When that day comes, do not say you were not warned!”

The leader dared not look directly and hastily agreed.

Jiang Hanyuan accompanied Shu Shenhui back to Yanmen.

They had already discussed that once his injuries healed and all post-war matters were completely settled, he would accompany her first to Yunluo to bury her father, then she would accompany him on a trip to Jiangnan to see his mother.

Starting from early in the year, lasting most of the year until today, they had finally recaptured Youyan, decisively defeated the southern capital, captured many prisoners, and driven the Di people back north of the boundary river. This war had achieved great success. The list of those meriting rewards had long been sent to the court. Veteran General Zhao Pu, Xiao Lixian of the Eight Tribes, and others would also successively arrive at Yanmen to await news from the court.

On the day they arrived, all of Yanmen was in an uproar. Fan Jing led people thirty li out to welcome them. Besides soldiers, local people also lined the roads in welcome.

Jiang Hanyuan stayed with him to continue his recovery. A few days later, Xiao Linhua and Zhang Bao also arrived.

That day, after Zhang Bao met Jiang Hanyuan, considering they were still at war, for safety, she had sent him to the Eight Tribes. Now Xiao Linhua had come to Yanmen with her brother Xiao Lixian, so Zhang Bao naturally followed.

He had long wanted to return, hoping day and night, and finally returned to Jiang Hanyuan and Shu Shenhui’s side. His excitement was beyond words, and he naturally devoted himself to serving his former masters. Xiao Linhua gradually became less afraid of Shu Shenhui, too. She and Zhang Bao had become quite familiar, so whenever she came, the atmosphere was very lively.

One afternoon, Shu Shenhui suddenly became interested and said he wanted to stretch his muscles and go out for a walk.

It was a deep autumn afternoon. She accompanied him out of the city, each riding a horse. She warned him not to ride too fast to avoid aggravating his wounds. Initially, he followed her instructions, traveling slowly in the wilderness near the Xixing camp, but gradually he began to accelerate. His mount was a tall, fine horse that was extremely fast when given free rein, leaving Jiang Hanyuan behind. Finally, he galloped up a high ridge before stopping.

Jiang Hanyuan caught up with him, somewhat displeased: “Your wounds haven’t healed yet. If you do this again, you won’t be allowed out next time!”

He turned his face, just looking at her with a smile, suddenly saying: “You have something in your hair.”

Jiang Hanyuan was startled, watching him reach toward her from horseback, his hand falling on her hair, plucking off a small golden fallen leaf that had somehow gotten there. He showed it to her, indicating he hadn’t lied. Before she could react, her waist tightened—his arm had descended, encircling her waist. With a pull, he dragged her bodily onto his horse, seating her in front of him.

“Don’t move.”

His gentle, low whisper sounded in her ear. She paused, feeling him lean toward her, his arms completely embracing her waist. Then his face came closer, kissing a patch of her neck hidden in her collar, and he complained softly in her ear: “This won’t do, that won’t do—I’m fine. If you don’t believe me, feel free to test it tonight when we return…”

Jiang Hanyuan felt he was hinting at something, her heart skipped slightly, her ears growing warm. The next moment, she heard him burst into laughter, the sound joyful, as if he was teasing her. Secretly annoyed, she raised her elbow and jabbed back at his abdomen.

He gave a soft “ouch” and fell straight off the horse, leaving Jiang Hanyuan alone on horseback.

She hadn’t used much force, and there was no wound where her elbow struck. She knew he was joking with her. After a glance, unmoved, she said: “If you don’t get up, I’m leaving!” After speaking, she spurred her horse and went down the slope.

She rode a distance but still saw no movement behind her. Helplessly returning, she saw he had gotten up and was sitting on a wild rock, apparently gazing into the distance.

Autumn wind billowed his robes. In the direction of his gaze lay Chang’an. His figure seemed to merge with the autumn colors, appearing somewhat desolate.

She unconsciously stopped her horse, looking at his back, hesitating whether to continue forward when he seemed to sense something, turned around, saw her return, immediately showed a smile on his face, got up, mounted his horse, and came toward her.

“Sisi, you’re heartless—you left me behind just now. I was really in pain, so I sat down to rest a while and was about to come find you.”

Reaching her side, he touched his abdomen and explained with a smile.

Jiang Hanyuan looked at his smiling face and was about to speak when a voice called from behind: “Your Highness! Princess!”

Both turned around to see Zhang Bao approaching. He dismounted and ran over, panting as he shouted: “An imperial envoy from Chang’an has arrived! It’s General Liu Xiang!”