Half a month later, on a deep night in mid-September. Yanmen Military Camp.

Before retiring for the night, Jiang Zuwang sat for a moment longer in his command tent.

By the candlelight on his desk, his gaze fell upon a military dispatch that had arrived during the day, his brow slightly furrowed, his heart filled with indecision.

This was a battle report from Yunluo City to the west.

Last month, news of warfare had also come from the west. After many years, the Beidi had once again assembled a mixed force and launched another round of harassment and attacks against the Great Wei’s western passes.

This was an assault launched by the Beidi to coordinate with the Eight Tribes War. One east, one west, echoing each other from afar.

Over these years, the Great Wei had employed both grace and authority, and around the western passes, centered on Yunluo City, had established a relatively stable buffer zone. Except for those small nations and tribes that repeatedly switched sides, all others had already submitted. Moreover, the Great Wei also stationed an army at the western passes, commanded by General of Returning Virtue Liu Huaiyuan. This man also had a solid military reputation. After the rebellion began, Liu Huaiyuan and Yunluo City Lord Yan Zhong coordinated with each other, quickly bringing the situation under control, and the western passes were stabilized once again.

This was naturally good news. But at the same time, it also brought some not-so-good news.

Yan Zhong had been injured, his condition was recurring, and the situation was not very good.

When news of the western passes’ conflict arose, Jiang Zuwang had not hidden it from his daughter, besides reporting to the court. In the subsequent exchange of battle reports, he had informed her at the first opportunity. He believed this news would not distract his daughter. On the battlefield, she possessed a rare quality of remaining calm in crisis and courageously taking responsibility. This quality, combined with her grasp of the overall situation and sufficient prestige, was the necessary condition for becoming a commander capable of independently leading tens of thousands of troops.

As time passed, especially in the recent years or two, Jiang Zuwang increasingly felt that he had not misjudged her.

Now the victory report had arrived, but it came with such bad news that he had not anticipated.

Should he send word to tell his daughter now?

His daughter and her uncle had been close since childhood, their bond profound, far exceeding the father-daughter relationship between her and him.

Jiang Zuwang hesitated for a long time, and finally made his decision.

He quickly finished writing his letter, summoned someone, and ordered it sent out together with the Western Passes’ victory report.

It was getting late; he should rest. Before his daughter left on this campaign, she had reminded him to take care of his health.

Jiang Zuwang rose from behind his desk, about to undress and retire to bed, when suddenly he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from outside the tent.

His instincts told him that an urgent message had just arrived.

Whether from the western passes or the Eight Tribes, the progress of the war situation had been going smoothly. But now, in the depths of the night, another urgent report had come.

Was it that Yan Zhong’s condition had worsened, or even tragic news? Or had new variables arisen with the Eight Tribes?

Jiang Zuwang immediately stopped his movements, turned around, and the voice of his guard came from outside the tent. Jiang Zuwang ordered the man to enter.

The personal guard said, “General, a group of horsemen has just arrived outside the camp, requesting that the General immediately come out to meet them!”

Jiang Zuwang was startled: “What is their origin?”

“They didn’t say, only passed this item in, asking the General to examine it.”

The personal guard presented an object wrapped in cloth. Jiang Zuwang took it and opened it, seeing that it was a waist token.

An Imperial Guard General’s waist token.

Liu Xiang?

It was he arriving in the depths of night!

He was in Chang’an and had not communicated with himself for many years. Only a few months ago, after his daughter returned, Jiang Zuwang learned from Fan Jing that Liu Xiang was also accompanying the Regent Prince on his southern tour.

At this moment, why had he suddenly come to Yanmen?

Jiang Zuwang was utterly perplexed. He straightened his robes and immediately left the command tent.

Autumn came early to the borderlands. In Chang’an at this season, chrysanthemums would still be yellow and crabs fat, just beginning to add autumn clothing, but here, the grass was already yellow and reeds withered. After nightfall, cold winds rustled, and heaven and earth were solemn and austere.

Jiang Zuwang strode quickly out of the military camp, stopping outside the camp gates, looking ahead.

An autumn moon hung in the night sky. Under the cold moonlight, on a gentle slope an arrow’s distance away, a group of several dozen horsemen stood quietly. Looking at them, all were dressed in ordinary clothes. One person among them dismounted and ran rapidly toward him. Jiang Zuwang also walked over. At a distance of about ten paces, he recognized that this person running toward him was undoubtedly Liu Xiang.

“General! This humble officer Liu Xiang greets the General!” After they met face to face, Liu Xiang performed the old ceremonies from their past, respectfully and reverently, his voice somewhat unsteady, showing the emotional turmoil in his heart at this moment.

Suddenly seeing his former subordinate after years of separation, Jiang Zuwang felt many emotions at once. He returned the greeting, then immediately dispensed with pleasantries and asked: “Do you have urgent business?”

With his current status, to suddenly rush to Yanmen, it absolutely could not be to reminisce about old times.

Liu Xiang leaned close to Jiang Zuwang’s ear and whispered a few words.

The Regent Prince Shu Shenhui had come here personally, waiting through the night outside the military camp!

Jiang Zuwang suddenly raised his eyes again. Another figure on the slope had also dismounted and was walking toward them.

Jiang Zuwang snapped back to his senses and immediately strode forward to meet him.

The moonlight revealed a young man’s face. Jiang Zuwang had seen this face before. Although it had been many years ago when it was a youth’s face, it had left an incredibly deep impression on Jiang Zuwang. At this moment, this young man before him—his features, bearing, and even his silhouette as he walked with the wind—with just one glance, Jiang Zuwang merged him with the youth from years past.

“Your Highness! Regent Prince Your Highness! This subject did not know of Your Highness’s arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. Please forgive this offense, Your Highness!”

Jiang Zuwang suppressed the surprise and excitement surging in his chest. When he drew near and was about to bow down, Shu Shenhui extended both hands, grasping Jiang Zuwang and helping him up.

“General, there is no need for such formality.” Shu Shenhui said.

He wore a slight smile and appeared transcendently graceful, exactly as Jiang Zuwang remembered him. But now that they were closer, by the moonlight, Jiang Zuwang immediately noticed that his son-in-law was travel-worn and dusty, his face bearing signs of fatigue. Not only that, but his voice was also hoarse.

He looked extremely tired.

Jiang Zuwang originally had countless doubts in his heart, not knowing why he had suddenly rushed here from such a distance in the depths of the night.

The current war situation was far from requiring his presence to supervise the battle.

If it were not for official business, then it must be personal.

Could he have come for his daughter? But somehow, it didn’t seem quite like it.

Jiang Zuwang immediately spoke up, inviting him into the camp. Unexpectedly, he shook his head, then asked in a low voice: “General, have you seen His Majesty here?”

Jiang Zuwang said in confusion: “His Majesty?” He didn’t understand for a moment.

After Shu Shenhui asked his question and saw Jiang Zuwang’s bewildered expression, he understood.

Just as he had suspected, Shu Jian would not wait here. He must have continued to the Eight Tribes.

Although he had been prepared for this outcome before asking, at this moment, his heart still couldn’t help but surge with a feeling of burning anxiety like boiling water.

If he had only come to Yanmen, that would be fine—it was peaceful with no warfare. But the Eight Tribes, and even the road leading to the Eight Tribes, what might happen was unpredictable to anyone.

Shu Shenhui steadied himself and explained in as calm a voice as possible: “General, this prince has come for His Majesty.”

He gave Jiang Zuwang a brief explanation of the circumstances in just a few sentences. Under his extremely shocked gaze, he continued: “His Majesty must have already pursued the Eight Tribes. This prince will set out immediately. From here, I need fresh horses and a guide familiar with the roads!”

Jiang Zuwang finally recovered from his enormous shock, his whole body shivering. He turned and hurriedly gave orders to his guard, then turned back, glanced at that cold, austere figure still standing in the moonlight not far away, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, quickly walked back, and said respectfully: “Please wait a moment, Your Highness.”

Shu Shenhui’s face showed a trace of a smile: “Thank you for your trouble, General.”

“With such a major incident occurring, this subject should follow Your Highness to receive His Majesty—”

Jiang Zuwang would absolutely not leave Yanmen at this time to go receive the young emperor or protect the Regent Prince. His plan was to dispatch a military force to accompany the Regent Prince. But before he could finish speaking, he heard him say, “No need. General, you need only remain stationed at Yanmen, and you need not send anyone to escort me. This prince has sufficient men and can handle the situation.”

Jiang Zuwang desisted.

The Regent Prince’s journey needed to remain secret, so Jiang Zuwang stopped standing on ceremony. He called no one else, only staying by his side personally. While waiting for the guide and the needed replacement horses, he also reported the latest developments in the war situations at both the western passes and the Eight Tribes.

But after finishing official business, this pair of in-laws, who were meeting face-to-face for the first time since their successful marriage alliance, fell into silence, relatively speechless.

Jiang Zuwang took in his son-in-law’s heavily preoccupied appearance, knowing the situation was special, unprecedented, and extremely urgent. Fearing he was anxious to set out, he was just thinking of personally going to hurry things along when he suddenly saw himself looking at himself.

“Your Highness, what are your instructions?” Jiang Zuwang immediately asked.

Shu Shenhui slowly exhaled.

“Father-in-law, Sisi’s recent situation should also be well, shouldn’t it?” he asked in a low voice.

Hearing him suddenly call him father-in-law and ask about his daughter, Jiang Zuwang was initially extremely surprised, then great joy welled up in his heart.

“Yes! Yes! Your Highness can rest assured, she is safe and sound! It’s all my fault! I forgot to report her safety to Your Highness just now!”

“…When she first returned, did she ever mention anything related to me before you, father-in-law?”

He saw his son-in-law seem to hesitate briefly, then ask this question.

Jiang Zuwang nodded repeatedly: “Yes! Yes! After she returned, she spoke of Your Highness with nothing but praise!”

After he finished speaking, he saw his Regent Prince son-in-law fall silent again. At this time, the sound of horses neighing came from the rear of the camp. Soon, horses and someone familiar with the roads arrived nearby.

Shu Shenhui bid farewell to Jiang Zuwang, ordered his followers to change mounts, made no further delay, mounted his horse, and continued through the night toward the front.

In Maple Leaf City, in the blink of an eye, Shu Jian had been here for over ten days.

Finally escaped from the prison cage of the imperial palace.

Anyway, the deed was already done. Although he felt he had failed his Third Imperial Uncle’s teachings and disappointed his expectations, in another month or two, he would have to return to the palace anyway. Such days as these would probably never come again in this lifetime. Seizing this last opportunity, enjoying himself while he could was the thing to do.

At the beginning, Shu Jian held such an attitude, wandering everywhere, finding it quite novel, and was indeed happy for several days. But soon, there was nothing here that could attract his new interest. Jiang Hanyuan was also extremely busy, appearing infrequently, spending most of her time in the military camp near the city gates.

Shu Jian gradually felt bored.

Today, during the day, he had nowhere to go, so he simply buried his head and slept. Unexpectedly, he dreamed that he had returned to the imperial palace, sitting on that high seat he had occupied for several years. Opposite him were those familiar ministers standing solemnly with their tablets. He woke up to the sound of ministers kowtowing and calling out ten thousand years.

He sat up in shock, unable to understand why, after being out for so short a time, he was already dreaming of that imperial palace he had never liked, and those ministers’ faces that were as annoying as paper figures, stiff and rigid.

He felt quite unlucky. But thinking of how he had run away, what might be happening in the imperial palace now, and the ordeal of facing his Third Imperial Uncle when he arrived, his mood became even worse. After spacing out for a while longer, he decided to go out and get some fresh air.

Fan Jing followed behind him as usual. He went to the area near the city gates, climbed the city wall, and gazed out at the Wei army camp stationed near the city. In that direction, people in armor constantly rode in and out, and the shouting sounds of soldiers drilling came on the wind. Shu Jian couldn’t help but be moved, saying he wanted to go out.

Sure enough, he was blocked by Fan Jing again, who said he would first go inform the general.

A few days ago, when he also wanted to leave the city, his Third Imperial Aunt knew about it and did not refuse, but she accompanied him, riding beside him, never leaving his side.

Shu Jian did hope she could often accompany him, but thick-skinned as he was, he knew that the threat of war had not yet been eliminated. How dare he take up more of her time? He hurriedly explained: “That’s not necessary, is it? I won’t go far. I just want to go to the camp to watch the soldiers drill. I won’t disturb anyone. I’ll just watch from a distance. After watching, I’ll come right back.”

What young man doesn’t yearn for iron horses and golden spears, fighting valiantly against enemies? Moreover, now that he had actually reached the battlefield, yet could only be trapped in this square city every day, it was not just boring, but such a pity.

Having gone through such hardships to finally obtain this opportunity to come to the frontier, if he had seen nothing and was just led back by his Third Imperial Uncle like this, when he looked back in the future, it would probably be a lifelong regret.

Fan Jing said, “Young Master, please don’t blame me. With the two armies now facing each other, this is also for Young Master’s safety. The general said that if Young Master wants to leave the city, she will come to receive you.”

Shu Jian was quiet for a moment, then said, “Forget it.”

He had no mood to wander anymore. He turned around, despondently descended the city wall, and was about to turn back when he looked up and saw, at the end of the stairway below, near the city gate, a red-clothed young girl standing, her eyes staring straight at him. The moment their four eyes met, the girl’s expression changed dramatically. She widened her eyes, as if remembering something, raised her hand pointing at him, and exclaimed: “It’s you? Chang’an’s Emper—”

Shu Jian also recognized her. This girl was the daughter of the Great Hehe King, named something like Xiao Something Flower. On that day of the Chang’an spring races, she had been beside his Third Imperial Aunt, and he had glanced at her once, retaining some impression.

Shu Jian hadn’t expected to encounter her here. Seeing that she recognized him and wouldn’t let her shout it out, he rushed down the stairway in one bound and covered her mouth tightly with his hand. Xiao Linhua widened her eyes and struggled. Shu Jian leaned close to her ear: “Don’t say it out loud!”

Xiao Linhua heard, turned her head, and met the eyes of this young emperor of Wei, and was stunned.

Seeing that she had stopped moving, Shu Jian released his hand.

Today Xiao Linhua had personally made some food and was carrying it with her servant girl, wanting to take it to the military camp outside. She had just walked here when she suddenly saw a person coming down from the city tower, felt he looked like the young Wei emperor she had seen in Chang’an, but wasn’t certain, so she had stopped.

She was both nervous and puzzled, really unable to understand how the Great Wei’s emperor could suddenly move from Chang’an to here.

Suddenly, she remembered. A few days ago, she had heard her brother mention that General Changning had a young relative who had come to seek refuge, and this person was staying in a residence in their city.

So that was it! That young person seeking refuge was the current Great Wei emperor.

Xiao Linhua was still completely bewildered, but understanding this point and hearing his instruction, how dare she rashly say another word? She hurriedly nodded and stepped back.

“I understand. Your Maj…” She paused, “If you have no other business, I’ll leave the city and go to the military camp…”

Facing the Great Wei’s young emperor, Xiao Linhua would think of that other Regent Prince, feeling timid in her heart. After speaking, seeing him glance at the food box in her hands, she hurriedly explained, “I’m going to see Sister General, and I’m bringing some food I made myself…”

Hearing this, Shu Jian felt even more frustrated.

Even this Xiao Something Flower could go to the military camp to find her, yet he alone, having come all this way here, wasn’t even free to leave the city gates.

Seeing his unhappy expression, Xiao Linhua felt a bit apprehensive. After hesitating, she tentatively asked: “You… would you like to eat some too…”

At this moment, the sound of rapidly galloping hooves suddenly came from outside the city gate. Shu Jian’s heart jumped. He left Xiao Linhua behind, rushed back up the city wall, and looked down from the height.

A commotion arose in the military camp. Soon, soldiers readied themselves and rode out from the camp gates. It looked as if something had happened, and they were carrying out some action.

Shu Jian immediately became excited, gripping the wall bricks tightly with both hands, staring without blinking.