Shen Miao was leisurely sipping her tea. At this moment, as the wind howled outside, she sat in a corner of the hall, calmly holding the teacup that Jingzhe had passed to her, slowly savoring the hot tea. She appeared to be a naive and innocent young lady, simply waiting for the lamb slices from the kitchen to be ready so they could gather around to enjoy the boiled mutton.

Luo Ling’s expression had grown solemn. Luo Sa noticed his uneasiness and, following Luo Ling’s gaze toward Shen Miao, his face darkened as he asked, “What’s happened?”

Luo Ling ignored him and didn’t give any instructions to the guard who had delivered the message. Instead, he stood up, walked to Shen Miao, and said, “Little Cousin, may I have a word with you in private?”

“Whatever Cousin Ling has to say can be said here,” Shen Miao placed her teacup aside and smiled at him. “If something has truly happened, it cannot be concealed anyway.”

Seeing this, Luo Qian and Luo Tang also approached. The commotion grew, attracting the attention of Madam Ma and Madam Yu. Thinking there was a disagreement between Shen Miao and Luo Ling, they naturally sided with the girl. Madam Yu immediately walked over, glanced at Luo Ling, and shook her head disapprovingly, saying, “Ling’er, don’t frighten Jiaojiao.”

Luo Sa snorted derisively, “Who’s frightening whom?”

“Big Brother, what exactly has happened?” Luo Qian, being the youngest, spoke without thinking, blurting out whatever question came to mind.

Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao, who smiled faintly at him, as if she already knew exactly what he was about to say. Her composure, as if she had everything under control, momentarily startled Luo Ling. After a pause, he sighed, saying somewhat helplessly, “News from the city guard—the Turks… appear to be entering the city.”

“What?” Luo Tang let out a shocked cry, then quickly covered her mouth, realizing her voice was too loud. The servants and older women were some distance away and hadn’t heard clearly. But the most feared thing in such situations was a collapse in morale. Currently, everyone was gathered to avoid the hail, but if word spread that the Turks were entering the city, panic would surely ensue. Even with Luo Ling and Luo Sa present, there would still be widespread fear.

Madam Yu and Madam Ma, both from ordinary backgrounds, naturally had no self-defense capabilities. Upon hearing the news, they were momentarily stunned. Madam Ma immediately said, “Ling’er, Sa’er, shouldn’t we first arrange protection for Jiaojiao and the others? How long can our Luo residence hold out? When will your father return?”

Even the most capable women would inevitably panic in such situations. Her words were somewhat disjointed, and Madam Yu was even more at a loss, though she instinctively suggested, “Perhaps we should find somewhere to hide?”

Luo Tang and Luo Qian’s faces turned pale. Since birth, they had lived in Xiaochun City, and though they had heard Luo Sui tell stories of the battlefield, such experiences always seemed distant. The Turks had never entered the city before, but the consequences of their entry—stories from old novels painted a grim picture. Even when Ming Qi’s troops captured a city, there were instances of massacres; the naturally brutal Turks would be even worse.

“Little Cousin predicted this,” Luo Qian murmured.

Madam Ma and Madam Yu were startled. Madam Yu looked at Shen Miao, “Jiaojiao predicted this?”

“Cousin had previously suggested that the Turks might attack the city.” Luo Ling looked at her, his eyes flashing with an indecipherable light. “Little Cousin presumably has a strategy. If you don’t mind, please share it with me. This is truly a matter of life and death.”

Luo Ling’s attitude was extremely humble, or perhaps it was simply that the Luo family members lacked the arrogance common in other families. Otherwise, given Luo Ling’s status and seniority, he would never have needed to humble himself before a young girl.

Luo Ling’s gesture surprised Madam Ma and the others. Luo Ling was the most outstanding among the Luo family’s younger generation, and now he was seeking advice from Shen Miao?

Shen Miao said, “Cousin Ling hasn’t told me the current situation.”

Luo Ling beckoned to the guard who had brought the news. The guard, surprised to see Luo Ling consulting an unfamiliar young lady, nevertheless answered honestly, “Miss, the guards have seen Turks gathering at the city gate. The General has not returned, and the city guard is understaffed.” By the end, he was too ashamed to continue.

Shen Miao, however, had no time for his embarrassment and instead asked, “Are there many men? Are the Turks scattered or organized?”

Luo Sa stared intently at Shen Miao. The guard considered for a moment, then said, “There are many men. Though they are scattered, there’s the sound of horses, suggesting they have reinforcements.”

Everyone gasped, and the expressions of Luo Ling and Luo Sa instantly darkened. If there had been any hope before, now they truly realized the gravity of the situation. The presence of horses indicated an army. The regular force that could counter the Turks was currently fighting on the grasslands. Xiaochun City now had virtually no real military strength, yet it faced another Turkic army.

Shen Miao was right—feint east, attack west; lure the tiger from the mountain. These Turks had finally become cunning, even developing another military force in secret. This force might not be as strong as the one Shen Xin was dealing with, but it was more than enough to devastate Xiaochun City.

Madam Ma and Madam Yu also realized the dire nature of the situation. Madam Ma said, “Should we recall all available men? Regardless, we must protect you youngsters first.”

Prioritizing the younger generation’s safety during crises was a longstanding Luo family tradition—sacrificing the older generation to save the hope of the new. Luo Tang’s eyes immediately reddened, and she tugged at Madam Ma’s sleeve, saying, “Mother, I won’t leave!”

“If there’s no alternative, we’ll fight them to the death,” Luo Qian gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with anger. “We still have the blood of warriors in our veins. Are we to fear these barbarians? With swords in hand, we’ll fight to the bitter end!”

“Qian’er!” Madam Ma scolded. “What nonsense are you talking? Going out now—are you seeking death?”

“If necessary, my brother and I will cover your escape,” Luo Sa spoke up, his tone grave. “The residence still has carriages. Flee from the back city gate. There’s a mountain path where you can hide without being discovered.”

“No,” Shen Miao interrupted.

Luo Sa looked at her, “Do you have a plan?”

Shen Miao shook her head.

Disappointment flashed across the faces of Luo Qian and Luo Tang. For some reason, they had always felt that Shen Miao possessed great capability. Though she appeared delicate and refined, whenever they spoke with her, her calmness and confidence gave them a sense of security. But seeing that even Shen Miao couldn’t think of a solution, Luo Qian and Luo Tang felt somewhat desperate.

“Then let’s follow Second Brother’s plan,” Luo Ling said. “We’ll get you all into the carriages with all the residence guards as escorts. The Luo residence will only keep Second Brother and me. We’ll go to the city guard.”

This meant the two brothers would sacrifice themselves to buy time for the others. Tears immediately fell from Madam Yu’s eyes as she held Luo Ling’s hand, nearly fainting.

“How could we leave you two behind?” Madam Ma shook her head. “We are a family; if we leave, we leave together.”

As they remained deadlocked, Shen Miao shook her head and once again stated, “No.”

“Little Cousin, what exactly are you saying ‘no’ to?” Luo Qian couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Miao glanced at everyone and said, “In Xiaochun City, the Luo family has the largest military force. The leaders of the city guard are also Cousin Ling and Cousin Sa. The Turks are well aware of this. If they truly enter the city, to boost their morale, they will inevitably target the Luo family first. Once the Luo family is destroyed, the citizens of Xiaochun City will lose their fighting spirit and surrender. To catch the thief, first catch the king. If I were a Turk, I would use all my strength and means to deal with the Luo family first. The Luo family has no chance of escaping unscathed.”

This stark revelation of the terrifying reality made Luo Tang shudder involuntarily. She looked at Luo Ling, “Big Brother, is what she says true?”

Luo Ling stared intently at Shen Miao and said, “Indeed.”

Luo Sa’s temper flared again, “This won’t work, that won’t work. Since we can’t escape, and the Turks have brought troops, why not just fight them head-on? Our Luo family has never produced cowards. Why should we fear them?”

“There’s no need to rush,” Shen Miao suddenly spoke.

The hall fell silent for a moment. Luo Ling looked at Shen Miao and softly asked, “Cousin, do you have a brilliant plan?”

“I wouldn’t call it brilliant,” Shen Miao replied, her expression calm. She was naturally pretty and refined, and amidst the anxious emotions of everyone else, only she maintained a composed demeanor. It was only now that the others realized that from the beginning, Shen Miao had never shown any sign of distress. Though Xiaochun City was a frontier town, facing the sudden Turkic invasion caused panic, yet Shen Miao, who had lived a sheltered life in the capital, seemed to take it in stride.

“The Turks have brought troops but hesitate to enter, clearly harboring doubts and concerns. I think that after so many years, though the Luo family army has disbanded, its intimidating reputation still has some effect. Their hesitation and probing suggest that even their commander is uncertain. This can be exploited.”

Madam Ma and Madam Yu didn’t fully understand Shen Miao’s words but felt they made sense. They remained silent, listening to her. Luo Sa frowned and asked, “How can we exploit this?”

“Let’s buy some time,” Shen Miao replied calmly. “My parents, Grandfather, and Uncles are no ordinary people. I believe they will quickly notice something is amiss. Once they realize the situation, they’ll rush back to Xiaochun City. Until then, we just need to delay the Turks’ advance.”

“But how can we delay them?” Luo Tang, impatient by nature, couldn’t help asking. “According to you, the Turks are smart and know time is of the essence. They’ll attack quickly.”

“We’ll show them what they fear most,” Shen Miao smiled slightly. “What they fear is that the Luo family army still has strength. So, let’s show them the Luo family army’s strength.”

“Little Cousin,” Luo Qian anxiously said, “Where are we going to find the Luo family army now?”

Shen Miao smiled gently, “This will require everyone’s cooperation. But before that, I don’t know if my two cousins trust me?” She looked at Luo Ling and Luo Sa. Though her manner was extremely gentle and humble, there was a subtle sharpness to it.

Luo Ling looked at her earnestly and said, “I trust you.”

Outside Xiaochun City’s tower, years of accumulated dust and soil had left their mark on the dilapidated structure. This place had seen generations of people and heroic commanders, all guarding the peace and tranquility of Xiaochun City.

But just as cracks appear in brick walls, once-impregnable gates gradually decay. Now, on the city tower, the sparse city guards moved back and forth, vigilantly watching the increasingly clear sounds of hoofbeats and torches in the distance. Large drops of cold sweat trickled down their faces.

The Turks were ferocious by nature. These city guards, who had grown lax over the years, could not possibly resist them. And from the sounds, many Turks were coming. Fear was contagious, and the footsteps of the city guards suddenly seemed much heavier.

Just as the distant forces were about to make their move, a city guard suddenly shouted, “What’s that?”

The astonishment in his voice was unmistakable even through the sound of the heavy rain. Everyone turned to look. Within Xiaochun City, torches of various sizes had inexplicably appeared. These torches were densely packed, accompanied by thunderous sounds which, upon closer listening, included the noise of horses.

In a standoff between two armies, each side would have scouts on high ground to observe the enemy. If the city guards at the city gate could see, the Turkic scouts outside would certainly notice too. Those mysteriously appearing troops with torches were particularly clear on this rainy night. The deafening shouts, along with the chaotic sound of horses’ hooves on the ground, combined with the wind and rain, created an awe-inspiring impression of an unstoppable army.

“It’s the Luo family army! It’s the Luo family army!” a city guard shouted, almost joyfully falling to his knees. “The Luo family army has regained its glory!”

The once-mighty Luo family had declined for many years, and in recent years, the remaining Luo family army consisted merely of scattered individuals. This sudden shout reminded everyone of the invincible presence of Luo Sui leading his troops in the past. It seemed to bring new hope, instantly boosting morale. The few city guards all drew their swords, looking in all directions. The blood and passion in their bones seemed to have been ignited, their battle cries joining with those mysterious troops within the city, soaring toward the heavens!

The initial burst of energy eventually wanes, and subsequent efforts grow weaker. This surge in morale and the sudden appearance of troops under the banner of the “Luo family army” clearly shocked the Turks. From below the city tower, the Turks could be heard frantically discussing amongst themselves. Their troops hesitated, reluctant to advance. After an hour of standoff, just as both sides remained deadlocked and the Turks began to sense something amiss, battle cries suddenly erupted from outside the city tower. This time, it was a real army—Shen Xin and the others had returned.

Though the Turkic troops were strong, they were ultimately outmatched by Luo Sui and Shen Xin, who had spent years on the battlefield and were superior in tactics. They were quickly defeated.

Inside Xiaochun City, at the entrance of the Luo residence, Luo Ling listened to a soldier’s report of victory and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed respectfully to Shen Miao and said, “This time, we owe our thanks to Cousin.”

“Little Cousin is so clever!” Luo Qian exclaimed in admiration. “To think of such a strategy!”

Shen Miao had instructed Shen Xin to gather all available people from the residence, then recruit citizens from the streets, light all available torches—with each person holding two—and have blacksmiths use horseshoes to mimic the sound of horses’ hooves on the ground. The citizens of Xiaochun City, knowing it was a moment of crisis, imitated the shouts of soldiers convincingly. Combined with the night’s strong winds and rain, this was more than enough to deceive the Turks outside.

Seeing so many torches, the Turks instinctively assumed there were that many people. The sounds of horses’ hooves, the battle cries, coupled with their fear of the Luo family army, made them believe that a significant portion of the Luo family army was still guarding Xiaochun City. The Turks were cautious, unwilling to advance blindly, and instead probed hesitantly. All they needed to do was buy time until Shen Xin returned, at which point everything could be handed over to him.

It seemed simple in retrospect, but in times of crisis, people often lose their bearings and would not think of such a strategy.

Luo Sa’s attitude toward Shen Miao had improved significantly. He said, “We owe you our thanks this time.”

Since Shen Miao had devised this plan, Luo Tang had nothing but admiration for her. Now, seeing the plan succeed, she linked arms with Shen Miao and continuously asked, “Little Cousin, be honest, have you secretly studied military treatises? I remember the military books in Grandfather’s study seemed to describe exactly what you proposed.”

Shen Miao smiled, “It was just an improvisation.”

“Jiaojiao, don’t be modest.” Madam Ma looked at her warmly and said, “If not for you today, we would all be in trouble. You not only saved our family but also the citizens of Xiaochun City. Thank you.”

Shen Miao inwardly smiled. She truly wasn’t being modest; it was an improvisation. In her previous life, a similar incident had occurred, though she couldn’t remember the exact date—only that it was a hail-filled rainy day. The Turks had attacked Xiaochun City, and though Luo Sui had eventually returned with troops and saved Xiaochun City from being overrun, the price paid was extremely heavy. Countless citizens of Xiaochun City had died, and it was a tragic affair.

At that time, to please Fu Xiuyi, she had been diligently studying military tactics and strategy. She had consulted Pei Lang about this incident, and that was exactly how he had responded. Pei Lang had said, “The Turks are hesitant, unwilling to advance rashly. Confrontation is futile, and fleeing loses heart. Better to create an empty fort strategy to confuse them. Just buy time until reinforcements arrive, and the situation will resolve itself.”

Pei Lang’s words had been recorded in her notebooks and remained clear in her memory. Shen Miao knew she had no inherent talent for military strategy, but she trusted Pei Lang. During those years in the imperial harem, trying to please Fu Xiuyi by consulting his advisors, she had gained many unexpected advantages.

Those were all gifts that Fu Xiuyi had given her.

“Little Cousin is so naughty.” Luo Qian, hearing the guards continuously bring good news and his final anxiety dissipating, began to tease Shen Miao. “You already had a plan all along, yet you deliberately scared us, making us think the situation was so dire. You nearly frightened me to death!”

Luo Tang slapped his head, “Embarrassing! You’re not even as brave as a young girl!”

“Neither are you!” Luo Qian retorted.

Shen Miao smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying. She naturally knew that everything would eventually be resolved, but she deliberately portrayed the situation as severe to make the Luo family members understand that, relying solely on the remnants of the Luo family army, they could barely protect even the Luo family, let alone Xiaochun City. Without sufficient strength in this world, one cannot protect those they wish to shelter. The Turks were watching covetously and would inevitably return someday. When that day came, what would the Luo family do?

Only by making them truly aware of the crisis would the Luo family feel the urgency. The younger generation of the Luo family—Luo Lianying, Luo Liantai, and even Madam Ma and Madam Yu—would all urge Luo Sui to rebuild the Luo family army. As for Luo Sui himself, with eyes to see and ears to hear, the scales in his heart would eventually tip.

Shen Miao alone couldn’t persuade someone as stubborn as Luo Sui. Moreover, due to her status, Luo Sui might have reservations about her advice. The Luo family members were different.

Sometimes, to achieve something, the most direct approach isn’t the best; it’s better to be indirect. In her previous life, Shen Miao directly expressed and acted on her desires, only to lose disastrously. In contrast, Madam Mei had mastered the art of indirectness. Though she hated Madam Mei, she had to learn from her what she lacked.

The next morning, as dawn broke, Xiaochun City finally returned to calm.

The Turks had been defeated embarrassingly in this battle. Due to Shen Miao’s empty fort strategy, which had left the Turks uncertain and hesitant, combined with the addition of fierce warriors like Shen Xin and Shen Qiu, they suffered unprecedented losses and retreated deep into the grasslands. It seemed unlikely they would have the strength to return for a considerable time.

Despite the victory, the atmosphere in Xiaochun City was far from relaxed, especially throughout the Luo residence. The Turks’ attempt to enter the city meant that Shen Miao’s earlier frightening conjectures had finally become reality. With such a terrifying neighbor watching covetously, no one could sleep soundly.

Learning that the empty fort strategy was Shen Miao’s idea, Luo Sui regarded her with increased respect. Shen Xin was naturally proud, repeatedly praising his daughter as being superior even to men.

Two days later, Luo Sui announced before the Luo family that he would reorganize the Luo family army.

The entire Xiaochun City rejoiced, spreading the news far and wide. Even the younger members of the Luo family were excited. Only Shen Miao remained calm, as this was an outcome she had already anticipated. The events of the night of the Turkic raid would inevitably strengthen Luo Sui’s resolve. Rather than being pursued in disarray, it was better to rise again while still young.

Regarding finances, Luo Xuenyan had some savings. As for training troops, Shen Qiu and Shen Xin, eager for a chance to utilize their skills, enthusiastically agreed. Recruiting back those brave warriors who had long since laid down their arms, to train troops and form formations, was no easy task. However, the Luo family, being tiger generals, were determined once they made a decision. Soon, Xiaochun City became bustling with activity.

Days passed peacefully and fruitfully.

One day, as Shen Miao sat at a table reading, Luo Tang rushed in hastily, nearly knocking over a chair at the door. Guyu was startled. Shen Miao looked toward her, but before she could speak, she saw Luo Tang, panting heavily, patting her chest, saying, “Cousin, have you heard?”

“Heard what?” Shen Miao asked.

“That young Marquis Xie!” Luo Tang gesticulated frantically. “The one I mentioned earlier, the young Marquis Xie, who is on par with Cousin Qiu. Didn’t he volunteer to lead troops to the northern frontier to fight the enemy?”

Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat. Looking at Luo Tang, she slowly nodded, “I know.”

“You must have heard the earlier news too, right? That young Marquis Xie kept winning battles, pushing the Huns to the edge of the desert,” Luo Tang said. “Everyone was saying that when the young Marquis Xie returned to the capital, his merits would likely surpass even those of the Marquis of Lin’an, and His Majesty would surely reward him with a high position.”

This was indeed true. Shortly after Shen Miao arrived in Xiaochun City, Xie Jingxing had led the Xie family army to the northern frontier. The ferocity Xie Jingxing displayed on the battlefield was astonishing. Whether in deploying troops or engaging enemy leaders in single combat, the fierceness and coldness he exhibited made enemies tremble with fear. Initially doubtful that Xie Jingxing could control the Xie family army, people were surprised when the army repeatedly achieved remarkable feats under his command, finally dispelling the last lingering doubts about him. Everyone said Xie Jingxing would be Ming Qi’s most outstanding man, with future achievements surpassing even the Marquis of Lin’an. When Shen Xin and Luo Sui occasionally discussed this, they both praised Xie Jingxing endlessly, calling him a rare talent. Shen Miao, knowing Xie Jingxing’s abilities from her previous life, wasn’t surprised.

She patiently listened to Luo Tang, but then noticed Luo Tang’s eyes reddening. A sense of foreboding filled her heart, and she softly asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

“He’s dead.” Luo Tang couldn’t hold back anymore, tears streaming down her face. “The young Marquis Xie is dead!”

Xie Jingxing was a hero in Luo Tang’s heart, just like Shen Qiu, and she greatly admired him. Now, her tears flowed uncontrollably. Yesterday, the young Marquis Xie was surrounded when the enemy flanked him from behind. He was pierced by countless arrows, his body hung from the city tower, skinned and displayed as a warning.” Luo Tang sobbed, “Little Cousin, he’s dead!”

“He’s dead?”

Jingzhe’s teacup crashed to the ground with a loud clatter, and she immediately looked anxiously at Shen Miao. Shen Miao and Xie Jingxing had some connection; if Xie Jingxing were dead, how would Shen Miao react?

How would Shen Miao react?

Shen Miao sat at the table, quietly watching the crying Luo Tang. Her expression was frighteningly calm, as if Luo Tang wasn’t relaying extraordinary news but merely discussing mundane matters like good weather or beautiful flowers. Yet, the more composed her features appeared, the tighter her grip on the pages of the book before her became.

Xie Jingxing was dead?

Pierced by countless arrows, skinned and dried, hung from the city tower, beheaded, and displayed as a warning—the same fate as in her previous life. Was it truly Xie Jingxing?

Shen Miao thought dazedly, trying to determine whether this news was a joke or reality. Yet, what surfaced in her mind was that day in the courtyard of Guangwen Hall, when Nuomi Tuanzi had tricked her into talking, and a tall, elegant young man had emerged from behind the grove. That young man wore a long ivory-white robe with silver-threaded embroidery, handsome and proud, gracefully walking toward her step by step.

His lips curled into a mischievous smile, his peach blossom eyes filled with an intoxicating, half-smiling expression—three parts frivolity, six parts probing, and one part indistinguishable youthful charm.

“So it’s you,” he had said.