Jiankang Imperial Palace.

In Yitai Palace, accompanied by the shrill crying of children, the continuous sound of objects being smashed to the ground could be heard.

The Master of Imperial Clan Affairs, ordered to escort Prince Wu Xing from the palace to his fief, dared not enter. Maids and servants knelt outside the hall, trembling with fear, all looking as if they were mourning the dead.

“Go summon that Gao woman to me! I’m not dead yet, and I won’t tolerate her being so insolent before me!”

An enraged voice came from within the hall.

Though spring was still cold, the Master of Imperial Clan Affairs was covered in sweat.

This was the third time he had been ordered to relocate the former Crown Prince, now Prince Wu Xing, from the imperial palace to his fief, but had been obstructed by Empress Dowager Xu.

The first two times, she had closed the palace gates and ignored all requests. This time, because the deadline had arrived and he came again to urge compliance, Empress Dowager Xu escalated her actions, creating such a terrible scene.

If it were only the Empress Dowager alone, there wouldn’t be much to fear. What he feared was Xu Mi behind the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager wouldn’t release the person, what could he do? He could only send someone to report to the Empress. While waiting anxiously, he saw a gold-inlaid goblet come flying out of the hall door with a “whoosh,” heading straight for his face. He hastily dodged to the side, and the goblet flew past his ear with a “clang,” smashing onto the palace steps behind him, rolling down with a rumble until it stopped beside a trailing brocade skirt.

The Master turned his head and saw Empress Gao had arrived, standing there. He breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to pay his respects.

Gao Yongrong’s gaze lifted from the dented gold-inlaid goblet at her feet, staring coldly at the Master: “What is this about? Just relocating one person, and you need me to come?”

The Master hurriedly knelt: “I dare not disturb Your Majesty, but the Empress Dowager obstructs everything, insisting on seeing Your Majesty. With the deadline approaching again, I am helpless.”

Gao Yongrong frowned slightly, passed by the Master with a cold expression, walked up the palace steps. Accompanying palace attendants rushed inside, loudly announcing: “Her Majesty the Empress arrives—”

The sound of smashing objects inside the hall stopped, but the child’s shrill crying continued.

Gao Yongrong walked across the messy floor covered with broken porcelain and debris, her jade-trimmed high clogs making crisp sounds with each step.

She entered the hall and looked up to see Empress Dowager Xu sitting sideways on the couch, holding the crying Prince Wu Xing in her arms, her face iron-blue, staring coldly at her. Walking up to her, Gao Yongrong showed a smile, paid her respects, and said: “These past days I’ve been entangled with palace affairs. Though I’ve constantly thought of the Empress Dowager, I truly had no time to visit. Just now hearing some commotion here, I feared someone might be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, so I set aside my work and hurried over.”

She looked around: “What has happened? If someone dares to be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager and provoke your anger, please speak freely, and I will certainly seek justice for the Empress Dowager.”

The Xu family, now honored as Grand Empress Dowager Xuanyi and relocated here, said coldly: “I dare not ask for your justice. If you would just show mercy and spare my son and me, I would be eternally grateful.”

“Prince Wu Xing is young and weak with frequent illnesses. I absolutely will not allow him to be relocated! Unless you force me to death as well, as long as I have breath, you cannot think of driving him away from my side!”

As her words fell, Prince Wu Xing in her arms cried out shrilly again.

Gao Yongrong showed a look of alarm: “How can the Empress Dowager speak so? Aren’t you reproaching me? It’s not that I’m heartless in forcing your mother and son apart, but ancestral rules have always been thus. I’m merely following precedent.”

She paused.

“Wu Xing is a prosperous region, and being enfeoffed there is such a significant matter. How could I, a mere woman, interfere? His Majesty acted on Chancellor Gao’s advice. Who knew those carrying out orders would be so careless as to cause the Empress Dowager to misunderstand me! How wronged I am!”

Lady Xu smiled coldly without speaking.

Gao Yongrong pondered briefly, glanced at Prince Wu Xing who was still crying incessantly, and smiled: “Very well, since the Empress Dowager speaks thus, even if I break ancestral precedent, I cannot bear to see you mother and son separated. I’ll go plead with Chancellor Gao. If Chancellor Gao agrees, what would I refuse?”

She respectfully bowed to Lady Xu, who still had a dark expression, then turned and left, returning to Taichu Palace where the Emperor’s study was located.

Today the court was at rest, the Emperor wasn’t seeing anyone. Palace attendants said he had taken the Noble Consort to Hualin Garden.

The Emperor had spent last night in the Noble Consort’s palace and today went touring Hualin Garden with her, yet Gao Yongrong showed no displeasure. She merely narrowed her eyes, walked to the imperial desk where ministers’ memorials were placed, slowly flipping through them. Suddenly hearing palace attendants announce that Chancellor Gao had arrived, she quickly folded the memorials back and turned to greet him.

Today the court was at rest, but Gao Qiao couldn’t escape and was still busy at the government offices in Tai City. Having just learned of Empress Dowager Xu’s refusal to let Prince Wu Xing go to his fief, he entered the palace to see the Emperor, only to find the Emperor absent.

Gao Yongrong personally welcomed Gao Qiao inside, frowning: “His Majesty has always been frail. Though he’s been in Jiankang for some time, he still hasn’t adapted to the local climate. A cold snap, plus staying up late reviewing memorials the past two days, has left him unwell. Today he went to Hualin Garden to rest and refresh his spirits. If Uncle has urgent business, I’ll immediately send someone to summon His Majesty back.”

Gao Qiao also knew the Emperor had been lazy by nature when he was Prince Dongyang, so he waved his hand: “Never mind, His Majesty’s health is important. I heard the Empress Dowager won’t let Prince Wu Xing go to his fief. Do you know about this?”

Gao Yongrong said: “I was just about to inform Uncle and seek your counsel. The Empress Dowager just made another scene, almost injuring the Master of Imperial Clan Affairs. The Master summoned me, so I had to go. The Empress Dowager cursed at me and threatened death, and His Highness is also unwilling to separate from the Empress Dowager. Fearing she might do something extreme, I could only appease her and let Prince Wu Xing remain by her side for now. I was just about to ask Uncle if this is acceptable.”

Although Emperor Xingping and Gao Qiao later became estranged as ruler and minister, he was ultimately Xiao Yongjia’s blood brother. With the man gone, only this bit of bloodline remained. Though Xiao Yongjia disliked this nephew, he didn’t want to see him continue under maternal family manipulation. Gao Qiao wanted to arrange his enfeoffment to Wu Xing according to ancestral system – first, it was a prosperous region where he could be a comfortable prince; second, Wu Xing’s prefect was a Gao family protégé, convenient for Gao Qiao’s supervision to prevent Xu Mi from using Prince Wu Xing to cause trouble later. But he hadn’t expected Empress Dowager Xu to act this way, threatening death – she was likely following Xu Mi’s instructions.

After pondering, he said: “I understand. Let this matter rest for now. In a few days, I’ll discuss it again with His Majesty.”

Gao Yongrong respectfully agreed and insisted on personally escorting Gao Qiao from the palace, saying: “His Majesty told me just last night that having to trouble Uncle with everything now, making Uncle work so hard, makes him very sorry. He said even if his health isn’t good, he definitely won’t delay memorials and court affairs. I feel the same way. Besides gratitude, I’m deeply ashamed, thinking it’s been some time since I visited Aunt, and I miss her greatly, but palace affairs are complex and I can’t get away. Please convey my regards to Aunt when you return.”

Gao Qiao nodded and left.

Gao Yongrong smiled as she watched Gao Qiao’s retreating figure, then returned to Taichu Palace and entered a side hall.

Close attendants moved all those memorials from the front as they had done before.

Gao Yongrong held a brush, flipped through memorials for a while, then ordered someone to summon Prince Xin’an.

After a stick of incense, accompanied by loud footsteps, an imposing man in fine robes entered – Prince Xin’an Xiao Daocheng, who bowed to her: “I heard His Majesty summoned me. Where is His Majesty?”

Gao Yongrong didn’t rise or hide the memorials, saying: “His Majesty is unwell and went to Hualin Garden. I summoned you to the palace on his behalf – there are matters to discuss.”

Xiao Daocheng looked at the beautiful face of the woman opposite him: “I await your instruction.”

Gao Yongrong set down her brush and glanced at the trusted attendants nearby.

Several people withdrew, leaving only her and Xiao Daocheng in the side hall. Xiao Daocheng’s face lost its previous respectful expression. He moved closer, glanced at the memorials before Gao Yongrong, and smiled: “Your Majesty is truly an exceptional woman. So all the imperial responses we ministers have seen these days came from Your Majesty’s hand.” His tone was somewhat frivolous.

Gao Yongrong showed no displeasure, merely glanced at him and smiled: “Are you perhaps resentful that this position should have been yours, but you didn’t achieve it? Didn’t Uncle strongly recommend you as Crown Prince back then? You declined yourself, so why blame me now?”

Xiao Daocheng said nothing, walked to her side, and grasped one of her hands. After stroking it a few times, Gao Yongrong pulled it back.

She changed expression, showing anger, and hissed in a low voice: “How dare you! Do you think I’m still like before, understanding nothing, listening to your sweet words and deception? If you dare show me disrespect again, I won’t be polite!”

Xiao Daocheng was startled and stepped back, but his expression showed little fear. He only said: “Back then you were the one who betrayed my sincere feelings for you, choosing the current Emperor for marriage. How did I become the one deceiving you? Besides, all these years while you were in Dongyang, I relied on the late Emperor’s favor to stay in Jiankang. Which time wasn’t it me sending you information? The Crown Prince…”

He turned to look behind him and lowered his voice.

“If not for unexpected circumstances with the Crown Prince being removed by the Gao couple this time, I had already arranged everything in the palace, just waiting for the right moment to eliminate him for you, so you could achieve your wish.”

“I’ve treated you so well, what complaint do you have? You exhaust yourself serving His Majesty faithfully, yet he neglects you. I just feel it’s unfair to you. Fine, fine, if you look down on me, how dare I force you?”

Gao Yongrong sneered: “You speak as if I owe you countless debts. When I asked you to eliminate Li Mu, not only did you do it sloppily, you ruined my plans and nearly caused Uncle to suspect me!”

Xiao Daocheng’s face reddened: “That time I underestimated him carelessly! Next time you’ll see!”

Gao Yongrong looked at him sideways, her expression gradually clearing as she smiled: “Enough, just one joke and it provokes so many complaints from you. The palace has many eyes and ears – you’d better be careful.”

Xiao Daocheng’s expression also improved as he said quietly: “I understand.” He no longer flirted with Gao Yongrong and asked about Prince Wu Xing’s matter.

Gao Yongrong explained the situation.

Xiao Daocheng’s eyes turned sinister: “Xu Mi won’t give up. He fears the deposed Crown Prince might have problems once out of sight, so he wants to keep the deposed Crown Prince in hand to create momentum later.” He looked at Gao Yongrong. “My people are still in that palace. If you give the word, I can eliminate him right now and end this once and for all!”

Gao Yongrong shook her head: “No rush. The Xu family can’t move against my Gao family for now. Those Xu family people in court have been debating the relocation of Prince Wu Xing recently. If we act now, it might arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble.”

“Moreover, if the Crown Prince coincidentally has an accident now, Uncle will surely suspect me. It’s not worth it. We don’t need to act – let Uncle handle this matter. He’s also wary of the Xu family and won’t let Prince Wu Xing remain in Xu family hands for long.”

Xiao Daocheng nodded and smiled: “Chancellor Gao is quite protective of His Majesty and you – after all, you’re family. Fortunately he’s in court, or Xu Mi’s schemes might succeed. I hear he and the Eldest Princess have reconciled? After the late Emperor’s funeral, the Eldest Princess didn’t return to Bailu Zhou but has remained in the capital.”

Gao Yongrong thought of how the Gao couple had secretly plotted to bypass her husband and strongly support Xiao Daocheng when Emperor Xingping was dying, lost in thought for a moment, then said coldly: “What protection? They’re all just calculating for themselves. Especially my aunt – I know her. Since I was small, she’s never been close to me. Who knows what she’s thinking now – she probably speaks ill of me to Uncle. Over time, even if Uncle originally favored me and His Majesty, he might not withstand her pillow talk.”

Finishing these words, seeing Xiao Daocheng looking at her as if thoughtful, she waved her hand: “Enough, let’s not discuss this. I summoned you to the palace about Xu Mi and Lu Guang’s northern expedition. They’ve joined forces under the pretense of expediting for the court, but who doesn’t know these two want to take advantage of the northern barbarians being exhausted from fighting, and His Majesty being newly enthroned, to establish their authority before His Majesty and divide the Gao family’s power? They even have the audacity to demand provisions from the court! If they dare deploy troops, don’t they have their own? They’re just taking the opportunity to extort the court! You’re now Minister of Revenue – you must handle this matter well. We can’t refuse all provisions, lest people say the court and His Majesty have no heart for northern expedition, but we absolutely cannot give what they demand!”

Xiao Daocheng said: “Don’t worry. Chancellor Gao is handling this, organizing provisions to send to the Lu family son. But with continuous natural disasters last year, even if he wanted to send more, where would the grain come from?”

Gao Yongrong’s expression finally relaxed somewhat.

Xiao Daocheng paused, then couldn’t help saying: “Chancellor Gao is truly remarkable. This northern expedition by Xu Mi and Lu Guang clearly targets him, yet not only does he find ways to provide grain, I heard that when the Beixia Emperor mobilized Qingzhou garrison troops intending to surround the Xu-Lu alliance, he actually ordered Guangling troops to intercept and block the Qingzhou forces. It’s really…”

He shook his head with a puzzled expression.

Gao Yongrong said: “You naturally don’t understand Uncle’s actions, but no one knows him better than I do. Since there’s no grain to organize, let it be. Just follow his intentions and don’t arouse his suspicion.”

Xiao Daocheng nodded: “Understood.”

Gao Yongrong snorted: “Even if the Xu and Lu families truly capture Luoyang this time, they absolutely cannot work together harmoniously. At worst it will just be another three-way standoff later – let them fight it out!”

Xiao Daocheng smiled: “Having such an empress who’s the equal of any man is Heaven’s will to revive our Xiao house. Given time, how can we fear these aristocratic families? Let them fight among themselves first – the fiercer the better. When they’re defeated, it will be our turn to clean up!”

“Right!” He suddenly remembered something and looked at Gao Yongrong.

“These past days, court officials have been discussing Li Mu again. He’s actually deploying troops against Xijin? I heard he previously sent a request for battle to the court? It’s truly incomprehensible. Xijin just seized Chang’an from Beixia, their momentum is like a rainbow, with thousands of li of Longxi territory entirely in Xianbei hands, yet he has the confidence to challenge them!”

“Times change – before, your unwillingness to let the Gao family be tainted by him was understandable, but now the situation is different. If he truly achieves remarkable merit this time, such talent must be recruited and utilized. Remember, the late Emperor originally promoted him intending to use him against those people. He’s now your brother-in-law, and I hear you sisters are close. With your skills, he will surely serve you.”

Gao Yongrong said: “You needn’t tell me – I know! First let’s see if he can defeat them.”

After a few more exchanges, Gao Yongrong urged him to leave the palace. Xiao Daocheng knew he shouldn’t stay long, but as he was taking leave, Gao Yongrong called him back.

“I summoned you for another matter besides what we just discussed. I’m truly uneasy about my aunt. You’re close to Uncle. Watch carefully for me – if you detect any change of heart in him, you must inform me immediately.”

Xiao Daocheng agreed, hesitated briefly, then came back and whispered a few words in her ear.

Gao Yongrong was startled: “Such a person truly exists?”

“If you don’t believe it, when you have time, I’ll arrange for you to meet him. Whether true or false, it surely can’t escape your notice.”

Gao Yongrong was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded: “Very well. Bring the person quietly, and I’ll meet him.”

After Xiao Yongjia reconciled with her husband, Gao Qiao seemed like an old house on fire, even more attached to her than in his youth. Every day when he returned from Tai City, once his immediate tasks were finished, he would definitely seek her out.

Previously for a period, Xiao Yongjia thought a building on the island had become old and needed renovation. Since she was renovating anyway, she thought she might as well do it properly for when her daughter and son-in-law returned, so she personally supervised the work. During those days, sometimes when it got late, rather than make the long trip back to the city, she would stay on the island. But when her husband returned from Tai City, no matter how late, if she wasn’t in the city, he would definitely leave the city and run to the island to spend the night with her, then rush back to the capital early the next morning for court, sleeping only a few hours. Xiao Yongjia felt sorry for Gao Qiao’s hardship, so before the house was finished, she returned to the Gao residence and never went back to stay on the island.

This month, court affairs were in turmoil again.

Li Mu fighting the powerful Xijin Xianbei single-handedly made her very worried. One wave hadn’t settled when another rose. Xu Mi and Lu Guang’s joint northern expedition clearly targeted Gao Qiao, yet this old fool was still organizing provisions for them and dispatching Gao Yin to intercept Beixia’s Qingzhou army. Xiao Yongjia was quite annoyed. She wanted to scold him but knew he wouldn’t listen. Originally she would go to the study to accompany him every night, but these past few nights, partly from anger at him and partly because she felt particularly tired and drowsy even during the day, she stopped going to the study and went to bed early.

Today was supposed to be a rest day. Early in the morning, seeing his wife didn’t look well, Gao Qiao comforted her and told her to sleep more, saying he would return early to accompany her, then hurried off to Tai City again.

He’d been saying this for twenty years. Xiao Yongjia had long stopped believing such nonsense. After her husband left, she lay alone for a while, thinking of her daughter and wondering how she was doing now, very worried. Later she got up, and while having breakfast, suddenly felt nauseous and vomited.

A servant woman beside her thought she had caught cold the night before and was about to summon an imperial physician, when she suddenly realized that last month’s monthly period seemed to have been delayed several days and hadn’t come yet.

She immediately thought she might be pregnant again and quickly had someone summon an imperial physician skilled in women’s medicine. After dismissing everyone, she had him quietly examine her pulse.

The physician immediately congratulated her, saying she was with child. After a more detailed examination, he said that due to her age, unlike younger women, her pregnancy seemed slightly unstable. He told her to keep a relaxed mind, avoid excessive worries, take good care of herself, and to call him immediately if she felt any discomfort. He also prescribed a fetal-stabilizing medicine before leaving.

At this age, with her daughter already married, she was actually pregnant!

Xiao Yongjia was thrown into confusion by this news, not knowing whether to be happy or worried. Not daring to announce it, she told not even her personal servants. After sending away the physician, with complex emotions and unable to sit still, her heart was tormented when she fortunately received a long-awaited letter from her daughter in Yicheng.

Since her daughter went to Yicheng, it had been half a year. During this half year, mother and daughter had corresponded with each other.

Xiao Yongjia had originally worried her daughter would suffer there. She thought that as soon as her daughter complained of hardship, she would immediately send people to bring her back. But later, seeing her daughter’s descriptions of life there in the letters, not only was there no complaint of hardship, but joy showed through every line, she guessed her son-in-law must treat her daughter very well. As they say, “Love makes even water taste sweet” – since her daughter felt happy there, she gradually felt at ease.

The last letter she received was early last month. Over a month had passed, and the situation had drastically changed. From the day she learned Li Mu would fight Xijin, she had worried constantly. Now finally receiving a letter, she eagerly read it.

The letter was written by her daughter on the day she saw off Li Mu. It said Li Mu had already led the army north, that she had great confidence in her husband and knew he would be victorious. The rear in Yicheng was also completely stable, telling her mother to rest assured and not worry unnecessarily.

Her daughter’s optimism finally allowed Xiao Yongjia’s heart, which had been suspended for many days, to settle somewhat.

This day Gao Qiao returned very late. Xiao Yongjia had already gone to bed. Seeing him finally return, she sat up.

Gao Qiao quickly came to the bedside, supported her, sat on the edge himself, and asked about her health. He said he had just heard from servants that an imperial physician had come during the day and asked what was wrong.

Seeing her husband’s concerned expression, Xiao Yongjia thought of the physician saying her pregnancy was unstable. Fearing that if she couldn’t preserve the child and told him too early, it would cause him empty joy, she held back and only said it was ordinary stomach discomfort that had already improved.

Gao Qiao breathed a sigh of relief, helped her lie back down, and said gently: “You sleep first. I still have some matters. I’ll go to the study, and when I’m done I’ll return.”

Xiao Yongjia watched her husband leave the room – how could she sleep? After tossing for a while, thinking how he had been working from dawn to dusk these days, though angry with him in her heart, she still couldn’t let go. She also got up and took a bowl of angelica and lotus seed soup that had been cooking since evening, personally delivering it to the study.

Gao Qiao also knew in his heart that Xiao Yongjia was angry about his cooperation with the Xu-Lu northern expedition and hadn’t come to the study these past nights. Suddenly seeing her arrive and bringing him something to eat, he was pleasantly surprised, quickly took it, ate it, and set aside unfinished work, wanting to extinguish the lamp and accompany her back to the room to sleep.

Xiao Yongjia sat over and helped organize the reports and documents piled messily on his desk, saying: “Enough! Don’t I know you? If your day’s work isn’t finished, even if I fall asleep, you’ll secretly get up in the middle of the night to come here again. I don’t want you to sleep poorly. Do your work – don’t mind me. Go to sleep when you’re finished.”

Gao Qiao thoughtfully wrapped a blanket he used for winter warmth around his wife’s legs and placed a cushion behind her waist, sighing with a smile: “Only you know me best. How did I never know your goodness before?”

Her husband’s casual remark stirred infinite feelings in Xiao Yongjia’s heart. She secretly touched her still-flat belly, thinking that no matter what, she must take good care of herself and bear him another child.

The study grew quiet.

The bright candle burned as the couple sat facing each other. As usual, one worked while the other organized and transcribed for him, helping him find what he needed. Finally when business was finished, they returned to their room together. In bed, Gao Qiao thought that with his recent busyness and her relative coolness toward him, it had been many days since they had been intimate. Seeing his wife lying beside him, charming and gentle, he was moved and reached for her, but she pushed him away.

Xiao Yongjia had him lie face down on the pillow while she got up and sat astride his legs, massaging his shoulders and back with both hands.

Gao Qiao indeed had some neck and shoulder pain and quietly enjoyed his wife’s muscle relaxation. After a moment, with eyes closed, he said quietly: “A’Ling, I know you’re angry. But I cannot remain indifferent. Regardless of their initial intentions, if they truly can capture Luoyang and reclaim this half of the realm lost for years for the court, it would be like helping me complete what I couldn’t do back then. What regret would I have?”

He felt the hands pressing on his back pause briefly, then resume massaging.

“You’re willing to work for those who want to harm you – I can ignore that, but why don’t you think of our daughter and son-in-law? Today I received a letter from our daughter. She even asked me to send you her regards!”

He heard his wife say this and immediately opened his eyes, turning over.

“Let me see it quickly!”

Seeing his delighted expression, Xiao Yongjia rolled her eyes at him, took Luoshen’s letter from under the pillow, and handed it over.

After reading it, Gao Qiao slowly put the letter away, remained silent for a long time, then said: “Compared to the Xu-Lu alliance’s northern expedition, I’m actually more worried about Chang’an. Though he made a one-year pact with me, I have no intention of forcing him to use troops rashly to fulfill his promise. If he can’t retake Chang’an, would I really forcibly bring A’Mi back? I also organized some provisions for him. But last time he only sent a request for battle to the court, with neither a private letter to me nor any request to the court for supplies and provisions.”

“Li Mu as a person…”

His expression was complex as he stopped, remaining silent for a long while.

Xiao Yongjia embraced her husband from behind, had him lie back down, and said quietly: “Don’t worry. I see he’s a very methodical person. From marrying our daughter onward, when have we ever seen him act rashly? Since he’s decided to fight Xijin, he must have confidence in victory. Let’s rest assured and wait for good news from there.”

Gao Qiao suppressed his worries and grunted acknowledgment.

“Jingshen, have you ever thought about us having another child?”

He closed his eyes in contemplation. After a moment, he suddenly heard his wife ask this by his ear – it was so unexpected that he was startled. Opening his eyes and seeing her looking at him, he couldn’t help but smile, raised his hand to stroke her long hair scattered on the pillow, and sighed: “I’m old and no longer capable.”

“What if? Would you be happy?”

Gao Qiao smiled again and pulled his wife into his arms: “Naturally. I just fear it would be too hard on you – better not. Having A’Mi is already enough for me.”

Xiao Yongjia said no more, nestled closer in her husband’s embrace, and slowly closed her eyes.

His wife’s casual words didn’t make Gao Qiao think much. He also closed his eyes but couldn’t sleep for a long time.

Calculating the days and distance, Li Mu’s army should be approaching the Shunyang area by now.

They should be about to encounter the southward-marching Xijin army halfway.

He was extremely anxious, constantly waiting for news of the battle’s outcome.