Twenty days earlier, on the night of the seventh day of the sixth month, at the Hedong Prefecture offices—
Fan Denian held the secret letter between his fingers after reading it, then burned it to ashes in a candle flame, the corner of his lips curling upward: “My good nephew in Chang’an has finally made up his mind.”
“Congratulations, General!” The deputy commander beside him cupped his hands. “The Crown Prince has made such a grave mistake, yet remains so weak and incompetent that he only knows how to plead with His Majesty. Though memorial after memorial denouncing the Crown Prince has been submitted, His Majesty merely confined the Crown Prince to quarters for self-reflection. When the Second Prince volunteered to take charge of disaster relief, pledging his military honor, the opportunity to earn merit went to the Fourth Prince instead… This time, the Second Prince has finally given up hope.”
Fan Denian stroked his eight-stroke mustache and let out a hearty laugh: “I told him long ago that even if he toppled the Crown Prince, he would never gain the position of heir. As long as I, his maternal uncle, and my Hedong forces stand behind him, his father will guard against him as he would against a savage beast. This child had to wait until his fourth brother began to shine before finally awakening to reality. My Hedong troops have grown weary of waiting.”
“The Second Prince is young after all. Until he hit the wall, he couldn’t let go of filial sentiment. Fortunately, the Second Prince’s awakening comes at precisely the right moment. This natural disaster was completely unexpected by both the court and Hexi. Even Heaven is lending you a hand, General!”
Fan Denian picked up a sheepskin map, unfurled it with a flourish, and looked down at the military route he had traced thousands of times. He raised his index finger and slowly followed the blood-red line from Hedong to Chang’an.
“Eleven years… When I escorted His Majesty back to the capital to ascend the throne alongside the Duke of Ningguo, we also took this route…” Fan Denian narrowed his eyes, as if recalling events from so long ago they seemed to belong to a previous life. “Cang Ying, tell me, over these years, is it I who has changed, or His Majesty, or… have we both changed?”
Cang Ying lowered his head, pressing his clenched fist to his left chest: “I only know that my loyalty to you, General, will never change!”
“Good, good!” Fan Denian laughed with satisfaction. “I’ll leave the palace affairs to my good nephew. You and I will split our forces—”
“I understand, General. You need only march straight to Chang’an and entrust your back to me. I swear to take the Xingzhou line and block Hexi reinforcements outside Xingyang!”
Now, on the twenty-seventh day of the sixth month, in the prefectural office at Xingyang City, as soon as the reporting soldier’s words “enemy troops at our borders” fell, the three people in the hall abruptly rose to their feet.
Prefect Zhu Fengyuan steadied the black official hat on his head and pointed at the soldier below: “From which direction are they coming? How long until they arrive?”
“From the northeast! They’ll arrive in less than three-quarters of an hour!”
Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong exchanged tense glances.
Though they had waited an hour for news and prepared for various worst-case scenarios, they hadn’t expected the rebel army to arrive so quickly…
Zhu Fengyuan: “Order Secretary Wei and Marshal Cao to each lead two thousand troops to the east and north gates to meet the enemy! Keep the remaining forces defending the west and south sides!”
“Yes, sir!” The soldier rushed off to relay the orders.
Pei Zisong’s expression was taut: “Does Prefect Zhu have confidence in this battle?”
Zhu Fengyuan pointed toward the city walls with two fingers pressed together: “Rest assured, Young Master Pei. Xingyang City is easy to defend but difficult to attack. After setting aside the troops sent to quell the unrest earlier today, we still have five thousand garrison soldiers. We’ve already evacuated civilians and cleared the main roads in the city. We should be able to handle ten thousand rebel troops!”
Jiang Zhiyi looked questioningly at San Qi and lowered her voice: “Fan Denian doesn’t seem like someone who would fight an unprepared battle. If these troops aren’t enough to take Xingyang, why not send adequate forces?”
San Qi replied: “I suspect he couldn’t. The rebels need to capture more than just Xingzhou. To catch multiple prefectures off guard, they must divide their forces simultaneously. If other prefectures haven’t prepared their defenses in advance like we have, they could indeed fall to surprise attacks.”
“So the messengers we sent out with warnings were still too late…”
San Qi nodded with a clenched fist: “Judging by the rebels’ advance, the capital region must already be engulfed in fighting. All the prefectures around us also face strong enemies and cannot support each other. Each can only defend its position. Fortunately, Xingyang, where you are, is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Compared to other prefectures, our situation is still relatively good.”
Jiang Zhiyi pressed her dry lips together: “If Xingyang is easy to defend but difficult to attack, then if the rebels capture it, they gain a solid fortress. When your young commander leads troops on a thousand-li rescue mission and encounters this fortress, he would be at a disadvantage against Fan Denian, isn’t that right?”
“Exactly, and…”
Moreover, with both the future wife of the Xuan Ce Army’s commander in the city, who could shake Hexi, and the Prime Minister’s son, who could influence Prime Minister Pei—Fan Denian, would consider it an unexpected windfall. Capturing Xingyang would be like adding flowers to brocade.
Jiang Zhiyi understood San Qi’s unspoken meaning and gripped her sleeves tightly.
With enemies on all sides, she and the Pei siblings had nowhere to retreat. Their only option was—
San Qi: “I swear to protect you with my life!”
“We will all swear together to defend Xingyang to the death.” Jiang Zhiyi stared intently at San Qi.
Just then, Wei Ji hurried into the main hall with his hand on his sword, bowing to those seated: “Sir, everything has been deployed according to your instructions.”
Zhu Fengyuan waved his hand: “There’s no need to report in person at a time like this. Quickly go to the city wall to command the troops. I’ll be there shortly!”
Jiang Zhiyi looked at the two of them, considering her options. Not entirely trusting their deployment, she recalled the orderly manner in which the Xuan Ce Army had defended cities in their military camp. She suggested to Zhu Fengyuan: “May I ask if Prefect Zhu would allow my men to join in supervising the battle from the city walls? They are experienced and work well together. If distributed at various checkpoints, they could better coordinate between the different gates.”
“This—” Zhu Fengyuan looked hesitant.
“Sir, you mustn’t!” Wei Ji shook his head. “These are Xuan Ce troops after all. How can they supervise the Xingyang garrison from a superior position…”
Zhu Fengyuan said with difficulty, “Indeed, Princess, without official orders, the Xuan Ce Army shouldn’t participate in battle…”
Jiang Zhiyi cast him a cold glance: “Chang’an is probably waiting for the Xuan Ce Army to come to the rescue. Elite Xuan Ce soldiers are right here in your Xingyang City, yet you make excuses. Are you of one mind with the rebels?”
“I have no such intention!” Zhu Fengyuan’s eyes widened.
Pei Zisong smiled slightly: “Prefect Zhu, in the face of a great enemy, a general in the field may disregard imperial orders when necessary. This is a time for flexible action. Besides, these hundred Xuan Ce soldiers are escorting the Princess back to the capital. Now that the Princess is in danger, they naturally must protect her safety. Would His Majesty blame you afterward for protecting the Princess?”
With one playing the tough role and the other the gentle one, Zhu Fengyuan looked at Jiang Zhiyi, then at Pei Zisong, and finally relented, tugging at the wrinkles on his face: “Let’s do it that way then…”
Jiang Zhiyi nodded: “Then please put this military order in writing, Prefect Zhu, with your official seal, so my officers and soldiers won’t be constrained in their actions.”
…This wasn’t about being constrained, but calculating that if His Majesty were to assign blame, the prefect would bear the responsibility.
Under Jiang Zhiyi’s intense gaze, Zhu Fengyuan reluctantly took up his brush and complied.
Jiang Zhiyi turned to San Qi: “The path is clear. The rest is up to you.”
San Qi bowed solemnly: “The Xuan Ce Army will not fail its mission!”
At the end of the Midnight Hour (11 PM-1 AM), Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong sat facing each other in the main hall of the government office, silently staring at their teacups.
The battle had been raging for two hours, with the fighting moving from the east gate at the beginning to the north gate now.
At first, Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong had been discussing the situation, but later, with nothing to do except wait, they fell into this wordless state.
The government office was in the southern part of the city. It was quiet here, with the sound of battle horns barely audible. It was as if tonight were just an ordinary night, with nothing happening outside. However, the slight ripples in the tea confirmed the intensity of the fighting and that the city was facing a life-or-death threat.
Looking at the rippling circles in her tea, Jiang Zhiyi recalled the siege drill she had witnessed at the Xuan Ce camp in April—smoke everywhere, war chariots racing, battle cries filling the sky.
If a drill was like that, then an actual battle…
“Pei Zisong, if—just if…” Jiang Zhiyi suddenly raised her eyes and spoke, “If the city falls and you are captured, and Fan Denian uses you to coerce Prime Minister Pei into surrendering, what would your father do?”
Pei Zisong seemed to have already contemplated this and smiled with certainty: “Father would never surrender to usurpers for the sake of his son.”
Jiang Zhiyi smiled in response and nodded.
“What about you, Princess?”
Jiang Zhiyi’s smile faded. After a moment of silence, she showed the same certainty as Pei Zisong, but said: “I will not be captured.”
Pei Zisong’s eyes flickered as he quietly looked at her, frowning slightly.
Suddenly, the sound of running footsteps broke the tranquility of the hall.
Both rose to their feet to see San Qi rushing in, wiping blood and mud from his face: “Young Mistress, we’ve repelled the enemy—!”
Jiang Zhiyi’s heart, which had been suspended all night, finally eased a bit: “What are the casualties on both sides?”
“Our casualties are still being counted, estimated at less than a thousand. The rebels have only about three thousand troops left. They couldn’t hold on and have temporarily retreated!”
“Are all our people alright?”
“Rest assured, Young Mistress, our brothers were only supervising the battle and weren’t injured!”
“What’s the situation outside now?”
“We’ve withstood the first wave of attacks. What happens next depends on when the rebels’ reinforcements arrive. If the surrounding prefectures hold out longer, we’ll have more time to catch our breath. However, there shouldn’t be a second battle tonight. Young Mistress, please go get some rest!”
Jiang Zhiyi relaxed: “Then you all should—”
Before she could finish, another set of running footsteps sounded, and a Xuan Ce soldier rushed in: “Young Mistress, something terrible has happened! The granary in the west of the city is on fire, and Prefect Zhu is nowhere to be found!”
Like a thunderbolt from the sky, Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong, who had stayed up half the night, watched in shock as everyone in the government office rushed out to the western part of the city to fight the fire.
The western granary stored the provisions for Xingyang’s garrison. Once it caught fire, they had essentially lost half the battle…
The enemy hadn’t breached the city, yet the granary was on fire. This meant trouble from within—there was a spy!
Jiang Zhiyi immediately summoned Wei Ji to ask about the situation: “How could Prefect Zhu go missing? Wasn’t he stationed at the north gate earlier?”
Wei Ji answered with his head lowered: “Yes, but during the chaotic fighting, no one noticed when the Prefect disappeared. When we discovered the granary fire and wanted to report to him, no one could find him.”
Jiang Zhiyi’s temples throbbed with pain as she paced back and forth in anger: “Such an important place as the western granary, and you didn’t station heavy guards?!”
Wei Ji looked troubled: “Of course, we stationed heavy guards, but if someone could command those soldiers…”
Jiang Zhiyi stopped in her tracks: “Are you suggesting that the person collaborating with the rebels is Prefect Zhu?”
“I dare not make such a judgment, but there are no signs of fighting at the western granary. Those guards vanished into thin air just like the Prefect. Moreover, the Prefect’s wife and daughter are also missing. Given the circumstances, it seems—”
Jiang Zhiyi and Pei Zisong exchanged glances.
Pei Zisong nodded: “Secretary Wei, please go attend to the urgent matters. See how much grain can be salvaged from the granary.”
Wei Ji bowed and withdrew: “I’ll handle the firefighting. Princess and Young Master Pei have had a tiring night. Please return to your rooms to rest early. Tomorrow there may be another hard battle.”
Jiang Zhiyi watched Wei Ji turn and leave, then asked Pei Zisong: “What do you think?”
“With a spy revealed, tonight’s battle makes sense—Fan Denian thought he had an insider in Xingyang City, so he didn’t send more troops to this easily defendable city. But he didn’t expect you to have the Xuan Ce Army supervise the battle, which prevented the insider from sabotaging our defenses. This forced the rebels to retreat in disarray. So the insider could only come up with a hasty plan to burn the western granary during the chaos, to undermine our morale for the next battle.”
Jiang Zhiyi nodded and pondered for a moment: “If it is Zhu Fengyuan, and he’s disappeared, it means he’s fled the city. There won’t be anyone else causing trouble inside. If it’s not him… with so many people now at the western granary fighting the fire, including the Xuan Ce soldiers helping, this government office is nearly empty. Once it’s empty…”
Jiang Zhiyi suddenly raised her eyes: “What would be the enemy’s next move?”
Pei Zisong pointed at himself and Jiang Zhiyi.
“Then should we—” Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes darted about, “hurry and return to our respective rooms to rest?”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
In the early hours of the morning, in the east wing room of the prefect’s rear compound, a young woman in snow-white sleeping garments lay on the bed, eyes peacefully closed, her breathing deep and even.
Suddenly, the back window was pried open from outside with a click, and a person dressed in black nightwear climbed in, the sound of boots landing conspicuously in the quiet bedroom.
In the dimness, the intruder, dagger in hand, slowly approached the bed step by step and lifted the gauze curtain.
Just as they were about to strike, a hand suddenly extended from under the bed, dragging the entire person down.
Before they could cry out, the ghost-like figure from under the bed sprang up, dislocating the intruder’s jaw with one hand while pressing a sword against their throat with the other.
In the next moment, the “sleeping” young woman on the bed propped herself up on her elbow and lazily sat up. She thanked San Qi for his hard work, having hidden under her bed for so long.
Then she sat upright on the bed, tilted her head, and looked down through the gauze curtain at the person San Qi had subdued: “Why do you people from Xingyang make so much noise climbing through windows? My fiancé wouldn’t make a sound at all, you know.”