“I need to go to Tingzhou,” Xiao Huayong said to Shen Xihe.

“I know,” Shen Xihe nodded. Originally, they hadn’t planned to move against Xiao Changtai so quickly, but since he had jumped out himself, Shen Xihe knew Xiao Huayong wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.

Xiao Changtai himself wasn’t much to fear, but his methods and retained wealth were future troubles. The sooner they could eliminate him, the better.

“Indeed, we are of one mind,” Xiao Huayong’s expression brightened with pleasure.

“I must stay here. Please be careful,” Shen Xihe cautioned.

With Xiao Huayong going to Tingzhou, he naturally couldn’t stay here to accompany her, yet this was a crucial time for her – her father had passed away and her brother’s whereabouts were unknown. By all rights, he should stay by her side.

But they had many ways to make Xiao Huayong’s departure for Tingzhou seem reasonable – for instance, they could have Shen Yun’an, who had already met privately with Shen Yueshan, cooperate in their plan.

On the very night, Geng Liangcheng left to reinforce Tingzhou, someone came to report: “Princess, I truly saw the Young Master outside the city! He rode past me on horseback at full speed. I could never mistake the Young Master’s fine steed!”

In the Northwest, horses were symbols of status. Both Shen Yueshan and Shen Yun’an had their warhorses – invaluable and unique. Such fine steeds were extremely loyal to their masters; no one else could ride them.

After hearing this person’s words, Shen Xihe ordered the steward to check the stables. The steward ran back: “Crown Princess, the Young Master’s horse is gone! The stable boy was found unconscious and had just been awakened. When I questioned him, he said he didn’t know when he lost consciousness. Would you like to see him yourself?”

“It must be Brother! It has to be!” Shen Xihe seemed convinced. She stood up abruptly, ready to rush out, but suddenly her body went weak and she fell into the quick-reacting Xiao Huayong’s arms. She clutched at him, “Your Highness, I must find my brother!”

“In your current condition, how could you leave the city?” Xiao Huayong asked. “Moreover, you’re needed here. If you also leave the city, people will surely spread rumors that the Shen family abandoned the royal city’s citizens because of the war. If such rumors reach the front lines, it could affect troop morale.”

Xiao Huayong’s words hit the mark. Shen Xihe’s expression stiffened, but she was unwilling to give up: “But Brother…”

“You have me. Stay here, and I will search for him in your stead,” Xiao Huayong’s gaze was firm and deep.

Shen Xihe struggled greatly, clutching Xiao Huayong, unable to decide.

Meanwhile, Sang Yin questioned those who provided information about Shen Yun’an’s whereabouts and concluded: “Could the Young Master have gone to Tingzhou?”

This statement startled everyone, yet they all felt it was highly possible. As for why Shen Yun’an had suddenly disappeared without warning and secretly gone to Tingzhou, though everyone wondered, no one asked aloud.

“No matter where your brother has gone, I will bring him back safely,” Xiao Huayong promised Shen Xihe.

Xiao Changfeng and Pei Zhan exchanged glances. Seeing that Shen Xihe had been persuaded, Pei Zhan stepped forward: “I cannot rest easy with His Highness traveling alone in these troubled times. Please allow this old minister to accompany and protect you.”

Xiao Huayong had snuck out of the palace without many people, and Emperor Youning’s trackers were still lurking in the shadows. Pei Zhan was worried about Xiao Huayong and wanted to dissuade him from going, but as Prince Jing’s maternal uncle, Pei Zhan also deeply felt that Xiao Huayong was extraordinary. Indeed, everything that had happened since he came to the Northwest had been extraordinary, so he chose to follow Xiao Huayong.

Shen Xihe looked deeply at Pei Zhan: “Minister Pei is advanced in years. Perhaps it would be better to have Prince Xun protect the Crown Prince.”

Pei Zhan refused without hesitation: “Prince Xun has the imperial command to protect the Crown Princess. If he leaves with the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess is kidnapped again, I fear Prince Xun would be unable to answer to His Majesty.”

Hearing this, Shen Xihe nodded and said no more.

“Thank you for your trouble, Minister Pei,” Xiao Huayong agreed.

“Meng Hu, you go too, to protect His Highness the Crown Prince,” Wei Ya suddenly instructed.

Shen Xihe had handed the Commander’s Seal to Wei Ya, so his words now carried military authority. Though Meng Hu had opinions about the court people, especially disliking those surnamed Xiao, he would protect Xiao Huayong since he was Shen Xihe’s husband and willing to mourn for the Prince.

“Yes.”

So Xiao Huayong set out overnight with Tian Yuan, protected by Pei Zhan and Meng Hu, following the direction Shen Yun’an had taken. Xiao Huayong’s body was weak, requiring rest after each stretch of travel, deliberately timing their pace.

Fortunately, they encountered people along the way whom they could question, and one or two claimed to have seen the Young Master’s precious horse, though they couldn’t be certain if it was the Young Master himself riding it, as the horse had passed too quickly.

Tingzhou had not seen a severe battle in eight years. It was the closest point between the Northwest and the Tujue. The scars of war had only just begun to fade here, and the people had only recently started to relax their tense nerves. They never expected the Tujue to sweep in again, catching them completely off guard.

Tingzhou’s gates were sealed, but outside the city had already been occupied by the Tujue. Fortunately, there weren’t many civilians living in this border region, but several stationed divisions, numbering one to two thousand men, had already fallen to Tujue blades. Most of these men were sons from ordinary Tingzhou families, so the city was now shrouded in both the urgency of spreading warfare and the grief of lost sons.

The day Geng Liangcheng arrived in Tingzhou, he led a sortie to boost morale, but finding the Tujue’s attack fierce, he retreated when the situation looked unfavorable. Though there were no casualties, he realized the Tujue’s determination in this war.

“Tingzhou has received reinforcements – one of the Northwest Tigers,” in the Tujue Khan’s tent, the Khan looked at the masked youth beside him.

It was this person who had brought news of Mu Nuha’s death and his tokens. He was the Fourth Prince who had been stripped of his status by the Emperor of the Central Plains. He said he had been reduced to this state by the Crown Prince’s schemes. With the Crown Prince in the Northwest, his target was the Crown Prince, while the Tujue Khan’s target was the Northwest – they could cooperate.

The Tujue Khan didn’t trust the Xiao imperial family, but Xiao Changtai had given him great wealth, enough to tempt him into launching this war. Most importantly, Shen Yueshan was dead. Even without this wealth, he wouldn’t have missed this opportunity, though he might not have committed his entire force.

Xiao Changtai, who had learned the Tujue language just this year, replied: “Tomorrow, have the general pretend to be defeated to lure him.”

“You Central Plains people have a saying: ‘Don’t pursue a desperate enemy.’ He’s an old general – how could he fall for it?” The Tujue Khan didn’t think it clever.

“It’s precisely because he’s an old general that he’ll be confident. Even if he sees through the trap, he’ll still walk into it. He desperately needs a victory,” The corners of Xiao Changtai’s lips curved upward beneath his mask.

Xiao Huayong thought he had everything under control.

This time, they would settle things once and for all!