Once again, Fenglin City.
When Chu Yu heard this name, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat surprised. Subsequently, a fog of confusion enveloped her mind, and she furrowed her brow, unable to resist asking, “What if this humble subject doesn’t go?”
“Then I will detain you here. Let’s see if your brother goes or not!” Emperor Chunde let out a cold laugh. “If your brother doesn’t go, you can be buried with Fenglin!”
Hearing these words, Chu Yu found them even more perplexing.
Fenglin was just a small city. Why was the Emperor so certain it would be attacked? More importantly, why would he consider relocating the capital to Fenglin?
The Emperor’s attitude indicated that he would protect Fenglin at all costs. So in her previous life, when Chu Lingyang went to defend Fenglin, was it just for Chu Jin’s sake?
Moreover, she had thought this request for a mission would surely be fraught with difficulties, yet the Emperor agreed after only a moment’s hesitation. What was the reason behind this?
While Chu Yu’s mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts, her face remained impassive. After lowering her head and responding with a soft “Yes,” the Emperor assigned her troops and said directly, “Pack your things. You’ll leave the city tonight. Time is of the essence.”
Chu Yu didn’t say much. The Emperor’s urgency surely had its reasons, and she indeed wanted to defend Fenglin. On one hand, she needed to eliminate any possibility of Chu Lingyang going to Fenglin; on the other hand, Fenglin City had repeatedly sent requests for aid, and the Emperor was so fixated on this city – there must be a good reason for it.
Chu Yu acknowledged the order and returned to the Wei Mansion without further comment, her mind preoccupied.
As soon as she entered the main gate of the Wei Mansion, she saw Wei Yun walking towards her anxiously. He asked urgently, “Are you alright? What did that old codger summon you for?”
Chu Yu remained silent and continued walking into the mansion. She was still pondering the Emperor’s intentions, and how to broach the subject of her impending expedition was also a concern.
Seeing her silence, Wei Yun’s expression grew increasingly grim. He followed Chu Yu into her room and watched as she instructed Wan Yue and Chang Yue to start packing. Clenching his fists, he said with difficulty, “Even if you consider me a child, you should at least explain clearly what’s happening. After all, I am the young Marquis of this Wei household. You…”
“I was just thinking about how to tell you,” Chu Yu quickly interjected upon hearing Wei Yun speak this way. As Wan Yue and Chang Yue continued packing, Chu Yu turned to face Wei Yun and sighed, “Grandmother and my mother are both in the palace now.”
A cold light flashed in Wei Yun’s eyes. “I know.”
“His Majesty invited me to the palace, originally intending to keep me as a hostage as well…”
“So why didn’t you tell me before going into the palace on your own?!” Wei Yun raised his voice, his expression agitated. “Mother is already there. If he takes you away too, what am I supposed to do?!”
“Mother has a strong personality but often acts imprudently,” Chu Yu sighed, recalling how in her previous life, when the Wei family fell from grace, Liu Xueyang had rashly drawn her sword and fought, only to be killed by mistake. She wasn’t weak, but she was reckless. “I fear she might get into trouble alone in the palace. It would be better if I were there with her. Now that I’m not by her side, I’m somewhat worried.”
“You seem very confident in yourself,” Wei Yun sneered. “Mother might be in danger, but you think you won’t be?”
Noticing Wei Yun’s displeasure, Chu Yu felt a bit embarrassed. “Well… I came out alright, didn’t I?”
“What did you agree to to come out?” Wei Yun asked coldly.
Chu Yu rubbed her nose. “I… I’m to lead troops out of the city tonight to defend Fenglin.”
Hearing this, Wei Yun’s face changed dramatically. He ordered, “Lock up the First Madam!”
Then he turned to leave.
Chu Yu had known when she returned that Wei Yun would not let her go. She hurriedly said, “Wait, wait a moment. I really will be fine.”
She had grown up on the border, and during those six tumultuous years in Da Chu, she and Gu Chusheng had been constantly on the move on the battlefield. While Gu Chusheng was in the rear, she had always been on the front lines, truly capable of leading soldiers. She chased after Wei Yun and, in her urgency, grabbed his sleeve, saying, “Don’t be angry. Please listen to me. Fenglin is a place that’s easy to defend but hard to attack. The Emperor’s obsession with it must have its reasons. Additionally, Fenglin has repeatedly asked for help, and we haven’t received any news from the people we’ve sent. I really should go and see…”
Most importantly, if she didn’t go, the Emperor would order Chu Lingyang to go.
In her previous life, Chu Lingyang went to Fenglin. She had thought it was for Chu Jin’s sake, but was there a possibility that in her previous life, Chu Lingyang was sent by the Emperor? Or did Chu Lingyang volunteer to defend this city?
If she didn’t fight this battle, she feared Chu Lingyang would. If Chu Lingyang had gone to Fengling, the outcome might have been the same as what happened to the Wei family…
She had already tried so hard to change things. If she still couldn’t change the outcome, what could she do?
Chu Yu pressed her lips together, holding onto Wei Yun’s sleeve, and pleaded, “Xiao Qi, please let me go and see.”
“Why?” Wei Yun turned back, scrutinizing her. “Why must you go?”
Chu Yu didn’t speak. Wei Yun frowned, and after a long while, Chu Yu finally said, “I… I have my reasons for going.”
Although she didn’t explicitly state her reasons, her expression was very determined. Wei Yun’s gaze dropped to her hand gripping his sleeve, and all the reproaches he had intended to voice were stopped at his lips.
Her hand was beautiful, unlike the delicate jade hands of other women. Her fingers were long, with distinct joints, quite gallant in appearance. Yet, that hand was also fair and translucent, with a jade-like luster.
Wei Yun looked at the hand holding his sleeve. This was the first time she had shown an emotion close to pleading. He couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
After a long while, he slowly said, “If you must go, I’ll go with you.”
“That’s not possible,” Chu Yu frowned. “You’re currently feigning illness to the outside world. If you go with me, His Majesty will find an excuse to cause you trouble. More importantly, what if the Northern Di launch an attack on Tianshou Pass while we’re gone?”
Da Chu’s bottom line was Tianshou Pass. They could pretend to retreat, but not without limits. Tianshou Pass couldn’t fall, because if it did, Da Chu would lose its greatest natural barrier. Conversely, when Da Chu counterattacked against the Northern Di, they would have to fight their way up from Tianshou Pass.
Wei Yun was at a loss for words. Chu Yu smiled and said, “You don’t need to worry too much. I’ll come back if I see anything amiss. Besides, I have incredible luck. I…”
As Chu Yu spoke, Wei Yun’s gaze fell upon her. Looking at the person before him, listening to her words, his heart seemed very calm, yet also very afraid.
These two emotions intertwined, leaving him at a loss.
As the Marquis Zhenguo, he knew that the main battlefield was not currently at Fenglin. Chu Yu leading two thousand troops should be fine, and before Tianshou Pass fell, he needed to appease the Emperor’s mood and ensure his mother’s safety in the palace. Moreover, the longer his family stayed in Huajing, the more dangerous it became. Chu Yu leading troops out was the most suitable option.
Yet deep in his heart, setting aside all rationality, he felt uneasy about letting her go alone to any dangerous place.
Which soldier setting out for battle doesn’t believe they will return victorious? When he and his father and brothers went to war, who knew that one battle would bury their loyal bones?
He looked at her silently, saying nothing.
At this moment, Chang Yue and Wan Yue had finished packing, and the troops outside were ready. A man walked in and respectfully said, “This humble officer is Zhang Yun, commander of the South City Army. I have assembled two thousand troops as ordered by His Majesty to assist the First Madam in defending Fenglin.”
Chu Yu nodded and raised her hand, saying, “General Zhang, please wait in the hall outside. I will join you after freshening up.”
Zhang Yun acknowledged and left. Chu Yu turned to Wei Yun and said resignedly, “To be honest with you, whether you allow it or not, since I’ve already agreed to His Majesty’s order, I must go.”
Wei Yun didn’t speak, lowering his head in silence. Chu Yu sighed and turned to leave. Wei Yun followed her steps with his gaze. That figure was firm; even though she was a woman, she seemed to be able to hold up the sky and stand on the earth.
Wei Yun felt a sourness and dryness in his heart. Watching that figure walking away from him, he finally understood that he couldn’t stop this person.
He finally spoke: “Stop.”
Chu Yu halted her steps. Wei Yun looked at her and said hoarsely, “After you reach Fenglin, I will send another two thousand troops there. They are to defend only, not attack. Wait until I get the general’s seal and take Tianshou Pass. Then I’ll come for you.”
Hearing these words, Chu Yu felt relieved. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but she didn’t turn around. She simply said, “Alright.”
After waiting for a while and hearing no response from Wei Yun, Chu Yu was about to take a step forward when she suddenly heard him call out her name: “Chu Yu.”
This was the first time he had called her by name. Chu Yu couldn’t help but feel surprised. She turned back to see the young man standing in the doorway, tall and straight. The night breeze blew, causing the lanterns in the long corridor to sway gently, casting a warm light on his white clothes.
His gaze was calm, his eyes like deep pools. Seeing her look back, he finally spoke.
“You must come back alive.”
Chu Yu was taken aback and couldn’t help but smile. She was about to say something when she heard him continue, “If you don’t come back alive, I’ll slaughter my way through the Northern Di.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
In her previous life, the reason Wei Yun was known as the Living Hell was because he had once slaughtered his way through eleven Northern Di cities.
He was skilled at using cavalry in battle and was extremely quick in capturing cities. Before attacking a city, he would always ask if they would surrender. If they didn’t, after capturing the city, he would slaughter everyone. After doing this to eleven cities in succession, no Northern Di city dared to resist. In just two years, he completely conquered the Northern Di.
In the hundred years since the founding of Da Chu, there had never been such a ruthless figure. People both feared and respected him. Regarding this general who had stabilized Da Chu’s empire, civil officials always had mixed opinions.
Looking at Wei Yun before her, Chu Yu felt a bitterness in her mouth. Wei Yun raised his eyes to look at her, his voice calm but with a hint of coolness: “If you don’t want to see me become such a person, then take good care of yourself and come back safely.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu spoke with difficulty, “Don’t worry.”
Wei Yun closed his eyes and turned his back to her, saying, “You may go now.”
Chu Yu lowered her head and said softly, “Take care of yourself.”
With that, she turned and quickly walked out of the back courtyard. Wei Yun listened to her footsteps fade away, and finally unable to control himself, he swept his wide sleeve, violently smashing a nearby vase.
Wei Xia shuddered violently and said with a bitter face, “Now that the First Madam has left, and the Marquis has started smashing things, who will stop him?”
“Just let him smash,” Wei Qiu said calmly.
Wei Xia immediately changed his expression, “What do you know?! Do you know how expensive things are in this house?! Now all the family’s money has been spent on buying land. The young Marquis is venting his anger, but he’s spending hard-earned silver. The First Madam has been saving money so carefully, and the young Marquis is smashing it all away. Can you earn this money?!”
Hearing this, Wei Yun, who was holding up another vase, slowly put it down with a cold face and shouted, “Get out!”
As Chu Yu walked out of the courtyard, she had already composed herself. The most pressing matter now was to go to Fenglin and figure out what was going on with that place. Thinking back, when Chu Lingyang was besieged in Fenglin for three months in her previous life, and Fenglin fought until the entire city was nearly empty, what was the real reason behind such a brutal battle? What exactly had Fenglin experienced back then?
Chu Yu led Chang Yue and Wan Yue to the front of the mansion, where she met with Zhang Yun and proceeded to the outskirts of the city. After assembling the two thousand troops, Chu Yu took the lead and set out. To prevent any dissent, Zhang Yun personally accompanied her out of the city.
These two thousand troops were all directly under Emperor Chunde’s command, and they were all light cavalry. Cavalry had always been precious, prized for their marching speed. This showed how much importance and urgency Emperor Chunde placed on Fenglin, willing to entrust two thousand cavalry to Chu Yu. It was a significant investment, causing Chu Yu to once again reassess the importance of Fenglin.
“General Zhang,” Chu Yu pondered as she inquired of Zhang Yun, “What exactly is this place called Fenglin? Do you know?”
“Fenglin City is just Fenglin City,” Zhang Yun gave Chu Yu a somewhat strange look. “What else could it be?”
“If it’s just an ordinary place, why is His Majesty so anxious about it?” Chu Yu observed Zhang Yun’s expression. Zhang Yun frowned and said, “Indeed, why is His Majesty so anxious?”
Thus, Chu Yu realized that she probably wouldn’t be able to get any information out of Zhang Yun. Perhaps this general himself was not clear about the situation. He was simply going because Emperor Chunde ordered him to, nothing more.
The light cavalry rode swiftly, reaching Fengling in just two days. Chu Yu ordered the camp to be set up by the riverside and sent scouts ahead to gather intelligence about Fengling City. After resting, they would move closer to the city.
After establishing the camp, Chu Yu gazed at Fengling City. Most cities were built in valleys, surrounded by mountains, with the first line of defense on the hills. However, Fengling was one of the few cities built directly on a mountain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Rumor had it that Fengling was originally a mountain stronghold, gradually developed into a city, and only designated as a county after the founding of the Great Chu Dynasty.
At the foot of Fengling City, scattered groups of people were walking up the mountain. Chu Yu found this strange and asked, “Are these people all entering and leaving Fengling City?”
“They’re refugees,” Zhang Yun replied. He and Chu Yu had become familiar over the past two days. Being a straightforward person with many friends, he observed the people’s clothing and said, “There are many near the capital too. The fighting is fierce, so these civilians are fleeing in all directions.”
In her previous life, there weren’t so many refugees. Now, with Gu Chusheng absent from Kunyang and Wei Yun not on the frontlines, refugees were fleeing everywhere. Chu Yu frowned, and Zhang Yun tried to console her: “Having many refugees is a good thing. It proves that there hasn’t been a large-scale massacre of civilians. If they had all been killed, how many people would you see?”
Hearing this, Chu Yu smiled slightly. The large number of refugees meant that the Wei and Song families had prioritized protecting civilians during their retreat. Although cities were abandoned, there weren’t widespread casualties.
Thinking this way, she felt less sorrowful and sighed, “I just wish this would all end soon.”
Zhang Yun hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Madam, there are some things I’m not sure if I should say, but I feel I must get them off my chest.”
“Go ahead,” Chu Yu smiled. Zhang Yun sighed and said, “I know Young Marquis Wei is at odds with His Majesty, but the incident at Baidi Valley was the work of the Northern Di. No matter how much they quarrel, with the nation in crisis, for the Young Marquis to act this way is truly disheartening.”
Chu Yu took a sip of wine, her expression calm. “Is this your personal opinion, or do many people think this way?”
“Everyone thinks so,” Zhang Yun studied Chu Yu’s expression. “If you could persuade him when you return, please do.”
“General Zhang,” Chu Yu turned to him, “Do you know Marshal Yao?”
Zhang Yun was taken aback. Chu Yu continued calmly, “Do you think the Wei family doesn’t want to be on the frontlines? Do you think the Song family wants to retreat? Do you think my Chu family is afraid to face the enemy?”
“It was us who protected the civilians as they left. It was Yao Yong who abandoned the cities. It was my Wei family who died on the battlefield. Yet it’s Yao Yong who holds the marshal’s seal. Now that Yao Yong wields the seal as the Grand Marshal, how do you expect the Young Marquis to position himself on the frontlines?”
Zhang Yun wasn’t completely foolish. As he began to understand, he quickly raised his hand, “Please say no more. I don’t want to know the rest. Let’s focus on defending Fengling. The affairs of the capital are not our concern. I take back what I said earlier. Please don’t take offense.”
With that, Zhang Yun hastily retreated.
Chu Yu remained silent, sitting on a rock with a wineskin in hand. She looked up again at the weary refugees trudging along.
After a while, someone came to report, “Madam, refugees are begging for aid. Shall we drive them away?”
Chu Yu glanced at the people talking to the soldiers in the distance.
There was a young woman with her face smeared with charcoal, wearing a cloak. She was accompanied by three or four children, the oldest looking no more than ten, and the youngest barely reaching her thighs.
The woman seemed to be pleading desperately with the soldiers. Chu Yu frowned, feeling the woman’s features were somewhat familiar. After a moment’s thought, she instructed, “Bring them over. I want to see them.”
The soldier was surprised but followed the order. He went over and spoke to the other soldier, and the woman, holding onto the children, kept bowing and thanking them.
The woman timidly approached Chu Yu, not daring to raise her head. She knelt gracefully with the children, placing her hand on her forehead before bowing deeply – the formal etiquette of the capital’s nobility.
Chu Yu frowned, then heard the woman’s familiar and gentle voice, “This commoner greets the General.”
Hearing this voice, Chu Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief. She exclaimed, “Ajin?!”
The woman’s body trembled violently, but she kept her head lowered, shaking slightly without moving.
Chu Yu stood up and quickly walked towards her. Hearing the approaching footsteps, Chu Jin’s heart raced. Just as Chu Yu was about to touch her, she suddenly stood up and tried to run away.
Chu Yu, quick and agile, grabbed Chu Jin’s wrist and forcefully turned her face towards her.
The woman’s face, covered in charcoal, still showed traces of healing wounds. The scars crisscrossed her features, turning what was once a beautiful face into something grotesque and frightening.
Chu Yu stared at the woman before her in shock. Chu Jin’s initial panic and surprise gradually gave way to calm. Her eyes were still filled with tears, and she clenched her fists tightly, saying nothing.
The children nearby rushed over to punch Chu Yu, shouting, “Let go of our sister! Let her go!”
Chu Yu turned in surprise. One of the children raised a stone to throw at her, but a soldier quickly restrained the child. Chu Jin cried out in alarm and anger, “Stop it, all of you!”
“Everyone, stop!” Chu Yu shouted. At this command, everyone finally quieted down. The children were forced to kneel, glaring fiercely at Chu Yu. She slowly released Chu Jin, momentarily at a loss for words.
Chu Jin remained silent, the mist in her eyes clearing. Wearing her tattered cloak, she slowly turned her head.
“These children haven’t eaten in two days,” she said with difficulty. “We can talk inside. Please give them something to eat first.”
Chu Yu nodded and ordered someone to take the children away. Chu Jin called out with instructions, “Wait! Don’t give them liquid food. And don’t let them eat too much at once!”
After giving these instructions, Chu Jin turned back. She adjusted her clothes, tucking her hands into her sleeves. Like a hedgehog raising all its quills in preparation for battle, despite her ragged appearance, she carried herself with the grace of a noblewoman from the capital wearing fine robes and gold hairpins. She calmly said, “Let’s go.”
Chu Yu said nothing, just nodding and leading Chu Jin into the tent.
Along the way, she kept observing Chu Jin. She remembered this sister as one who often cried and was fond of fine clothes and delicacies. Now, she seemed like a polished stone, unexpectedly radiating a certain brilliance.
Chu Yu led Chu Jin into the tent and sat down. Chu Jin seemed to be waiting for an interrogation, but after a moment of silence, Chu Yu asked, “They haven’t eaten. Have you?”
Chu Jin didn’t answer, but Chu Yu understood. Given how Chu Jin had been caring for the children earlier, if the children hadn’t eaten, she wouldn’t have eaten much either.
She sighed and ordered some food from someone nearby, then said to Chu Jin, “Have some hot tea to warm your stomach first.”
Chu Jin looked up at her, “Don’t you have anything to ask me?”
Chu Yu shook her head, “It’s your business after all. If you want to tell me, you can. If not, that’s fine too.”
Chu Jin remained silent for a long time before finally saying, “I know you had people following me.”
Chu Yu didn’t respond. She took a sip of tea. Chu Jin calmly continued, “I thought you were unwilling to save Wenchang, so you were preventing me from finding Big Brother. After leaving the city, I encountered bandits and deliberately rushed into a group of refugees to shake off your men.”
“You’re quite clever,” Chu Yu couldn’t help but smile. Chu Jin clenched her fists without saying anything.
The tent fell silent. Chu Yu watched the candle flame flicker and pop as she took another sip of hot tea. Then she heard Chu Jin’s voice.
“I was wrong.”
Chu Yu slowly turned her head, not understanding why Chu Jin suddenly had this thought.
Chu Jin clenched her fists, gritting her teeth.
“I was wrong to think the world was so simple.”
As she spoke, tears slowly fell. Chu Yu sighed, “Ajin, don’t overthink things. It’s good that you’re back.”
Chu Jin shook her head. She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, smearing the charcoal and revealing her disfiguring scars. Chu Yu turned away, but Chu Jin couldn’t stop crying.
Chu Yu waited quietly for a while until Chu Jin finally finished crying.
She calmed down and slowly said, “I want to send these children to Fengling City. Besides that, I have one more thing to say.”
Chu Yu nodded, saying casually, “Go ahead.”
“There might be something strange in Fengling City.”
Chu Yu was slightly startled, then lowered her voice, “Tell me everything from the beginning.”
Meanwhile, Wei Yun sat in his residence, writing a letter to Chu Lingyang when Wei Xia entered and respectfully said, “Young Marquis, there’s a visitor to see you.”
Wei Yun frowned and looked up, seeing someone appear behind Wei Xia.
The person wore a black cloak. Upon seeing Wei Yun, they raised their head.
Their face was cold as they spoke in a low voice, “I heard that Madam Wei went to Fengling?”
Wei Yun was stunned to see the visitor, “Gu Chusheng? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Princess Royal’s residence…”
“Is it true?!” Gu Chusheng seemed to be barely containing his emotions and raised his voice, “Did she go to Fengling?!”
Wei Yun frowned. Gu Chusheng’s questioning made him uncomfortable, but he also sensed that this might be related to Chu Yu. So he nodded honestly, “Yes, she led two thousand troops to garrison Fengling.”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng’s body swayed. Wei Xia hurriedly supported him, alarmed, “Lord Gu, what’s wrong?”
“We must go after her…”
Gu Chusheng spoke with a trembling voice, then turned around and urgently said, “Give me fifty thousand troops, immediately!”
Wei Yun’s frown deepened, “If you’re asking me for troops, you need to explain what’s going on. Fengling is just a small city…”
“But the main force of the Northern Di is there!”
Gu Chusheng raised his voice, “There are at least a hundred thousand troops there. You sent her with just twenty thousand men. Are you sending her to her death?!”
Wei Yun’s eyes widened in shock. The ink dripped onto the paper, spreading a stain of anxiety and urgency.