Jiang Xingjian looked up, confused. Jiang Man said, “Come here.”

Jiang Man squinted at Jiang Xingjian for a long while before slowly opening her mouth. “Father’s death was not Song Lan’an’s doing.”

Jiang Xingjian was shocked, looking at Jiang Man in disbelief.

His eyes were full of astonishment. For a moment, he didn’t even know where to begin asking.

After a long while, he said hoarsely, “Who did it? And Elder Sister… when did you learn of this?”

“It was His Majesty’s doing. Three months after you and Father’s death reports came from the border, I learned of it.”

Jiang Man sneered coldly. “That coward Shen Congyi not only has a spineless nature, but his heart is pitifully narrow and dark.”

“The very first day I entered the palace, he conceived this thought.”

“The Song family sent a daughter into the palace. Song Yuning gave birth to Shen Qianbai. The Jiang and Song families formed a marriage alliance. He was afraid.”

“He feared the Jiang and Song families joining forces would threaten his throne. How could that petty man with his sparrow’s guts tolerate a prince’s maternal family colluding between civil and military spheres?”

At that time, no children had been born in the palace for many years. Emperor Wenhui hadn’t imagined the situation that would emerge later—or perhaps he had imagined it but was still afraid. Thus, that sinister villain began laying his plans from the day she entered the palace. Even after she later became pregnant with Qianshu, he feared Qianshu might not be born smoothly and tampered with things.

She had only gradually come to suspect this matter after dealing with Emperor Wenhui for many years.

Jiang Man looked at Jiang Xingjian and closed her eyes. “It has nothing to do with the Song family. Don’t mistake your enemy.”

Though Jiang Xingjian’s face still bore tears, his throat seemed blocked by something, unable to produce even half a sound.

After a very long time, he finally squeezed out a single word: why.

“Why tell me?”

If he hadn’t known, he could have comforted himself that not being able to grow old with Song Wan was their destiny. For Father’s vengeance, he could set aside the love in his heart and devote himself wholeheartedly to Lin Jiayue. If he hadn’t known, he could have given up hope, even watching Song Wan know and cherish the Crown Prince.

Why? Why did Elder Sister have to tell him this?

He would rather never have known for his entire life.

Now knowing, he would have to bear a lifetime of regret. For the few words of his closest kin, he had abandoned his beloved, truly living as a joke.

He would rather not know. He would rather never know for his entire life!

Jiang Xingjian suddenly stood up. He wanted to accuse Jiang Man. He wanted to say Jiang Man had caused him to miss the love of his life. He wanted to say Jiang Man had caused him to leave the most wretched impression in his beloved’s heart.

But he couldn’t.

His elder sister was no more! At this very moment, how could he accuse this person who had been proud and flamboyant all her life? Jiang Xingjian wept inconsolably, ultimately kneeling prostrate on the ground, unable to straighten his back again.

What exactly did his life amount to?

Listening to Jiang Xingjian’s wailing, Jiang Man clenched her fists tightly beneath the covers. After a long while, she struggled to rise, propping herself up with a single breath as she sat up.

Jiang Man looked toward the demoralized soldiers outside the tent, then slowly walked out barefoot.

Everyone in the army knew her identity. Seeing her covered in brand marks and scars, they couldn’t help but fall silent.

“This palace is the mistress of Yanqing Palace, the late Fifth Prince’s birth mother, Jiang Man.”

Jiang Man stood in the center of the military camp, her tone calm and indifferent. “The Nanqing princess’s face was branded with the Dongning War Horse mark by this palace. His Majesty sent this palace to the enemy camp. Though this palace harbors hatred, this palace has no regrets.”

“Though this palace is a woman, this palace is also a Dongning daughter. We Dongning daughters have backbones that remain unbroken even in death.”

“An emperor’s confusion is the calamity of all people. Our Dongning sovereign may be cowardly, but Dongning’s sons and daughters all possess resolute iron bones.”

“Today, this palace willingly uses hot blood to consecrate Dongning’s battle flag, only hoping that all of you gentlemen will in future days protect Dongning’s peace, guard the national gates against foreign enemies, and know that Dongning’s daughters are unyielding and unbroken, worthy of Dongning’s men protecting with their lives.”

Having finished speaking, Jiang Man suddenly drew the saber from the waist of a nearby soldier and placed it against her neck.

“Elder Sister, don’t…”

Jiang Xingjian rushed out from the camp, only to see Jiang Man slowly falling down with a smile on her face.

She had no path to survival left. She only hoped that at her final moment she could revive military morale and fight for a way for this only brother she had wronged to live, allowing him to return to the capital.

He had already become a father. She only hoped he could be smooth and healthy raising his child.

She also hoped he would hate her. That way, he wouldn’t think of her, nor would he feel guilt about her affairs or carry inner demons on his back.

Red blood mist filled her vision. Before dying, Jiang Man finally felt that a person’s life was truly laughable.

She had sought power and wealth all her life, but in the end, it was all like passing clouds. She had hoped her son would succeed, pushing her Shu’er to fight for that chair, only to end up personally pushing Shu’er away, causing him to die alone in a pond.

Jiang Man closed her eyes, only hoping that if there was a next life, she would certainly treat Shu’er well and accompany him in doing anything he liked…

“Elder Sister!”

Crimson fresh blood sprayed everywhere. All of Dongning’s soldiers and generals felt that everything their eyes could see was piercing red.

For some reason, someone in the crowd suddenly let out a mournful cry, followed by the sound of all Dongning’s soldiers removing their weapons and kneeling in unison.

Shen Qianyu’s throat moved, his heart desolate.

People often looked down upon women from the inner chambers, yet who knew that heroes emerged from boudoirs—even Jiang Man didn’t know how much stronger she was than a nation’s sovereign.

Jiang Xingjian knelt and wept bitterly. In a single night, he had lost his closest kin and also lost his reason for existing in this world.

Wan Xiao stood beside Shen Qianyu and said softly, “Your Highness, the Chengyang Marquis’s private army…”

Shen Qianyu raised his hand to stop Wan Xiao from speaking.

He truly had known since learning that Emperor Wenhui had withdrawn the Su River garrison forces that everything he said and did was aimed at obtaining the private army in Jiang Xingjian’s hands. But now, he could only leave it to fate.

If Jiang Xingjian hated the imperial family because of this, or became dispirited and developed a death wish, he had no recourse either.

The two stood before the tent, quietly listening to the man’s crying from within the camp, their thoughts complex.

Various generals silently stepped forward to help Jiang Xingjian handle Jiang Man’s corpse. Though no one spoke during this time, everyone knew that Jiang Man’s death was like a heavy hammer fiercely striking their hearts.

Dispersing yesterday’s despondent atmosphere.

Jiang Man was right. What they fought for was not that august throne dweller in the Golden Phoenix Hall who clung to life, but rather Dongning’s common people, the women and family members in the capital waiting for their return.

The Su River could not be breached. Even if they died, they would block their corpses on every road before Nanqing’s entry into the capital. Even if dragged to utter destruction, they would drag on until reinforcements arrived from court.

Emperor Wenhui was cowardly, but they believed that not all the civil and military officials in Dongning’s court were cowards like Emperor Wenhui!

A solitary grave was added to the wasteland beside the camp. The plain and simple earthen mound made it impossible to imagine that buried beneath the yellow earth was once a nation’s imperial consort, above ten thousand people, dignified and honored.

Perhaps someone felt some compassion. From somewhere, they found a palm-sized piece of coarse hemp floral cloth and pressed it on the grave with a stone, serving as an offering.

Beyond that, there wasn’t even a stick of incense or a few sheets of yellow paper.

Jiang Xingjian stood before the grave for a long while, his eyes dazed. Not until Shen Qianyu stood behind him did Jiang Xingjian finally speak in a low voice. “I know what Your Highness is waiting for.”

He turned around and said word by word, “When Father died at the border that year, I indeed spent six years at the border without returning, training a private army.”

“If Your Highness trusts me, ten days after I leave camp today, I can bring people to provide support.”

Shen Qianyu didn’t speak. He directly tossed the seal from his bosom.

Jiang Xingjian raised his hand to catch it. Lowering his head and eyes for a long while, he finally smiled faintly. “Your Highness trusts me? Your Highness isn’t afraid I’ll flee before battle?”

“You won’t.”

Shen Qianyu said, “Abandon home and country? You don’t have that kind of courage.”

Jiang Xingjian didn’t, and neither did he.

Everyone had selfish desires, but everyone also held righteousness in their hearts.

They were born in Dongning. Even if they didn’t grow up in Dongning, Dongning blood would forever flow in their bodies. Those they loved and cherished were all behind them.

So Shen Qianyu trusted Jiang Xingjian, trusted that like himself, he would fight until the last moment for the common people behind them, for their loved ones behind them.

“The commander’s seal is given to you. This Prince will deploy troops today, hoping to catch Qin Rao off guard.”

“If this Prince cannot wait for your return, you replace this Prince in holding this place until reinforcements arrive from the capital.”

Jiang Xingjian grasped the seal in his hand and slowly nodded.