He had wanted to visit Wen Yu, but his personal guards quickly found him, saying there was urgent military intelligence. Xiao Li had summoned all the generals to the central command tent for a meeting, so Zheng Hu had no choice but to rush to the central command tent first.

Tao Kui looked at his father somewhat dazedly, a hint of bewildered helplessness in his puppy-dog eyes, asking in his thick voice: “Big brother… the Prefecture Lord’s former… sweetheart?”

Doctor Tao sighed and said: “It’s that young lady who previously lodged at our home together with the Prefecture Lord.”

Tao Kui was stunned for a moment, then suddenly became happy, his mountain-like body somehow managing to produce something resembling hand-waving jubilation.

Doctor Tao admonished: “The Prefecture Lord and that young lady both seem to have encountered trouble. You foolish boy, don’t go causing any problems.”

Tao Kui immediately shook his head like a rattle drum: “A’niu won’t cause problems.”

—

In the following days, Wen Yu did not see Xiao Li again.

She could not leave this military tent, and everything she learned came from what the two servant women caring for her gathered from outside.

However, their range of movement within the military camp was limited, so the information they could gather was very scarce.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that Wen Yu learned the barbarians had begun attacking the Yanle Mountain defense line again. Though she didn’t know how the battle was currently faring, troops had been continuously deployed from the camp for several consecutive days, suggesting the fighting must be quite intense.

After another two days, news came back that Northern Wei had already lost several border strongholds at Yanle Mountain, and the barbarians’ offensive this time was fierce.

This stirred up considerable waves in the military, and the morale of the soldiers below inevitably wavered. But even in this tense atmosphere, Wen Yu’s pregnancy-preserving medicine was still delivered to her without fail every day.

Since she was not actually pregnant, naturally she was unwilling to drink it. Each time, she would wait until the two servant women were absent and pour the medicine into the spittoon.

What was unexpected was that in addition to sending the pregnancy-preserving medicine, the military camp would also send her a small dish of candied fruit each time.

On the first day there were only two pieces, but later, for some unknown reason, each delivery suddenly became five or six pieces.

On this day, one of the servant women took leave to return home, while the other drank some cold water and somehow developed stomach trouble. She ran to the latrine countless times in one morning until her face turned pale. Wen Yu quickly had the guards at the door help send her to the military physician.

She waited anxiously alone in the tent. By noon, the servant woman still hadn’t returned. Wen Yu was worrying about the woman’s condition when she suddenly heard the two guards outside greeting someone: “Greetings, Captain Tao.”

Then the tent flap was lifted, and she saw a mountain-like figure carrying something and walking in.

When Wen Yu clearly saw his appearance, she was quite startled: “A’niu?”

Tao Kui was holding a tray laden with food and medicinal soup, grinning foolishly at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu truly hadn’t expected he would also have joined the military, but thinking that Doctor Tao was in this army, she felt relieved, assuming they had both come here following Xiao Li.

She asked: “Why are you the one delivering these things?”

After speaking, she considered that this was within the military camp and didn’t know if there were eyes and ears of others around. Fearing he might attract trouble if seen coming here, she didn’t dare speak much more with him. She immediately lowered her voice and said: “You should leave quickly, lest someone see you and bring disaster upon yourself.”

But Tao Kui shook his head at her, pointed outside, and said to Wen Yu with considerable pride: “They’re all the Prefecture Lord’s people, no need to fear.”

To avoid suspicion, half the curtain outside had been lifted.

The two guards stationed outside the tent, understanding the rules well, did not randomly peek into the tent but continued to keep their eyes straight ahead, watching outside.

Wen Yu didn’t know that although the thirty thousand volunteer troops were all camped here, the various volunteer armies and the Wei camp forces brought by Wei Ang each occupied separate areas. The outer perimeter of this central command tent was entirely manned by Tongzhou volunteer troops, already forged into an iron disk by Xiao Li.

Even if Wei Ang had business with Xiao Li, he needed to announce himself first, otherwise he couldn’t even approach the outer perimeter of the central command tent.

Around the military tent where she was staying, there were even more heavy guards; not even a fly could get in.

After hearing Tao Kui say this, the worry in Wen Yu’s heart dissipated somewhat. She felt that she had indeed become somewhat confused with excessive concern due to too many changes in this period. Given Xiao Li’s cautious nature, if he didn’t have complete preparation, the guards at the door surely wouldn’t have let Tao Kui enter.

She had Tao Kui place the items on the low table and warm his hands by the charcoal brazier.

Tao Kui then sat down by the charcoal brazier on a low stool like some large dog, obediently extending both hands to warm them, answering Wen Yu’s earlier question: “That auntie, got sick.”

“Father is still treating her, so A’niu came to deliver the medicine.”

With Doctor Tao treating that woman’s illness, Wen Yu felt somewhat reassured. Her long lashes drooped slightly in the light and shadow as she asked about recent military matters: “Has your Prefecture Lord been at Yanle Mountain all these days?”

Tao Kui nodded once, and seeing she hadn’t drunk the medicine, pushed the tray toward her, saying: “Father says medicine must be drunk while hot; when cold, can’t drink.”

Wen Yu said: “The medicine is bitter, I’ll drink it later.”

Tao Kui immediately pointed to the candied fruit in the small dish: “A’niu put in candied fruit. Tomorrow, will put more.”

Only then did Wen Yu learn the candied fruit was originally placed by him. Since he and Doctor Tao were together in the military, it wasn’t surprising he would know she was here. Wen Yu thanked him.

Tao Kui smiled shyly, then resumed his posture of obediently warming by the fire after withdrawing his hand, saying: “Big brother bought it.”

Wen Yu was adding charcoal to the brazier when she heard this and paused slightly: “What?”

Tao Kui pushed the bowl of pregnancy-preserving medicine again, saying to her somewhat happily: “Big brother bought medicine, bought candied fruit together.”

As if to tell Wen Yu she alone had this privilege, he smiled with his eyes squinted: “Others drink medicine, no candied fruit.”

But Wen Yu quickly caught the key point from these fragmentary words, asking somewhat absently: “You’re saying this medicine was also bought by your big brother?”

Tao Kui nodded honestly: “Father doesn’t have it there.”

Afterward, Tao Kui said some other things that Wen Yu couldn’t really hear clearly. Even after he left satisfied after sitting for just this short while, Wen Yu was still in a daze.

The tent flap had been lowered again, and the charcoal fire warmed the small space, dispelling the cold.

Wen Yu propped her forehead with one hand, silently looking at the medicine bowl and candied fruit on the table.

Didn’t Xiao Li hate her?

—

Several hundred miles away at Yanle Mountain, thick smoke still rolled on the mountain, but this battle had already ended.

By the riverbank covered with thin snow, water tinkled and flowed. Xiao Li, wearing only black military trousers, washed off the blood and grime in the bone-chillingly cold river water, then waded ashore. He took the cloak handed to him by his personal guard and casually wiped the water droplets from his body, then let the personal guards apply wound medicine and wrap gauze around the gaping wound on his back.

On that body of strong sinews and hard bones were countless clearly visible scars.

Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang watching from the side felt their teeth ache. Liao Jiang shook his head saying: “Youth is still good! Now if you made these old bones of mine roll in winter river water, I couldn’t bear it.”

Yuan Fang gave his old friend no face, undermining him: “When you were young I never saw you go in the river during the depths of winter either.”

The two joked for a few sentences, then the conversation turned back to Xiao Li. Liao Jiang said with considerable emotion: “We’ve truly grown old. We fell for the barbarians’ tricks several times. This time we relied entirely on young friend Xiao, otherwise if the barbarians had really attacked past Yanle Mountain and gone straight for Weizhou, and the Marquis suffered any mishap, we two could only apologize with death.”

Yuan Fang also shook his head hearing this, sighing: “The barbarians are becoming more and more cunning. Who could have anticipated that their strong attacks at three places were all feints, leading us around in circles for several days on the mountain ridges extending hundreds of miles at Yanle Mountain, when ultimately they were targeting Weizhou.”

Liao Jiang patted his old friend’s shoulder with relief, saying: “Forget it. The rear waves of the Yangtze must push the front waves; only then can this river keep flowing endlessly, right?”

Over at Xiao Li’s side, the gauze had been wrapped, and he was putting on his outer robe. Liao Jiang walked over saying: “Young friend Xiao has once again established great merit. The Marquis in Weizhou has probably already prepared the victory banquet. Last time I, old Liao, couldn’t make the victory banquet, so tonight I must drink with young friend Xiao until we’re both drunk!”

Xiao Li drew his hands together to close his robe, fastening the belt, saying with a smile: “I would be ungracious to refuse.”

—

Weizhou.

Wei Qishan looked through the latest intelligence report in his hand. When he sat down behind the low table, he coughed twice with his hands covering his mouth, then smiled saying: “Good lad.”

Chang Sui presented hot tea, saying worriedly: “Last time the Marquis used powerful medicine to meet with the generals. This time you absolutely must not use it again.”

The injury received in that battle with the barbarians seemed to have damaged Wei Qishan’s foundation. Two months had passed, and his frame was becoming thinner day by day.

At this moment when he moved his hand away, his lips actually showed a faint bluish tinge.

Wei Qishan took the tea saying: “If I appear before the generals looking sickly, that would truly alarm those below.”

Another letter lay on his desk.

Wei Qishan drank two sips of hot tea, feeling his throat somewhat better, then glanced at that letter saying: “In a few more days, the envoys from Liang camp and Southern Chen should arrive at our northern border. Do you think it’s possible that the woman captured by Wei Ang and the others could be Princess Hanyang?”

Chang Sui said: “Although Pei Song has consistently claimed publicly that the woman they captured that day was Princess Hanyang, it’s heard that in Pingzhou, after Princess Hanyang concluded the Buddhist ceremony at Chongsheng Temple, she still paraded through the city in her carriage, distributing grain to local people for winter. I don’t know if Pei Song’s move is meant to affect the morale of the Liang and Chen armies on the southern battlefield, but from the current situation, his calculation seems to have failed.”

Wei Qishan said: “But it’s heard that when Princess Hanyang appeared in Pingzhou city that day, she did not show her full appearance.”

Chang Sui knew Wei Qishan’s hidden concern, saying: “Since it was to break Pei Song’s rumor, yet she paraded with her face covered, there is indeed something suspicious about it. However, what Wei Ang said in his letter is not without merit. First, Princess Hanyang has no reason to risk traveling north; second, that woman is six months pregnant, and when captured by Pei’s army she was still risking her safety to seize Jiang Yu’s head, which suggests she should have feelings for Jiang Yu. If that woman were Princess Hanyang, how could she take such personal risks?”

But Wei Qishan shook his head saying: “Prince Changlian’s daughter is formidable. To be able to regroup the situation amid the fall of Fengyang City and the slaughter of the entire Wen clan, then step by step force that traitor to his current state—without considerable courage, this couldn’t be done. Zhou Jing’an’s self-destruction was for Prince Changlian, but the deaths of Li Yao and Yuchi Ba were for her, Hanyang. One absolutely cannot view this girl with common reasoning. The former dynasty’s Emperor Zhaolie, for the sake of his beloved general, could even say he would abandon his own son. She is indeed a woman, but she is also Liang’s Last Sovereign. To dare seize the head of a subordinate general amid chaotic armies—what would be impossible about that?”

Hearing this, Chang Sui couldn’t help saying: “Then should we send those officials who previously went to Pingzhou to propose marriage and negotiate peace to the military camp to see that woman?”

Wei Qishan glanced at that letter again, showing some displeasure: “That unfilial son who accomplishes nothing but ruins everything has already exposed himself before Xiao Li. If I send more people, I fear it will truly dishearten him.”

Chang Sui couldn’t bear to see Wei Qishan worry so much while dragging his sick body, saying: “After the last victory banquet, you, Marquis, already sent people to investigate Xiao Li’s background. Since he left the Liang camp after being falsely accused of being a spy and nearly died from poisoned arrows, he must have long been irreconcilable with the Liang camp. If that woman is Hanyang, he surely wouldn’t deceive us.”

Wei Qishan pondered for a moment, slowly stroking his beard saying: “This young man’s temperament is indeed extremely strong. Having the precedent of the Liang camp, if we employ him, we absolutely must not suspect him again.”

He seemed to have made some decision, saying: “Forget it, go prepare the victory banquet.”

—

The Wei household’s victory banquet this time was even more lively than the previous one.

Only the one seated in the main seat was no longer Wei Qishan, but that recovered former Jin princess, now with the title Wanzhen.

Xiao Li had once again established the foremost merit. Wei Qishan’s subordinate generals Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang were again on very familiar terms with him, so the other Wei River generals also became cordial with him. From the start of the banquet, people coming to toast Xiao Li never stopped.

Later, it was Yuan Fang and Liao Jiang who, remembering he had injuries, blocked most of the wine for him.

Halfway through the banquet, suddenly a peal of silvery laughter came from the entrance: “There’s a banquet at the household today, yet Father didn’t call me!”

Everyone looked up and saw a young woman in a crimson gauze dress with coral forehead ornaments walking in with quick steps.

The woman had bright, beautiful features, though the expression between her brows showed slight willfulness. One could see some resemblance to Wei Pingjin.

Wei Qishan laughed heartily: “Minmin, come quickly to Father’s side!”

His treatment of his daughter and son were rather like two extremes. After his daughter was seated on his right, he smiled and said to the generals present: “I’ve made you all laugh. My daughter Jiamin has always said she admires you generals. Last time when the household held a banquet, she accompanied her mother back to Qiangzhou. This time she can finally broaden her horizons.”

After speaking, he cupped his hands toward the former Jin princess seated above: “I hope the Princess will not take offense.”

Wang Wanzhen nodded slightly with a smile: “The Marquis’s tender fatherly love, and County Princess Jiamin is so bright and pretty—this palace lady finds her delightful and couldn’t be more pleased. How could I take offense?”

The generals present also offered many compliments, though quite a few subtly glanced toward Xiao Li.

Last time Wei Qishan had intended to betroth his daughter to him, but he had politely declined. Now that Wei Qishan was having his daughter come again, the intent inevitably became somewhat subtle.

Xiao Li himself seemed like an outsider to the matter. Whether from inability to hold his liquor or fatigue from having just experienced a fierce battle, he rested one bent leg against his elbow behind the low table, eyes downcast as if thinking of other things.

Wei Qishan suddenly said to his daughter: “Minmin, that one there is your sworn brother. Shouldn’t you go offer a toast?”