Xiao Li glanced at Wen Yu dozing with closed eyes in his arms and rose with extremely gentle movements.

The person who came was Zhang Huai.

He had hurried all the way here, his breathing uneven. Upon seeing Xiao Li and catching sight of that conspicuous teeth mark on the side of his neck, his brow seemed to furrow. After observing proper etiquette with a bow, he said: “May I ask if the Governor plans to follow Princess Hanyang back to the Liang camp?”

Xiao Li’s thoughts seemed to still linger on other matters. Upon hearing this, as if some hidden private matter had been exposed, he raised his dark eyes: “Why do you say this?”

Zhang Huai said: “If the Governor has no such intention, that’s good…”

Xiao Li instinctively turned his head to glance at Wen Yu still resting on the soft couch. Seeing she seemed to have fallen into deep sleep again and fearing to wake her, he furrowed his brow slightly, signaling Zhang Huai to stop talking. Lowering his voice, he said: “Let’s talk in the back hermitage.”

He closed the door behind him. As the two walked away, Wen Yu, who had been dozing against the small table in the room, opened her eyes.

Those moon-like eyes were dark and calm, revealing not a trace of emotion.

She had been preparing to ask Xiao Li whether he wanted to come with her, but it seemed unnecessary now.

Having him abandon everything he had worked so hard to build in the northern border was indeed somewhat unfair to him.

And whether it was Wei Qishan who had shown him the grace of recognition, or the brothers who fought desperately alongside him below, he also needed to give them an explanation.

It didn’t matter.

What belonged to her—one day, she would return to take it.

–

Having left the courtyard gate, Zhang Huai followed half a step behind Xiao Li, speaking as they walked:

“The current situation is chaotic. The forces that most win the people’s hearts are none other than the former Liang and the former Jin that Wei Qishan wants to restore. The former Liang has already used poisoned arrows to harm the Governor—they were disloyal to the Governor first. Though Wei Qishan is currently wary of the Governor, he also relies on the Governor greatly. If the Governor leaves Wei to return to former Liang, not to mention whether the brothers below could receive as much regard in the former Liang camp as they do in Northern Wei, the Governor yourself would also fall into dire straits.”

He sighed: “If the Governor wants to establish his own faction, based on previous reasons alone, you could say it’s due to incompatible philosophies with Wei Qishan. Given the Governor’s multiple contributions to Northern Wei, at least on the surface Wei Qishan wouldn’t make things difficult for the Governor over this, otherwise it would be Northern Wei’s fault.”

“But if the Governor returns to the Liang camp, the charges that Second Young Master Wei fabricated against the Governor at the victory banquet after the Youzhou battle would become established in Northern Wei.”

Zhang Huai’s expression was complex: “After the Ma Family Bridge battle, Pei Song spread rumors unfavorable to the Liang camp, intending to completely crush it. Northern Wei fanned those flames at that time. If the Governor is no longer of use to Northern Wei and returns to the Liang camp, Wei Qishan… will surely no longer regard old sentiments.”

The Liang camp and Wei camp could initially form an alliance because Wei Qishan was a Liang minister, and both sides needed to jointly attack Pei Song.

But with the Ma Family Bridge incident as a pretext, and Wei Qishan having already returned to being a Jin minister, the Liang and Wei camps would inevitably compete, so they couldn’t tolerate Xiao Li becoming a Liang general again.

By then, whether Northern Wei would spread rumors that Xiao Li was a spy sent by the Liang camp, and pin several accusations on Xiao Li to strike at the Liang camp was unknown.

As Xiao Li’s strategist, Zhang Huai naturally prioritized the interests of Xiao Li and their Tongzhou army.

He studied Xiao Li’s expression and dropped the final heavy blow: “Moreover, the Liang camp was once suspicious of the Governor and willing to put you in a deadly situation. How can the Governor be certain this won’t happen again in the future?”

At the end of the moon gate, a plum branch had been broken by last night’s accumulated snow. The broken branch had long been covered with a thin layer of snow, leaving only the red plum blossoms about to bloom still spitting out vivid buds in the cold wind.

Xiao Li’s deep, cold brows and eyes were steeped in this sky full of snowy cold wind. He only said: “I have my judgment.”

Zhang Huai bowed with clasped hands: “If the Governor acts for ambition and aspiration, even if it’s a dead end, Huai will follow the Governor. But if it’s for romantic entanglement, Huai earnestly begs the Governor to reconsider! If because of the Governor, the Liang camp gains another point to be attacked by the Wei camp, Huai fears that considering the larger picture, the Liang camp won’t give the Governor important positions!”

Xiao Li’s expression was cold and deep. He didn’t respond further.

What Zhang Huai said was indeed one of his concerns.

He was no longer very useful to Wen Yu. Would she still want him?

He was unwilling to return also because he didn’t want the beginning and end of their relationship to continue being decided by Wen Yu.

If he became her minister and general, he could only be like in the past, only able to see her by using military affairs as a pretext. More often, he’d have to wait for her to summon him.

With Wen Yu’s ruthlessness and unfeeling nature, when she felt it was time, ending their relationship wouldn’t be impossible.

After all, she had married the Chen Prince and could agree to raise a child together with Jiang Yu, couldn’t she?

Taking another ten thousand steps back, even if he shamelessly maintained this relationship, when the world was eventually settled, she, Wen Yu, would still be husband and wife with the Chen Prince.

What would he be then?

What he wanted had always been exclusive possession.

He wouldn’t let others touch even a corner of her clothing.

Only what happened in the chamber this afternoon made him suddenly uncertain about some things.

There were no wounds on Wen Yu’s body. Where did the bloodstains on that silk scarf come from?

Hadn’t she been married to the Chen Prince for a long time?

He didn’t care about what that blood represented, but he cared about what it revealed—Wen Yu’s relationship with the Chen Prince, her circumstances in the Chen Kingdom.

When he thought she was struggling step by step, only able to exchange rights in the Chen Kingdom by yielding her body to noble family sons, he didn’t want to let her go back.

After all, she yielded to others in order to seize power and fight Pei Song. Well, he could do that now too.

Why not just confine her? He would avenge her blood feud for her.

As for that damned restoration of Liang, she had already done enough for it. The ministers of former Liang could find whoever they wanted to restore it.

If she herself insisted on it, then he would restore it for her.

But after being questioned by Zhao Bai and sitting alone through that night, thinking about every word Zhao Bai said, thinking about Jiang Yu’s death, thinking about how Wen Yu seemed somewhat sad each time he mentioned Jiang Yu, and that pregnancy pulse caused by drugs.

Though hostility grew wildly in his heart, he also clearly realized that with Wen Yu’s intelligence and courage, agreeing to all this might not mean she was completely at others’ mercy.

Nine times out of ten, she also had her own schemes.

And Zhao Bai had one point correct—heroes under heaven who admired her were truly as numerous as carp crossing a river.

The way Jiang Yu looked at her—he had known from long ago it wasn’t frank. That gaze carrying examination and conquest, even now when he recalled it, still aroused burning anger and hostility at having his possession coveted.

Once upon a time, he had always felt Jiang Yu would lose to him.

Just like losing to him in that sandbox deduction in Pingzhou.

He would let Wen Yu know who was the strongest.

But Jiang Yu died.

And died for her.

He didn’t know if during those days and nights in Southern Chen, Jiang Yu had also been like his former self, guarding and approaching Wen Yu in the name of being her minister.

Nor did he know what kind of feelings Wen Yu held for Jiang Yu.

Perhaps no different from her feelings for himself.

She appeared cold-hearted and unfeeling, never making decisions unfavorable to the larger picture, but as long as boundaries weren’t crossed too far, she was always soft-hearted.

This was a weakness Wen Yu herself didn’t know about.

Grasping this boundary and staying around her—one Jiang Yu had died, perhaps there were still Li Yu and Zhou Yu.

He didn’t want to become one of these people waiting for her to pity them and bestow affection.

These thoughts tormented him day and night. Only when pursuing the barbarian army did all his hostility seem to find an outlet through killing, allowing his mind brief peace.

During that period, he always avoided seeing Wen Yu, precisely because he didn’t dare provoke her too much, fearing she would become completely disgusted, yet unwilling to let her leave like that.

She always wanted to clear accounts with him.

—Once they cleared accounts and parted, he would truly have nothing left.

Not even able to seek anything from her in the name of hatred.

Losing control and going that far with Wen Yu last night also had too much hidden jealousy and resentment toward her mixed in.

He knew Wen Yu was going to leave, and knew he couldn’t obtain a sincere heart from her.

He feared the methods she used to deal with himself had also been used on others.

In that instant, the jealous fire burning away rationality and the possessive desire that could no longer be suppressed made him only want to crush her, devour her completely.

But what if… he was the only one who had done this with Wen Yu?

Toward others, perhaps she wasn’t as indulgent as she was with him.

This realization in the hot spring pool this afternoon was like a great hammer that completely smashed the door called rationality in his mind.

Completely and entirely his.

This thought alone, just thinking about it, was enough to make him willing to trap himself in quicksand and suffocate.

He had wanted to ask Wen Yu several times.

Yet ultimately didn’t ask.

He wasn’t certain of Wen Yu’s thoughts toward him, nor did he want to hear any answer from her that would feel like slow torture.

It was enough that he himself knew everything.

But also because of this “specialness,” he wavered.

Anyway, he had already decided to leave the Wei camp. He wanted his own power and influence, wanted to avenge his mother, and also wanted Wen Yu.

Now Wen Yu was already his.

He could guard her while seeking revenge on Pei Song.

As for her nominal husband Prince Consort Chen Prince, he could find a way to eliminate him later.

The temptation of this plan was too great, as long as Wen Yu no longer used her status as ruler to suppress him, breaking things off when she said so.

Return… return to her side.

Guard her, absolutely prevent all random cats and dogs from approaching—why not?

Xiao Li’s lips pressed into a tight line. Looking at Zhang Huai who had turned and bowed to him refusing to rise, as if making some all-or-nothing decision: “In the future…”

“Governor!” From the moon gate someone else hurried over, somewhat panicked: “That… that young lady has left!”

Xiao Li’s expression suddenly darkened.

That armored soldier was frightened by his cold, murderous aura and hurriedly said: “Yesterday you ordered to allow her to leave. We subordinates… didn’t dare obstruct her.”

Zhang Huai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said to Xiao Li: “The Princess is more clear-headed than you. Governor, if you don’t make a clean break, you will certainly suffer the chaos.”

Xiao Li’s stern face was covered as if with frost and snow. Without saying a word, he turned and strode back.

–

The meditation room had long been empty.

Xiao Li pushed open the door and looked at the bed curtain hanging outside the bed frame with only half remaining, and the soft couch where Wen Yu had been napping before he left. He pulled at the corner of his lips somewhat self-mockingly.

He had thought their relationship had changed.

Apparently, from her perspective, it hadn’t.

Everything she did with him was only to “repay” that fondness he had demanded from her, wasn’t it?

No wonder… no wonder after waking she had that cold appearance wanting to draw clear boundaries with him.

For those few scraps of sweetness bestowed, he had already planned to follow her regardless of everything, but she never intended to change any decision for him.

The teeth marks she had bitten on the side of his neck and front shoulder still emanated subtle stinging pain. Hostility and resentment rampaged chaotically in his chest, stimulating his throat to surge with metallic sweetness again, which Xiao Li forcefully swallowed back.

His eyes looked somewhat bloodshot as he gazed at the bed curtain swaying in the wind. The hand bracing the doorframe exerted so much force his knuckles turned white.

They had already done such things, so why wouldn’t she even ask whether he was willing to return to the Liang camp?

Because from beginning to end, she never thought there would be anything after entangling with him like this?

When he spoke in anger at the military camp telling her to please him, she had been the same.

What she wanted to do was only to clear accounts with him?

Why, Wen Yu!

He had still hoped that after returning with her this time, she wouldn’t unilaterally decide the beginning and end of their relationship anymore.

Now it seemed everything was a joke!

In this room full of cold silence, Xiao Li slowly closed his eyes.

Zheng Hu came upon hearing the news. Seeing Xiao Li like this, he also felt uncomfortable and spoke: “Second Brother, if you truly feel terrible inside, go chase sister-in-law back again…”

“I won’t go.” Xiao Li’s voice was extremely cold and indifferent.

He slowly opened his eyes, raised his hand to wipe away a trace of blood at the corner of his lips that he couldn’t swallow, his dark eyes deep and hostile: “Gone is gone.”

He should learn his lesson.

Hadn’t he understood long ago that he couldn’t rely on her soft-heartedness and pity?

To obtain her, only by becoming the strongest overlord could he make her submit.

–

Wen Yu endured the discomfort in her body and rode urgently all the way with Gongsun Sanniang, finally meeting up with Zhao Bai and the others halfway up the mountain.

Gongsun Sanniang looked back several times at the mountain peak where the ancient temple could still vaguely be seen hidden among the trees and shade, feeling puzzled in her heart.

She thought to herself that this lady suddenly deciding not to wait for her people to come up the mountain but leave immediately was one thing, but why hadn’t that handsome gentleman she treasured like her own eyeballs chased down even after so long?

Clearly the two had seemed fine not long ago.

Wen Yu naturally didn’t know her thoughts. Zhao Bai and Tongque were both very worried about her. Seeing her from afar, they spurred their horses calling “Princess” and hurriedly greeted her.

After Wen Yu comforted them briefly, she turned her horse’s head to look at Gongsun Sanniang: “These days have troubled the heroine. This is the payment promised to the heroine before.”

Zhao Bai spurred her horse forward and handed a bulging money pouch to Gongsun Sanniang.

Both being martial artists, Gongsun Sanniang naturally saw at a glance that this young lady in black and white civil and military sleeve robes before her was extremely formidable. After nodding in acknowledgment to her, Zhao Bai also returned a slight nod.

Gongsun Sanniang took the money pouch and weighed it, still using her former form of address for Wen Yu: “My lady is generous, but for this job, I didn’t really do anything. Taking so much money from my lady, I truly feel unworthy.”

Smiling, she tossed the bag of gold beans back to Zhao Bai: “I won’t take the money. Just consider it making friends with my lady.”

Wen Yu said: “It is Yu’s fortune. If the heroine tires of the martial world and is willing to enter the household as a guest, Yu will also keep a seat vacant in anticipation.”

Gongsun Sanniang laughed: “Thank you for my lady’s high regard, but I’m a rough person, accustomed to the freedom of the greenwood. I’ll just wait for the world to settle down, buy a residence and keep a few handsome young actors from opera troupes to live freely and leisurely.”

Wen Yu didn’t seem surprised by this, saying: “The heroine is a carefree person.”

Gongsun Sanniang said meaningfully: “Those who scheme for great matters like my lady naturally cannot be carefree, but when the world is settled, I still hope my lady will live more freely as she pleases.”

Having said this, she slapped her horse and rode away, waving to Wen Yu with her back turned: “I’m off!”

Wen Yu watched Gongsun Sanniang’s departing figure, raised her eyes to glance at the snow-covered mountain peak among the verdant trees and shade. Her white gauze covered her face, concealing her expression. When she lowered her eyes again, all emotion had left no trace.

Zhao Bai could see Wen Yu’s entire person was extremely fatigued and assumed she had not fared well during these days of captivity. She already harbored some resentment toward Xiao Li in her heart, though she didn’t show it, only saying: “Princess, the wind is strong outside. Please enter the carriage.”

When Wen Yu held her hand to dismount, due to the soreness in her body and the jolting from riding all the way, she nearly couldn’t stand steady when landing. Fortunately, Zhao Bai supported her in time.

But even though she wore a scarf and covered her face with white gauze, when Zhao Bai supported her, glimpsing the red marks and tiny teeth marks covering her hand back and between her fingers, she still realized what had happened.

In that instant, the anger in Zhao Bai almost became visible. Only considering there were many people around did she refrain from speaking.

After helping Wen Yu into the carriage and having Tongque lead the troops to watch the surroundings, Zhao Bai climbed into the carriage with a cold face and said: “He dared to violate you? I’ll kill him!”

Wen Yu was too tired. She had been wearily resting with closed eyes against the soft pillow on the carriage seat. Hearing this, she opened her eyes and looked at Zhao Bai gently and calmly: “I chose him.”

Zhao Bai was slightly stunned. This was the first time she had heard Wen Yu so clearly express her feelings for someone.

Knowing Wen Yu wasn’t forced, some of her anger dissipated, but she was still upset: “You are noble and precious. How could he injure you? And let you ride down the mountain?”

While passing a hot water bottle to Wen Yu’s hands to warm them, she pressed her lips tight and asked another question that angered her: “Where is he? Still going to stay in the Wei camp and work for Wei Qishan?”

Wen Yu didn’t answer immediately.

Zhao Bai felt her mind explode. Besides feeling sorry for Wen Yu, her temper flared up again: “I should have cleaved him with my sword that day—a fellow who only speaks pretty words!”

Wen Yu caught something from her words. Recalling that shallow mark on Xiao Li’s neck, she asked: “You’ve seen him?”

Zhao Bai truthfully said: “This servant couldn’t find you and went to force him to tell me your whereabouts.”

“The cut on his neck—it’s related to you?”

Zhao Bai heard Wen Yu’s intention to defend Xiao Li and became even more furious, convinced he must have used that face to bewitch her princess. She said stiffly: “This servant was worried about the Princess’s safety. If the Princess blames this servant for this, this servant will accept punishment.”

Having said this, she knelt halfway down.

Wen Yu seemed to sigh lightly and reached out to touch Zhao Bai’s hair.

This gesture made Zhao Bai, who had been bowing her head, freeze. She raised her head to see Wen Yu still looking at her with gentle and composed eyes. For that instant, there was even somewhat of the late Princess Consort’s shadow. Zhao Bai’s eyes felt slightly astringent. She struggled to keep her face tight and hastily lowered her head again.

Though she and Qiye were death warriors, the Princess Consort had once treated them like her own children too.

Wen Yu wasn’t angry, nor did she have any intention of blaming her. She only said: “I know you’ve all been terribly worried during this time. That day there were also extenuating circumstances. But from now on, don’t be so hostile toward him. He is the person I’ve chosen. A’Zhao, if you don’t trust him, don’t you trust me?”

Zhao Bai bit her teeth: “But he now…”

Wen Yu said: “It was we who did wrong, sending him to the Wei camp. He helped us at the Wayao Fort battle and helped us again this time. He also has his subordinates and comrades to face. A’Zhao, we cannot demand anything more from him.”

Zhao Bai clenched her fists tight, still feeling sorry for Wen Yu: “Then you…”

Wen Yu said calmly: “Reorganizing the larger situation is urgent. As for matters between him and me, we’ll discuss them later.”

Having said this, without waiting for Zhao Bai to say more, she already asked about political affairs: “Has the message to have Chen Wei launch a full counterattack against Pei Song in the southern border been sent back to the Liang camp?”

This was one of many urgent matters she needed handled that she had written at length in the letter she had Gongsun Sanniang help deliver yesterday.

She wasn’t afraid Gongsun Sanniang would peek. Between her and the Qingyun Guard, there were many code words and substitutions in their messages. What seemed like an ordinary sentence—without knowing their code language’s references, one fundamentally couldn’t understand what the letter truly said.

Encountering Dou Jianliang at the mountain hermitage, though dangerous, also let her glimpse an opportunity to turn the entire situation around.

Dou Jianliang had received secret orders from Pei Song’s side to secretly infiltrate the northern border, showing Pei Song clearly still had some conspiracy against the Wei camp.

But given Pei Song’s level of trust in Dou Jianliang, he definitely wouldn’t only have Dou Jianliang’s Chen troops complete this task.

He must have other troops also infiltrating the northern border.

Then his Pei camp’s forces fully fighting the Liang and Chen camps in the southern border were definitely not at full strength. This was precisely the perfect opportunity for them to launch a full counterattack.

Seeing Wen Yu truly showed not half a trace of heartbreak, Zhao Bai finally felt completely at ease and said: “We’ve already had a batch of white-feathered sparrows send the letter back.”

The white-feathered sparrows that Changliangwang Manor formerly raised for delivering messages were even more inconspicuous than messenger pigeons, making message delivery less easily intercepted. Their speed compared to messenger pigeons was even superior—truly capable of flying eight hundred li in a day.

Wen Yu seemed to ponder something, her dark lashes slightly lowered, saying: “Also send a message to the Liang camp envoys going to retrieve Jiang Yu’s corpse this time, having them spread some rumors on the return journey, claiming Jiang Yu didn’t die and the corpse is fake.”

Zhao Bai quickly understood: “You want to root out the spy on the Southern Chen side?”

Wen Yu only said: “This time try to capture as many alive as possible. We must interrogate who the mastermind behind them is.”

Zhao Bai responded: “This servant understands.”

There was a spy among the Southern Chen people. Once news that Jiang Yu didn’t die was released, they would inevitably go to verify the Jiang Yu corpse brought back in order to send word to their master behind the scenes.

If they set up defenses in advance, they could catch the turtle in the jar.

Zhao Bai could see Wen Yu’s expression was truly weary and didn’t dare disturb her further. Having received instructions, she withdrew from the carriage to let Wen Yu rest.

After the carriage curtain fell again, Wen Yu looked at the pouch hanging back at her waist and lost focus for a moment before finally leaning against the soft pillow and closing her eyes.

Changing her mind to leave early by riding with Gongsun Sanniang was because she suddenly didn’t know how to bid farewell to Xiao Li.

And after hearing his conversation with his subordinate, she also wasn’t certain whether he would still keep his word and let her go.

The situation wouldn’t wait. She couldn’t be trapped any longer.

Though matters between them did need an honest, thorough discussion, it needed to be after she escaped his control.

Only he should have no room for regret.

When he claimed he wanted her to continue liking him, she had given him a chance to reconsider.

He was the one who insisted.

Can’t blame her.