The one seeking Wen Yu was Chen Wei, who had returned. His front foot had just dispatched someone to send the letter breaking the engagement through the pass when his back foot heard that those Southern Chen people, while detained under house arrest, had clashed with the guarding soldiers and started fighting.

Wen Yu asked: “How is the situation now?”

Chen Wei said: “We’ve dispatched additional personnel to suppress the chaos. All troublemakers have been arrested and imprisoned.”

Wen Yu nodded and asked: “Do we know the cause of the conflict?”

Chen Wei answered: “According to reports from subordinates, there were some troublemakers on Southern Chen’s side who were dissatisfied with such treatment and repeatedly provoked us.”

Wen Yu frowned slightly and said: “Assign more people to watch them secretly. Even with Southern Chen backing them, they’re outnumbered and in our hands, yet still dare to provoke and cause trouble like this—I fear it’s unusual.”

Chen Wei clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

Wen Yu raised her hand to indicate he could withdraw, but Chen Wei didn’t withdraw. Instead, after some hesitation, he bowed to Wen Yu again: “This subject has another matter—I don’t know if I may request this favor from the Wengzhu.”

Wen Yu looked up in confusion: “Minister, please speak freely.”

Joy appeared on Chen Wei’s honest, square face: “Colonel Xiao is talented and handsome, both loyal and brave—truly a promising youth. This subject heard Colonel Xiao is twenty-one and not yet married. It happens this subject has a daughter who has passed the age of majority and seeks a good match. This subject is quite taken with Colonel Xiao. I wonder what the Wengzhu thinks?”

Everyone in Ping Province knew that Xiao Li, Zhao Bai and others were Wen Yu’s confidants.

Chen Wei wanting to marry his daughter to Xiao Li—first, he truly valued Xiao Li’s abilities; second, he wanted to use this marriage relationship to further demonstrate loyalty to Wen Yu.

He’d already witnessed Wen Yu’s methods and boldness. Henceforth, the forces under her command would only snowball larger. Ping Province would no longer be her only choice.

Chen Wei needed to firmly tie Ping Province to Wen Yu. Marriage alliance was the most effective method.

Earlier, when the Central Plains fell into great chaos, when feudal lords formed alliances, they either married their children or had their key generals become in-laws.

Even though in chaotic times human lives were cheap as grass, having such a marriage relationship made alliances ultimately more reliable.

After hearing this, Wen Yu didn’t say good or bad. She only slightly lowered her raven lashes and picked up her teacup to sip.

The discussion hall wasn’t far from the tea rooms on either side. The laughter and conversation of aides and military generals transmitted through the not-thick door panels. Without deliberately listening, her ears could still capture Xiao Li’s voice with extreme accuracy.

Low, modest, handling things with ease.

At some point, he seemed to have adapted to this officialdom. Whether civil officials or military generals, he could chat and laugh with them.

But turn around on the battlefield, and everyone feared his killing ferocity.

Rarely did anyone see his clumsiness and sincerity anymore—except her.

Wen Yu’s sudden silence made Chen Wei’s heart unconsciously tighten, fearing Wen Yu misunderstood that he wanted to win over Xiao Li and divide the power she’d worked so hard to gather. He quickly said: “This subject was too eager seeking a son-in-law for my daughter and was presumptuous…”

“Though Colonel Xiao works under my command, I’ve also said he’s my benefactor. His marriage matters aren’t for me to decide. If Minister has intentions, you may send a matchmaker and directly ask Colonel Xiao’s wishes.”

Wen Yu interrupted Chen Wei, her voice clear and crisp, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Having received Wen Yu’s explanation, Chen Wei finally put his heart back in his stomach and quickly clasped his hands: “This subject was thoughtless. Thank you, Wengzhu, for the guidance.”

—

That afternoon, when Xiao Li was again perfecting the sand table troop deployment layout under Li Yao’s guidance, he discreetly glanced several times at Wen Yu sitting in the high seat. Her expression was indifferent, her brows seemingly carrying some weariness.

At the end of the hour of shen, the sky darkened. Today’s discussions ended.

Wen Yu had someone escort Li Yao back to his lodging. The remaining civil and military officials also departed in twos and threes.

Xiao Li politely declined several comrades’ invitations to return to camp together. When Zhao Bai went to heat Wen Yu’s eye medicine, using the excuse of having private matters to report, he entered the inner chamber where Wen Yu rested.

Wen Yu sat behind her desk, hand supporting her temple, eyes lightly closed, expression weary.

Hearing the door open, she didn’t open her eyes, only spoke somewhat tiredly: “Leave the medicine there. I’ll apply it later.”

So that closing door sound was also deliberately softened, as if afraid of disturbing her.

Wen Yu didn’t hear footsteps, nor did she hear Zhao Bai putting down the copper basin.

Realizing something was wrong, her long lashes lifted. A pair of clear eyes with faint bloodshot opened just like that, seeing the person who had somehow already seated himself on the cushion opposite her.

Xiao Li’s hand rested on his knee. His jet-black hair scattered at the corners of his eyes. His sharp features seemed to have lost their usual aggression as he quietly looked at Wen Yu. Combined with his broad-shouldered, long-legged tall form, it was truly rather strange—quite like a tamed lion.

Wen Yu frowned slightly and asked: “Why are you here?”

Xiao Li didn’t answer, only looking at the bloodshot in her eyes and asking: “Your eyes… still haven’t healed?”

Wen Yu’s eyes were currently dry and painful, her vision somewhat blurred. She answered calmly: “Heat syndrome. Many urgent matters need handling. I can’t avoid using my eyes, so recovery is slow.”

She didn’t know why Xiao Li would suddenly appear in the inner chamber. Thinking of what Chen Wei had said to her at noon, she asked: “You sought me out for something?”

The heat syndrome made her eyes look somewhat red. Combined with her calm expression, it was like red plum petals falling on a lake surface freezing into solid ice overnight—possessing an unusual desolate coldness.

Xiao Li lowered his head and asked: “Breaking the engagement—is it real?”

The calm in Wen Yu’s eyes seemed to ripple for an instant, then immediately returned to the waveless state of stagnant water. She said: “Real.”

Xiao Li abruptly raised his eyes: “You’re not marrying to Southern Chen?”

Wen Yu looked at him without speaking.

In this moment of silence, Xiao Li knew the answer.

Breaking the engagement was real, but Southern Chen wouldn’t let this broken engagement succeed. At its root, this was still a game.

Though he’d long anticipated it would be so, from learning about the draft letter breaking the engagement to now personally asking for that definitive answer, Xiao Li still felt that soft flesh in his chest cavity was like it had been dug out and thrown on Ping Province city gate’s main road, crushed into pulp by passing carriages and horses.

It didn’t hurt anymore—just felt heavy with panic, so stifling he could barely breathe.

He nodded slightly and said: “I understand.”

As if fearing that staying here one moment longer would make him lose composure again and earn her disgust, he rose and pulled open the door, just happening to run into Zhao Bai returning with a copper basin full of medicinal liquid. The two didn’t exchange a word. Xiao Li stepped aside and left.

Zhao Bai glanced at his receding figure, carried the copper basin inside, and saw Wen Yu supporting her forehead with lowered eyes gazing at the desk, not knowing what she was thinking, but her mood was clearly not good.

She called softly: “Wengzhu.”

Wen Yu didn’t explain much, only saying: “Have Li Xun and the others investigate whether Pei Song and Qin Yi have any connection.”

Since Li Yao brought up that past about Qin Yi today, Zhao Bai was also present. She knew Wen Yu had been investigating Pei Song’s background without results. Now suspecting he was Qin Yi’s descendant, she said: “Qin Yi’s entire clan was exiled. The Three Judicial Offices’ joint trial back then had solid evidence. If that thief Pei Song truly is Qin family’s descendant, he’s merely a lingering disaster!”

Wen Yu took the wrung-out compress Zhao Bai handed over and pressed it over her dry, painful eyes, saying calmly: “Know yourself and know your enemy—only then can you win every battle. Before settling all rights and wrongs, what I need to strategize is how to defeat Pei Song.”

She always seemed composed and peaceful at all times, but when leaning back in her chair applying the hot medicinal compress, the hand hanging at her side gripped tightly a sachet hanging at her waist.

As if it were some secret lifeline.

—

A sudden rain fell that night. Even the jailers patrolling back and forth in the prison grew drowsy.

In the cell holding Southern Chen’s Grand Master of Remonstrance, several Southern Chen soldiers leaning against the cell door pretending to doze kept their eyes slitted, discreetly watching the corridor outside.

By the straw pile near the wall root, the Southern Chen Grand Master of Remonstrance sat cross-legged, saying worriedly to the youth dressed as a common soldier opposite him: “General, this Hanyang Wengzhu truly seems determined to break the engagement. With matters handled like this, even if we return, I fear it won’t be easy to explain to the Queen Mother!”

That youth had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. A deceptively realistic scar was affixed to his face. He said: “Since this was my idea, I’ll explain to Aunt myself.”

Hearing the youth’s promise, the Grand Master of Remonstrance’s anxious heart finally settled somewhat.

Southern Chen’s truly dispatched marriage escort envoy was the Queen Mother’s own nephew, the Chen King’s cousin Jiang Yu.

That military general who spoke rudely earlier and was cut down from his horse was merely a minor general under Jiang Yu’s command.

Because Ping Province would only allow them to bring five hundred soldiers with the betrothal gifts through the pass, Jiang Yu worried they might be harmed. That’s why he disguised himself as a common soldier and had that minor general pose as the marriage escort envoy.

The rain outside was heavy. Slanting rain lines splashed in from the skylight, making the entire cell damp.

The Grand Master of Remonstrance was elderly and couldn’t withstand the cold. He covered his mouth and coughed twice, sighing: “This trip was to escort the bride. Having subordinates speak such harsh words, creating such tense confrontation between both sides—what’s the point?”

Jiang Yu removed his outer garment and tossed it to him: “I trouble Master Song to suffer alongside Jiang for a few days, but this move wasn’t without gains, was it?”

“Since Hanyang arrived in Ping Province, those eyes we planted earlier have become deaf and blind—no longer able to pass useful information. She and my cousin brother’s wedding is imminent. We must first clearly understand what Ping Province’s current situation truly is.”

Hearing this, Southern Chen’s Grand Master of Remonstrance fell silent, wearing the outer robe Jiang Yu handed over.

Jiang Yu snapped a dry grass stem and continued: “I’d long heard Hanyang Wengzhu is Great Liang’s foremost beauty. Haven’t yet seen the beauty’s face, but from what I witnessed today, the entire Ping Province seems to be under her control. Just don’t know if Great Liang people revere her bloodline or are convinced by her methods. If it’s the latter…”

His eyes held languid amusement: “Aunt doesn’t much like a daughter-in-law with too many opinions.”

The Southern Chen Grand Master of Remonstrance heard something ominous: “Right now we’re fish on the chopping block. If Great Liang uses us as hostages to make exorbitant demands of the King and Queen Mother, what can be done?”

Jiang Yu narrowed his long eyes: “The tens of thousands of Southern Chen troops camped outside Bairen Pass aren’t made of paper either.”

His voice was faint: “That Hanyang Wengzhu wants to preserve Great Liang’s past pride, but clearly, today’s Great Liang can afford to lose even less than Southern Chen.”

He smiled, almost certain: “Great Liang won’t dare make overly excessive demands.”