Wei Rao had the official documents to accompany Lu Zhuo to take up his post in Ganzhou. With these papers and her status as Lu Zhuo’s wife, Wei Rao successfully led five hundred mansion soldiers through the border checkpoints, heading straight for the main military camp where Marquis Xiting was stationed.

It was July, with scorching sunlight. For the first time, Wei Rao galloped across the grasslands without wearing a veil.

Zhao Bai, who was closest to her, maintained a slight distance from her.

Wei Rao’s vision alternated between clear and blurred. The grassland winds were strong, making her face dry, but fortunately, the grasslands were vast and open. As long as she kept to the general direction, even if she occasionally lost focus, she wouldn’t lose her way.

After riding continuously for a full day, Wei Rao and her group finally saw the military camp. The camp was filled with various army banners, and Wei Rao immediately spotted the crimson military flag belonging to the Shenwu Army.

The military flag fluttered like a leaping crimson flame, and also like the figure of Lu Zhuo galloping toward her on horseback.

Her throat tightened. Wei Rao stared intently at that military flag, composed herself for a moment, then quickened her pace and rode over.

The sentries saw them and, unable to distinguish friend from foe at such a distance, immediately notified the commander, Marquis Xiting.

Marquis Xiting sent his son Han Liao with a contingent of troops to meet them.

By this time, Wei Rao’s group had drawn close to the military camp. As soon as Han Liao came out and looked carefully, he saw a white horse leading the group, with a rider whose long hair was flowing in the wind. Looking at her face, it was Wei Rao!

Recognizing Wei Rao, Han Liao immediately guessed her purpose for coming. As for the five hundred mansion soldiers Wei Rao had trained, he had already heard about them back in the capital.

“Please accept my condolences, Princess!”

When Wei Rao approached, Han Liao dismounted to greet her, his expression grave and sorrowful, as if he truly grieved for Lu Zhuo’s death.

Wei Rao had hoped Lu Zhuo was alive, but she never expected that the first person she would see upon arriving at the military camp would be Han Liao – someone who would never truly grieve for Lu Zhuo. Without even needing to look at Han Liao’s face, just his voice alone made her feel sick and nauseous. Her rationality had long since vanished. Wei Rao raised her riding whip and lashed it mercilessly at Han Liao’s head!

With Han Liao’s martial skills, he could have completely avoided it, but with his emotions in turmoil, Han Liao only tilted his head slightly, taking Wei Rao’s whip across his shoulder.

Wei Rao rode straight past him into the main camp, heading for the Shenwu Army’s encampment.

Zhao Bai followed closely behind. When Wei Rao reined in her horse in front of the Shenwu Army’s main command tent, Zhao Bai was already shouting: “The Princess is here! All Shenwu Army soldiers, come out now!”

Before his voice had even faded, the sound of tent flaps being thrown open could be heard in succession. In just a brief moment, all eighteen thousand remaining soldiers of the once fifty-thousand-strong Shenwu Army had assembled in formation.

Wei Rao stood inside the tent.

This was Lu Zhuo’s main tent, filled with things he was accustomed to using. But as she walked from the outer tent to the inner tent, everything she saw lacked Lu Zhuo’s presence.

She stood there in a daze.

From outside the tent came the sound of Zhao Bai interrogating a Shenwu Army lieutenant general surnamed Wu. Lieutenant General Wu’s voice was choked with emotion as he explained the circumstances of Lu Zhuo and Lu Ya’s sacrifice: “…After Wuda retreated, we searched all through Iron Scorpion Ridge and only found the Young Master’s spear and battle helmet. That Wuda bandit must have taken the Young Master’s and Second Young Master’s bodies with him…”

Everything around her suddenly began to spin. Wei Rao closed her eyes, and when the waves of dizziness finally subsided, she wiped her face with her sleeve and walked out expressionlessly. Her gaze quickly fell on Lieutenant General Wu, who stood before Zhao Bai: “Just seeing the spear and helmet doesn’t necessarily mean the Young Master met with misfortune. It’s also possible he escaped. Fei Mo is a divine steed – did you see Fei Mo’s corpse?”

Wuda generals might take Lu Zhuo’s body back to claim credit, but they wouldn’t go to the extra trouble of taking a warhorse with them.

Wei Rao believed that if Fei Mo were alive, he would certainly stay by Lu Zhuo’s side without leaving even a step. Only if Fei Mo were also dead would she believe that Lu Zhuo had truly met with misfortune.

But Wei Rao’s question was one that none of the Shenwu Army soldiers could answer with certainty, because when they returned to Iron Scorpion Ridge, everyone was focused on searching for the Young Master and Second Young Master. Among so many horse corpses, with black horses being especially common, no one had thought to look for Fei Mo among them.

“I want to go to Iron Scorpion Ridge. Who among you is willing to guide me?” Wei Rao remounted her horse – she wanted to search personally.

“Princess, please accept our condolences. Given the circumstances that day, it’s impossible for them to still be alive. Moreover, Wuda forces may appear at any time. The Princess absolutely must not put herself in danger.”

An aged, hoarse voice suddenly came from behind her. Wei Rao turned to see the gray-haired Marquis Xiting, who looked extremely haggard and was supported by his attendant. Behind Marquis Xiting were several more generals.

Lieutenant General Wu positioned himself in front of Wei Rao’s horse and introduced the generals to her, including Qin Min, the main general of the Yucheng Army, and Lieutenant General Zheng, who had fought alongside Lu Zhuo many times.

Qin Min also urged Wei Rao: “Please accept our condolences, Princess.”

Wei Rao had no intention of discussing this with them further. She directed her gaze toward the eighteen thousand Shenwu Army soldiers: “I ask again – who among you is willing to guide me?”

“This subordinate is willing!”

“I’m willing!”

“I’m willing!”

All eighteen thousand Shenwu Army soldiers shouted in unison!

They dared to go, and Wei Rao dared to take them all!

“This is a battlefield – the Princess cannot treat it as child’s play!” Han Liao rushed forward, blocking Wei Rao’s horse.

Wei Rao sneered coldly, her gaze sweeping over Han Liao and the father and son pair of Marquis Xiting, finally questioning Marquis Xiting: “I heard that during the fierce battle that day, if the Marquis hadn’t coughed up blood and fainted, the army might not have retreated? This mouthful of blood the Marquis coughed up came at quite the opportune moment.”

Marquis Xiting’s expression changed slightly, but he sighed deeply, appearing unwilling to argue with a younger generation.

Han Liao, however, couldn’t tolerate Wei Rao’s wild accusations and was about to demand that Wei Rao apologize to his father when Wei Rao spurred her horse forward, circling Han Liao and charging outward.

Zhao Bai, Lieutenant General Wu, Wei Rao’s five hundred mansion soldiers, and the eighteen thousand Shenwu Army soldiers followed in a mighty procession.

“Father, are you just going to let her go like this?” Han Liao said with a complicated expression.

Marquis Xiting sighed: “Shoucheng sacrificed his life, so the Princess’s grief is understandable. Here’s what we’ll do – you take twenty thousand troops to follow the Princess. If you encounter enemy forces, send word immediately.”

Han Liao accepted the order. The spot on his shoulder where Wei Rao had struck him still ached faintly. He couldn’t bear to let such a fiery beauty go to her death in vain.

“This subordinate will also accompany General Han,” Lieutenant General Zheng suddenly said.

Marquis Xiting glanced at Lieutenant General Zheng and nodded.

Qin Min allocated ten thousand troops to Lieutenant General Zheng.

Thus, the three forces combined totaled nearly fifty thousand men, sufficient to handle dangerous situations.

Wei Rao paid no attention to how many people were following behind her – she only wanted to reach Iron Scorpion Ridge quickly.

Iron Scorpion Ridge lay like a giant, fearsome scorpion crouched upon the vast grassland. After experiencing a full day of fierce slaughter, Iron Scorpion Ridge was now strewn with corpses. Vultures and wolves circled endlessly, and only when they heard the thunderous sound of hoofbeats echoing across heaven and earth did they reluctantly depart, carrying scraps of flesh in their beaks and jaws.

Iron Scorpion Ridge reeked of corpses. Wei Rao’s face was pale, but she still insisted on searching personally.

The Shenwu Army soldiers cleared the way ahead of her, turning over every corpse they had examined and every black horse carcass they had overlooked, making it convenient for Wei Rao to inspect them.

They had already searched the mountain paths – nothing there. For Wei Rao, this was good news. Everyone climbed up Iron Scorpion Ridge to continue examining the situation on the mountain ridge.

When Wei Rao reached the halfway point up the mountain, she suddenly saw rolling dust and sand in the distance, as if a Wuda force of over ten thousand troops was pursuing…

Wei Rao saw several streaks of crimson red!

Those dozen or so figures being desperately pursued by the Wuda army were wearing almost entirely crimson battle armor! One of them, riding a black horse, was far in the lead. The rider wore silver armor that gleamed like flowing light under the sun, coming this way!

“It’s the Young Master! Quickly, save the Young Master!”

The Shenwu Army soldiers also spotted the distant pursuit. Without waiting for Wei Rao’s orders, everyone surged down the mountain like a tide, competing to mount their horses, roaring as they charged toward that Wuda force.

Wei Rao was among them.

Han Liao also led his men to follow, though his expression was grim. Could it be that Lu Zhuo’s life was so resilient that he could carve out a path to survival even from such a deadly situation?

How detestable that Lieutenant General Zheng had brought ten thousand men; otherwise, he could have taken advantage of the chaos to put an arrow through Lu Zhuo and send him to his death!

Wei Rao’s side had nearly fifty thousand men. The Wuda army continued their pursuit for a while longer, shooting arrows that claimed the lives of several more Shenwu Army soldiers, before finally turning around and departing.

Almost simultaneously, the silver-armored man on the black horse suddenly collapsed from exhaustion, falling from his mount.

Wei Rao had held back for so long, but now tears streamed down her face like rain. She charged forward. Some of the Shenwu Army soldiers ahead of her went to pursue the Wuda army, while others jumped from their horses to help the few surviving Shenwu Army brothers. Wei Rao stared intently at the silver-armored man surrounded by Shenwu Army soldiers. Just as she was preparing to dismount and personally embrace her husband, she heard someone call him “Second Young Master.”

Wei Rao missed her footing and tumbled toward the grass.

Zhao Bai was quick-eyed and swift-handed, rushing over to catch her.

Wei Rao pushed Zhao Bai away forcefully and staggered toward the silver-armored man. Except for one soldier who was holding him, all the other Shenwu Army soldiers automatically made way.

Wei Rao approached step by step.

Lu Ya’s breathing was weak. Recognizing Wei Rao, tears rolled from the corners of Lu Ya’s eyes, and his cracked lips trembled: “Sister-in-law, Big Brother he…”

He didn’t finish speaking before Wei Rao spat a mouthful of fresh blood all over his face.

Lu Ya’s entire body stiffened, then he reacted in time to catch Wei Rao as she collapsed.

The Wei Rao who fell into his arms had a snow-white face with bright red at the corners of her mouth. Lu Ya remembered that day when they were fleeing through the mountain ridge, hearing Wuda soldiers at the bottom of the cliff excitedly saying they had found his elder brother’s corpse. His throat immediately welled up with a metallic sweetness. Big Brother had given him the chance to live, and even his ability to lead people in escaping Iron Scorpion Ridge was because Big Brother had led men to charge up the other side of the mountain ridge, drawing away Wuda’s main force.

He had failed his big brother and also failed his sister-in-law.

The extreme physical weakness combined with extreme guilt in his heart, shortly after catching Wei Rao, Lu Ya also fell unconscious.

No one noticed that a black horse passed through the fifty thousand troops and ran into the empty Iron Scorpion Ridge. The black horse rampaged through Iron Scorpion Ridge but couldn’t find its master. It returned to the valley where it had last parted from its master and nuzzled corpse after corpse.

Wei Rao had only suffered from acute blood rushing to her heart. After Zhao Bai pressed her philtrum acupoint, she awakened.

“Princess, the Young Miss is still waiting for you at the mansion. You must take care of your health,” Zhao Bai retreated and knelt, choking with emotion.

Wei Rao was still in a daze. Hearing Zhao Bai mention A’Bao, she remembered something and looked to her side.

There, Lu Ya lay with his eyes closed, gaunt and emaciated, bearing some resemblance to Lu Zhuo when he had been half-dead.

The cousins did share some similarities in their features.

So, at the moment of life and death, had Lu Zhuo given Fei Mo to Lu Ya?

They were close brothers – of course, he would do this.

Wei Rao wanted to resent him, but couldn’t muster the strength to do so. How could she have the energy to resent him?

Just then, Wei Rao heard a familiar horse’s neigh coming from Iron Scorpion Ridge!

It was Fei Mo.

Had Fei Mo also gone to search for him?

Wei Rao climbed back onto her horse and returned to the valley of Iron Scorpion Ridge.

Fei Mo walked toward her carrying something in his mouth.

Wei Rao dismounted, stroking Fei Mo’s face with one hand while taking what was in Fei Mo’s mouth with the other.

It was a handkerchief, almost entirely stained red with blood.

Embroidered on the handkerchief were two mandarin ducks that didn’t look quite right. Wei Rao’s needlework had never been outstanding. That day, when A’Gui had teased Zhao Song about getting a handkerchief embroidered by Bitao, Lu Zhuo had witnessed it and came to ask her for one too. Unable to refuse him, Wei Rao had used all her skills to embroider this one for him – her only one.

But how could he just abandon it like this?

Wei Rao embraced Fei Mo and cried aloud for the first time.