Jiang Ci remained silent and motionless. Wei Zhao smiled at Cui Liang, “Ziming, the Young Lord is still worried. Let’s go back.”
Cui Liang nodded, and as the two turned to leave, they heard Jiang Ci’s gentle voice from behind: “Senior Sister, I’m sorry, but I can’t go with you.”
They stopped in their tracks. Cui Liang turned around to see Yan Shuangqiao looking at Jiang Ci with confusion: “Xiao Ci?!”
Wei Zhao slowly turned, noticing Yi Han about to step forward. He moved slightly to shield Cui Liang.
Yi Han, however, only walked to Yan Shuangqiao’s side, his gaze gentle and a smile on his lips as he looked at Jiang Ci: “Xiao Ci, don’t be afraid. I’ll send people to escort you and Shuangqiao back to the capital. You don’t have to stay in this military camp.”
Yan Shuangqiao nodded, holding Jiang Ci’s cold hands: “Yes, Xiao Ci, let’s leave this place and go to the capital. We won’t have to stay on this battlefield anymore, and we’ll never be separated again.”
“Go to the capital? To Huan Kingdom?” Jiang Ci looked at Yi Han and Yan Shuangqiao.
Yan Shuangqiao sighed helplessly, “Xiao Ci, don’t you understand? We can never return to Deng Family Village.”
Jiang Ci remained silent. Yan Shuangqiao, thinking she didn’t understand, felt sad and said softly, “Xiao Ci, now we only have one path – to go to the capital. Given my identity, which affects you too, we can’t stay in Hua Dynasty anymore.”
Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment, then said, “Before I came, the Prime Minister said that if Ming Fei was willing to return, he would forgive everything.”
Yan Shuangqiao laughed coldly, “You believe Pei Yan’s words?!”
Seeing Jiang Ci still hesitating, she grew anxious and angry, “He makes it sound so simple, but do you know who Ming Fei is?! He’s a spy from the Yue Rong Kingdom in the Hua Dynasty!”
Jiang Ci was shocked. Yan Shuangqiao sighed, “Xiao Ci, Ming Fei betrayed Yue Rong for me and offended Pei Yan. In this vast world, only the Huan Kingdom can be his haven. Now, only Father can protect us completely.”
Jiang Ci glanced at Yi Han, then looked back at Yan Shuangqiao. Feeling guilty, Yan Shuangqiao sighed lightly, “Xiao Ci, no matter what, he… he is still my father. I’m half Huan Kingdom citizen after all.”
She turned her head to look at the flowing water under Zhenbo Bridge, where clusters of duckweed grew along the shore. Remembering her mother and aunt, and her experiences after leaving the mountain, her tone became melancholic and sorrowful: “Xiao Ci, I feel guilty towards Mother too, but what can I do? He is still my father, and in these chaotic times, only he can give me a stable home. Besides, Ming Fei…”
“Ming Fei, does he treat you well?” Jiang Ci reached out to wipe away the tears from the corner of Yan Shuangqiao’s eyes, speaking softly.
Yan Shuangqiao turned her head to wipe her tears, choking, “Very well.” After a pause, she added, “Once the war is over, we’ll get married.”
Jiang Ci smiled happily, then took Yan Shuangqiao’s hand and rested her head on her shoulder, slowly closing her eyes.
Yan Shuangqiao felt even more sorrowful. Back in Deng Family Village, when Jiang Ci was too mischievous and Yan Shuangqiao scolded her, Jiang Ci would hold her hands like this and rest her head on her shoulder to act coy. Yan Shuangqiao couldn’t resist her persistence and would laugh it off. But now, Jiang Ci seemed to have grown taller, and her head on Yan Shuangqiao’s shoulder no longer felt like acting coy, but more like saying goodbye.
Jiang Ci spoke softly, “Senior Sister, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for involving you.”
“No, Xiao Ci—” As Yan Shuangqiao was about to speak, Jiang Ci gripped her hands tightly and said softly, “Senior Sister, listen to me.”
Hearing the determination in Jiang Ci’s voice, Yan Shuangqiao paused for a moment, slowly withdrew her hands, and embraced Jiang Ci, weeping.
“Senior Sister, forgive me. I can’t go with you to Huan Kingdom. I’m now a military doctor for the Changfeng Cavalry. The medical tent is short-staffed, and I can’t abandon these wounded soldiers. Senior Sister, I truly want to learn medicine and save people. If I went with you to Huan Kingdom, my heart would never be at peace.”
The wind swept across the bridge. Jiang Ci wrapped her arms around Yan Shuangqiao’s neck and whispered in her ear, “Also, Senior Sister, you can’t let go of your father and Ming Fei, so you want to stay in the Huan Kingdom. But I too have someone I can’t let go of in my heart.”
Yan Shuangqiao was startled and tried to pull Jiang Ci’s hands away, but Jiang Ci held on tighter, her voice barely audible: “Senior Sister, don’t ask. I don’t know why I can’t let go of him. In others’ eyes, he might not be a good person, but I… I just can’t let him go—”
At the head of Zhenbo Bridge, tree leaves rustled in the wind. Cui Liang’s internal energy was insufficient to hear clearly what Jiang Ci had said. He only saw that Yi Han seemed somewhat surprised, and then looked at Wei Zhao beside him, whose expression appeared slightly dazed, his gaze fixed on Jiang Ci.
Yan Shuangqiao opened her mouth but couldn’t form words. Jiang Ci hugged her tighter and said softly, “Senior Sister, go back to the capital. In the future, when you and Ming Fei are married and the Hua and Huan Kingdoms are no longer at war, I’ll come to visit you in the Huan Kingdom. We agreed before, that your daughter would be my daughter too. I will come to see you all.”
Though her heart was heavy, she slowly let go, looking at Yan Shuangqiao with a satisfied smile. She suddenly turned and ran down Zhenbo Bridge towards the distant military camp.
Yan Shuangqiao took two steps to follow, but Yi Han flashed over and held her back. Overwhelmed with sorrow, Yan Shuangqiao called out loudly, “Xiao Ci!”
A strong gust of wind came, swallowing her cry. Yan Shuangqiao wept profusely. Yi Han sighed inwardly, touched her acupoint, and carried her away.
Wei Zhao stood motionless on the bridge. Clouds drifted across the sky, obscuring the sun and darkening his handsome face. Cui Liang saw this clearly and sighed inwardly, but still smiled and said, “Lord Wei, let’s go back.”
Wei Zhao turned slowly, his words sounding somewhat distant: “Ziming, please.”
Cui Liang walked slowly, descending Zhenbo Bridge. He saw Ning Jianyu leading a large group of soldiers to guard the bridgehead and nodded with a smile. Then he turned to look towards the north of Xihe Canal and sighed, “Lord Wei, I’m afraid it won’t be long before we face a bloody battle.”
Wei Zhao nodded with a smile to Ning Jianyu, his steps composed, but his hands behind his back trembled slightly. He also looked towards the north of Xihe Canal and sighed, “Without bloody battles, how can we reclaim our lost territory?”
Cui Liang’s brow furrowed with melancholy: “I only hope that the war ends soon and that from now on, the court’s internal affairs will be clear and just, and no one among the common people will suffer oppression.”
Wei Zhao turned his gaze from the north of Xihe Canal to look ahead and to the right, just in time to see Jiang Ci’s slender figure running towards the medical tent. His heart seemed to be violently struck, constricting into a knot, yet also seeming to accumulate greater strength, ready to burst forth.
Wei Zhao and Cui Liang entered the tent. Zhou Mi of the Changfeng Guard had just finished reporting to Pei Yan and was leaving. Pei Yan seemed to be in an excellent mood and laughed heartily, “Come, come, Ziming, let me introduce you.”
Cui Liang saw a man rise from the chair in the west. He was in his twenties, with clear features and a friendly smile, exuding the air of a young master from a noble family. He hurriedly bowed and said, “Cui Liang pays his respects to the Marquis!”
Marquis Xuanyuan, He Wenwen, made a gesture of support and smiled, “As expected of Military Advisor Cui, you guessed it was me.”
Cui Liang smiled, “I calculated that the Marquis should arrive these days. Just now, on the way here, I noticed some commotion at the rear of the camp and knew it must be the Marquis arriving with reinforcements. With the Marquis here, our chances of victory have greatly increased.”
He Wenwen’s gaze swept over Wei Zhao to the side, nodding slightly, “Lord Wei, it’s been a while. How have you been?”
He Wenwen and Prince Zhuang’s faction had never been on good terms. Moreover, his sister He Qingling had once injured the internal nephew of Right Chancellor Tao Xingde. To resolve this matter, He Wenwen personally went to the capital to mediate and met Wei Zhao several times. He had also sent gifts to Wei Zhao through others, asking Wei Zhao to mediate. However, Wei Zhao, who had never gotten along well with the sons of noble families, ordered the gifts to be distributed among the Guangming Guard and publicly stated that “He Wenwen’s things are too luxurious for the Wei household to afford,” which made He Wenwen secretly resentful. But meeting in the military camp, with Wei Zhao being the imperial envoy, and the Emperor, though ill, might recover any day, it wasn’t wise to offend this favored official who wielded great power at court.
Wei Zhao didn’t look at him, just snorted coldly and sat down with a sweep of his sleeve. Pei Yan smiled slightly and said, “Ziming, you’ve worked hard.”
Cui Liang sighed, “I’ve failed to live up to Your Excellency’s trust. I feel truly ashamed.”
Pei Yan smiled, “Ziming, there’s no need to blame yourself. Each person has their aspirations. With Ziming’s assistance, what do I have to fear from Yu Wen Jinglun?!” He took a register and handed it to Cui Liang, “These are the personnel and provisions Brother Wenwen has brought. Ziming, see how to arrange them. This crucial battle, we must win and cannot afford to lose!”
Cui Liang nodded, “Yes, those few weapons are almost ready too. As soon as the opportunity arises, we can launch our counterattack.”
However, Pei Yan’s expression turned solemn as he waved his hand, “Ziming, arrange things first, but as for when to strike, we still need to wait for one more person.”
“Who?”
Pei Yan smiled, “Didn’t Ziming give me an idea that day? It’s truly a brilliant plan.”
Cui Liang was delighted, “Does Your Excellency have a suitable person?”
Pei Yan looked towards the tent entrance, “He should be arriving soon.” Then he smiled slightly, “Let’s discuss first how exactly we’ll fight.”
Jiang Ci, having seen her senior sister and knowing she had found a lifelong partner, felt immensely relieved. She had also poured out all the words in her heart, finally lifting the veil that had been over her heart on Zhenbo Bridge. She felt freer than she had been since last year. Returning to the medical tent, her smile was brighter, and she worked even more diligently.
Military Doctor Ling finished changing the bandages for the last wounded soldier in the tent and came over to wash his hands. He looked at Jiang Ci, who was brewing medicine, and smiled kindly, “Little Ji, how old are you this year?”
“Almost eighteen.”
“About the same age as my Yun’er, though she was born in the first month, slightly older than you.”
Having been in the medical tent for a long time, Jiang Ci had heard about Military Doctor Ling’s daughter and knew he seemed to intend to betroth her to General Ning. She smiled and asked, “Where is Sister Yun now?”
“At our old home in Nan’an Prefecture. She was clamoring to join the army, but I didn’t allow it. The battlefield is dangerous, not a place for play.”
Jiang Ci heard the implication in Military Doctor Ling’s words and smiled, “I think the battlefield is a good place to temper oneself.”
Military Doctor Ling laughed, “She says the same thing. She’s been studying medicine too. It seems you two have similar aspirations.”
Jiang Ci had long regarded Military Doctor Ling as an elder and smiled, “Uncle Ling, do you know what my aspiration was before?”
“Tell me about it.”
“Before, I just wanted to travel the world, eat all the delicious food, and watch all the beautiful operas.” As Jiang Ci spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Military Doctor Ling also laughed heartily, casually taking off his blood-stained medical gown. Jiang Ci quickly took it from him.
That day, on both sides of Xihe Canal, an unusual tension permeated the calm. Both sides seemed to know that a great battle was imminent. Although there was no close combat yet, the oppressive atmosphere of war could be felt overshadowing the brilliant summer sunlight.
As night fell, there was a sudden commotion at the rear of the military camp. Jiang Ci had just washed her hands and instructed Little Tian a few things before leaving the medical tent. She saw Song Jun of the Guangming Guard rushing towards the rear camp with a sharp sword, his face full of killing intent. Curious, and having been protected by Song Jun before, she followed him.
Near the stables at the rear camp, soldiers had already gathered, constantly shouting, “Beat that kid to death!”
“How dare he bully our Hongzhou troops!”
“Let’s all attack together!”
Song Jun arrived with his sword, letting out a fierce shout. His figure rose, stepping on the shoulders of the onlookers, leaping into the circle. His cold sword flashed, forcing back several people who were surrounding Zong Sheng of the Guangming Guard. Zong Sheng was unarmed and was being attacked by dozens of Hongzhou soldiers. Although he was skilled in martial arts, facing these dozens of Hongzhou soldiers who were also trained in combat empty-handed, he was in a bit of a predicament. Song Jun’s arrival finally gave him some relief.
Seeing that the Guangming Guard’s reinforcement had arrived, the Hongzhou soldiers brought by Marquis Xuanyuan surrounded them with dozens more men. The scene turned into a chaotic melee. Song Jun had no choice but to unleash a rain of sword strikes, but the Hongzhou soldiers still didn’t disperse. Soon, several people were injured and fell to the ground, which made the Hongzhou soldiers even more indignant, with more and more joining the attack.
“Stop!” He Wenwen’s angry shout came, and the Hongzhou soldiers all froze for a moment, stepping back.
Song Jun went to help Zong Sheng up. Zong Sheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and glared at Pei Yan, He Wenwen, and Wei Zhao, who were rushing over.
He Wenwen’s sharp gaze swept over the Hongzhou soldiers, “What’s going on?!”
An injured vice commander struggled to his feet, pointing at Zong Sheng, extremely indignant: “Marquis, this kid stole our provisions to feed his warhorse, and even insulted us! We couldn’t stand it anymore, so we—”
Zong Sheng looked askance at He Wenwen: “So what if I took it? This is our Lord Wei’s warhorse, it should be fed the best provisions in the entire camp! You’re just mere Hongzhou troops, how dare you put on airs in front of us Guangming Guard!”
He Wenwen looked somewhat embarrassed and before he could speak, the injured vice commander, unable to contain his anger, blurted out: “What Lord Wei?! He’s nothing but a pretty boy!”
Before He Wenwen could stop him, a flash of bloodlust crossed Wei Zhao’s eyes. In an instant, he appeared before the vice commander. Though the vice commander was a disciple of Cangshan and not weak in martial arts, he couldn’t dodge in time. Wei Zhao’s right hand was already at his throat.
“Lord Wei!” Pei Yan rushed over, touching Wei Zhao’s right arm. Wei Zhao gave him a cold look but didn’t let go. His fingers slowly tightened, and the vice commander’s eyes seemed about to burst out, his feet trembling violently. It looked like he was about to die under Wei Zhao’s hand.
Pei Yan looked at Wei Zhao and said softly, “San Lang, give me a face.”
Wei Zhao glanced at He Wenwen, gradually loosening his grip. Suddenly, he lifted his robe, spread his legs, and said coldly to the vice commander: “You, crawl through, and I’ll spare your life!”
The Hongzhou troops erupted in an uproar. Used to throwing their weight around in Hongzhou, they had never suffered such humiliation. Enraged, they started shouting, drawing their weapons.
He Wenwen repeatedly shouted to suppress the crowd, then stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Wei Zhao: “Lord Wei, my subordinates are ignorant. I apologize to you. Please, Lord Wei, for my sake, let’s keep peace in the military camp.”
A faint smile appeared on Wei Zhao’s handsome face, looking somewhat demonic. He slowly released his right hand and looked at He Wenwen casually: “Is this how the Marquis apologizes to people?”
He Wenwen was stunned. Wei Zhao said indifferently: “When Minister Chen’s son apologized to me back then, he kowtowed three times. Out of respect for the Young Lord, just one kowtow from the Marquis will suffice.”
He Wenwen was furious, and the Hongzhou troops surrounded them, shouting: “Marquis, let’s fight him!”
“This kid is too arrogant, why should our Hongzhou troops suffer such humiliation!”
He Wenwen’s face turned ashen. He looked at Pei Yan and said coldly: “Young Lord, I’m waiting for your word.”
Pei Yan’s face showed a troubled expression. Wei Zhao snorted coldly, standing with his hands behind his back, slightly raising his head, not saying a word. As soon as Pei Yan opened his mouth: “San Lang—”
Wei Zhao swept his right sleeve, the force making Pei Yan take a small step back.
Seeing Pei Yan’s bitter smile, He Wenwen angrily said: “So even the Young Lord is afraid of this treacherous person!” He cupped his hands towards Pei Yan: “If that’s the case, there’s no need for my Hongzhou troops to stay here any longer. Farewell!” He turned and shouted: “Brothers, let’s go!”
The Hongzhou troops were delighted, shouting as they gathered to mount their horses. Pei Yan hurriedly caught up with He Wenwen and whispered in his ear. He Wenwen’s face remained ashen, while Wei Zhao watched everyone with a cold smile.
After Pei Yan spoke with He Wenwen for a while, He Wenwen’s expression eased slightly. He said coldly: “I’ll give the Young Lord this face, but with Wei Zhao here, my Hongzhou troops won’t stay. Young Lord, do as you see fit.”
Cui Liang rushed over, seemingly having heard about the situation. He walked to Pei Yan’s side and said softly: “Prime Minister, weren’t we planning to send a batch of people to defend Doujia Village?”
Pei Yan’s eyes lit up. He said to He Wenwen: “Brother He, Doujia Village’s defenses are weak, and it’s a place the Huan army has been trying to break through. This important defensive task, I think only the Hongzhou troops can handle.”
He Wenwen didn’t say much, just cupped his hands towards Pei Yan, mounted his horse with a sweep of his sleeve, and led the Hongzhou troops galloping westward.
Pei Yan turned around. Wei Zhao didn’t look at him but turned to Zong Sheng and said coldly: “Useless!”
Zong Sheng chuckled: “I won’t dare next time.”
But Wei Zhao’s lips curled slightly: “Next time, be more ruthless. Even if you kill them all, I’ll back you up.” With that, he left with a sweep of his sleeve.
Zong Sheng and Song Jun exchanged glances and walked away, laughing.
Pei Yan shook his head with a bitter smile and said to Cui Liang: “Ziming, arrange the troops as you see fit.”
Jiang Ci saw from afar that Wei Zhao didn’t return to the military camp but walked towards the fields behind the camp. She quietly followed him.
By now, it was completely dark, with a few cold stars hanging in the eastern sky. Wei Zhao walked at a leisurely pace with his hands behind his back. Jiang Ci silently followed behind, not knowing how long they had walked when Wei Zhao stopped at the edge of a small grove.
Jiang Ci had long known she couldn’t escape his keen hearing. She smiled and walked up behind him. Wei Zhao turned to look at her once, then turned away again.
A summer breeze blew by, and Jiang Ci suddenly smelled a very faint fragrance. She sniffed and smiled: “Madder scent!” She bent down, searching around. With her weak internal energy, she had difficulty seeing at night and couldn’t find anything after searching for a long time, but she still bent down, rustling through the grass.
Wei Zhao stood silently for a long time before finally asking: “What does it look like?”
Jiang Ci straightened up and smiled, gesturing: “It has tiny fruits this big, and the grass looks like this.”
Wei Zhao’s gaze swept around, and he walked about ten steps to the right, bent down, pulled up a handful of madder, and handed it to Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci smiled and took it: “Thank you, Third Master!” She picked several small red fruits from the madder and held them out to Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao looked at her, picked up one, and put it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, his brows furrowed slightly, but seeing Jiang Ci eating happily, he still took a few more from her hand and ate them slowly.
“When I was little and mischievous, I often ran to the back mountain to pick wild fruits to eat. Once, I accidentally ate ‘snake fruit’ and was in so much pain I cried like a ghost and howled like a wolf. Master wasn’t home, and Senior Sister was so worried she cried. She carried me down the mountain in the middle of the night to find a doctor, barely saving my little life.” Jiang Ci looked towards the north, eating the madder fruit, her tone melancholic.
“Then today—” Wei Zhao blurted out, then swallowed the rest of his words.
Jiang Ci smiled and looked at him. Her eyes flashed with a light that startled the heart. Wei Zhao couldn’t bear the violent impact on his heart. Seeing she was about to speak, he suddenly turned and strode towards the military camp. Jiang Ci hurriedly followed, seeing him walking faster and faster. She panted: “Third Master, can you walk a bit slower?”
Wei Zhao didn’t stop. Jiang Ci let out an “Ah!” and fell to the ground.
Wei Zhao’s figure froze. After hesitating for a long time, he finally turned back. Jiang Ci grabbed his right hand and jumped up with a smile. Wei Zhao hurriedly shook off her hand and said coldly: “You’ve learned to deceive people.”
Jiang Ci patted the dust off her bottom and smiled: “Third Master flatters me. My little trick is far inferior to the acting skills of Third Master, the Prime Minister, and that Marquis just now.”
In the darkness, Wei Zhao was stunned, then couldn’t help but smile. His tone was very light: “You’re not so stupid after all.”
Jiang Ci followed behind him, walking slowly, and asked: “Do we have Huan army spies in our camp?”
“The Young Lord runs a tight ship. There shouldn’t be any in the Changfeng Cavalry, but among the people He Wenwen brought, there are some mixed in.” Wei Zhao walked with his hands behind his back, then asked: “How did you figure it out?”
Jiang Ci smiled: “This isn’t the capital. Third Master doesn’t need to act in front of people. Besides, the Third Master I know isn’t someone who disregards the bigger picture.”
Wei Zhao’s steps faltered. Jiang Ci handed him a few more madder fruits: “It seems we’re about to have a big decisive battle with the Huan army?”
“Yes.”
The two walked slowly in the night. When the lights of the military camp were faintly visible, Jiang Ci stopped and turned to look at Wei Zhao.
Wei Zhao quietly looked at her. Jiang Ci looked up at his face, like the crescent moon rising behind him, and said softly: “Third Master, go back to Yueluo. Don’t be so hard on yourself anymore.”
In the moonlight, her dark eyes shone with a pure light. Her faint smile was like the rippling autumn waters, flowing over Wei Zhao’s chaotic heart. He gradually felt dazed and slowly reached out his right hand. His fingertips were cold as he moved to touch that serene smile, to touch that unique, softest concern in the world.
Jiang Ci felt her heart beating very hard. Seeing his hand about to touch her cheek, she finally couldn’t help but close her eyes. As the rippling light in her eyes disappeared, Wei Zhao awoke. His heart felt as if it had been branded by a hot iron. He suddenly leaped up and disappeared into the vast night.
Jiang Ci opened her eyes. The cool summer night breeze brushed her burning cheeks. She let out a silent sigh—
In the latter half of the night, thick clouds gradually gathered in the sky, making the night even darker.
Pei Yan and Cui Liang walked side by side from the rear camp towards the central military tent, somewhat excited. Pei Yan smiled: “Taking back Hexi Prefecture depends on this treasure.”
Cui Liang smiled silently. Pei Yan asked: “By the way, does your Uncle-Master know about this thing?”
Cui Liang shook his head: “He probably doesn’t. This record is in a book that only the sect leader can see, kept in the secret room of Tianxuan Pavilion. Uncle Master never saw it back then.”
A shadow flashed in front, and Pei Yan smiled, saying to Cui Liang: “He’s here.”
The two entered the central military tent. Nangong Jue was taking off his black water-resistant robe. Seeing Pei Yan enter, he let out a breath and smiled: “Young Lord, your defenses are so tight. I had to swim over and almost got caught in the blade nets.”
Pei Yan laughed heartily: “It’s all thanks to Ziming.” He then smiled at Cui Liang: “This is Yude, my childhood friend. Whether we can smoothly recover Hexi Prefecture depends entirely on him.”
Nangong Jue came over to sit down and took out a booklet from his inner garment: “Everyone is here. Young Lord, check if it’s complete. I also found where the Gao family hid their treasure. I moved it out before Hexi Prefecture fell and burned their granaries. Although the Huan army took Hexi Prefecture, they got nothing.”
Pei Yan took the booklet, looked it over, and nodded: “These are the people. Where are they now?”
“They’re all in a village thirty li northwest of Hexi Prefecture. As soon as I saw Hexi Prefecture fall, I knew the situation was bad. Knowing the Young Lord would use these people, I gathered them together to be ready to convey orders at any time. That’s why I’m a bit late.”
Pei Yan smiled at Cui Liang: “Ziming, tell Yude what to do.”
After Cui Liang explained in detail, Nangong Jue put on his water-resistant robe again. Seeing him put on a black mask, he cupped his hands and walked towards the tent exit. Pei Yan suddenly called out: “Yude.”
Nangong Jue turned back, his bright eyes still like the carefree young man from over ten years ago.
Pei Yan looked at him and said softly: “Yude, be careful.”
Nangong Jue was stunned, then remembered An Chen. His eyes dimmed slightly, but he smiled again: “Don’t worry, Young Lord. You still owe me a bet. I’ve been waiting for ten years!”
Pei Yan laughed heartily: “Good! Yude, I’ll be waiting for you!”
After nightfall, Han Prefecture was as silent as death.
After the Huan army took Hexi Prefecture, the left army also captured Han and Jing Prefectures. Although the main force was now concentrated north of Xihe Canal, there were still some troops stationed in Han and Jing Prefectures. During the siege, the military and civilians of Han Prefecture suffered heavy casualties. The Huan army was known for its ferocity, and for days, the civilians remaining in Han Prefecture hid in their homes, not daring to go out. Even if they had relatives who died in the defense of the city, they could only quietly bury them in thin coffins, not daring to hold funerals. Everyone, in their grief, prayed to the heavens that Sword and Cauldron Marquis Pei Yan could lead the Changfeng Cavalry to hold Xihe Canal, defeat the Huan army, and recover the lost territory.
The streets were pitch black. Even the night watchmen were nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, Huan army soldiers on night patrol would pass by, their sharp, orderly footsteps silencing even the dogs in the civilian homes.
Later in the night, the door of “Huichun Hall” on Apricot Street was suddenly knocked loudly. The owner of the pharmacy was Doctor Li, known for his excellent medical skills and ethics, highly respected by the people of Han Prefecture. Hearing the knocking, he got up and put on his clothes. Hearing the commotion outside, he hesitated whether to open the door. Suddenly, with a loud bang, the door shattered, and a group of Huan soldiers rushed in.
Doctor Li was terrified. Seeing these Huan soldiers staggering, he knew they were drunk. He hurriedly went to stop them: “Sirs! This is a pharmacy—”
The Huan soldiers, supporting each other, laughed lewdly: “We’re looking for your ‘Huichun Hall’ (Spring Return Hall).”
“That’s right, I’ve heard the young miss of ‘Huichun Hall’ is extremely beautiful. Quickly, bring her out so we brothers can have a look!”
Physician Li’s vision darkened. Before he could cry for help, the Huan soldiers had already rushed into the inner hall. Amidst a chorus of wails, several women were dragged out. Physician Li watched helplessly as his precious daughter was tucked under the arm of a Huan soldier. In his desperation, he charged forward, but the soldier, with a smug grin, struck Physician Li’s neck with a palm strike, causing him to collapse unconscious.
The neighbors, hearing the commotion and the women’s cries, were concerned for the safety of Physician Li’s family but dared not come out to look. As they cowered trembling in their homes, suddenly someone shouted, “Fire! ‘Huichun Hall’ is on fire!”
Upon hearing that ‘Huichun Hall’ was ablaze, the neighbors could no longer remain idle. They swarmed out, fetching water from all directions to help extinguish the fire. As they watched the flames grow larger, engulfing ‘Huichun Hall’, anger filled their hearts. The men’s foreheads bulged with veins, their fists clenched tightly.
Heart-wrenching wails filled the air as an old woman rushed from the end of the street, “My son! My dear son!”
The neighbors recognized her as the mother of A Chun, an assistant at the medicine hall. Several people hurried to support her as she fainted from grief.
At that moment, a squad of Huan soldiers arrived on the long street. Seeing the raging fire and the glares from the civilians, the leading officer barked, “What’s going on here?! Hurry up and put out the fire!”
Someone, identity unknown, hurled a brick and shouted, “You beasts!”
“Let’s fight these animals to the death!”
“Physician Li has saved so many of us, we must avenge him!”
“Everyone, grab whatever you can and charge!”
More and more civilians gathered on the main street, trapping the small squad of Huan soldiers in the alley. Sensing the danger, the Huan soldiers drew their weapons and shouted, “Do you all have a death wish?!”
A young man, wielding a blade, rushed forward, “I’ll avenge my elder brother!” He lunged at the leading officer, but the officer, being skilled in martial arts, easily knocked the young man down and pierced his right leg with a long spear.
Seeing the young man’s right leg gushing with blood, the thousand-strong crowd could no longer contain their fury. With a deafening roar, they surged forward, disregarding their lack of weapons and the consequences. As the Huan soldiers raised their weapons, several young men in the crowd suddenly brandished hidden blades, cutting down the front row of soldiers.
The civilians poured in like a tidal wave. In mere moments, the small squad of Huan soldiers was trampled underfoot by the thousand-strong mob. Those whose loved ones had died at the hands of the Huan army went further, picking up the soldiers’ corpses and throwing them into the raging fire.
Someone raised their arm and shouted, “Fellow villagers, we can’t just sit here and wait for death!”
“That’s right, let’s fight the Huan traitors to the end!”
The civilians, their anger reaching a boiling point, responded in unison. The crowd on the street grew larger and larger, with everyone either holding a knife or wielding a club, charging towards the prefectural governor’s mansion on the main street and various city gates.
Inside Hanzhou City, fires broke out everywhere. The Huan soldiers stationed in the city were in disarray, hastily opening the city gates to allow the troops stationed outside to enter and help suppress the civilian uprising.
Amidst the chaos, a group of people quietly slipped out of the east gate of Hanzhou City.
After traveling more than ten li, one of them put down Physician Li, whom he had been carrying on his shoulder. He pressed an acupoint on Li’s chest, and the physician slowly opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by several masked individuals.
Before he could speak, a young woman threw herself at him, “Father!”
Physician Li was overjoyed and embraced his daughter, both weeping.
The black-clad masked man bowed and said, “Physician Li, we must apologize for the trouble we’ve caused. We are men of the Sword Cauldron Marquis.”
Physician Li was initially startled, then delighted. He and Military Physician Ling from the Long Wind Cavalry were fellow disciples, and he held great respect for Sword Cauldron Marquis Pei Yan. The masked man continued, “Tonight’s events were unavoidable. We had to use you and your family to stage this scene. The Marquis will soon reclaim Hexi Prefecture and the two states of Han and Jing.” He took out a banknote from his pocket and handed it to Physician Li. “The events of tonight have tarnished your daughter’s reputation. The Marquis asks for your forgiveness and offers this small token. We must trouble you to relocate elsewhere.”
In the torchlight, Physician Li saw that the banknote was for a substantial sum of three thousand taels. He hurriedly refused, saying, “To be able to do something for the Marquis and the people is my duty. I absolutely cannot accept this money.” His tone was firm.
The masked man looked troubled. Physician Li added, “I don’t want to stay in Hanzhou City anymore anyway. Why don’t I join the Long Wind Cavalry and become a military physician like my fellow disciple?”
“The fighting at Hexi Canal is fierce now, you won’t be able to cross,” the masked man pondered for a moment before saying, “How about this, Physician Li? Go to Ox Nose Mountain. General Tong has sent people to guard it. Take this token, and they will take you in.” He pressed the token and the banknote into Physician Li’s hand before hurrying away with his men.
Physician Li’s family gathered together, all looking towards Hanzhou. Li’s eldest daughter clasped her hands in prayer, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears as she silently prayed, “May the heavens bless the Sword Cauldron Marquis to reclaim the lost territory, and protect the people of Hua Dynasty from further suffering of war.”
On the night of the fourteenth day of the fifth month in the fifth year of Chengxi of the Hua Dynasty, civilians in Hanzhou City, occupied by the Huan army, rose in rebellion. Although the Huan army suppressed the uprising with all their might, they suffered heavy casualties and urgently requested reinforcements from Hexi Prefecture.
On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, civilians in Jingzhou City rebelled due to the Huan army’s forceful abduction of women. Unable to bear the humiliation, they killed several hundred Huan soldiers during the uprising. The Huan forces guarding the city were stretched thin and urgently requested reinforcements from Hexi Prefecture.
After receiving the reports, King Xuan Yuwen Jinglun urgently dispatched part of the garrison from Hexi Prefecture to aid Hanzhou and Jingzhou.
On the night of the eighteenth day of the fifth month, a civilian uprising also occurred in Hexi Prefecture. In their anger, civilians rushed into the Huan army camp, burning some of the provisions and killing or injuring over a thousand Huan soldiers. Yuwen Jinglun had no choice but to withdraw ten thousand troops from his main force north of Hexi Canal to return and guard Hexi Prefecture.
The Huan army’s southern expedition of 150,000 troops resulted in the deaths of 30,000 soldiers in multiple fierce battles. Some forces were left to guard Cheng County, Yunzhou, Yuzhou, Gong’an, and Donglai. Some were stationed in Hexi Prefecture, Hanzhou, and Jingzhou. Only about 80,000 of the main force remained, facing off against the Long Wind Cavalry at Hexi Canal.
On the twenty-second day of the fifth month, at the Hour of the Tiger (3-5 am).
Yuwen Jinglun donned his armor. Teng Rui lifted the tent flap and entered. Yuwen Jinglun’s expression was serious. “Is everything ready?”
“The boulders have been transported to that location, and the soldiers are all prepared,” Teng Rui hesitated before continuing, “Your Highness, in my opinion, it would be better to fall back and defend Hexi Prefecture. We don’t have a high chance of victory in this forceful attack.”
Yuwen Jinglun waved his hand, saying, “I also think the advisor’s words make sense, but now the Hongzhou Army is guarding Dou Family Village. This is a rare opportunity. The Hongzhou Army is a bunch of incompetents, no match for Pei Yan’s Long Wind Cavalry. No matter what, I have to try.”
Teng Rui pondered, “I just wonder if this might be Pei Yan’s strategy to lure the enemy?”
“I don’t think so,” Yuwen Jinglun chuckled. “That fool of a Hua emperor only knows how to favor catamites. He even sent Wei Zhao up here as a supervising officer. That brat has always been arrogant and domineering. It’s only natural for him to clash with He Zhenwen.”
Teng Rui nodded slightly, “That’s true. So, Your Highness, if we conquer this land in the future, we must strictly prohibit the practice of keeping catamites to rectify the court’s customs.”
“Of course, I also despise such filthy practices,” Yuwen Jinglun fastened his battle robe, his hand pausing slightly, showing some worry. “It’s just that both royal uncles are fond of this habit, which is quite troublesome. For now, we still rely on them to lead troops to our aid.”
Teng Rui, thinking of the two royal uncles, Prince Wei Ping and Prince Ning Ping, who controlled 100,000 troops in the country, also felt quite troubled. Just as he was about to speak, Yi Han entered, “Your Highness, everything is ready.”
Yuwen Jinglun had to put aside his worries for now. He left the tent and mounted his horse. With a wave of the command flag, the Huan army’s great force silently galloped westward in the pre-dawn darkness.
On the twenty-second day of the fifth month in the fifth year of Chengxi of the Hua Dynasty, Huan King Xuan Yuwen Jinglun ordered 20,000 right-wing troops to launch an attack at Zhenbo Bridge to tie down the main force of the Long Wind Cavalry. He led 50,000 troops to attack the Dou Family Village section of the canal, over thirty li west of Zhenbo Bridge.
The Huan army, using shield bearers and archers as cover, used catapults they had hastily constructed to hurl boulders. They also used “toad carts” to transport soil, filling in the Hexi Canal within an hour. The main cavalry force then attacked across.
As the Huan cavalry attacked, the Hua army’s numbers suddenly increased. The main force of the Long Wind Cavalry, led by Ning Jianyu, appeared on the canal bank at Dou Family Village.
The Long Wind Cavalry soldiers held medicinal cowhide tubes, spraying black oil onto the Huan army. Teng Rui was shocked, but before he could order a retreat, the Long Wind Cavalry archers shot fire arrows. The Huan cavalry caught fire, falling from their horses, and suffering countless casualties.
Before the Huan army could retreat, the Long Wind Cavalry used four-wheeled wooden carts to cross the Hexi Canal. The carts continuously sprayed poison liquid, which the Huan army couldn’t withstand, forcing them to retreat step by step.
Seeing the situation deteriorate, Yuwen Jinglun realized he had fallen into Pei Yan’s trap. He made a quick decision to retreat to Hexi Prefecture.
Meanwhile, Pei Yan and Wei Zhao personally led 30,000 troops in a bloody battle, defeating the Huan right-wing army and crossing Zhenbo Bridge.
The Huan army retreated step by step. Both sides engaged in fierce combat, with battle cries shaking the heavens. The Huan garrison in Hexi Prefecture, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, also sallied forth to provide support. The intense battle raged on the plains south of Hexi City for an entire day.
When the civilians of Hexi Prefecture saw the Long Wind Cavalry cross the Hexi Canal, they were stirred with excitement and joined the battle. Yuwen Jinglun caught up in the bloodlust, only retreated urgently under Teng Rui’s strong persuasion. The Huan army retreated northward, with the Long Wind Cavalry in hot pursuit. They chased them to “Returning Goose Pass” in the Yanming Mountain Range, where the Huan army finally managed to catch their breath by defending the pass.
Both sides fell into a stalemate again, with “Returning Goose Pass” as the boundary.
On the twenty-third day of the fifth month, Chen An led the Long Wind Cavalry’s vanguard to recapture Han and Jing states, annihilating the Huan forces stationed in these two places. With this, the Long Wind Cavalry achieved the “Great Victory of Hexi,” finally securing their first major victory since the Huan army’s invasion.
On the night after the battle, Hexi Prefecture was ablaze with lights, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air. Civilians flooded the streets, setting off firecrackers and fireworks to celebrate the Long Wind Cavalry’s great victory in driving away the Huan army and recapturing Hexi Prefecture. Even those who had lost loved ones in the war wept with joy. People temporarily forgot the pain of war and immersed themselves in the joy of victory.
Pei Yan, seeing that “Returning Goose Pass” was strategically located and difficult to capture quickly, and that the Huan army, having just been defeated, would be unable to invade southward for some time, ordered Ning Jianyu to lead the main force of the Long Wind Cavalry and the Hongzhou Army to continue besieging the pass. He led ten thousand Long Wind Cavalry troops back to the city with Wei Zhao. Civilians lined the streets to welcome them, and villagers from around Hexi Prefecture also rushed to join the celebration. The sound of gongs, drums, and cheers echoed across the entire Hexi Plain.
Pei Yan wore a purple robe and silver armor, with a cold sword hanging at his horse’s side. His battle robe was covered in blood stains, and his eyes showed signs of fatigue from the great battle, yet he still wore a spring-like smile. He bowed with clasped hands to the people all along the way, with shouts of “Sword Cauldron Marquis” deafening the ears.
Amidst the cheers, they entered the prefectural governor’s mansion. As Pei Yan removed his armor, Cui Liang noticed a sword wound on his left leg and quickly ordered someone to fetch medicine to dress it.
Seeing Wei Zhao standing idly in the east hall with his hands behind his back, Pei Yan smiled and said, “Third Young Master, I’ll count this as your win.”
Wei Zhao, his white robe spattered with blood, didn’t turn around. He said coolly, “Not really. Your opponent was Yi Han. I wanted to find Yuwen Jinglun, but there were too many people willing to die for that guy.”
Cui Liang applied medicine to Pei Yan’s wounds. Pei Yan smiled and said, “If Yi Han isn’t eliminated, he’ll always be a thorn in our side. With him protecting Yu Wen Jinglun, they’ll eventually become our greatest enemies.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Wei Zhao said, sitting down in a chair. “Yi Han’s disadvantage is that he’s more than twenty years older than the Young Lord. By the time he’s old and frail, the Young Lord will be in his prime.”
“That’s true,” Pei Yan smiled. Noticing the medicine boy Xiao Tian holding the medicine box nearby, he looked around with a slightly furrowed brow. “Where’s Xiao Ci?”
“He’s with Physician Ling, still at Huiyan Pass,” Xiao Tian replied, realizing Pei Yan was referring to Jiang Ci.
Both Pei Yan and Wei Zhao’s expressions changed slightly. Pei Yan said with displeasure, “Wasn’t she supposed to follow the commander’s movements? Why is she still at Huiyan Pass?!”
Seeing the usually gentle Pei Yan so angry, Xiao Tian’s heart pounded. After a while, he said, “He insisted on staying there, saying that’s where the most wounded soldiers are. Even Physician Ling couldn’t stop him.”
Cui Liang finished tying the bandage and straightened up. “There’s no real danger. By my calculations, the Huan army suffered heavy casualties this time, and Yi Han was also injured. Given Master Uncle’s cautious nature, he’ll surely advocate for holding the pass and waiting for reinforcements before attempting to invade the South. As long as Xiao Ci doesn’t go near the pass, there’s no danger. Once she sets her mind on something, not even ten oxen could pull her back.”
Pei Yan thought for a moment and said nothing more. After Xiao Tian and the others left, he smiled at Cui Liang, “Ziming has come up with a good strategy! We’ve not only reclaimed lost territory but also won the hearts of the people.”
“It’s all thanks to Brother Yude and those martial arts heroes and the patriotic hearts of the common people. Cui Liang doesn’t dare take credit,” Cui Liang hurriedly replied.
“Indeed, Ziming. After this battle, I understand a saying more deeply,” Pei Yan stood up and walked to the door of the east hall, looking at the celebrating crowd outside the prefectural governor’s mansion. He slowly said, “The people’s hearts are like water, capable of supporting or capsizing a boat.”
In the following days, the Huan army firmly held Huiyan Pass. The Long Feng Cavalry couldn’t break through with a strong assault, and both sides began a long standoff.
During this time, the people of Hexi Prefecture, Jing State, and Han State buried the remains of their loved ones who died in the war. The Hexi Plain was covered in white mourning flags, with the sound of weeping never ceasing.
The remains of the Long Feng Cavalry soldiers and some civilians who sacrificed themselves in the war were buried together in Wolf Valley, twenty li northeast of Hexi Prefecture. Nearly twenty thousand people were buried together. From then on, Wolf Valley was renamed Martyrs’ Valley.
On this day, the sky was overcast, and the wind was particularly strong. The people of Hexi Prefecture poured out of the city, everyone with a white cloth wrapped around their heads and wearing plain belts, heading to Wolf Valley to participate in the public memorial ceremony for the soldiers and civilians who died in the “Battle of Hexi.”
At the end of the Chen hour, Pei Yan, dressed in plain clothes, ascended the memorial platform surrounded by similarly dressed Long Feng Guards. After the centenarian’s lament ended and the funeral music subsided, he poured three cups of wine onto the ground. Seeing the wine seep into the yellow earth, he thought of the Long Feng Cavalry brothers who had fought alongside him through the forest of swords and spears, as close as his limbs. He remembered An Chen’s blood-stained clothes full of arrow holes. Grief welled up inside him, his eyes reddened, and he choked up, unable to speak.
An Lu came over to support him, but he pushed An Lu away and walked heavily to the large tombstone. His hand touched the flower-stone monument, and before his eyes floated the smiles of those sacrificed brothers who had shared joys and sorrows for many years. In his ears, he seemed to hear again those sincere voices calling “Marquis.” Pei Yan slowly closed his eyes: Brothers, your spirits are not far away, please forgive Pei Yan.
As the funeral music started again, Pei Yan took two steps back and slowly prostrated himself on the yellow earth. The people let out a collective cry of grief and bowed together, sending off the valley full of martyrs on their final journey.
The wind blew through the valley, making a faint whistling sound. The trees swayed, as if bowing and bending for these countless loyal souls. Pei Yan stood up, slowly turned around, and looked at the sea of white behind him. Suppressing his emotions, he channeled his inner power, and his clear and passionate voice echoed in the valley.
“The heavens weep, and all people mourn. The grief of our nation, may your souls return. We honor the brave spirits of Long Feng, who guarded our land and followed in life and death, quelling rebellion and driving out the Huan traitors. Today, I grieve for the people who have lost their loved ones and mourn for my brothers who died for the country. The pain pierces my heart and enters my very core—”
His tone gradually became choked with emotion, infecting the soldiers and civilians present. Low sobbing sounds scattered in the wind.
Pei Yan gradually calmed his mind, suddenly drawing the long sword at his waist. A cold light flashed as he cut his left arm. Fresh blood dripped down onto the tombstone. Pei Yan spoke in a clear voice: “Today, I ask the heavens to witness, and the elders of Hexi to testify, that Pei Yan hereby makes a blood oath: I will drive out the Huan traitors, reclaim our land, be loyal to the country, and avenge our fallen brothers and innocent civilians! If I break this oath, may I be as this sword!”
He threw the sword with force, and it flew straight up into the air, making a sharp whistling sound as it traced a silver arc in the sky, then fell rapidly, its tip striking the tombstone directly. With a continuous cracking sound, the long sword broke into several pieces, falling onto the yellow earth.
This scene stirred up immense passion in those present, their blood surging. First a few people, then hundreds, thousands, and finally tens of thousands shouted in unison: “Drive out the Huan traitors, reclaim our land, be loyal to the country, and avenge our fallen brothers and innocent civilians!”
The roar of anger was like a hurricane, sweeping over Wolf Valley, over the Hexi Plain, echoing across the vast land and endless wilderness.
After the ceremony ended, several respected elders chosen by the Hexi people came to offer wine to Pei Yan. Unable to refuse, he accepted this ritual symbolizing the highest honor in Hexi’s folk tradition with a respectful demeanor.
After the elders finished the ritual, Pei Yan once again ascended the memorial platform and announced several decisions that excited the people of Hexi Prefecture: Due to the Huan army’s hasty retreat, they were unable to take away the gold and silver treasures they had plundered from the lost prefectures and states. These treasures were captured by the Long Feng Cavalry. Since these treasures were taken from the people, they should be returned to the people.
Pei Yan announced that these gold and silver treasures would be used to purchase medicines for free medical treatment, build schools, and establish free education. Part of it would also be used to support civilians who had lost family members in the war. Orphans and widows whose relatives had all died in the conflict would be taken into the “Universal Relief Institute” and supported by government funds.
Considering that this year’s spring plowing had been affected by the war and fields were lying fallow, Pei Yan also announced that the government would uniformly bring in seeds from the south and distribute them free of charge to the people of the Hexi Plain to help them restore production and rebuild their homes.
As soon as this series of beneficial policies was announced, Martyrs’ Valley immediately erupted in excitement. The people, with tears in their eyes, led by the elders, knelt and bowed to Pei Yan. The cry of “Sword and Tripod Marquis” resounded to the heavens.
After the public memorial ceremony ended, Pei Yan led the Long Feng Guards back to Hexi Prefecture on horseback. Seeing a long line formed in front of the recruitment office, his mood, heavy with grief and pain, was slightly relieved. However, when he turned his head and saw the desolate scene in front of the grain requisition office, his brows furrowed slightly, and he walked over.
The grain requisition officer hurriedly stood up: “Marquis!”
“What’s going on?”
“Reporting to the Marquis, Hexi Prefecture was occupied by the Huan army for a long time, and most of the people’s food had been looted. Although the civilians are willing to sell grain to the government, they truly have no rice to spare—”
Some ragged people gathered around the grain requisition office, hearing this, they spoke up one after another: “Yes, we’ve been hungry for several days now.”
“The Huan army took all the food in the city. We’ve been desperately waiting for the Marquis to reclaim Hexi, but we really can’t spare any food.”
Pei Yan felt quite troubled and asked, “Do the people have enough food for their survival?”
A local constable came over trembling and knelt to report: “In response to the Marquis, half of the people in the city can only drink porridge now, they have no more food to spare.”
“What about the people in the surrounding villages?”
“They should be better off, not starving, but I’m afraid they don’t have surplus food either.”
Pei Yan pondered for a moment and said, “Relay my order: Except for keeping enough rations for the military camp at Huiyan Pass, the rest of the military provisions should be used to aid the civilians in the city who have no food.”
The grain requisition officer was stunned, not expecting that instead of collecting grain, he would become a grain distributor. Just as he was about to speak, Pei Yan continued, “Starting from today, the rations for the Hexi garrison, including myself and General Wei, will be halved. We’ll eat whatever the people eat.”
Before anyone could react, he had already turned with a solemn expression and walked into the prefectural governor’s mansion.
Only after his figure disappeared behind the mansion gates did the civilians on the street react, kneeling and prostrating themselves on the ground. From that day on, the people of Hexi Prefecture, Han State, Jing State, and other places set up long-life tablets for the “Sword and Tripod Marquis” and the Long Feng Cavalry in their homes, praying and chanting day and night.
Pei Yan felt that the matter of food and provisions was the most pressing issue at hand. As he was pondering while walking up the east corridor, Zhou Mi came over and softly reported, “Miss Jiang has been brought back.”
Pei Yan raised an eyebrow and waved his hand, dismissing the Long Feng Guards. He thought for a moment, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curling up slightly, and he pulled down the left half of his sleeve, exposing his left arm as he stepped into the east hall.
Jiang Ci, who had been “escorted” back to Hexi Prefecture from Huiyan Pass by Zhou Mi, was sitting in the east hall full of complaints. Seeing Pei Yan enter, she quickly stood up: “My Lord, Huiyan Pass is short-handed, you should let me—”
Pei Yan said nothing, just extended his left arm, where the sword wound from his earlier blood oath was still seeping blood. Jiang Ci exclaimed “Oh my!” and quickly bent down to open her medicine box.
Pei Yan looked at her back, smiling smugly, but when Jiang Ci turned around, his handsome face was solemn again.
As Jiang Ci applied the medicine and bandaged his wound, she spoke with a tone of reproach: “Where has that little Tian run off to?”
“There are more wounded in Han State and Jing State, so he went there with Military Physician Chen,” Pei Yan said, staring at Jiang Ci’s beautiful profile. Suddenly feeling a sense of peace he hadn’t experienced since the war began, he became momentarily dazed and called out softly, “Xiao Ci.”
“Mm,” Jiang Ci responded, not noticing anything unusual, her hands continuing their work.
Pei Yan hesitated for a moment, his tone softening: “In the future, you must always follow the commander’s movements. Don’t go to places that are too dangerous.”
Jiang Ci didn’t answer. After finishing the bandaging, she straightened up and said, “If every military physician were like that, who would be at the front lines saving the wounded?”
Pei Yan was at a loss for words, his face darkening slightly. Jiang Ci looked at his plain clothes, assuming he was still emotional after the public memorial for the soldiers, and quickly lowered her voice, “My Lord, please restrain your grief. Hexi Prefecture has been reclaimed, but the people of Donglai and other places are still waiting day and night for you to lead the Long Feng Cavalry to reclaim their lands.”
“Indeed,” Pei Yan, who had been feeling heartbroken earlier, now felt somewhat tired. He relaxed his body against the chair back, closed his eyes, and said faintly, “We still have to reclaim the lost territory inch by inch. The burden on these shoulders can’t be put down for a moment—”
His voice gradually lowered. Jiang Ci, seeing his exhausted face and knowing he had been working hard for many days, quietly took out a scented grass cake from her medicine box and lit it. As Pei Yan smelled this calming and soothing incense, his nerves gradually relaxed, and he fell asleep in the chair.
Pei Yan’s inner power was profound, and he woke up after a short nap, but unwilling to give up this rare moment of peace in his sleep, he didn’t open his eyes. He smelled the faint incense, enjoying the rare tranquility of the past few months, and hearing Jiang Ci’s calm and even breathing in the room, he called out softly, “Xiao Ci.”
Jiang Ci didn’t answer, her breathing soft and steady.
A feeling he had never experienced before swept over Pei Yan’s heart. He felt as if his heart had cracked open, and something was howling out through this crack. He hesitated for a long time before slowly opening his eyes and saying softly, “Xiao Ci, stay by my side.”