Ye Jingkuan had already heard about his situation from Zhou Weizhao. He smacked the book on Ye Jingchuan’s head, feeling that with this blockhead, he needed to speak plainly to enlighten him. He simply asked directly: “So do you have someone you like or not?”
Seeing Ye Jingchuan frown, he sat down and continued: “It’s fine if you want to go to Xibei, but you have to set people’s minds at ease. If you’re still muddled and can’t even settle your own affairs, who would dare let you go to such a distant place? Forget about Mother Consort being frightened to death—even I can’t bear that responsibility, can I?”
Pressed urgently by him, Ye Jingchuan had nothing to hide from his own older brother. He gritted his teeth, thought for a long while, then opened his heart completely to Ye Jingkuan, confessing his confusion.
He had liked Song Chuyi before, so now he knew that he probably had similar feelings for Miss Lu—both gave him roughly the same sensation. The only difference was that Miss Lu didn’t seem to avoid him at every turn the way Song Chuyi had back then.
After hearing him out, the corners of Ye Jingkuan’s mouth curved into a slight smile. Ever since missing his chance with Song Chuyi, he’d been worried that his foolish younger brother would remain a bachelor for life. Seeing him finally come around made him want to chant prayers of gratitude. He coughed with a stern expression: “If you like someone, you like them. There’s no shame in liking someone—just say it directly, won’t you?”
Having already said the most difficult things, Ye Jingchuan now felt like a scalded pig unafraid of boiling water. He simply sighed: “But I once said I wouldn’t like anyone else for my entire life…”
Ye Jingkuan was both amused and exasperated: “You just saw the Crown Prince, didn’t you? What did His Highness say? Did His Highness tell you to truly remain alone for your whole life? Why can’t you turn that brain of yours? You were an ignorant child back then—are you still ignorant now? If you truly don’t marry, the first person you’ll anger to death will be Mother Consort!” After finishing his lecture, he reasoned with him: “Are you still worried about Miss Lu? If that’s what worries you, then if you truly like her, why not sincerely marry her through proper matchmaking with three intermediaries and six betrothal gifts? The Lu family was burned to nothing in that fire. Though she has relatives like Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess, she’s still a young woman after all.”
Ye Jingchuan still stood there somewhat hesitant: “But I’m going to Xibei…”
“Didn’t Miss Lu also go to Huizhou back then? She’s not an ordinary young lady. If you truly like her, being wishy-washy about it only makes you inferior. Be honest and speak clearly with her. Whether it works out or not, at least you won’t carry a stone in your heart forever.” Ye Jingkuan began shooing him out: “I’m busy right now. Minister Huang from Xibei sent back a battle report saying Wuan has been recaptured. I want to ask someone to go to the front lines together, and then inquire about Father’s news. If you truly want to do right by the family, settle your own affairs first and let Mother Consort worry less.”
Prince Zhennan was also worried about Princess Zhennan at home—he wasn’t particularly afraid of other things. But Princess Zhennan’s courage was truly rather small; she couldn’t withstand being frightened. He’d been without news for so long now that she was probably terrified beyond measure.
Cui Yingyun was accompanying Cui Yingtang to deliver food on the city wall. Watching the people below lower the food down, he sighed to Prince Zhennan: “If this continues, I’m afraid we won’t be able to hold out much longer…”
With just the few thousand people in the city, they’d already persevered for over three months—that was already a miracle. What remained were ordinary civilians. Could they really expect them to go into battle and fight the enemy? Wu Qianli’s offensive was growing fiercer and fiercer; they truly might not be able to hold on.
Prince Zhennan had been aged by Xibei’s winds as if by ten years, yet he still maintained his heroic bearing. Hearing this, he laughed once, put away his worried expression, and stared intently at the distant view where only tent shadows could be seen, very composed: “If we truly must die here, we can still be considered to have died a worthy death. There’s nothing to regret.”
After all, they would have shed their last drop of blood for Great Zhou. He could be said to have done right by His Majesty.
Cui Yingtang had his hands tucked in his sleeves. The early spring wind still carried bone-chilling cold. He murmured in agreement, then suddenly saw chaos breaking out in the distance. He couldn’t help but perk up, gripping the city wall as he called out.
Both Prince Zhennan and Cui Yingyun followed his gaze. From far away, they could only see that there indeed seemed to be some unusual commotion in the distance, and they seemed to be able to hear battle cries.
“What’s… happening?” Cui Yingyun frowned: “Could they deliberately be using a trick to lure us out of the city?”
Prince Zhennan immediately shook his head: “It doesn’t seem like it. These past days they’ve exhausted every method without getting our city gates to open even a crack. They should know that we would die before leaving the city.”
“Then what’s this situation?” Cui Yingtang was about to ask more when the battle cries outside grew louder and louder. The cold wind carried these sounds to the city wall, and everyone craned their necks to listen.
The commotion outside grew greater and greater. What had been vague and indistinct earlier became extremely clear before long. Something had truly happened—there were even towering flames outside. Prince Zhennan was somewhat incredulous. After standing stunned for a while, he looked toward Cui Yingtang and Cui Yingyun: “Could there be reinforcements?”
Reinforcements?! Cui Yingtang instinctively shook his head: “How is that possible?! Right now, where in Xibei could there possibly be any troops? Even if Shaoting wanted to come rescue us, how many passes lie between?”
His words had barely fallen when cries and wails were already close at hand. More and more people were gathering in the open space outside the empty city gate.
Hu Yingming, having heard the news, also rushed over in haste. Not even having time to wipe his sweat, he asked repeatedly: “What’s happening? Could they be having internal strife?”
“They must have been ambushed.” Prince Zhennan frowned. Although he also felt it impossible for there to be reinforcements, fighting had truly broken out outside now. It couldn’t be Wu Qianli’s people putting on a show for themselves—who would risk their lives like this in a performance?
Not until Hu Yingming excitedly shouted “Marquis Dingyuan!” did Prince Zhennan startle, following his pointing finger to look over and indeed seeing Marquis Dingyuan charging at the forefront.
It was actually Marquis Dingyuan! Only now did Prince Zhennan truly laugh completely, ultimately almost throwing his head back in laughter: “Excellent! Excellent! Heaven does not doom us!”
Jinzhong had originally already exhausted its ammunition and provisions. He had thought he would surely die together with Jinzhong City, but who knew there would be such an unexpected turn of events. His heroic spirit surged forth, and he immediately ordered the troops to assemble and exit the city for battle.
Marquis Dingyuan had caught Wu Qianli completely off guard by burning his military camp, then taking advantage of the chaos to strike them unprepared. Right when his killing intent was at its peak, he heard Jinzhong City’s war drums beating in unison, the city gates opening wide, and Prince Zhennan leading the remaining soldiers charging out.
This coordinated attack from within and without, striking from both sides, completely stunned Wu Qianli’s forces. They achieved a great victory. Outside the city gates, countless corpses piled up—no one knew how many. Not until daylight was breaking did this battle finally end.
Old friends meeting again, both having narrowly escaped death, Prince Zhennan and Marquis Dingyuan locked eyes, both with tears in their eyes. After a long while, Prince Zhennan rushed forward and punched Marquis Dingyuan’s shoulder: “So it was you, you scoundrel!”