The Dengzhou camp was already in battle preparation mode.

Last night, torches burned throughout the night as hundreds of soldiers with ropes over their shoulders transported wooden boats down the mountainside on wooden wheels, the hulls covered with cloth brushed with layers of tung oil to prevent rain and insects.

Hurried footsteps echoed incessantly through the camp, occasionally interrupted by the neighing of horses, until daybreak.

Su Xue stood in the tent, lifting the curtain to peek outside, but not daring to step out easily. Each day, she could only leave the tent after reporting to the soldiers guarding it.

She turned to look at Zhao Wan on the couch, her face showing concern: “Concubine Jieyu’s shoulder wound is not yet healed, and today the physician is late for changing the dressing. This servant… this servant would like to go outside and urge him to come?”

Zhao Wan leaned back against the soft cushions and shook her head. “There are few physicians in the army, and they are especially busy now. My wound is no longer serious. Waiting a little longer won’t matter…” She smiled weakly. “Besides, the medicine the physician prescribed is too bitter…”

Su Xue frowned and said, “Concubine Jieyu dislikes the bitterness, so you refused to drink the medicine yesterday. Perhaps that’s why you developed a fever last night, which frightened this servant terribly. I hurriedly reported to the soldiers guarding the tent, but I don’t know… don’t know if His Majesty… could come see Concubine Jieyu today…”

Hearing this, Zhao Wan sighed inwardly.

The night of the boat attack, the Emperor had indeed stayed by her side for half the night, but since entering the Dengzhou military camp, he had been too busy to care for her.

Though no one told her directly, she knew that the army must be preparing to attack Qingzhou Prefecture.

The tent curtain was suddenly lifted from outside. Zhao Wan, feeling the breeze and looking against the light, saw the Emperor.

She hurriedly rose to bow: “This concubine pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Seeing that her face was still pale, Xiao Yan said: “Rise, no need to bow.”

Zhao Wan, holding her right shoulder, sat back on the wooden couch and looked up to examine the visitor.

Having not seen him for several days, the Emperor before her appeared somewhat tired.

She gently advised: “Your Majesty is busy with military affairs, but should still take care of your health…”

Xiao Yan’s gaze fell on the white gauze on her shoulder. “I heard you had a high fever last night. Why didn’t you take your medicine? If you weren’t going to take it, why did you ask for the physician to come?”

Zhao Wan’s face instantly flushed, and she lowered her gaze: “This concubine acknowledges her mistake…”

Hearing no response, she looked up again and stammered: “This concubine… perhaps just wanted to use this as an excuse to see Your Majesty…”

Xiao Yan laughed: “Your shoulder wound is quite deep. If you don’t take medicine, your life could be at risk. This is not a place for you to play games. The camp moves tomorrow. I’ve already ordered people to prepare a boat to send you back to the capital first. Take good care of your wound…”

Zhao Wan asked in surprise: “So quickly? Your Majesty truly wants to send this concubine away?”

“You are wounded and should not stay long.”

Seeing no trace of attachment in his expression, Zhao Wan lightly bit her red lips and asked: “What about Concubine Gu? Will Concubine Gu return with this concubine?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw the Emperor’s eyes suddenly darken.

“You will return on your own. There is no need for you to ask about others.” His voice grew colder.

Zhao Wan was greatly alarmed and then saw the Emperor turn and leave.

Gu Yi…

Had something happened to her…

Meanwhile, Gu Yi, who was in the detached palace in Yang City, was flying a snow-white crane kite in the courtyard.

She held the spool in her hand as Xiao Lü looked up urgently: “Release more line, quickly! The wind is good now, so the crane can soar like an immortal.”

Gu Yi turned the reel, looking up to see the crane gradually rising higher.

Xiao Lü urged again: “Your hands are moving too slowly! Release the line faster!”

Gu Yi, annoyed by his nagging, replied: “I can’t go any faster. If I do, the crane will be blown off course! Flying a kite requires properly controlling the release to make it fly higher!”

Xiao Lü clicked his tongue and snatched the spool from her hand, deciding to fly the kite himself, leaving Gu Yi standing aside.

Gu Yi watched him gazing intently at the crane in the sky, his profile truly as beautiful as a painting.

Impressive…

She could only stand quietly to the side. When she looked at the crane again, it had already risen several feet higher, the silhouette becoming smaller and smaller.

Xiao Lü smiled and said: “This is how to fly a kite.”

Gu Yi, at his mercy, simply replied: “You’re right.”

Xiao Lü glanced at her sideways.

“Do you like flying kites?”

“Yes.”

But Xiao Lü did not return the kite spool to her.

Fine.

Early this morning, Xiao Lü had woken up excited, saying he wanted to take her to fly kites in the courtyard.

But she had only flown it for a short while—just a moment of solitude…

Beside her, Xiao Lü was enjoying himself more and more. He smiled at her and said: “When I was little, I flew kites with Xiao Yan.”

Gu Yi responded with an “Oh,” then asked: “May I ask which year that was?”

Xiao Gouzi flying a kite—the scene was too beautiful to imagine.

Xiao Lü thought for a moment. “I can’t remember clearly. I must have been four or five, and he five or six…”

Gu Yi pictured two exquisitely beautiful little boys standing together, flying a kite—unexpectedly cute.

Xiao Lü continued with a smile: “There were few children in the palace at that time. In my childhood, only Xiao Yan and I were close in age. He was raised by Empress Gao, and when I went with my mother to pay respects, I often saw him. But he didn’t like me…”

He held the kite string, slowing his release of the line. “But the more he ignored me, the more I wanted to provoke him…”

Young man, is it possible that this is precisely why he didn’t like you?

Gu Yi stood to the side, listening attentively.

“Once I received a new kite, meticulously crafted by a palace artisan to please me. It was a blue python—only I had one, not Xiao Yan. I deliberately showed off in front of him and promised to let him fly it together, but later I changed my mind and wouldn’t give it to him. During our struggle, he accidentally pushed me off a rock in the garden.”

Xiao Lü sighed softly: “Xiao Yan was beaten for it, while I was fine. I suppose after that, he liked me even less…”

Young man, you’re probably right about that.

Gu Yi gave Xiao Lü a wordless glance.

Xiao Lü turned his head and met her gaze, suddenly smiling: “But I never dared to provoke him again… Until Xiao Yan was eight years old, and suddenly fell gravely ill. Everyone in the palace said he was going to die. I secretly went to see him, but he wasn’t grateful at all and told me to get lost… I was truly heartbroken for a long time…”

Gu Yi: …

Xiao Lü fell silent, staring blankly at the crane kite in the sky, the smile fading from his face.

“If only he hadn’t killed Father Emperor, hadn’t killed the Crown Prince…”

Gu Yi saw the light in his eyes gradually dimming.

She took a small step forward and asked softly: “What if he never killed Xiao Que?”

Xiao Lü frowned. “What?”

His voice contained hidden sharpness. “That day in the Taiji Palace, the Crown Prince personally saw Xiao Yan kill Father Emperor. How could that be false!”

“Why couldn’t it have been the Crown Prince who killed Xiao Que?” Gu Yi asked softly again.

Xiao Lü suddenly loosened the thin string in his hand. “Why would the Crown Prince kill Father Emperor? The Crown Prince was the heir to the nation, beloved by all, trusted by the Emperor. Why would he kill him?” He glared fiercely at Gu Yi. “Is this how that dog Xiao Yan has deceived you?!”

Gu Yi moved her lips. “It was my… guess…”

“Nonsense!” Xiao Lü raged.

“Your Majesty seems quite angry…”

A male voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Lü had just released the kite string to its end. With a slight flick of his wrist, the kite broke free and flew away.

He turned around with a smile: “General Zheng, you have such leisure today to stroll in the courtyard. Are you enjoying the spring scenery?”

Gu Yi also turned to look and saw a burly man with a broad face in armor who had somehow approached them from behind, only a dozen steps away.

Zheng Sui.

Upon seeing Gu Yi, Zheng Sui’s eyes flashed with a sharp light. “This subject came to pay respects to Your Majesty. I didn’t expect to disturb Your Majesty’s refined pleasure…”

Xiao Lü waved his hand and walked forward two steps, intentionally or not, shielding Gu Yi behind him.

Gu Yi disliked the way Zheng Sui was eyeing her, so she also shifted slightly to avoid his gaze.

“General Zheng is too formal. I was merely idle and, seeing that the spring light was beautiful today, came to fly a kite. Does General Zheng have important matters?”

Zheng Sui laughed. “Nothing significant, but I earlier heard Your Majesty raise your voice, seeming displeased. If this honored guest has offended you, I could arrange for her to stay at the General’s mansion instead of troubling Your Majesty…”

Xiao Lü shook his head and sighed: “It’s not displeasure. It’s just that I and the honored guest are compatible in temperament and feel at ease with each other. Since the honored guest is staying in the palace, there’s no need for the General to concern himself…”

Zheng Sui laughed strangely twice. “I’ve overstepped. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me…”

Xiao Lü also smiled but did not respond.

Zheng Sui saluted with clasped hands: “This subject will go pay respects to the Noble Consort and won’t disturb Your Majesty further.”

Xiao Lü nodded and stepped aside.

Only after Zheng Sui had walked far away did Gu Yi let out a long breath.

Xiao Lü asked coldly: “You fear him too?”

Gu Yi answered honestly: “Yes!” After a pause, she added, “He doesn’t look like a good person…”

Xiao Lü burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Looking around, the crane kite was long gone from the sky, without a trace.

Xiao Lü casually handed the empty spool to a passing palace servant, then glanced at Gu Yi. “Let’s go have lunch.”

Gu Yi nodded, displaying an especially ingratiating smile. “I do enjoy staying in this Yang City palace. Please don’t let me go to any general’s mansion.”

Xiao Lü walked slowly ahead but made no promise to her.

After the third quarter passed noon.

Lunch was laid on the table, featuring a plump perch in the center, with savory broth and enticing aroma.

Xiao Lü picked up his chopsticks, only to see Gu Yi suddenly frown across from him. She quickly pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, covered her mouth, and retched several times.

Xiao Lü immediately widened his eyes, as if remembering something, and remained speechless for a long while.

“You… you… you…”

Gu Yi looked straight at Xiao Lü, clutching the handkerchief tightly, and stammered: “Can you… help me…”

Xiao Lü’s hand trembled, causing the bamboo chopsticks to fall to the ground with two light taps.

He finally came to his senses and looked around, fortunately finding no one else in the hall at the moment.

He sprang up from his chair and paced anxiously around the candle stand several times.

“You…” He looked at Gu Yi and sighed deeply.

After several pauses, “You…” but still couldn’t continue.

Gu Yi’s gaze followed him closely. Seeing him finally stop, she pleaded softly: “Why don’t we find a way to escape together…”