Before rain comes, the ants sense it first; before war comes near, the merchants are the first to flee.

The Zhang Family elders had always been the most well-informed, and the quickest to act on what they knew. That was precisely why they had managed to avoid disaster every time, and keep the family’s wealth and standing intact across the generations.

Zhang Zhixu took one look and knew exactly what was happening.

The new Emperor could no longer tolerate the Grand Princess continuing to lord over the court, and the Grand Princess had already prepared herself to reclaim the throne.

The mutual testing of each other’s strength would begin with the battle marking Song Juqing’s return to the capital.

Chen Baoxiang had drunk two mouthfuls of soup and eaten a little more meat before she suddenly sprang to her feet with a sense of urgency. “Quick, quick, quick.”

“What?” He startled, and stood with her, thinking something had happened.

But all she said was, “Come take a nap with me — I need to sleep well so I have the energy to work tomorrow.”

Zhang Zhixu: “…”

He very much wanted to firmly remind this person that they were not husband and wife, that there was no formal arrangement between them — so why did she always act as though it were the most natural thing in the world?

— But she really did look exhausted. That so-called reconciliation banquet had clearly drained her both body and mind.

Fine. It was just a nap.

Shaking his head, Zhang Zhixu lay down on the bed fully clothed, lazily unfolding a paper fan to wave.

Chen Baoxiang washed her hands and face, then nestled contentedly beside him, and drifted into a sound, settled sleep on the breeze of his fan.

·

Dark clouds gathered over Shangjing.

The common people knew nothing of it, going about their buying and selling and eating as usual — but anyone with even a modest foothold of power had already begun quietly packing up their valuables and leaving the capital to avoid the coming storm.

The Grand Princess had summoned many marquises who commanded troops to her residence for deliberations, while the new Emperor showed no weakness, dispatching several thousand elite soldiers to patrol the area around the palace walls in rotating shifts.

Neither side could gauge the other’s full capabilities, so both settled for making thorough preparations in Nanzhou, not far from Shangjing.

“Wu Shi will take his forces to hold the border area between Nanzhou and Xiangzhou.”

“Yes.”

“Xu Zhenhe will take charge of the three passes to the north of Nanzhou.”

“Yes.”

“You Shiying will be responsible for the towns to the east of Nanzhou.”

“Yes.”

Chen Baoxiang waited for a long while and still the Grand Princess did not call her name.

“What about me? What about me?” Seeing that Her Highness was about to wrap things up, she could not help but raise her hand.

Li Bingsheng turned to look at her, her expression gentle. “You’re young and lack experience. For now, take the five hundred soldiers from the Patrol Camp and keep watch over Shangjing.”

Only five hundred people? And she was being kept in Shangjing? That was essentially asking her to stand on the sidelines and watch.

Her Highness had said she bore no grudge, but clearly Cheng Huaili’s words had planted some seed of doubt — otherwise, for a mobilization of this scale, she should have been given at least ten thousand soldiers to command.

She exhaled quietly, and still clasped her hands to accept the order. “Yes.”

The situation was dire. This battle would determine the honor of the rest of their lives and the fates of their very persons. Every general present wore expressions of mingled excitement and tension, eyes narrowed, emanating a palpable killing intent.

She followed behind them, blinking her almond-shaped eyes in a mild daze, her gaze clear and unguarded — like a child who did not know what was happening.

General You Shiying cast a disdainful glance at the person nearby. “Who’s this?”

“The General has only just returned to the capital — it’s natural you wouldn’t know her,” the person beside him murmured quietly. “This is Director Chen, currently in highest favor with Her Highness. She commands the Patrol Camp.”

“A woman this delicate and soft — shouldn’t she be at home looking after children, instead of coming out here to command soldiers.”

“General… you’re speaking rather loudly.”

“So what if I’m loud? If she were any use, they wouldn’t be leaving her in Shangjing.” You Shiying remarked without the slightest care, “Five hundred soldiers. Go play house.”

Chen Baoxiang heard every word. She lifted her head and looked at him.

You Shiying glared back without any trace of shame, even mouthing something offensive at her before turning and striding away.

“Don’t take it to heart.” Biqing said softly. “He was just penalized for dereliction of duty and has nowhere to vent his frustration.”

“Dereliction of duty?”

“He was just badly defeated by Song Juqing in Yunzhou. He had eight thousand soldiers under him — only a few hundred came back.”

So Song Juqing was that formidable to face?

Chen Baoxiang’s expression grew grave. “Fenghua, go summon Zhao Huaizhu and Wang Wu. Have them bring their men and come help me plan the defensive formations.”

“Yes.”

Biqing opened her mouth to dissuade her. As You Shiying had said, she had only been given five hundred soldiers — no amount of preparation would change much. The battle would most likely be decided in Nanzhou before it ever reached Shangjing.

But looking at Chen Baoxiang’s keen, eager expression, Biqing found she did not have the heart to say it.

Fine. Extra preparation never hurt anyone.

·

As night fell, Shangjing remained ablaze with lantern light.

Chen Baoxiang stood on the city wall and gazed out, watching a long column of troops wind their way toward Nanzhou like a dark river eel.

“They should win, shouldn’t they,” she murmured.

Zhao Huaizhu crouched behind her, chin cupped in both hands. “Who knows.”

Wang Wu also cupped her chin. “Think they’ll call us to reinforce them?”

Fenghua cupped her chin and shook her head. “Probably not. If it ever came to needing us, that means things would have gone terribly wrong.”

The three of them huddled in a circle and sighed in unison.

Chen Baoxiang turned back with an amused look. “What’s all this?”

“We’re troubled.” Fenghua said pitifully. “If this battle is lost, we’ll be swept up in the fallout with them. If it’s won, we won’t have touched even the fringes of it — so naturally we won’t see a single scrap of reward.”

No share in the good fortune, yet fully liable for the disaster. Far too unfair.

“There’s still an opportunity.” Chen Baoxiang reassured them. “As long as we stay ready at all times.”

And Chen Baoxiang’s readiness was genuine. Not only did she drill her five hundred soldiers day and night, she also cultivated a warm rapport with the Wall Defense Camp and made a habit of climbing the watchtower at all hours to keep an eye on things.

Fenghua and the others had started out rather careless, but with her leading the way, they grew a little more diligent as well.

Yet eight or nine days passed, and still not a single piece of news came from the direction of Nanzhou.

Deep into a moonless night, Zhao Huaizhu was standing her rotation on the watchtower and gave a wide, gaping yawn.

“Junior Sister, let’s just sleep for a while,” she said. “It’s so quiet out there. Even a dispatch rider wouldn’t arrive until early morning tomorrow.”

“I’m not tired.” Chen Baoxiang frowned at the pitch-black expanse beyond the walls. “Senior Sister, do you remember what Elder Granny Ye said — that moonless nights are the most suited for a stealth assault?”

“Of course I remember.” Zhao Huaizhu rubbed her eyelids. “But they haven’t even broken through Nanzhou yet. How could they suddenly show up at Shangjing — that makes no sense.”

“Song Juqing is returning to the capital on imperial orders. He must have an imperial edict granting him passage.”

“That’s true enough, but we’ve sent so many people out there — they can’t all be useless.” Zhao Huaizhu leaned casually against the battlements and peered down. “And besides, with only the few of us here, if we really do get hit with a stealth assault, we’d be like a blind cat running into a dead mouse—”

The words died in her throat. Her pupils contracted sharply. “Baoxiang!”

“Hm?”

“Are those… people over there?” She stretched out a trembling finger toward the open wilderness beyond.