Whatever Madam Situ did, she had only one purpose — to stop Situ Haonan from having anything to do with the Xijing imperial family!

She would rather her own son become the number one enemy of the Xijing imperial family than watch him throw himself so recklessly into service for that Xijing princess — to the point of even giving up his right to inherit Situ City!

She truly could not understand what was so good about that Princess Qianqian, what gave her the right to make her son sacrifice so much!

“Father, are you even listening to me!”

Seeing that the head of the Nangong family showed no reaction, Madam Situ immediately grew displeased. No matter how old she got, in front of her father she was still the same pampered young lady she had been years ago — just like Situ Xin’er was now!

However, the head of the Nangong family was nothing like the master of Situ City.

He deliberated for a long moment, then said seriously, “Mei’er, have you really thought this through? Once you strip Haonan of all his authority and turn the entire martial world against him, he—”

“He’ll naturally come crawling back to beg me!” Madam Situ was utterly certain.

“Mei’er, he’s your son, but you don’t understand his temperament at all.”

“What do you mean I don’t understand him! That boy only responds to force, not kindness — the Xijing emperor threatened him, and he was willing to risk his life for them!” Madam Situ said angrily.

The head of the Nangong family shook his head firmly. “This grandson of mine… has always been indecisive, and honestly, quite timid. No matter what happens, someone always has to push him into action, otherwise he’ll run from it forever. But this time, watching him, I think he’s finally shown some backbone — he’s finally acting like a man who can shoulder responsibility!”

“Father!” Madam Situ’s voice turned sharp with shock. She had not expected her father to hold such a view — he was clearly taking Situ Haonan’s side!

“If you had come to me a little sooner, perhaps I could still have pulled him back. But now… it’s too late.” The head of the Nangong family sighed with feeling. He, too, did not wish to see his grandson marry into the Xijing imperial family and go to war for Xijing.

But now that the boy was already at the front lines, forcing him back by strength alone would only push him toward ruin.

Seeing her father’s attitude, Madam Situ slammed her hand on the table and stood at once. “Father, if you won’t get involved in this matter, then please don’t interfere either.”

“What do you mean by that?” The head of the Nangong family frowned.

“Father, this is Situ City’s affair. He is my only son, the sole heir to Situ City, and this concerns Situ City’s future. No matter what method it takes, I will bring him back!”

With that, Madam Situ turned and left without waiting for a reply.

“Mei’er, you mustn’t act recklessly! Don’t harm the boy!” The head of the Nangong family tried to stop her but couldn’t. He let out several long breaths, then instructed the man beside him, “Keep a close watch on the Xijing battlefield. Report to me the moment there’s any movement.”

The efforts Ziqing and Situ Haonan had put in for so long could be said to have half succeeded — Situ Haonan had already gone far off to the front lines, while Ziqing continued searching for people along the northwestern direction.

Only, they had no idea just how many obstacles still lay in their path.

By now, Ziqing had already reached the territory of Xichu. She sent people toward Akbachu to guard the direction of the northern desert, while she herself pressed on in pursuit.

In truth, the crisis at the western border had been temporarily resolved, and her very first thought had been to rush to the northern frontier to see Jun Beiyue!

It had already been nearly three months. The days passed both swiftly and endlessly.

She was already within Xijing territory, and in truth, it wasn’t far from the northern frontier — at her pace, she could appear outside Jun Beiyue’s camp within three days.

Ziqing wasn’t the type of girl who indulged in fantasies, but these past days, even while searching for people, she couldn’t help but let her mind wander.

If she suddenly appeared outside Jun Beiyue’s tent — perhaps early in the morning, perhaps in the dead of night — and he lifted the curtain to suddenly see her there, what would his reaction be?

Just thinking about it, she couldn’t help but secretly smile to herself.

Shadow had been forcibly left behind with Situ Haonan by her — if Shadow didn’t stay, she wouldn’t have felt at ease. The mercenaries she had left at the western border, and now she herself, in the dead of night, a lone girl galloping on horseback through the mountain forest.

After her horse passed through the pitch-black woods, a flicker of firelight slowly appeared. The one who had been following her all along was none other than Baili Weisheng!

Lit by the firelight, his face looked a pale, almost bluish-purple — eerie and unsettling to see so late at night — yet the smile at the corners of his lips was warm.

“Heh heh, Little Qingqing, I knew you’d be able to find Yelu Qianqian. She’s in this direction, isn’t she… I guarantee I’ll be faster than you!”

He kept laughing, and then the firelight went out — only a dark shadow could be seen flitting past, chasing after the direction Ziqing had gone.

At present, Yelu Qianqian was indeed still heading northwest, having already reached Xiongnu territory, and would soon turn toward the northern desert!

However, news from the Xijing battlefield had alarmed not only Madam Situ, but also Nanny Qin!

“Heh heh, I didn’t expect Han Ziqing to move so quickly!”

Looking at the secret letter, Nanny Qin sneered coldly. She admitted that Han Ziqing was an excellent assistant, a girl she rarely came to admire — only, the girl had chosen Jun Beiyue, and in doing so, had wounded Crown Prince Li!

“Nanny Qin, are we still heading to the northern desert? The northern desert doesn’t belong to Xijing, but it is close to Xijing—”

Before the guard could finish speaking, Nanny Qin cut him off. “We’re going to Xiliang!”

“Xiliang!” The guard was startled.

“Yes, Xiliang. I’m going to bring Yelu Qianqian straight to Xiliang. I want to see just what tricks Han Ziqing will have left to persuade the Xijing emperor then!” Nanny Qin snorted coldly.

“But Situ Haonan is already at the front lines, and I hear Da Zhou has even sent ten thousand measures of grain in support. The Xijing emperor’s mind is made up — no matter what, with Da Zhou and Xijing joining forces, Xiliang won’t be able to gain any advantage!” the guard said earnestly.

“How could we gain no advantage? Yelu Qianqian is the key to the cooperation between Han Ziqing and the Xijing emperor. Without Yelu Qianqian, I believe the Xijing emperor will turn hostile faster than the flip of a page!”

No sooner had she spoken than Yelu Qianqian, who had been secretly hiding nearby and listening, burst out at once. “Nanny Qin, you liar!”

Nanny Qin was startled — she hadn’t expected the girl to have gotten out of the carriage even while supposedly asleep.

“Nanny Qin, you liar, you said you’d take me to see my father the emperor! What exactly are you trying to do! Who exactly are you!”

Yelu Qianqian was as agitated as an angry little beast. She had never expected Situ Haonan to come after her, much less that he would go to the front lines, and least of all that her father the emperor would actually agree to cooperate with Da Zhou!

Had she known this would happen, she wouldn’t have left at all — she would have simply dragged Situ Haonan back home with her, openly and without shame!

“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters, Princess Qianqian, is that you get back into the carriage right now, or don’t blame me for being rude!” Nanny Qin’s voice turned sharp all at once. Everything that needed to be asked had already been pried out of this girl’s mouth — why would she still show her any courtesy?

“Nanny Qin, you can’t do this, let go of me!”

Yelu Qianqian struggled, but with her slender arms and legs, how could she possibly overpower the guard?

Nanny Qin paid no attention at all to her shouting and cursing. She promptly took out paper and brush and wrote a secret letter to the Empress of Eastern Qin, filling the page densely from edge to edge — no one could say exactly what it contained.

“Get this to Her Majesty the Empress immediately. It must be fast!” Nanny Qin instructed earnestly.

“Nanny… aren’t we not going back?” The guard didn’t understand — when Nanny Qin had left before, she had completely broken ties with Her Majesty the Empress!

“For the sake of Crown Prince Li’s lifelong dream, forget this one letter — even if I had to go back and serve her in person, I would do so willingly.” Nanny Qin sighed with deep feeling.

To destroy Da Zhou, of course, would require the western border and the northern frontier to work together!