Feng Jiu’er sat down and spread out the note in her hand.

“Father told us some things about the deployment of the Feng Clan’s army, and roughly how the troops are distributed.”

“According to him, most of the Feng Clan’s forces are in Feng Qiongcang’s hands — the Dragon Guard Army under his control numbers as many as eight hundred thousand.”

“Next is the First Prince’s Imperial Household Army, with three hundred thousand men.”

“My father once had three hundred thousand troops of his own as well, but many of them were actually Feng Qiongcang’s men. Now, the ones he can actually still command number only a hundred thousand.”

“So altogether, Feng Qiongcang’s forces number at least a million.”

Qiao Mu tapped the table, brow furrowed tight.

Feng Jiu’er looked up at everyone, then lowered her eyes back to the note.

“Besides these, the Second Prince’s State-Protecting Army has two hundred thousand men.”

“The Empress also has two hundred thousand troops under her own command. The Empress is a princess of the Feng Xi Kingdom, and the forces behind her cannot be underestimated either.”

“Consort Ya is the daughter of the horse-breeder Gao Jinsheng, and she has roughly a hundred thousand mounted cavalry under her.”

“The letter also mentions that the Feng Clan has roughly five hundred thousand troops scattered across various borders.”

“Most of these are officials who never submitted to Feng Qiongcang’s rule — he had them exiled and scattered, using them to guard the frontier.”

Feng Jiu’er closed the letter and looked up again.

“Father’s meaning was clear — he wants us to leave as soon as possible. But I’ve already arranged to meet him at midnight on the fourteenth of July, at the Imperial Mausoleum.”

Feng Jiang sat down and picked up the teapot.

“From what I’ve learned, quite a few of the exiled former court officials have been trying to reach Fourth Imperial Uncle.”

“If Fourth Imperial Uncle is willing, this war isn’t entirely without a chance.”

He poured himself a cup of tea, drank it down in one go, and set the cup back down.

“There’s unrest in the Northern Di territory — Second Imperial Brother will be leading a hundred thousand of the State-Protecting Army there within the next two days to provide support.”

“As for the two hundred thousand troops supposedly under my mother’s command, only a few tens of thousands are actually stationed at the Feng Clan’s border. The rest cannot cross the border without Feng Qiongcang’s permission.”

“The Feng Xi Kingdom originally belonged to the Feng Clan — it was split off as territory long ago when a certain official rebelled. For a long stretch afterward, relations between the two nations were poor.”

“It wasn’t until Feng Qiongcang took the throne and married the princess of Feng Xi that relations between the two countries stabilized, relatively speaking.”

“As I understand it, the horse-breeder Gao Jinsheng’s actual cavalry force is far more than a hundred thousand, and the Gao family’s wealth is beyond measure.”

“I heard that Gao Jinsheng once intended to betroth Consort Ya to Fourth Imperial Uncle. Later, though, it was Feng Qiongcang who won Consort Ya’s favor.”

“On top of that, Fourth Imperial Uncle had no such intentions toward her, so Consort Ya entered the palace.”

Feng Jiu’er gripped the letter tightly in her hand and said nothing for a long while.

Xiao Yingtao brought her a cup of tea, and only then did she come back to herself.

Feng Jiu’er took the cup and drank all the tea inside in one go.

“Feng Qiongcang was never born a true child of the Feng bloodline — he had no right to be king in the first place. It’s only natural that the people never truly rallied behind him.”

“My father endured so much, and yet it only made him more brazen!”

“That wretched Feng Qiongcang — to think he’d make my father marry a woman he despises!”

Feng Jiu’er clenched her fist and struck the table hard. “Damn him!”

“Jiu’er, I’m not saying this war can’t be fought — but right now, the most crucial person is still Fourth Imperial Uncle.” Feng Jiang gently patted the back of her hand.

“If Fourth Imperial Uncle is unwilling, then with our strength alone, for now, we’re simply not enough to stand against Feng Qiongcang.”

“A letter came from Wuya’s side — Xiangcheng and Heishan City have both been reclaimed. What’s left to deal with next are Liuchuan City, Yi City, and Yi City.”

“I hear these three cities have already formed an alliance. If this campaign truly breaks out, it will exhaust both the people and the treasury.”

“The best option right now is to get Fourth Imperial Uncle to send word to City Lord Dai of Yi City, to halt the campaign.”

“City Lord Dai of Yi City?” Feng Jiu’er looked up to meet Feng Jiang’s eyes.

Feng Jiang nodded and continued. “General Dai Jinyan. She used to be one of the officers who followed Fourth Imperial Uncle.”

“Like everyone else who refused to submit to Feng Qiongcang, her army has been under constant pressure, and in the end she crossed the Song River and took refuge in the southernmost corner of Feng territory.”

“I believe that if there were an order from Fourth Imperial Uncle, General Dai would still follow it without hesitation.”

“When it comes down to it, the most important thing right now is still restoring the Night Prince’s will to fight.” Qiao Mu knit her brow and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, what do you think?”

Feng Jiu’er pondered for a moment before looking up.

“If my mother were still here, Father would surely listen to her. But I failed to protect her.”

“There’s no Dragon General anymore — but isn’t there still you?” Xiao Yingtao said, looking at Feng Jiu’er.

“What you say, the Night Prince just might listen to. Right now, the most pressing matter is planning how to rescue the Night Prince in fifteen days.”

“Xiao Yingtao is right.” Xing Zizhou nodded. “This is the most important goal of our coming to the capital.”

“As for overthrowing Feng Qiongcang — once the Night Prince is safe, once everyone is safe, we’ll plan it properly then!”

Feng Jiang reached out his long arm and gently ruffled Feng Jiu’er’s hair.

“There’s an old saying among the Feng Clan — that only when a true son or daughter of the Feng bloodline rules can the nation flourish forever.”

“Back then, Fourth Imperial Uncle was the crown prince-designate. If not for his refusal to marry the woman the late Emperor had chosen for him and his leaving instead, he would be Emperor now.”

“Later, the late Emperor died suddenly, and Feng Qiongcang seized the throne while Fourth Imperial Uncle was away. Many people never accepted it.”

“Everyone feels that Feng Qiongcang isn’t a true child of the Feng bloodline — they simply haven’t found the proof.”

“Aside from the exiled officials and generals, even the lords of the Feng Clan’s three greatest cities only submit to him on the surface.”

“This is exactly why Feng Qiongcang is so determined to bring you back — you are a true daughter of the Feng bloodline, and Feng Qiongcang hopes to make you his puppet ruler.”

“Jiu’er, you are the one destiny has chosen — you can’t keep hesitating any longer!”

“That’s right!” Xiao Yingtao gently patted Feng Jiu’er’s shoulder.

“Given who you and the Night Prince are, you were never meant to live an ordinary life. Even if not for yourselves, then for the sake of the Feng Clan’s people, this war has to be fought.”

“Besides, no matter where the two of you flee to, Feng Qiongcang will never let you go.” Qiao Mu chimed in.

Feng Jiang stood, went over, took Qiao Mu’s hand, and pulled her into his embrace.

“For the time being, everything here in the capital is in your hands.” He lowered his eyes to look at her, speaking softly.

“I’ll arrange the route for our journey south.”

“The two of you go in and out of the palace often — you must be careful! Nothing matters more than your lives.”

Feng Jiang pressed a kiss to Qiao Mu’s forehead, then looked up at Feng Jiu’er.

“No matter what happens tomorrow, our identities must not be exposed.”

“Feng Qiongcang is clever — arranging Fourth Imperial Uncle’s wedding might not be aimed only at us. There’s bound to be unrest in the capital tomorrow.”

“Just as Xing Zizhou said — everything must wait until everyone is safe before we plan our next move carefully.”

“I know.” Feng Jiu’er nodded, her expression solemn.

“You take care too! Stay in touch.”