At the midnight hour, Zhao Shuhua personally escorted Zhao You and his party out of the camp gates.
Once the main army departed, the entire camp felt desolate and empty. Yan Che stood behind Zhao Shuhua and said, "Mother, the night is chilly. You should retire early and rest. By daybreak, we will surely receive news of a great victory."
Zhao Shuhua frowned slightly. "This is the final battle, yet for some reason, I feel a sense of unease in my heart."
Yan Che reassured her, "Mother, you are overly concerned about Grandfather. Rest assured, with General Cheng, General Sun, and Uncle by his side, Grandfather will surely be safe."
Zhao Shuhua took a deep breath. "You are right. I need not worry. Your grandfather has spent decades in the northern frontier, and no one is more adept at dealing with the Rong barbarians than he. I am merely overthinking."
After saying this, Zhao Shuhua turned and walked back into the camp. Though it was midsummer, the night breeze carried a chill. Gazing at the empty camp, she felt an even deeper sense of loneliness and desolation. After a moment, she sighed and said, "When the army returns tomorrow, we will not linger but head straight back to Chongzhou."
Yan Che understood her thoughts. "Very well, I will soon order the remaining soldiers to prepare for breaking camp."
To break camp, the remaining two thousand or so soldiers would need to work through half the night. Zhao Shuhua nodded and added, "After tonight, the Rong barbarians will surely retreat to Cangzhou. Yue Qiong cannot afford to ignore Cangzhou. Whether he pursues with his entire force or divides his troops, we must seize this final opportunity to head south. If we wait for the Jinzhou army to react, it will become difficult for us."
Yan Che naturally agreed. Zhao Shuhua then said, "Very well, go and make the preparations."
Zhao Shuhua returned to the central command tent first, while Yan Che went to instruct the remaining troops to prepare for breaking camp. When he returned to his own tent, Qin Chaoyu had already packed their belongings.
Throughout their journey north, Qin Chaoyu had grown accustomed to silently managing everything for Yan Che.
Seeing her like this, Yan Che stepped forward and embraced her. "You've worked hard. Once Grandfather returns victorious tomorrow, we will head back to Chongzhou and then march south directly to seize the capital. Chao Yu, I will take you back to Lin'an City."
Qin Chaoyu held onto Yan Che but smiled bitterly. "Sometimes, I wonder if I even want to return."
Yan Che raised an eyebrow. Qin Chaoyu nestled her cheek against his chest and said, "Back in the capital, it felt as if mountains and rivers stood between us. Though life is hard now, you understand my heart. My parents have already gone south, and I have no attachments left in Lin'an City. Glory and wealth mean nothing to me compared to you."
Yan Che chuckled. "Silly girl, I did not know your heart before, but now I do. After all we have been through, how could I ever let you down?"
Qin Chaoyu shook her head. "It is not that I fear you will let me down. It is just that the capital seems to possess a kind of magic—even the warmest and kindest people may change there. I did not grow up in the palace, but you, of all people, should know this best."
Yan Che’s mind instantly recalled Zhao Shuhua’s words, and his heart skipped a beat.
He held Qin Chaoyu’s waist even tighter. "I know you no longer care for glory and wealth, yet I feel I have wronged you."Qin Chaoyu smiled, "I once wished to become Your Highness's wife and thought residing in the Eastern Palace was the greatest honor a woman could achieve. But now I understand that what I truly desire has always been simply to stand by Your Highness's side." After a moment's silence, as if not wanting to dampen the mood, she added, "As long as I can be with Your Highness, whether in Lin'an City or here in the northern lands, my heart remains at peace."
Yan Che pondered her words thoughtfully. "Yu'er, are you afraid?"
Qin Chaoyu shook her head with a smile. "I only fear being separated from Your Highness."
Yan Che pressed his lips together, tightening his embrace momentarily before comforting her for a while longer.
After sharing a tender moment, they lay down. Remembering they had to depart for Chongzhou the next day, they dared not delay and soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
Qin Chaoyu drifted off quickly, but Yan Che found sleep elusive.
The southwestern wind was particularly strong that night, and occasional clamor came from the soldiers breaking camp outside. Listening to these noises, Yan Che felt a restless anxiety stirring within him.
Though he had shown no outward signs over the past two days, Zhao Shuhua's words still lingered in his mind.
Even now, he found it hard to believe, and he couldn't envision confronting that person upon returning to Lin'an City.
Turning to look at Qin Chaoyu's sleeping face beside him, Yan Che had to admit that, like her, his desire to return to Lin'an was fading day by day. Despite knowing Zhao Shuhua's reasons, he couldn't share her all-consuming hatred. His heart was now a tumult of mixed emotions, with resentment taking a back seat.
Tossing and turning for what felt like hours, Yan Che only began to feel drowsy when the sounds of camp-breaking outside gradually softened.
The tedious process of dismantling the camp must have concluded well past midnight. Not daring to indulge his insomnia any longer, Yan Che closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.
Just as he was about to sink into slumber, a distant, heavy rumble startled him awake.
He opened his eyes, straining to identify the sound as it grew louder—it sounded like... hoofbeats!
The approaching force was so vast that the thunderous galloping seemed to roll like muffled storms, shaking the very earth as they drew nearer.
Yan Che bolted upright. How could a large army be approaching?!
Could it be Grandfather returning?!
The thought crossed his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.
Impossible. The battle strategy had long been decided, and given Grandfather's temperament, he would never change plans at the last moment!
Yan Che glanced outside. The night was starless and moonless, shrouded in utter darkness. By his estimate, it was barely past the time for setting watch fires—who could be arriving so early?
Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization. He shook Qin Chaoyu awake urgently. "Yu'er! Wake up! Something's wrong!"
Qin Chaoyu, with her poorer hearing, only realized the abnormality upon waking. Yan Che had already dressed and rushed out of the tent!
Outside, the commotion was unmistakable. Most tents in the camp had been packed away, leaving the grounds unusually barren. A few sleepless soldiers stood outside, also curious about the source of the noise. Standing in the night wind, Yan Che stared toward the direction of the hoofbeats, his suspicions hardening into certainty. He roared, "Quick! Rouse everyone! Prepare for battle—"
The hoofbeats came from the west—the direction of Weixian County!Yan Che couldn't determine how many had arrived, nor who had sent them. Yet after the three armies joined forces, there were established rules: commanders could meet during alliances, but at all other times, regardless of urgency, troops were forbidden from entering others' camps. Now, his grandfather had just led troops out of camp when the hoofbeats arrived—clear proof the approaching commander had ill intentions!
Yan Che's shouts startled the soldiers outside, who hurried to summon others. By the time Qin Chaoyu emerged, Yan Che had already rushed to Zhao Shuhua's tent. Just as he reached the entrance, Zhao Shuhua stepped out wearing a cape, glanced toward the direction of the hoofbeats, and instantly furrowed her brow.
"They come with malicious intent. We cannot win a fight—our only option is to flee!"
Yan Che urgently asked, "But where can we escape to in the dead of night like this?"
Zhao Shuhua stared sternly at Yan Che. "With only two thousand troops in camp, how could we resist ten thousand?"
Had they been defending a fortified city, it might have been different. But the Northern Garrison Army camp was merely stationed in a depression, protected only by simple wooden fences...
How could such barriers hold back the enemy's iron cavalry?!
The hoofbeats grew closer. Zhao Shuhua could even see the shadowy, tide-like surge of soldiers approaching. She decisively ordered, "Everyone, fetch your horses immediately and head north toward Fallen Phoenix Slope! So long as we evade pursuit and find the Grand General, there is still hope!"
The main army was north of Fallen Phoenix Slope—just two hours' journey away! Chongzhou City lay to the south but would require a full day's travel. The best course was clearly to find Zhao You.
At Zhao Shuhua's command, everyone sprang into action. As hoofbeats drew nearer, there was no time to rouse those still sleeping. People frantically grabbed horses and weapons. In the chaos, Qin Chaoyu tried to retrieve her prepared bundle, but Yan Che pulled her back, barely managing to drape a cape over her shoulders. Guards brought horses outside; Yan Che lifted Qin Chaoyu onto a saddle before mounting himself. In those brief moments, Zhao Shuhua had already assembled all her guards. Seeing the two ready, she ignored the remaining soldiers, shouted "Go!", and galloped out of the camp gate.
Those soldiers who could keep up mounted their horses and followed, while others still fetching horses from the stables fell behind. Some stumbled drowsily from their tents, unaware of what was happening. Just as Zhao Shuhua exited the camp, He Lin and Xu Huai's troops arrived. The vanguard cavalry shattered the fences and charged in. Seeing the panicked soldiers who hadn't escaped in time, He Lin bellowed, "We are here by the Emperor's decree to suppress rebellion! Those who surrender shall be spared!"
He Lin and Xu Huai commanded over ten thousand troops, while the camp now held only two or three hundred. Faced with such odds, no one dared refuse. One hopeful soul attempted to flee, but He Lin waved his hand, and archers behind him released a volley of arrows, instantly piercing the man like a sieve. No one else dared run.
He Lin rode forward, pointing his blade at a soldier. "Where is the deposed Empress?"
The soldier stammered, "The Empress... went... went north!"
He Lin frowned at Xu Huai. Xu Huai, the most reluctant among the three to undertake this mission, met his gaze and said, "The first merit is yours. You pursue them. I'll stay and secure these prisoners."He Lin thought since he had already left the capital, there was no need to hold back—especially since this was the Emperor and Anyang Marquis's intention. Leaving Xu Huai with a thousand men, he brandished his broadsword and led the remaining nearly ten thousand troops galloping northward in pursuit!
In terms of horse speed, neither side was slow. However, Zhao Shuhua led her party traveling in the dark, taking the lead. Occasionally, horses stumbled, slowing their progress. Before long, He Lin and his men caught sight of the Empress's party from behind!
The Empress had only brought slightly over a thousand men, facing He Lin with no chance of victory. He Lin waved his hand commandingly, "Archers! Loose arrows!"
A rain of arrows descended like locusts. Those at the rear screamed and fell from their horses. Hearing the commotion, Yan Che at the front immediately turned to look, but Zhao Shuhua shouted beside him, "Don't look back!"
Yan Che's heart lurched, a sense of imminent death washing over him.
After days heading north, he had always been well-protected and never led troops in battle. Being pursued like this was his first experience. On such a moonless, windy night, with the continuous screams of soldiers behind him and arrows occasionally whizzing past, cold sweat poured from Yan Che's forehead!
He couldn't help glancing at Qin Chaoyu beside him. Compared to him, Qin Chaoyu was having an even harder time. Riding at night made the horseback journey more turbulent. Qin Chaoyu clung tightly to the horse's back, looking as if he might fall off at any moment. As for Zhao Shuhua, though she was faring slightly better than Qin Chaoyu, she was barely holding on!
Yan Che urgently said, "Mother Empress, this isn't sustainable! We must think of a plan!"
The more critical the situation, the calmer and colder Zhao Shuhua's expression became. Hearing this, she turned her gaze forward and spotted the faint shadow of a low hill ahead. She quickly said, "Once we pass that hill ahead, we'll split up. You and Chao Yu turn west. I'll lead the others north."
Yan Che grew frantic, "Mother Empress, no—"
Zhao Shuhua angrily retorted, "Listen to me, Che'er!"
Yan Che was too agitated to speak, the rapid pace forcing cold wind into his mouth. Gritting his teeth, he looked back and saw the pursuers closing in, nearly upon them. More and more arrows sliced through the air, and the number of fallen behind them grew. Yet the pursuers pressed on, trampling over the fallen Northern Garrison Army soldiers who died without even a chance to cry out in pain!
Yan Che's eyes reddened with desperation. Seeing the hill ahead, he urgently pleaded, "Mother Empress! Let's go together!"
Zhao Shuhua delivered another heavy whip strike. The horse, stung by pain, charged fiercely up the hill. Yan Che hurriedly whipped his own horse, but at that moment, a cold arrow shot from behind, grazing Yan Che's shoulder and embedding deeply into Zhao Shuhua's shoulder ahead!
Yan Che cried out in alarm as Zhao Shuhua lurched forward. The arrow was buried deep, causing her to lose her grip on the reins. Unable to hold on while the horse galloped at full speed, her body began to sway uncontrollably!
"Mother Empress—"
In an instant, the horse surged up the ridge. At that moment, Zhao Shuhua could no longer hold on and was about to tumble down!
Yan Che's eyes burned with fury. Fortunately, his horse raced alongside Zhao Shuhua's, and he swiftly hauled her onto his own horse. Struggling to secure her on his saddle, he turned to the nearby guards and commanded, "Head north—"
As soon as the order was given, they crossed the hilltop and veered westward."Yu'er! Come with me—"
Qin Chaoyu had long been terrified by the earlier arrow shot. Upon hearing this, he struggled to turn his horse around and followed closely behind Yan Che.
Their whips fell frequently, and within moments they had moved beyond arrow range. The night became their best cover—how could two swift horses possibly attract He Lin's attention?!
He Lin led his men up the hill. Seeing the main force still galloping ahead, he immediately charged forward.
The pursuing soldiers hadn't caught up, but Zhao Shuhua, struck by an arrow, was bleeding profusely!
Yan Che struggled to secure Zhao Shuhua on the horseback, yet had no idea where to go in such deep night. Zhao You was in the north, but they could no longer head north—where should they go now?
"Mother! Hold on, we'll return to Chongzhou immediately!"
After much thought, Chongzhou was the only place Yan Che could think of. Qin Chaoyu, riding alongside, couldn't help but say, "Your Highness! Going to Chongzhou will definitely be too late! We have nothing with us—how can we save Mother? Let's head west instead, to find Qin Guan—"
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