Chu Yu walked up to Fu Xin, who then had the military physician check her pulse. After confirming she was pregnant, Fu Xin didn’t prolong the confrontation. He had her bound and immediately withdrew his troops.
Bound, blindfolded, and shackled, Chu Yu was forced to drink the bewitching drug before sinking into a heavy, unconscious slumber.
They dared not linger in Bailing for long. Quickly dividing their forces into two groups, one small detachment swiftly escorted Chu Yu out of Bai Province while the other took the opposite direction to draw enemy fire, engaging head-on with the soldiers arriving from Jiucheng.
Once they entered Bai Province, they would be trapped like turtles in a jar—precisely why Wei Yun had never imagined Zhao Yue would attack Bailing. He had never thought Zhao Yue would be willing to sacrifice so many lives just to capture his family.
Yet that was exactly what Zhao Yue had done.
Fu Xin understood Zhao Yue’s intentions. The most crucial objective of this battle was to safely deliver Chu Yu and the child in her womb to Hua Jing, where they would become hostages in Zhao Yue’s hands.
After Fu Xin’s retreat, Jiang Chun finally stopped crying. With Chu Yu gone, she and Qian Yong now had to take charge. Wiping her tears, she turned to Qian Yong and said, “General Qian, please reorganize our defenses and tally the casualties and supplies. I’ll return first to check on the Dowager. Once she wakes, I’ll come back to assist you.”
“Second Madam, don’t worry. Leave these matters to me. The Dowager’s health is of utmost importance.”
With Qian Yong’s assurance, Jiang Chun hurried back to the manor. When she arrived, Liu Xueyang was still unconscious. Sitting by her side, Jiang Chun watched as the physician administered acupuncture. Finally, Liu Xueyang stirred awake, her eyes snapping open as she demanded urgently, “Where is A Yu?!”
“Mother-in-law,” Jiang Chun forced back a sob, steadying her voice. “Lady Chu has been taken by Zhao’s army.”
“They’ve left?”
Liu Xueyang froze, then suddenly grasped the implication. Enraged, she cried, “Why would they take her?! If anyone should be taken, it should be me! Don’t lie to me—are they still holding their ground? I’ll go—”
“She’s with child.”
Jiang Chun’s abrupt statement halted Liu Xueyang mid-step. She turned back, staring at Jiang Chun in disbelief, her voice trembling. “What did you say?”
“She’s with child. Xiao Qi’s firstborn.”
Jiang Chun closed her eyes, her voice shaking. “She was pregnant, yet she still rushed about on the battlefield. She worried about you, feared damaging Xiao Qi’s reputation, so she never announced it to the world. She endured in silence—for the Wei family, for you, for Xiao Qi. And now, when she finally reveals it…”
Jiang Chun let out a bitter laugh, laced with mockery. She lifted her gaze to Liu Xueyang. “It’s still for the Wei family. For the people of Bailing.”
Liu Xueyang stared at her, dumbstruck. Tears welled in Jiang Chun’s eyes as she fixed her with a piercing glare, enunciating each word. “She never once thought of herself.”
“Her entire life…” Jiang Chun’s breathing grew ragged, her voice suddenly rising. “Since marrying into the Wei family, has there ever been a moment when she put herself first?! And what have you done, Mother-in-law? You bullied her, humiliated her, feared she would ruin your son’s bright future, forced her out of Wei Manor, condemned her to live in the shadows forever. Now she’s gone to Hua Jing—gone alone to be a hostage. But Zhao Yue is doomed. If he can’t be spared, how can she possibly survive?!”"She wouldn't use herself to pressure Xiao Qi..." Jiang Chun's tears fell as she stared at Liu Xueyang. "She knew you're Xiao Qi's mother. If Xiao Qi abandoned you for the sake of the world, he'd either be unfilial or dishonorable. Besides, Xiao Qi has no other family left, so you must live."
"If she's gone, Xiao Qi can have another wife, another child. That's why she went—she exhausted herself for the Wei family, propping them up from the mud until Wei Yun carved out his own domain and declared himself king. Now she's even using her own death to perfect Wei Yun's reputation. Has she ever wronged the Wei family or Wei Yun in the slightest?!"
"You always thought she wasn't good enough for Wei Yun, but tell me—you, the Wei family, Wei Jun, Wei Yun—who among you is worthy of her profound devotion?!"
Jiang Chun roared, as if pouring out all the emotions she had suppressed and bottled up.
Liu Xueyang gradually calmed amid her outburst, watching her quietly before speaking. "You blame me."
Jiang Chun didn't respond. Her disheveled hair clung to her forehead, her face still smeared with blood from the battlefield. She had never defied Liu Xueyang like this before. Under Liu Xueyang's scrutinizing gaze, she finally spoke. "Yes."
"I blame you. If she were alive, all regrets could be mended. If she dies..."
Jiang Chun's gaze grew distant. "Every wrong done to her will become an unforgivable sin."
Liu Xueyang said nothing, biting her lip as she trembled slightly.
Jiang Chun was exhausted. She closed her eyes and sighed. "Mother, whether I blame you or not doesn't matter. What you should care about is how Xiao Qi feels. Since you're unharmed, go rest now. I need to see General Qian."
With that, Jiang Chun turned away, wiping her tears with a handkerchief as she hurried out.
There was still much to handle after the battle—she couldn't linger here.
Watching Jiang Chun leave, Liu Xueyang stood rooted in place. After a long silence, she finally spoke. "Send... send a message to His Highness..."
"Madam..." A maid stepped forward to support Liu Xueyang, whose face was deathly pale. In a hoarse voice, she said, "Ask His Highness... if I may go to the Chu family to propose a marriage on his behalf... See if he's willing."
By the time the news from Bailing reached Wei Yun, he had just seized Yu River.
After the fierce battle, Yu River was practically bathed in blood. Wei Yun had joined forces with Qin Shiyue and Shen You for the assault, and once the city fell, everyone was exhilarated. Wei Yun ordered a banquet that evening to reward the troops.
That night, the military feast was lively with singing and dancing, the atmosphere electric. Shen You stood at the center, regaling everyone with stories as he drank. Qin Shiyue and Wei Yun sat to the side, setting aside their ranks—Wei Yun seemed like a young officer again, and Qin Shiyue just a retainer. Each held a bowl of wine, leaning together as they watched Shen You entertain the crowd.
"Has he always been this talkative?" Wei Yun couldn't help but ask, watching as Shen You rattled off one amusing tale after another, keeping everyone in stitches. He glanced at Qin Shiyue, who had worked with Shen You several times.
Qin Shiyue gave a quiet hum. "Too much to say."
Wei Yun chuckled, tilting his head to gaze at the sky. "With Yu River taken, Qing Province won't be far behind. Once Qing Province stabilizes, the combined forces of Kun, Qing, Luo, and Qiong Provinces will make Zhao Yue's last stronghold in Yan Province insignificant.""Yes," Qin Shiyue sighed, gazing into the distance. "Once Zhao Yue is dead, the world will be at peace."
"And then," Wei Yun turned to him, "what do you want to do, Shi Yue?"
Qin Shiyue remained silent. Knowing his reticence, Wei Yun looked away and spoke slowly, "When I was young, I thought being a good general was enough. Later, I realized I needed to be more than a general—I had to become a powerful minister. Only by controlling your own destiny can you obtain what you desire."
Qin Shiyue took a sip of wine. "Whatever the Seventh Young Master desires, this subordinate will bring it to you."
Wei Yun laughed, reaching out to pat Qin Shiyue's shoulder. "Don't say that, Shi Yue. You're a great general now."
Qin Shiyue paused mid-sip and turned to look at Wei Yun, whose smile was bright. "Once the war is over, I'll promote you and seek Wei Qingping's hand in marriage for you. How does that sound?"
Qin Shiyue froze in place, and Wei Yun burst into laughter. "What, are you shy now?"
Flustered, Qin Shiyue didn't know how to respond. Wei Yun turned his attention to Shen You, who was drunkenly singing in Northern Di. Wei Yun had heard that song before in Northern Di, back when he was severely injured and Chu Yu had cared for him, carrying him through the desert and across the sands.
"When the time comes," Wei Yun's voice was filled with longing, "I'll also go to propose to her. I'll follow the Six Rites and bring her home properly..."
Before he could finish, a soldier rushed over in a panic.
Seeing the soldier's haste, Wei Yun frowned. The soldier knelt before him, panting heavily. "Your Highness, Bailing... Zhao's army has launched a surprise attack on Bailing!"
"What about Jiucheng?!" Wei Yun sprang to his feet. "Has Jiucheng fallen?!"
"No," the soldier shook his head. "Zhao's army bypassed Jiucheng and only attacked Bailing for half a day before retreating."
This left everyone stunned. Even with Zhao's army numbering in the hundreds of thousands, taking Bailing in half a day seemed impossible. Shen You stepped forward anxiously. "What happened to Bailing, then?"
"Bailing is fine," the soldier gasped. Everyone relaxed—except Wei Yun, whose instincts told him something was wrong. He fixed his gaze on the soldier, who continued, "The First Madam volunteered as a hostage and was taken by Zhao's army."
Nowadays, the only person in the Guardian Army who could be mistakenly referred to as the First Madam was that one woman.
Wei Yun's face turned deathly pale. Qin Shiyue frowned. "They only took the First Madam?"
If it was just Chu Yu, her importance might not be enough. The soldier shook his head urgently. "The First Madam is also pregnant... She said... she said..."
He glanced nervously at Wei Yun before continuing, "She said it was Your Highness's firstborn son..."
Silence fell over the crowd. Everyone stared at Wei Yun in shock. Shen You forced an awkward laugh. "The First Madam is truly clever. Without that lie, the old madam might have—"
"It is my child."
Wei Yun's sudden declaration shattered Shen You's strained smile. But Wei Yun paid no attention to the others. His face was ashen, his entire body trembling, as if he were a fragile construct on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Struggling to steady himself, he clenched his fists and asked the soldier in a hoarse voice, "Why... was the First Madam in Bailing?"
Yet even as he asked, he already knew the answer.
With Chu Yu's temperament, if she had known she was pregnant, she would have told him immediately.The battlefield was too chaotic now; she couldn't find him and could only head to Bailing. But once she reached Bailing, she couldn't possibly ignore such a situation when she encountered it.
His eyes were red, his mind in turmoil. Yet he desperately told himself—don’t panic, don’t lose control, don’t rush.
He had to stay calm. Chu Yu and his child were both in Zhao Yue’s hands. He had to hold on, hold on long enough to bring her back alive and unharmed.
Qin Shiyue noticed his unstable state and silently supported him, speaking calmly, "Your Highness, the young master is still waiting for you to save him."
So he had to steady himself—no panic, no chaos.
Leaning on Qin Shiyue’s strength, Wei Yun stood firm. He slowly closed his eyes, struggling to pull his rationality back into place before finally speaking. "Do you know where Gu Chusheng is?"
Quanyuan was not far from the Yu River, just a night’s journey away. Now that Quanyuan had just begun to recover its vitality, after the disaster was brought under control, all that remained was to let the land flourish and thrive with its own resilient life force.
Wei Qingping and Gu Chusheng had spent nearly two months tirelessly aiding the disaster relief efforts before finally getting a chance to rest.
That night, spring rain fell without pause. Gu Chusheng slept restlessly in his room, dreaming of his youth—back when he served as a county magistrate in Kunyang. The government office was dilapidated, and whenever it rained at night, water would leak into the room.
So Chu Yu had fetched a wooden basin to catch the dripping water. When the rain was heavy, the sound of it pattering against the basin was loud and sharp. Unable to sleep, he tossed and turned until he felt someone’s warm hands cover his ears.
"You still have official duties tomorrow."
The young version of her sat cross-legged beside him, covering his ears, her eyes sparkling with laughter. "I’ll sleep in the morning, you sleep now. I’ll keep watch over you, alright?"
The warmth of her sudden care nearly shattered him back then, so he fought back desperately against the overwhelming joy threatening to consume him.
He gave her a cold look and turned away, his back to her. "I don’t like you. Stop wasting your effort."
"That’s alright," she leaned closer. "You don’t have to like me. I’ll keep doing what I want."
"Gu Chusheng," she said cheerfully, "I’ll watch over you for a lifetime. When I no longer want to, I’ll stop. Don’t worry about me being sad—liking you makes me happy."
He remained silent, his back still turned. In the dream, he wanted so badly to face her, but he didn’t dare. He feared that if he turned, the dream itself would vanish.
So only the sound of rain pattering relentlessly persisted, from the dream into wakefulness. When he opened his eyes, the sun had already risen. He dressed, gathered his books, and went to the village to teach.
With little else to do, while Wei Qingping treated patients, he opened a small school in the village to teach the children.
"Heaven and earth, dark and vast; the universe, ancient and boundless; cold comes, heat goes; autumn harvests, winter stores..."
He led the children in reciting the Thousand Character Classic in the courtyard, their voices rising with the morning sun. But then, someone arrived from the Yu River—traveling through wind and rain, under the stars. At dawn, he finally stood before Gu Chusheng’s courtyard gate. The moment he appeared at the entrance, all voices fell silent. Gu Chusheng turned and saw a young man in white robes and a silver crown, drenched from head to toe, yet his disheveled state did nothing to diminish his striking handsomeness.
He opened his mouth and finally spoke.
"A Yu has been taken to Hua Jing by Zhao Yue. I need to save her."He seemed unaware of his own words, merely staring at him numbly as he spoke mechanically, "Name your terms, Gu Chusheng."
"As long as she returns safely," his gaze was somewhat unfocused, yet he struggled to pull it back, fixing it on Gu Chusheng as he said hoarsely, "I'm willing to give up anything."
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