Fight For Love

Wei Yun listened to Gu Chusheng's words in prolonged silence. Gu Chusheng took a step forward and continued, "Sucha is arrogant and tyrannical, easily swayed by flattery. I'll capture you and present you to him, then negotiate to stall him until reinforcements arrive, preventing any massacre of the city."

Wei Yun remained silent, making Gu Chusheng anxious. "No one else is suited for this task but me. Everyone knows I was never a good man to begin with..."

"But what happens afterward?"

Wei Yun suddenly spoke, startling Gu Chusheng. Wei Yun fixed his gaze on him. "Hua Jing will be retaken eventually. When that time comes, as a surrendered official, do you know what you'll face? Historians will vilify you, your name will be cursed for generations. People will treat you more cruelly than they would the Northern Di—insulting, humiliating, even killing you."

As Gu Chusheng listened, his expression gradually steadied. When Wei Yun finished, Gu Chusheng turned to look at the waiting cavalry outside and smiled. "So what? Someone has to do this. I can't stand by and watch Gao Wen and his ilk lead the entire city to their deaths. They may uphold their loyalty to the throne, but what about the common people?"

"I admire their integrity," Gu Chusheng said calmly, turning back. "But Wei Yun, I've seen too much. I don't have their faith or conviction. For me, all that matters is keeping the people alive—saving as many as possible. In Qing Province, I watched countless people die before my eyes. Natural disasters were beyond my control, but at least this man-made calamity—I must stop it."

"You and I think alike. Wasn't that the very meaning behind your suggestion to surrender?" Gu Chusheng chuckled. "But Wei Yun, you are Wei Yun. How could you surrender? If I surrender, it's expected. But if you do, for this nation and its people, it would mean the Great Chu is finished."

"If the man known as the God of War of Great Chu, the Seventh Master Wei of Jiangbei, surrenders, how many others do you think will retain the will to fight? How many would resist surrender?"

Wei Yun silently studied Gu Chusheng for a long moment before raising his hand. Gu Chusheng placed his palm against Wei Yun's as the latter said, "Gu Chusheng, I wonder if it's too late to call you a brother now."

Having spent two lifetimes among civil officials, Gu Chusheng had never heard such words before. After a pause, he smiled and clasped Wei Yun's hand. "Not too late."

"Gu Chusheng," Wei Yun laughed heartily, "next spring, I'll treat you to wine."

Gu Chusheng agreed, "Good."

"Next spring, we shall drink together."

After further discussion, Wei Yun briefly outlined the next steps to Gu Chusheng.

"The Northern Di endure harsh winters and know little of luxury. Flatter them extravagantly to cloud their judgment. They use eagles to carry messages, trained with a special lure. Have someone use this lure outside the city to intercept their eagles and alter the messages, making Zhao Yue's orders appear to instruct them to await further news."

"The Northern Di are fond of wine and bold in nature. Assign eloquent soldiers to befriend the gatekeepers. When reinforcements arrive, try to replace the guards with our men. If that fails, station troops secretly and eliminate them outright.""The Northern Di are not skilled in urban warfare. Once reinforcements enter the city, they will surely scatter in all directions. You must prepare the civilians—if they encounter Northern Di soldiers, they must not fear. In street battles, the enemy may not be stronger than ordinary people."

...

Wei Yun spoke rapidly, his knowledge of the Northern Di extensive. Gu Chusheng quickly noted everything down. Before long, the sound of war drums echoed nearby. Gu Chusheng's expression turned cold as he patted Wei Yun's shoulder and said, "I'm heading down."

Wei Yun acknowledged with a sound, and Gu Chusheng hurried down the city wall. Outside, the clamor of battle cries rose. Wei Yun stood atop the wall, long spear in hand, waiting silently.

Gu Chushan rushed to the base of the wall, where Gao Wen led hundreds of officials, holding their ceremonial tablets, stiff-necked as they awaited the city's fall.

Gu Chusheng dashed forward and shouted to the guards by the gate, "Open the city gates!"

"What?"

The guards froze. Gu Chusheng roared, "Open the gates! Surrender to the Northern Di!"

"Gu Chusheng?!"

Gao Wen shot to his feet, furious. "What nonsense are you spouting, you brat?!"

"I said," Gu Chusheng turned to glare at Gao Wen, "open the gates and surrender to the Northern Di."

"Traitor!"

Gao Wen raised his tablet and charged forward, ready to strike. Gu Chusheng caught his wrist, his expression pained. "Minister Gao, the city cannot be held!"

He then turned and ordered those nearby, "Gather all the civilians—anyone who wants to live, kneel here now!"

No one dared to move. Gu Chusheng closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, staring calmly at Gao Wen. "Minister Gao, even if we fight to the end, the city will still fall. And when it does, what do you think will happen? The Northern Di spare no women or children in resisting cities—don’t you know this?!"

"So what?!"

Gao Wen screamed. "We will live and die with Hua Jing!"

"Do you even ask if the people want to die with you?!"

"Minister Gao," Gu Chusheng gritted his teeth. "I am not afraid to die. None of us Chu officials here fear death. If we did, wouldn’t we have fled with The Eldest Princess earlier? But what meaning does our death hold? Only the living have a future! If we surrender today, we can wait for Wei Yun’s army to retake Hua Jing—coordination from within is the right path! If you drag everyone to their deaths today, what value does that serve?!"

"We are officials, sustained by the people. To live and die for our country is our duty. But a country is not just a city or an emperor—it is its millions of people! The people still live, the country still stands. Shouldn’t we protect them instead of seeking death for ourselves?"

His words left many bewildered. Gu Chusheng released Gao Wen and turned to address the crowd, shouting, "Why do we serve as officials? Isn’t it for a prosperous, peaceful land? Isn’t it for the people’s well-being?! Then what are you doing now? For the sake of your pride, your names in history, you’d drag everyone to their graves?!"

"You die, your names recorded in the annals—but what of the city’s million civilians? Their lives sacrificed for your righteousness—did you ever ask if they wished to die?!"

Civilians began emerging from their homes, summoned by the soldiers.The city gates were struck again and again, the sounds of slaughter outside like a scene from hell. Gu Chusheng stared fixedly at the stunned officials before him and gritted his teeth, saying, "Who gave you the right to lead the entire city's populace to their deaths? Do you want to die?"

With that, Gu Chusheng raised his head and looked at the fearful citizens, raising his voice: "Who among you wants to die?!"

"I... I don't want to..."

Finally, a child timidly raised his hand. His mother, horrified, quickly covered his mouth. But the child could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs. The woman hastily knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately: "My lord, spare him! He's just a child, he doesn't understand!"

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die! If we can live, why should we die? I'm scared..."

The child's voice echoed continuously. Gu Chusheng walked over, crouched down, and looked at the child: "Child, tell me—if today you were made to kneel before the Northern Di, to call their leader 'Your Majesty,' would that mean you're no longer a citizen of Great Chu?"

"Why wouldn't I be a citizen of Great Chu?"

The child seemed confused. Gu Chusheng smiled, stood up, patted the child's head, and addressed the crowd: "What if we surrender today? Does surrendering mean we're no longer citizens of Great Chu?!"

No one spoke. Gu Chusheng suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at the assembled officials, lowering his voice: "Let me make this clear today—anyone who refuses to surrender is treating others' lives as worthless. Then don't blame me for treating their life the same way. I'll ask one last time—"

Gu Chusheng suddenly raised his voice: "Do you surrender or not?!"

Still, no one spoke. Gu Chusheng turned around and raised his hand: "Follow me to raise the flag of surrender!"

The soldiers exchanged glances. A burly man clenched his teeth and suddenly declared: "Lord Gu is right! As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood! I'll follow Lord Gu!"

With someone taking the lead, many soldiers followed Gu Chusheng up the tower. He rushed to the military flag, and a soldier exclaimed in shock: "Lord Gu, what are you doing?!"

"Surrender!"

Gu Chusheng retrieved a white flag from its hidden place, hoisted it, and turned to shout: "Your Majesty Sucha! We surrender!"

At this shout, the people around exchanged bewildered looks. The drums of war sounded, and gradually, the fighting ceased. Gu Chusheng led his men before Wei Yun, staring at him coldly: "Tie him up."

No one dared to step forward. Gritting his teeth, Gu Chusheng grabbed a rope himself and swiftly bound Wei Yun's hands.

Wei Yun offered no resistance as Gu Chusheng tied him up. Gu Chusheng then led Wei Yun down from the walls. Everyone watched as this usually dignified nobleman dragged one of Great Chu's most esteemed ministers to the city gates and shouted: "Open the gates!"

The gates slowly swung open. Gu Chusheng and Wei Yun stood at the forefront, one in red, the other in white. Wei Yun, still covered in blood, appeared utterly composed, while Gu Chusheng remained calm. As the iron cavalry appeared outside the gates, with Sucha mounted on his warhorse, Gu Chusheng immediately prostrated himself in a deep bow the moment he saw Sucha, his voice filled with exaggerated fervor: "This humble servant, Gu Chusheng, welcomes Your Majesty into the capital!"

Such an obsequious display left even the Northern Di soldiers momentarily stunned. Behind Gu Chusheng, the officials clenched their fists in barely suppressed fury.Sucha was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "I've always heard that the people of Great Chu have unyielding integrity, but I never expected to see such spinelessness. Gu Chusheng, why are you so delighted about my entry into Hua Jing?"

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, a wise and enlightened ruler," Gu Chusheng raised his head with a smile, his eyes filled with admiration. "We have suffered under Zhao Yue's tyranny and have long yearned for Your Majesty's arrival! From now on, we shall be subjects of the Northern Di, and under the protection of our sagacious ruler, we shall surely have a bright future! Long live Your Majesty!"

"Oh? You say I am your sagacious ruler?" Sucha glanced at the standing crowd behind him, his eyes turning cold. "It seems the commoners behind you don't share your sentiment."

"Your Majesty," Gu Chusheng smiled ingratiatingly, "they are waiting for Your Majesty to accept them as your subjects. By coming to Hua Jing, you are delivering us from calamity. We are willing to serve Your Majesty as slaves or servants!"

Sucha remained silent, staring intently at Gu Chusheng. After a moment, he laughed and dismounted. His attendants quickly brought him a chair. After sitting down, Sucha patted his left leg and said with a grin, "We Northern Di people are known for our generosity. If you wish to surrender, I can give you this opportunity. But I wonder how sincere your offer to serve as slaves truly is. Scholar Gu, would you be willing to come polish my boots?"

Hearing this, the crowd clenched their teeth in anger, but Gu Chusheng's expression remained unchanged. His smile even widened as he promptly kowtowed and said, "It would be this humble servant's honor!"

As he tried to stand up, Sucha immediately commanded, "Crawl over."

Gu Chusheng froze momentarily. Wei Yun's gaze fell upon him, watching as this once-proud man, under the scrutiny of the crowd, crawled step by step toward Sucha with a forced smile, using his official robes to wipe the dust from Sucha's boots.

Wei Yun closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight. Sucha roared with laughter, while among the commoners, some grew red-eyed, watching Gu Chusheng grovel at the invader's feet.

"Good, very good," Sucha kicked Gu Chusheng away. "The people of Great Chu certainly know how to serve—you've pleased me greatly! Very well, I shall grant you this opportunity. Those who kneel shall live. Those who remain standing..."

Sucha left the threat unspoken, but everyone understood. In the heavy silence, Gu Chusheng suddenly shouted, "Kneel! All of you, kneel!"

At his command, the commoners began kneeling one after another, like a receding tide. Once the commoners had knelt, officials too started dropping to their knees. Finally, amidst the sea of bowed heads, only Wei Yun remained standing—his white robes stained with blood, his posture unyielding amidst the crowd.

His hands were bound with rough rope, yet his expression was calm as still water, carrying the fearless composure of one who defies death, as though nothing could break him.

All eyes turned to him. Sucha sneered, "What? Does Prince Wei not wish to live?"

Wei Yun ignored him, his gaze fixed calmly beyond the city gates as if he hadn't heard.

Enraged by Wei Yun's defiance, Sucha suddenly drew his blade and pressed it against Wei Yun's neck. "You think I won't kill you?!"

"Then kill me," Wei Yun met his gaze coldly. "Do it."

"Your Majesty!" Gu Chusheng rushed forward in alarm. "You're falling into their trap!"Sucha turned to look at Gu Chusheng, who sighed and said, "Your Majesty, death is simple. Lord Wei is practically begging you to kill him."

Sucha was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Wei Yun, then back at Gu Chusheng before breaking into a smile. "You're right. Death is easy, but living..." Sucha patted Wei Yun's face, "that's the hardest part."

"Indeed," Gu Chusheng stepped forward, following behind Sucha with a fawning tone. "In this humble servant's opinion, you shouldn't kill Lord Wei. You should keep him alive, let him live well, and torment him bit by bit."

"Exactly!" Sucha laughed heartily, turning to Wei Yun. "I won't kill you, Wei Yun." He sneered coldly. "I'll let you live, live well. I'll humiliate you, torture you, make you see what kind of worthless scum you've been protecting all these years!"

Sucha strode up to Wei Yun, grabbing his hair violently and speaking in a chilling voice, "I want you to kneel and beg me, to live like a dog."

With that, he suddenly kicked Wei Yun's leg and roared, "Kneel!"

Wei Yun staggered but did not kneel. Sucha stepped back and looked at the standing citizens of Chu, his voice icy. "Make him kneel! Grab those women and children!"

Sucha pointed at a row of commoners nearby. Northern Di soldiers rushed forward, dragging the nearest women and children to form a line. Sucha sat back in his seat, propping his chin as he watched Wei Yun. "If he doesn't kneel within fifteen minutes, I'll start counting. With each number, I'll kill one person."

Hearing this, the children and women began to cry. Panic spread through the crowd as people kowtowed desperately, pleading with Sucha and Wei Yun.

Sucha stared calmly at Wei Yun. "What? Is Lord Wei's pride worth more than these lives?"

Wei Yun remained silent, closing his eyes.

The families of the women and children surged forward, surrounding Wei Yun. They wept, kowtowed, and tugged at his sleeves.

"General Wei, please, we beg you..."

"Seventh Young Master, I once sold flowers to you... my son is only seven..."

"Lord Wei, Your Excellency..."

The voices around him cut like knives, yet Wei Yun stood tall and unyielding.

"Wei Yun!"

Finally, someone shrieked sharply, "Are these lives worth less than your pride to you?!"

At these words, Wei Yun trembled. Slowly, he opened his eyes and spoke with difficulty, "I'm sorry..."

But he could not kneel.

When all of Hua Jing had already knelt, he could not be the one to bend.

He was different from these commoners, different from ordinary officials. He was the spirit of Chu, its backbone. If he knelt, the war would be lost before it even began.

Everyone fears death—this is natural. But if even soldiers fear death, who will protect the land behind them?

So anyone else could kneel, but he could not.

Even in death, Wei Yun had to show the world he had not surrendered, that Chu had not lost.

"Hmm, only half the time remains," Sucha reminded the people desperately pleading with Wei Yun on the ground. "It seems you can't persuade your General Wei. Of course, why would a man of such pride care about the lives of lowly commoners like you?"These words provoked the kneeling man, his eyes reddening. A frail man suddenly stood up.

"Prince Wei," he gritted his teeth, "my wife and children are there. I'm sorry."

Hearing this, Wei Yun opened his eyes and calmly looked at the man.

The man appeared to be ill, his frame gaunt. Wei Yun's expression was calm yet tinged with apology. He said nothing, and in his eyes, there seemed to be forgiveness.

The man couldn't bear to look at Wei Yun any longer. He rushed forward and kicked Wei Yun's leg, shouting, "Kneel!"

Wei Yun clenched his teeth and didn't move, but others soon joined in the violence.

They dragged him, kicked him, and beat him.

They forced him to the ground again and again, and each time, Wei Yun stood back up.

As time passed, their actions grew more frenzied. Cries, curses, and countless other sounds mingled together, buzzing in Wei Yun's ears.

He felt rain on his face as he was shoved to the ground. Blood trickled from his forehead. He curled up, protecting himself with his hands. These people were weak compared to him, yet he didn't fight back. He struggled only to shield himself from their pulls and strikes.

Amid the chaos, he faintly heard someone weeping and shouting.

"Kneel!"

"Wei Yun, kneel!"

His body trembled slightly. In that moment, it was as if he had returned to his childhood—when his brothers, his father, even his uncles stood before him, swords drawn, red tassels wrapped around their spears.

"The Wei family has never had deserters, nor have we ever yielded."

"For our country and our people, we would die without regret."

"Everyone has their duty. Born into the Wei family, we are protectors of this land."

These voices swirled in his ears, mingling with the clang of weapons and the fervor of battle. Pain wracked his body, yet he faintly felt as if someone was embracing him, standing by him.

That familiar feeling—it seemed like so long ago.

The year he walked out of the Palace Gates, she knelt before them, hundreds of memorial tablets behind her. The heavy rain soaked her clothes, yet her expression was calm and resolute. Back then, as he quietly watched her, he felt as if someone had lifted the sky for him, shielding him from the storm.

From then on, she stayed by his side, appearing without fail in his darkest hours. In Phoenix Tomb City, he clung to her desperately. In the Northern Di, she carried him across the desert. After their return, she joined him in rebellion...

She said, "This path, I walk with you."

No matter how arduous, no matter the scorn of thousands, no matter the bones piled high—she would stand by him.

He remembered those moments, the countless times they embraced. These fragments of warmth, the brightest spots in his life, now gathered together, forming a fragile yet unyielding light against the overwhelming despair.

"Nine hundred miles of rivers and passes..."

The people seized him, and he murmured.

"Twelve towers of beacon fires..."

"Lift him! Press his legs down!"

"Rather break bones into blades..."

"Hold him! Push his head down!"

"White steeds turn to moss..."

"Your Majesty!" A burly man threw himself at Sucha's feet, tears in his eyes. "He's kneeling! He's kneeling!"

Sucha remained silent. Everyone watched the man, now covered in blood, who seemed to have long lost his senses.He seemed to have had his bones broken, kneeling before Sucha in a twisted posture. Yet no one present felt that this kneeling was an act of humiliation or submission.

Though he knelt, everyone clearly sensed that this man's heart had never bowed.

Even after being betrayed by the very people he had sworn to protect, even after having his legs forcibly broken—none of it seemed to diminish his dignity in the slightest.

Sucha watched him quietly, and for a moment, found his own amusement waning.

Irritated, he waved his hand dismissively and stood up. "Enough. Drag him away—just make sure he doesn't die."

Then he turned to Gu Chusheng and said, "Gu Chusheng, how about I appoint you as Prime Minister? I might as well try being the Emperor of Great Chu."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Gu Chusheng quickly knelt again, flattering, "Your Majesty is majestic and heroic, embodying the boldness of the north and the elegance of the south. Whether in Northern Di or Great Chu, Your Majesty is the rightful ruler of all under heaven!"

Such praise greatly pleased Sucha, who laughed heartily and led Gu Chusheng away.

With Sucha gone, the commoners who had been restraining Wei Yun rushed to their families. Wei Yun lay on the ground, weakly opening his eyes as rain fell into them.

"A Yu..." he murmured softly.

A Yu, you must have left the city by now. You should be safe, right?

Chu Yu followed The Eldest Princess out of the city. As soon as they reached the army's front, Zhang Hui led his troops forward and respectfully addressed the imperial carriage, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, shall we retreat to Yun City for now?"

Yun City was the closest territory under Zhao Yue's jurisdiction to Hua Jing. The Eldest Princess gently combed Zhao Yue's hair and calmly replied, "Agreed."

The army swiftly headed toward Yun City. Inside the carriage, Chu Yu gradually calmed down. Shivering, she hugged herself tightly. After a moment, she took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and lifted the curtain to glance at Changyue and Wanyue sitting outside. Calmly, she asked, "Where are we going?"

Wanyue lowered her voice, "Zhang Hui said we're going to Yun City."

"Go and tell them I request an audience with Consort Mei," Chu Yu instructed.

Changyue acknowledged and immediately descended from the carriage to relay the message. Shortly after, a maid escorted Chu Yu to the imperial carriage.

When Chu Yu boarded, The Eldest Princess seemed deep in thought about something. Zhao Yue lay across her lap as she gently combed his hair.

Approaching her, Chu Yu whispered, "Princess, I cannot fall into Zhang Hui's hands."

"I know," The Eldest Princess replied, her gaze icy. "We must escape."

"What is your plan, Princess?"

"Among Zhang Hui's subordinates, there is one of my men," The Eldest Princess said slowly. "I've already sent someone to inquire. At the hour of the Ox tonight, when we make camp, he will be on guard duty. That's when we'll flee."

"What about Zhao Yue?" Chu Yu glanced at him.

The Eldest Princess pressed her lips together before decisively answering, "Kill him."

Chu Yu silently studied The Eldest Princess, who seemed to understand her thoughts. Meeting her gaze, the princess said coolly, "Since he schemed to invite Northern Di into Hua Jing to break his own siege, his current state is likely a ruse. Zhang Hui went to such lengths to retrieve this living corpse—there must be another plan. Even if I wished to keep him, I dare not."

"If you can make this decision," Chu Yu nodded, "then it's for the best."

The two discussed their escape plan in detail. Before long, Zhang Hui appeared outside the imperial carriage. "Your Highness, for the sake of your noble health, shouldn't you rest now?"

"Thank you, Eunuch Zhang," The Eldest Princess replied calmly. "I shall have Lady Chu return to her carriage now."

Chu Yu went back to her carriage. As night fell and the army set up camp, she, Wanyue, and Changyue shared a tent. After packing their belongings, they quietly waited for the hour of the Ox.

Meanwhile, shortly after The Eldest Princess settled in, Zhang Hui entered.

Not daring to leave Zhao Yue's side, she guarded his body and asked coolly, "Eunuch Zhang, what brings you here so late at night?"

"His Majesty's health is frail. This servant has come to deliver medicine."

The Eldest Princess's gaze fell on the medicine bowl in Zhang Hui's hands.Her expression was calm. In that moment, she had already confirmed that everything was indeed planned by Zhao Yue.

Holding Zhao Yue in her arms, she wore a guarded look: "Who prescribed this medicine for you? What is it meant to do?"

Seeing The Eldest Princess like this, Zhang Hui remained silent for a moment. Holding the medicine bowl, he slowly spoke: "To be honest, this servant has never liked Your Highness."

The Eldest Princess was taken aback as Zhang Hui continued slowly: "Ever since His Majesty was still the heir apparent, this servant has believed that for His Majesty, Your Highness has been nothing but a calamity."

"Why are you telling me this?"

The Eldest Princess frowned. Zhang Hui gazed at her quietly: "I know His Majesty is not a good emperor, but in all fairness, he has been a good husband. He may have failed the world, but he has never failed you. So, Your Highness," Zhang Hui sighed softly, "Anyone may betray His Majesty, but you cannot."

The Eldest Princess said nothing. After a pause, she gave a bitter smile: "Eunuch Zhang worries too much. His Majesty is my heaven. As a scheming, favored consort like me," she raised her hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "who else could I rely on if His Majesty were gone?"

Zhang Hui fell silent. After a long while, he stepped forward and said respectfully, "Please feed His Majesty the medicine, Your Highness."

The Eldest Princess looked at the decoction. She didn't want to administer it, but at this moment, she couldn't let Zhang Hui notice anything amiss. So she took the bowl and fed the medicine to Zhao Yue. Afterward, she glanced at Zhang Hui and said coolly, "This princess will attend to His Majesty's rest. You may withdraw."

Zhang Hui observed Zhao Yue for a moment before respectfully retreating.

Once he left, The Eldest Princess had the maids extinguish the lamps and lay down beside Zhao Yue, quietly counting the hours.

When she heard the changing of the guard outside, she rose and said to the maid outside, "Haitang, take the sweet soup I asked you to prepare earlier to Miss Chu. It will help her sleep."

According to the plan, delivering the sweet soup would serve as the signal. Once it reached Chu Yu, she would know everything was ready. Chu Yu would then steal the horses, and they would meet at the camp's perimeter.

As the maid's footsteps faded away, The Eldest Princess immediately got out of bed. She changed into lightweight clothing, tied up her hair simply, fastened a sword and dagger at her waist, and took a medicine bottle with her.

Just as she finished preparing, she suddenly heard a weak call: "Elder Sister?"

The Eldest Princess whirled around to see Zhao Yue propping himself up in bed. She lunged forward, pressing the blade to his throat, and said coldly, "Don't make a sound."

Zhao Yue's expression darkened. Though clearly still weak, his gaze was unyielding and composed: "What are you doing?"

Commotion erupted outside. The Eldest Princess grabbed a rope from behind and swiftly bound Zhao Yue's hands. She then rushed to the door and saw that Chu Yu's people had alarmed the soldiers.

The noise from Chu Yu stealing the horses had inevitably woken some. After a moment's thought, The Eldest Princess seized Zhao Yue, pressed the knife to his neck, and dragged him outside.

Still groggy from waking, Zhao Yue was unsure of the situation and chose to remain silent, quickly assessing the circumstances in his mind. As he was hauled out, bound, The Eldest Princess shouted, "Everyone, stop!"

Seeing Chu Yu and the others surrounded by soldiers, Zhao Yue immediately grasped how far the plan had progressed."Consort Mei," his voice was calm, "I know you intend to let Chu Yu leave. Release me, and I'll allow her to go."

"Your Majesty," The Eldest Princess chuckled lightly, "Do you think I'd believe you?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"Haven't you lied to me enough?"

These words silenced Zhao Yue. The Eldest Princess forced him forward, and Zhang Hui anxiously stepped closer, "Your Majesty!"

Zhao Yue raised his hand, stopping Zhang Hui's advance, and said coolly, "Don't act rashly. Be careful of the child."

The Eldest Princess remained silent. She forced Zhao Yue toward the horse and commanded coldly, "Get on the horse."

Zhao Yue said nothing. With a sword pressed against his waist, he obediently mounted the horse. The Eldest Princess swung up behind him and shouted at Chu Yu, "Go!"

"Whatever you want to do, tell me," Zhao Yue spoke calmly. "This isn't good for the child."

"Shut up!"

The Eldest Princess slapped him across the face, furious. "Who gave you the right to speak?!"

Zhao Yue pressed his lips together. The Eldest Princess held him tightly in her arms, urging the horse forward desperately. Zhao Yue silently dislocated his own wrist, slipping his hand free from the ropes.

He had always been ruthless—to others and to himself. Even in such excruciating pain, his expression remained unchanged.

Still weak, he couldn't resist much, so he pondered how to regain control of the situation.

Seeing them ride away, Zhang Hui was frantic. Leading the pursuers, he gritted his teeth, glaring at The Eldest Princess.

"General, I knew that woman was no good!" a deputy roared. "Watch me cut her down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the deputy drew his bow and fired an arrow straight at The Eldest Princess.

Zhang Hui cried out in horror, "Stop!"

It was too late. The arrow shot toward The Eldest Princess, who only knew rudimentary martial arts and had no time to dodge. Hearing the arrow's whistle, Chu Yu turned back in shock, "Your Highness!"

But in that instant, Zhao Yue, who was in front of The Eldest Princess, suddenly wrapped his arms around her and twisted them both to the side, falling to the ground.

The arrow thudded into Zhao Yue's flesh. Pale-faced, he looked up at her. "Are you alright?"

The Eldest Princess didn't answer. She hauled Zhao Yue up, slung him over her back, and remounted the horse.

If they dared shoot arrows even with Zhao Yue present, without him as a shield, they truly wouldn't escape.

Already weakened, Zhao Yue felt his organs churn with pain from the arrow wound and the rough ride. He had no strength left, only managing to wrap his arms around The Eldest Princess tightly, gasping, "Head for the dense woods. I can't hold on. Zhang Hui won't spare you."

He had no time to ask why she was fleeing or what had happened. Holding her, feeling the wind whip past, he suddenly felt as if they were fugitives on the run.

His body grew cold, and an inexplicable sense of impending doom washed over him. He wanted to hold her tighter but feared harming the unborn child. Yet, the moment he thought of it, he realized something was wrong.

A child over six months along... why was The Eldest Princess's abdomen so flat?

A terrible realization struck him. He gripped her shoulder fiercely, his voice frantic, "Where is the child?!"

"What?"

As The Eldest Princess urged the horse through the forest, Zhao Yue roared, "The child! Did someone harm you? Who did this to you?!"The Eldest Princess was stunned. This time, she finally realized what Zhao Yue was talking about. She glanced at him, only to find his face deathly pale, his body soaked in blood. A sudden wave of terror gripped her. She couldn’t bear to look at him and turned away in panic.

"Who hurt you…"

Zhao Yue clung to her back, breathing raggedly. "Don’t be afraid. Tell me, and I’ll kill them. No one can hurt you…"

He repeated these words over and over, his voice growing weaker.

The Eldest Princess felt dazed. She sensed something ominous. Carrying him on her back, listening to his ravings, she finally spoke: "A-Yue, there is no child."

The person behind her froze. The Eldest Princess continued, "Actually—"

"Shut up…" Zhao Yue trembled violently. The Eldest Princess knew then—someone as sharp as him only needed the slightest clue to piece everything together. Yet she still wanted to tell him.

She didn’t know if it was out of vengeance or something else, but she desperately wanted to reveal everything to him.

"There is no child."

She laughed softly. "I lied to you."

"Shut up! Shut up!" Zhao Yue roared. "There is a child! You have one!"

"I don’t," the Eldest Princess said calmly. "I only said that to stabilize the situation after poisoning you. After your death, I would’ve just picked any child and claimed it was yours."

Zhao Yue was stunned. The Eldest Princess went on, "I was the one who poisoned you. I set the trap. Your greatest enemy was never Gu Chusheng, nor Wei Yun—it was me."

"Why…" Zhao Yue’s voice was hoarse. "Why… would you do this to me…"

"Zhao Yue," the Eldest Princess blinked, her eyes stinging. "I’m not the kind of person who abandons everything for love. After you killed my brother, my husband, sent away my daughter, and destroyed my homeland—did you really think I’d forgive you?"

"But you forgave me before," Zhao Yue rasped. "After I killed Mei Hanxue…"

"At that time, I didn’t know it was you who killed him."

The Eldest Princess spoke evenly. Zhao Yue fell silent.

She smiled. "Zhao Yue, if you could’ve controlled your desires, we wouldn’t have ended up like this."

"Control desires…" Zhao Yue felt his consciousness slipping. He slowly closed his eyes. "Then I’d have nothing. I’d just have to watch you marry someone else, watch my family perish, left with nothing, becoming your male concubine, watching you flirt with other men while I could do nothing…"

"Do you know why I became emperor?"

"I wanted revenge. I wanted everything I desired. I never wanted to suffer the humiliation of my past again."

The Eldest Princess froze. For a fleeting moment, an image of Zhao Yue as a child flashed through her mind—quiet, innocent, almost strangely kind.

He would carefully carry ants back to their nests, stop her from stepping on bugs.

"But… I never had other male concubines. It was all just for appearances."

The Eldest Princess murmured blankly, "I loved you. But I was so much older—I was afraid you wouldn’t like me, so I always pretended I was just taking care of you like a younger brother. But I loved you. After you came to the princess’s residence, after I fell for you… I never touched anyone else."

Zhao Yue was stunned. He wanted to reply, but he had no strength left.

He couldn’t describe what he felt—only that countless emotions surged within him.

Regret?

Agony?He didn't know. He just felt that if there could be one more chance... just one more...

His silence unsettled The Eldest Princess. She desperately whipped her horse and began talking about the past. She spoke of his faults, how terrible he had been, yet there was no response from the person behind her.

Carrying her on her back, she followed Chu Yu through the dense forest. Only when dawn broke did Chu Yu finally stop and turn to say, "Let's rest for a while."

At that moment, she froze. The Eldest Princess sat on the horse with Zhao Yue behind her, his chin resting on her shoulder, his arms tightly wrapped around her waist.

His blood had soaked her clothes. Her expression was calm, yet her face was streaked with tears.

Hearing Chu Yu's words, she replied with eerie composure, "Alright."

With that, she dismounted, and Zhao Yue slumped forward onto the horse.

She didn't look back, striding ahead with the horsewhip in hand.

Chu Yu hesitated before asking, "Your Highness... what should we do with Zhao Yue?"

The Eldest Princess paused mid-step. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.

She stood rooted to the spot, unable to turn around. After what felt like an eternity, Chu Yu finally heard her voice, strained as though dredged from the depths of struggle.

"Bury him."

Having said this, The Eldest Princess walked forward, her back straight, her steps proud—as if she didn't care at all.

Chu Yu sighed and turned to Changyue. "Bury him."

While The Eldest Princess and Chu Yu rested, Changyue and Wanyue dug a grave with their swords and laid Zhao Yue to rest. Afterward, Chu Yu brought water to The Eldest Princess and asked tentatively, "Should we erect a marker?"

The Eldest Princess said nothing. After a moment, she gave a bitter laugh. "For someone like him... a grave marker would only ensure his bones are dug up and scattered."

"Let it be." Her gaze drifted into the distance. "That he can rest in peace is already more than enough."

After resting briefly, the group resumed their journey.

Seven days later, they finally arrived at Bailing.

They had sent word ahead to Tao Quan. As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she saw Tao Quan with Shen You and Qin Shiyue, Liu Xueyang with Wang Lan, and six other young masters waiting at the gates. The moment she appeared, they all knelt and proclaimed in unison, "We welcome the return of the Grand Madam!"

Chu Yu was taken aback. After a pause, she smiled and raised a hand. "Rise."

Relieved by her lack of refusal, the group stood. Chu Yu then escorted The Eldest Princess forward, and after another round of greetings, they entered the city.

Inside the carriage, Chu Yu rode with Liu Xueyang and Wang Lan. Wang Lan recounted Jiang Chun's situation in detail. Listening in silence, Chu Yu finally said, "So she's in Taiping City now?"

"Yes," Wang Lan sighed. "No word on whether she's alive or dead."

Chu Yu didn't respond, and the atmosphere grew awkward. After a long silence, Liu Xueyang spoke slowly, "A Yu..."

Chu Yu looked up at her. Liu Xueyang seemed to have aged considerably. She met Chu Yu's gaze hesitantly. "In the past, I was narrow-minded... I wronged you. If I apologize now... could you let bygones be bygones?"

Chu Yu hadn't expected Liu Xueyang to be so direct. After a brief pause, she answered frankly, "Right now, the most important thing is Xiao Qi's safe return. After all we've been through... these things don't matter anymore."

Liu Xueyang's eyes reddened at these words. She nodded repeatedly. "Xiao Qi is what matters most."Upon entering the residence, Chu Yu bid farewell to Liu Xueyang and the others, then immediately summoned Tao Quan and his group to assess the situation.

"Right now, Prince Chu is held up by the Chen Kingdom, but he should be able to secure victory within seven days. However, Hua Jing has an army of a hundred thousand. With just Prince Chu's forces alone, it's unlikely we can prevail."

"Do we have any reserves to spare here?"

"None," Shen You frowned. "With nearly a hundred thousand Northern Di troops pressing at the border, we're already stretched thin. Not to mention Zhao Yue's sixty thousand Yanzhou troops are entangled with General Qin. We simply don't have the capacity to deploy additional forces to Hua Jing. In fact, if this drags on any longer..."

Shen You glanced at Tao Quan. "Coupled with the plague situation, we might not be able to hold out."

"Has the cure for the plague been developed yet?"

"Princess Qingping says it's almost ready, but they're still missing one crucial ingredient."

Chu Yu nodded thoughtfully. After a moment's consideration, she stood up. "Let me think about this first. Everyone should rest for now, and we'll reconvene tomorrow."

As the others dispersed, Tao Quan looked at Chu Yu's belly with concern. "And the little heir... is he doing well?"

"He's fine."

At the mention of the child, Chu Yu instinctively placed a hand on her stomach, smiling gently. "He hasn't caused me too much trouble."

Tao Quan sighed in relief. "The prince has been eagerly awaiting his birth. When the time comes, the prince will surely be overjoyed, won't he?"

Chu Yu pressed her lips together and stood up. With Wanyue supporting her, she chatted with Tao Quan for a while longer before heading out.

She first made her way to Han Xiu's armory. Along the way, she pondered deeply.

The crux of this situation actually lay with Song Shilan. If the Song Family could deploy troops, things would become much easier. But to get Song Shilan to send reinforcements, they first needed to resolve the plague and ensure his survival.

And this plague...

Chu Yu frowned.

In her previous life, there had also been a plague after the earthquake. Back then, it seemed Wei Qingping had also been the one to develop the cure.

There was indeed one very special ingredient in that prescription. At the time, because it could cure the plague, it had sold out everywhere. She remembered that ingredient being quite common—she had wanted to use it herself but was told at Jishi Pharmacy that it was out of stock. After some thought, she stopped the carriage and called out, "To the pharmacy."

Upon arriving at the pharmacy, Chu Yu began scanning the labels on the medicine drawers one by one.

When had that been?

Back then, she had been pregnant with Gu Yanqing. She had needed to drink prenatal medicine daily, and due to her constitution being yin-leaning, the prescriptions had been quite unique. She beckoned the pharmacist over and described her condition from that time, asking him to recreate the prescriptions.

The pharmacist wrote out one prescription after another, and Chu Yu scrutinized each one carefully.

She had an impression of it.

She definitely remembered.

She racked her brain, going over the prescriptions more than a dozen times, until finally, she spotted a familiar name.

That name matched the missing ingredient in her memory. Chu Yu abruptly stood up and urgently said, "Go, inform Princess Qingping immediately—tell her to try adding Angelica dahurica to the formula!"

Though much had changed in this world, disasters like this plague shouldn't have been fundamentally altered by their presence.

Having identified the medicine, Chu Yu rested for the night. Early the next morning, she hurried off to Han Xiu's armory.If Wei Qingping could obtain the prescription as planned and ensure Song Shilan's survival, then the Song Family could dispatch troops. With the combined forces of the Song Family and Chu Linyang, capturing Hua Jing wouldn't be difficult.

But if Song Shilan were to die, she would need to devise a way for the Wei family to fight against greater numbers while conserving their strength as much as possible. Only then, by joining forces with Chu Linyang to attack Hua Jing, would they have a fifty-fifty chance of success.

The key to preserving military strength lay in how many weapons Han Xiu had produced so far.

Chu Yu planned the subsequent troop deployments and finally arrived at the armory.

Given the wartime urgency, Han Xiu was bustling about in a frenzy. When Chu Yu arrived, he hurriedly emerged from the smithy and bowed. "Madam."

"I’ve come to check the current weapon inventory."

Chu Yu followed Han Xiu inside as he reported on the stock of Improved Feathered Arrows, crossbows, armor, and other equipment. Finally, he pushed open the door to a hidden chamber, revealing the stockpile of gunpowder. Standing by the door, Han Xiu said somewhat sheepishly, "Gunpowder is costly and time-consuming to produce. After your last use, this is all we’ve managed to prepare. But these have been improved—they’re much more powerful than before."

"How much more powerful?"

"Let me give you an example," Han Xiu gestured. "With the same amount of gunpowder as before, if you set it off in the mountains, it would only blast a few craters. But now, not only can it blast craters, it can also trigger an avalanche."

Chu Yu had been inspecting the gunpowder, but at Han Xiu’s words, something suddenly flashed through her mind. She looked up sharply and frowned. "What did you just say?"

"Ava... avalanche?"

Han Xiu was bewildered. Chu Yu froze for a moment before suddenly realizing something.

"That’s it!"

She quickly asked, "Are you certain this can trigger an avalanche?"

Han Xiu was baffled, but Chu Yu immediately dragged him outside and led him to a map, pointing at a specific area. "This place—do you recognize it?"

Han Xiu studied it carefully before answering dismissively, "Snow Ridge? Of course."

"Can we blow this place apart?"

Seeing how serious Chu Yu was, Han Xiu didn’t dare answer carelessly. He raised a hand. "Hold on, let me calculate first."

With that, he turned and called over another person. The two of them worked through the calculations for a long time before nodding. "If we use all of it, yes."

Chu Yu clapped her hands. "Good!"

Then she ordered, "Prepare everything in the coming days. I may need to use it at any moment."

After giving her instructions, Chu Yu hurried back to Wei Manor and summoned everyone. Calmly, she announced, "I have a plan."

Everyone waited for her to continue. Chu Yu walked over to the sand table and gestured as she spoke. "Right now, Shen You commands eighty thousand troops, and Shi Yue has fifty thousand. We still need to spare as many men as possible for Hua Jing. If we keep fighting this stalemate, we have no chance of victory. I want to take a gamble. I propose transferring sixty thousand of Shen You’s troops to Kun Province to assist Shi Yue in encircling and annihilating Zhao Yue’s sixty thousand soldiers. By then, Shi Yue will have a total of one hundred ten thousand troops—nearly double Zhao Yue’s forces. Even after a hard-fought battle, at least half should remain. Then, they can join forces with my elder brother’s army and retake Hua Jing directly."

"But what about Bai Province?"

Shen You frowned. Chu Yu replied coolly, "We’ll send word immediately to borrow twenty thousand troops from Tuso. You have forty thousand in Bai Province. Use a small detachment to lure the Northern Di forces to Snow Ridge. I’ll arrange for gunpowder to be buried there in advance. Once detonated, it will trigger an avalanche. Snow Ridge is long and narrow—have Tuso’s men ambush the exit toward Northern Di, while your remaining forces lie in wait at the entrance leading to Great Chu. After the avalanche, even if they survive, their morale will be shattered. Kill them one by one as they emerge—wipe them all out."

The group was stunned into silence. Qin Shiyue was the first to speak. "But wouldn’t the men sent to Snow Ridge all die?"Chu Yu remained silent, lowering her gaze as she continued, "So you must minimize the number of people sent to Snow Ridge."

"Without someone significant enough, the Northern Di army won’t take the bait."

Qin Shiyue frowned, staring quietly at Chu Yu. "Madam, is there no other way?"

"If there were another way," Chu Yu raised her eyes to meet his, "would I have even suggested this one?"

The room fell silent again. Qin Shiyue furrowed his brows, and just then, a calm voice spoke up: "I’ll go."

Chu Yu looked up. Shen You, standing to the side, wore a composed expression. "The Northern Di despises me, a 'traitor,' to the bone. I know them well. When the time comes, I can lead a small squad, feigning defeat to lure them into Snow Ridge."

Chu Yu watched him quietly. Qin Shiyue spoke up, "Brother Shen..."

"I have nothing," Shen You said calmly. "No parents, no siblings, no wife or children. Alone, with no attachments. I’m the most suitable."

"But—"

"Fine."

Chu Yu made the decision, lowering her eyes as she said evenly, "You alone aren’t enough. Are there any Northern Di spies under surveillance in the army?"

"There’s one, still being watched."

Tao Quan answered. Chu Yu nodded. "Deliberately leak them a message: Shen You plans to split his forces—60,000 troops on the front, 40,000 on the rear. Shen You will ambush them from Plum Grove. The Northern Di will surely intercept him there first. Plum Grove is close to Snow Ridge. Shen You, lead them there, then ignite the gunpowder."

Shen You nodded. "Understood."

"Set it for half a month from now."

Chu Yu spoke evenly. "Tomorrow, move the troops to Kun Province—quietly, without drawing attention. In half a month, Shen You will act immediately. Shi Yue will simultaneously encircle the Zhao army. Both fronts must proceed in sync to ensure Sucha won’t react in time when we besiege Hua Jing."

"Yes."

The group acknowledged the orders. Feeling weary, Chu Yu waved a hand. "Go, rest for now."

With that, she supported her belly and stood up.

That night, everyone prepared for what lay ahead.

Qin Shiyue sat in his study, meticulously copying Wei Qingping’s handwriting.

Wei Qingping had always mocked his ugly calligraphy and his quiet nature. Back then, her teasing had irked him. But now, as he traced her strokes, he realized even her scolding had been precious. If she returned, he’d gladly endure her reprimands for a lifetime.

If she returned, even if the King of Wei beat him to death, he’d still go to propose.

Lost in thought, his hand trembled. Qin Shiyue lifted his head, gazing into the distance.

Wei Qingping.

He silently repeated the name in his heart, believing they would all survive.

A hundred miles away, Wei Qingping observed a patient who had just received the new treatment.

That morning, she had received Chu Yu’s letter and immediately tried the method. Now, the patient showed clear improvement. She stood up urgently. "Quick, send the prescription to Taiping City!"

Chu Yu’s letter had outlined the current situation—Song Shilan was pivotal to this battle. No matter what, saving him took top priority.

As a carrier pigeon flapped toward Taiping City, Shen You once again stood outside Wang Lan’s door.Every time he went to war, he would stand outside Wang Lan's door. In the past, he would simply stand there all night and then leave without a word, without a sound. But on this night, he stood at the door and softly called out, "Wang Lan."

Wang Lan sat inside, embroidering flowers, her hands trembling slightly as she listened to Shen You speak. The needle pricked her index finger, and she quickly sucked on it. Then she heard Shen You's voice from outside: "I'm going to the battlefield."

Wang Lan lowered her eyes.

"I know you don’t want to see me. Truthfully, I don’t even know what I’d do if I saw you."

"I’ve been thinking all this time—what must I do in this lifetime to be with you? But no matter how I think about it, the mistakes I’ve made can’t be undone. A mistake is a mistake, and it lasts a lifetime. Whether it was intentional or not, it can never be washed clean."

Wang Lan listened quietly to his words, her whole body sinking into despair. Shen You sat on the steps outside her courtyard, his voice tinged with laughter: "The happiest time of my life was when we first met. Back then, I thought you were such a lovely girl."

Shen You chuckled softly as he recounted their past.

In truth, their interactions had been few. Over the years, most of the time, one waited outside the door while the other waited inside. Between them lay a vast river, impossible to cross.

"Do you remember when you gave me a piece of Warm Jade? I thought you were incredibly wealthy—I’d never met a girl who could casually gift something like that."

"Wang Lan," Shen You sighed as dawn broke, "if only none of the past had ever happened, how wonderful that would be."

If only there had been no grudges, no entanglements of love and hate.

Wang Lan said nothing. She had grown accustomed over the years to waiting silently with him inside her home until daybreak.

Shen You sighed and stood up, speaking gently, "Wang Lan, take care."

Wang Lan froze.

This was the first time he had ever told her to "take care."

In the past, he had always said, "Until we meet again."

Yet she couldn’t discern the difference between the two phrases. She simply sat motionless at the stone table for a long time before finally standing up.

Bailing was not far from the border, and Shen You reached Baicheng in a single day, where he began assembling his troops.

Meanwhile, in Taiping City, Jiang Chun received the prescription Wei Qingping had written. She hurriedly had the medicine prepared and rushed to Song Shilan’s door.

Song Shilan had locked himself in his room for three days.

His condition had worsened, and now he refused to let Jiang Chun near him. Each day, he would only take his medicine and meals through a small window in his room.

Jiang Chun stood outside his door, pounding on it with the medicine and prescription in hand. "Shilan! Wei Qingping sent the prescription! You can be saved! Open the door, please open the door!"

Inside the room, Song Shilan was stunned.

He was in a wretched state, his body covered in festering sores.

He didn’t want Jiang Chun to see him like this. Over these days, he had watched too many people die—their faces twisted in agony, their deaths unbearable. He sensed he was nearing the same fate and couldn’t bear the thought of Jiang Chun witnessing it. He wanted her to remember him as the elegant, charming man who had once joked with her.

Hearing her words now, he felt a sense of unreality. Coughing lightly, he said, "Just leave the medicine by the small window."Jiang Chun knew that a proud man like him would never allow her to see him in his current state, though she had already stolen several glances in secret.

She first went to prepare his medicine, then brought it to his window.

Hiding in a corner, she watched as a hand covered in festering sores reached out and drank the medicine.

She began brewing his medicine daily, and he drank it every time. The medicine worked quickly—by the very first day, Song Shilan already felt his strength returning. His voice grew clearer, and through the door, he and Jiang Chun softly spoke of the future.

“When the time comes, I want to roll out a red carpet all the way from Qiongzhou to Bailing to welcome you.”

“Isn’t that a bit much?” Jiang Chun sat by the door, pressing her lips together. “Wouldn’t that be too extravagant?”

“How could it be…?”

By the fourth day, Song Shilan’s fever, cough, and diarrhea had all stopped, and his wounds began to scab over.

Finally, he stepped out from behind the door. The sun was bright, the sky cloudless, and Jiang Chun stood at the entrance, beaming with joy.

That very same day, Shen You launched his attack against the Northern Di, while Qin Shiyue engaged the Zhao army in battle.

Meanwhile, Sucha had been thoroughly charmed by Gu Chusheng, who led him through Hua Jing’s brothels and gambling dens. The Northern Di ruler, encountering such decadence for the first time, was utterly unable to resist. The entire Northern Di army was caught up in a night-long revelry, with Gu Chusheng as their perfect guide.

He quickly forged strong ties with the Northern Di, earning Sucha’s trust. While others lived in fear, Gu Chusheng thrived. Chu Yu swiftly made contact with him, and with her support, he felt assured. He quickly briefed her on the situation in Hua Jing before saying, “I’ll protect Wei Yun. Proceed with the siege.”

The day Chu Yu received Gu Chusheng’s message, she sat quietly in the courtyard.

Piles of intelligence reports lay beside her, gathered from every corner of the land—all the latest updates. Everything was in place, waiting for events to unfold naturally.

As she sat there, the entire Great Chu echoed with the clamor of battle.

Shen You led his men charging into the Snow Ridge, Qin Shiyue’s forces clashed fiercely with the Zhao army, and Song Shilan and Jiang Chun stormed into the Qiongzhou Prince’s residence, pinning Song Si to the ground.

“Big Brother told you to cooperate with Young Master Wei—why didn’t you listen?”

Song Shilan held his sword above Song Si’s head, his tone gentle. “Big Brother isn’t dead yet.”

Then, the gunpowder buried in the Snow Ridge detonated, sending an avalanche crashing down the mountainside. Shen You rolled into a crevice, clutching his chest tightly—where the Warm Jade Wang Lan had once given him rested, the only gift she had ever given him in this lifetime.

The massive avalanche sent tremors even as far as Bai City. Wang Lan’s heart inexplicably raced, and she stood abruptly, rushing into the courtyard to find Chu Yu. “A Yu, what’s happening?”

Chu Yu, sipping tea, paused before answering slowly, “Shen You set off gunpowder in the Snow Ridge. Most likely… he perished along with the Northern Di army.”

At these words, Wang Lan’s eyes widened. Without hesitation, she bolted out. A loud “bang” sounded, followed by urgent shouts from outside: “Sixth Madam—!”

Wang Lan raced all the way to the Snow Ridge, a place perpetually buried in snow. By the time she arrived, nearly a day had passed. The battle was already over, the great snow having buried everyone. Arms protruded from the snow, a ghastly sight.Wang Lan trudged through the snow, shouting Shen You's name at the top of her lungs.

"Shen You!"

"Shen You!"

She cried as she called out, the entire snow ridge eerily silent. She searched the ground for traces, walking toward the gunpowder detonation point when she suddenly spotted a piece of fabric.

She recognized it—the color of Shen You's military uniform. As a general, he naturally had differently colored attire. Wang Lan froze momentarily before quickly crouching down and frantically digging through the heavy snow.

The snow froze her hands red, blades cutting her fingers until blood mixed with the white. Then she saw hair, followed by the person's face emerging.

He was in a unique space, snow piled above him, the surrounding drift forming a cocoon-like protection around him. Wang Lan didn't dare stop, even as her hands became covered in blood, she kept digging desperately.

When she finally unearthed him, her hands trembled uncontrollably. She dragged him out and carried him on her back, step by step moving forward.

She felt the warmth of his chest, listened to his faint heartbeat.

"Shen You," she'd never done such labor in her life, each step agonizingly difficult. Yet she gritted her teeth and pressed on, step by step: "This time, you're clean."

Her voice was hoarse: "Open your eyes, open them. This time, we'll pretend the past never existed. We'll live well, as long as you come back to me, alright?"

Shen You didn't respond. Wang Lan clenched her teeth.

That day in the snowstorm, carrying that man step by step forward, Wang Lan finally realized:

In this life, there's no obstacle that can't be overcome, no sin that can't be atoned for.

What's past is past.

Shen You's triumphant report reached Chu Yu first—the Northern Di's hundred thousand troops annihilated in the snow ridge. She exhaled deeply, taking a long moment to compose herself before standing up calmly. "Notify The Eldest Princess to prepare. Have the carriage ready, we depart for Hua Jing tonight."

Her body felt heavier now, requiring more preparations. Soon after, The Eldest Princess appeared hurriedly with her fake belly, unable to contain her excitement: "Has Hua Jing been saved?"

Chu Yu remained composed, nodding. "The northern threat is now eliminated. Qin Shiyue should have no trouble crushing Zhao's forces with nearly double their numbers. My brother wrote yesterday—Xining ambushed Chen, so he only left a portion of troops there while rushing to Hua Jing. We've agreed," Chu Yu's expression turned stern, "in three days, our armies will converge and take Hua Jing together!"

"Excellent!"

The Eldest Princess clapped joyfully, rising. "Let's set off!"

Chu Yu acknowledged, and the two entered the carriage together.

Throughout the journey, Chu Yu seemed weary, with The Eldest Princess assisting her care. Though they appeared as two pregnant women, only Chu Yu truly warranted concern.

Two days later, they reached Heaven's Guard Pass where Qin Shiyue had already set camp, overlooking Hua Jing.

Standing atop the gate, Chu Yu and The Eldest Princess gazed at Hua Jing's distant illuminated lights.

"What do you think," The Eldest Princess asked as the wind howled around them, "they're doing right now?"

"Completely surrounded," Chu Yu replied evenly. "What else can they do but hold their position?"

"The Northern Di staked everything on this invasion," The Eldest Princess sighed. "After this, there likely won't be a Northern Di kingdom anymore, will there?"

"No," Chu Yu agreed. "There won't."Chu Yu's voice scattered in the wind: "We've won."

"What do you plan to do after entering the capital tomorrow?"

The Eldest Princess turned to look at her, somewhat curious. Chu Yu was momentarily stunned, then smiled: "What can I do?"

Chu Yu raised her hands—one protecting her belly, the other tucking her hair behind her ear. "Bring him back. With him by my side, anything would be fine."

She didn't mention a name, but the Eldest Princess already knew who she meant. She gazed quietly at Chu Yu, her eyes lingering on Chu Yu's stomach.

"What about the child?"

Chu Yu fell silent. The Eldest Princess spoke calmly: "I need a child. You know that."

Chu Yu still didn't respond. The Eldest Princess sighed and turned to look into the distance. "I know you don’t want to send this child into the palace. But to be honest, being a ruler and being a subject are fundamentally different. If I become the Empress Dowager in the future, in my heart, I will always be wary of Wei Yun. This blade is too sharp—do you understand?"

A man like Wei Yun has prestige, military power, and strength.

As long as he lives, he will remain the sharp sword that keeps every emperor awake at night.

If even the loyal and devoted Wei family of the past met such a fate, how could a Wei Yun who has rebelled twice ever let those on the throne sleep soundly?

"By saying this to me," Chu Yu said calmly, staring at the Eldest Princess, "aren’t you afraid you might never become Empress Dowager?"

"Wouldn’t that be just fine?" The Eldest Princess laughed. "Do you think I want to be?"

She sighed. "It’s just that I’ve come this far—I have no choice but to take the throne."

Chu Yu pressed her lips together and said nothing. The Eldest Princess continued, "I need leverage to ensure Wei Yun won’t rebel in the future. If I just pick any child, no matter who it is, I’ll always fear whether Wei Yun will submit. I know your thoughts, Chu Yu. You want your child to grow up safe and sound. But do you think the Wei family didn’t once wish the same for Wei Yun?"

They wanted Wei Yun to grow up safe and happy, so at fourteen, he was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

The Wei family believed that as long as they remained dutiful subjects, as long as they harbored no selfish ambitions, no one would harm them.

But when you hold overwhelming military power and stand at that precipice, what choice do you have but to grasp for more authority?

"People cling to power desperately because it’s the only way to live better," the Eldest Princess said flatly. "Those who claim to hate being born into royalty have mostly never known true hardship. They’ve never experienced the powerlessness that plagues ordinary lives—the less power you have, the less freedom. If I could live peacefully without want, I’d never fight or scheme. But sometimes fate is decided at birth, Chu Yu. As long as this child is Wei Yun’s, the moment he’s born, the idea of a peaceful life becomes an illusion. Aren’t you afraid he’ll become another Wei Yun?"

Chu Yu listened in silence. After a long pause, she gave a soft laugh. "You just want me to give you this child, don’t you?"

"I can give him to you," Chu Yu said calmly. "But I have one condition."

"Oh?"

"When he turns fifteen, he gets to choose his own path. If he wants to be emperor, then he’ll rule. If he doesn’t," Chu Yu lifted her gaze, "you can’t force him."

"Agreed," the Eldest Princess answered without hesitation.Chu Yu lowered her eyes and touched her stomach. "Although he will be in the palace, Xiao Qi and I will personally raise him. He is Your Majesty, but he is also our child."

"I understand," The Eldest Princess nodded. "He will acknowledge Wei Yun as his foster father, and you may visit the palace anytime."

Chu Yu sighed, "Then let it be so."

She had offered this child every path—whether to become the supreme ruler or remain an ordinary official, she was willing to let him choose.

Once, she had been furious when Wei Yun harbored such ambitions. But after walking too many roads and seeing too many people, where in this world could one truly find stability? It was merely that someone else held up the sky for you, making you believe there was no wind or rain. Yet they couldn’t shield this child forever. Sooner or later, he would have to crawl out on his own. So rather than letting him struggle in the mud, it was better to seat him upon the throne.

As the two stood atop Heaven's Guard Pass gazing toward Hua Jing, a grand feast was underway in the capital.

Gu Chusheng personally hosted the banquet, serving the finest wines Hua Jing had to offer, accompanied by the city’s most beautiful women. They employed every trick to seduce the officers and soldiers, turning the scene into something akin to King Zhou’s decadent revelries—a spectacle of utter debauchery.

Four days prior, Gu Chusheng had cut off all incoming messages from outside Hua Jing. Unlike Great Chu, the Northern Di used eagles for communication. So Gu Chusheng had men lie in wait in the outskirts, luring down any approaching eagles with specially crafted bait, then altering the messages to fabricate an illusion of peace and prosperity.

To this day, the Northern Di army still awaited orders from their Zhao allies, anticipating a coordinated attack, completely unaware that they had already been surrounded by Chu Yu and Chu Linyang’s forces.

Amidst the drunken revelry, Gu Chusheng watched the crowd with cold detachment. A eunuch hurried in and whispered, "Word from outside the palace—Miss Chu’s letter has arrived. The siege begins at dawn tomorrow."

Gu Chusheng acknowledged with a hum, lifting his gaze slightly. "Bring more wine," he murmured.

The Northern Di had brought their own physicians and poison testers, ensuring every cask of wine was individually inspected. There was no chance to lace the drinks, so they could only rely on the potency of the alcohol itself.

The eunuch bowed and withdrew. Gu Chusheng raised his cup, then feigned drunkenness as he approached Sucha, his face a mask of sycophantic delight. "Your Majesty, are today’s arrangements to your liking?"

Sucha lay beneath a woman, who rocked atop him as he gasped heavily. "What? Speak into my ear!" he bellowed.

Lately, Gu Chusheng had been teaching Sucha how to act as the "Great Chu" emperor. Sucha had already learned to refer to himself as "Zhen" and even donned the dragon robes and crown with some semblance of dignity.

Gu Chusheng knelt beside Sucha, bending low to whisper into his ear, "Your Majesty, are you satisfied?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," the woman cooed, "are you pleased?"

Distracted by her, Sucha nodded. "Good! Zhen likes it! Gu Chusheng, Zhen will promote you!"

"To serve Your Majesty is this humble subject’s greatest fortune."

Gu Chusheng quickly added, "Your Majesty, this subject has a headache. May I retire to rest?"

Sucha, already impatient with the conversation and wholly absorbed in his pleasures, waved him off. "Go."

Gu Chusheng rose, swaying as if drunk, and staggered out of the hall. Once outside, his expression turned icy. "Seal the hall later," he said calmly. "Keep sending in more wine and women. Tell Young Master Zhang not to hold back—the more outrageous the merriment, the better. Don’t let any of them sober up."Young Master Zhang was originally a notorious playboy in Hua Jing, famous for his extravagant debauchery. Gu Chusheng, aware of his capabilities, specifically arranged for him to entertain the Northern Di envoys.

Endless fine wines, countless women, novel amusements, and Gu Chusheng’s ceaseless flattery day and night—all while the once-mighty Great Chu was trampled underfoot. Under such stimulation, the high-ranking Northern Di officials couldn’t spare a thought for anything else.

Gu Chusheng walked along the corridor, whispering to the person beside him, “Deploy all our men. At dawn tomorrow, have the city gate guards swap shifts with the Northern Di soldiers. If they refuse, station our men in ambush at the gates. The moment the Wei army arrives, open the gates. Arm all the civilians, and have the elderly, weak, women, and children take shelter. Notify the high-ranking officials like Lord Gao to hide—don’t let the Northern Di army capture them as hostages.”

As he spoke, Gu Chusheng had someone fetch two bottles of wine and headed toward the prison cell where Wei Yun was held.

The Northern Di guards on duty were idly drinking. Gu Chusheng approached, offering them money and wine.

Now a favored subordinate of Sucha, the soldiers were reluctant to offend him, especially with gifts in hand. They waved him in without protest.

When Gu Chusheng reached the cell, he saw Wei Yun inside.

There wasn’t a single intact part of his body—many of his bones were twisted at unnatural angles, making it impossible to tell if he was even alive. Gu Chusheng restrained himself and spoke calmly, “Wei Yun.”

No response. Soon after, the sound of collapsing soldiers came from outside. Gu Chusheng’s attendant hurried in and whispered, “My lord, they’ve all been knocked out.”

Gu Chusheng nodded, took the keys from the attendant, unlocked the cell, and urgently patted Wei Yun’s face. “Wei Yun! Wei Yun, wake up!”

Wei Yun groggily opened his eyes and saw Gu Chusheng.

“Not dead.”

Gu Chusheng made the assessment decisively. He stuffed a few medicinal pills from his pocket into Wei Yun’s mouth, then began stripping off Wei Yun’s clothes for the attendant to wear. “You’ll impersonate Prince Wei here. Later, have them strip the Northern Di soldiers’ uniforms and disguise themselves. Don’t let the enemy realize the situation too soon—delay until dawn if possible. If things go south, flee immediately. Survival is the priority.”

“Understood!” the attendant responded. “But where will you go?”

“I have my own path.”

With that, Gu Chusheng dressed Wei Yun in the attendant’s clothes, hoisted him onto his back, and rushed out.

When the city was stormed tomorrow, the Northern Di would surely use Wei Yun as a hostage. He had to find a safe place for him tonight.

After much deliberation, Gu Chusheng recalled the underground prison where Zhao Yue had once imprisoned Chu Yu. He hurried there, navigating through layers of mechanisms until he finally reached the dungeon. From a chest outside the cells, he retrieved candles and a fire starter, then unlocked the prison door. Once inside, he lit a candle—only to freeze when he turned around.

A gaunt figure crouched in the corner, hugging itself tightly. The person stared at him like a wounded beast that had suffered immense torment.

Gu Chusheng, still carrying Wei Yun, locked eyes with the stranger in silence. There was something vaguely familiar about those eyes. After a long moment, realization struck him. “Shen Wushuang?!”

Shen Wushuang stiffened, as if the name had jolted his mind.

Gu Chusheng set Wei Yun down and strode forward excitedly, grasping Shen Wushuang’s hands. “Shen Wushuang, it’s me—Gu Chusheng!”

“Gu… Chu… sheng…”Shen Wushuang let out a hoarse sound, his voice grating as if his throat had suffered some injury. Gu Chusheng was momentarily stunned before suddenly realizing, "Why are you here? Did Zhao Yue imprison you here? What has he done to you?!"

At the mention of Zhao Yue's name, Shen Wushuang's expression flickered. Seeing his state, Gu Chusheng knew he had endured immense torment here. The sight of Shen Wushuang's pale, cracked lips and the rows of medicinal wine jars behind him made it clear he had survived only by relying on these.

Gu Chusheng stood up, stepped outside to fetch a pot of tea and some water, then returned to the dungeon. He first closed the stone door and barred it from the inside before handing the water to Shen Wushuang, placing a few pills in his hand as well. With a sigh, he said, "Eat these first. I'll take you for a proper meal once we're out."

After speaking, he walked over to Wei Yun, turning his back to Shen Wushuang as he began cleaning Wei Yun's wounds.

Knowing they would need to rescue Wei Yun that night, he had come prepared with medicine, bandages, and alcohol. As he cleaned and dressed the wounds, he muttered, "I don’t know how you’re doing now, or if you can still help him. I’m no physician, after all."

"Physician..."

Hearing this word, Shen Wushuang seemed to recall something. He set down the teacup, stood up, and approached Wei Yun.

Though he appeared dazed, he mechanically knelt and began bandaging Wei Yun's wounds. Gu Chusheng watched for a while, confirming Shen Wushuang wasn’t acting recklessly, before finally stepping aside to rest.

Once the wounds were dressed, Wei Yun soon stirred awake under the influence of the medicine. Blinking against the light, he turned his head and spotted Gu Chusheng. "Brother Gu?" he called out.

Then, noticing the presence of another person, he turned further and froze in shock. "Wushuang?!"

Shen Wushuang remained silent, staring blankly at him. Wei Yun struggled to prop himself up, his gaze fixed on Shen Wushuang. "Wushuang," he said softly, "Bai Chang is waiting for you at home."

At the mention of Bai Chang, Shen Wushuang's eyes finally flickered.

Encouraged by the reaction, Wei Yun continued, "Bai Chang is waiting for you. Your brother is already gone. If you don’t return, what will become of her?"

Slowly, Shen Wushuang regained some awareness, mechanically repeating the name. "Bai Chang."

After a night of chaos, as the morning star rose, Chu Linyang's forces finally arrived at Heaven's Guard Pass. Chu Yu watched as her elder brother approached, weary from the journey. The siblings exchanged a silent gaze before Chu Linyang's eyes settled on Chu Yu's belly. Calmly, he said, "I’ll bring Wei Yun back safely. I’ll lead the way—you follow afterward."

"Alright."

A faint smile touched Chu Yu's lips. "Take care, Eldest Brother."

Chu Linyang nodded, then turned to greet Qin Shiyue. Their two armies merged and swiftly advanced toward Hua Jing.

Chu Yu donned the Queen's ceremonial robe and had a luxurious palanquin prepared before sending for The Eldest Princess.

The Eldest Princess, too, had dressed in her formal court attire. The two women exchanged a knowing smile before Chu Yu gestured politely. "Your Highness, please."

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, Chu Linyang and Qin Shiyue's forces reached the gates of Hua Jing. They split into two groups, encircling the city's four gates.The thunderous sound of iron hooves shattered the peaceful dreams of the Northern Di army. The soldiers stationed on the city walls urgently sounded the alarm, shouting, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The high-ranking officials of Northern Di, still groggy from their drunken stupor, barely had time to don their armor before soldiers rushed in, yelling, "They're attacking the city! They're storming the gates!"

"Where is Wei Yun?!"

Sucha, clad in his armor, roared, "Hang Wei Yun and Gu Chusheng on the city walls!"

With that, Sucha led his men out to face the enemy. However, the men Gu Chusheng had stationed near the gates had already rushed forward and opened the city gates.

"Charge in!"

The soldiers of Great Chu roared as they surged forward. Sucha arrived at the city gates, brandishing his blade, and bellowed, "Fight them to the death! Meet them outside the walls!"

With Sucha leading, the Northern Di forces finally found their backbone and quickly rallied.

Accustomed to battles on the grasslands, these cavalrymen had never relied on city walls for defense. A hundred thousand soldiers charged out, clashing fiercely with the Chu forces.

Thus, outside Hua Jing, where willow trees once swayed gently, a battlefield emerged. The sounds of slaughter shook the heavens.

For the first time, the people of Hua Jing witnessed the brutality of war so close at hand. For the first time, they understood that this was the kind of ferocious beast the distant White City faced every year—that the century of peace in Hua Jing had been built upon such blood and sacrifice.

Chu Yu and The Eldest Princess's palanquin slowly approached from Heaven's Guard Pass. By the time they arrived, the battle had reached a stalemate. The Northern Di soldiers fought fiercely, and though the two armies were evenly matched in numbers, the Chu troops had just emerged from a major battle. Despite catching the enemy off guard, their initial advantage quickly dissolved into a chaotic struggle.

Chu Yu lifted the curtain and quietly observed the battlefield. After a moment, she beckoned Changyue over and instructed, "Organize the city's civilians to join the fight."

"Yes."

Changyue acknowledged the order, then mounted a horse, sword in hand, and galloped across the battlefield straight into Hua Jing. Raising her voice, she shouted, "I am a servant of the Wei family! Our masters call upon all able-bodied men—take up blades or hoes and fight alongside us!"

A burly man brandished a long blade and roared, "I've been itching to kill these bastards for ages!"

"Right!" another echoed. "They've lorded over us long enough—it's time they learned their lesson!"

The crowd's fury swelled, and more and more people joined. Outside, the battle raged on. Changyue, mounted and sword in hand, led tens of thousands of civilians charging out from the city gates.

Hua Jing was home to over a million people. Even if only a fraction of its young men joined the fray, their numbers were overwhelming. Though they fought without discipline, their sheer numerical advantage turned the tide—two or three civilians aiding each Chu soldier quickly reversed the battle's momentum.

From a distance, Chu Yu watched the soldiers and civilians fighting valiantly and couldn't help but smile.

The sun rose fully in the east, casting its light over all of Hua Jing. Then, from the direction of the sunrise, the thunder of hooves approached. Chu Yu turned swiftly and saw a banner bearing the character "Song" unfurling as it ascended over the hill. Soon after, two chestnut warhorses came into view—Jiang Chun and Song Shilan rode side by side, leading their troops in a swift descent down the slope.

"Song Shilan is here."

The Eldest Princess's voice trembled with barely restrained excitement.If the common people's involvement had turned the tide of battle, then after Song Shilan's army arrived, the outcome became an overwhelming victory.

Chu Yu quietly observed Jiang Chun standing beside Song Shilan. Dressed in a blue-green gown, she carried a bold and sharp aura that hadn’t been there before. Sensing Chu Yu’s gaze, Jiang Chun lifted her head.

Beneath the sunlight, Jiang Chun smiled brightly and nodded at Chu Yu.

Then, together with Song Shilan, she led their forces into the fray.

"Can we enter the capital now?"

The Eldest Princess assessed the battlefield. After a moment of silence, Chu Yu replied calmly, "Let’s enter the city."

With that, Chu Yu boarded her carriage, and the Eldest Princess stepped into her phoenix-adorned one.

Chu Yu’s carriage followed behind the Eldest Princess’s as the two luxurious vehicles slowly made their way from the battlefield toward the gates of Hua Jing.

Around them, blood and flesh flew; beneath their wheels, corpses piled high. They trod this path of bones and blood, their fervent hearts now cooled, until they finally stood before Hua Jing.

Meanwhile, in the dungeon, Gu Chusheng heard the distant cheers and curses of the people outside. He rose and said, "I’ll go see what’s happening."

He stepped out and soon returned, joy lighting his face as he opened the cell door. "A Yu has led the troops into the city! Wei Yun, come, I’ll carry you to see her."

At the mention of Chu Yu’s name, Wei Yun froze for a moment. Gu Chusheng hoisted him onto his back, then called out to the dazed Shen Wushuang nearby, "Shen Wushuang, hurry! Let’s go."

Shen Wushuang’s gaze lingered on Wei Yun, who smiled and said, "Wushuang, come with us."

Shen Wushuang lowered his eyes, and Gu Chusheng laughed. "Never mind, we’ll come back for you."

With that, he dashed out. Yet after a brief hesitation, Shen Wushuang followed.

Carried on Gu Chusheng’s back, Wei Yun only realized who he was about to meet when sunlight fell upon him as they exited the dungeon.

Nervous, he suddenly gripped Gu Chusheng’s shoulders. "Brother Gu."

"Hmm?"

"I can’t go to her like this."

Gu Chusheng paused, and Wei Yun chuckled. "How can we meet the ones we love in such a state?"

Understanding dawned on Gu Chusheng, and he laughed. "You’re right."

Still carrying Wei Yun, he said, "Let’s find fresh clothes first."

The palace was now in chaos, with most of the Northern Di forces having fled the city. As soon as Gu Chusheng emerged, he quickly found a eunuch and secured a side hall where they could wash and change.

After a quick wash, the three donned fine robes and jade crowns, adorned with sachets and jade pendants. Gu Chusheng then found a wheelchair for Wei Yun and pushed him toward the palace gates.

News of Chu Yu and the Eldest Princess’s imminent arrival had already spread. With the battle settled, their carriages, surrounded by cheering crowds, slowly advanced toward the palace.

Gu Chusheng gathered the palace officials and servants, leading them with Wei Yun to wait behind the palace gates. As the gates gradually opened, the faces on both sides became visible through the widening gap, like an unrolling scroll.

Chu Yu and the Eldest Princess stood side by side outside the gates, clad in splendid attire, their postures elegant and dignified, embodying the grace and nobility of Great Chu’s majestic landscapes. Behind them stood bloodstained warriors—Qin Shiyue, Chu Linyang, Song Shilan, Jiang Chun, Changyue, Wanyue…

They stood in a line, their armor splattered with blood, their swords gleaming with sharpened edges.Beyond them were soldiers, commoners, and the masses—the rebirth and future of Great Chu.

Within the palace walls, Wei Yun and Gu Chusheng stood and sat respectively. Wei Yun, clad in white with a jade crown, was emaciated to a terrifying degree, every exposed part of his body bearing scars, a testament to the brutal treatment he had endured. Gu Chusheng, in red with a golden crown, stood beside him.

They had traversed the most arduous paths, yet here they were, composed and ready to welcome all who arrived.

Chu Yu’s gaze remained fixed on Wei Yun. His smile was gentle and serene, like a ray of spring sunlight falling on a windowsill in the afternoon, warming even the peach blossoms.

With a heavy groan, the city gates finally swung fully open. The two groups faced each other in silence. After a moment, suppressing his emotions, Gu Chusheng led the crowd in slowly kneeling and bowing.

"Your servant, Gu Chusheng," his voice choked with tears, "humbly welcomes Her Highness the Princess back to the capital!"

Following Gu Chusheng’s lead, everyone knelt in unison. The Eldest Princess remained calm. She glanced at Chu Yu, who was staring dumbly at Wei Yun, and nudged her. "What are you afraid of?"

Chu Yu snapped out of her daze and managed a strained smile. Then, under the watchful eyes of all, she stepped forward and stopped before Wei Yun.

She had so much to say, yet words failed her. Wei Yun looked up at her and smiled softly.

"I knew you would come for me."

His voice was gentle. "At fourteen, you brought me home from here. See, today you’ve come again."

Hearing this, Chu Yu could no longer hold back. She half-knelt and pulled him into a fierce embrace.

All the fear she had suppressed for so long erupted in that moment. She clenched her teeth, tears welling, but dared not make a sound.

Wei Yun raised a hand to stroke her hair, his eyes tender.

"A Yu," he murmured, "we can go home now."

"Alright," Chu Yu replied hoarsely. "Let’s go home."

From fourteen to twenty-one, they had walked side by side, pulling light from the darkness, forging upstream against despair.

Through countless trials, through fire and blade, scorned by thousands, amidst piles of bones. She had accompanied him for a lifetime; he had protected her for all of hers.

They had kept their promises, lived without regret.

In the late autumn of the fifth year of the Yuanhe Era, burdened by oppressive taxes and endless war, the people suffered unbearably. The Marquis of National Stability, Wei Yun, was forced to rise in rebellion, declaring himself the Prince of Peace. With the "Ten Counts of Accusation," he denounced the emperor, shaking the realm and rallying the lords.

Soon, the Qiongzhou Song Clan, the Luozhou Chu Clan, and the Huazhou Wang Clan all declared independence. Nearly a hundred rebellions erupted, plunging the land into chaos.

In the spring of the sixth year of Yuanhe, the Northern Di and Chen State allied to invade. Plagues ravaged Bai, Qiong, and Hua Provinces. The Northern Di colluded with the traitor Zhao Yue, breaching Hua Jing. The Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Gu Chusheng, betrayed his country and surrendered the capital. The Prince of Peace, Wei Yun, chose death over submission. Moved by his integrity, the people fought desperately. Madam Wei, Chu Yu, though heavily pregnant, commanded the battlefield. She ordered General Shen You to lure the Northern Di forces into the Snowy Peaks, where gunpowder triggered an avalanche, burying them alive. Meanwhile, General Qin Shiyue crushed Zhao’s army. Allying with the Luozhou Chu Clan and Qiongzhou Song Clan, their combined forces reclaimed Hua Province and escorted the Eldest Princess back to the capital. As the daughter of Emperor Chunde and carrying Zhao’s heir, she was proclaimed empress, with Wei and Gu as her regents, ruling in the emperor’s stead. The era name was changed to Shunping.

In the sixth month of the first year of Shunping, Wei Yun finally scraped together enough betrothal gifts to propose.

After the betrothal, the families set the wedding date: the sixteenth day of the sixth month, the day they would be wed.That morning, Wei Yun combed his hair neatly and went to the Chu residence early. Chu Yu stood before the mirror arranging her hair, her belly already noticeably swollen, requiring many alterations to her wedding dress. Chu Jin helped style her hair from behind, while Xie Yun wept quietly at her back.

"Who knows what fate has dealt you, to suffer so bitterly. Marrying with such a large belly—who can say how much bullying you'll endure..."

"Alright, Mother," Chu Jin said impatiently, raising her voice. "Wei Yun's deep affection for Sister is known to all under heaven. There's no need for you to bring up these trivial matters."

"Trivial?" Xie Yun lifted her head. "How dare you say that to me? Look at your face, your reputation! What were you thinking, running off to Phoenix Mausoleum back then for no reason? Who would want to marry you now? Surely you don’t expect Han Min, that brat, to marry you. Oh, if he were willing, I’d thank the heavens! But even if you’ve done someone a favor, they wouldn’t throw their whole life away for it!"

"I would!" Han Min's voice suddenly rang out from outside, cheerful. "I don’t mind at all!"

"Get lost!"

Chu Jin hurled a comb in his direction, furious. "None of your business! Get out!"

Han Min chuckled, waved his hand, and quickly ducked out of sight.

Xie Yun hadn’t expected Han Min to be eavesdropping and was momentarily embarrassed. As Chu Jin fastened a phoenix hairpin into Chu Yu’s hair, the sound of maids greeting someone came from outside, and soon Jiang Chun entered the room.

Jiang Chun stepped inside, giving Chu Yu a once-over. Chu Yu smiled. "What brings you here?"

"To see the bride."

Jiang Chun was straightforward. "Originally, A Lan and Princess Wei wanted to come too, but they were afraid of crowding the place, so they stayed back."

"How is Princess Wei doing?"

"Quite well," Jiang Chun laughed. "As soon as the war ended, that blockhead Qin Shiyue rushed to the Wei residence and knelt at the gate, begging to marry her. The princess panicked and raced all the way from Bai Province to Qing Province. Rumor has it she nearly burned down the Wei residence in her fury, but in the end, the two got engaged there."

"Is she here today?"

"Of course."

Chu Yu, whose belly had grown too large for her to move around much, wasn’t as well-informed as Jiang Chun and asked further, "How’s Shen You doing?"

After Wang Lan dug Shen You out of the snowy mountains, he claimed his legs were useless and had been lazing in bed ever since, with Wang Lan tending to him daily—a rather peculiar sight.

Jiang Chun burst into laughter at the mention of Shen You. "He’s been fine for a while now. He and Shen Wushuang have been scheming to fool A Lan, but she’s not stupid—she’s known all along and just hasn’t said anything. My guess is," Jiang Chun mused, "A Lan’s own happy occasion isn’t far off."

"Shen Wushuang is better?"

Chu Yu remembered how Shen Wushuang had looked when first rescued. Jiang Chun sighed and nodded. "Bai Chang has been taking care of him, teaching him to read word by word. I heard that one night, for some reason, Bai Chang cried all night in her room and then tried to drown herself in the river. Shen Wushuang pulled her out, and after that, the two were fine."

The phrase "the two were fine" carried a wealth of meaning, and Chu Yu understood—not only was Shen Wushuang recovered, but a wedding might soon follow.

Listening to Jiang Chun’s scattered tales of everyone’s lives, warmth filled Chu Yu’s heart.

Before long, commotion erupted outside, and a maid rushed in, flustered. "T-trouble! Young Master Han and Young Master Wei are fighting!"

At this, everyone froze. Jiang Chun was the first to react. "Which young master of the Wei family?"

"Eldest... Eldest Young Master..."

Before the maid could finish, Jiang Chun dashed out. Chu Yu hurriedly led Chu Jin and the others outside, where they saw Wei Lingchun and Han Min locked in a fierce battle on the rooftop.Han Min was no match for Wei Lingchun in hand-to-hand combat, but he excelled at hidden weapons. Seeing him grow desperate and roll up his sleeves to unleash concealed projectiles, Chu Jin cried out anxiously, "Don't act recklessly!"

At that very moment, a figure clad in red suddenly swept onto the rooftop, grabbing both men by their collars and tossing them aside effortlessly. The young man, handsome as jade, smiled and said, "On my wedding day, what's all this fighting about?"

As he turned his head, his gaze fell upon Chu Yu, who was watching the spectacle from the sidelines. Dressed in her wedding robes and phoenix crown, arms crossed, she leaned casually against the doorframe, looking up at the commotion. When their eyes met, Chu Yu froze.

Time seemed to twist and turn in that instant, and for a moment, she saw the black-clad youth from seven years ago, standing in that very spot, his cold eyes sweeping over her.

They stared at each other quietly before both breaking into smiles. Wei Yun pursed his lips, as if suddenly embarrassed, and jumped back down. Gu Chusheng watched him coldly and remarked, "Jumping around on your wedding day—do you think you're a monkey?"

Wei Yun chuckled sheepishly. "I... I didn’t think A Yu would see me."

Gu Chusheng scoffed lightly and turned his gaze toward the Chu residence.

Wei Yun had brought him along to bolster the occasion. He had initially wanted to refuse, but at the last moment, he suddenly felt that if this was a farewell, it should be thorough, clean, and free of lingering resentment—a proper goodbye to the past.

He and Song Shilan stood behind Wei Yun, followed by Shen You, Shen Wushuang, Qin Shiyue, and others.

When the auspicious hour arrived, firecrackers crackled, and the gates swung open. The bride, holding a length of red silk, was led out. Wei Yun, nervous, stepped forward as guided and took hold of one end of the silk.

For a fleeting moment, he wondered: If this had been their first meeting, if he had been the one betrothed to her from the start, would their marriage have been happier?

In all his life, he had never called her "Miss Chu." It seemed that from their very first encounter, their identities had always been layered with complexity.

Suddenly, he longed to call her "Miss Chu," to imagine meeting her in her youth.

So, gripping the red silk, he spoke softly.

"Miss Chu," he said, "mind your step."

Hearing this address, Chu Yu smiled gently.

She understood why he had called her that. Pressing her lips together, she replied tenderly,

"Wei Yun, I think... marrying you after falling for you is the best possible outcome."

Wei Yun froze momentarily, the word "love" dissolving all bitterness and regret.

He lifted his head quietly, taking in the smiling faces around them. Shen You whistled cheerfully, Gu Chusheng's eyes held warmth—each person expressed their joy and blessings in their own way.

Every meeting is beautiful.

Meeting you in the best of times is a blessing.

Meeting the best version of you in the passage of time leaves no regrets.

For Chu Yu, she was grateful.

Grateful for this love—delicate as night rain nourishing early spring, yet free as the wind traveling a thousand miles.

With heaven and earth as their feast, mountains and rivers as their pillow, wherever you are is the long road of life ahead.

"Wei Yun," she called softly, "hold my hand."