"After I got separated from your people in Hua Jing, I was escorted by my maid and blended into the refugees," Chu Jin steadied her emotions and spoke slowly. "I originally planned to follow the refugees to Luozhou to find my elder brother, but I was too naive on the journey. I carelessly revealed the silver I had on me and was robbed by the refugees. Left with no options, my maid attempted to sell me to someone else. When I discovered this, we argued, and I accidentally killed her in the struggle."
"While fleeing, I was caught up by the buyer. He tried to force himself on me, so I slashed my face to scare him off. At that time, in the desolate wilderness, a noblewoman traveling to Phoenix Mausoleum with her entourage heard my cries for help. She ordered her people to stop and saved me."
"This noblewoman's surname was Li," Chu Jin recounted the entire ordeal calmly. Chu Yu listened quietly, her heart a tumult of emotions, but she dared not interrupt, waiting for Chu Jin to continue. "Lady Li was the wife of an official in Phoenix Tomb City, a kind-hearted woman. Amidst the current chaos of war, she was traveling with her young sons to Phoenix Tomb City to find her husband. When she heard I was a noblewoman from Hua Jing, she didn’t doubt me. Instead, she promised that once we reached Phoenix Tomb City, her husband would provide me with escorts to send me to Luozhou. Though suspicious, I had no choice but to follow her to Phoenix Tomb City."
"Lady Li treated me extremely well, but I couldn’t bring myself to trust her. The world was too chaotic. We encountered bandits, and Lady Li died under their blades while trying to protect me and her sons. Following her instructions, I led the young boys to Phoenix Tomb City by begging along the way. I tried to find the official as Lady Li had described, but I found him... somewhat strange."
Chu Jin frowned, recalling. "Lady Li had mentioned that this official held an extremely high rank—third-grade. But why would a third-grade official be stationed in Phoenix Tomb City? The magistrate of Phoenix Tomb City is only a sixth-grade official at best."
"This official’s surname was Han. According to Lady Li, he didn’t govern Phoenix Tomb City but had merely borrowed a place there for his own use. She said her husband had always enjoyed tinkering—obsessed with alchemy in his youth, then later with sword-making—never doing anything proper. He hadn’t earned his official position through the imperial exams but had traveled to Hua Jing once and returned with an official seal. The local officials treated him with great respect. Later, he left his hometown and came to Phoenix Tomb City. Now, with the war raging, he sent word to his wife and children, claiming Phoenix Tomb City was impregnable and urging them to seek refuge there."
"Don’t you find it strange, sister?" Chu Jin analyzed. "There aren’t many officials above third-grade in the court, and I’m familiar with most of them. Yet I’ve never heard of a third-grade official surnamed Han from the countryside. But the local officials treated him with reverence, and he held an official seal, fief, and stipend. Either Lord Han is lying, or the court has stationed a third-grade official in Phoenix Tomb City for some clandestine purpose. Now that you’ve come here too, I suspect Phoenix Tomb City must be hiding one of Your Majesty’s secrets."
Chu Yu nodded. She had already considered everything Chu Jin said. In the past, she might have dismissed this Lord Han as a fraud, but now, with the emperor personally dispatching twenty thousand troops to Phoenix Tomb City, she was inclined to believe it. She nodded and asked, "Apart from this, have you noticed anything else unusual?"
"I’ve seen people who appeared to be from Northern Di three times in this area," Chu Jin added. "They came briefly and then left. I don’t know what they were after.""Besides, Phoenix Tomb City does not accept refugees."
"No refugees?" This time Chu Yu was somewhat surprised. Chu Jin nodded and said, "I came down from Phoenix Tomb City. They don't take in refugees, and without proper documentation, I couldn't enter the city."
Chu Yu frowned, feeling uneasy inside.
The meal was brought over and placed before Chu Jin. She tried her best to maintain elegance and composure, but couldn't control the speed of her movements. The way she ate was clearly much more desperate than before.
Chu Yu watched quietly, unsure of what emotions she was feeling.
She had once hated Chu Jin. At times, she had even wished to tear her flesh from her bones. Her feelings for Chu Jin had long been worn away in her past life, and even after being reborn, only occasional moments of emotion remained. Even when she held her and said she loved this sister, it was merely comfort.
She didn't want Chu Jin to walk the same path as before, but the sisterly bond from those days had long since vanished with time.
For Chu Jin, she felt neither love nor hatred. She never inquired about Chu Jin's affairs, nor did she care about them.
Yet, seeing Chu Jin's face covered in scars as she hastily ate, Chu Yu couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity.
She knew Chu Jin had always been proud at heart. She wanted to say, "Slow down," but held back, simply instructing the servants to serve the dishes more slowly, giving Chu Jin time to catch her breath.
Once Chu Jin finally finished eating, several children were brought in.
The moment they entered, the children rushed toward Chu Jin, anxiously asking, "Sister, are you alright? Did she bully you?!"
As they spoke, they glanced at Chu Yu. Amused, Chu Yu crossed her arms and teased them, "Oh my, your sister was bullied by me until she cried. What are you going to do about it?"
"You!"
The eldest child, seeing Chu Jin's reddened eyes, angrily shouted, "Just you wait! I'll have my father deal with you..."
"Oh? How exactly will your father deal with me?"
Chu Yu raised an eyebrow. The child flushed red and, after struggling for words, finally blurted out, "You... don't get cocky! If you bully Sister again, I'll... I'll use gunpowder to blow you up!"
"Gunpowder?"
Chu Yu was taken aback. "What is that?"
The child snorted and turned away.
Chu Jin smiled faintly. "He says it's something his father made, probably similar to firecrackers."
Hearing this, Chu Yu burst into laughter. "Alright then, I'll wait for your father to come blow me up with firecrackers. Enough talk." She waved her hand, signaling for someone to take them away. "Go wash up and rest. Tomorrow, we'll enter the city."
Chu Jin acknowledged and followed the servants out. After they had left, Chu Yu thought for a moment, then looked up at Wanyue and asked, "Should I go talk to Jin?"
"That depends on your heart."
Wanyue understood the complicated relationship between the sisters and lowered her gaze. "Second Young Miss had many faults in the past, so it's natural you didn't like her. But now she's different. If you want to talk to her, that's also natural."
Chu Yu didn't respond. Though Chu Jin had only briefly mentioned her experiences, Chu Yu could tell how difficult her journey had been.
Raised in luxury, weak and delicate, yet strikingly beautiful—though cunning, she had never known the hardships of the world.She and Xie Yun had been confined to the inner chambers, believing reputation was the most important thing in the world, thinking that gossiping behind someone's back was the height of malice, and imagining that ruining a marriage arrangement could destroy a woman's entire life.
Yet they didn’t realize—in this chaotic world, human life was as cheap as grass. The pettiness of their inner-chamber cruelty paled in comparison to the horrors of the outside world.
Chu Yu sighed and stood up, heading toward Chu Jin’s tent. Just as she reached the entrance and was about to call out, she heard faint sobbing from within.
Chu Yu stiffened slightly, listening at the door for a moment before finally turning away.
Wei Yun had once told her—some paths had to be walked alone.
Standing outside Chu Jin’s tent, Chu Yu suddenly understood this with absolute clarity.
She turned and returned to her own tent, pushing thoughts of Chu Jin aside as she closed her eyes to rest.
But the moment she drifted off, the sound of galloping horses and trembling ground jolted her awake. She snatched up her sword from beside the bed just as Changyue burst in, shouting, "Madam, enemy attack!"
Chu Yu grabbed her armor, fastening it as she rushed outside. Beyond the tent, waves of cavalry surged toward them like a tide, their battle cries shaking the night sky.
Chu Yu swung onto her horse, her gaze darting toward Phoenix Tomb City—yet there were no soldiers stationed outside its walls.
"Into the city!" she roared.
Beside her, war drums boomed. Just then, Chu Jin hurried over with several children in tow.
Her hair was still damp, her body draped in only a thin robe—something she would never have dared to wear outside in Hua Jing.
Frantic, she shoved the children toward Chu Yu. "Take them away!"
Without hesitation, Chu Yu, Changyue, and Wanyue each grabbed a child and mounted their horses. Chu Jin swiftly climbed onto another horse, pulling a child protectively against her chest.
Chu Yu hoisted a military flag high, charging ahead in the darkness as she bellowed, "Into the city! Into the city! Into the city!"
Her voice cut through the night, and the panicked troops quickly began to regroup. Chu Yu tossed the flag to Changyue, commanding calmly, "Protect the Second Miss and lead everyone up the mountain."
With that, she turned her horse back to find Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun was organizing the rear guard, and Chu Yu swiftly directed the remaining soldiers toward the mountain.
The enemy had struck suddenly, but they had been detected early. The main force had yet to arrive, and with their quick evacuation, the retreat was not overly difficult.
Chu Yu and Zhang Yun held the rear, watching as the bulk of their forces reached the gates of Phoenix Tomb City. The moment the gates opened, Chu Yu shouted, "Fall back!"
Zhang Yun and his men sprinted alongside her.
Arrows rained down from the pursuing enemy. Chu Yu and Zhang Yun plunged into the forest, the shouts of their pursuers growing louder behind them.
They spurred their horses faster—just as a second volley of arrows descended. Zhang Yun’s horse tripped on a vine, letting out a shrill whinny as he was thrown to the ground. An arrow struck him instantly, drawing a pained howl.
Chu Yu yanked her reins to a halt. "General Zhang!"
"Go!" he roared.
The soldiers beside him fled like madmen toward Phoenix Tomb Mountain. Under the moonlight, Zhang Yun’s face was streaked with blood as he bellowed, "Run!"
Chu Yu pressed her lips together—then wheeled her horse around and charged back.
A third wave of arrows fell. The enemy closed in.
Leaning low in the saddle, Chu Yu used her sword scabbard to hook Zhang Yun’s belt, hauling him onto her horse. At the same time, she whipped her outer robe overhead, deflecting the incoming arrows before spurring her horse forward in a desperate dash.The pursuers closed in, surrounding Chu Yu completely. With a sweeping stroke of her longsword, she hoisted Zhang Yun onto her shoulder with one hand. Leaping forward with a single step, she pierced through the crowd and landed on a tree branch, then sprinted down the mountainside along the branches.
A dozen black figures instantly surged out from the Northern Di army, chasing after Chu Yu. Zhang Yun clutched his wound, his voice hoarse as he said, "Lady Wei, put me down..."
"Shut up."
No sooner had Chu Yu spoken than she hurled Zhang Yun forward with all her might!
Zhang Yun's eyes widened, but Chu Yu swung from the branch with one arm, using the momentum to reach him first. She grabbed his belt and slung him back over her shoulder.
Zhang Yun's face turned deathly pale as he stammered, "Lady Wei, please, just leave me behind..."
Chu Yu laughed under the moonlight, her voice bright and bold. "General Zhang, you'll have to endure a little hardship."
As she spoke, she flung Zhang Yun forward again while sending dozens of throwing daggers flying to the side. Then she caught him once more, bending low to sweep her sword in a wide arc, narrowly dodging the first ambush from the Northern Di assassins.
Chu Yu moved with agility, her sword like a white serpent striking or a dragon diving into the sea. Her motions appeared light and unhurried, yet each one perfectly evaded her enemies' attacks.
The dozen men could do nothing against her. Zhang Yun, tossed around until his stomach churned violently, finally couldn't hold back when he was hurled again—just as an assassin swooped down on him.
"Blergh!" He vomited right in the assassin's face.
The man recoiled in shock, and in that instant, Chu Yu lunged forward, driving her sword deep into his body before swiftly retreating, dragging Zhang Yun another dozen yards ahead.
"Well done!"
Chu Yu grinned at Zhang Yun, who shut his eyes tightly. He had never considered himself weak in his life, but at this moment, he truly believed he was about to meet his end.
Fighting as they fled, more and more enemies swarmed toward Chu Yu. With the Northern Di forces distracted by her, the other soldiers escaped much more easily. The troops quickly entered the city, leaving only Chu Yu still entangled in battle.
Chu Jin and the others stood atop the city walls, watching the fierce battle below from afar.
Everyone had emerged from the forest—she counted them carefully.
Where was Chu Yu? Where was her sister?
Chu Jin trembled, biting her lip so hard she dared not speak.
No one else came out of the dense woods. Just as the magistrate of Phoenix Mausoleum was about to say something, a figure in white burst forth from the trees, dragging someone along!
At the foot of Phoenix Tomb Mountain, a clearing had been deliberately made for better visibility. Now, everyone could clearly see a woman charging forward with a man in tow, her figure as graceful as a crane—with over a dozen figures hot on her heels.
Though surrounded, she showed not a trace of fear, instead exuding the boldness of one who would drink before drawing her blade.
"Quick, quick! Save her!"
The magistrate of Phoenix Mausoleum shouted urgently. The war drums boomed, and Chu Yu saw over a dozen young men suddenly leap out from the dense forest of Phoenix Tomb Mountain.
All wore identical green robes and white jade masks, even their sword stances were uniform.
As they stepped forward to block the pursuers, Chu Yu swiftly retreated into the mountain. The masked men disengaged just as quickly, falling back without hesitation.
Chu Yu didn't dare relax. She tossed Zhang Yun to one of the green-clad men and said, "I'll stay with the soldiers to guard the mountain."
"No need."The man in green shook his head. As soon as his words fell, Chu Yu saw the Northern Di army charging up the mountain. At that moment, the entire mountain seemed to erect a massive net, with tens of thousands of small arrows simultaneously shooting toward the enemy!
The intervals between the arrows appeared to have been calculated in advance, ensuring that each gap between arrows would inevitably hit a target!
After the first volley, a large swath of the Northern Di forces fell. Only then did Chu Yu clearly see that the dense forest had set up nets woven from bowstrings. Beside each net stood a person, and at every intersecting point on the net was a position to place an arrow. At the top of each net was a box of arrows. After the first volley was fired, the arrow box would automatically drop arrows into each position on the grid. Then, the person beside it would manipulate the entire net to fire in unison.
Ten thousand arrows loosed at once.
Chu Yu had never seen such a bizarre yet awe-inspiring defensive tool before. The person beside her, wearing a green robe and a white jade mask, remained utterly calm, speaking placidly, "Phoenix Tomb Mountain has its own methods of defense. Madam, please ascend the mountain first."
Without hesitation, Chu Yu nodded and, after one last glance at the net, carried Zhang Yun up the mountain.
The man in green, however, raised his sword to stop her and said, "Please follow me."
With that, he led Chu Yu to the side, where there was a wooden track with a massive wooden box on it. Pointing at the box, he instructed, "Please place this general inside."
Though uneasy about the strange circumstances, Chu Yu obediently placed Zhang Yun inside the box. The man nodded, pulled out a rope from one side of the box to secure Zhang Yun, then stood on the right side of the box, holding onto its railing. He turned to Chu Yu and said, "Please stand to my left."
Silently, Chu Yu moved to the left side of the box and mimicked the man's posture, gripping the railing. The man gave an approving nod, bent down, and exerted force on a handle beside the box. Suddenly, Chu Yu felt the wooden track beneath her feet begin to move! The box, as if pushed by an unseen force, shot straight up the mountain along the track.
Stunned by the bizarre scene, Chu Yu remained motionless, while Zhang Yun, terrified, fainted on the spot.
In mere moments, the three reached the mountaintop. The man in green stopped the box and said to Chu Yu, "This device is called the Wooden Ladder. In the future, Madam may use it to conserve energy when ascending the mountain."
Chu Yu nodded stiffly. People rushed out from the city to carry Zhang Yun inside. At that moment, an elderly man in the official robes of a magistrate hurried out and bowed deeply to Chu Yu. "This humble official, Liu Rong, greets Madam Wei!"
"Magistrate Liu, please rise quickly."
Chu Yu hurriedly replied, "I have been ordered to defend Phoenix Mausoleum. For this month, I hope to learn much from your guidance."
"Guidance is hardly necessary," Liu Rong sighed, glancing behind her. "Well, let us discuss the details inside, Madam Wei."
Chu Yu nodded and entered the city with Liu Rong.
Liu Rong welcomed her into the Magistrate's Residence, served her tea, and then dismissed the attendants. He then spoke earnestly, "Madam Wei, regarding your arrival to defend the city, has His Majesty mentioned where the items in the city are to be taken?"
Chu Yu was momentarily taken aback and asked in surprise, "What items do you mean?"Liu Rong saw Chu Yu's counter-question and a flash of worry crossed his face before he immediately said, "Never mind that. When Madam Wei arrived, what did Your Majesty say?"
"His Majesty ordered me to defend the city for one month," Chu Yu replied earnestly. "Lord Liu, rest assured, within this month, I, Chu, will share the fate of Phoenix Mausoleum."
Liu Rong frowned and pressed further, "Did you bring provisions with you?"
"This time..." Chu Yu looked somewhat embarrassed. "I'm afraid we'll have to rely on Phoenix Tomb City's granary for supplies."
At these words, Liu Rong's face paled, and he exclaimed urgently, "Phoenix Tomb City has no granary. Didn't Madam Wei know this when she arrived?"
Chu Yu abruptly looked up as Liu Rong continued anxiously, "This old minister has repeatedly sent letters to the capital pleading for provisions. You mean you didn't come with supplies?!"
Hearing this, Chu Yu instantly understood what it meant for a city without provisions to house so many troops and people. She immediately stood up, frantic. "I'll take my people and leave. We can't stay here to defend the city!"
But before she could finish, the green-robed man who had escorted Chu Yu up the mountain entered calmly and said, "My lord, Madam, the Northern Di have surrounded Phoenix Mausoleum."
"How many are outside?" Chu Yu asked urgently, but before the man could answer, she added, "I'll lead my people out."
"Over a hundred thousand," the man replied calmly.
Chu Yu froze where she stood.
If the enemy had numbered only tens of thousands, with a two-fold difference, Chu Yu might have had a fifty-fifty chance of breaking through with her troops.
But the enemy had a hundred thousand—a full hundred thousand!
"They are regrouping and won't attack immediately," the green-robed man said dispassionately, as if indifferent to the situation. "Their numbers are still increasing, likely mobilizing for a decisive strike."
Chu Yu remained silent while Liu Rong paced anxiously.
"What is Your Majesty thinking? What does Your Majesty truly want?"
As Liu Rong questioned, Chu Yu already understood.
She raised her head, her gaze turning toward Hua Jing.
She had a rough idea of what His Majesty was plotting.
Eight hundred li away, in the Hua Jing palace, revelry filled the air. Emperor Chunde stood in the waterside pavilion, his back to his chief eunuch, Huang Quanyou, and said, "Chu Yu should have arrived at Phoenix Tomb City by now. When do you think the Northern Di will make their move?"
"Your Majesty, your schemes have left this old servant utterly confused," Huang Quanyou said, stepping forward to drape a cloak over the emperor. "You've had the armory in Phoenix Tomb City for so many years. Lord Han finally succeeded in developing gunpowder, yet you revealed this to the Northern Di. What is the purpose?"
"Purpose?" Emperor Chunde snorted. "If we don't give the Northern Di a target, they'll soon march on Hua Jing! By giving Sucha a goal, he will recognize the value of Phoenix Tomb City and spare no effort to seize it. Do you think I sent Chu Yu there to truly let a mere girl lead an army? With Chu Yu there, can the Chu family rest easy? Can the Wei family sleep soundly? Just watch—Chu Linyang and Wei Yun will surely send troops to aid Chu Yu. Once their forces engage Sucha's main army, I'll have Yao Yong free to attack the remaining Northern Di remnants. Once Yao Yong wins a few battles, I'll find a pretext to strip the military authority from the Wei and Song families and hand it to him.""Your Majesty," Huang Quanyou sighed, "Isn't the Marquis of National Stability just upset with you over General Yao's matter? General Yao has been refusing to fight, yet you keep pushing the Marquis to the frontlines. Naturally, he's displeased. If you were to pressure General Yao as well, I don't think the Marquis would go this far, would he?"
"Foolish!"
Emperor Chunde cursed aloud: "Do you know why Wei Yun is forcing me to punish Yao Yong? Yao Yong is my personal army, a blade against those aristocratic families. Now he's preserving the Wei family's strength while forcing me to deploy Yao Yong's troops to the frontlines—all to deplete Yao Yong's military power. Once Yao Yong's forces are weakened, who could stop Wei Yun if he rebels?!"
"Do you know where those tens of thousands of deserters on the battlefield have gone? Without Wei Yun's orchestration, how could there be so many deserters? Do you know why Wei Yun is buying vast lands in Luozhou to grow grain? If he weren't raising an army, why would he do this? That brat is plotting rebellion—does he think I don’t know?!"
"This old servant is foolish, Your Majesty is wise!" Huang Quanyou hastily raised his hand to slap his own face. Emperor Chunde snorted coldly: "He thinks he can threaten me with the Northern Di? Does he take me for a fool? Before entertaining guests, one must first clean the house. Let those little brats wait and see."
"Once Yao Yong crushes the Northern Di's main forces, and the Wei and Chu families along with Sucha's main troops are locked in a deadly struggle, I'll immediately lead my men to raze the Wei family to the ground. After all the favor I’ve shown him, this is how he repays me? He deserves death!"
"Yes, yes," Huang Quanyou knelt and said, "Your Majesty and Lord Yao are united. Lord Yao is utterly loyal and will surely protect Your Majesty for eternity!"
At these words, Emperor Chunde suddenly found himself unable to continue.
Huang Quanyou hadn’t said anything explicit, yet for some reason, Gu Chusheng came abruptly to mind.
Regarding Gu Chusheng’s situation—was Yao Yong truly keeping it from him, or was Gu Chusheng being manipulated to frame someone?
Emperor Chunde fell silent.
Once certain seeds are sown, they always linger in the heart.
Emperor Chunde’s gaze turned toward the Wei family’s direction as he began to wonder: At this very moment, what plans was Wei Yun making at home?
Meanwhile, Wei Yun was quietly listening to Gu Chusheng explain the situation at Phoenix Mausoleum.
In his past life, Gu Chusheng had some understanding of the Phoenix Mausoleum incident. The matter was kept highly secretive, and ordinary people had no idea what had truly happened back then, but Gu Chusheng knew the general outline.
Back then, in Phoenix Tomb City, Chu Linyang had been besieged by the Northern Di’s main forces. However, Phoenix Tomb City was unlike ordinary cities—while most cities had granaries, Phoenix Tomb City never stored food. It was less a city and more like a massive government office. Without food, soldiers and civilians alike were trapped inside. At the time, the battlefield was deadlocked everywhere. The Song and Chu families, unlike now, hadn’t avoided direct confrontation and thus suffered heavy losses. Meanwhile, Yao Yong prioritized self-preservation and avoided head-on battles, so despite Gu Chusheng holding the city for three months, no reinforcements came. Three months without provisions—one could only imagine the hellish conditions inside. Yet there had been no riots, suggesting Chu Linyang must have enforced some strict measures.
Three months later, Wei Yun finally arrived with reinforcements—only to find not a single survivor left in the city.
Some had died in battle. Others had died in the bellies of their fellow men.
Upon hearing that Chu Yu had gone there, Gu Chusheng had lost his mind.
He had known Phoenix Mausoleum would be in danger after Song Wenchang’s incident and had planned to find an excuse to discuss it with Wei Yun. But before he could act, he heard the news of Chu Yu’s departure.
Gu Chusheng was so distraught his voice trembled as he spoke. Wei Yun listened silently as he recounted the situation at Phoenix Mausoleum.Gu Chusheng did not elaborate on what happened after Chu Linyang defended the city, only mentioning the Northern Di's military strength and provisions. From this, Wei Yun understood the challenges Chu Yu would face.
His expression remained calm as he asked, "Why would the Northern Di concentrate their main forces at Phoenix Mausoleum?"
Gu Chusheng was momentarily stunned. This was a question he had pondered in his past life but never fully grasped. Back then, Chu Linyang had been summoned by Emperor Chunde. After Chu Linyang's death, the emperor had entrusted the matter to his confidants, so the true reason behind the attack on Phoenix Tomb City was likely known only to Emperor Chunde and Chu Linyang.
Wei Yun saw that Gu Chusheng couldn’t answer. Without questioning the authenticity of the information, he simply looked at the pale-faced young man and said slowly, "You asked me for fifty thousand troops—was it to save my sister-in-law?"
Gu Chusheng had regained his composure and nodded in confirmation. Wei Yun calmly sipped his tea and remarked, "Do you know why His Majesty would assign a woman like my sister-in-law to lead troops?"
Gu Chusheng froze, then widened his eyes as realization struck.
This was the emperor’s ploy. By sending Chu Yu there, he intended to use her life and death to manipulate both the Wei and Chu families!
But was a woman truly that significant?
Gu Chusheng stared at Wei Yun, his heart pounding rapidly. He pressed urgently, "So, you don’t plan to help her?!"
Wei Yun lifted his gaze and met Gu Chusheng’s eyes, enunciating each word with resolve, "I will."
Before Gu Chusheng could exhale in relief, Wei Yun continued, "But you won’t be going to Phoenix Mausoleum—I will. Instead, I need you to handle another matter."
Gu Chusheng frowned. Though Wei Yun appeared composed, his heart was racing, his palms slick with sweat, his entire body numb.
Mechanically, he said, "I need you to act as an envoy. Find Sucha, the new emperor of the Northern Di, and persuade him to attack Heaven’s Guard Pass."
Gu Chusheng was momentarily taken aback, but then he understood.
Sucha was cunning and resourceful, but his successor was ambitious and glory-seeking. Heaven’s Guard Pass was the key to Great Chu’s defenses. If the new emperor decided to attack it, he would inevitably withdraw troops from Phoenix Mausoleum, significantly easing the pressure on Chu Yu.
"Before that, I’ll lead light cavalry to harass their forces at Phoenix Mausoleum. If they besiege the city, I’ll raid their supply lines."
Gu Chusheng remained silent for a long moment before gritting his teeth and agreeing, "Fine."
With that, he stood up and called to Xue Hanmei waiting outside the door, "Tell the Eldest Princess for me—say I’ve run away."
Xue Hanmei blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "Understood."
Pausing at the doorway, Gu Chusheng turned back and said coldly to Wei Yun, "Listen well, Wei Yun. This time, I’ll follow your plan. But if anything happens to Chu Yu because of this, I swear on my life, I’ll raze your Wei family to the ground!"
At these words, Wei Yun looked up at him.
"If she dies," Wei Yun’s voice was hollow, "do you think there’d be anything left of my family for you to destroy?"
Gu Chusheng stiffened. Wei Yun forced himself to stand, his movements slow and heavy, as if bearing an immense weight.
Suddenly, Gu Chusheng realized—
In this lifetime, Chu Yu had become the pillar of the Wei family, holding up half of its sky.
If there was anyone here who least wanted Chu Yu to die, aside from himself, it was undoubtedly Wei Yun.
Once Wei Yun stood, he clenched his jaw and steadied himself before retreating to the inner hall. Only when he reached the corridor, with no one else around, did he finally let go, leaning against the wall as his breathing turned ragged.
"Young Marquis!"Wei Xia cried out in shock. Wei Yun closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and ordered, "Gather the men and prepare the horses. We set off immediately!"
Author's Note: [Mini Theater]
Man in Blue: Welcome to the largest military research base in Great Chu—Phoenix Tomb City.
Chu Yu: Do you serve meals here?
Liu Rong: Did you bring your own food?
Chu Yu: No.
Liu Rong: Then hurry and take the elevator down!
Chu Yu: It's too late now.
Liu Rong: Should've invented airplanes earlier.
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