Phoenix Tomb City had no food.
Yet the emperor had still sent her here. She had wondered why he so easily allowed a woman to serve as a general. Now she realized—he never intended for her to lead. The true commander was Zhang Yun. She was merely a banner, planted in Phoenix Mausoleum to lure the Wei and Chu families into coming to their aid.
Even if the Wei and Chu families did not come, these twenty thousand men were meant to hold Phoenix Tomb City at the cost of their lives. As for the things painstakingly crafted within the mausoleum?
The Northern Di never intended for Great Chu to obtain them. That was why messages from Phoenix Tomb City had repeatedly failed to get through—the Northern Di were simply buying time. While they had not attacked during the city's desperate calls for aid, they had been mobilizing troops all along.
Since Great Chu could not have them, they would rather see everything reduced to ashes in the flames of war.
Chu Yu took a deep breath and turned to Liu Rong. "His Majesty gave you a death order, didn't he?"
Liu Rong froze momentarily, but Chu Yu already understood. "If the city falls, none of you will survive, will you?"
Liu Rong remained silent, but the man in green robes spoke up. "If the blade cannot serve Great Chu, it is better destroyed than left for others."
That was why, in her past life, not a single soul had survived in Phoenix Tomb City.
That was why, in her past life, most of the city had been reduced to ashes.
Chu Yu looked at them calmly. "Have you considered surrender? The Northern Di are after what you possess. If you yield, with your skills, you would be treated with respect among them."
"You want us to surrender?!" Liu Rong exclaimed in agitation. "Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how much effort we poured into building Phoenix Tomb City? You—this woman—"
"And what of Great Chu if we surrender?"
The man in green, however, remained composed. "His Majesty is now a scheming tyrant, forcing his generals to engage in political maneuvering on all fronts. The ruler is no ruler, the subjects no subjects. The Northern Di, with a mere two hundred thousand cavalry, seized half the realm in less than half a year. If Phoenix Tomb is lost as well, will Great Chu truly face annihilation?"
He raised his eyes, a flicker of emotion in his gaze. "We have lived here in obscurity for over a decade. Was it all just to watch this nation perish by our own hands?"
"I understand."
Chu Yu nodded. She took a step back, straightened her sleeves, and bowed deeply. "Forgive my earlier impertinence, my lords. Rest assured," she lifted her head, her voice resolute, "Chu Yu will defend this city with her life. So long as the city stands, I stand. And if the city falls..." She enunciated each word with unwavering determination. "I fall with it."
"Madam, you have our full support," Liu Rong quickly assured her, helping her straighten up. Chu Yu then turned to the man in green. "Might I ask your name, my lord?"
"Han," the man replied evenly. "Han Xiu."
Chu Yu paused, then immediately asked, "Is your wife surnamed Li?"
A subtle shift crossed his expression as he nodded.
"Your wife—"
"I saw earlier," Han Xiu said quietly, his voice hoarse. "My four children made it into the city. She did not. That means she is gone."
Chu Yu was at a loss for words. Han Xiu turned away. "The Northern Di will likely launch their second assault soon after regrouping. General Zhang said you are the commander of this battle. Please make your preparations."
With that, Han Xiu walked out. Liu Rong stepped forward to smooth things over. "He's always been like this. Please don't take it to heart."
"It's fine."Chu Yu shook her head and said, "Please take the trouble to tally the city's population and food supplies for me now. I'll have the army count the horses. We may have to endure a bitter siege for a while, and in critical moments, we might have to rely on warhorses for food."
Perhaps not just for a while, but for a very long time.
Chu Yu didn't voice this thought aloud.
In her past life, Chu Linyang had held out for three months. Although the current situation was different, it was clearly unwise for the Chu and Wei families to attempt rescuing Phoenix Tomb City now.
"And where does the city's water supply come from?"
"Don't worry about that," Liu Rong nodded. "Phoenix Tomb City relies on Sky Water and underground sources. The river from the mountain flows downward."
Chu Yu acknowledged this and familiarized herself with all areas alongside Liu Rong. Then Han Xiu came to explain the several defensive lines of Phoenix Tomb Mountain.
As a crucial military stronghold, Phoenix Tomb Mountain's defenses were exceptionally well-prepared. Leading her troops through the night to acquaint themselves with the various defensive mechanisms, Chu Yu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "With so many excellent tools, why hasn't Lord Han reported them to the military ministry?"
"The production costs are too high. Knowing about them wouldn't help."
Han Xiu replied impassively, "Moreover, compared to the Northern Di, Great Chu has always excelled at city defense. Over all these years, the Northern Di have only managed to harass us like autumn winds."
Chu Yu frowned, finding this somewhat peculiar. If Phoenix Tomb City had been producing these extravagant yet impractical and non-replicable items all along, why would the emperor value it so highly?
What exactly were the Northern Di after? They must know what Phoenix Tomb City contains.
Yet since Han Xiu remained silent, Chu Yu understood he wouldn't answer. Ultimately, though currently on the same front, Han Xiu remained Emperor Chunde's man.
Both harboring their own thoughts, after Han Xiu finished showing Chu Yu around Phoenix Tomb Mountain, she finally retired to rest.
She had barely slept for an hour when the sound of horns echoed through Phoenix Tomb Mountain.
The Northern Di's second assault!
This time both sides were fully prepared. Chu Yu rolled out of bed, grabbed her sword, and rushed out of her quarters, leading Wanyue and Changyue down the mountain.
Liu Rong observed the overall situation from the city walls while Han Xiu directed soldiers operating mechanisms from the rear. Chu Yu and her troops held the front line. Han Xiu initiated the first wave of arrow rain. With overwhelming numbers, surviving Northern Di soldiers pressed forward only to encounter a second wave of traps—spikes and thorns laid across their path. Those who advanced further reached the base of Phoenix Tomb Mountain, facing Chu Yu's forces.
They had built ramparts with sandbags, creating makeshift walls to protect archers in the rear. Then Chu Yu's group charged forward, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
Wave after wave of enemies surged forward. Chu Yu lost track of how long the battle raged—from the first light of dawn until nightfall, she remained at the forefront. The war drums never ceased; on the battlefield, retreat came only at the drum's command, while the gong's sound forbade advance.
They couldn't retreat. Couldn't retreat.
Chu Yu fought until her mind grew numb. Comrades fell beside her, replaced by fresh waves of soldiers.
As one soldier collapsed at her feet, Chu Yu forced back an approaching enemy with her sword, grabbed the fallen man, and swiftly retreated behind the sandbag ramparts. A pair of delicate hands caught the wounded soldier. Looking up, Chu Yu saw Chu Jin dressed in soldier's garb, her face streaked with blood yet resolute. Nodding at Chu Yu, she quickly bound the soldier's wounds with cloth strips.
This momentary distraction passed, and Chu Yu immediately returned to the front line.
Before life and death, past grievances hold no meaning.
On the battlefield, gains and losses are not counted.The Northern Di clearly intended to force a decisive battle. With their superior numbers and strong soldiers, while Chu Yu and her forces held a strategic natural barrier, the two sides were locked in a fierce stalemate. Despite two days and nights of relentless assault, the Northern Di failed to gain even an inch of ground.
As a result, their morale plummeted. On the eve of the third day, the Northern Di finally halted their advance to regroup. Chu Yu, her vision stained red from battle, sat with her blade in hand not far from the enemy lines, her gaze fixed on the soldiers like a predator.
Her sword had long since shattered, forcing her to scavenge weapons from the battlefield. Her hair was tied high with a ribbon, and her silver-white light armor gleamed coldly in the night.
As she spoke, her eyes never left the Northern Di, as if she were a beast locked in a standoff with its prey. The Northern Di soldiers dared not meet her gaze—her ferocity in battle had left them trembling at the mere sight of her.
Liu Rong brought her a flask of wine to steady her nerves, crouching beside her with a grimace. "We can't hold out much longer like this," he whispered. "The men are exhausted."
"I know."
Chu Yu licked her cracked lips and took a sip of wine.
"Don’t worry. At most, by the day after tomorrow, they’ll retreat."
"How do you know?" Liu Rong asked, surprised.
Chu Yu fell silent for a moment before taking another sip. She didn’t answer.
How could she not know?
The emperor was waiting for either the Chu or Wei family to come to her rescue. Once Wei Yun learned of the situation at Phoenix Mausoleum, he would find a way to come—no matter what.
Phoenix Tomb City was two days' journey from Hua Jing. If Wei Yun had received the news, by her calculations, he should be arriving soon.
Chu Yu closed her eyes. The wine tasted bitter.
Just then, the Northern Di war horns suddenly blared! Chu Yu’s eyes snapped open as she watched their forces retreat like a receding tide.
"They’re retreating…" Liu Rong’s voice trembled.
Chu Yu stood up without hesitation, leaping swiftly to the treetops to survey the distance.
In the distance, a contingent of soldiers clad in white armor and silver helmets marched forward, hoisting a military flag emblazoned with a large "Wei" character.
They charged toward Phoenix Tomb City, while the Northern Di forces surged to intercept them.
The Wei troops formed a pointed formation, led by a young man wielding a long spear, his momentum unstoppable as he cleaved through the enemy ranks. Behind him, light cavalry raced toward Phoenix Tomb City.
Pursued from behind and surrounded by foes ahead, they were like a lone boat speeding through stormy seas.
Chu Yu watched from afar, her body trembling slightly.
The Northern Di weren’t retreating—they were intercepting the reinforcements!
The arriving army was small. They could have turned back, yet they pressed on toward Chu Yu.
Her gaze locked onto the leader. As he drew closer, even through the sea of soldiers, she could see the young man lift his head, his eyes meeting hers before he grinned and raised his brows.
"Prepare the troops!" Chu Yu shouted. "Prepare to receive them!"
"Madam!" Liu Rong exclaimed in shock. "There are too many—we can’t save them!"
"All who can still stand, rise now!"
Chu Yu raised her voice. "Reinforcements have arrived! Follow me into battle!"
With that cry, she charged forward first. Changyue and Wanyue didn’t hesitate—they followed without a second thought. One by one, others rose to their feet. After two days of fighting, many had grown accustomed to following Chu Yu’s lead.At that moment, Chu Jin was on the city wall, having just finished bandaging a soldier's wound. As she stood up, she saw figures leading troops out one after another, while Han Xiu stood atop the watchtower, his emotions unreadable behind the white mask.
The figures plunged into the enemy ranks, yet Han Xiu remained expressionless. Gritting her teeth, Chu Jin suddenly rushed toward the war drum, seized the drumsticks, and struck it with all her might.
"What are you doing?!"
A nearby soldier exclaimed in shock, reaching out to stop her. But Han Xiu raised his hand calmly and said, "Let her be."
The drumsticks were heavy, utterly different from the zither she had played before. With each resounding strike, the soldiers still on the front lines rose to their feet, following the rhythm and charging out after Chu Yu.
The drumbeats were fierce and stirring, igniting a fire in everyone's hearts. The Northern Di army, having fought for two days against Phoenix Tomb City's bizarre weapons and the suicidal tactics of its soldiers, had long since had their morale worn down. Now, hearing the thunderous war drums and battle cries behind them, their formation began to crumble in disarray.
Meanwhile, the troops led by Wei Yun at the front were all elite soldiers. Caught between Chu Yu and Wei Yun, the Northern Di forces quickly scattered in panic.
Once an army starts to flee, it loses all cohesion. Wei Yun suddenly found his path clear. He looked up and saw a woman riding toward him.
Though her face was streaked with blood and her hair disheveled, her expression shone brilliantly—like moonlight in the night, like sunlight after rain.
She cut through thousands of troops to reach him. In that moment, Wei Yun felt as though the world had lost all color, everything falling silent. She became the brightest hue in existence, the sound of her horse's hooves pounding like thunder in his chest.
He had always known she was beautiful, but it was here, on the battlefield, that he truly understood her unparalleled radiance for the first time.
Her horse brushed past him as she called out, "I'll cover the rear!" before charging ahead.
Wei Yun pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile, and cleared a path for his troops as they raced toward Phoenix Tomb Mountain.
Wei Yun's forces were few but moved swiftly, soon reaching the safety of the mountain. Meanwhile, Chu Yu led her men in a swift turnaround and returned.
The Northern Di troops were too numerous, their fleeing and pursuing forces now tangled in chaos. If not for the fact that Phoenix Tomb Mountain lacked sufficient reserves, this would have been the perfect moment to press the attack.
Chu Yu cast a regretful glance at the battlefield when a voice beside her chuckled, "Don't look. If you chase any further, it'll be like throwing meat buns at a dog—none will come back."
She turned to see Wei Yun standing beside her, smiling.
He seemed unable to stop smiling since the moment he saw her. Suddenly, Chu Yu realized she hadn't bathed in two days, her body reeking of blood and sweat. Wei Yun, however, fared much better. Having avoided direct combat, though stained with blood, his hair crown remained neat, and his face had been wiped clean, leaving him as composed and handsome as ever.
Meeting Wei Yun in such a disheveled state for the first time, Chu Yu felt an inexplicable embarrassment. She cleared her throat and said, "Let's go up the mountain first. I have something to discuss with you."
"Mm."
Wei Yun nodded and turned to ascend the mountain with her. Only then did Chu Yu notice large sacks of grain piled beside the wooden ladders, with Liu Rong excitedly directing people to load them onto the ladders.
Chu Yu's eyes widened as she turned to Wei Yun. "Where did all this grain come from?!""I raided Sucha's provisions," Wei Yun said casually, but Chu Yu knew the dangers involved and looked at him in astonishment. He continued calmly, "So Sucha sent men chasing after me all the way here. Seeing nowhere to hide, I simply took refuge in Phoenix Mausoleum."
For a moment, Chu Yu didn’t know whether to scold him or not. Seeing the young man’s indifferent expression, she finally blurted out after a long pause, "Why did you raid his provisions? You could’ve just burned them!"
Wei Yun remained silent, lowering his head.
Chu Yu’s heart sank. Surely, he couldn’t have overlooked such an obvious solution?
Yet Wei Yun couldn’t bring himself to explain.
He had arrived a day early. According to the plan, with his small force, burning the provisions would indeed have been the better choice. But from afar, he had watched Chu Yu trapped in battle, witnessed the bloody struggle between Phoenix Tomb Mountain and the Northern Di, and in the end, he couldn’t hold back.
He wanted to stand by Chu Yu’s side, to defend the city with her. He understood the emperor’s intentions—using the Wei family to pin down the Northern Di’s main forces while Yao Yong attacked their rear. Eventually, Yao Yong would swoop in to claim the final victory.
This way, the empire would be preserved, and the emperor’s power would remain unchallenged.
But all the losses would fall on the Wei family, while Yao Yong reaped the glory. Now that the emperor had imprisoned Liu Xueyang and sent Chu Yu to her death, it was clear that in the emperor’s eyes, Wei Yun was no different from a rebel. If Yao Yong took the credit for repelling the Northern Di, the post-war reckoning would be brutal—even death by a thousand cuts might not satisfy the emperor’s wrath.
Yet Wei Yun was still too young.
He couldn’t stand idly by, couldn’t bear to watch Chu Yu fight alone on the battlefield. He longed to fight alongside her, even to stand before her, shielding her, carving out a future for her.
So he seized Sucha’s provisions and brought them to Phoenix Tomb City.
If defending the city was their fate, so be it.
Sometimes he thought—if he could die by Chu Yu’s side, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad.
But these words he dared not speak. The relentless battles had left his mind numb, unable to fully grasp what it meant to feel that dying beside her was acceptable.
He simply stayed close to Chu Yu, finding an inexplicable peace in her presence.
Seeing his silence, Chu Yu considered his youth and the inevitability of mistakes. She smiled gently. "It’s fine. Bringing the provisions here is already a great help. Let’s go up and plan our next steps."
Wei Yun nodded and followed her up the mountain.
As soon as Chu Yu entered the city, she saw Chu Jin standing before her.
Worry flickered in her sister’s eyes, but the words remained unspoken.
Chu Yu suddenly recalled the determined look in this girl’s eyes when she had taken up arms with the soldiers. She smiled. "A-Jin."
"Elder Sister..." Chu Jin studied her but couldn’t find the words. Understanding, Chu Yu nodded. "I’m fine. Don’t worry."
"That’s good."
Chu Jin exhaled in relief. Watching her expression, Chu Yu smiled warmly. "A-Jin, you’ve grown up."
She had grown up too.
When she realized she could look at Chu Jin with such calm tenderness, even admiration, she understood that growth had come silently, unnoticed.
Wei Yun watched her quietly, his gaze unwavering. He walked beside Chu Yu as she greeted people along the way, then led him to her quarters.Changyue and Wanyue had prepared bathwater for her in advance. Due to resource constraints, Chu Yu used cold water, washing quickly with little ceremony. Wei Yun waited outside, and before long, Chu Yu emerged wrapped in a robe and sat beside him.
During wartime, food was scarce, but now that they had a moment to rest, Chu Yu and Wei Yun ate slowly as they began to talk.
Chu Yu shared the information she had gathered, while Wei Yun recounted the events in the capital. After listening, Chu Yu frowned. "You said Gu Chusheng told you this? How did he know something even you weren’t aware of?"
A chill ran through her, but exhaustion dulled her thoughts before she could dwell on it. Wei Yun replied, "He said it came from the Eldest Princess."
If the Eldest Princess knew, then it wasn’t so surprising.
Chu Yu nodded and didn’t press further, eating as she asked, "So he’s trying to persuade others to attack Heaven’s Guard Pass. Now that you’re trapped in Phoenix Mausoleum, what do you plan to do?"
Wei Yun was silent for a moment before answering slowly, "Your brother will likely adapt to the situation..."
Hearing such an unstructured response, Chu Yu sighed and set down her bowl. "Don’t talk like a child. Find an opportunity—I’ll escort you out of the city with your men."
Wei Yun pressed his lips together. "If you can get me out, why not leave with me?"
"That’s what I wanted to discuss with you."
Chu Yu placed her bowl down and looked at him. "I—"
"Don’t say anything yet," Wei Yun interrupted. "Get some sleep first. Rest, think it over, and then tell me."
Hearing this, Chu Yu studied the young man’s stubborn expression and sighed in resignation. The two remained at an impasse until Wei Yun finally relented, "At least let me stay with you one more day."
From the moment he had seen her until now, these were the most peaceful days he had known in a long time.
He clung to this warmth, unwilling to let go just yet.
Chu Yu found his words childish, yet they stirred a warmth in her heart.
Chu Linyang and Chu Jianchang were never ones to express affection—in both this life and the last, they had never been so openly concerned for her. She understood Wei Yun’s dependence on her, and his care was something she treasured, wanting to repay it in kind.
Unable to refuse his request, she exhaled softly. "Then after we eat, let’s rest."
Chu Yu took her last bite, set down her bowl, and yawned as she stood. "Finish your meal and find a place to sleep. I’m going to bed."
With that, she turned into the room and collapsed onto the bed.
Wei Yun remained in the outer chamber, eating slowly.
For some reason, his movements became deliberate, dragging out the meal. Only when he heard her breathing steady into sleep did he finally set down his chopsticks.
He stayed in the main hall, listening to her breaths, finding it the most comforting place to rest.
He sat there until midnight, eventually dozing off on the floor mat. Changyue and Wanyue had already retired, and the others dared not disturb him, instead bringing a blanket and clearing the table, leaving Wei Yun to sleep where he lay.
Chu Yu slept until nearly dawn. Groggily stepping out, she spotted Wei Yun on the floor.
Pausing in surprise, she hurried over, her gaze falling on his sleeping face.His features were at that stage between youth and adulthood, handsome yet still carrying a hint of boyishness. His lashes were extraordinarily long, making the contrast in his eyes strikingly vivid. Even without any embellishment, there was an undeniable charm and allure about him.
Wei Yun of the future would be acclaimed as the most beautiful man of his time. Chu Yu had always known he was good-looking, but it was at this moment that she was truly stunned by such beauty. She froze for a brief instant, her heartbeat involuntarily quickening.
Startled, she hastily took a step back, then found it amusing. She had actually been stunned by the appearance of a fifteen-year-old boy. She crouched down again, nudged Wei Yun, and whispered, "Xiao Qi?"
Hearing her voice, Wei Yun groggily opened his eyes.
He must have been utterly exhausted. It made sense—he had traveled from Hua Jing to Phoenix Tomb City in just one day, arriving yesterday. He must have pushed himself nonstop, then immediately seized the supplies and launched the attack. He had probably slept even less than she had.
Chu Yu felt a pang of heartache. Watching Wei Yun shake his head and struggle to stay awake, he murmured slowly, "Apologies, sister-in-law... I was too tired yesterday..."
"Go get some sleep now."
Chu Yu waved her hand, urging him to rest. Wei Yun nodded, but as he reached the door, he paused and asked, "Sister-in-law, do you know where I should sleep?"
Chu Yu was taken aback and turned to the servants. "Did Lord Liu not arrange anything?"
The maidservant looked embarrassed, and Chu Yu immediately understood. After such a fierce battle, Liu Rong was likely swamped with work. Matters like guest accommodations were probably assumed to be her responsibility.
At this point, the guest rooms probably hadn't even been prepared yet.
Chu Yu sighed helplessly. Seeing the dark circles under Wei Yun's eyes, she waved her hand. "Go sleep in my room for now."
Wei Yun's mind was still foggy. Chu Yu stood up and added, "Don't mind the conditions. Rest there for now, and I'll have someone prepare a proper room for you later."
Wei Yun stood frozen, unsure whether to go or not.
In the end, however, he still lay down on that bed. It carried Chu Yu's scent—the orchid fragrance he remembered from his memories.
The moment he lay down, he suddenly became wide awake.
He bolted upright, threw off the covers, and hurried out of the room. After asking for Wei Qiu's quarters, he rushed over and squeezed onto Wei Qiu's hard bed.
When Chu Yu returned, Wei Yun was already gone. Puzzled, she asked, "Where is he?"
The maids shook their heads. "The young marquis suddenly got up and left."
Bewildered, Chu Yu sent someone to look for him, only to learn that Wei Yun had fallen asleep in Wei Qiu's room.
After a moment's thought, Chu Yu realized Wei Yun was far more proper than she was.
By the time dawn fully broke, Wei Yun had finally woken up.
Chu Yu was listening to Liu Rong report the casualty numbers and the remaining supplies in the city when Wei Yun entered.
She invited him in, and after getting a clear picture of the city's situation from Liu Rong, she smiled at Wei Yun and said, "I couldn't discuss it yesterday, but today we can talk about what comes next, right?"
After a night's sleep, Wei Yun was much calmer. He nodded and uttered a quiet "Mm."
"This is what I think."
A maid brought in porridge and set it on the table. With food strictly rationed in the city, thick porridge was already a luxury. Chu Yu sipped it as she spoke. "There must be something in Phoenix Tomb City that Sucha is determined to obtain. When he attacks again, he'll throw everything he has at us. If we retreat a few steps, he'll charge recklessly toward our position. That's when you take the opportunity to lead the troops out of the city and return to Hua Jing. Don't send reinforcements to help me—I'll hold the line here and keep Sucha occupied. With Gu Chusheng's abilities, he’ll surely persuade the Northern Emperor to attack Heaven's Guard Pass. Once that happens, the pressure on us will ease. Stick to the original plan: defend Heaven's Guard Pass, force His Majesty to execute Yao Yong, and then come rescue me."Wei Yun remained silent, his gaze lowered to the porridge. Chu Yu, having rested the night before, was in high spirits. "The most pressing issue in Phoenix Tomb City is the shortage of provisions. You've brought in food, and we still have warhorses. Holding out for a month is more than enough—you don’t need to worry."
Wei Yun still didn’t respond. Chu Yu hesitated before asking, "What else is troubling you? You’ve seen the city’s defensive weapons..."
"What else is troubling me?" Wei Yun lifted his head and looked at her calmly. "You tell me—what else is troubling me?"
Chu Yu was momentarily stunned. The words were too blunt, and even someone as slow as her could sense something amiss.
Wei Yun kept his eyes fixed on her. "You want to defend Phoenix Tomb City—how many days can you hold out? If you defend too fiercely, Sucha will retreat, so you have to yield appropriately. But if you yield too much and he takes the city, what then? And if you drag this out until the Northern Di are defeated on the battlefield, Sucha will direct his fury at you. When he throws everything into attacking the city, what will you do?!"
"You think you can pin down the Northern Di’s main force with just twenty thousand men? Do you really believe Sucha is some pushover?!"
Chu Yu listened to Wei Yun’s analysis. How could she not already know all this?
"But what else can we do?" she asked quietly, meeting his gaze. "Xiao Qi, if you stay here with me, His Majesty’s goal will be achieved. Everything you’ve done will only pave the way for Yao Yong. You ordered Song Shilan and my brother not to engage the enemy—wasn’t it to force the emperor to punish Yao Yong and hand you the commander’s seal once Heaven’s Guard Pass falls? But now that you’re here, with the Guardian Army here, Yao Yong can freely mop up the remnants of the Northern Di in the rear. Once the war ends, it’ll be the end for both of us."
"You shouldn’t have come here in the first place. And now you want to stay? Isn’t this just reckless? What about the empire—do you still want it or not?"
"Then what do you want me to do?!" Wei Yun suddenly raised his voice, glaring at her. Like an enraged young beast, his eyes were red, fierce and unyielding. "Just watch as you’re besieged here, as you die here?! If I don’t come to save you, who will?"
"The empire is important," Wei Yun said hoarsely. "But are you not important?"
The words left Chu Yu speechless. A subtle tension hung in the air. Wei Yun turned his head away, his voice rough. "I’ll stay with you and defend Phoenix Tomb City. Once Yao Yong arrives, we’ll flee."
"Don’t be ridiculous."
Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh, knowing he was speaking out of anger. She sighed. "First, summon Han Xiu. I need to understand why Sucha is so determined to take this city."
With that, she ordered someone to call for Han Xiu.
When Han Xiu entered, he was holding the hand of a ten-year-old boy. The boy had changed clothes, but Chu Yu still recognized him—he was the youth who had protected Chu Jin and argued with her earlier.
The boy bowed respectfully to Chu Yu before sitting to the side. Han Xiu saluted Wei Yun, then exchanged greetings with Chu Yu. "Madam Wei summoned me. May I ask what this is about?"
"I want a complete inventory of all the weapons in the city," Chu Yu said directly. "Everything you’ve developed here—I need to understand it all. I want to know just how determined Sucha is to take this city."
Han Xiu sipped his tea and nodded. "Understood, Madam. I’ll deliver the list by this afternoon."
Chu Yu acknowledged this, then turned to the boy beside Han Xiu. "What was your name again?"
"This humble one is Han Min."The young man turned around when he heard Chu Yu's question, facing her direction directly as he answered respectfully.
A hint of amusement flickered in Chu Yu's eyes. Wei Yun glanced at her before his gaze settled on Han Min, his expression turning cold.
After Han Xiu and Han Min had left, Wei Yun spoke slowly, "I've noticed that Sister-in-law seems particularly patient with young men."
"Mm," Chu Yu replied with a smile. "I like young men—they're full of vitality."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her slip. She was only sixteen herself—what right did she have to talk about vitality? She coughed lightly and quickly added, "And young men tend to be good-looking."
Wei Yun remained silent. Chu Yu stood up and said, "I'll go take care of other matters. You should check on the casualties among the men you brought."
With that, she started walking out, but Wei Yun suddenly spoke up, "But he isn’t that good-looking."
Chu Yu paused, turning back to see Wei Yun stiffly staring straight ahead. "I don’t think Han Min is all that handsome."
Hearing this, Chu Yu burst into laughter, her eyes crinkling. "Yes, yes, our Xiao Qi is the most handsome."
Wei Yun pressed his lips together and said nothing. Only after she had left did a trace of confusion surface on his face.
Wei Xia entered and asked respectfully, "Young Marquis, would you like to check on the soldiers?"
"Mm."
Wei Yun responded and slowly stood up. As they walked down the corridor, he suddenly spoke, "Wei Xia."
"Yes?"
"I don’t like it when Sister-in-law praises other young men." His expression was bewildered. "Is that wrong of me?"
Wei Xia looked awkward. Wei Yun turned to him, lips pressed tight. "Why do I feel this way?"
Wei Xia couldn’t answer—nor dared he. He coughed lightly and said, "Young Marquis, don’t dwell on it. There’s still much to be done."
Wei Yun took stock of his troops. Since he hadn’t engaged in direct combat and had only passed through the battlefield, the losses weren’t severe. However, with so many men and his meticulous counting, it was already night by the time he finished.
Upon returning to the estate, Wei Yun rushed straight to Chu Yu’s room. As soon as he entered, he saw her flipping through the booklet Han Xiu had given her that afternoon.
Her furrowed brows told him she was puzzled. He approached and asked, "Sister-in-law, is something troubling you?"
"Mm." Chu Yu nodded and tossed a booklet to Wei Yun, frowning. "The things Han Xiu gave me are just minor improvements to trivial items—either that or they’re too costly to be practical. Do you really think such things are worth Sucha’s attack?"
"He wouldn’t let you see the crucial details."
Wei Yun didn’t even glance at it. "Sucha was definitely lured here by the Emperor. His Majesty spent a fortune building Phoenix Tomb Mountain—he wouldn’t just hand it over to the Northern Di. He must have given Han Xiu a death order: if the city falls, Han Xiu won’t survive."
Wei Yun sneered. "A man who would accept His Majesty’s death order—how could he possibly give you anything important? Even though you’re protecting him now, you’re still Madam Wei. Anything that reaches you also reaches me. Why would he hand it over?"
Chu Yu frowned. Without Han Xiu’s cooperation, she couldn’t determine whether her plan to restrain Sucha would work—or to what extent.
As the two were speaking, a young voice suddenly called from outside, "Is Madam Wei here?"Hearing this voice, Chu Yu and Wei Yun exchanged a glance. Wei Yun stood up and hid behind the screen while Chu Yu raised her hand and said, "Please."
As she spoke, Han Min walked in.
Upon entering, he first bowed respectfully to Chu Yu and then said, "I sneaked here and cannot stay long. Please forgive any impropriety, Madam. I came tonight to ask if you wish to know why the Northern Di are besieging Phoenix Tomb City."
"You know?"
Chu Yu didn’t dare underestimate the boy before her. Though only ten years old, he showed no trace of nervousness, calmly nodding. "I do."
"My father’s greatest pride in life was developing something called gunpowder."
Han Min took out a cylindrical object from his pocket. Chu Yu looked at it curiously. "This is the least powerful variant. Watch, Madam."
With that, Han Min stood up, took a candle, and walked into the courtyard. After dismissing everyone, he lit the fuse with the candle flame and threw the object into the yard.
Moments later, the courtyard erupted with a deafening explosion, flames leaping high. In an instant, the entire yard was flattened.
Chu Yu stared in shock. Han Min turned back. "This is just the amount they use to test formulas. The ones used in battle are many times—even dozens of times—more powerful. I believe this is what the Northern Di are after."
"This thing..." Chu Yu finally grasped its terrifying potential and its value in warfare. "If mass-produced, would it be costly?"
"My father has already reduced the cost significantly. It can absolutely be mass-produced for battle."
Han Min spoke calmly, but Chu Yu’s eyes turned cold. "How much is currently in Phoenix Tomb City?"
"You plan to use Phoenix Mausoleum as bait to control the entire battlefield, don’t you?"
Han Min’s expression was eerily composed in the firelight, unlike any ten-year-old. Chu Yu remained silent, and Han Min slowly smiled.
"A lot. Enough for you to pin down their main forces."
Author’s Note: Do you know why I never tell you when updates will come?
Because I’m cursed—if I say when, something will inevitably get in the way. Better to stay silent and just do it. Maybe then fate won’t notice and I can actually finish the task.
I don’t want the skill of jinxing myself by speaking.
[Extra Scene]
Wei Yun: I don’t think Han Min is good-looking.
Chu Yu: Then Gu Chusheng is quite handsome.
Wei Yun: I don’t think Gu Chusheng is good-looking either.
Chu Yu: Well... my brother isn’t bad, right?
Wei Yun: Hmm... Brother-in-law is acceptable.
Chu Yu: What did you call him?!
Wei Yun: I think, aside from my brothers-in-law and your father, I’m the best-looking man in the world!
OpenNovel