Love and Crown

That night, the scouting team Kumoer sent out was quickly discovered, forcing the planned ambush to be abandoned.

Early the next morning, the heavy snowfall that had lasted for days finally stopped, but the weather turned even gloomier and colder, with knee-deep snow covering the ground.

Feeling uneasy, I wrapped myself in a cloak as soon as I got up and went to Minjia’s tent to check on Xiao Huan. To my surprise, not only was Minjia absent, but he was missing as well.

What was he doing wandering around in such freezing weather? I asked several guards but couldn’t find out where Minjia or Xiao Huan had gone. Frustrated, I returned to my tent. Though I was wearing deerskin riding boots, my feet had gone numb from walking in the snow for so long.

Back in the tent, I was just about to take off my boots and warm them by the fire when the tent flap rustled—Kumoer and Xiao Huan walked in hand in hand.

Seeing me, Kumoer smiled. "Cang Cang, you're here too."

Wasn’t that obvious? You were the one who had me stay here—where else would I be?

With that thought, I stood up with a bright smile. "Indeed, Great Khan. What brings you here so early?"

"Hmm." Kumoer nodded with a grin. "Xiao Bai was right—last night’s scouting team was spotted by the city guards the moment they approached. Cang Cang, your fellow countryman here is truly remarkable."

Even Kumoer was calling Xiao Huan "Xiao Bai" now?

I forced a smile. "He just likes to spout nonsense. Usually, he’s quite dull—you’re overpraising him, Great Khan."

"Don’t say that," Kumoer retorted immediately, seemingly genuinely impressed by Xiao Huan. He even patted his shoulder affectionately. "Today, I took Xiao Bai to discuss military affairs. Many of his insights were exceptionally astute. Several of our tribal princes were impressed, and I’m quite fond of him too."

"Thank you for your praise, Great Khan," Xiao Huan replied with a faint smile.

What was there to thank him for? This guy—trapped in enemy territory, and he didn’t even know how to keep a low profile!

"Xiao Bai, no need to be modest. I’m delighted to have discovered such talent under my command," Kumoer sighed, patting Xiao Huan’s shoulder again. "If only Xiao Bai’s health weren’t so frail—otherwise, he’d be another fierce warrior on horseback for me."

If he really could ride into battle, he wouldn’t be your warrior—he’d be your greatest adversary. I chuckled dryly, feeling like I had nothing left to say.

"Ah, right," Kumoer suddenly remembered something and turned to Xiao Huan. "Xiao Bai, wait here for a moment. I have some matters to attend to."

Xiao Huan nodded. "As you wish, Great Khan."

Kumoer turned and left without so much as a glance at me.

Once he was gone, I shot Xiao Huan an annoyed glare. "Our Emperor is really thriving in the Jurchen Camp, isn’t he? In a few days, you’ll lead Kumoer to breach Shanhai Pass, occupy the Forbidden Palace, and then have him grant you the title of Great Khan Prince. What a grand achievement that’ll be!"

"That does make sense," Xiao Huan mused, furrowing his brows in mock contemplation. "Once Kumoer believes the situation is firmly under control, I’ll stage a rebellion, overthrow him from the throne, and claim the emperorship for myself. That way, no one can say I inherited the throne solely by my ancestors’ legacy, right?"

"You—" There was no point arguing with him. I snorted and sat by the brazier, continuing to struggle with my boots.

The boots were tall, and my legs were stiff—no matter how hard I tugged, they wouldn’t come off.

"You went outside?" Xiao Huan asked, noticing the dampness around my boots.

"Yes, I wanted to see how you were doing. Instead, I couldn’t find you and ended up freezing my feet," I huffed. "Given this loyal subject’s devotion, would His Majesty help me take them off?""Don't walk too much in the snow, it's easy to freeze your feet," he said, and indeed knelt down on one knee, holding my ankle as he helped me take off my boots. Through the socks, he gently massaged my feet. "First, get the blood flowing, then warm them by the fire, otherwise you might get frostbite."

We were very close, and the refreshing scent, somewhat like pine, that clung to him lingered at the tip of my nose. His black hair, tied with a silk ribbon, slipped from his shoulder and fell onto my lap. I reached out to gather his hair: "A grown man, what kind of appearance is this with your hair all loose?"

"What are you two doing?" Kumoer's voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the tent.

I hurriedly pushed Xiao Huan away: "Great Khan..."

"You shameless woman!" Kumoer was furious, his sword-like eyebrows raised as he shouted.

What kind of situation was this? Just being a little intimate with my own husband, and I get called a shameless woman. Grumbling inwardly, I forced a smile and tried to explain to Kumoer: "Listen to me, Great Khan..."

"I am heartbroken!" Kumoer suddenly bellowed, drawing the saber at his waist and slashing it straight at Xiao Huan.

"Stop!" The blade was swift; I only had time to shout one word before it was right before my eyes. Without thinking, I turned to shield Xiao Huan.

The saber abruptly halted. Xiao Huan reached out, his fingers firmly gripping the blade as thin as a cicada's wing. A drop of blood trickled down his pale fingers.

Following the blade with my eyes, I saw Kumoer gripping the saber, his brows tightly knit, his expression strangely complex in that moment. But then, deep sorrow gradually seeped into his dove-gray eyes: "I am heartbroken."

He stared unblinkingly at Xiao Huan, the sorrow pouring from his gaze: "Xiao Bai, I am heartbroken. Do you prefer women? I thought..."

He dejectedly sheathed his saber, shaking his head lightly: "I always thought I preferred women too, until I saw you at Minmin's yesterday. Then I realized what I've been searching for all along... Never mind, I was wrong."

Wait a minute, what did these ambiguous and sorrowful words mean?

Didn't this man say just a few days ago that he wanted my heart? How did he suddenly shift his affections to my husband? It wasn't apparent in the Forbidden Palace, but is Xiao Huan's face really that lethal to both men and women?

Dumbfounded, I looked at Kumoer, then at Xiao Huan, who was pursing his thin lips and lowering his head, my eyes growing wider by the second.

"Um," I quickly jumped up from the ground, "misunderstanding... it's all a misunderstanding. You two talk first, I'll go find Minjia, ha..." As I spoke, I grabbed my deerskin riding boots from the ground, hastily put them on, snatched a cloak, and ran out.

Standing in the snow, I took a few deep breaths of the cold air and knocked on my head to clear my thoughts. Once slightly more composed, I hurriedly rushed to Minjia's tent. At the very least, I needed a place to calm down.

Minjia had already returned and was flipping through a blueprint in her tent. Seeing me, she greeted cheerfully: "Cang Cang, you're here? Xiao Bai was taken by my brother, he's not here."

"I know he's not here," I forced a dry laugh and sat on the wooden chair beside Minjia.

"So you came to see me? I'm very happy," Minjia set aside her work and smiled at me.

These siblings, one saying "I am heartbroken," the other "I am very happy," really made a perfect pair.

I shook my head: "Minjia, let's talk about something fun. I want to find something to chat about."

"Alright," Minjia propped her chin on her hand, nodding with a smile, "Cang Cang, you go first.""Alright," I shook my head, "then let me tell you a story. During the Warring States period, there was an exceptionally handsome man named Lord Longyang. All the women paled in comparison to him, so the King of Wei..."

Why did I end up talking about Lord Longyang? I quickly spat a few times: "This story isn’t good. Let me tell you another one. During the Han Dynasty, there was a man named Dong Xian, a youth as beautiful as a celestial being, and the emperor adored him..." Ugh, ugh, ugh—why did I veer into tales of cut-sleeve romance again? Why is my mind filled with such things lately? It’s all Kumoer’s fault for scaring me half to death.

Throughout history, many emperors kept male favorites, but rarely was there an emperor who became someone else’s kept boy. So, in that sense, Xiao Huan is pioneering a new trend? Pah! What kind of trend is worth pioneering like this? Never mind that the ancestors of the Xiao family would crawl out of the Imperial Mausoleum to strangle me, the empress who couldn’t even manage her own husband—just the thought of it as a joke would make people laugh their teeth out.

Truly, no tragedy in this world compares to this.

"Cang Cang, what’s wrong?" Minjia waved her delicate hand in front of my eyes. "You look like you’re about to cry."

On the verge of becoming a notorious sinner, scorned—no, more likely ridiculed—by others, how could I not cry?

I wiped away my tears. "Let’s talk about things from our childhood instead."

"Sure." Minjia, unusually patient with me today, smiled in agreement. "Cang Cang, did you ever have someone you liked? Tell me about them."

Someone I liked? Girls really do love hearing these kinds of stories. I chuckled, but the first face that surfaced in my mind wasn’t Xian Xue’s, nor Kumoer’s—it was Xiao Huan’s. That young man in blue robes, standing in the autumn breeze of Jiangnan, his smile gentle and refined.

Did I like Xiao Huan? Of course I did. Once you’ve liked someone, how could you ever forget?

It’s just that, later, too many things piled up between us, making it impossible to let go.

I took a deep breath and smiled at Minjia. "The person I liked is already dead."

"Ah..." Minjia gasped softly, her expression tinged with sorrow. "That’s also a sad story."

"Not exactly sad," I said with a faint smile, though my heart was in turmoil. "It’s actually quite a dull story. Why don’t you tell me yours instead?"

"Alright, I’ll tell it." Minjia didn’t refuse. After a pause, she said, "But the story I’m going to tell is also a very sad one."

"A very sad story?" I said, surprised. The word "sad" didn’t seem to suit this bright and cheerful girl.

"Yes, very sad." Minjia exhaled softly and began, "When I was very young, my mother was always following my father on military campaigns and couldn’t take care of me, so she left me in the care of Nanny Su Na. Nanny Su Na was the closest person to me back then—she treated me so well, as if I were her own daughter, and took me everywhere with her. One day, Nanny Su Na had to go to a faraway market, and I threw a tantrum until she agreed to take me along."

Minjia spoke slowly, her beautiful face tinged with nostalgia. "That market was so lively, and I was so happy. But on our way back, Nanny Su Na and I got caught in a snowstorm. A relentless blizzard, just like the one we’re having now. The old horse we were riding panicked at the sight of wolves in the snow, lost its way, and we ended up stranded in the storm.""The snow grew heavier, and the wind began to howl, making it increasingly difficult even to stand. Nanny Su’na had no choice but to take me to shelter from the storm. The two of us hid beneath a small hill, with no food or warm clothing to protect us from the cold. I was freezing and starving, constantly fighting the urge to sleep. In the snow, once you fall asleep, you never wake up again. So Nanny Su’na held me in her arms the whole time, singing and telling me stories.

"Her voice was so beautiful, just as gentle as when she would lull me to sleep at home every night. I listened until I couldn’t hold on any longer, and at some point, I drifted into a hazy slumber. When I woke again, I was back in my mother’s tent. Aside from being a little shaken, I was completely unharmed—but Nanny Su’na never made it back alive. In the blizzard, she was afraid I would freeze, so she took off her own fur coat and wrapped it around me, holding me close to keep me warm. But she herself froze to death."

Minjia’s beautiful eyes glistened with unshed tears as she spoke. "After that, I often thought—if there’s someone who, when you’re in danger, only thinks of saving you, only wants you to be safe, and never considers whether she might die because of it… then she must love you very much, far more than she loves herself. So I believe Nanny Su’na must have loved me deeply, perhaps even more than my own mother and father did."

Suddenly, Minjia lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes fixed on me. "Cang Cang, I really do like Xiao Bai. When I’m with him, I’m happy too, but I always feel like something’s missing. Do you know? At the foot of Shanhai Pass, when you rushed to save me without a thought for your own safety, looking at you… I was reminded of Nanny Su’na."

What was she trying to say? For the second time today, I froze, my heart pounding as I stared into Minjia’s hopeful—and even… adoring—gaze.

A girl’s eyes were always especially captivating when filled with such emotion, but I only felt a creeping chill. Did these siblings share the same… tastes in this regard?

Weren’t we just talking about a tragic past? How did we end up here? Did she ask me to talk about the person I liked just so she could seize the moment to confess her feelings?

A delicate flush spread across Minjia’s cheeks as she slowly leaned closer to me, her radiant face inching nearer. I held my breath, stiffening.

"Princess Min, the Great Khan summons you to the council tent." The timely announcement from a guard at the entrance saved me.

"Understood, I’ll go right away." Minjia answered with a smile, finally pulling her face away from mine. She stood and took my hand. "Cang Cang, let’s go together. You’re not an outsider—my brother won’t mind."

Not an outsider? As his woman, or as your… what? My body had gone completely rigid as I let her drag me along.

The council tent reeked of alcohol, its floor covered with bearded tribal chieftains sitting cross-legged, their raucous shouts filling the air. Small tables were piled high with meat and wine.

Minjia casually greeted the chieftains as she pulled me over scattered wolfskin cushions, stopping before Kumoer. "Brother, I’m here."

Kumoer had just pulled Xiao Huan onto his lap. Xiao Huan’s white fox-fur cloak had long been torn off and discarded, the collar of his dark blue robe half-pulled open to reveal pale collarbones.

The ribbon tying his hair had also been lost somewhere, leaving his black locks disheveled over his shoulders. His cheeks were slightly flushed as he sipped wine from the cup Kumoer handed him.My God, this seductive demeanor was nothing like a ruler of a nation—it was downright that of a male concubine!

"Min Min, let's not talk business today. Just eat meat and drink wine. Cang Cang, sit with us too." Kumoer seemed in high spirits as he spoke, lifting another cup of wine to Xiao Huan's lips. "Xiao Bai, have another drink!"

"Great Khan, if you keep this up, I'll be drunk," Xiao Huan laughed, pressing his pale, slender fingers against Kumoer's chest in a half-hearted resistance.

I covered my face with my hands and turned away. To hell with ancestral temples and history books, with the forebears of the Xiao clan! I'd worried too much on his behalf—he was perfectly happy being this androgynous, male-concubine emperor!

Though I couldn't see, I heard Minjia's lively voice: "Brother, since I'm giving Xiao Bai to you, you should give Cang Cang to me in return."

...This was the most chaotic day of my life. If there were any bodhisattvas out there, I wished one would send someone as fierce as Xing Yiyong to kick me square in the head and knock me out on the spot.

That night, Kumoer kept Xiao Huan in the council tent for a long time. Eventually, it seemed he even took him out for a gallop on horseback, and they didn't return to the tents until very late. Kumoer didn't come back to the main tent to sleep at all.

When Minjia suggested sharing a tent with me, I sternly refused and returned to Kumoer's main tent instead.

After a night of fitful nightmares, I woke in the morning to find Minjia sitting at my bedside, her face full of grievance.

"What are you doing?" I pulled the blankets tighter and sat up warily.

"Cang Cang, Xiao Bai is dying," Minjia sniffled, her nose red.

My heart skipped a beat before I realized Xiao Bai was Xiao Huan. "What?"

"After my brother brought Xiao Bai back to my tent last night, he kept coughing up blood. I called for Old He Du, but he said there's poison in Xiao Bai's system and there's nothing he can do. He told me to prepare for a funeral. Cang Cang, what do we do? I didn't know Xiao Bai was this frail. He's going to die—what should we do?" Minjia's tone was sorrowful, but there was little genuine concern. No matter how much she liked Xiao Huan, to her, he was just a male concubine she kept.

I was frantic with worry. Throwing off the blankets, I jumped out of bed and grabbed Minjia's shoulders. "How is he now?"

"Still lying in bed, but Old He Du says he'll die sooner or later," Minjia sniffed in reply.

"Why didn't you come tell me last night?" I nearly shouted.

My outburst startled her. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal..."

I pushed her aside, grabbed a cloak at random, and sprinted toward Minjia's tent.

"Cang Cang, you're not wearing shoes!" Minjia called after me.

Her tent was in complete disarray. Without a second thought, I rushed to the bedside.

Xiao Huan lay there with his eyes closed, coughing intermittently. His face was even paler than when I'd last seen him in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Bloodstains dotted the front of his robes, and bloodied handkerchiefs were scattered by the bed.

I felt dizzy. He'd been coughing up blood since last night—suddenly, I wanted to chop Kumoer and Minjia into pieces.

Taking a deep breath, I crouched down and grasped Xiao Huan's hand, leaning close to his ear. "I'm here. Can you still speak?"

The icy hand in mine twitched slightly—he squeezed back.He slowly opened his eyes, but his first words were directed at Minjia standing by the bed: "Please... Princess, could you step aside for a moment... I have something to discuss with my fellow countryman."

Thinking Xiao Huan wanted to say some last words, Minjia nodded and turned to leave.

Once she was gone, Xiao Huan turned to me with a faint smile: "Help me... sit up."

I quickly supported his body to help him sit upright. As soon as he was seated, he coughed several times, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. There were no clean handkerchiefs left by the bed, so I raised my sleeve to wipe the blood from his mouth, unable to hold back my complaint: "Wouldn't it be better to just lie down? Why bother sitting up?"

"Speaking like this actually makes breathing easier," he replied, taking a deep breath before smiling up at me. "Kumoer saw through my identity long ago."

"What?" My eyes widened. "Then why did he say he liked you?"

"You..." He seemed somewhat exasperated, coughing twice with amusement. "Did you really think he was attracted to men?"

"Last night it certainly looked that way," I muttered before asking, "So last night was all an act?"

Xiao Huan nodded: "From the beginning, he intended to kill me. Knowing I couldn't withstand cold, he deliberately took me around and forced me to drink chilled wine. Bringing me to the strategy tent to hear their secrets was meant to make me understand he wouldn't let me leave here alive." As he spoke slowly between coughs, his deep eyes suddenly turned icy. "How dare he treat me like some plaything!"

I'd never seen such murderous intent in his gaze before and couldn't help shivering. "If Kumoer is determined to kill you, what should we do?"

After a pause, he looked up at me with a smile: "I'd like to ask for your help with something."

"Me?" I was surprised. "What can I do?"

"Find a chance to steal a horse, slip out of camp, and take a message to Shanhai Pass." His voice grew weaker as he spoke, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

I nodded quickly, then asked, "Can I escape alone?"

"Kumoer likely considers me already dead. He's busy deploying troops for the siege and won't have time to watch you. As for Gui Wuchang, I poisoned him during the chaos in the strategy tent last night. For the next three days, he won't be in much better shape than I am." He smiled reassuringly at me. "Don't worry, you can do it."

I nodded, but as I looked at his pale face, a series of thoughts surfaced: If I could escape alone to Shanhai Pass, and if I concealed his situation here without bringing back help, wouldn't he soon perish? With his death, my father would hold absolute power. If we wished, the Great Wu Empire could immediately change hands.

—And this way, I could avenge Master and Xian Xue right away!

My expression shifted rapidly as I stared fixedly at him. When I didn't respond, he seemed to discern my thoughts, yet his gaze remained unchanged—those unfathomable eyes simply watched me in silence.

My mind raced through the implications: If Xiao Huan died, and neither I nor the other imperial consorts had borne him a Dragon Child, the Zhuque line of the Xiao family would end without heirs. The Xiao collateral branches were numerous and complex—in the rush, it might prove impossible to select a suitable royal clansman to inherit the throne.

At this critical moment on the frontlines, if the soldiers suddenly heard news of the emperor's death, wouldn't their morale plummet and lead to collapse? Not to mention that given Xiao Huan's personality, he must have made arrangements in the capital before coming to Shanhai Pass. Moreover, the Empress Dowager is still in the capital—she's certainly not someone to be trifled with. No matter what, leaving Xiao Huan in the enemy camp at such a time would introduce too many variables into the situation.

Thinking this, I actually felt a sense of relief and placed my hand over his: "How much longer can your body hold on?"

Those deep black eyes remained fixed on me. Whether it was because he also felt relieved or for some other reason, he coughed a few times. After catching his breath, he lifted the corner of his lips in a faint smile but didn’t answer my question. Instead, he said, "After you return, tell Shi Yan to have the Venom Battalion troops leave the city and lie in ambush on Jiao Mountain, awaiting my orders at any time."

"You brought the Imperial Bodyguard's Venom Battalion with you?" I was once again glad I hadn’t acted impulsively. Though the Venom Battalion only numbered two hundred, each soldier was worth a hundred—not to be underestimated.

He nodded, then smiled again. "Li Mingshang is inside the pass..."

I immediately understood. "You want me to tell him about your condition and bring him here to save you?"

Unexpectedly, there was a pause before he responded. Then, with a faint smile, he said, "When you find Mr. Li, show him the wound on your shoulder and ask him to prepare some scar-healing ointment for you. Keeping a scar... isn’t good. Also, though the wound has healed, it’s best to take some more medicine to recuperate."

At a time like this, instead of urgently arranging for Li Mingshang to come save his life, he’s talking about scar-healing ointment and recuperation? I was baffled. Seeing him still coughing weakly and struggling to speak, I helped him lean back against the cushion. "Save your strength and wait here for Mr. Li to rescue you. I’ll leave now."

He said nothing more, only smiled faintly again and coughed softly.

The situation was urgent, so I didn’t linger. But just before leaving, I suddenly thought of something and turned back to look at him. "I want to ask you something... Did you infiltrate the Jurchen Camp this time just to save me?"

Such words—if we were still in the Forbidden Palace—I would never have spoken. But here in this Jurchen Camp, he and I had already said so many things we wouldn’t have before...

After asking, I stared intently at his face. I didn’t know what I was waiting for. How did I want him to answer? Yes, or no?

My mind was in turmoil, and the words spilled out before I could stop them: "If you lie to me, I’ll never forgive you!"

He gazed at me quietly. After what felt like an eternity, he finally lifted the corner of his lips and nodded. "Yes."

My head spun, and for some reason, the image of that young man suddenly flashed before my eyes—the one who had smiled gently at me in the autumn breeze of Jiangnan. He, too, had once nodded and said, "Yes."

I actually ran back, leaned down, and lightly kissed his pale, colorless lips. Then I hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Wait for me."

Leaving the tent, I found Minjia waiting outside and said to her, "Xiao Bai won’t die. Take good care of him for me."

Hearing this, the sorrow on Minjia’s face lessened. She smiled brightly. "Cang Cang, if you say Xiao Bai won’t die, then he won’t die."

"Take good care of him," I said, patting her shoulder and urging her back into the tent to look after Xiao Huan.This silly girl, Kumoer might be playing tricks, but Minjia's feelings for me seemed genuine.

After walking a few steps, I realized... walking barefoot in the snow, my feet were truly freezing.

Returning to the tent and dressing properly, I thought for a moment before going to find Chi Ku, who was guarding outside the tent. I smiled at him, "Just now, Princess Minjia said she would trouble General Chi Ku to prepare a horse and take me to patrol outside the camp."

Chi Ku seemed puzzled, frowning, "The Great Khan only ordered me to guard the main tent."

His tone was firm, clearly not taking me seriously. Knowing that as Kumoer's trusted aide, despite his seemingly dull appearance, he was by no means an easy opponent, I smiled again, "Since General Chi Ku is only responsible for guarding the main tent, then I'll have to report back to Princess Minjia and ask her to send someone else to take me on the patrol."

With that, I turned to leave. Sure enough, Chi Ku called out from behind me, "Madam, wait a moment." He hesitated briefly, "Please come with me to see Princess Minjia."

He was still cautious, unwilling to trust me without seeing Minjia first.

I raised an eyebrow with a smile and followed him back to Minjia's tent.

Still completely trusting, Minjia only needed to hear that this was to save "Xiao Bai" before handing over her token, ordering Chi Ku to follow my commands.

Chi Ku quickly brought two horses, along with a small squad. I mounted and rode along the camp's perimeter, with them following closely.

Gradually, I grew anxious. When I left, Xiao Huan's condition was stable, but how long could he hold on? Glancing down at the dark red bloodstain on my sleeve, I gritted my teeth and pointed my whip toward the valley entrance, "Let's go there."

Chi Ku paused before replying, "Alright."

I immediately spurred my horse toward the valley entrance. A hundred-man squad guarded the exit, shouting from afar as they saw someone approaching, "By the Great Khan's order, no one is to leave the valley!"

At this point, I didn't care. I shouted back, "Scout from the personal guard, delivering a challenge to the pass under the Great Khan's orders!"

The personal guard was Kumoer's elite force. The guards hesitated at my words.

Seizing the moment, I urged my horse past them and raced toward Shanhai Pass without stopping.

"Stop her!" Chi Ku realized I was trying to escape and barked orders from behind.

But I had the advantage. By the time the guards shouted and gave chase, I was already two zhang ahead.

In this critical moment, the riding skills I had practiced earlier proved invaluable. Pressing close to my steed and gripping tightly with my legs, the swift Mongolian horse glided smoothly across the vast snowy expanse toward Shanhai Pass.

A few arrows shot past me from behind, grazing my body before embedding in the snow. It seemed Chi Ku had ordered lethal force to prevent my escape.

Fortunately, after a hard gallop, the gates of Shanhai Pass were within reach. My only hope was that Shi Yan had spotted me—otherwise, this would be a one-way trip to death.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered all my strength and lashed the horse's flank, charging straight at the still-closed gates.

In my panic, I glanced at the fresh snow beside me and noticed with surprise that the pristine, mirror-like surface was marred by numerous hoofprints.

No time to ponder. The heavy creak of the gates sounded like heavenly music to my ears.

As the chains rattled, the drawbridge over the moat lowered swiftly, connecting both sides.

Simultaneously, with the groan of turning hinges, the tightly shut gates parted just enough—a narrow gap, but sufficient for a single horse to pass through.The sky shrank to a distant point before my eyes as the city gate nearly grazed my ears. The thunderous echo of hooves reverberated through the long passageway.

Reining in my horse on the vast training ground, I looked at the soldiers rushing forward to take the reins—clad in black armor with bright red tassels, their faces filled with genuine admiration after the excitement.

For a moment, I could hardly believe I had already returned to Shanhai Pass.

Behind me, the city gate swiftly closed again, and the officers on the walls were now firing arrows to drive off the pursuing Jurchen cavalry.

Shi Yan hurried down from the wall and knelt on one knee before my horse: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

I dismounted in haste and grabbed him: "The Emperor is still in the Jurchen Camp. Take me to Mr. Li at once."

Shi Yan remained composed and nodded: "Please follow me, Your Majesty."

Shanhai Pass was a sizable city, and the medical hall was located in the inner district. Disregarding decorum, I practically ran alongside Shi Yan the entire way.

When I knocked open Li Mingshang's door, he was dozing against the headboard, cradling a small hand warmer.

I snatched the warmer from him: "Mr. Li! Wake up—that fool is waiting for you to save his life!"

Still bleary-eyed, Li Mingshang grumbled, "What fool? Dragging me to this wretched place with an imperial decree, and now you won't even let me sleep?"

Nearly incoherent, I seized his hand: "It's Xiao Huan... hurry and come with me to save him!"

"Stop shaking me, stop shaking..." Li Mingshang's three elegant wisps of beard swayed wildly as he tried to steady me. "What did you just say?"

"Xiao Huan had a poison flare-up in the Jurchen Camp, coughing up blood nonstop. Come with me to save him!" My eyes burned with urgency—I was ready to carry off this infuriatingly slow old goat by force.

Upon hearing this, Li Mingshang merely stroked his beard, his expression as leisurely as ever: "Is he on the verge of death?"

I froze: "What?"

"If he's not about to die, don't come bothering me!" Li Mingshang sounded exasperated. "He's had Cold Poison for years—if every flare-up killed him, he'd have died countless times already! Did he actually ask you to fetch me?"

"He only told me to find you. He also asked me to tell Shi Yan to have the Venom Battalion lie in ambush at Jiao Mountain outside the city and await orders..." I muttered, my head spinning. A cold wind blew through the open door, chilling me to the bone. Suddenly, I remembered details I'd overlooked.

Xiao Huan had never said he needed Li Mingshang to save him... After telling me to find Li Mingshang, his next words had been: "Once you find Mr. Li, show him the wound on your shoulder..."

He had let me assume, in my single-minded determination, that only I could save him. When I asked if infiltrating the Jurchen Camp had been to rescue me, he had nodded and said, "Yes."

The wind howled through the empty courtyard beyond the door. Only then did I realize that when I returned to the city, troops had already been assembling on the training ground. By the time I reached the inner city to find Li Mingshang, not a single idle soldier remained in sight.

I whirled around and strode toward the door.

The moment I mentioned Xiao Huan's order for the Venom Battalion to ambush outside the city, Shi Yan had already instructed the battalion guards following him to relay the command. Now he blocked the doorway with an outstretched arm: "It's dangerous beyond the walls. Please remain here, Your Majesty."I looked into his eyes and smiled slightly: "Commander Shi, with His Majesty still in enemy territory, how can I rest easy staying behind?"

Shi Yan's face remained as calm and unchanging as a millennia-old boulder: "Leave this matter to your humble servant."

I smiled at him again, softening my tone further: "Commander Shi... I just want to see His Majesty. When I left, he was coughing up blood... I'm truly terrified... Surely Commander Shi understands..."

"Let her go," Li Mingshang suddenly spoke from the side. "With the Venom Battalion's forces, there shouldn't be much danger."

Shi Yan turned to look at Li Mingshang and bowed respectfully.

I knew he had agreed and followed behind him.

As we were about to leave, Li Mingshang sighed behind us: "Young lady, after all, he risked his life to personally bring you back... As for other matters, why concern yourself?"

Yes, I wanted to see certain things with my own eyes... Things I once believed in without question but now dared not trust anymore.

Nor was I lying... I was truly terrified. When Xiao Huan leaned against my shoulder, coughing up that bright red blood, I felt more fear than when facing a forest of blades and rain of arrows myself...

I didn't answer him and followed Shi Yan out.

To avoid detection in the snow, Shi Yan had me wear a white cloak before departure and stay close behind him.

True to their reputation as elite imperial guards, the Venom Battalion moved swiftly. By the time the defending army had formed their battle array before the pass, we had already detoured from the Great Wall's beacon towers to Jiaoshan Mountain.

All 153 Imperial Bodyguards dispatched were martial arts experts, traversing knee-deep snowfields with almost no sound.

From our vantage point on Jiaoshan Mountain, everything below was clearly visible.

On the vast snowy plain before Shanhai Pass stood row upon row of Great Wu soldiers in black armor. The Flame Banner, emblem of the Great Wu Emperor, fluttered in the wind—red and black pennants snapping proudly, like crimson flames dancing across the white expanse. Beneath the banners, tens of thousands of troops stood in perfect formation, their unified war cries momentarily boosting military morale.

On the other side, the Jurchen cavalry stood ready. Though silent, their solemn banners and the restless snorts of warhorses exuded a quiet intimidation.

Months of stalemate had taught both sides that victory couldn't be won through trickery. Qi Chengliang and Kumoer had both chosen this day after snowfall for a decisive, life-or-death battle.

The two armies were about to engage in merciless slaughter. One could imagine the snowfield soon turning crimson, countless loved ones from springtime dreams reduced to bleached bones and wandering ghosts in foreign lands.

Those hoofprints I saw at the city gate this morning must have been left by scouts from both armies.

With both sides preparing for this final confrontation... Kumoer's decision to attempt Xiao Huan's life last night was no coincidence, just as Xiao Huan's choice to have me break through back to the pass this morning wasn't accidental either.

These two men had long prepared to settle everything in one move.

Kumoer proved himself a true conqueror indeed—possessing both the vision to assess situations and the courage to burn his bridges.

And what of Xiao Huan?

I remember when we traveled the Martial World together, no matter what schemes opponents devised, he would see through them effortlessly. Back then, I would gaze up at him with admiration, secretly wondering in my heart—just how far could this man see?At the critical moment when tensions were at their peak, a phoenix-shaped firework suddenly rose above the Jurchen Camp. The legendary immortal bird capable of rebirth from flames soared into the azure sky with its head held high and wings spread, flickered once, then vanished into the air.

Upon receiving the signal, the Imperial Bodyguards of the Venom Battalion hidden atop the mountain began charging down the ridge. Shi Yan held me by the waist as we rushed down the slope.

The Jurchen Camp came into view almost instantly. As soon as we descended, we saw a group of cavalry standing silently in a clearing within the camp.

Instead of heading to the frontlines, Kumoer had personally led dozens of his elite guards to surround the figure at the center.

It was Xiao Huan. Clad in a pure white fox fur cloak, he stood in the snow, coughing lightly into his hand.

Once the Venom Battalion arrived, they fanned out around the cavalry and drew their weapons. Shi Yan knelt on one knee: "Your Majesty, everyone is assembled."

Xiao Huan lowered his hand and smiled at him. "You've worked hard."

"Xiao Bai, you're so ill—why not rest in your tent?" Kumoer sat leisurely atop his horse, his tone light as he smirked. "What are your lackeys here for? To help you deal with me?"

Xiao Huan chuckled softly and looked up at Kumoer. "It seems you haven't accepted your defeat wholeheartedly, Great Khan Kumoer."

Kumoer burst into laughter. "As long as the battle isn't over, I haven't lost yet. Isn't it too early to ask if I'm convinced, Xiao Bai?" His laughter turned cold. "Or should I address you as His Majesty the Emperor?"

Xiao Huan smiled faintly. "At this point, Great Khan, do you really intend to bicker with me here?"

Kumoer replied lazily, "Since His Majesty went to the trouble of sneaking into my camp, I'll consider this banter a bit of marital bliss and gladly indulge." He curled his lips in a teasing manner. "Truth be told, few are as beautiful as Your Majesty."

Mocking Xiao Huan so brazenly in front of both sides' guards was nothing short of open insult and provocation.

Yet Xiao Huan didn't seem angered. He nodded with a smile. "If the Great Khan insists on speaking this way, I'll simply take it as the whimpers of a defeated cur clinging to pride and let it pass."

Kumoer stroked his chin. "So stubborn. It's a shame—when Your Majesty leaned against my chest, coughing up blood, I almost pitied you."

The two exchanged barbs back and forth, their banter almost leisurely.

Yet with each word, the tension in the air grew thicker. Even Shi Yan rose, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword, poised to strike at any moment.

I knew they were waiting for the outcome of the battle ahead... But regardless of victory or defeat, Kumoer wouldn't let Xiao Huan leave easily, and Xiao Huan had summoned the Venom Battalion—likely intending to eliminate Kumoer.

Thinking this, I couldn't help but smile. These two, preparing to fight to the death, had both considered me. Xiao Huan had urged me to return to the pass, and the reason I escaped so smoothly was likely because Kumoer had shown leniency.

Only later did I realize—the arrows fired by the pursuing cavalry, though terrifying in their momentum, had all landed in the snow around me.

The Jurchens were unmatched in horseback archery, and those were the Great Khan's elite guards, handpicked from thousands. There was no way they couldn't have captured me.

Xiao Huan remained silent, merely covering his lips as he coughed softly, as if he could no longer be bothered to respond.Kumoer suddenly burst into laughter: "Xiao Bai, it seems all our efforts were in vain. The person you deliberately sent away has probably returned."

As soon as he spoke these words, my heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively reached for the sword at my waist. But before I could move, an icy voice already rang in my ears: "Little girl, if you value your head, I suggest you stay still."

It was Gui Wuchang!

His cold hand rested on my throat. Though I couldn’t see his face, his voice dripped with malice: "Did His Majesty Deyou think I’d be immobilized by poison by now? What a pity… such toxins can’t harm me in the slightest."

Not only was his martial prowess formidable, but even poison couldn’t touch him.

My entire body stiffened. I lifted my head, but my gaze instinctively sought Xiao Huan.

He was watching me calmly, his eyes unreadable—no surprise, no reproach.

In the silence, he turned away and looked at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan immediately bowed his head. "This humble servant deserves death. Her Majesty the Empress insisted on coming."

With a faint curl of his lips, Xiao Huan replied indifferently, "It’s fine."

Gui Wuchang sneered coldly. "Your Majesty Deyou, if you want this woman to live, I suggest you surrender without resistance."

Xiao Huan glanced at him and smiled. I had never seen such an expression on his face before—still refined, yet tinged with faint mockery, as light and fleeting as a spring breeze. "Oh? Just because I sent this woman away… did you assume I came here to save her? I merely thought such a scene was unfit for a woman’s presence."

As expected, I took a quiet breath. For some reason, a pang of bitterness welled up in my heart.

I was such a fool. His true purpose in infiltrating the Jurchen Camp was likely to probe Kumoer’s defenses. Though risky, with his martial skills, he could withdraw unscathed at any time.

As for me, rescuing me was merely incidental. After all, I was his empress. If word got out that I remained by Kumoer’s side, it would tarnish his imperial dignity.

And yet, I had actually believed him when he said he came for me… At that moment, he had only been trying to deceive me into returning to the pass sooner.

"My, the Emperor is truly heartless," Kumoer chimed in with a sigh. "And here Cang Cang thought you were gravely ill, risking her life to break out of here and find help for you in the pass. Had I not instructed Chi Ku beforehand not to harm her, she might have died under my guards’ arrows this morning."

Xiao Huan’s gaze returned to me. His deep, dark eyes were always too inscrutable, revealing nothing. He curved his lips into a faint smile. "Then I must thank the Empress for her… deep affection."

With that, he averted his eyes again, as though unwilling to waste any more energy on the matter.

I had sworn never to shed tears for him again, yet my vision blurred. "Deep affection"?

What "deep affection" did I have? I was simply… unable to forget that young man from Jiangnan, the one who smiled so gently, who never lied to me, who always held my hand no matter where we went.

I had long lost that young man, yet I still foolishly hoped he would return.

The sound of hoofbeats approached from a distance, stopping before me. Kumoer leaned down with a smile and offered me his hand. "Don’t cry, Cang Cang. You still have me."I looked up at him, for some reason, the moisture in my eyes felt so bitter, yet the tears never fell. I tried my best to smile at him.

This foreign Khan, I had always thought, was merely toying with me on a whim. Yet it was he who kept me in his grand tent without ever truly forcing me into anything. Even knowing I still harbored ulterior motives, he refused to let anyone harm me.

Could I continue to betray him? All for the sake of a fleeting illusion?

Lost in thought, I found myself raising my arm and grasping his hand. His broad palm, warm as fire, effortlessly enveloped mine.

Gui Wuchang’s fingers still lingered at my throat when Kumoer smiled at him. “Thank you for your assistance, Master Gui. This is another great merit.”

Only then did Gui Wuchang chuckle and release me, stepping aside.

Pulling me onto his warhorse and holding me close, Kumoer laughed heartily. “Xiao Bai, I don’t mean to mock you, but your woman—even if she leaves my side, she still returns to me in the end!”

He lowered his head, tilting my chin up to gaze at me with a smile. “Cang Cang, you are not a trophy. You will be my Khan's Wife, ruling the world by my side… and dying on the battlefield with me!”

I clasped his waist, suppressing the violent pounding in my chest, and met his eyes.

Those silver-gray hawk-like pupils brimmed with fervent hope and fiery affection, pouring out unabashedly, nearly overwhelming me. I heard my own voice say, “Yes.”

Amid Kumoer’s unrestrained laughter, a scout rushed over, kneeling to report, “Great Khan, our vanguard has suffered a setback!”

Still holding me by the waist, Kumoer remained undaunted. “What’s there to fear? I’ll take to the battlefield myself and crush the enemy!”

Xiao Huan, who had been silent for a long time, stepped forward from the encircling cavalry. Kumoer laughed and called out to him, “Xiao Bai, seeing Cang Cang and I so deeply in love, are you feeling heartbroken?”

Xiao Huan glanced up at him coolly and smiled. “Great Khan, didn’t you say you’d take to the battlefield? Pity I cannot accompany you.”

Meanwhile, Shi Yan had his sword pointed at Gui Wuchang. The Imperial Bodyguards surrounding the outer circle made no sound, but no one doubted that the slightest move from Kumoer would ignite a bloody battle.

The Imperial Bodyguards outnumbered Kumoer’s personal guards, and each was fiercely loyal, willing to die for Xiao Huan. Even with a master like Gui Wuchang by his side, Kumoer stood little chance of keeping Xiao Huan here.

After weighing the situation, Kumoer suddenly laughed. “Xiao Bai, if we end our clash so hastily this time, would you be satisfied?”

Xiao Huan’s tone remained unruffled. “Is the Great Khan in such a hurry to meet his end?”

Kumoer roared with laughter, and I could feel the vibrations in his chest as I leaned against him. “Xiao Bai, I love this ruthless streak of yours!” He arched a brow. “How about this… No need for others to intervene. Just the two of us in a duel. If I win, you stay and submit to my will. If you win, I’ll withdraw my forces from Shanhai Pass immediately and vow never to invade the Central Plains in my lifetime. What do you say?”

He then looked down at me and laughed. “Of course, even if you win, Cang Cang chose me willingly—I won’t give her up! Isn’t that right, Cang Cang?”

I smiled at him. “Naturally.”

Pleased, he grinned. “Then tell me, wouldn’t it be dull if Xiao Bai just left like this? Should we settle this with a fight?”I turned my gaze to Xiao Huan, who was currently standing sideways to us, revealing only his lowered eyes and indifferent expression.

Of course, I had to back Kumoer up, so I smiled and said, "Naturally, that's required. Could it be that Your Majesty is afraid of losing face?"

When I uttered these words, I expected Xiao Huan to ignore me completely. Given his temperament, provocation tactics were practically useless—otherwise, he wouldn't have consistently disregarded Kumoer's taunts.

But his arm moved slightly, and to my surprise, he turned to face Kumoer. "Fine. But I want to compete against Gui Wuchang."

Not only was I stunned, but even Kumoer was taken aback. "Xiao Bai, have you lost your mind?"

"An opponent like you is far too dull," Xiao Huan said coolly. "Gui Wuchang, on the other hand, is somewhat interesting."

Kumoer arched an eyebrow but remained silent. Meanwhile, Gui Wuchang, who had been lounging nearby with his arms crossed, spoke up. "Very well. After you defeat Great Khan Kumoer, you can face me next."

Among the entire crowd, he was the most relaxed. Ever since releasing me earlier, he had been standing aside, observing the scene. Now, he suddenly interjected with these words.

After glancing at him, Xiao Huan nodded. "Fine. Then I'll defeat Kumoer first."

I didn’t speak, but I felt as though Xiao Huan had gone mad. Gui Wuchang's martial prowess was unfathomable. If Xiao Huan were in good health, a match between them might have been evenly matched. But he had just suffered an episode, and now he intended to fight Kumoer first—it was practically suicidal.

Kumoer, however, was thoroughly provoked by these words. He patted my shoulder and said, "Cang Cang, stay on the horse and wait for me." With that, he laughed and dismounted. Though his tone was light, his lips—thin as a blade's edge—pressed tightly together as he drew his longsword from his waist. "Xiao Bai, I considered you my lifelong rival. I never imagined you’d look down on me like this. Seems I’ll have to show you what I’m truly capable of."

Xiao Huan wasted no more words on him and turned to Shi Yan. "Lend me Ying for a moment."

Xiao Huan was most skilled in swordsmanship, and his personal blade was named King Wind. Of course, he wouldn’t have brought it while infiltrating enemy territory. Shi Yan’s sword, Ying, was also a rare and renowned weapon.

Shi Yan made his way through the cavalry, presenting his sword to Xiao Huan with both hands before bowing and retreating.

Taking Ying, Xiao Huan gave a slight nod. "Let’s begin."

The longsword seemed to come alive in his grasp. Before his words had even faded, he was already in front of Kumoer. The grating clash of steel rang out as Kumoer blocked the flash of white light the instant it slashed toward him.

As the sound faded, the two had already leaped apart.

Kumoer ran his fingers over the notch in his blade and grinned. "Not bad, Xiao Bai. You’ve got some bite to you." As he spoke, the sharp clang of blades colliding rang out again—they had already exchanged four or five moves.

I knew Xiao Huan’s swordsmanship was exceptional, but he had just suffered an episode, and the bitter cold would significantly weaken his Inner Force. Meanwhile, Kumoer’s blade techniques were unlike any from the Central Plains—they were honed by the Jurchens in life-or-death battles against wild beasts and countless close-quarters fights. His style was purely for subduing enemies, each strike fierce and decisive, without the slightest hesitation. After twenty or thirty exchanges, the two were still evenly matched. Given their conditions, the longer the fight dragged on, the more it would favor Kumoer.After another clash of blades, it was customary to leap aside to dissipate the force of the heavy saber. Yet Xiao Huan barely tapped his right foot—not retreating but instead pressing forward, sweeping his sword horizontally once more. Kumoer couldn’t evade in time, and a long gash split open his chest. Blood droplets scattered from the blade, leaving a crimson trail in the snow.

Kumoer staggered back a few steps, clutching his chest. He glanced at the blood on his palm and suddenly laughed. "Interesting, Xiao Bai."

After delivering that strike, Xiao Huan stood in the center of the field, his body trembling slightly. He leaned on his sword and abruptly coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering vividly against the white snow.

Shi Yan couldn’t hold back a cry: "Your Majesty!" He moved to step forward and support him.

"Don’t come closer," Xiao Huan commanded softly, wiping the blood from his lips with his sleeve. Gripping his sword, he slowly straightened his posture. "Kumoer, let’s continue."

"Of course we will." Kumoer’s steps were unsteady too, but he laughed as he raised his broadsword and advanced again.

The two were once more engulfed in a whirlwind of steel. Unable to bear watching, I turned away and saw Shi Yan clenching his fists, as if he wished he could tear Kumoer apart for Xiao Huan. On Kumoer’s side, Chi Ku looked no different.

My gaze swept over the crowd, and by chance, I noticed Gui Wuchang, who had been idly standing at the periphery, raise his hand. A glint of silver flashed between his fingers.

A hidden weapon! Who was he aiming at? I glanced at Xiao Huan, locked in fierce combat with Kumoer, and called out a warning: "Hidden weapon—watch out—"

Before I could finish, Gui Wuchang moved. Unexpectedly, two streaks of cold light shot from his hand.

One flew toward Xiao Huan—the other straight at my chest.

The moment the blade pierced my chest, I didn’t feel pain. Just a small, icy chill seeping through, followed by something in my heart snapping with a soft click . Breathing became difficult.

Was this how I would die? On this cold, unfamiliar land.

I had imagined countless ways my life might end—slowly fading with age or perishing in childbirth—but never like this.

"Cang Cang!" someone shouted.

In the blurry center of my vision was Xiao Huan’s face. Why him? Had fate reserved even my final moments for him?

I reached out to push his shoulder away. "Get away from me! I don’t like you anymore. We’ve long been... ever since I stabbed you with that sword, we’ve long been even!"

His thin lips moved, but whatever he was saying, I couldn’t hear a word.

What was there left to say, anyway? Let it end like this. Let me believe we’re even—maybe then my soul would be lighter, not plummeting straight into the depths of hell.

"Cang Cang," someone still called. Strangely, in the last moment before losing consciousness, I clearly felt a tear slowly roll down from the corner of my eye.