The sky was overcast, the wind sweeping residual snow across the land. On the central square of the Second Army's camp, two factions stood in a silent confrontation. Dark blue leather armor encased the battle-hardened young bodies, the veins on their sword-gripping hands bulging. Yan Xun stood erect in black battle robes. As the tent flap of the central command was lifted, he sat on a chair draped with white tiger skin, his gaze icy as he looked at the people outside, his tone calm as he said, "So, you're rebelling again?"
A chilling aura swept over them, the sharp edge in his words piercingly cold. The officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander flushed purple, clearly struggling to control their emotions. He Xiao stood at the forefront; the young commander wasn't particularly handsome, but his sharp features and iron-willed military bearing gave him a formidable presence. At this moment, he raised a hand to stop the agitated soldiers behind him, frowning as he slowly said, "Your Highness, you once promised us that past matters would not be held against us."
"I have not broken my word." Yan Xun smiled faintly, his brow lifting slightly, his eyes filled with indifference and scorn. "Those kneeling outside are not traitors—they are deserters."
"We are not deserters!"
An angry shout suddenly rang out. In the center of the square, over thirty soldiers wearing the uniforms of the Southwest Garrison Commander knelt in a row. Behind them stood the cold blades of the First Army. A young soldier shouted furiously, "No one can burn our military flag!"
A blood-stained white flag with red clouds lay tattered on the ground, one corner already burned black and jagged.
Yan Xun cast a fleeting glance at him, letting out a disdainful snort. The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint sneer.
"The Southwest Garrison Commander ceased to exist three days ago. What use is a military flag now? You attacked allied forces and left the city late at night before a major battle—that is betrayal. Such contempt for military discipline cannot be tolerated. If we let this slide, what military law would remain in Yanbei?"
Yan Xun's voice suddenly turned sharp. His gaze swept over the resentful eyes before him, and he abruptly waved his hand, his tone cold as he declared, "Betrayal is the gravest sin. I could spare you once, but not a second time. Guards! Execute these men according to military law. Anyone who resists will be treated as an accomplice!"
"Your Highness!" He Xiao's brows furrowed sharply as he stepped forward, roaring in anger. But with a swift, metallic shing, a blinding flash of blades swept through—twenty thousand imperial guards drew their swords in unison, their movements startlingly fast. In an instant, blades were pressed against throats, yet not a single sound was made. The soldiers of the First Army also stepped forward as one, archers nocking prepared arrows, their bows drawn and aimed, a forest of deadly points glaring menacingly.
The soldiers of the Second Army were stunned. In recent days, they had been alongside the troops of the Southwest Garrison Commander, having fought side by side on the walls of Beishuo City. They had come today partly out of solidarity. But now, faced with Yan Xun and the First Army's stance, they were at a loss.The Southwest Garrison Commander now had fewer than fifteen hundred men left. They stood unarmed amidst an army of over ten thousand, fists clenched, faces flushed with rage as they faced the cold glint of arrows and blades, their eyes blazing with fury. He Xiao took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping around before he spoke in a low, steady voice: "Your Highness, do you intend to wipe us out completely?"
Yan Xun smiled cryptically, his eyes dark and unfathomable like a bottomless sea. "Commander He is a meritorious officer, naturally not to be equated with those traitors."
"Your Highness!"
He Xiao's eyes were bloodshot as he slowly stepped forward. Twenty imperial guards immediately advanced, pressing gleaming blades against his neck, yet he showed no fear. Speaking deliberately, he declared: "In the Battle of Zhenhuang, six thousand of the Southwest Garrison Commander fell. In the Battle of Chidu, four thousand perished. General Feng Ting fought on despite being pierced by dozens of arrows. General Ambush set an ambush at Hundred Zhang Cliff, and after exhausting all arrows and rolling stones, used fire to block the enemy, perishing in the flames. General Wu Danyu, with just five hundred men, delayed Daxia's hundreds of thousands of troops for three full days, ultimately charging alone into the enemy ranks and dying in the chaos. In the Battle of Beishuo, we, a lone elite force, came to the aid of the border city, defending the walls without retreating a single step. The loyalty of the Southwest Garrison Commander is witnessed by heaven and earth, by the sun and moon, and by every soldier and civilian in Beishuo City. For Your Highness to treat loyal subjects in this manner—He Xiao cannot accept it!"
"Audacious!" Qiu Yi, the young major general of the Third Guard of the First Army, stepped forward and shouted sharply. Now promoted to deputy commander of Yan Xun's imperial guard, he had recently been elevated from the lower ranks. In a stern voice, he said, "How dare a mere commander speak disrespectfully to His Highness! You have failed to maintain discipline among your subordinates, and His Highness has not even held you accountable. Yet now you dare to defy your superior—do you even know what military law is?"
"Your Highness!" He Xiao knelt on one knee, his eyes resolute, and declared loudly, "The two thousand soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander have all sincerely surrendered. If Your Highness acts in this manner, are you not afraid of disheartening the people of the world?"
"You go too far!" Feng Lu, deputy commander of the First Army beside Qiu Yi, shouted, "Take him away!"
The imperial guards moved forward to seize He Xiao's arms. The soldiers of the Southwest Garrison Commander behind him surged forward, and chaos erupted. He Xiao cried out loudly, "Your Highness! Even the surrendered soldiers of the Batuha Family have a place to stand—why must the Southwest Garrison Commander be exterminated? He Xiao cannot accept it! He Xiao cannot accept it!"
"Stop." Yan Xun's voice was soft, yet it instantly silenced everyone. He coldly stared at He Xiao and slowly said, "Commander He, today I am only dealing with the soldiers who fled Beishuo last night. This has nothing to do with you. I advise you not to force your way into this matter, or else do not blame me for charging you with disrupting military morale."
"Your Highness, they were not deserting! They were protecting the military banner and fled the city in panic while being pursued…"
"Military orders are military orders! I do not want to hear excuses—I only care about the results! If everyone has an excuse, how can I, Yan Xun, command the army?" Yan Xun raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp and commanding.
He Xiao's eyes were bloodshot as he shouted, "Your Highness!"
"Carry out the execution!""Your Highness!" He Xiao shouted as he charged forward, followed by two thousand officers and soldiers of the Southwest Garrison. The imperial guards swiftly drew their blades from their scabbards, surging forward like a tidal wave to strike heads, outnumbering them ten to one. In an instant, blood splattered and chaos erupted. The First Army encircled the periphery, observing the battle, while the square descended into tumult. Only the members of the Second Army stood outside, watching in stunned silence.
Qiu Yi yelled at the soldiers enforcing military law, "What are you waiting for? Kill them!"
"When the hares die, the hounds are boiled; when the birds are gone, the bows are stored away. Yan Xun, you are ungrateful and treacherous, breaking faith and abandoning virtue. We were wrong about you!" Wen Yang, the secretary of the Southwest Garrison, knelt on the ground. Last night, he was the first to discover that the First Army had taken their twenty military banners and burned them in their camp. Caught off guard and unable to report to He Xiao in time, Wen Yang led over thirty civilian officials from the secretariat on horseback into the First Army camp, retrieved the banners, and fled outside the city. Now, forced to kneel with his face pressed against the cold snow, he continued to shout defiantly.
Enraged, Qiu Yi kicked him in the mouth, causing blood to gush out. Wen Yang's lips split open, his mouth filled with blood, but he kept shouting. Qiu Yi roared, "Kill him! Now!"
"You bastard! I'll cut you down!" A soldier from the Southwest Garrison burst out from the crowd, covered in blood, and charged at Qiu Yi.
Startled, Qiu Yi glanced at Yan Xun, who remained calm, lightly tapping the table with his right hand but saying nothing. Seizing the moment, Qiu Yi feigned fury and bellowed, "The Southwest Garrison has rebelled! Kill them all!"
Upon hearing the order, the imperial guards, who had been using the backs of their blades, immediately raised their combat knives and prepared to strike the Southwest Garrison soldiers. Meanwhile, the soldiers enforcing military law stepped onto the execution platform with broadswords. One of them approached Wen Yang, expressionless, and raised his blade to strike.
The Second Army members standing on the outskirts were dumbfounded, never expecting the situation to escalate so rapidly. Just as the First Army's blades were about to fall, a sharp, clear woman's voice cut through the chaos from beyond the gate, coldly commanding, "Stop!"
Instantly, the voice pierced the sky, cutting through the icy wind and snow, and jolted the chaotic crowd. The sound of hooves treading snow echoed as a woman in white fur rode swiftly forward. Before even reaching the scene, she leaped from her horse, punched a First Army officer who tried to stop her in the face, and stormed into the crowd like a gust of wind, shouting, "What are you doing?"
"Commander!"
"It's the Commander!"
The Southwest Garrison soldiers cried out in unison, their eyes lighting up with hope. Chu Qiao pushed aside several brawling soldiers and strode up to He Xiao. Before he could speak, she slapped him hard across the face and angrily demanded, "Is this how you lead your troops?"
In that moment, everyone froze. He Xiao's face flushed red, the Southwest Garrison soldiers behind him turned to stone, and the First Army officers and soldiers stood stunned. Chu Qiao continued furiously, "I ordered you to protect our army's designation and banners, but did I tell you to attack the First Army camp? And now you dare to resort to violence in front of His Highness? What are you trying to do? Start a mutiny?"With that, Chu Qiao turned to Yan Xun and said, "Your Highness, today's incident is my fault. All orders were originally issued by me. He Xiao and the others merely followed commands. I have been seriously ill and bedridden recently, failing to supervise them strictly, which led to such a grave error. I voluntarily request military punishment!"
The moment Yan Xun saw Chu Qiao appear, his expression gradually turned cold. Seated in the commander's position in the central army tent, he narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing deeply at her without speaking.
Qiu Yi frowned and stepped forward, saying, "If I recall correctly, Lord Chu is not the direct superior of the Southwest Garrison Commander. Lord Chu is a staff officer in the operations department, not a commanding officer. Why should the Southwest Garrison Commander follow your orders?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qiao coldly turned her head, glanced at Qiu Yi with a furrowed brow, and then said coldly, "Who are you? When I am speaking with His Highness, what right do you have to interrupt?"
"I—"
"A Chu!" Yan Xun's face darkened as he said sternly, "Stop causing trouble. Go back."
"Your Highness, the Southwest Garrison Commander acted recklessly and deserves military punishment. However, as the former overall commander of Beishuo City's defenses and the leader of both the Second Army and the Southwest Garrison Commander's troops, their mistakes are my responsibility. I ask Your Highness to punish me for lax supervision and, in light of the Southwest Garrison Commander's outstanding contributions in the battles of Chidu and Beishuo, to show them leniency. For the losses caused by the Southwest Garrison Commander, I am willing to take full responsibility."
Chu Qiao stood with clasped hands in the square, under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes, yet she seemed completely unaware, her gaze fixed intently on Yan Xun, her brow furrowed and her expression solemn.
Qiu Yi angrily retorted, "What Southwest Garrison Commander? Their designation was revoked three days ago. How can the Yanbei Army tolerate the banner of traitors?"
At these words, the members of the Southwest Garrison Commander glared in fury. Eight years ago, during the battle of Huolei Plain, the Southwest Garrison Commander betrayed Yanbei and defected to Daxia, leading to Yanshicheng's crushing defeat. Hundreds of thousands of Yanbei soldiers fell, their blood staining the gates of Beishuo City. The mountains of corpses and rivers of blood still nourish the fiery red Fire Cloud Flowers, keeping them perpetually crimson and in full bloom. Eight years later, in the Daxia capital of Zhenhuang City, the Southwest Garrison Commander betrayed again, this time siding with Yanbei and helping Yan Xun, the Heir of Yanbei, escape Zhenhuang and return to Yanbei, orchestrating the shocking Zhenhuang Incident. Since then, the word "traitor" has become synonymous with the Southwest Garrison Commander. Despite their formidable combat prowess, they are ostracized and despised by soldiers across the continent. Yet, even after paying such a heavy price to defend Yanbei, they have not cleansed themselves of their disgrace. How could Qiu Yi's repeated use of the word "traitor" not enrage them?
Chu Qiao coldly turned her head, her eyebrows raised in anger, and said sharply, "What utter nonsense! The Southwest Garrison Commander's return to Yanbei was personally promised by His Highness. His Highness is the king of Yanbei, and his word is his bond. What was done in the past has long been forgiven. Yet you keep calling them traitors—are you trying to make His Highness appear untrustworthy and unjust? Your words are despicable, and your intentions are sinister. You seem more like a spy for Daxia!"
Qiu Yi's veins bulged on his forehead as he roared, "Say that again!"Chu Qiao let out a disdainful snort. "A military designation is the honor of an army. The Southwest Garrison Commander was personally established by the first generation of the old Yan King a century ago, with a long and storied history. How can it be so easily abolished? Commander He led the Southwest Garrison Commander in following Your Highness all the way, standing by you through hardships since the uprising in Zhenhuang, enduring numerous life-and-death battles. Their achievements are outstanding, their military exploits illustrious. At the foot of Chidu City, seven thousand troops defeated two hundred thousand soldiers of the Daxia Army. At the walls of Beishuo City, two thousand Southwest Garrison troops were comparable to forty thousand ordinary soldiers. How can such an army have its designation abolished and its banner destroyed? Your Highness is busy with affairs of state—it must be ignorant villains like you who are stirring up trouble, scheming to sow discord within our Yanbei army! Vile and shameless, your intentions are condemnable!"
Qiu Yi was enraged. He drew the saber at his waist and roared, "You're slandering us!"
He Xiao and the others rushed forward, their eyes red as they shielded Chu Qiao, shouting angrily, "Dare to take another step forward?"
"All of you, be silent!"
Yan Xun slowly rose to his feet. The young Yan King, clad in a crisp military uniform and draped in a black fur coat, strode forward. Wherever he passed, everyone stepped aside. Finally, he reached Chu Qiao, standing so close that he could look down at the girl's smooth forehead and pale cheeks. In a low voice, he asked, "Who told you to come?"
Chu Qiao shook her head. "No one ordered me. I came of my own accord."
"Return to the residence. This is none of your concern."
"The affairs of Yanbei are my affairs. I am a member of the army and was once the commanding officer of the Southwest Garrison Commander. I should take responsibility for the mistakes my subordinates have made."
Yan Xun slowly furrowed his brow, his eyes sharp with displeasure. He said quietly, "A Chu, do you know what you're doing?"
Chu Qiao lowered her head and replied, "This subordinate understands very well."
"Are you opposing me?"
"Your Highness exaggerates. This subordinate is merely acknowledging the mistakes I have made."
Crowds had gathered from all directions—most of the officers and soldiers of the First and Second Armies were present. The square was packed with people, everyone holding their breath as they watched the man and woman standing in the center. Snowflakes drifted down, casting a bleak, pristine whiteness over the world. Yan Xun's gaze was as dark and turbulent as the sea. He stared deeply at Chu Qiao, a faint aura of anger and coldness emanating from him. After a long silence, he suddenly turned and strode toward the main tent, saying sternly as he walked, "Staff Officer Chu has been relieved of her duties due to illness and is no longer the commander of Beishuo City. The crimes committed by the Southwest Garrison Commander have nothing to do with anyone else. Carry out the execution!"
"Your Highness!" Chu Qiao exclaimed in shock, her eyes wide as she cried out in disbelief.
"Sir, there's no need to trouble yourself for us anymore. Please go back!" Wen Yang, his mouth full of blood, stubbornly lifted his head and shouted.
The other soldiers also straightened their backs and pleaded sorrowfully, "Sir! Please go back!"
But Chu Qiao paid no heed to their cries. She stepped forward, only to be blocked by the imperial guards. Anxiously, she said, "Your Highness, although the Southwest Garrison Commander has committed crimes, they do not deserve death! They have been loyal to you since Zhenhuang, steadfast and devoted, their loyalty as clear as the sun and moon!"
Yan Xun, with his back to her, slowly turned around. In a voice so soft that only those nearby could hear, he said disdainfully, "A Chu, in all honesty, are the people they are loyal to really me?"In an instant, it felt as though a heavy club had struck her head. Chu Qiao froze on the spot, her mouth slightly agape as she stared at Yan Xun in disbelief, her brows furrowed. She wanted to speak, but her throat seemed blocked, rendering her unable to utter a word. The wind was bitingly cold, cutting across her face like a knife, yet she felt nothing, as if her heart had plunged into an icy wasteland, numb with cold.
Amid the swirling snow, the entire assembly fell so silent one could hear a pin drop. After a long pause, a dull thud echoed as Chu Qiao dropped to her knees. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her sickly face flushed with fever, and her voice was low and hoarse as she spoke with grave intensity: "Your Highness, I stake my life on the loyalty of the Southwest Garrison Commander's soldiers. Should there be even a hint of betrayal, I, Chu Qiao, am willing to die under a hail of arrows, my body torn to pieces."
"Oh?" Yan Xun said softly. "You're willing to vouch for them?"
"I am."
"Then besides you, who else believes in them?"
Chu Qiao immediately turned to look around. The officers of the First Army stood expressionless, their faces betraying no emotion—unsurprising, as they were Yan Xun's trusted confidants. But when her gaze fell upon the Second Army, those soldiers who had once fought side by side with the Southwest Garrison Commander now appeared hesitant and timid. They lowered their heads, avoiding the young woman's eyes, completely forgetting who had saved their lives in desperate times. The Second Army, the local militia, the self-defense corps, the clan armies of various tribal leaders, even Cao Mengtong's personal guards—these twenty thousand soldiers had once marched and fought alongside the Southwest Garrison Commander. They had followed Chu Qiao's lead to kill Zhao Qi and repel multiple assaults by Zhao Yang. Yet at this moment, they stood aloof as if they did not know her, their eyes devoid of any camaraderie.
Gradually, despair washed over Chu Qiao. The cold wind whipped through her thin frame as the vast snowy field stretched pure white before her. She looked at Yan Xun, the man who had stood by her side for eight years, and spoke each word with measured gravity: "I am willing to believe in them. I swear this upon my loyalty to you, Your Highness."
With that, she bowed deeply, her smooth forehead pressing into the icy snow. Her always upright spine curved, her neck pale and exposed. The fierce wind billowed her heavy fur cloak, making her appear even more frail and gaunt.
"My lady!"
On the execution platform, soldiers began to weep. It wasn't that they feared death, but in this moment, a heavier emotion gripped their hearts. They cried out, "My lady! Rise! We alone bear responsibility for our actions. We are willing to accept death!"
Chu Qiao did not move. She remained kneeling, her head bowed to the ground. The noise around her grew louder, the snowstorm intensified, and the crowd became restless. Countless voices clamored from all sides, yet she heard none of them, still waiting for the voice from above.
Finally, a soft sigh reached her ears. For a moment, she trembled, thinking she had succeeded. But the next instant, a cold, sharp voice cut through the air as Yan Xun declared with firm resolve: "Carry out the execution!"
"Swish!"
A synchronized sound rang out, followed by the dull thuds of heavy objects hitting the ground. The blades were too swift and sharp—not a single person had time to scream. Blood sprayed high from severed necks, splattering across the pristine snow like blooming plum blossoms.Silence, too silent. Chu Qiao's blood ran cold in that instant, her entire body felt as if filled with wind, howling through her limbs. Her hand clutched the ground, grabbing a handful of icy snow—so cold, just like her heart, which had already lost all warmth. She could hear nothing around her, only the roaring wind raging across the snowy plains like a wild beast.
"He Xiao failed to maintain discipline among his subordinates. His soldiers followed him in defying authority and disregarding military law. Take them away, each to receive eighty cane strikes, then temporarily hand them over to the First Army for custody."
Yan Xun's voice calmly rang out overhead. No one in the assembly spoke, nor did anyone resist. The soldiers all moved to carry out the orders, their boots crunching softly on the snow-covered ground.
"My lord," He Xiao's voice came from behind. He seemed to have knelt on the ground, his tone calm but with unconcealable sorrow in his voice. He said quietly, "We have disgraced you, my lord. Please take care of yourself."
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance as the crowd gradually dispersed. The wind suddenly grew stronger. After an unknown length of time, Chu Qiao's knees had gone numb from kneeling, her hands and feet stiff and immobile, yet she remained kneeling in that position. Snow fell upon her bit by bit, accumulating into a thick layer.
White snow camel fur military boots slowly approached. Yan Xun reached out to support her shoulder, but she immediately jumped up as if scalded by fire, staggering and nearly falling to the ground.
The imperial guards stood with their backs turned to them, keeping their distance. Yan Xun, clad in a black fur cloak, stood before her. For a long time, he said nothing, maintaining that supportive gesture with his hand awkwardly extended toward her from afar.
"A Chu."
Yan Xun called her name softly, but she could no longer hear him. Staggering, she turned around, found her horse, and mounted it.
The day was so bitterly cold. Chu Qiao suddenly remembered a few days ago when she had foolishly thought Yanbei was slightly warmer than Biantang. But now, she abruptly realized how cold Yanbei truly was—cold enough to freeze one's heart and veins, cold enough to congeal one's blood, cold enough to make one feel as if falling into an icy abyss.
That night, Chu Qiao's condition worsened. Before she could even leave the military camp, she fell from her horse. After being carried back to her residence, Lü Liu cried herself hoarse with anxiety. The three Jing sisters panicked, keeping watch by her bedside, calling her name repeatedly. In her dazed state, she opened her eyes, wanting to tell them not to worry, that she wouldn't die, that she still had many things left to do. But when she opened her mouth, no words came out.
When she woke in the middle of the night, Jing Zisu was still by her side. Seeing her awake, Jing Zisu smiled through her tears. After taking medicine, it was already the second watch. Jing Zisu told her that Yan Xun had returned long ago but hadn't come in, standing outside her door for over six or seven hours already.
"It's still snowing heavily outside," Jing Zisu said quietly, secretly observing Chu Qiao from the corner of her eye. A woman like her might never understand—in her view, a man was her entire sky. What in this world could be more important than her husband's commands?
Chu Qiao lay there as many things flashed through her mind. Those past events flowed like water, splashing with icy waves, converging over eight years of hardships and difficulties into a winding river. She thought she should understand now—without resentment or anger, leaving only coldness and disappointment.In Zhenhuang City, on the northwestern lands, atop the walls of Chidu City, and on the battlefields of Beishuo, the officers of the Southwest Garrison Command wrote their loyalty with blood and young lives. The handsome and dashing Feng Ting, the steady and composed Murong, the resourceful and wise Wu Danyu, the tenacious and unyielding Wen Yang—warriors who used corpses as rolling stones and their own bodies as shields—they were not saints. They had made mistakes, and their fathers had once betrayed Yanbei, committing heinous crimes and accumulating blood debts. But starting from Zhenhuang City, from the day they followed their own banner, they had already placed their lives and futures in their own hands. Yan Xun was right—they were not loyal to him. Their loyalty was to her, Chu Qiao, yet she lacked the ability to protect them.
She bore the expectations of this isolated army. She had promised to cleanse their shame. She had once shouted from the walls of Chidu City, declaring that if they fought bravely and kept Daxia at bay, they would become the heroes of Yanbei, their names engraved on Yanbei's military honor roll! And so, they followed in her footsteps, protecting the land of Yanbei that despised and scorned them, resisting enemies dozens of times their number with unyielding determination.
Yet now, her statue stands in Yanbei's Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, making her a household hero, while they died at the hands of the one they loved most.
What had she done? What had she gained in exchange for those young lives?
Her heart felt as if crushed by a boulder, her throat thick with the metallic taste of blood. The soldiers fell behind her, yet she lacked the courage to even glance back into their eyes. When she left in haste, all she saw was a pool of murky blood.
"Yue'er? Yue'er?" Jing Zisu anxiously pried open her hands, which were already drenched in blood, her nails digging deep into her flesh with such force.
"Zisu-jie, please go out first. Let me be alone for a while."
A low, hoarse voice echoed in the room, barely recognizable. Jing Zisu hesitated for a long moment before finally stepping out. The room fell into silence, so quiet that the flicker of the candle on the stand could be heard. The candle's shadow stretched long, yet no silhouette appeared on the window.
The moon hung high in the sky, and the wind and snow outside grew fiercer. She knew that person was still there—if she did not go out, he would remain. He had always been this stubborn. When they were young, he followed her to learn sword techniques. No matter how complex the moves, he mastered them within a month, practicing through the night until blisters formed on his hands and feet, never stopping. Even now, she could still recall that courtyard, him standing before the pillar, shifting, slashing, and chopping, his eyes as resolute as a wounded tiger.
His heart had always carried too many burdens. She once thought she understood them all, but now, she was gradually growing confused.
Her gaze grew cold and still, yet a tenacious light flickered within. Suddenly, she rose from the bed, wearing only a thin garment, stood still, and took two deep breaths. Then, she dashed to the door, flung it open, and rushed out, throwing herself directly into that firm embrace.The moment he felt her body warmth, Yan Xun froze in surprise. He hadn't expected her to come out, or perhaps hadn't expected her anger to dissipate so quickly. Only when he felt those slender arms tightly encircling his waist did he suddenly comprehend, and immediately embraced her even more firmly in return.
"A Chu," he sighed softly, "I've hurt your feelings."
Chu Qiao leaned against his chest, holding him tightly without speaking. Yan Xun said quietly, "It's not that I distrust you, nor do I bear any grudge against the Southwest Garrison Commander. With fewer than two thousand troops remaining and their ranks severely depleted, disbanding their unit is inevitable. Unfortunately, they've grown too unruly, even attacking the First Army camp. If I don't take disciplinary action, military discipline will be undermined."
Chu Qiao said sorrowfully, "I understand, I comprehend everything, Yan Xun. I've put you in a difficult position."
Yan Xun lifted her chin, gazing into her eyes. "It's alright. I was just worried about upsetting you. Now that you've come out to see me, I'm relieved."
Chu Qiao's eyes reddened as she pressed her lips together. "The Southwest Garrison Commander has saved me multiple times and shown me great kindness, Yan Xun. I truly cannot bear this."
Yan Xun frowned slightly before finally relenting with a sigh. "Very well, I'll release He Xiao and the others. But if they violate military regulations again, I won't show any leniency."
Chu Qiao nodded. "Yan Xun, thank you."
The night was dark and windy, with only a slender crescent moon casting a pale glow over the vast expanse of snow. Embracing beneath the moonlight, they stood so close yet felt immeasurably distant.
After Yan Xun returned to his room, Chu Qiao went back to hers. The moment the door closed behind her, her expression turned cold. She took two quiet steps before sitting down by the bedpost.
Insufficient troops? Disbanding the unit? Seizing military standards? Insurrection?
Yan Xun, how could you deceive me like this?
For a soldier, having their unit disbanded is the ultimate humiliation. In war, even if only one person remains, the military standard must be protected—as long as the standard stands, the army persists. And recruiting to replenish ranks is such a simple matter? With over three hundred thousand troops in the First Army, could Wen Yang and thirty-some civil officials really have valiantly charged into the First Army camp, seized their standard, and escaped the city? If the Southwest Garrison Commander's troops were to be executed, He Xiao and the others should have been detained first—how could they have been allowed to cause such chaos at the execution grounds?
You might as well admit you resent the Southwest Garrison Commander for once betraying Yanbei, rather than feeding me these lies.
A clear tear traced down her cheek. Moonlight streamed through the window, silvering the room. Leaning quietly against the headboard, countless thoughts swirled in her mind, yet she couldn't pinpoint where things had gone wrong. Suddenly, a cold jade pendant fell from the bed onto the floor. Picking it up, she recognized it as a longevity blessing talisman meant to protect her—likely forgotten earlier by Jing Zisu. Remembering the longevity memorial tablet brought earlier by Feng Zhi and Lü Liu, her heart turned icy cold, as if drenched with freezing water.
At least He Xiao and the others were temporarily safe.
She smiled bitterly, never imagining she would resort to such methods. Tears streamed down her face in the darkness like broken strings of pearls.
Yan Xun, Yan Xun, what has become of you?
Through the endless night, she could no longer restrain her sobs and finally wept aloud.
——————Break——————I'm a bit late, the heat is on, Dong'er needs to lay low.
OpenNovel