Ren Yaoqi had no time to notice Mu Hu's disheveled state at the moment. She only said to Consort Dowager Yun, "I'm fine, Grandmother." Then she quickly turned to ask Mu Hu, "Is the Princess Consort alright? Was she injured?"
Mu Hu lowered his head and replied, "The Princess Consort was not injured. I have already escorted her to a safe place. Once the situation in the mansion is under control, I will bring her back. The Princess Consort is also very concerned about Your Highness and the Young Madam."
Ren Yaoqi finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as everyone was safe, that was what mattered.
Although Consort Dowager Yun, as the elder, was present and Ren Yaoqi could not overstep by asking too many questions, she did not avoid the situation. Instead, she sat down beside Consort Dowager Yun.
Consort Dowager Yun glanced at her and ultimately sighed, not sending her away.
"What about the one in Shou'an Hall? Was she rescued?" Consort Dowager Yun continued to ask.
Mu Hu frowned and said, "The Old Princess Consort is not in the mansion. She may have been taken hostage by Xiao Heng. However, the Second Madam and her daughter are still in the mansion."
Xiao Heng took the Old Princess Consort but left his own wife and daughter behind?
Consort Dowager Yun sighed. "This shows that his departure was somewhat hasty. Keep an eye on Su Shi and her daughter, but treat them politely and do not make things difficult for them. The men are scoundrels, yet the women suffer. What fault do they have?"
Mu Hu acknowledged the order.
"What is the situation outside?" Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but speak up.
Mu Hu replied, "The city gates have been retaken, but there are still some of Xiao Heng's men in the city. They are no longer a threat, and I have already sent people to suppress them." He paused hesitantly before adding, "The biggest trouble now is not Yunyang City, but outside the city."
The Old Princess Consort frowned. "What happened outside the city?"
Mu Hu pursed his lips. With only a few women left as the masters of Yanbei Prince's Mansion, he saw no need to conceal the truth. "Scouts reported that traces of troop movements were found five kilometers outside Xiyuan Town near Yunyang City. It appears to be the imperial army, and their numbers are significant."
The Old Princess Consort exclaimed in shock, "How did the imperial army reach Yanbei so quietly? And they are already at the city gates!"
Mu Hu's expression turned cold. "That is likely a question for Xiao Heng."
The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense.
Ren Yaoqi sighed. "How many troops can be mobilized near Yunyang City?"
Mu Hu said, "Roughly estimated, about five thousand. However, Your Highness and the Young Madam need not worry too much. The city gates are now under the mansion's control, and the city has sufficient provisions. If we fight a defensive battle, we can hold out until reinforcements arrive."
If Xiao Heng had successfully taken Yanbei Prince's Mansion today and gained control of Yunyang City's four gates, allowing the imperial army into the city, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Everyone couldn't help but recall the catastrophe that befell Yanbei Prince's Mansion decades ago. The mansion had fallen at the hands of its own people, followed by the Liao people's troops marching south, leaving all of Yanbei in ruins.
Consort Dowager Yun rubbed her temples wearily. "All of you, go attend to your duties. Report any developments outside."
Mu Hu and the others acknowledged and withdrew. Xiao Jingyue and Yelü Sage were taken away by Mu Hu's men, though it was unclear where they were being held. Nan Xing remained in Zhaoning Hall, along with the Yanbei Eighteen Guards.Consort Dowager Yun saw that Ren Yaoqi remained silent and sighed, patting her hand with an unusually gentle tone. "Don't be afraid. When it comes to warfare, those from the south could never defeat the Yanbei Army—otherwise, our Yanbei Prince's Mansion wouldn't exist. Moreover, they've already lost the advantage this time. If... if it truly comes to the point where the enemy is at the city gates, I'll have the guards escort you out of the city. You and the child will be safe."
Ren Yaoqi offered Consort Dowager Yun a smile. "Grandmother, I'm not afraid." If it truly came to that, how could she abandon her elders and flee alone?
Moreover, Ren Yaoqi believed in Xiao Jingxi. She refused to believe he had no precautions in place. She preferred to think that the current situation at the Yanbei Prince's Mansion was part of a plan Xiao Jingxi had laid out.
She just didn't know where Xiao Jingxi was now... Ren Yaoqi gently stroked her abdomen. She truly missed him, deeply and intensely.
Not long after, Tong He arrived and reported, "Young Madam, Leshan and Leshui have been found."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi immediately asked, "How are they?" Leshan and Leshui were still very young, and Ren Yaoqi absolutely did not want to see them perish so early in life.
Tong He lowered his head. "Leshan is severely injured, while Leshui's injuries are slightly lighter. Both were unconscious when they were found and have yet to wake."
"Send a physician to treat them. Do everything possible to save them, and spare no expense for any medicines needed," Ren Yaoqi promptly instructed.
Consort Dowager Yun had also seen the twin maids before and couldn't help shaking her head. "What a tragedy."
Then Xiangqin came running back. Seeing her furtive manner, Ren Yaoqi knew she had sneaked away—otherwise, at a time like this, Xiao Shun would never have allowed her to wander about. What if she encountered any remnants of Xiao Heng's men outside?
Unfortunately, Xiangqin paid no heed and instead huffed angrily, "I am my lady's person! Wherever my lady is, that's where I should be! If Xiao Shun hadn't locked me up earlier, I wouldn't have only just returned now! I heard that the Liao princess and that scoundrel Xiao Jingyue came. I actually wasn't by your side at the time! This is my failure in duty! But, my lady, you must stand up for me! Xiao Shun bullied me!"
Ren Yaoqi couldn't help but cover her forehead and sigh.
With Xiangqin there, Ren Yaoqi's low spirits, brought on by the maids' injuries, improved slightly.
The sky gradually brightened. In about another hour, it would be fully light. It was at this moment that Mu Hu sent someone back to report, "Before dawn, Lord Yun led over a hundred men out of the city."
Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi sat up straight, her expression turning grave. "Which Lord Yun?"
"It's the Yun family's second young master, Yun Wenfang. The Yun family's eldest young master has not yet returned to Yunyang City."
Ren Yaoqi took a deep breath. "What did Yun Wenfang take a team of men out to do?" Though she had some inkling in her heart, she still found it hard to believe.
A look of respect and admiration flashed in the reporting guard's eyes. "Lord Yun headed straight for that enemy troop. It's said he intends to launch a surprise attack."
Consort Dowager Yun was also stunned. "A surprise attack? How many men did Yun Wenfang take with him?"
"Lord Yun led one hundred and forty men out of the city," the guard reported.
"And the enemy? How many troops do they have?""At least three or four thousand... I suppose?" The guard, sensing something amiss in Consort Dowager Yun's tone, answered with trepidation.
Consort Dowager Yun leaned back against the pillow, massaging her temples as she murmured, "This child, this troublemaker... he's far too reckless."
Ren Yaoqi also sighed softly and did not press further.
Yun Wenfang had indeed left the city with about a hundred men. His departure had gone unnoticed by the Yun Family, who remained completely in the dark. First Madam was even still contemplating how to persuade Yun Wenfang to accompany her to the Meng family to bring Miss Meng back.
When Yun Wenfang found Mu Hu, he had expressed his intention to lead troops into battle. Unfortunately, Mu Hu was focused on defensive strategies. With Consort Dowager Yun, the Princess Consort, and the young madam all in Yunyang City, Mu Hu dared not take risks and sought only the safest approach. Yun Wenfang responded with a mocking smile but said nothing, only stating, "In that case, I won't ask you for troops. But when I leave the city with my own men, you must grant me passage."
Mu Hu frowned deeply. "What do you intend to do?"
Yun Wenfang's smile was careless and tinged with cynicism. "They've come knocking at our door. You may tolerate it, but I cannot. I'm taking my men out to kill."
Upon learning how few men Yun Wenfang had, Mu Hu shook his head and advised, "Lord Yun, you must not throw your life away. If you are determined, why not stay and help me defend the city?" Mu Hu had always addressed Yun Wenfang as "Young Master Yun," but now he unconsciously changed his form of address.
Yun Wenfang glanced at Mu Hu with a half-smile. "I only know how to attack cities, not defend them."
Mu Hu sighed helplessly. "Lord Yun, why must you do this?"
Yun Wenfang fell silent for a moment, then cast a deep glance in a certain direction before replying nonchalantly, "I want to stop the enemy outside the city walls, to keep them from laying siege."
Mu Hu was taken aback, his gaze turning unexpectedly toward Yun Wenfang. "But with so few men, how can you possibly stop them?"
Yun Wenfang smiled faintly. "That's my concern. Who knows? Perhaps I will succeed."
Despite Mu Hu's prolonged attempts to dissuade him, Yun Wenfang remained adamant about leaving the city. In the end, Mu Hu did not stop him.
Yun Wenfang had said to Mu Hu, half-seriously and half-jokingly, "What if I have a reason I must leave the city? The person I care for is unwell and must not be frightened. So, I must stop those outside who seek to attack the city, to prevent the threat of an army at our gates from alarming her."
Though Yun Wenfang's expression and tone lacked sincerity as he spoke these words, for some reason, Mu Hu felt they might be true. In that moment of hesitation, Yun Wenfang led his men out of the city.
The first force Yun Wenfang encountered outside the city turned out to be Xiao Heng's men.
Xiao Heng had never expected to find Yun Wenfang outside Yunyang City, leading a mere hundred men.
While Xiao Heng was still in shock, Yun Wenfang flashed him a teasing smile and, without a word of greeting, charged forward at the head of his men.
Xiao Heng's forces outnumbered Yun Wenfang's by three to one, but they were caught off guard from the start. Though Yun Wenfang had only a little over a hundred men, each was exceptionally brave and fearless. Xiao Heng, having narrowly escaped Mu Hu's troops and fled the city, was already exhausted and found himself at a disadvantage from the outset.Xiao Heng watched Yun Wenfang leading the charge recklessly, then quietly reined his horse back and hid behind his own men.
"Stop!" Xiao Heng shouted.
Yun Wenfang had initially intended to ignore him, but when he saw the person held hostage in front of Xiao Heng, his movements halted.
Originally, I planned to sleep and update later, but considering I might not wake up early and have things to do in the morning, I decided to update in the early hours instead...
One more thing: if there's no update by midnight, everyone should stop waiting, because the author never knows when a chapter will be finished. o(∩_∩)o.
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