The Road to Glory

Chapter 143: "She Is Truly Pregnant."...

His gaze swept forward, where the slender figure was mostly obscured by the dark mass of military formations. Only the bloodstained hem of her robe and her disheveled long hair fluttered in the wind, reflected in his pupils.

He asked, "Is she injured?"

The Wei general was taken aback, then somewhat embarrassed: "This... I haven't had the chance to ask yet."

Xiao Li said, "Don't let her die before bringing her back to camp."

After speaking, he turned his horse around. Beneath his slightly lowered dark lashes, his gaze was particularly cold, carrying an indescribable weariness as if he found everything utterly tedious.

These words startled the Wei general, who hurriedly sent someone to inquire about Wen Yu's injuries.

Finally, he turned to watch Xiao Li's retreating figure, finding his attitude strangely aloof. He clicked his tongue at Song Qin beside him: "Why does the Prefect seem so displeased? Is he unhappy about losing military merits like this?"

Song Qin said, "We failed to capture Princess Han Yang, and the Yang family escaped. The Second Young Master will surely cause trouble when we return. After all, just this morning the Prefect clashed with him over not allowing all righteous army forces to pursue the Pei Army south."

The Wei general, named Wei Ang, was a Wei family officer. Ostensibly assigned by Wei Qishan to serve under Xiao Li in clearing out the Pei Army and reclaiming lost territory, he was actually Wei Qishan's eyes and ears placed beside Xiao Li.

Though thirty thousand righteous army troops were under Xiao Li's command, Wei Qishan hadn't completely let down his guard.

Fortunately, this man was recommended by Yuan Fang and knew his limits. Hearing Song Qin's words, he immediately understood the underlying meaning.

Their mission was to capture Princess Han Yang, and Xiao Li had previously been a Liang general, making his position somewhat sensitive.

No wonder Xiao Li, after stabilizing the battle situation, didn't interrogate the woman personally but had him do it instead—likely to avoid suspicion.

He promptly said, "The Second Young Master is new to the military and doesn't understand the Prefect's concerns about not pursuing south with the entire army. The Marquis surely recognizes the Prefect's considerations. The Liang army is cunning—they spread false information to lure us here to fight the Pei Army while they rescued the Yang family. We truly didn't anticipate this, but at least we captured Jiang Yu's concubine from the Chen camp. We can use her to demand greater compensation from both Liang and Chen camps for the twenty thousand soldiers tragically lost at the Ma Family Ridge battle. This is still a significant achievement!"

Song Qin smiled: "With your words, we are reassured."

Wei Ang waved his hand and sighed: "The Second Young Master is young. Please bear with him, Prefect and brothers. I'll go check on Jiang Yu's concubine again."

When the Wei general called "Prefect" and moved toward the rear ranks, Wen Yu also quietly lifted her eyes to look back, her fingers digging tightly into her palms.

He must not be someone who recognizes me!

The wilderness was silent. The cavalry on tall horses around her made a narrow path for one person to pass after the Wei general walked by.

But as the Wei general stood aside, Wen Yu still couldn't clearly see the appearance of the "Prefect" he mentioned. She only caught sight of half a horse's head with gleaming dark mane and the corner of a somber great bow.

Immediately, she recalled the arrows that had forced her abductor Pei Shiwu to release her in disarray when she was taken onto his horse.

Were those arrows shot by this Wei army general?Unable to see the person on horseback, Wen Yu tried to focus on listening to their conversation, but the other party's voice seemed deliberately lowered. With the strong wind and her hearing not as sharp as martial artists, she couldn't make out anything beyond the initial loud shouts from General Wei. She didn't catch a single word of their subsequent exchange.

When the man finally turned his horse to leave, she hastily lowered her gaze, catching only a glimpse of his fluttering cloak from the corner of her eye.

Soon after, a young Wei officer rushed over to ask about her injuries.

By now, Wen Yu's nerves were so tense they'd grown numb. Aside from the sharp pain in her shoulder from when Pei Shiwu had dragged her onto the horse - feeling as if her bones were being crushed - she hadn't registered any other discomfort. She silently shook her head.

Seeing her covered in blood, the young officer thought she didn't look unharmed at all. Moreover, she'd earlier claimed to be pregnant - likely she'd lost the child and was now in shock.

When Wei Ang came to check on her condition, the young officer said pityingly, "She might be scared witless. Her hand is still bleeding, but when asked if she's injured, she actually shook her head."

It was only after hearing this that Wen Yu noticed the gash on her wrist she hadn't been aware of.

Wei Ang thought to himself - wasn't she answering clearly just moments ago? How could she be scared witless now?

But looking at Wen Yu's condition and recalling how she'd been dragged by the horse yet still desperately tried to seize Jiang Yu's head, he suddenly realized this wasn't fear - it was likely extreme grief driving her to the brink of madness.

Remembering Xiao Li's earlier words, his heart began racing again. Speaking as if to comfort her, he said, "Girl, think of the child in your womb. We'll have the army physician examine you when we reach camp."

Seeing their misunderstanding, Wen Yu decided to remain silent and play along.

In her condition, she couldn't possibly ride a horse. Wei Ang barked orders for his soldiers to cut branches and make a stretcher to carry her.

Just then, Song Qin arrived with a carriage whose sides had been damaged by the Hawk Hounds. "We didn't bring any carriages on this mission," he explained. "The Governor noticed two carriages in the woods ahead that were still usable and ordered us to repair them for temporary use."

Wei Ang was delighted. "The Governor is always so thoughtful!"

When Song Qin handed over the carriage and departed, he glanced at Wen Yu - whether intentionally or not, she couldn't tell.

Wen Yu was certain she didn't know this man, yet his gaze made her feel uneasy.

Did he recognize her?

While worried, she also thought that with her face covered in blood, only someone extremely familiar with her would be able to identify her.

After boarding the carriage, as she was still deep in thought, she began feeling her skin grow hot, with a faint burning sensation on her face. Clutching the newly repaired carriage wall, Wen Yu forced herself to breathe slowly, knowing she was about to break out in hives.

She developed rashes from merely smelling many animals' fur. Earlier, while dodging arrows on horseback, she had pressed her entire body against the horse, her nostrils filled with the scent of horsehair - inevitably triggering another reaction.

Though uncertain if this method would remain effective, at least the rashes would help conceal her features. Even after washing off the blood, her appearance wouldn't be immediately recognizable.After the initial discomfort subsided, Wen Yu removed the red string tied around her wrist with a single bead. She twisted the bead open, revealing a pill stored inside.

Tilting her head back, she swallowed the pill.

It was a false pregnancy pill. Previously, while persuading the royalist ministers of the Chen Kingdom, she had ordered Physician Fang, who was loyal to her, to develop this pill.

Her original plan was to take the pill and falsely claim she was pregnant if she failed to persuade the royalist ministers. She would then use the excuse that the fetus was still too small and she feared retaliation from the Empress Dowager and the Jiang Family to temporarily conceal the news from the public. Once the royalist ministers supported her in seizing power and she returned to Liang to deal with the mess there, she would find another way to cover up the matter.

Unexpectedly, this false pregnancy pill was ultimately used in this situation.

But she had to "be pregnant" to deceive Northern Wei, making herself a bargaining chip in their negotiations with the Liang and Chen camps, ensuring she would be sent back to the Southern Border.

Otherwise, a concubine picked up by Jiang Yu along the way held no value.

By the time the army returned to the encampment, dusk had fallen, and the tall-legged braziers used for illumination between the military tents had already been lit.

Wei Ang went to ask Xiao Li where to settle Wen Yu. Xiao Li seemed entirely unconcerned about the matter, riding straight toward the central military tent and tossing back only a single sentence: "You decide."

Wei Ang thought to himself that this avoidance was a bit excessive. Just as he was feeling troubled, he saw Song Qin, who had been following Xiao Li, turn back and say, "There are no women in the army normally. Since she is General Jiang Yu’s concubine and also pregnant, nothing must happen to her. It’s best to settle her near the central military tent."

Wei Ang quickly replied, "Vice General Song’s advice is sound."

Song Qin nodded and rode off again. Wei Ang then instructed his subordinates to clear out a military tent near the central military tent and sent someone to inform Wei Pingjin, who was staying in a nearby town.

Xiao Li returned to the central military tent but, without even removing his armor, headed straight to the infirmary camp.

During the pursuit of the Pei Army that day, many soldiers had been injured. Doctor Tao and several military physicians were tending to the wounded when a junior soldier brewing medicine suddenly came in to report that the Regional Governor was looking for him.

Doctor Tao had no choice but to set aside his work, wiping the blood and medicine stains from his hands with a cloth before going out to meet Xiao Li. "The Regional Governor was looking for this old man?"

Xiao Li was leaning against the flagpole outside the infirmary camp, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing Doctor Tao’s voice, he lifted his head and said, "Soon, someone will come to ask you to examine a woman. Just pretend you don’t know her. After taking her pulse, say she is pregnant."

After giving these abrupt instructions, Xiao Li turned and left, leaving Doctor Tao somewhat puzzled.

By the time Wen Yu stepped out of the carriage, she was covered in severe rashes. Her clothes, soaked in mud and blood, had dried only from her body heat during the journey. She had likely caught a chill, feeling dizzy and unsteady, her steps unsteady and weak.

Wei Ang noticed something was wrong and immediately sent for a military physician, urging her to rest in the tent first.

Wen Yu, uncomfortable from the dried blood and mud all over her, asked him for a bucket of hot water to wash up.

There were no maids in the military camp. When the soldiers brought hot water into the tent, Wen Yu forced herself to wash up. Fortunately, one trunk in the carriage had not been lost in the chaos, containing a few changes of clothes for her to change into.

By the time the military physician arrived, Wen Yu was running a low fever, had vomited sour fluid several times, and was utterly frail and weak.Her rash and fever had also given Wei Ang quite a fright, fearing she might not pull through. He immediately sent someone to report to Xiao Li.

Wen Yu was completely dazed, barely clinging to consciousness by sheer willpower. When the elderly army doctor took her pulse, her vision had already doubled, yet she still found the doctor’s appearance somewhat familiar. In her muddled state, she murmured, “Tao…”

Doctor Tao applied acupuncture to Wen Yu’s hand and said kindly, “Your Highness, do not fear. We have already escaped.”

His reply was so skillfully delivered that even Wei Ang, standing nearby, noticed nothing amiss.

Wen Yu seemed genuinely soothed. Exhausted, she half-closed her eyes and remained silent, allowing Doctor Tao to continue the acupuncture.

Wei Ang, afraid of upsetting Wen Yu, refrained from asking about the condition of her unborn child in her presence. Only after Doctor Tao had finished the acupuncture and written a prescription, when the two of them stepped outside the tent, did he ask, “How is the woman inside?”

Just then, a guard ahead called out, “Commander.” The two looked up and saw Xiao Li, who had come over after receiving the report from his subordinate.

Wei Ang saluted Xiao Li with a clasped fist. Xiao Li nodded and asked, “How is the situation?”

Wei Ang replied, “I was just asking the army doctor.”

Doctor Tao pretended not to know Xiao Li well and bowed to him before saying, “The woman has been invaded by pathogenic cold and is suffering from shock. She needs quiet rest. The rash on her body is not serious—it’s urticaria and will clear up in a few days with medication. However, she is currently pregnant, and her pregnancy pulse is extremely unstable. Other medications must be used with caution.”

Xiao Li’s expression remained as cold as ever as he said, “Then prioritize medications that stabilize the pregnancy.”

After personally witnessing the army doctor’s diagnosis, Wei Ang no longer suspected the woman could be Princess Han Yang. After all, if Princess Han Yang were pregnant, how could the Liang and Chen camps have allowed her to come to the northern frontier?

He saluted Xiao Li with a clasped fist and said, “This general will return now to write a letter informing the Marquis of this matter.”

Xiao Li nodded in approval.

After Wei Ang had gone, Doctor Tao noticed Xiao Li staring at the military tent in the distance, lost in thought. With a complicated expression, he said, “Her constitution is weak. Several of the herbs used to stabilize the pregnancy need to be replaced with milder ones. The military camp doesn’t have them—we must send someone to a nearby town to procure them.”

Xiao Li abruptly turned his head away.

Doctor Tao sighed and said, “She is truly pregnant.”