Chapter 237: Different Paths, Same Destination
When Xiao Li stepped out of Zhaohua Palace's main gate, Tong Que was waiting at the foot of the steps with his men, maintaining a respectful distance.
Noticing the lingering redness in Xiao Li's eyes, Tong Que momentarily froze before seeming to understand something. He remained silent, only motioning for the Azure Guard to automatically clear a path when Xiao Li descended the stone steps.
After Xiao Li departed, Tong Que didn't immediately enter the palace. He waited a moment before raising his hand to knock on the door.
Wen Yu's low and hoarse voice came from inside: "Enter.""
Tong Que pushed the door open and entered. Through the carved moon gate separating the inner and outer chambers, its beaded curtain still drawn, he saw Wen Yu sitting before the dressing mirror exactly as she had been when he withdrew earlier.
He addressed her respectfully: "Your Highness."
With her back turned, he couldn't see the expression on her face at that moment, only hearing her clear yet slightly hoarse command: "Issue the order to release the Wolf Cavalry temporarily held in the imperial prison. Have them leave the palace secretly with Xiao Li."
Tong Que acknowledged the order. As he went out to instruct the Azure Guard, Wen Yu finally looked at her reflection in the mirror - her court makeup freshly reapplied.
Apart from the faint reddish tint beneath her eyes, which could have been from lack of sleep or other reasons, her face showed no other abnormalities.
Wen Yu's dark lashes lowered.
Earlier, after she spoke those words, Xiao Li had turned his back to her and replied with just one word: "Good."
After Tong Que relayed the message, the guards near the imperial prison were withdrawn by the Azure Guard. When Zhao Youcai and the Wolf Cavalry were released to leave the palace with Xiao Li, they happened to encounter Zhao Bai leading a squad of Azure Guard passing by.
Zhao Youcai and the Wolf Cavalry all remembered Zhao Bai. Though they knew she likely wasn't an enemy, they instinctively grew wary.
The cooling autumn wind rustled through the treetops as yellowing phoenix tree leaves spiraled down to land at their feet.
The Azure Guard who had accompanied Xiao Li to release the Wolf Cavalry nodded in salute to Zhao Bai: "Commander."
Zhao Bai didn't respond.
Only when Xiao Li led the Wolf Cavalry past Zhao Bai and her Azure Guard did Zhao Bai stare straight ahead and say: "Thank you."
Xiao Li's steps faltered slightly. Without turning to look at her, he replied: "I'm doing this for the Northern Border too."
After Xiao Li's group had moved away, Zhao Bai finally looked back at them, her usually frosty, sharp eyes holding a trace of complexity.
"Commander?" The Azure Guard who had addressed her earlier spoke again.
Zhao Bai withdrew her gaze and said: "Let's go."
Walking behind Xiao Li along the lengthy palace corridor, Zhao Youcai couldn't help saying: "My Lord, you don't know how fierce that woman was earlier. Our mission to intercept that Western Mausoleum Army was to help Liang after all. How could you say it was for the Northern Border? If Tiger Gorge Pass falls, the entire Western Frontier would bear the brunt first - what does that have to do with our Northern Border? You should have let everyone around the princess know that you're doing this for her—"
Xiao Li softly called his guard's name, and immediately two Wolf Cavalry members stepped forward to escort Zhao Youcai to the back of the formation.
Zhao Youcai grew anxious but, fearing that continuing would anger Xiao Li, wisely swallowed the rest of his words.
As he was being escorted by two Wolf Cavalry at the rear of the group, Zhao Youcai muttered quietly with some resentment: "I was just offering suggestions for my Lord's benefit... Why isn't he pleased..."
None of the Wolf Cavalry responded to him.Xiao Li led the Wolf Cavalry past the palace walls where sparse shadows slanted across, stepping through the palace gates just as Wen Yu, dressed in court robes woven with gold and black, her hair adorned with an elaborate jeweled hairpin, ascended the white marble steps before the imperial study step by step.
An autumn wind swept through, scattering tung leaves across the entire royal palace.
—
Inside the imperial study, ministers hastily summoned to the palace bowed to Wen Yu in greeting: "We pay our respects to Your Highness."
Wen Yu took her seat behind the long desk on the imperial platform and raised a hand. "Rise, esteemed ministers. Given the urgency of the situation, let us dispense with these formalities."
"The reason for summoning you all here is likely already known to you."
At these words, a minister immediately spoke up: "Your Highness, is it true that Western Mausoleum has dispatched thirty thousand elite troops toward Tiger Gorge Pass?"
Wen Yu replied, "After General Mu was forced by the Western Mausoleum Army to retreat and defend Gole City, we lost our intelligence network in the desert. This news was brought by the Wolf Cavalry, who wish to pass through Tiger Gorge Pass to return to Liang territory. The Wolf Cavalry hopes to cooperate with us."
Her eyes lowered slightly. "It can also be seen as an apology for their previous siege of the royal court. They will closely harass the Western Mausoleum Army heading to Tiger Gorge Pass, buying more time for the Liang army to reach the pass."
That minister immediately responded, "Your Highness, do not be deceived by their sweet words. That Xiao scion is cunning—previously he deceived tribes friendly with our Chen state, using their names to bypass border inspections and march troops to the royal court. This time, it might very well be another scheme, colluding with the Western Mausoleum Army behind our backs!"
Wen Yu looked at the minister. "Tens of thousands of additional Western Mausoleum troops have gathered outside Gole City precisely to cut off Chen's route to reinforce Tiger Gorge Pass. Gole City is indeed defending with extreme difficulty now, unable to spare a single soldier for reinforcements. I have gathered you all to discuss how to contain the Western Mausoleum Army outside Gole City, so that when they discover the Wolf Cavalry's harassment, they cannot dispatch more troops to ambush from the rear. The Wolf Cavalry are the ones risking their lives in this fight; Chen's army only needs to provide containment. May I ask, esteemed minister, what scheme is this?"
Xiao Li's previous siege of the royal court had left many Chen ministers deeply resentful, so upon learning the news came from the Wolf Cavalry, they instinctively assumed it must be another malicious plot.
After Wen Yu's explanation, the minister realized his earlier words were unreasonable and fell silent.
Another minister nearby continued, "Your Highness speaks wisely. If it only requires us to send additional troops to Gole City, that is certainly feasible. But for Xiao Li to claim this as an apology for besieging our royal court—that seems rather presumptuous!"
The official snorted. "It is his Xiao Army that needs to pass through Tiger Gorge Pass to return to Liang territory! Our Chen state is doing the Xiao Army a favor!"
Wen Yu closed her eyes. "Minister Lu."
The minister who had just spoken knew his words had completely disregarded Tiger Gorge Pass and Liang's interests, drawing too clear a distinction between Liang and Chen, and even failed to consider Wen Yu as the shared ruler of both regions—he had nearly said Xiao Li helping Liang wasn't doing Chen any favors.
With the two regions destined for unification, such talk was highly inappropriate. After Wen Yu called his name, he bowed his head and remained silent.
Wen Yu asked, "Do you know how many Western Mausoleum troops currently surround Gole City?"
The minister answered, "Seventy thousand."
Wen Yu lifted her gaze. "How many cities and territories has Chen already lost in the western border? Do you believe, esteemed minister, that Chen alone can subsequently stop the advance of these seventy thousand wolfish troops?"
The minister, ashamed, bowed his head even lower.Wen Yu surveyed all the Chen State ministers present: "The Wolf Cavalry need not rush back to Liang territory at this moment. They roam beyond the pass, following pastures and settling where they may, and can choose an opportune time to return. With a formidable enemy at our gates, the Wolf Cavalry wish to atone for past transgressions by reestablishing ties with both Liang and Chen camps to jointly resist the external threat. In this battle... the Wolf Cavalry face near-certain annihilation."
She suppressed the sorrow in her eyes: "You may naturally assume the Wolf Cavalry's assistance is solely for Great Liang's benefit, and their apology directed only at me. But I must warn you all - if Tiger Gorge Pass falls, the western frontier will inevitably collapse. When Liang territory is engulfed in war again and struggling for self-preservation, we will have no remaining capacity to aid Chen State.
"Seventy thousand Western Mausoleum troops are stationed outside Gole City. They won't abandon their advance into Chen territory just because Liang's breach at Tiger Gorge Pass has been torn open.
"Great Liang can no longer serve as Chen State's retreat. I ask you all - when Western Mausoleum forces press forward step by step, where will you be able to retreat with Chen's people?"
These words struck hard, leaving all present ministers feeling ashamed.
Chen State had initially sought this marital alliance to return within the passes precisely to escape Western Mausoleum's encroachment. If the lands within the passes also became Western Mausoleum territory, Chen State would be completely surrounded, with destruction being only a matter of time.
Qi Simiao, who had remained silent but understood the situation perfectly, led the hall's ministers in kneeling: "We are deeply ashamed."
Wen Yu appeared weary, saying only: "I have said all that needs saying. I only hope you can temporarily set aside past prejudices and unite against our common enemy."
Qi Simiao responded: "Since forming our alliance, Chen State and Great Liang have become intertwined in glory and disgrace. Regardless of circumstances, continuing to support each other remains our best course.
"If the Wolf Cavalry heroically intercept the Western Mausoleum Army heading for Tiger Gorge Pass, then Chen State will likewise do everything possible to hold back the Western Mausoleum forces outside Gole City. However, Western Mausoleum has lain dormant for years, likely planning this campaign for a long time. Even if troops outside Gole City are contained, we cannot guarantee they won't dispatch additional forces from within Western Mausoleum to Tiger Gorge Pass..."
Wen Yu said: "I already have a counterstrategy. My purpose in summoning you today is to arrange various matters for after I depart from the royal court."
Upon hearing Wen Yu would leave the royal court, the ministers grew alarmed and hurriedly asked: "Your Highness, where are you going?"
Wen Yu explained: "Even if Tiger Gorge Pass falls, Western Mausoleum would still need considerable effort to fully subjugate both Liang and Chen territories. But if I personally supervise the battle at Gole City, the benefit of capturing me alive far outweighs the advantage of storming Tiger Gorge Pass. Western Mausoleum would certainly deploy their entire army to attack. The Wolf Cavalry wouldn't be trapped between two fronts, increasing their chances of containing those thirty thousand Western Mausoleum troops, thereby buying more time for Liang forces rushing from within the passes to reach Tiger Gorge Pass."
This was the only solution she could devise upon hearing Zhao Bai's urgent report that might resolve this crisis.
The difference was that Xiao Li hadn't been part of her plan then.
He had forcibly intruded into this shared sacrifice with her, though through different means.
Almost before Wen Yu finished speaking, Qi Simiao urgently exclaimed: "Absolutely not!"
He pleaded earnestly: "Your Highness's safety concerns the stability of both nations! How can you venture into such danger? If anything should happen to you... we ministers could never atone for our failure even through ten thousand deaths!"Wen Yu seemed to have made up her mind, speaking calmly: "If I stand by and allow Western Mausoleum to continue invading Liang and Chen territories, I would be unworthy of the support you and the people have given me. I shall issue an edict stating that if anything befalls me on this journey, you shall enthrone my daughter A Li as sovereign and lead the people in retreat to Liang territory. Before my departure, I will also send a letter to Liang explaining this matter."
Her gaze swept over the ministers kneeling below as she sighed softly: "I am inadequate. The task of expelling the foreign invaders will then fall upon you, my loyal ministers."
These words brought tears to the eyes of all the ministers below.
Wen Yu was clearly sacrificing herself once again to protect Liang and Chen to the greatest extent possible.
If the siege of Tiger Gorge Pass were truly lifted, then Liang territory would be secure. Should Western Mausoleum continue its invasion and Chen prove unable to hold, they could retreat from Hundred Blades Pass back to Liang territory.
Although the Northern Border had not yet sworn allegiance, with Xiao Li and the Wolf Cavalry having perished outside Tiger Gorge Pass, the entire Northern Border had lost its leadership shortly after changing rulers. Even if they didn't submit to Wen Shi, they would no longer pose a threat.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Border and Central Region, Wen Yu had accumulated years of prestige. The former ministers of Great Liang and the old followers of Changlian Wang would surely support this sole bloodline born of Wen Yu. By rallying around this lineage and relying on these veteran ministers, the Liang and Chen factions would remain united.
Given time, driving out Western Mausoleum and reclaiming lost territories was not beyond hope.
But even if Tiger Gorge Pass fell and they exhausted their efforts without altering destiny...
This princess of Liang and Chen, personally defending her nation's gates and dying for her country, would inspire such fervor among the people of both lands that Western Mausoleum would have to tread over the corpses of every city's inhabitants to capture any future territory.
Their princess, while claiming her own inadequacy and lamenting that even her blood and bones couldn't protect them, was still arming them with strength.
Tears streamed down the ministers' faces as they wept openly: "Your Highness..."
Author's Note: Got stuck on some phrases, revised repeatedly for a long time. My apologies for not updating on schedule. Leaving comments on this chapter will get you compensation red packets (system distributed).
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