Feng Yun was quite surprised, "Then where did you go?"

Wen Xingsu lowered his eyelids, "The summons indeed bore the imperial will. The Empress Dowager spoke of an urgent military situation to the northwest, requiring my strength, and bade me return quickly to Xijing. At first glance, I knew something was amiss..."

He looked at Feng Yun pensively, his eyes full of pity.

"Either something befell the Prince of Yonghuai, leaving the Empress Dowager at her wits’ end, prompting her to summon me back to the capital to lead troops in support. Or, someone wished to draw me away from Xinzhou, to remove me from the Northern Yong Army..."

"Which does Big Brother believe it to be?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"When I received the decree, I felt the former was more likely. The Empress Dowager, a mere woman, relied entirely on the Prince of Yonghuai’s support. Without this cause, there’s no way she would create chaos within her own ranks. To be safe, I didn’t go to Xijing but instead traveled in disguise to Yunzhou, taking the opportunity to investigate the truth. Meanwhile, I created the false impression that I had obeyed the command to leave Xinzhou..."

He paused here.

"How is Yunzhou? Is there any news of His Majesty?" Feng Yun asked eagerly.

Wen Xingsu said, "I learned in Yunzhou that half a month before I received the summons, Ao Qi had already taken troops out of Yunzhou’s Shimen Pass and headed to Cangyan Mountain..."

Feng Yun: "So, there’s no reason for the Imperial Court to have called you back?"

Wen Xingsu hummed in agreement and looked at Feng Yun again, his eyes slightly dimmed.

"Border rumors are rife. The Prince of Yonghuai, pursuing the enemy deep into the Heibei Gorge, was encircled by Li Zongxun’s rebels and the twelve tribes and confronted by a severe dust storm. I fear he may have met with some mishap..."

He appeared consoling, not wanting Feng Yun to become upset.

"However, rumors are just rumors. The actual situation is not yet clear. General Ao is young but cautious. With him leading the reinforcement, the Prince of Yonghuai will surely escape danger."

"Thank you, Big Brother," Feng Yun responded with a gentle smile.

"Why do you always thank me?"

"I always feel grateful to you, for you always consider my well-being."

Wen Xingsu was silent for a moment, gazing at her for a long time before sighing in an almost inaudible voice.

"I haven’t done well. I should have informed you earlier so as not to worry you."

Feng Yun shared a knowing smile with him.

"What you did was right, Big Brother. If I had known in advance, the lack of urgency would have raised suspicions..."

She casually touched the corner of her cup and lightly curved her lips, "I hadn’t realized that His Majesty had made such thorough arrangements before his departure, considering every possible outcome..."

Wen Xingsu felt a tinge of sadness in his heart but had to admit, "His Majesty is indeed wise."

Feng Yun smiled, pursing her lips and nodding.

"What explanation did you give to the Imperial Court?"

Wen Xingsu: "I have sent a reply to Xijing. Under the orders of the Great General, I have returned to Andu. Even if Xijing is displeased, they wouldn’t dare to trouble me."

"The Empress Dowager is indecisive, swaying like grass atop a wall. As long as His Majesty is alive, Xijing indeed dares not trouble him."

What if Pei Jue was no more?

Feng Yun’s gaze deepened as she looked at Wen Xingsu, "The road ahead is unpredictable. Until His Majesty returns, you and I must work together to protect the five provinces of Xinzhou."

Wen Xingsu: "Before leaving, I had discussed with Shi Yin, Yu Zhong, and others. The Northern Yong Army still has the main forces of Red Armor, Blue Stability, Purple Lightning, and Orange Crane in the five provinces of Xinzhou. But one thing, though the Northern Yong Army is brave, it’s difficult to control. To command this great army, no one but the Prince of Yonghuai himself can do it..."

He slowly raised his head to look at Feng Yun, his tone somber.

"Unless one holds the military tally of the Northern Yong Army."

Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat.

After a moment of hesitation, she slowly raised her eyes.

"Would half a military tally work?"

-

That day, Wen Xingsu and Feng Yun had a secret meeting for an hour before Feng Yun left Yutangchun and went straight back to the camp.

The next night, just as Feng Yun had fallen asleep, she was awakened by a knock at the door.

"Madam, get up quickly."

It was Xiaoman urging her.

In the flower hall were Wen Xingsu, Yu Zhong, Shi Yin, and Wu Maqi, who had temporarily taken over the Red Armor Army after Ao Qi left. Each person was dressed in ordinary casual clothes, without wearing any armor, inconspicuously resembling a villager.

Feng Yun saluted them, "From now on, I’m relying on all of you."

Seeing Feng Yun, the tall and strong men almost had red eyes.

"We have heard about the king’s affairs. Princess, please restrain your grief."

Yu Zhong was a straightforward man; they had basically concluded in the camp that Pei Jue had met with misfortune.

Otherwise, why was there no news for such a long time?

With Pei Jue’s capabilities, as long as he was alive, it was impossible not to send a message out.

Unless he was no longer alive, the remnants had been incorporated by Li Zongxun, and extreme weather had cut off contact with the outside world...

Everyone actually understood that the longer the delay, the smaller the likelihood of Pei Jue being alive...

But this fool was directly telling the Princess to "restrain your grief," which seemed really tactless.

Wen Xingsu was silent.

Shi Yin glared at Yu Zhong and said in a low voice,

"What nonsense are you talking about? General Ao has already led people to Heibei Gorge, hasn’t he? I believe we will soon have news."

Feng Yun grasped the implication of his words and asked, "Has Ao Qi sent a message?"

Shi Yin’s lips moved awkwardly as he nodded, "The Mahe Tribe took the initiative to volunteer, leading General Ao into the valley. With them guiding the way, we should be able to find the king very soon."

Yu Zhong snorted, "How can we rely on a tribe that acts so absurdly?"

Feng Yun asked, "How so?"

Yu Zhong said with dissatisfaction, "The chief of the Mahe forced General Ao to marry his daughter, demanding a marriage alliance before agreeing to help. Ao Qi agreed."

The interior of Heibei Gorge was vast and deep, with fierce sunlight during the day, no water sources, and no living plants or animals – a lifeless place. At night, however, it became bitterly cold, with dust filling the sky and howling winds like the cries of ghosts and wolves. The terrain was treacherous and complicated, and without local assistance, it would be extremely difficult to survive...

Ao Qi was so admiring of his uncle that he obviously compromised for Pei Jue.

Shi Yin’s throat tightened, and his voice choked.

"Ao Qi is a real man."

Feng Yun was momentarily lost in thought.

All things had reversed too quickly.

The spirited young man, the young and handsome General, his fierce eyes, his bright smile, his stubbornness in catching fish in the pond, as lively as holding a joyful child – all seemed so close, as if it were yesterday. Yet, he had finally grown up and had become General Ao, who married in the distant Cangyan Mountain...

Mountains stretched endlessly, and the plains were boundless...

She believed that Ao Qi was not acting on impulse and must have thought it through deeply.

And she hoped that the young lady of the Mahe was worth his marrying...

Otherwise, how aggrieved his life would be.