Tang Xiaobai was still struggling with how to respond when Mo Huan knowingly nodded, "I understand."

She felt a pang of guilt and quickly said, "Actually—"

Actually, what?

She truly was discussing marriage. She already felt uneasy hiding it from the little ancestor, and now that they sent someone to inquire, should she still try to argue?

But if Mo Huan were to report back like this, would it affect the little ancestor’s mood for battle?

Tang Xiaobai’s feelings were akin to those of planning to divorce after a child’s college entrance exam, only to be found out early. She was anxious and at a loss, so she could only look at Mo Huan pleadingly, "What do you think...maybe we should wait until Ah Xiao finishes the battle?"

Mo Huan smiled enigmatically without giving a definite answer.

Tang Xiaobai sighed, "Ah Xiao is still young. Encourage him to focus on the bigger picture..." Don’t let him worry about her minor affairs.

Mo Huan continued to smile without responding.

Tang Xiaobai simply ignored him and continued reading the letter.

The letter did explain the origins of the pipa player, but the explanation left Tang Xiaobai rather speechless.

After careful consideration and selection, she found that Princess Zhen Ding, Li Huaiyue, might be the girl most likely to come into contact with the little ancestor, so she purposely mentioned her in front of the little ancestor.

But this lad didn’t understand at all and thought she wanted to listen to someone play the pipa.

Truly still just an unenlightened child!

But at least he’s good to her...

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaobai felt a bit warm inside and couldn’t help but smile subtly.

It wasn’t in vain.

Besides the explanation about the pipa player’s origins, the letter also inquired about her marriage discussions and, as usual, mentioned the situation in Hedong and Zhenzhou.

Zhenzhou was entrusted to Li Xingyuan. Subduing or suppressing Li Mingyi’s loyalists wouldn’t be easy, but Li Xingyuan was already the most suitable person to handle this.

The situation in Hedong was also far from optimistic.

Prince Qing came first, followed by Prince Jin, inevitably leading to a dispute. The garrison in Hedong didn’t welcome the intervention of the Zhenzhou Army either.

Moreover, Qin Rong was eager to establish his footing, frequently requesting to join the fight.

After reading, Tang Xiaobai pondered for a while, picked up her pen, and wrote back to him, detailing her analysis and suggestions, just like every time they discussed matters collaboratively in the past.

After completing this, Tang Xiaobai hesitated a moment, then picked up her pen to write again—

"Ah Xiao, I want to go to Liangzhou..."

...

"Ah Xiao, I want to go to Liangzhou..." When Li Mu saw this sentence, his eyelid twitched violently.

Why would she suddenly want to go to Liangzhou?

Liangzhou is so dangerous; how can such a delicate girl go there?

Li Mu was anxious, wishing to send someone immediately to bring her by his side to watch over her.

Mo Huan, seeing his gaze move away from the letter, thought he had finished reading and cleared his throat to say, "Your Highness, as for the investigation matter you instructed, I asked Second Miss—"

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed, causing the candle flame to flicker.

It was Mo Ji.

Mo Ji, expressionless, presented a letter, "Urgent letter from Zhenzhou!"

Li Mu took it with a frown.

What urgent matter could Li Xingyuan have? Couldn’t handle Zhenzhou?

As he opened the letter and glanced over it, Li Mu’s expression changed instantly—

...

After finishing the topographical map of Yanmen Pass, Tang Xiaobai devoted all her energy to the Liangzhou region.

In the Office of Geography, there was very little map information about the Northwest, much of which had been drawn and sent back by her father over the years.

She pieced these maps together but found they didn’t match with the written records.

"Perhaps the geographical record is inaccurate. I recall hearing that Ba Yan Mountain is south of Huang River—" Wenren Jia said, then shook his head, "But I’ve never been there; I can’t be certain."

"And in the Turkic area—"

Before Tang Xiaobai could finish, Wenren Jia shook her head.

Tang Xiaobai sighed.

The maps of Longyou were somewhat newer, but within the Turkic territory, only fragmentary data from the founding days remained.

Wenren Jia looked at her with some sympathy, hesitated a while, then lightly sighed, "Drawing maps requires more than just reading books; one must witness firsthand," paused, his gaze flickering, "For instance, the source of the Yellow River, even Yu Gong and Zhang Qian misled the world; without seeing it with one’s own eyes, it’s all false."

Tang Xiaobai remained silent for a long time and then got up to bid farewell.

She understood this principle; however, over in Liangzhou, she had been sending a letter every ten days, reporting her progress in riding, archery, and military books, yet her father had not yet agreed to let her go.

Should she stubbornly disregard everything and sneak over there?

Such rash things are only done by heroines.

If it were a side character, she might end up captured by enemy troops, used to threaten our commanders, or worse...better left unsaid!

Tang Xiaobai shook her head and left Wenren Bookstore, intending to board her carriage—

"Second Miss! Second Miss!"

She turned around to see Tao Fen sprinting towards her.

In an instant, he was in front of her, gasping for breath.

Seeing a martial artist like Tao Fen run out of breath, Tang Xiaobai asked in surprise, "What’s the rush?"

Tao Fen, not one to act rashly, this time seemed unable to wait, and leaned close to her ear, whispering something.

Tang Xiaobai’s expression suddenly changed, staring at him intently, "Where did you hear this? Are you sure?"

Tao Fen nodded, "Merchants from Liangzhou confirmed it seventy to eighty percent true!"

Tang Xiaobai turned pale, "Quick! Return to the Duke Mansion!"

...

The carriage hurriedly drove into Duke Yan Mansion, and before it even stopped, Tang Xiaobai leaped down and rushed to the main hall.

But after running a few steps, she abruptly halted, hesitated for a moment, and then changed direction.

Upon storming into Zhou Xun’s courtyard, Zhou Xun hurriedly greeted her, "Second Miss, what’s the urgent matter?"

Tang Xiaobai glanced at him.

His clothes were wrinkled, his face was weary, and the smile he wore was superficial.

Tang Xiaobai’s heart sank and she said, "I heard that Father and Brother are missing."

Zhou Xun was doubtful, "Where did Second Miss hear this from?"

Tang Xiaobai suddenly felt a shudder of coldness through her body.

Tao Fen was bold, generous, and frequently mingled with various figures in the streets, so his information was quite reliable.

Out of gratitude for her introduction to a renowned physician, he often inquired about the Liangzhou warfare for her.

If Tao Fen said it’s seventy to eighty percent true, then it’s seventy to eighty percent true.

And Zhou Xun’s reaction just filled the remaining two or three percent—

No! Not necessarily!

"Is it a tactic? A feigned disappearance, actually an ambush of surprise troops?" Tang Xiaobai anxiously asked.

Zhou Xun looked at her for a long time and sighed, "I don’t know either..."

In early February this year, Duke Yan and his son drove out the invading Turkic forces.

In March, the court ordered a strike against the Turkic, and Duke Yan and his son divided their forces, advancing with incredible momentum.

But as they ventured deeper into enemy territory, they gradually lost contact with Liangzhou.

"Losing contact deep in enemy territory isn’t something unusual, yet rumors about the Duke and the eldest son going missing in Liangzhou and Shanzhou soon spread, and not long after, the Turkic army invaded Shanzhou again, the rumors grew more and more rampant—"

"Initially, we intended to hide it from the Capital City, but now, it seems we can’t keep it hidden anymore."