"...!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank.

Xue Xian’s main force had arrived.

The previous 130,000 vanguard had slaughtered over 80,000 Fufeng soldiers in a single battle. Although they later encountered Yu Wenye and suffered two defeats, those were minor losses, with damages not exceeding ten thousand men. Now, as his two forces converged, they numbered over 200,000 strong.

Yet, Fufeng’s forces combined were less than 80,000...

Just as Shang Ruyi felt a shadow looming over them, enveloping and suffocating despite the bright lights, Yu Wenqian calmly spoke, "Then, what are your plans?"

"...!?"

Shang Ruyi turned her head towards him in shock.

Ma Xu’s face lit up, and he immediately took a step forward, saying to Yu Wenqian, "The Young Lord is right. Defending Fufeng is our duty. Although Xue Xian’s main force has arrived, they rushed here and clearly have not settled yet, as the smoke and dust across the river show. I think we should strike while they’re unstable!"

At this, Dai Junliang panicked, "General Ma, their two forces are united, with nearly 300,000, while we have less than 80,000. How are we supposed to fight them?"

"Nonsense!"

Seeing him, Ma Xu’s anger boiled over, and he pointed at Dai Junliang, scolding, "You’re here again stirring trouble, disrupting the army’s morale. The Great General was misled by you before, and now you still want to talk this nonsense!"

Dai Junliang also grew anxious and shouted, "I did not!"

"..."

"Before the Great General fell ill, he clearly instructed to firmly defend the city and not go into battle. General Ma—The Great General originally intended to imprison you, but now, with a lack of leaders in the city, since you’re out, please follow the Great General’s arrangements and don’t act on your own, to avoid—"

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing Dai Junliang mention being imprisoned by Yu Wenye in front of everyone, Ma Xu’s fury erupted, reaching for the sword at his waist.

For the first time, Dai Junliang also panicked.

With red eyes, he shouted, "I absolutely cannot let you defy military orders and send our brothers to their deaths!"

"Dai! Jun! Liang!"

Ma Xu gritted his teeth, his face twisted with rage, and drew his treasure sword to slash at Dai Junliang, causing everyone around to exclaim in shock. Yet, the first to intervene was Song Yu, who quickly grabbed him, softly saying, "What are you doing? The Young Lord is here!"

Upon hearing this, though furious, Ma Xu grudgingly swallowed his anger.

With red eyes, he looked at Yu Wenqian, "What orders do you have, Young Lord?!"

"..."

Shang Ruyi stood by quietly watching.

She could see that Ma Xu was eager to battle because Dai Junliang had just touched his sore spots. He’d previously suffered a defeat causing the death of 80,000 Fufeng soldiers. If the court held him accountable, he might be executed, so he was eager to fight and earn merit to save himself.

But what would Yu Wenqian arrange?

Shang Ruyi turned to look at him again.

Under the bright lights, Yu Wenqian’s gray-blue eyes appeared even more transparent, and it was difficult to discern their depth, or to gauge his expression at that moment. After quietly contemplating for a moment, he calmly said, "General Ma, bravely facing the enemy is indeed—"

Before he could finish, Ma Xu was already overjoyed, "Thank you, Young Lord!"

But Yu Wenqian remained calm, saying, "However, in warfare, one cannot only think of victory."

"..."

"One must also consider defeat."

"..."

"Especially since the current situation is—Xue Xian can afford to lose, but Fufeng, with less than 80,000 soldiers remaining, cannot."

"..."

"Therefore, your intention to engage in battle must temporarily be put aside, still following the Great General’s previous instructions—firmly defend the city, no engagement."

Saying this, he looked at Dai Junliang, "Were those the words Fufeng commanded?"

Dai Junliang was taken aback and was about to speak when Shang Ruyi interjected, "That’s basically it."

Yu Wenqian glanced at her.

Without further comment, he simply gestured, "Then, return to your positions and proceed with your duties."

Ma Xu’s expression was already very unpleasant, but he had nothing to say at this moment and could only stomp his foot in frustration and turn to leave. Seeing this, Song Yu saluted Yu Wenqian and followed him out.

However, just as they were leaving, Shang Ruyi approached Yin Changyue and Dai Junliang, to whom the two hurriedly bowed. Shang Ruyi calmly asked, "Have you investigated the fire just now?"

"...!?"

Both showed expressions of shock.

Yin Changyue quietly said, "Madam, wasn’t it because you—wasn’t it because Doctor He accidentally ignited the drapery while fumigating, causing the fire?"

Shang Ruyi’s brow knit slightly.

Standing nearby, Wo Xue immediately said, "That’s not it. We sensed something wrong with the smoke scent and immediately extinguished the burning paper tubes. The fire came from outside; someone intended to—"

Shang Ruyi cast her a glance, prompting Wo Xue to fall silent.

At this point, a low voice sounded behind Shang Ruyi—

"Is what she said true?"

Turning around, Shang Ruyi saw that at some point, Yu Wenqian had already come up behind her. Although his face was still covered with that layer of gauze, his eyes appeared exceptionally profound at this moment, so those normally inscrutable eyes seemed to be faintly shadowed at this moment.

He asked, "Did someone want to burn you...all?"