“Tomorrow we’ll lead troops to break through directly to Ye Yao. I want to see what kind of master this Si Muyi is.” The hand holding the brush fell heavily on the map, the previous haziness completely disappearing from his eyes.
“Yes!” The generals and soldiers roared with high morale.
Yun Yihen laughed heartily, gripping the map in his hand. Summer Ling Zhou, did you see this?
He gently took an earring from his chest, one she had once worn. It had fallen during one of her escape attempts and was picked up by him. He heard Jing Yi say this pair of earrings was her most beloved item after arriving at the general’s mansion.
She had been sad about losing it. He wanted to personally put it on her on their wedding day, but the woman under the red veil was not her.
Now she was a noble lady, the sworn sister of Prince Jing Fei. As long as she was unwilling, even with his good relationship with Jing Fei, he could not force Ling Zhou to marry him.
Except for the wedding night when he visited Li Bihan’s room, he never went again. When he had nothing to do, he spent entire days in the study and often slept there.
He and Li Bihan were truly like ice, respecting each other from a distance.
“Jing Fei, why are all these people so panicked?” Ling Zhou asked, riding her horse and noticing many civilians carrying bags and leading their families in migration.
“It seems Ye Yu and Hua Chen have reached some agreement. Hua Chen’s troops are already heading to the battlefield. These civilians are probably those expelled from Hua Chen,” Jing Fei replied coldly, observing the panicked civilians.
“You mean… this time against Ye Yao involves not just Ye Yu, but Ye Yu and Hua Chen are allied?” Ling Zhou said incredulously, unable to believe a great nation would use such tactics.
“Not just Ye Yu and Hua Chen, possibly even the small countries around Ye Yao…”
“Damn! What kind of approach is this? Two great nations bullying one country? Isn’t this completely against the code of chivalry?!” Before Jing Fei could finish, Ling Zhou lashed out. “Is Yun Yihen, the so-called invincible general, actually agreeing to this? Is this what his ‘invincible’ reputation means?”
“…” Jing Fei looked at the furious Ling Zhou, finding it strange that this had nothing to do with her.
“Jing Fei, how can you do this? Isn’t this clearly meant to destroy Ye Yao?!” Ling Zhou continued her rage, having thought becoming a noble lady of Ye Yu was something to be proud of, only to find it turning out like this.
Endless War Rages On (6)
“Miss, we’ve arrived in Yan City,” Tianwu said, glancing at the characters on the city gate. He turned to Lingzhou, who had been pouting the entire journey.
“Yes, yes, we’ve finally arrived in Huachen!” Lingzhou retorted sourly, shooting a glance at the expressionless Jingfei, who had remained quiet since their argument a few days prior.
“…” Jingfei observed the merchants at the city gate and elegantly urged his horse into the city, his swagger evident.
“Smug!” Lingzhou muttered, giving Jingfei the middle finger.
“Tianwu, take the luggage and horses to the largest inn in the city. Lingzhou and I will walk around,” Jingfei said, dismounting with grace and tossing the reins to Tianwu.
“Who wants to walk around with you? I’m going to the inn with Tianwu,” Lingzhou replied, avoiding Jingfei’s gaze as she prepared to leave with Tianwu, leading her horse.
“Yan City is most famous for its candied hawthorns,” Jingfei announced, walking into the street without looking back.
“Candied hawthorns?!” Lingzhou’s eyes lit up instantly. Jingying had bought her some that were incredibly delicious, but since she came out to play, she hadn’t eaten any and deeply missed them.
“Tianwu, I’ll bring you a string when I come back,” she said quickly, tossing her luggage to Tianwu and catching up with Jingfei. “Brother Jingfei, are there really candied hawthorns here?”
Jingfei glanced at her without responding. Xiaoxiao, is she really here?
The mirror did not reveal his physique as he pursed his lips, choosing silence. Based on the intelligence he had gathered, Lingzhou believed the woman he had seen was most likely Xiaoxiao. If that were true, how could he allow her to vanish right before his eyes? Given her dangerous situation, he had to locate her immediately.
“Big brother, you know martial arts, so you should include me too. I’ve just learned some lightness skills and can’t handle this much. My legs are about to…”
t to break!” Lingzhou desperately grabbed Mirror Non’s sleeve, struggling.
“If you’re tired, you can go back to the inn and wait for me.” He patted Lingzhou’s hand, freeing his sleeve from her grip. He continued searching for Xiaoxiao’s trail on that road, determined to find her even if she was trying to hide from him.
“Brother Mirror Non!” Lingzhou shouted in panic. How could he be so stubborn? The last time, during Ye Yaoxing’s assassination attempt on that prince, he had been seriously injured. If not for Lingzhou, he would have been dead. Now he wanted to leave her alone to find Su Xiaoxiao. What if he encountered some skilled bad guys and got hurt?
“The street is already empty, and so much time has passed. She might have left already,” Lingzhou slowly calmed down, carefully analyzing the situation with Mirror Non.
Mirror Non continued searching silently.
“You said Su Xiaoxiao has a stubborn character. Maybe she just saw you and deliberately hid to avoid being found,” Lingzhou persistently tried to persuade him from behind.
“She’s in danger now. I must find her immediately!” Mirror Non ignored Lingzhou’s advice.
“Okay, then tell me, are you looking for her out of concern for her safety or because of the Flame Talisman?” Lingzhou spread her arms to block Mirror Non, believing this search was pointless. If Su Xiaoxiao was truly in Huachen, they should discuss this properly.
“Lingzhou, you…” Hearing the words “Flame Talisman,” Mirror Non stopped searching for Xiaoxiao. Did Lingzhou know about the Flame Talisman?
“Let’s go back and discuss this carefully. Searching around like headless flies won’t help. We might expose her whereabouts and bring her fatal danger.” Actually, Lingzhou just wanted to rest. “We can ask Tianwu to investigate secretly and inform you immediately if there’s any news.”
“That works.”
Are You Xiaoxiao? (3)
Returning to the inn, Lingzhou immediately complained about her aching feet and asked Tianwu to massage them. Unfortunately, as…
A martial artist, Tianwu’s massage made Lingzhou’s leg joints crack loudly.
“Tianwu, go investigate Su Xiaoxiao’s whereabouts on the street,” Mirror Non had barely sat down before instructing Tianwu.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Tianwu responded softly, glancing at the pained Lingzhou.
“Brother Mirror Non, aren’t you being too biased? My legs are about to break!” She lay on the table, idly pouring water from the teapot.
After a final glance at Lingzhou, Tianwu picked up his precious sword and leaped, disappearing from the inn’s entrance. Lingzhou watched Tianwu’s lingering shadow, thinking about when she could also fly in the sky.
The sky outside gradually darkened. Lingzhou and Mirror Non continued sitting in the inn’s hall, waiting for Tianwu’s report. Lingzhou could no longer feel her buttocks, and dozing off was making Mirror Non roll his eyes so hard they might fall out.
“Brother Mirror Non, I’m hungry!” Lingzhou finally couldn’t bear it, counting the chopsticks in the holder and looking pitifully at Mirror Non.
“Then…”
“Your Highness!” Just as Mirror Non was about to respond, Tianwu returned, covered in wind and frost. “The Su family’s young lady is currently in a pharmacy in the city. She misdiagnosed a child a few days ago and is now being scolded by the townspeople.”
“Where is that pharmacy? Take me there immediately!” Mirror Non jolted up, already rushing outside.
