Danning City.

Outside the corridor, the snow and ice piled up under the flowering trees have gradually melted over the past two days.

As darkness fell, the courtyard remained unlit.

The young man sat upright under the eaves where bamboo mats hung, pondering the endgame of a chess game.

"master--"

The guards hurriedly entered from outside the hanging flower gate.

“That scoundrel Wei Xiao is still using illness as an excuse to avoid us. We’ve been in Danning for two days now, and news of the battle in Qingchuan has already arrived. Qingchuan is in dire straits, and Jincheng is also on the verge of collapse. We really can’t afford to delay any longer.”

Unexpectedly, Wei Xiao, the garrison commander of Danning, not only allowed them into the city but also treated them with great courtesy and hospitality.

But they just wouldn't appear.

They said that after winter set in, the cold weather caused their old illness to flare up, and they couldn't receive guests.

This is clearly a pretense of deception, a way of saying they've seen through their intentions.

Qin Qianhu was determined to obtain the troops.

The Western Rong have marched in, suffering losses and exhaustion in Qingchuan. Jincheng has three thousand garrison troops. If they receive reinforcements from Danning, and considering the situation, the Western Rong may not dare to attack Jincheng.

If they can't borrow any more soldiers, their group doesn't need to go back.

It would be more satisfying to just cut off his head and hang it at the Danning Garrison.

A young monk dressed in secular clothes held a black chess piece in his hand, his eyes lowered as he examined the game.

He didn't look up when he heard that.

He only gave a curt reply.

"knew."

The guard tried to persuade them again, saying that they had traveled such a long way in a hurry and were not meant to rest in Danning.

The monk seemed to know that he wouldn't give up.

His dark eyes lifted.

"We'll see the outcome tomorrow."

Tomorrow? The guard swallowed the words he wanted to say, looking at him with a mixture of disbelief and doubt.

…

Night falls in the study.

Wei Xiao, the garrison commander of Danning City, came out of the room with his staff.

But under the pale moonlight outside the door, a lone figure stood.

The man was young and thin, dressed in lay clothes, but his hands were clasped together, his eyes were clear and cold, and he exuded divine compassion.

Wei Xiao was taken aback for a moment, but then his expression returned to normal.

He waved away his advisors, then stepped forward himself.

"Wei Xiao greets Your Highness."

The young monk returned the greeting with his palms together.

"Greetings, General Wei."

Wei Xiao laughed and said, "Your Highness is mistaken. I am no longer a general."

The monk replied calmly, "General, you are mistaken. This humble monk is not Your Highness either."

Wei Xiao laughed loudly.

"It's cold outside and the night is chilly, let's go inside and talk in detail."

…

A cup of tea was offered to the monk.

Steam rose from the rim of the cup, blurring the view.

Wei Xiao: "I am aware of Your Highness's intentions. However, I am no longer the Right General of the Pingxi Commandery, and it is difficult for me to respond to Your Highness's request. That is why I have been avoiding you."

The monk nodded, indicating his understanding.

He lifted the cup of hot tea with his fingers.

His dark eyes, imbued with the aroma of tea, appeared even more pristine and clear.

"Danning is 600 li away from Jincheng, surrounded by mountains and with a strategic location. Even if Jincheng is ravaged by war, Danning can remain unscathed. Moreover, there are still 10,000 soldiers in Danning."

Wei Xiao: "As a garrison commander, my primary duty is indeed to protect Danning City. As for other matters, I am willing but unable to do so."

The monk ignored his words and continued:

"The general spent half his life on the battlefield, a hero of his time. In the Battle of Panxia Pass, he recovered an important border town, achieving great military exploits. Unfortunately, he went unrecognized, and treacherous officials held power. It is only natural that the general, disheartened, would retreat to Danning."

Wei Xiao laughed and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, I am already over fifty years old. I have long since become indifferent to fame and fortune, and I don't care who is the emperor in the court. I only want to guard Danning City and let my soldiers live a life with their wives, children, and warm beds."

He seemed tired of these platitudes.

He was still smiling, but he had already stood up, making a gesture as if he was about to leave.

"Your Highness need not say any more. Your Highness has worked tirelessly for the people of Jincheng, and I am not heartless. Although Danning cannot send troops, it is willing to provide provisions and armor. I believe that with the unity of the people of Jincheng, we will surely overcome this crisis."

The monk looked at him and said calmly, "The General Commander of the Pingxi Prefecture, Prince Ying, Wei Ming, has already died in battle at Changming Town."

What?

This time, Wei Xiao stopped in his tracks.

A sharp gaze fell on his face.

"Your Highness, I haven't heard this news."

The monk said, "Three days ago, in Changming Town, the Prince of Ying was surrounded and died. The news has not yet spread, and to keep the army's morale stable, it probably won't be. However, with the general's connections, we'll know the truth in two days."

"General, your desire to live a peaceful life in Danning is commendable. But in chaotic times, what tranquility is there? When storms rise, whether you become the butcher or the fish is up to you. Entrusting your own safety and that of the entire city of Danning to others is not the way of a general, is it?"

Wei Xiao remained silent for a long time.

With the King of England dead, his servants are no longer a threat.

The Pingxi Military Governor's Office has 300,000 border troops.

The commander's flag fluttered in the wind under the sky.

The soldiers trampled over the corpses of the enemy, and blood splattered down, bigger than raindrops.

Finally, he said, "I'm tired today. I'll talk to the monk in detail tomorrow."

.

Jincheng.

News of the battle in Qingchuan has not yet spread throughout the city.

But anxiety and panic have already spread silently throughout the city.

These past two days, apart from stricter checks at the city gates and a more desolate appearance on the streets, nothing else has changed much.

No matter what has happened or is about to happen in Jincheng, life goes on.

After the grand feast, Song Garden quieted down.

However, some people are destined to never find peace and quiet.

Shen Qingyu is sick.

Song Liulang felt that his illness was self-inflicted. Ever since the banquet, he had been claiming to be poisoned and feeling weak. After that, he began a hunger strike.

It's been almost three days now.

He hadn't eaten a single grain of rice, and lay in bed, silently covering his face with a white handkerchief, looking as if he were dead.

Song Liulang sent people to invite more than a dozen doctors.

They couldn't diagnose what was wrong with him. He was indeed a bit weak, but that was because he wasn't eating.

…

Although Shen Qingyu was "sick," she was not idle.

He sent people several times a day to inquire about the Sun family.

To be precise, it refers to the old lady of the Sun family and the young mistress of the Sun family.

Although the Sun family was also prominent, the Song family was even wealthier. By pouring money into the inner quarters, they indeed uncovered a great deal of information.

"They say that after Madam Sun returned home, she fell ill. She couldn't sleep all night and kept thinking about her son. She kept saying that Second Young Master Sun had come home to see her..."

As the servant finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Shen Qingyu's face as she lay on the bed.

After all, Sun Er died for him.

But the person on the bed showed no change in expression.

She urged him to continue.

"The Sun family invited a doctor to take a look. But even after taking the sedative, it wasn't very effective."

"Where is Young Madam Sun?"

"I heard that Madam Sun has also fallen ill, just like her mother-in-law."

"The same? What, does she also keep dreaming that Sun Er comes home to see her?"

Servant: "I heard he also has nightmares all night and can't sleep."

They're both the same...

This is interesting.

Before the servant who delivered the message had left, Sun Liulang, with a stern face, strode into the room.

Seeing Shen Qingyu lying there acting strangely while listening to gossip, his already gloomy expression turned even uglier.

Sun Liulang: "Aren't you going to behave yourself? Everyone at home is saying you peeped at an old woman changing her clothes, you—"

When Shen Qingyu saw that it was him, she remained silent and lay down again.

She covered her face with the white handkerchief.

Quietly play dead.