Outside the city gates, along the ancient road, wild grass trembled in the morning breeze, as if worrying for the soldiers embarking on their journey. The distant mountains appeared and disappeared in the dawn light, like silent guardians, witnessing this tragic yet heroic moment of departure.

The emperor stood still, listening to the stirring bugle call and the deafening sound of war drums, until the expeditionary force gradually disappeared into the distant horizon.

Only now did a hint of worry and concern appear on his usually dignified and solemn face. He parted his lips slightly and murmured, "May God bless my army, and may they all return safely!"

As the army marched further and further away, and the billowing dust gradually dissipated into the sky, the officials, as usual, returned to the Golden Palace in an orderly manner to begin today's morning court session.

In the imperial court, everyone was focused on state affairs, and no one noticed that just as the army was setting off, a mysterious figure quietly hid in the shadows, his eyes sharp and keen, always watching everyone's every move.

The man was dressed in a black robe and wore an exquisite and mysterious mask. His eyes, which were the only part of his face visible, gleamed with a playful light.

When his gaze fell upon Qin Qianluo among the soldiers, his interest intensified. "Heh, I never expected Qin Qianluo to be going on this campaign. She's becoming more and more interesting."

A whisper came from beneath the mask, the voice seemingly deliberately lowered, yet unable to conceal the curiosity and anticipation within.

Only after the army had completely disappeared from sight did the man in black robes let out a soft laugh. The laugh was so faint, like a wisp of smoke, that it vanished into the invisible air in an instant.

"Qin Qianluo, you have piqued my curiosity. If you can truly return alive from that cruel battlefield, I would really like to get to know you and see what kind of person you are."

After he finished speaking, all around remained silent, and no one was fortunate enough to hear the whisper. In an instant, the mysterious figure vanished without a trace, like a ghost.

Only a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance remained, lingering briefly in the air. However, in no time at all, that lingering scent vanished with the wind, leaving no trace, as if the person had never existed, leaving only emptiness and mystery.

The army marched swiftly along the long journey, the scenery on both sides of the road rushing past like a fleeting scroll. To the surprise of the soldiers, Princess Qingyun showed none of the fragility and discomfort that they had expected.

Throughout the journey, she never uttered a single complaint. Whether it was the simple accommodations or the coarse food, she accepted it all with equanimity, just like the ordinary soldiers.

Her resilience and easygoing nature won people's favor, and the initial sense of distance caused by her special status gradually faded away.

The two generals and their adjutant observed all of this silently, secretly approving. Initially, some of the lieutenants had reservations about it.

After all, Qin Qianluo was just a child who had just arrived and was already in the position of military advisor. Although her rank was not higher than theirs, the position of military advisor was still an important one in the military.

These deputy generals had all endured countless life-or-death trials on the battlefield, fighting bloody battles and earning their positions step by step with bloody marks. Yet, Qin Qianluo seemed to have obtained this position with ease, which naturally made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

However, during the march over the past few days, they witnessed firsthand Qin Qianluo's various actions. The princess they had initially imagined to be delicate and frail turned out to be strong, independent, and utterly unpretentious.

She rode alongside the soldiers the entire time, and despite the long journey, she never uttered a single word asking for special treatment. Moreover, her archery skills were remarkably accurate, especially whenever the troops stopped to rest.

She would always seize the opportunity to draw her bow and arrow and hunt some game for the soldiers to improve their meals. These acts, one after another, gradually dispelled the resentment the lieutenants had towards her.

Nowadays, they can occasionally chat freely with Qin Qianluo, laughing and joking. They feel that she has no airs of superiority, but is instead kind and approachable, like a girl next door, making them feel close to her.

The army's expedition was like embarking on a perilous journey filled with thorns and fog, with hardships and dangers far exceeding expectations. The howling autumn wind pierced their cheeks like sharp arrows, and unexpected events followed them closely.

Fortunately, the army mainly traveled on the official road, which was newly repaired and resembled a winding ribbon, flat and clean.

It was as if a relatively smooth path had been paved for the tiring march, thus reducing a lot of trouble and hassle.

Meanwhile, Youming's journey was exceptionally arduous. He could only urge his horse to gallop along winding, narrow, and cramped paths.

The path was overgrown with weeds and stray rocks, making the sound of horses' hooves seem particularly jarring in the quiet lane. And occasionally, one would encounter patrolling government officials.

To avoid wasting precious time due to unnecessary trouble such as identity checks, he had to use all his skills to carefully conceal his figure, like a ghost moving through the dark night, quickly and silently hiding away.

As night fell like a giant black curtain, Tianxuan's army, under the hazy moonlight, resembled a long, giant dragon, slowly writhing across the vast, boundless land.

At this moment, they had only traveled halfway, and there was still a long way to go to reach their destination. However, Youming, like a swift wind, had already crossed countless mountains and rivers and entered Xuanyuan's territory, and was rushing towards the majestic imperial city without stopping.

He was extremely anxious. His purpose in traveling here was firstly to truthfully report the urgent news of Tianxuan's invasion, so that the Xuanyuan court could prepare a countermeasure in time.

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