Chapter 58

◎Thin lips stained with a luscious red◎

Xie Shiyi greatly admired this Prince Su.

On the day of the siege, Su Lu dodged the spear by looking up, leaped up the city wall, and killed Yu Chi Duo Han with a single sword strike, which deeply amazed Xie Shiyi. In addition, he had received a few pointers from Su Lu on sword techniques a few days earlier. From then on, Xie Shiyi's eyes shone brighter as he looked at him, and his admiration and respect became undisguised.

In his mind, Su Lu was an invincible war god who was impervious to swords and spears and could not be harmed by anyone. How could he have been injured while interrogating an assassin?

His usually thin lips were now stained with a gaudy red, and there were even small cuts at the corners of his mouth. Xie Shiyi's heart tightened: "Has the young master been ambushed? These damned Northern Rong people are so cunning! Has the young master been injured anywhere else?"

He was about to go in for a closer look when Xie Qi grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him back, subtly nudging him: "Miss, Young Master, please come in quickly."

As soon as the two entered the house, Xie Shiyi was hit on the head.

Xie Qi looked utterly disgusted: "Ancestor, please shut up."

...

Xie Shiyi didn't understand, and he didn't dare to ask, but Xie Qi was the eldest brother, so he listened to him.

Once inside, he presented the intelligence he had gathered over the past few days. Xie Shiyi was the youngest of the group of bodyguards, having just turned sixteen this year. The boy was particularly adept at concealment due to his stature and exceptional lightness skills, and was often assigned to follow and eavesdrop. Ever since Chen Bingliang joined the team, he had been keeping watch from the shadows.

Xie Yutang went through the records of Chen Bingliang's recent whereabouts. Chen Bingliang had exchanged several letters with Bei Rong. She turned a blind eye to it and deliberately let some information out. After Bei Rong tested it a few times, they indeed trusted Chen Bingliang's information more and more.

Like a hidden thread in the grass, its influence extends for miles.

Xie Yutang took a sip of tea, a dark glint flashing in his eyes: "After raising him for so long, it's time to let Lord Chen put him to use."

After the subsequent marching arrangements were made, everyone received their orders one by one. Finally, Xie Yutang said, "Everyone, step back." Xie Shiyi's burning gaze immediately turned to Su Lu, who was sitting at the head of the left.

Although the injury on the prince's mouth was not serious, it would be best to apply some medicine. He also had a few sword moves he wanted to ask about, but before he could speak, Xie Yutang glanced over and said indifferently, "Prince Su, please stay."

...

Xie Shiyi swallowed his words, which were stuck in his throat, and followed Xie Qi out, his eyes and brows filled with disappointment.

Xie Yutang looked at Su Lu's face. First Xie Qi, then Xie Shiyi, and even the secret guards around her were not spared. How could she attract so many people?

A mask was thrown onto the table. Su Lu looked up and saw Xie Yutang had already gotten up and was walking outside: "Put it on."

It's already the third day of the Lunar New Year, and Xuelang Pass is still bustling with activity, filled with the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

On New Year's Eve, Xie Yutang finished drinking with his soldiers and went to Jubao Money Shop. After talking with Zhou Baizhi, he was busy dealing with military affairs and intelligence gathered from secret guards in various places. He only came to a slight end after arranging things for Chen Bingliang. It was already the third day of the Lunar New Year.

It's not too late.

Since she got together with Su Lu, she hasn't had much time to be alone with him. Today, she wanted to finish her business ahead of schedule and come to the city with him for a stroll.

Both of them had very striking faces, especially Su Lu, who, with his mixed Han and non-Han heritage, could hardly be low-key.

Xie Yutang simply made two masks and put them on for both of them. Anyway, there is a long-standing custom in Dayan to stroll through the flower market on the third day of the Lunar New Year. Men and women of marriageable age would wear masks to meet their sweethearts. The two of them walking among them did not look out of place.

The north wind swept across the city walls, carrying fine snowflakes. Lanterns and decorations adorned the city, their red glow reflecting the joyful smiles on everyone's faces.

The lanterns in one of the shops were beautifully made. Xie Yutang glanced at them a few times, and the shop owner cleverly chimed in, "Young master, why don't you pick out a lantern for your wife?"

Su Lu felt a little embarrassed when she called the stall owner "wife," and the thinnest skin behind her ear turned pink. Seeing that Xie Yutang did not object, she took out a copper coin and handed it over.

The warm light of the lantern shone on his profile. The young man wore a mask identical to Xie Yutang's, his jawline was smooth, the mark on his thin lips had faded, and there was a barely noticeable small cut at the corner of his lips.

Xie Yutang's gaze briefly touched the small opening, then he immediately looked away as if nothing had happened, without taking a closer look, and casually grabbed a lantern in front of him: "This one will do."

"Alright!" The stall owner took the money and enthusiastically pointed to the calligraphy brush beside him. "Would the young lady like to write down her blessing?"

Both of them were tall and had outstanding presence; even without seeing their faces, they still stood out in the crowd.

Just as Xie Yutang was about to say no, a little girl next to her asked in a clear voice, "Mother, will General Xie see the blessing that Xiaobao wrote for her?"

Xie Yutang paused and looked at the writing brush and ink stall. He saw a five or six-year-old girl clinging to the edge of the table, crisply finishing the last stroke, and puffing out her cheeks to blow air upwards.

"General Xie?" Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow. "Why send her your blessings?"

"Young lady, are you new here?" The lantern vendor put away the coins, rubbing his hands together as he breathed out white steam. "Who in this city doesn't like General Xie Yutang?"

"These flags on the city wall have changed hands five or six times, but General Xie is the only one who treats us like human beings." An old man under the eaves of the tavern took a sip of wine, his bamboo pipe clanging against the wine jar. "The soldiers' night patrol gongs are more frequent than my old woman's spinning wheel!"

"Those bastards from the Northern Rong ransacked the granaries so badly even the rats wept. Who would have thought we'd be able to get our own grain seeds back in the spring?" The aroma of roasted bread mixed with a Hexi accent wafted over. The woman handed out wrapped naan bread and casually tossed the money into a wooden box beside her. "Our naan bread business depends entirely on the general giving us a way to survive!"

“Yes, General Xie is a Han Chinese, but he didn’t forcibly expel us.” The woman’s husband, who was kneading dough, looked like a Hu (non-Han Chinese). “We are content that our family has a place to settle down and a stable livelihood.”

Xie Yutang hooked his finger on the tassel of the lantern.

Snow Wolf Pass is convenient for water transport and has a thriving commercial sector. Taking this city was intended to utilize its resources as a temporary base for the army. She was busy planning the subsequent march and only mentioned a few words about governing the city: "Do not disturb the people, open the granaries to distribute grain, and let the Han and Hu people govern together." She then delegated the authority to Su Lu and a few trusted subordinates. Unexpectedly, this small trickle slowly gathered into rivers, lakes and seas, and was remembered by the people little by little.

“General Xie will certainly receive it.” Xiao Bao’s mother rubbed the two little buns on her head and looked at the flowing Black River in front of her. “The river will bring her all the blessings.”

Lanterns meander down the river, their blessings a mix of Han and non-Han sentiments, all praying for peace, prosperity, and well-being. But how many in power truly see these simplest of wishes?

What should be a right for everyone has become a precious luxury, carefully cherished, under the crushing influence of the boundless ambition and selfish desires of those in power.

Xie Yutang pushed the lantern into the water. The cold river water touched her fingertips, and the chill crept in inch by inch. Warm hands covered the back of her hands. She turned her head and saw the profile of Su Luming in the flickering light of the lantern.

“That’s why you must keep moving forward, to the highest point.” He knew what she was thinking, and his fingers slowly intertwined with hers. “Only when the bright moon hangs high will its light shine on the world.”

She smiled and asked, "And what about you?"

He answered softly but solemnly, "I will always be by your side."

Xie Yutang slept very well that night.

In the days immediately following her rebirth, she was blinded by hatred, her only desire being revenge. She embarked on a solitary journey, like walking a tightrope over a precipice, with no way forward or back. Even in her dreams, she was often awakened by nightmares, fearing that one wrong move would plunge her back into the abyss and shatter her to pieces.

But at some point, the path beneath her feet was no longer a steel cable, but solid ground. Every cautious attempt was supported by a solid foundation, telling her that she wouldn't slip, and that ahead lay a vast expanse of sky and earth, where she could see the world and all living beings.

There seemed to be a trace of snowy fragrance still lingering in the air. Someone knocked on the door, and Xie Yutang opened his eyes to see two maids carrying copper basins and towels.

After leaving the capital, as long as Su Lu was by his side, he would take care of all these things.

Xie Yutang curled her fingertips slightly, lowered her eyes, and let the somewhat unfamiliar maid cover the back of her hand with a warm handkerchief.

I thought I could accept the days without him by my side, but I didn't expect that I would already feel uncomfortable after just one morning?

*

That color wave.

The north wind whipped up sand and gravel as it swept across the iron chains, and the army commander was covered in sand and frost.

Helou Batu used his longsword to hold up the lamp wick, the flame at the tip casting a flickering shadow on his brow bone. The scar across his left eye resembled a lurking centipede, and the secret letter he had just finished reading slowly burned to ashes in the lamp wick.

"Just as I expected."

Helou Batu's voice was deep and gentle, like a venomous snake gradually approaching its prey, "Since Xie Yutang likes Snow Wolf Pass so much, I will let her stay there forever!"

In the sand table, the wooden carving of the Snow Wolf representing the general suddenly collapsed, and a long-handled sword pierced its abdomen, smashing the Dayan army flag into pieces.

Panic gripped Shuofeng City, with both the Da Yan and Bei Rong forces focusing their attention on this remote border town.

Xie Yutang dispatched Su Lu to lead the main force to attack the city, aiming to capture another city after Xuelang Pass. He Loubatu outwardly feigned engagement, appearing determined to avenge his previous defeat and fight the Dayan army to the death at Shuofeng City. In reality, the so-called main force of the Northern Rong army consisted of only three thousand cavalry, led by Yuchi Amu disguised as "He Loubatu," serving as a diversion to hold off Su Lu. The real He Loubatu, however, led fifty thousand elite troops in a flanking maneuver, using the terrain and forests as cover to completely surround Xuelang Pass.

Helou Batu, clad in iron armor and wearing a silver helmet, stood atop his warhorse, holding a long spear. His gaze toward Xie Yutang was like that of a dead man: "Now Xuelang Pass is an isolated city. Xie Yutang, I advise you to obediently open the city gates and surrender. I will leave you with a whole corpse."

Xie Yutang stood atop the city gate, looking down with no sign of panic about being besieged: "General Helou, are you so sure there's no one in my city?"

"Stop trying to pull this empty city ploy." Helou Batu sneered. "I have received definite intelligence that you sent Su Lu with the main force to Shuofeng City. Now there are only 6,000 garrison troops in the city, facing my 50,000 elite soldiers. Don't even think about playing tricks; even if a Golden Immortal came, he couldn't save you."

Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow: "General He Lou's so-called definite intelligence, did it come from this person?"

Chen Bingliang was brought in, bound hand and foot, his clothes disheveled, his mouth gagged, only able to make muffled sounds.

Helou Batu's pupils dilated, and an ominous premonition swept through his heart. He saw that the surrounding mountains had become a dark mass, and the banners of the Northern Rong army fluttered in the cold northern wind. In the midst of the army, a young general in silver robes and soft armor stood silently on his horse, like a god or a god of death.

The tenth day of the first month of the twenty-seventh year of Taihe.

Su Lu led his army to a great victory over the main force of the Northern Rong. He Lou Batu's 50,000 elite troops were all wiped out, and He Lou Batu managed to escape with difficulty under the protection of his personal guards.

The 21st day of the first month of the 27th year of Taihe.

Xie Yutang marched straight to the cities of Shuofeng and Hanya, reclaiming all three border cities of Dayan that had been occupied, greatly boosting morale in the court.

The 25th day of the first month of the 27th year of Taihe.

Heloubatu's remaining troops suffered repeated defeats. Chen Biao, the battalion commander of the first battalion of the Dayan Army, was stationed in the three cities, while Wu Shiwei, the battalion commander of the second battalion, was ordered to pursue and capture the remaining troops. Xie Yutang and Su Lu led two thousand elite soldiers to secretly infiltrate the Northern Rong capital, Ulun Saihan, and went straight to the royal palace.