Chapter 14

The only thing Shen Yi heard was Shen Qian's last ambiguous sneer. He subconsciously clenched his fists and stared at the person in front of him, even though that was the owner of this marquis's mansion and his father.

Chen Qian met that look, his eyes gleaming with an inexplicable meaning, and then remembered that he really shouldn't take his anger out on his unsuccessful son. Temporarily suppressing the anger and immense worry he had felt this morning after hearing the urgent imperial summons, he looked his eldest son in the eye and repeated the tragic news that neither of them wanted to hear, no matter what.

"Urgent news was just delivered to the palace last night. In just two days, the food and fodder were about to arrive, but Yumen Pass was already seized by the Hu people."

When Shen Yi heard these words clearly, it was like a thunderclap exploding in his ears. He staggered back half a step and held on to the door frame with his hands to steady himself.

How could this be? He had clearly received a letter from Xue Congzhi a few days ago, and yesterday he had sat quietly in his room watching the snow fall for almost a whole day and night, before falling into an incomparably peaceful sleep.

How could his grandfather fail to defend Yumen Pass? Did the Hu people attack the city prematurely? According to his previous calculations, the heavy snow in Longxi would not melt away so early.

He calculated over and over again, hoping that the old man would return to the capital in triumph as he had done in the past. He felt it was only a matter of time, and finally he felt relieved and no longer thought about Longxi day and night.

"Grandpa...is my grandfather injured?" Shen Yi asked anxiously, looking at the person who announced the bad news to the public, but he was really conflicted and wanted to hear more news from Shen Qian.

Chen Qian looked at his eldest son who had lost his composure in front of him, and he could hardly suppress his disappointment. Thinking of the involvement, he thought that most people in his mansion were similar to Chen Yi, and they only cared about the Huo mansion and that reckless man.

Even though that was his own father-in-law, he deliberately stopped for a while to soothe his knees which were sore from kneeling. After hearing the angry voice of that man in the palace, the long street was muddy and his clothes, soaked by the snow, stuck to his body, making him look very embarrassed.

Even though he was used to being in such a mess, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of shock and anger at the moment. "The Heavenly Family even issued an urgent order, ordering him to recapture it."

He exhaled heavily, and divided his thoughts in the elevator into reminders to the person in front of him, hoping that Shen Yi would listen to him more.

"Your grandfather, your mother's father is fine for the time being," Chen Qian took a step closer and looked at his son. He saw that he had grown up and that his eyes and brows were similar to his own. However, his temperament just followed Huo Yue's, and he was ultimately unable to follow the path he had paved for him.

Just like Huo Yue back then, he didn't want to hear a word from him, and simply waved his hand to let the deputy general beside him drag him out. Inside the wide-open door, the lingering smell of alcohol hung in the air, and the conversation at the banquet was filled with unbearable vulgarity. Did they still think Chang'an was another Longxi?

Now Chen Yi can no longer see what kind of path he will take. If he doesn't want to be a predator, he should first hold the knife and be the one holding the knife.

Before he could speak, Chen Qian shook his head, unwilling to say more. "He can only win the next battle. The next urgent report can only be about retaking Yumen. If not, if not..."

This was exactly what frightened him. He stared into Shen Yi's eyes and said the last words he could give him. "From now on, there will be no more Huo Mansion in Chang'an City, and no more General of the Cavalry in the court. No matter what, he can't come back."

Shen Yi remained silent, also meeting Shen Qian's gaze. The person standing before him now was only the Marquis Jianxin in the court, a person that his grandfather disliked extremely.

His nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. He used the pain to force himself to hear every word Chen Qian said clearly, and remember every word that came out of Chen Qian's mouth.

In Chang'an City, the news he wanted to get and the judgment he wanted to hear could only be obtained by relying on the person in front of him, relying on his biological father, relying on the person who released the power, relying on the person who wanted to hold on to this power - relying on this Guannei Hou.

Chen Qian will not ignore the war in Longxi, nor will he sit idly by and allow the factions in the court to target the Huo family first.

He lowered his head first, avoiding Shen Qian's sight, and bowed to Shen Qian. "I hope father will walk around the city more often, and my grandfather will definitely not be defeated again."

Then he locked himself in the house, not bothering to check the charcoal fire that was about to go out. He just sat at the table, stunned.

Why did they lose? Yumen was a natural barrier, and the Hu people were trapped in the snow. He didn't even loosen his clenched fist, letting the red drip onto the table.

Shen Yi kept repeating in his mind what Shen Qian had just said. The most direct reason was that if there was no chaos in the city, it would mean that Xue Congzhi was one or two days late and did not reach Yumen.

The army was tired and hungry, and therefore failed to stop the Hu people's attack.

He finally loosened his clenched fist, his trembling fingertips resting on the table. It was just a temporary setback, he consoled himself with this thought, a blessing and a curse.

Unfortunately, he failed to secure Yumen, angering the emperor, who issued a series of urgent orders. Easy to defend, difficult to attack, the dynamics of attack and defense were different. His grandfather would face a desperate battle to recapture the pass. Fortunately, he had food to retreat to. He had memorized the map, and if his grandfather retreated, he would inevitably run into Xue Congzhi.

After a few days of recuperation in a nearby city, and with the new food brought by Xue Congzhi, the old man should be able to reorganize the army soon. He just needs to wait for the right time and people to come. After taking Yumen Pass, the Hu people will no longer have the strength to fight.

There is no surplus food in Yumen Pass now. If compared this way, my grandfather has a greater chance of winning.

Chen Yi ignored the minor wound that was still bleeding. He took out the letter from the wooden box beside his pillow and placed it together with the map, then looked at it again and again in front of the oil lamp.

He recalled his grandfather's drunken spear dance before his departure, reminiscing about the past. He had never witnessed that scene with his own eyes, only glimpsing a glimpse of his spirit through that dance, and it suddenly dawned on him that his grandfather had spent more than twenty years in Longxi, and had seen countless bones and taken countless heads.

A defeat was a common occurrence for Huo Yue. My grandfather was old but still strong, and his military skills were both rough and meticulous. It was just a matter of taking Yumen Pass again.

At least my grandfather knew the structure of the city and the people there. I could only stay in Chang'an and wait for the next good news from Longxi.

As for the last few warnings from Chen Qian, he no longer wanted to think about them. He considered them all as the most unlikely disasters. His own grandfather, A Niang's father,

The General of Cavalry appointed by the late emperor himself will not fall easily, nor will he suffer another defeat. He will not allow the Hu people to slaughter the people of Longxi, allow the horses' hooves to trample the sand of Longxi, and allow the blood to dye the wind of Longxi red.

That was where he studied for twenty years, and it was also the place he wanted to protect for the rest of his life.

Shen Yi was still sitting at the table thinking, constantly calculating the time, daydreaming about these things while looking at the map and silk cloth, and relying on his grandfather immensely, with deep wishes and hopes, and absolute faith in his grandfather.

He was completely unaware of when the charcoal fire in the stove went out. The room quickly became cold, and he sat there stiffly for a long time.

It was not until Shen Yi came back to his senses that he dragged his stiff legs to his feet, poured himself a cup of warm tea and held it in his hands.

The snow piled up in the courtyard was still white, spreading across the sand and slowly melting from the bottom. A cold wind blew in from the window, bringing an even more biting chill.

He looked out the window again, enduring a headache like needles pricking him, thinking about what he had not finished thinking about just now, and began to wait from then on, waiting for new news to come from Longxi.

The servant came back in and lit the stove, and Shen Yi slept through the difficult night. The next morning, he heard that Mrs. Huo had caught a cold, so he hurried to her room.

The doctor invited from the shop had just written a prescription, saying that Mrs. Huo was ill due to worry and suddenly suffered a great shock, which caused her to fall ill and never get up.

The maid was busy in the kitchen making medicine. Shen Yi stood in front of the window, looking through the small gap for air to see Mrs. Huo lying on the couch, and to see his mother.

Catching a glimpse of Mrs. Huo's pale face from afar, he merely clenched the corner of his sleeve. He knew, he understood, the immense stimulation and torment this was.

That was A Niang's biological father and also his maternal grandfather. Shen Yi did not respond to the servant's advice, but stood quietly by and watched the maid carry the medicine into the house.

He watched as white steam rose from the bowl of blackened medicine, and saw Mrs. Huo being lifted up by a maid, being fed the medicine spoonful by spoonful. Standing there, he could smell the bitter aroma of the herbs and see his mother's swollen eyes.

In the end, he just sighed silently, avoided Huo's sight, and walked back the way he had come. He only hoped that Shen Wan, who was far away in the palace, would not get the news so quickly.

The victory or defeat in Longxi is still uncertain, so His Majesty should not vent his anger on the concubines in the harem first.

He also had the same extravagant hope, hoping that his elder sister would not hear such news, and wait a little longer, wait a little longer...

Shen Yi knew very well that he could only wait, wait for his grandfather to win a great victory, wait for him to retake Yumen Pass.

Only such good news can catch that person's eye, only such good news can comfort my elder sister who lives in the deep palace, and only with such good news, only when my grandfather comes back, my mother's illness will be completely cured, and I won't have to listen to what Chen Qian says anymore.

The snow in Chang'an City slowly melted into water, seeping into the sand in the courtyard, leaving no trace.

The clouds gathered in the sky were blown away by the raging north wind, revealing a red sun that spread the remaining warmth.

The heater in the mansion was never removed. Chen Yi kept the doors and windows wide open every day, fearing that he would miss any news, and would not close them until he fell asleep late at night.

He would often only sleep for an hour or two, then get up, wash, and sit at the table, waiting again for the next day's news, waiting for news from Longxi.

He didn't have to wait long for this news. As soon as Shen Qian stepped out of the sedan chair, the news of the great victory spread throughout the entire street.

"A great victory in Longxi - Young Marquis", "Young Marquis - A great victory in Longxi." Shen Yi heard such shouts, and the white dove delivering the message happened to land in front of his window.

He caught one of the white dove's wings and slowly unfolded the half piece of silk cloth with incomparable joy. His eyes went dark and he let his fingertips droop weakly.

"General Huo died in Yumen."

There were only eight words scribbled on the silk cloth.