Chapter Twenty-Five: Surrounded by Eagles and Wolves
The sky over the northern border always carries a sense of vastness and desolation. The biting wind, like a knife, sweeps across the endless grasslands and the rough faces of the border guards. Seventh Prince Yunji has been in the northern border for nearly two years, and the difficulties he has faced have far exceeded his expectations. The harsh environment can be overcome, but the invisible hand of the court makes his progress extremely difficult. Supplies and provisions are frequently delayed or embezzled under various pretexts, arriving in insufficient quantities and of questionable quality; occasionally, soldiers of "unknown origin" appear in the army, outwardly obedient but with shifty eyes; even during his border patrols, he has encountered several attacks by "bandits." These bandits are ruthless and their movements are well-planned; if it weren't for Guo Qiyu's personal guards secretly protecting him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
On this day, in the simple study of the general's mansion, the charcoal brazier could not dispel the bone-chilling cold. Yunji frowned as he looked at yet another document in his hand announcing the interception of grain supplies. Guo Qiyu, this young but seasoned general, and also Huairou's elder brother, strode in and slammed his riding whip heavily on the table.
"Your Highness, another batch of winter clothes has been stuck in Youzhou! They say the roads are blocked, but it's clear someone is trying to make things difficult for us!" Guo Qiyu's voice was filled with suppressed anger. He looked at Yunji, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Your Highness, do you know that every move you make in the Northern Border affects the nerves of certain people in the capital? Your promotion of border trade has touched the interests of those parasites who line their own pockets by exploiting border tensions; your kindness to the soldiers and your understanding of the people's plight only make some people look incompetent. This Northern Border is not only a barrier against foreign enemies, but also an extension of the court's power struggles!"
Yunji raised his head, his youthful face having lost some of the naiveté he had shown in the capital, replaced by a more composed and resolute air: "General Qiyu, I understand. My father sent me here not only for training, but also to let me see the world clearly and understand people's hearts. When supplies are scarce, we will cut back on expenses and share the hardships with our soldiers; when someone tries to obstruct us, we will act cautiously and not give the villains any opportunity. The border trade is related to the long-term stability of the border, and it must not be neglected because of my safety alone."
Looking at the increasingly mature prince before him, Guo Qiyu felt both gratified and worried. He said in a low voice, "It is a blessing for the people and soldiers of the Northern Border that Your Highness thinks this way. However... it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against an arrow in the dark. The situation on the grasslands is equally unpredictable."
At this time, the grasslands were not monolithic. The largest tribe, the Daur tribe, was led by the ambitious and talented leader Su Tan, who enjoyed immense prestige on the grasslands. He longed for peaceful coexistence with the Central Plains dynasty and hoped to improve the tribe's livelihood through trade. He intended to marry his most beloved daughter, Princess Yuan Ya, to Yunji. However, three other major tribes on the grasslands were also eyeing the region covetously.
Among them, the son of the leader of the second largest tribe, named Eagle Eye, lived up to his name, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's and a fierce and unruly nature. He had long been captivated by Yuan Ya's beauty and intelligence, and had repeatedly proposed to Su Tan in marriage, only to be rejected each time. Now, hearing that Su Tan intended to marry Yuan Ya to a prince from the Central Plains, he was filled with hostility towards Yun Ji.
In the early days of the trade, Hawkeye repeatedly provoked Yunji. At wrestling and horse racing events between tribes, he would intentionally or unintentionally target the Central Plains followers brought by Yunji, using harsh words and behaving recklessly. During one horse race, he even deliberately spurred his horse to collide with Yunji's horse, nearly causing an accident.
"Seventh Prince," Hawkeye said, perched high on his horse, pointing at Yunji with his whip, his tone full of disdain, "you Central Plains people only know how to indulge in poetry and romance amidst brocade and embroidery. When you come to this grassland, you can't even ride a horse steadily. What makes you think you can trade with us? And what makes you think you can... marry the most dazzling pearl of the grassland?" His gaze swept over Yuan Ya, who was treating an injured herdsman not far away, filled with a determined and unconvinced attitude.
Yunji reined in his frightened horse, his expression calm and without anger. He simply said, "Young Master Eagle Eye, the trade is for the benefit of both peoples, not for the merits or demerits of one person. As for weddings and funerals, these are not things that you or I can decide."
Hawkeye snorted coldly, spurred his horse and rode away, leaving behind a resentful silhouette.
Seeing that he couldn't gain the upper hand openly, the flames of jealousy burned within Eagle Eye's tent. He decided to take a risky gamble.
Shortly after, Hawkeye secretly sent a message to Yunji, claiming that he had discovered a mineral vein deep in the grasslands that appeared to be a remnant of the previous dynasty. If found, it would greatly strengthen the northern border defenses, and he was willing to personally guide the way. The message was earnest, as if he were acting out of a sense of public duty.
Although Yunji found it suspicious, considering the scarcity of supplies on the border, finding a mineral vein would be of great significance. He discussed it with Guo Qiyu, who strongly objected: "Your Highness, Eagle Eye is a wolf in sheep's clothing and cannot be trusted! The terrain deep in the grasslands is complex and the weather is unpredictable. If it's a trap, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
However, after much deliberation, Yunji decided to take a small squad of elite guards to investigate and instructed Guo Qiyu that if he did not return within three days, he should immediately send someone to meet him.
After Yunji set off, Yuan Ya felt uneasy. She knew Hawkeye; he was vengeful and would never be so kind. She found Guo Qiyu and expressed her worries: "General Qiyu, Hawkeye is definitely up to no good! His Highness's journey is fraught with danger!"
Guo Qiyu's expression was solemn: "I also think so, but Your Highness insists on going... I have sent people to follow secretly, but the grasslands are vast, and there may be oversights."
"No, we can't just sit and wait!" Yuan Ya's eyes were firm. "I know a shortcut to that area, and I know the terrain and weather there better than you do! Please, General, give me a troop of men, and I'll go to meet His Highness!"
Guo Qiyu looked at the seemingly gentle yet resolute princess before him, and his heart trembled. He knew the journey was dangerous, but Yuan Ya's determination and her status (her understanding of the grasslands was indeed unparalleled) made it impossible for him to refuse. "Alright! Princess Yuan Ya, be careful! I will lead the troops to meet you shortly afterward, to provide support!"
Yuan Ya changed into a neat riding and archery outfit, slung her medicine bag and bow and arrows over her shoulder, and led a team of elite cavalry, charging into the vast grassland like an arrow released from a bow.
As expected, Yunji and his group entered the trap zone set by Hawkeye. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, and a blizzard poured down, plunging the world into chaos. The guide (Hawkeye's men) took the opportunity to slip away, and Yunji and his personal guards lost their way, becoming trapped in a dangerous area where swamps and hills met.
As if things weren't going to go wrong, just as they were struggling to find shelter, countless eerie green lights appeared all around them—a pack of wolves! And not just a small pack, but dozens of hungry prairie wolves, driven desperate by the wind, snow, and unfamiliar atmosphere, who saw Yunji and his group as their prey.
"Protect His Highness!" the captain of the personal guards shouted, and the men formed a circle, swords drawn, confronting the wolf pack.
The wolves launched a fearless attack. A fierce and brutal melee erupted between humans and wolves. Although Yunji was skilled in martial arts, his lack of experience made him vulnerable. In the chaos, a cunning wolf pounced on him, its claws leaving deep, bone-revealing wounds on his shoulder and arm, instantly staining his robes crimson with blood. His personal guards fought desperately, but suffered heavy casualties as well. Just then, a whistling arrow pierced the air, accurately striking the wolf king, who was about to bite Yunji's throat, through the eye! The wolf king howled in agony, its attack halted.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Yuan Ya leading the charge through the snowstorm, longbow in hand, her eyes blazing. The cavalry following behind her immediately joined the battle, their blades flashing as they scattered the wolf pack.
"Your Highness!" Yuan Ya leaped off her horse and rushed to Yunji's side despite the danger. Seeing his bloodied and mangled shoulder, her eyes instantly reddened, but she forced herself to remain calm. She quickly took out wound medicine and clean strips of cloth from her medicine pouch and skillfully stopped the bleeding and bandaged his wound. "Bear with it, it'll be over soon!" Her voice trembled slightly, but her movements were as steady as a rock.
Looking at her focused and resolute profile, feeling the warmth and strength emanating from her fingertips, Yunji felt an indescribable surge of emotion welling up within him. On the verge of life and death, it was this seemingly frail woman who, like a divine intervention, rescued him from danger.
Although the wolf pack had been temporarily driven back, they hadn't gone far and were still lurking around, their green eyes gleaming in the wind and snow, waiting for an opportunity to strike. An even greater crisis was that they were still in danger, and the blizzard was growing increasingly fierce.
Yuan Ya observed the terrain and the wolf pack's movements, and decisively ordered, "We can't stay here any longer! Follow me, I know there are caves nearby where we can take shelter from the wind!" She helped Yun Ji up and directed the remaining people to fight and retreat.
Using her familiarity with the grasslands, she managed to find a way out in the snowstorm with extremely low visibility, leading everyone to take shelter in a hidden cave. The cave entrance was narrow and easy to defend. She ordered the less wounded soldiers to block the entrance, and instructed the others to collect dry moss and twigs from inside the cave to build a campfire for warmth. She also carefully cleaned the wounds of all the injured and applied herbal medicine.
Yunji leaned against the rock wall, watching Yuanya's busy figure. In the flickering firelight, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but her expression was incredibly focused and calm. She had not only saved his life, but also demonstrated astonishing leadership and cool-headed judgment in a desperate situation.
“Yuan Ya…” Yun Ji called softly.
Yuan Ya turned around, walked to his side, checked his wound, and breathed a sigh of relief: "The bleeding has stopped. Fortunately, no bones or tendons were injured. How are you feeling, Your Highness?"
“It’s alright.” Yunji shook his head, looking at her intently. “Thank you, Yuanya. If you hadn’t arrived in time, we probably…”
Yuan Ya smiled slightly, a smile that appeared particularly warm and touching in the firelight: "Your Highness risked your life for the peace of the border, how could I sit idly by? Besides..." She paused, her voice lowered, and ultimately said nothing more.
At this moment, even louder commotion and shouts of battle arose outside. Guo Qiyu's men finally arrived, and with the help of those inside and outside, they completely dispersed the wolf pack and captured the eagle-eyed scout who was trying to approach to investigate.
The crisis was averted. Yunji, escorted by Yuan Ya and Guo Qiyu, safely returned to his post.
After this battle, Hawkeye's plot failed, and he had to devise another plan to assassinate Yunji.
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