"If we have to ask this old idiot to open the city gate, we'll have a chance to break into the city and capture Yun Qianmeng alive." As he spoke, Hai Quan's finger kept tapping a corner of the map. Although he didn't say it explicitly, it reminded the generals in the tent.
These generals have followed Hai Quan for many years and naturally understand Hai Quan's style of doing things. If the prince had not found a breakthrough, he would never say such words.
"Dong Jin is a tough nut to crack. He will never let the people in the city suffer. He is also a close confidant of Chu Nanshan and will risk his life to protect the Princess of Chu. Just look at what has happened in the past month since our hundreds of thousands of troops were at the gates of the city. It's easy to get past Dong Jin. Besides, there is a resourceful Princess of Chu in the city. Plus, hundreds of thousands of the King of Chu's troops are all here now. It's so difficult for us to force our way in. From what the prince meant, if we can't do it openly, how about we do it secretly?" Murong Jie stared at the map mark that Hai Quan's finger was pointing to. His eyes darkened and his mind became active instantly. It was obvious that he had understood what Hai Quan meant.
After hearing Murong Jie's analysis, Hai Quan couldn't help but look at him with admiration. The gloomy expression he had when he first arrived finally softened. He nodded with a slightly softer expression and continued, "Jincheng is located on the northern edge of the country, which has always been short of water. However, because of its location on the northern edge, Jincheng is blessed with several mountains. The spring water flowing from these mountains is enough for the people of Jincheng to meet their daily drinking needs, except for the stored winter snow. Jiang Muchen's army is guarding the city. If we mobilize the army, it will definitely attract Jiang Muchen's attention. It would be better to send secret guards to sneak into Jincheng and tamper with the spring water. If the people of Jincheng drink the poisonous spring water, the city's medicinal materials will be in short supply. I don't believe that Dong Jin, who loves his people so much, will watch them die."
At the end of his words, a murderous look flashed across Hai Quan's face. Hai Yue's death must have been a huge blow to him, otherwise why would he drag the entire city's people to be buried with Hai Yue?
"Your Highness, this idea is excellent!" After hearing Hai Quan's plan, the generals of the Sea King Army applauded and praised it, and long-lost smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
After defending Jincheng for more than a month, these generals who were used to fighting on the battlefield were already impatient. Now that they had this method, which could allow the enemy to open the city gates by themselves, how could these generals not agree?
"Your Highness, please leave this matter to me!" Murong Jie volunteered to take charge of the matter.
Unexpectedly, Hai Quan rejected Murong Jie's request in front of everyone. He shook his head gently, shifting his gaze from the map. He calmly scanned the generals gathered around the table, and finally fixed his gaze on Murong Jie. He said in a deep voice, "You were originally sent to attack the north. If there were no suitable generals for the siege of Jincheng, I would not have transferred you from Zhengzhou. Now that I have come to Jincheng, you must immediately return to Zhengzhou. Don't let Chu Feiyang and Jiang Muchen take advantage of the situation."
After hearing what Hai Quan said, Murong Jie was stunned. Even though he thought he had looked at things in a comprehensive way, there was still a huge difference between him and Neptune.
The three kings concentrated their main forces in Jincheng. Outsiders would certainly think that Jincheng and its vicinity were the final battlefield. Little did they know that Chu Feiyang and Jiang Muchen still had nearly a million troops. If these troops launched a counterattack against the Sea King's army at this time, even if the Sea King's army won the small city of Jincheng, they would probably lose even more cities.
Thinking of this, Murong Jie's palms broke out in a layer of cold sweat. The arrogance in his eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by a cautious look. He nodded seriously to Hai Quan and did not mention the proposal just now.
Inside Jincheng.
In the winter of December, heavy snow has already fallen from the sky in the north.
"Princess, it's snowing." Mu Chun entered the inner room carrying lunch, and saw that there was some white snow on her hair and shoulders.
Hearing this, Yun Qianmeng put down the book in her hand, supported her bulging belly and stood up carefully. Then she slowly walked to the window, gently pushed open a wooden window and looked out. Sure enough, she saw heavy snow like goose feathers falling from the gray sky.
"We've been here for more than a month!" There was a charcoal fire burning in the inner room, and the air inside seemed a little stuffy. Yun Qianmeng simply pushed open the half-open wooden window to let the cool air from outside flow in.
However, watching the light snowflakes falling to the ground, Yun Qianmeng's heart was heavy. Her eyes couldn't help but look towards the sky, and her thoughts drifted away...
Having been besieged in Jincheng for more than a month, Yun Qianmeng's daily thoughts and actions were all about how to break through the defenses of King Chen and King Hai.
Unfortunately, over the past month or so, the two armies' defenses have become increasingly tight, and each has increased its manpower by another 100,000. It seems that King Chen and King Hai have realized that the chaotic fighting in Western Chu is about to end, and a large-scale war is about to begin around Jincheng.
Their action also told Yun Qianmeng that these two people probably already knew that he had the imperial edict in his hands.
Confirming this conjecture in his heart, Yun Qianmeng's brows gradually furrowed, and he put a little force on his hands on the windowsill, fearing that the matter would not be resolved so easily.
"Princess, you are pregnant, how can you stand by the window? It's too cold outside, you must not catch a cold at this time." After setting up lunch, Mu Chun quickly walked to the window and stretched out his hand to help Yun Qianmeng to the table.
"How can you be so delicate?" Knowing that everything Mu Chun did was for her own good, Yun Qianmeng smiled and pushed her hand away. She still stood by the window with a look of deep thought, obviously still thinking about how to break out.
At this moment, Qiao Ying quickly walked into the inner room, and upon seeing Yun Qianmeng, he immediately bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets the princess!"
Hearing the sound, Yun Qianmeng turned sideways and looked over. Seeing a hint of joy between Qiao Ying's brows, Yun Qianmeng asked softly, "Wake up, is there something good happening?"
When Qiao Ying heard Yun Qianmeng mention the word "happy event", her eyes froze for a moment, then she came to her senses. With the princess's meticulous nature, she must have guessed whether the matter was good or bad from her expression when she entered the room.
Qiao Ying stood up and walked over to Yun Qianmeng. Her eyes lit up as she spoke, "Princess, I just received a signal from the prince. He's already in the Chu King's camp outside Jincheng. I believe the crisis in Jincheng will be resolved soon."
Upon hearing this news, Yun Qianmeng was slightly stunned, and then the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
However, the heaviness that had accumulated for more than a month faded from those beautiful eyes with a smile, and with a hint of relief, Yun Qianmeng showed her first comfortable smile since being trapped in Jincheng.
"Princess..." Mu Chun was so happy that she cried. Her eyes were slightly wet and she gently rubbed the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hands. She called Yun Qianmeng softly. It seemed that she was also shocked by the news.
"Okay, stop crying! Even if the prince doesn't come, can't the hundreds of thousands of Chu King's troops protect us?" Yun Qianmeng raised her hand and patted Mu Chun's little face. Then, thinking of the many difficulties in saving Jincheng, she put away the joy in her heart and said seriously, "Besides this news, does the prince have any other news?"
In response to this question, Qiao Ying shook his head and said, "No, the prince has not issued any other orders."
"Princess, the prince must be afraid you'd worry, so he's only announcing the good news! You're pregnant now, so your health should be your top priority. Now that the prince has arrived in Jincheng, you don't have to worry as much as you did the other day." Mu Chun saw Yun Qianmeng still frowning, and hurriedly offered words of comfort. These days, the princess had been worried day and night about the siege of Jincheng. She was pregnant, yet so thin it was heartbreaking. Mu Chun saw it all, and her heart ached. Now that the prince had arrived in Jincheng, how could she not be happy?
"Don't worry!" Seeing Mu Chun still worried about her health, Yun Qianmeng relaxed her brows and curled her lips into a smile. Then she turned and looked up at the distant horizon. She gently placed her palms on her belly, caressing the child in her belly lovingly, and softly instructed Qiao Ying, "Send a signal to tell the prince that I am fine and don't let him worry."
Distraction is the most taboo in marching and fighting, especially when surrounded by powerful enemies. You cannot afford to make a wrong move. Chu Feiyang is the soul of the Chu King's army. If he makes even the slightest mistake, the entire Chu King's army will be in an irretrievable situation.
Seeing Yun Qianmeng's cautious expression, Qiao Ying nodded solemnly and replied, "Don't worry, Princess. I will take care of this matter immediately."
After saying this, Qiao Ying turned around and left the inner room as quickly as she had come...
"Princess, lunch is getting cold. You should eat first." Seeing that the heat in the room had dissipated, Mu Chun quickly closed the window, then helped Yun Qianmeng walk back to the table and sit down. Then he poured a bowl of hot soup from the earthenware jar and placed it next to Yun Qianmeng's hand.
Picking up the porcelain bowl, Yun Qianmeng lowered her head and sniffed the fragrant pork rib soup inside. Just as she was about to open her mouth to drink a sip of the soup, she heard a chaotic but quick sound of footsteps outside the house.
Before Mu Chun could ask, Dong Jin's voice was heard outside the room, "The humble Dong Jin requests to see the princess."
Before Yun Qianmeng could even take a sip of the hot soup, she placed the porcelain bowl back on the table and softly instructed Mu Chun, "Help me to the outer room."
After he finished speaking, Yun Qianmeng stood up with his hands on the table.
Seeing this, Mu Chun noticed that the relaxed look on Yun Qianmeng's face had disappeared, replaced by a serious look. Mu Chun did not dare to delay any longer and immediately stepped forward to hold her arm, carefully helping Yun Qianmeng out of the inner room.
At this time, Dong Jin was standing respectfully outside. He was wearing neat armor, his right hand tightly pressed on the sword at his waist, and there was a rare look of anxiety and anger between his brows. He was completely shrouded in anger.
"Your humble servant greets the princess." The door curtain was lifted, and Dong Jin saw Yun Qianmeng coming out after hearing the voice. He immediately restrained all the expressions on his face and saluted Yun Qianmeng respectfully.
"General, I'm honored. I wonder what brings you here today?" These days, Dong Jin has been busy dealing with provocations from the Chen Wang Army and the Hai Wang Army, rarely coming to the inn to discuss matters with Yun Qianmeng in person. But today, not only did he come in person, but his expression revealed so much, Yun Qianmeng's alarm bells went off. Before Dong Jin could even begin, she asked.
Seeing that the Princess of Chu had already sensed something was amiss, Dong Jin's face was once again filled with anxiety. He frowned and spoke with a hint of anger, "Just now, the city guards reported that many people in the city have developed symptoms of poisoning after drinking the spring water. This is unprecedented, and I suspect someone may have secretly tampered with the spring water. That's why I came to inform the Princess. In addition, I've brought a doctor to check the Princess's food to ensure she doesn't accidentally consume any poisonous spring water."
Dong Jin spoke very quickly, and by the time he finished speaking, a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on his forehead. He was obviously worried that Yun Qianmeng would accidentally drink the mountain spring water and get into trouble.
Upon hearing this, Mu Chun's expression suddenly changed. He looked at Yun Qianmeng in shock. Without waiting for Yun Qianmeng to speak, he turned around and rushed into the inner room. He brought out all the lunch on the table and said anxiously, "General, please check!"
Not to mention that the princess is pregnant now, even if she is not pregnant, if something happens to the princess, Mu Chun will never forgive himself for his carelessness in this life.
Seeing Mu Chun sweating profusely from anxiety, Yun Qianmeng took her hand, gently patted the back of her hand, and said in a gentle and reassuring tone, "Don't worry, we're using the snow water stored in the inn's cellar. I think everything will be fine."
As she spoke, Yun Qianmeng turned her gaze towards Dong Jin and said seriously, "Then I'll have to trouble you, General. What's the situation in the city now? Can the poison be cured?"
Seeing Yun Qianmeng's reassurance, Dong Jin nodded cautiously. He then had the city defense soldiers bring out lunch for the doctors to examine. He then earnestly answered Yun Qianmeng's questions, "Nearly a thousand people have been poisoned. Those living at the foot of the mountain, most of whom are accustomed to drinking mountain spring water, have been most severely poisoned. Unfortunately, the city's doctors and military surgeons can only treat minor injuries and bruises, and none are proficient in treating the poison in the water. All I can do is have all the city's doctors rush to the patients' homes to take their pulses and examine their condition, and all the pharmacies prepare some common detoxifying soups and send them to the residents. However, this isn't the right remedy, and I'm afraid that over time, someone might die. Plus, the city has limited medicinal materials, and the longer we delay, the more likely it is to spark a riot. That's why I've come to discuss this with the princess. Do you have any suggestions?"
Perhaps it was because he was too concerned, Dong Jin was wholeheartedly thinking about the people, but he forgot that Yun Qianmeng had just learned about this. How could he come up with a good idea in such a short time?
After listening to Dong Jin's explanation, Yun Qianmeng's elegant eyebrows were slightly furrowed, but her eyes as bright as stars were shining with a firm light. Her calm and composed demeanor made Dong Jin gradually put away his anxiety and start thinking seriously about how to solve the problem.
Yun Qianmeng gently held her belly with both hands, her mind turning in a thousand directions as she pondered the matter carefully. After a long while, she finally spoke to Mu Chun, who was standing beside her. "Mu Chun, go to the Concubine Dowager and tell Yingxia to follow General Dong to the foot of the mountain to seek medical treatment for the poisoned people."
"Princess, this is not possible. Yingxia is your maid. All the doctors in the city have rushed to the patient's home, and you are pregnant. If you send Yingxia away, it will be dangerous if something happens to you." Mu Chun refused without thinking. Her face was full of anxiety. This was the first time she opposed Yun Qianmeng's proposal. She was even more anxious to support Yun Qianmeng, hinting that Yun Qianmeng had changed her mind.
Hearing Mu Chun's objection, even Dong Jin, who was standing beside him, showed a look of disapproval and joined in persuading Yun Qianmeng, "Princess, Mu Chun is right. You can't be without people around you who don't know medical skills. Let me think of other ways."
"I can't say I'm proficient in medicine, but I have some knowledge of poison, which may be useful. Time waits for no one, so don't let the people fall into danger because of our hesitation." Unexpectedly, Yun Qianmeng's expression was very determined, and her tone was rare and firm. She decided the matter without any explanation, and even shot a stern light at Mu Chun, indicating that she should take Dong Jin to the residence of Concubine Yuande immediately.
Mu Chun was anxious. Seeing Yun Qianmeng's unusually firm expression, she was also worried that Yun Qianmeng would have a miscarriage. She could only nod reluctantly and quietly leave the outer room.
"In that case, I would like to thank the princess on behalf of the people of Jincheng." Dong Jin seemed to be slightly relieved and thanked Yun Qianmeng sincerely.
Yun Qianmeng simply shook her head, her expression still solemn. She spoke in a deep voice, "This matter was originally caused by me. Why should I thank you, General? However, I am very curious. We have been strictly guarding the water source. Generally speaking, it is extremely difficult to attack from the water source. Who between Prince Chen and Prince Hai was able to poison it so quietly? And what about the secret guards we sent to the mountain to protect the water source? If they poisoned it, why didn't they hit it with one strike?"
Being able to poison them without anyone noticing while they were on high alert showed that the other party was determined to win.
The many phenomena revealed by this incident are full of doubts, which makes people puzzled.
Listening carefully to Yun Qianmeng's questions, Dong Jin was startled and replied with a frown, "Most of the secret guards were killed or wounded. The people who poisoned us were numerous and skilled in martial arts. Once they were caught by the secret guards and unable to escape, they bit the poison hidden in their mouths and committed suicide, leaving us no clues to pursue them. I have redeployed a group of secret guards to the mountains to ensure the safety of the water source. However, what the princess said is very true. Why didn't they poison us when we were unaware, but instead waited for us to discover it?"
Having said this, Dong Jin fell into deep thought, unable to comprehend the mystery.
Yun Qianmeng slowly walked to the table and sat down. Her right hand gently touched the jade bracelet on her left wrist, slowly turning the lustrous jade bracelet. She pursed her lips, her thoughts racing...
"Perhaps, the other party wants to force us to open the city gate ourselves." After a while, Yun Qianmeng gently uttered these words.
These words were like a bolt of thunder in a clear sky, instantly changing Dong Jin's expression. He suddenly looked up at Yun Qianmeng with disbelief in his eyes.
"Now the three kings are in a state of containment. If one of them takes action, the other two will certainly not sit still. Since the open approach won't work, they naturally have to think of other ways. Apart from the Chu army, the only ones who can poison are Chen Wang and Hai Wang. Chen Wang's army is closest to Jincheng. If Chen Wang intends to attack the city, even if there are Hai Wang's army and Chu Wang's army outside, it will take some effort to take Jincheng from him. What's more, Chen Wang has already regarded Jincheng as his own. He has not taken any action in the past month. Why rush at this moment? Therefore, the only one left is Hai Wang. Hai Wang's army is trapped in the middle of the two armies, unable to advance or retreat, which is the most frustrating. If they want to attack, To conquer Jincheng, the Sea King must be prepared to deal with the other two kings simultaneously, as well as the defenders within. Such a massive undertaking would be too exhausting for manpower. It would be better to take a risk and break through Jincheng one by one. Furthermore, the situation within the city is likely known to those outside. If the civilians are poisoned, they will naturally need medical treatment. Food and medicinal materials are now almost depleted, which will undoubtedly cause panic among the people, and some will undoubtedly try to escape. If the city gates fall without a fight, the enemy's goal will be achieved. Yun Qianmeng relayed her analysis to Dong Jin, each and every one of them a carefully considered conclusion. Her expression was solemn as she spoke, clearly aware that the situation was becoming increasingly serious.
If the poisoning wasn't resolved quickly, things would unfold as planned, and those who tried to escape Jincheng would likely be killed without a burial place. How could those who dared to poison them care about the lives of ordinary people? The people were merely victims of the struggle for imperial power.
After hearing Yun Qianmeng's analysis, Dong Jin was deeply shocked. He had never imagined that the enemy would use the people as bait, hoping to trick them into opening the city gates. His grip on the hilt tightened, and Dong Jin's eyes shifted again and again, his face brimming with anger. He couldn't help but curse, "He's truly a man of few words! Hai Quan, for the throne, has even disregarded the lives of the people. If such a man ascended to the throne, how could it be a blessing for the people?"
As he spoke, Dong Jin clenched his fists and slammed them hard on the wooden table beside him, wishing he could beat the table like a sledgehammer.
"General, calm down. We have no choice but to race against time, otherwise we will really fall into the enemy's trap. The prince has now come to the north and is currently in the Chu King's camp. We just need to guard the city gate and Jincheng, and I believe the prince will find a way to defeat Chen King and Hai King." The poisoning incident was discouraging. In order to boost the morale of the army, Yun Qianmeng revealed the news that Chu Feiyang had come to the north to Dong Jin, hoping to help Dong Jin regain his confidence.
Dong Jin's eyes lit up with joy after hearing the news. He hurriedly asked, "Are you serious, Princess? Has the prince really arrived at the military camp?"
Seeing Dong Jin's renewed confidence, Yun Qianmeng gave him a positive answer with a faint smile, "The prince is indeed in the military camp right now. Our most important task now is to defend the city. As long as we hold Jincheng, we will win. As for guarding the city gate, I'll trouble you, General, to send more soldiers to guard it."
"Don't worry, Princess." Dong Jin's expression brightened instantly after receiving a positive response. Chu Feiyang's arrival was undoubtedly exciting news for Jincheng, and it would also boost the morale of all the soldiers defending the city. Dong Jin's expression brightened slightly, and his eyes were filled with endless joy.
At this time, Mu Chun, who had just left, came back with lunch in hand and Yingxia in tow. The two of them bowed respectfully to Yun Qianmeng, and Mu Chun began to speak, "Princess, Yingxia is here. On the way here, I briefly explained the situation to Yingxia. As for the lunch, the doctor said no poison has been found."
Yun Qianmeng nodded slightly, then turned to Yingxia and said, "The situation is urgent, so I won't say much. However, since you are outside, please pay attention to your own safety. I also hope that you can use all your knowledge to quickly remove the poison from the water. I await your good news."
After finishing her words, Yun Qianmeng looked at Dong Jin again and warned, "General, since the other party has used this trick, they are naturally anxious. I believe this matter will not be delayed for a few days. Please take back the city guards outside the inn. Please pay close attention to the movements in the city in the next few days."
And with Chu Feiyang's joining, it will definitely attract the attention and tension of the other two parties. I am afraid that this long-lasting war is about to begin.
Dong Jin was a little confused as to why Yun Qianmeng asked him to take away the city guards sent to protect her. However, seeing the extremely serious expression on Princess Chu's face, he knew that this woman had a plan in mind. He nodded cautiously to Yun Qianmeng and then retreated with a fist. "Princess, take care."
When Yingxia saw Dong Jin leave, she immediately bowed to Yun Qianmeng and said goodbye reluctantly, "Sister Muchun, please take good care of the princess. I will remove the poison from the water and return to continue serving the princess. There is no sign of poison in the lunch, so the princess can eat it with peace of mind."
Yun Qianmeng was in a heavy mood, and there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes when she looked at Yingxia. She nodded slightly at Yingxia, and then let Mu Chun send Yingxia out of the yard.
"Qiao Ying." After watching Dong Jin leave, Yun Qianmeng called Qiao Ying, who was waiting outside, in.
"Princess." The door curtain just flipped slightly, and Qiao Ying's slender figure was already standing in front of Yun Qianmeng, waiting for Yun Qianmeng's orders.
"From today onwards, all the secret guards who stay by my side will gather near the residence of me and Concubine Yuande. They must hide in the dark and not let anyone notice the difference here." Yun Qianmeng whispered to Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying had just stood outside the door when she heard Yun Qianmeng order Dong Jin to withdraw the city defense troops stationed outside the inn. Now, receiving Yun Qianmeng's order again, her face instantly became alert. She also lowered her voice and said, "Does the princess suspect that the person who poisoned her has quietly sneaked into the city? She asked General Dong to take the city defense troops away because she doesn't want to expose our hiding place."
Seeing that Qiao Ying understood his intention instantly, Yun Qianmeng's eyes flashed with admiration, and then he spoke, "Indeed. No one knows the martial arts skills of the prince's secret guards better than you. From General Dong's account of the entire poisoning incident, it is easy to see that the assassins sent by the other party are no ordinary ones. The fact that they have killed or injured so many of our men is enough to attract our attention. If we continue to publicly send the city guards to guard the inn, wouldn't we be exposing our hiding place? Besides, those defenders are so skilled that even if they stay here, if they encounter the enemy, they will only lose one more life. Why leave them here to die? It would be better to let them follow General Dong into battle, where they can be of some use."
"Your Highness is absolutely right. However, this would mean fewer people protecting you. Why didn't you share your concerns with General Dong and ask him to send more secret guards?" Qiao Ying, remembering how the princess had previously assigned nearly all her secret guards to Dong Jin, felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that one day the princess wouldn't have enough people around to protect her. Today's poisoning incident only confirmed Qiao Ying's fears.
Yun Qianmeng smiled calmly, picked up the silver chopsticks on the table, and began to eat slowly, occasionally chatting with Qiao Ying. "If we hide well, the other party won't find a chance to attack. With what happened today, it's obvious that both King Chen and King Hai are beginning to worry. The war is coming, and the front lines are where soldiers are most needed. We have secret guards to protect them. Besides, it's me who has implicated the people of Jincheng. How can I secretly dispatch troops for my own safety? After this month, General Dong has already arranged the troops and everyone has their own mission. Why should we make things difficult for General Dong?"
"The princess is right. I will do it immediately." Qiao Ying looked at Yun Qianmeng deeply, and seeing that she was having lunch with a calm expression, he quietly left the outer room.
Yun Qianmeng, however, put down her bowl and chopsticks after Qiao Ying left. She rubbed her heart with one hand and gently stroked her belly with the other. A faint smile played on her lips, and with loving eyes, she spoke softly to the child in her belly, "So you can't eat either! Don't be afraid, mother will definitely protect you!"
At dinner time, the snow was falling heavier and heavier. Looking out the window, the courtyard of the inn was already covered with snow.
Although Yun Qianmeng had no appetite, she still insisted on eating for the sake of the baby in her belly.
"Princess, I saw that you ate very little for lunch, so I asked the kitchen to add some flavorful ingredients to your dinner. Please try it. At least if you eat more, your future delivery will be smoother." Mu Chun saw that Yun Qianmeng had hardly touched her lunch. Although she knew that the princess was worried about the people in Jincheng, Mu Chun was still worried about Yun Qianmeng's health.
The princess's pregnancy was getting worse, and she would give birth in a month or two. But judging by her complexion and figure, aside from her protruding belly, she was even thinner than before. How could she possibly endure the pain of childbirth?
Yun Qianmeng was well aware of Mu Chun's intentions, and also knew that she had been worrying too much recently, which was why her weight had decreased instead of increased. So she smiled and nodded, trying hard to eat the dinner on the table.
'Dengdengdeng...' At this moment, a series of rapid running sounds rang out on the wooden steps, which seemed extremely harsh in the quiet night...
After a while, the door curtain was lifted, and Qiao Ying walked in, her hair and body covered in white snow. However, before she could get close to Yun Qianmeng, she was stopped by Mu Chun, who was eager to protect her. "Qiao Ying, you are too cold. Don't let it pass to the princess."
After hearing Mu Chun's reminder, Qiao Ying came back to her senses, but the anxiety on her face could not be hidden from Yun Qianmeng's eyes.
Placing the half-eaten rice on the table, Yun Qianmeng took the warm handkerchief beside her and wiped her mouth. Then she asked, "What happened? Why do you have such an expression?"
Qiao Ying let Mu Chun wipe the snowy water off her hair and body, not bothering to hide the anxiety in her eyes. She quickly replied to Yun Qianmeng, "Princess, Yingxia's secret guards just reported back that more than a dozen Baixin have died from poisoning. While the poison isn't as potent as the likes of Crane's Beak Poison, it's still very difficult to cure. Coupled with the current shortage of medicinal herbs in the city, I'm afraid even more people will die in the next few days. After receiving the news, I hurried to the city gate, where many people had gathered, demanding to leave. General Dong was deploying additional personnel to guard the gate. Seeing that General Dong was busy, I turned back."
"Hai Quan really is planning to take action." After listening to Qiao Ying's report, Yun Qianmeng said this softly.
However, although her tone was light, her brows were already furrowed. She stood up with one hand on the corner of the table, walked to the window, and looked through the window at the dark courtyard with deep eyes, standing silently.
Mu Chun looked at Qiao Ying with a reproachful look, then looked at the half-eaten dinner on the table again, but didn't know how to start.
Qiao Ying received a grumbling look from Mu Chun. Following Mu Chun's gaze towards the table, she realized she had arrived at the wrong time. Looking up at Yun Qianmeng's back, she felt the princess had lost a lot of weight. From behind, one couldn't tell she was seven months pregnant.
"Princess..." Just as he was about to say the words of apology, Yun Qianmeng's clear voice suddenly rang out in the room.
"Qiao Ying, send a signal to the prince immediately and ask him to prepare for the battle as soon as possible. As for General Dong, since General Dong has already made a decision, we should just wait and see what the other party wants to do. In the next few days, the secret guards in the inn must take turns to guard it, and there must not be any mistakes." Yun Qianmeng spoke in a firm tone, and his words were like arrows shot out, only hitting the bull's eye, never aiming at nothing.
Qiao Ying's heart tightened, and she nodded heavily towards Yun Qianmeng's back. Without saying a word, she turned and left the inner room...
In the dark night, the north wind howled, mixed with heavy snow falling, forcing everyone to hide in their homes to keep warm.
Meanwhile, within the Chu army stationed on the outskirts, a column of soldiers continued to patrol the camp, braving the bitter cold. And in the commander's tent, a single oil lamp burned until dawn...
At three o'clock in the morning, Xi Lin stepped on the half-inch-high snow and lifted the curtain of the commander-in-chief's tent. He saw that although he was wearing a conical hat, his eyebrows and eyelashes were covered with a thick layer of snow. From a distance, he looked like a snowman.
"Your Highness, there's news from the city!" Without bothering to fix his appearance, Xi Lin raised his right hand and rubbed his face. After shaking off the snowy water on his palm, he spoke again to report the intelligence, "The princess has sent a message. Judging by the color of the signal, the princess wants us to prepare for battle as soon as possible."
"Got it." Chu Feiyang turned his back to Xi Lin and looked at the map to study how to gain an advantageous position from the defenses of the other two armies.
Upon receiving this news in the quiet night, Chu Feiyang unconsciously clenched his hands, which were originally stretched out behind his back, as if he was suppressing the unexpressed longing in his heart and the worry about Yun Qianmeng's current situation.
Xi Linjing stood there and watched the prince trying to endure. His heart ached, but he couldn't say anything.
"After half an incense stick, ask all the generals to come here." After a long time of tea, Chu Feiyang's slightly hoarse voice was heard in the silent tent.
Xi Lin looked up at the sound and saw that the prince had already taken the cloak on the back of the chair and put it on. With a stern expression, he strode out of the tent...
"Your Highness, it's too windy and snowy outside. You'd better put on your hat." Seeing that Chu Feiyang was planning to go out like this, Xi Lin's heart tightened. He hurriedly took out his hat and planned to put it on Chu Feiyang.
At this moment, a slender and powerful hand brushed away the bamboo hat that Xi Lin handed over. At the same time, Chu Feiyang's voice rang in Xi Lin's ears, "No need. Go and inform the generals quickly. Don't delay the time."
After saying this, Chu Feiyang opened the curtain and strode out of the tent...
Under the pitch-black night, flakes of pure white snow drifted down. Chu Feiyang treaded the thick snow step by step, his mind reminiscing about last year's New Year's Eve, when Yun Qianmeng, dressed in her bride's dress, stood in the courtyard of Meng Xin Cottage, personally decorating the majestic pine tree in the courtyard. The red candles lit among the verdant branches not only made the deserted Chu Mansion look festive, but the dancing candlelight and brilliant smile also illuminated his long-frozen heart, making him unable to extricate himself.
A gust of cold wind blew by, and a few flakes of snow fell onto his clothes, instantly bringing Chu Feiyang back from his memories to this world of ice and snow...
A bitter smile spread across his lips, and a rare anxiety appeared in his usually wise and calm black eyes. Chu Feiyang shook his head fiercely, and his steps on the snow became heavier...
"Your Highness..." Yingfeng walked to a tent. The soldiers guarding outside saw that it was Chu Feiyang and immediately stepped forward to salute, but were stopped by Chu Feiyang.
Looking at the soldier in front of him standing in the cold wind and heavy snow, his entire body almost covered by the snow, Chu Feiyang raised his hand and patted his shoulder firmly, then he opened the curtain of the tent and slowly walked in...
A gust of cold wind blew into the tent as the curtains were lifted. A few snowflakes floated in, but melted into snow water in the blink of an eye. Rong Yunhe, who was lying on the wooden bed, suddenly opened his eyes, only to find that Chu Feiyang had walked in and sat down on a seat not far away.
Rong Yunhe stood up on the bed with one hand, and walked quickly to Chu Feiyang. Looking at Chu Feiyang's stern expression, Rong Yunhe swallowed the question that was about to come out of his mouth back into his stomach for some reason.
He picked up the teapot on the table with his right hand and poured a cup of hot tea for Chu Feiyang. Rong Yunhe then sat down beside him and asked calmly, "It's getting dark. Why is the prince here?"
Chu Feiyang took the teacup and silently sipped the warm tea. However, he did not put it down immediately. Instead, he held it in his hand and examined it for a long time before speaking in a low voice, "Do you know why Qi Jingyuan brought you to the north?"
Rong Yunhe is a rare person who is insightful.
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