Chapter 78 Sending her husband on a distant expedition.
Shen Mi looked up in astonishment, then quickly looked away, watching the raindrops falling from the eaves create ripples on the ground.
She never imagined that such words would come from Gu Zhan's mouth.
In fact, if it weren't for that imperial decree that granted them marriage back then, she and Gu Zhan, who were so different from each other, might never have met in her entire life.
Gu Zhan appears to have been born under the Empress's wing and was established as the Crown Prince from a young age, holding a prestigious position. He is the standard Crown Prince in the eyes of outsiders, known for his upright character and proper manners. He has the most knowledgeable and learned teacher in the world to teach him, making him proficient in classics, history, Taoism, and arts. However, he has also said that no one has ever taught him how to love.
He said that he may have been a qualified crown prince in the past, and may be a qualified monarch in the future, but he was undoubtedly a failed husband.
He said that he was destined to have little marriage luck, but he still married her.
She grew up with loving parents. Her father had no other concubines, and she and her brother were the only children. Her brother doted on her. Although she was not born into the imperial family like Gu Zhan and enjoyed the most exquisite offerings, she was still cherished by her parents and brothers. If it weren't for that accident, she would have married her childhood sweetheart Chen Jun and had a peaceful life with her husband and children.
But it was precisely that accident that made her see clearly what an ungrateful and treacherous person Chen Jun, whom she had originally admired, was, and also led her to marry Gu Zhan, a complete stranger.
If Chen Jun is unreliable, then she and Su Xingjian spent four years together in Runyang, which is longer than the time she spent with Gu Zhan. She sensed Su Xingjian's feelings, but she was always unable to reciprocate his feelings.
At this moment, standing side by side with Gu Zhan beneath the Guanyin statue, she had to admit that their fate was ordained by heaven.
Seeing that Shen Mi only glanced at him before falling into a long silence, Gu Zhan paused for a moment and said, "But Zhi Niang, I'm telling you this not to force you to give me a definite answer immediately, but simply to express my feelings."
"I can wait."
The drumbeats in Shen Mi's heart intensified, like raindrops falling on bricks.
She saw Gu Zhan's half-soaked body, walked around him, knelt before Guanyin, and silently prayed for the safety of the child in her womb, which could also be considered as a consolation to the child she lost back then.
She finished doing all this without saying a word, picked up the umbrella from the corner of the wall, and handed it to Gu Zhan. "It's almost sunset. The mountain road will be difficult to walk after dark," she paused, and said, "Let's go home."
When Gu Zhan heard her say "go home," his pupils dilated slightly. He took a breath and took the umbrella from her hand. "Okay, let's go home."
At that time, Cuiwei was sent away by Shen Mi to donate incense money in the main hall, which was also a way of expressing her feelings.
Having served Shen Mi for many years, she did not return to the Guanyin Hall, but went straight back to the carriage to wait. Before long, she saw Shen Mi and the Crown Prince coming out side by side through the carriage window.
I don't know what they said, but it seemed like they made up.
As the thought crossed Cuiwei's mind, she lifted the carriage curtain, helped Chen Mi into the carriage, and then moved to the side. After Gu Zhan put away his umbrella and got into the carriage, she took the initiative to lift the curtain and sit outside the carriage with the driver.
The spring rain gradually subsided as the carriage stopped at the entrance of Lanju.
Gu Zhan got out of the car first. As soon as Shen Mi came out, he held the umbrella over her head. Just as Shen Mi was about to slip under the umbrella held by Cuiwei, he reached out and grabbed Shen Mi's sleeve, saying, "Mother has been talking about you a lot lately. I also have something I want to show you."
Before Shen Mi could even process what was happening, she blurted out, "Okay."
She never expected that what Gu Zhan said he wanted to show her was actually a notebook.
The notes contained Gu Zhan's records of her preferences and habits. A few pages later, there were some poems mourning her death. When she saw these poems, her movements slowed down, and her brows furrowed. The following content was even more detailed, and it was all related to her lifestyle.
After reading it, Shen Mi felt a mix of emotions. She held the edge of the notebook and asked Gu Zhan, "When did you write these?"
Gu Zhan grasped her wrist and said, "After you left back then..."
A buzzing sound came from Shen Mi's ear.
Gu Zhan continued, “After you left, I couldn’t sleep through countless long nights. Whenever I couldn’t sleep, I would recall things about you before you died. When I thought of them, I would write them down in this notebook. But later, I realized that you never even appeared in my dreams. So I started writing these poems of mourning, hoping to see you in my dreams. Later, I met you again in Runzhou. At that time, I really thought that I had entered the dream myself.”
Shen Mi suddenly remembered a line of lyrics she had heard in Runzhou years ago: "Since we parted, I recall our meeting. How many times have my soul and dreams been with you? Tonight, I will light the silver lamp again, still fearing that our meeting is but a dream."
Gu Zhan's thumb rubbed against the inside of her wrist. "If I'm mistaken, just tell me, okay?"
Shen Mi was about to speak when, "inappropriately," the memory of the time when she had just married into the Eastern Palace, on the Laba Festival, when she went to Kaibao Temple, bumped into Chen Jun, and was harassed by him appeared in her mind.
Her voice softened slightly, "Didn't you say you had no interest in my boring past?"
Gu Zhan couldn't recall when he had said such nonsense, so he could only awkwardly reply, "That day, it was my fault."
Shen Mi knew that at that time, she had just married into the Eastern Palace, and Gu Zhan only cared about the dignity of the Eastern Palace, so it was inevitable that he would say those words. However, she immediately lost all interest in the notebook in her hand.
She pulled her hand away from Gu Zhan's, put down the notebook, and said, "That's enough, there's no point in talking about this." She then straightened her clothes and stood up.
There were so many things that happened between her and Gu Zhan in the past. Although she understood that she couldn't hold grudges over everything, it was still hard for her not to care whenever she thought of even a little bit of it.
“Zhi Niang…” Gu Zhan wanted to keep her, but he couldn’t. However, he was afraid that chasing after her would upset her, so he could only sigh heavily over the notebook.
He propped his head up, carefully recalling what Shen Mi had just mentioned, trying to remember exactly when he had said it.
The chance encounter at Foya Temple was truly a small interlude in Gu Zhan's busy schedule. After that day, he became visibly busy again. Shen Mi realized this after several days without seeing Gu Zhan.
At this time, it had been more than a month since she arrived at Tongguan, and more than two months since Gu Zhan was "crippled and died." Although Gu Zhan had not said anything, Shen Mi had noticed that the government was buying up large quantities of rice from grain stores. Having grown up on the border, she could easily deduce that war was about to break out. However, there was no news of war from the north. Tongguan's preparations for war could only mean that Gu Zhan had waited for his opportunity and was preparing to return to Bianjing.
She didn't know if it was because they used to see each other every day and spend every day together, but suddenly she couldn't see Gu Zhan for more than ten days, which made her feel uneasy, or because the baby in her belly was getting bigger every month, and she actually missed seeing Gu Zhan.
Therefore, when someone knocked on the door at dusk that day, Shen Mi did not let Cuiwei open the door, but instead took the doorknob herself.
The person standing at the door was not Gu Zhan, but Su Yuzhao.
The last time she saw Su Yuzhao was on her birthday in the Eastern Palace last year. The last time she heard any news related to Su Yuzhao was a few months ago when Gu Zhan sent someone to send her back to the Shen family. Su Xingjian came to the Shen family to see her and said that Su Yuzhao was kept at home by Su Guan and could not leave.
But now Su Yuzhao was standing right in front of her. Shen Mi was stunned for a long time before she finally asked, "Yuzhao? What brings you to Tongguan?"
It's one thing to come to Tongguan, but to actually find her residence there?
"Sister Shen, you don't know, while you were away from Bianjing, the city has changed drastically!" Su Yuzhao said as Shen Mi pulled her inside.
Cuiwei was in the courtyard with the maid she had bought earlier, collecting the clothes that had been drying during the day. She was carrying the washed clothes inside when she looked up and bumped into Shen Mi and Su Yuzhao walking in. She was startled and even rubbed her eyes.
Shen Mi instructed Cuiwei, "Don't rush to collect the clothes, quickly prepare tea."
Seeing that it wasn't her imagination, Cuiwei nodded repeatedly and hurriedly went into the house carrying a pile of clothes.
Shen Mi pulled Su Yuzhao into her usual room and sat down with her. "Bianjing has changed? Could it be that there is a national mourning?"
Regarding the upheaval in Bianjing, the biggest thing Shen Mi could think of was the Emperor's death and the fact that Gu Zhan had been deposed as crown prince, with the Prince of Wei ascending the throne in front of his coffin.
Su Yuzhao touched the tip of his nose and shook his head: "That's not it. I heard that His Majesty was already terminally ill when someone suddenly introduced him to a Taoist priest while he was lucid. The priest said that he had spent his whole life researching the art of immortality. His Majesty was very happy to hear this and tasted the 'elixir' offered by the priest on the spot. He instantly regained his energy and wanted to promote the priest. However, the ministers objected and the matter was suppressed. A few days later, the person who recommended the priest was suddenly accused of corruption and embezzlement. His Highness was not in the capital, and Prince Wei was in charge of the country. He immediately ordered a thorough investigation. The old Taoist priest who offered the 'elixir' also suffered misfortune and was expelled from the palace. His Majesty fell seriously ill again, and Prince Wei became even more autocratic."
Upon hearing Su Yuzhao's words, Shen Mi could guess some of the underlying meaning.
She had previously heard that the Prince of Wei could not fully control Bianjing, and that he probably already knew about her pregnancy, which would make him even more uneasy. Under such circumstances, the longer the Emperor's illness dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Prince of Wei. Naturally, the Prince of Wei did not want the Emperor's health to recover. Even though it was obvious to anyone with eyes that this so-called "miracle cure" was nothing but a charlatan, it was enough to make him a frightened bird. Of course, he could not tolerate this old Taoist priest staying in the capital.
Su Yuzhao took a sip of the tea that Cuiwei had handed her and continued, "But the situation in Bianjing is changing every day. Not long after the matter of the old Taoist priest was settled, there were rumors that His Highness did not die on the way to Xichuan, but was recuperating in Tongguan. At first, the Prince of Wei did not believe it, but he could not resist the rumors. He did not have much of a base in Bianjing to begin with. With this commotion, the old ministers who had doubts about the matter of deposing the crown prince stood up and wanted to welcome His Highness back. Of course, the Prince of Wei refused and did not believe the matter. After sending people to investigate, somehow, they actually found out that His Highness was in Guanzhong."
Shen Mi stared in astonishment. She knew that Gu Zhan had been making preparations for returning to the capital recently, and she had always thought that Gu Zhan would not reveal his identity until the eve of his return to Bianjing. However, she never expected that the Prince of Wei already knew about this matter at this time.
She murmured, "Doesn't that mean the King of Wei will send troops to Tongguan?"
Su Yuzhao nodded in affirmation of her guess: "That's right. During this period, there were two factions in Bianjing: those who supported the Prince of Wei and those who did not. They were practically taking sides openly. After this incident, the Prince of Wei was furious and immediately wanted to take action against the court officials who opposed him, causing chaos in the capital. Naturally, my family, which had always been at odds with Prime Minister Li, was the first to be affected. It was at this time that I learned that my brother had been in contact with His Highness. My father then arranged for someone to escort me to Tongguan overnight."
"King Wei claimed that Meng Tongfang, the commander of the army, had defected, and that Fan Nayan, the deputy military commissioner of Shaanxi, was plotting a rebellion with his troops. He even directly ordered troops from the Imperial Guard to be transferred to Tongguan to carry out a punitive expedition."
Shen Mi was terrified. No wonder Gu Zhan hadn't been seen these past few days. However, Gu Zhan couldn't have been completely unprepared for this. She didn't ask any further questions, only trying to reassure Su Yuzhao: "Trust Your Highness, everything will be alright." Remembering that Su Yuzhao had mentioned Su Xingjian earlier, she couldn't help but ask a few more questions, "Where is Minister Su? With such a huge upheaval in Bianjing, is he alright?"
Remembering Su Xingjian's instructions before his departure, Su Yuzhao hurriedly took out a letter from her bosom. "Look at my memory, I almost forgot the important matter. This is a letter that my brother asked me to give to you after I arrived in Tongguan. I came here for this letter."
Shen Mi took the letter from Su Yuzhao, removed the seal, and read it from beginning to end.
Su Xingjian's words remained concise. He first inquired about how well she had adapted to Tongguan, then mentioned that everything was fine at the Shen residence. He also mentioned that Xiaoman, whom she had brought from the Eastern Palace, had been neglected after leaving Bianjing, so Su Xingjian had taken Xiaoman to the Su family to look after her, telling her not to worry.
However, he didn't mention a single word about himself throughout the entire article.
Shen Mi felt a little lost. Su Xingjian was still the same as before, only reporting good news and not bad news about everything.
Seeing that she had read the letter, Su Yuzhao straightened her clothes and got up.
Shen Mi casually placed the letter on the table, neither folding it nor putting it back in the envelope, and hurriedly asked Su Yuzhao, "Are you in a hurry to leave? It's already so late. Where are you going? You can set off tomorrow. Why don't you stay here with me for now?"
Su Yuzhao smiled and said, "The people who escorted me to Tongguan have already booked an inn for me, so I won't stay any longer."
She had come from afar, how could Shen Mi let her just sit down and have a cup of tea before leaving? He stood up and asked her to stay, saying, "Why are you being so distant with me? I have guest rooms at home, why go to an inn?"
Su Yuzhao glanced at the letter on the table. "This is what my brother told me before I left. Now that Sister Shen is with His Highness, it would be inconvenient for me to stay. It would be better for me to go to the inn."
Hearing her words, Shen Mi guessed that Su Yuzhao did not know that she was no longer living with Gu Zhan. She originally wanted to tell Su Yuzhao, but she was worried that if Gu Zhan suddenly came over one day, the courtyard would be too small and everyone would feel uncomfortable. So she gave up on this idea and only saw Su Yuzhao to the door.
The two walked to the door together, and as soon as Shen Mi opened the door, she saw Gu Zhan standing outside, about to knock.
Gu Zhan glanced at Su Yuzhao, not surprised to see her. Su Xingjian had mentioned this in a previous letter, asking him to look after Su Yuzhao at Tongguan, which he had tacitly agreed to. Otherwise, Su Yuzhao wouldn't have entered Tongguan for inspection so easily. His struggle with the Prince of Wei had reached a life-or-death point, and he absolutely could not allow the Prince of Wei's men to slip through the muddy waters and enter Tongguan.
Su Yuzhao knew this was not a place for her to stay for long. After bowing to Gu Zhan according to etiquette, she bid farewell to Shen Mi and rode away.
Now only Gu Zhan and Shen Mi were left. Shen Mi stood by the half-open door, looked up at Gu Zhan, and noticed the weariness in his expression. She asked softly, "Are you very tired lately?"
Gu Zhan responded with a nasal tone, and seeing that she was standing at the door without moving, he leaned against the stone wall by the door with one hand, "It's been a long time, don't you want me to come in?"
His tone lacked the self-assuredness of a question, instead carrying a cautious, tentative undertone.
Shen Mi pursed her lips, took a half step back to clear the doorway, and said to Gu Zhan, "Never mind, come in."
Gu Zhan immediately perked up, rubbed his temples to ease the fatigue accumulated from handling political affairs for days, and followed Shen Mi into the room, closing the door behind him.
Shen Mi entered the room and gestured to Cuiwei to remove the cup of tea that Su Yuzhao had used and to replace it with a fresh cup of tea for Gu Zhan. Cuiwei did as she was told.
Gu Zhan lifted his robe and sat down opposite Shen Mi, where he saw the letter on the table.
The letter was laid out flat. Gu Zhan glanced at it and took in all its contents. It was signed "Ziyou," and Su Xingjian still referred to Shen Mi as "Xiao Mi."
His cheek stung, and he looked at Shen Mi, feigning ignorance as he asked, "This is... Ziyou's letter?"
When Shen Mi heard his question, she realized that she had forgotten to put the letter away and admitted it. "Yes, he asked Yu Zhao to bring it." As she spoke, she carefully folded the letter and put it back in the envelope.
Gu Zhan chuckled and said, "He still remembers to write to you to let you know he's safe."
Shen Mi sensed the jealousy in Gu Zhan's words and said to him, "It's not exactly a report of safety. I heard from Yu Zhao that his situation in Bianjing is not good, but I don't know much more. Your Highness and Minister Su often correspond. Could you tell me?"
When Gu Zhan heard Shen Mi openly mention Su Xingjian in front of him, he felt a surge of anger. He retorted, "You're showing concern for him in front of me?"
He hadn't returned to Lanju from the government office for over ten days, and it was one thing that Shen Mi hadn't shown any concern, but now that he had finally managed to find some free time, Shen Mi asked him about Su Xingjian's recent situation.
In the past, he would have been furious and then "punished" Shen Mi, but their relationship had finally been repaired to what it was now, so how could he make the same mistake as before because of a moment of anger?
I'll just let it go.
Before Shen Mi could answer, Gu Zhan said, "Although the King of Wei intends to eliminate dissidents, 'not killing officials who speak out' is an ancestral precept, and he dares not do such a thing that betrays his ancestors. Therefore, he can only vent his anger and temporarily dismiss the court officials who support me. Ziyou is naturally fine, so you can rest assured."
The truth was far more difficult than he described, but out of selfishness, he didn't want Shen Mi to know unless it was a matter of life and death. These words were just an attempt to downplay the severity of the situation.
Shen Mi breathed a sigh of relief when she heard his relaxed tone and realized he didn't seem to be lying to her.
Gu Zhan's expression turned serious as he got down to business. "I came to see Zhi Niang this time because there are some things I want to tell you. Since you have met Su Yuzhao, she must have told you about the situation in Bianjing, so I won't say any more. I have indeed been planning to march back to Bianjing recently. Tomorrow morning, I will lead troops out of Tongguan with Fan Nayan and the others. One of the generals who will stay behind to guard Tongguan is Meng Tongfang, who escorted you to Tongguan. Tongguan is easy to defend and difficult to attack, so there will be no danger. You can stay in Tongguan with peace of mind."
Shen Mi was shocked: "Tomorrow? Is it in such a hurry?"
Gu Zhan wanted to put her at ease, so he chuckled softly, "What? You're reluctant to let me go? Reluctant to see me leave, or reluctant to see me take risks?"
When asked this question, Shen Mi's first reaction was that both were true.
But she didn't want Gu Zhan to take advantage of her, so she turned her head away and said, "Don't flatter yourself."
Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Gu Zhan took out a seal from his pocket, pulled her hand, and pressed the seal into Shen Mi's palm. "This is my seal. Seeing this seal is like seeing me in person. I'm leaving it to you."
Shen Mi refused to accept it: "I don't want it, take it back."
Gu Zhan closed her fingers and insisted, "Zhi Niang, since I said I wanted to grow old with you, I don't intend to hide anything from you anymore." He paused slightly and took out a thin notebook. "You didn't finish reading the notes from that day."
Shen Mi was forced to accept the seal and let Gu Zhan flip through the notebook from back to front, where she saw the contents recorded.
Each page of the notes begins with a person's name, followed by their official rank and place of origin. Their personalities are also summarized in simple language: some are upright but stubborn, some are greedy and lustful but capable, and some are two-faced and need to be wary. The notes then describe their relationships: who they were classmates with, who they were related to by marriage, and who they were close friends with. It is a miniature version of a historical biography.
Gu Zhan said, "I left this notebook to you before I left. If you have nothing to do, you can flip through it at will. I said that I have gained this world, and you are my wife, so naturally you have a share as well. Therefore, you can also learn a thing or two about these people."
Since ancient times, women's involvement in politics has been a major taboo. Gu Zhan had never mentioned a word related to court affairs in front of her before. She didn't even know about the big events that happened to the Shen family. She only heard about it later from Chen Jun. Now he was giving her a seal and this so-called "notebook". Although he put it tactfully, Shen Mi was not stupid. She vaguely guessed that his words contained the meaning of "entrusting the orphan".
She is now pregnant, and Gu Zhan's intentions are all too clear—if something were to happen to him, Shen Mi would take this seal and the child to Bianjing. With senior officials in the court, led by Prime Minister Su, as guarantors, and Tongguan having troops, horses, and provisions, they would then support the child in her womb as the young emperor. This note is clearly a preparation for her to rule from behind the curtain in the future.
A wave of panic washed over Shen Mi. She closed the notebook, stood up, took a letter from her dressing case, along with Gu Zhan's seal, and slammed it in front of him: "You gave this to the wrong person, didn't you? Look carefully, you already wrote me a divorce agreement months ago. I have nothing to do with you now!"
Gu Zhan looked at the divorce letter he had once written himself, then looked up at Shen Mi: "Zhi Niang, are you trying to drive me crazy?"
Shen Mi sat to one side and said, "So, you'd better not die."
Gu Zhan paused for a moment, then chuckled, "I underestimated Zhi Niang. With your intelligence, you must have guessed what I meant."
Shen Mi denied it, saying, "I don't know what you mean, but if you die, I won't keep you a widow for even a day. Not only that, I will marry someone else with your child."
She was stubborn, but by the end, her momentum had weakened, and her nose began to sting with tears.
Gu Zhan sighed with a helpless smile and relented, "Okay, I promise you."
Shen Mi sniffed, didn't turn around, and only asked, "When do we set off tomorrow?"
A barely perceptible hint of pleasure flashed across Gu Zhan's eyes. He paused, holding his teacup, and asked, "At dawn, is Zhi Niang going to see me off?"
"Just a casual question."
Her voice still had a heavy nasal tone, but Gu Zhan's heart was gently struck. Even though Su Xingjian's letter to Shen Mi and the divorce letter he had left for Shen Mi were placed side by side beside him, he did not feel the slightest bit angry.
Well, he already owed her a grand wedding anyway, and he would make it up to her once everything settled down.
He knew that Shen Mi still harbored resentment towards him, so he didn't force her. After finishing the tea in his cup, he prepared to leave, saying, "There are other matters to attend to in the army tonight, so I cannot leave for long. I'm leaving now."
Shen Mi didn't respond to that, and remained seated, but she clearly heard Gu Zhan's footsteps as he was about to leave.
After Gu Zhan left the house, she turned around and saw Gu Zhan's seal and the notebook he wanted to show her. Her heart suddenly felt empty, and her feet moved uncontrollably towards his back.
Gu Zhan was about to push open the door, his hand resting on the door panel, when a gust of evening breeze brought him back unintentionally, and he saw Shen Mi standing a few steps away from him.
He didn't speak, but quietly gazed at Shen Mi.
Shen Mi didn't expect him to turn around. She looked away and said in a muffled voice, "Don't overthink it."
Gu Zhan didn't reveal her thoughts, only smiling in his eyes: "I know."
At that moment, he knew everything.
Apart from that, Gu Zhan didn't say another word, slowly pushed the door open, and then closed it again.
Shen Mi stood in the courtyard and heard the sound of horses raising their hooves and snorting on the stone road outside the gate. Before long, all she could hear was the rustling of the wind through the treetops.
As the clear moonlight fell upon Shen Mi, she felt a deep sense of melancholy fill the void in her heart.
Shen Mi didn't expect things to develop so quickly. Before Gu Zhan came, she guessed that he had been preparing to return to Bianjing, but she never expected that after more than ten days apart, when she met Gu Zhan again, he would take the initiative to say goodbye to her.
Her breathing grew heavier, and she didn't know how long she gazed at the moon in the courtyard before returning to her room.
She lay on the couch, gazing at the top of the bed curtains, her thoughts in turmoil, unable to fall asleep. So she put on her robe and got out of bed, wanting to do something to pass the time.
She used to enjoy reading when she couldn't sleep, but there weren't many books for her to read in this house in Tongguan. So she could only pick up the notebook left by Gu Zhan and turn the pages one by one.
Gu Zhan had never mentioned to her what he had done during the four years she was away. After she returned, she harbored resentment towards Gu Zhan but never asked him about it. That day in the study of Lanju, she only glanced at this notebook and parted on bad terms with Gu Zhan. Tonight, as she picked up the notebook again, Gu Zhan's figure gradually became clearer in her eyes.
Shen Mi had intended to use reading to lull herself to sleep, but the more she read, the less she could fall asleep. She read the notebook in her hand over and over again countless times. When she looked up, she noticed that the starlight outside the window had become fainter.
It was already past midnight, and there was still half an hour left until the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), which was when Gu Zhan would lead his army to set off.
Shen Mi clutched the notebook and put it away, keeping only Gu Zhan's seal in her hand.
She gently stroked her lower abdomen, hesitated for a long time, and finally pushed open the dormitory door.
Before leaving, Gu Zhan went back to Lanju to say goodbye to Yang Meiren, and then returned to the military camp without staying at Lanju for long.
On the eve of the expedition, he needed to reconfirm the subsequent movements with other generals, such as how to divide the troops, transport supplies, and handle unexpected situations to ensure that nothing went wrong. Now, the Prince of Wei controlled the imperial guards in Bianjing, the Emperor was ill, and he was the "deposed crown prince." Whoever won this battle would become the heir apparent, and whoever lost would become a rebel.
After confirming these things, it was already past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM). Gu Zhan instructed the rest of the generals to go back and rest, while he put on his armor and asked Yang Qing, who was temporarily acting as the army's commander, "Has she come yet?"
Even though he didn't say it explicitly, Yang Qing knew that His Highness was asking about the Crown Princess. He didn't dare to look at Gu Zhan and only said, "It's a military camp, so I'm afraid it's inconvenient for the Crown Princess to come."
No matter how tactfully Yang Qing put it, Gu Zhan understood his meaning. He simply shook his head and chuckled as he wrapped a wristband around his wrist: "You little ingrate."
It's probably for the best if she doesn't come; she's pregnant now and should be more careful.
After the entire army was fully prepared and ready to depart, a quarter of an hour before dawn, a messenger reported that the army had assembled at the gate of Tongguan City and was waiting for His Highness the Crown Prince to arrive in person.
Gu Zhan nodded, and with Yang Qing, they mounted their horses and headed towards the city gate.
Some time before reaching the city gate, Gu Zhan heard the sound of drums. The drums weren't loud, and the rhythm was somewhat intermittent and disjointed. Drumming before a campaign was an ancient custom, meant to boost morale. Therefore, upon hearing this drumming, Gu Zhan was slightly displeased. Had the soldiers beating the drums not eaten?
Thinking of this, he spurred his horse and headed towards the city gate.
Gu Zhan, clad in armor, immediately questioned Fan Nayan upon reaching the city gate: "Where did you find these drummers? They're beating such a chaotic tune..."
As he spoke, he looked up at the city gate, but stopped halfway through his sentence.
A slender figure stood out from the armored soldiers atop the city wall.
Gu Zhan's breath hitched, and all his anger was blown away by a gust of wind.
The drummer seemed to have heard his words, for the drumming on the city tower suddenly stopped, and the woman turned around to look.
Gu Zhan immediately dismounted and strode up the steps of the city tower.
Shen Mi held the drumsticks in both hands, one hand resting on the sheepskin drumhead, the other hanging at her side, standing quietly in front of the war drum, watching the figure running towards her.
Gu Zhan felt a tightness in his chest. Before parting, he couldn't suppress the surging emotions in his heart. He pulled Shen Mi into his arms with one arm and held her hand holding the drumstick with the other, not letting go.
"Zhi Niang, I'm so glad you came to see me off," he whispered in Shen Mi's ear.
"What were you trying to say just now? What kind of nonsense were you banging on, right?" Shen Mi asked, but she didn't push him away.
Gu Zhan's Adam's apple bobbed. "I didn't expect you to come. Let me hold you like this for a little while, okay?"
It was the time of day and night transition; the stars in the sky had dimmed, and the night was thinning, with only a faint glimmer of pale light.
Below the city gate stood soldiers fully equipped and ready to go. Although no one dared to look up, Shen Mi felt somewhat embarrassed. She reached out to stop Gu Zhan, saying, "You're pressing down on me."
Gu Zhan then remembered that Shen Mi was carrying their child, so he quickly loosened his grip and placed his hand on Shen Mi's shoulder so that she could stay in his arms.
Shen Mi didn't look up; her gaze fell on Gu Zhan's armor, and she paused for a moment.
This was the first time she had ever seen Gu Zhan in armor.
Her fingertips touched Gu Zhan's chest, and Gu Zhan noticed her movement, letting out a soft gasp.
"You didn't put on your breastplate properly." There was a hint of disdain in Shen Mi's tone.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhan released Shen Mi.
Shen Mi put the drumsticks aside and used both hands to adjust the position of the breastplate on Gu Zhan's armor. "My brother was shot through the heart by an arrow when his breastplate was damaged. I have seen his body."
These words seemed unintentional, but Gu Zhan's eyelids followed them. He looked at Shen Mi with a smile in his eyes and said gently, "Don't worry, I won't let my child call another man 'Dad'."
Shen Mi looked up at him but didn't reply.
Gu Zhan held her hand in his palm and breathed warm air into it. "The morning dew is heavy. Go back early and don't catch a cold."
“Yes,” Shen Mi deliberately avoided Gu Zhan’s gaze, “It’s time.”
Although Gu Zhan was reluctant, military matters could not be delayed, so he finally descended the city wall with many turns back.
Shen Mi did not return immediately. She stood on the city wall and watched the army depart into the distance until all that remained in sight was the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves.
Bianjing, the Prince of Wei's residence.
King Wei sat on the throne with a sullen face, listening to his subordinates report on the military situation.
One of them said tremblingly, "Your Highness, not only did the Deputy Military Commissioner of Shaanxi, Fan Nayan, refuse to obey your order to hand over the deposed crown prince, but he is also actively raising troops and supplies for him in Shaanxi. This is clearly an attempt to rival Bianjing."
The King of Wei sneered, gripping the armrests of his armchair tightly. "I really underestimated Gu Zhan. He played the art of escaping unscathed, deceiving everyone. He deliberately created a disturbance among the mountain bandits and concealed his whereabouts, making everyone run wild. In the end, he hid in Tongguan and colluded with that Fan Nayan. That Fan Nayan has been in Shaanxi for many years, always acting honestly. But now he's chosen sides so decisively."
"Your Highness, we have just received news that the deposed Crown Prince has already gathered his troops at Tongguan and is heading east towards Bianjing. He is marching in a grand procession. According to the latest battle report from the front, when he reached Guozhou, the general guarding Hangu Pass surrendered without a fight. Now, he has split his troops into two groups, heading directly towards Mianchi and Luoning respectively."
King Wei flew into a rage, smashing his teacup on the ground. "Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
Hangu Pass is situated on a plateau to the west, bordered by a deep ravine to the east, connected to the Qinling Mountains to the south, and blocked by the Yellow River to the north. It is a vital passage connecting Chang'an to the west and Luoyang to the east. The road in front of the pass is narrow and the terrain is treacherous. How could such an easy place to ambush someone be handed over to Gu Zhan?
Now that Hangu Pass has been lost, if Gu Zhan divides his troops to cross the Xiaoshan and Zhongtiao Mountains respectively, and arrives in Luoyang, then only Yique will be left to defend.
No one dared to utter a word in response.
Chen Jun observed from the side for a long time, then bowed to the King of Wei and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. Although he is currently triumphant, the outcome is still uncertain. Luoning is located in the eastern section of the Xiao Mountains, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. The river valley outside the city is even more suitable for an ambush. He has only temporarily gained the upper hand. The troops and supplies at Tongguan are insufficient to support him for long. Your Highness, on the other hand, has hundreds of thousands of imperial guards. If you set up an ambush in the river valley outside Luoning, even if you cannot kill him in one blow, you can at least wear him down in the Xiao Mountains."
The King of Wei's anger subsided slightly.
Chen Jun requested permission from the King of Wei: "If Your Highness trusts me, I am willing to go to Luoning in Your Highness's stead."
King Wei gave Chen Jun a deep look and waved his hand, saying, "Let me think about this matter some more."
Chen Jun's original intention was merely to show his loyalty. If the King of Wei allowed it, he would certainly use the deposed crown prince's head to gain merit and reward. If the King of Wei did not allow it, he could continue to live a leisurely life in Bianjing. Therefore, he did not argue with the King of Wei and stepped aside.
King Wei was in a state of agitation and dismissed everyone, leaving himself alone in the hall, propping his head up with his hand.
Tongguan.
After Gu Zhan left, Su Yuzhao would often come over to spend time with Shen Mi. Su Yuzhao was cheerful and generous, and had a sweet tongue, so she and Shen Mi got along very well.
Shen Mi could also regularly hear news from the front lines from Meng Tongfang, who was stationed at Tongguan. Although it sounded like everything was going smoothly, Shen Mi could never completely put her mind at ease. Her father and brothers had both fought on the battlefield, and she knew all too well that almost everything on the battlefield was changing in an instant. A single wrong decision could lead to irreparable losses and a series of defeats. Therefore, she had never dared to truly let her guard down.
But now, in Tongguan, all she can do is pray day and night, hoping for everything to go smoothly.
However, Su Yuzhao did not stay in Tongguan for long, because less than a month after Gu Zhan led the army away, she received a letter from Song Zhaohuai from Bingzhou.
The letter from Song Zhaohuai mentioned that the commander of Bingzhou had made up his mind to support the crown prince and asked him to lead his troops to Luoning to meet with the crown prince.
Su Yuzhao had long wanted to see Song Zhaohuai, and upon receiving this news, she became even more restless. That very night, she bid farewell to Shen Mi, packed her bags briefly, and rode swiftly to Luoning.
She was two years younger than Shen Mi and had long passed her twenties. To wait for Song Zhaohuai, she insisted on not marrying even after all her former close friends had married and had children. Shen Mi could see that she was infatuated with Song Zhaohuai and knew about the many difficulties between them. She envied Su Yuzhao for having the freedom to choose and admired her courage in waiting for Song Zhaohuai. When Su Yuzhao wanted to leave Tongguan and go straight to Luoning to find Song Zhaohuai, she did not try to persuade her. Instead, she personally escorted her to the outside of Tongguan.
Now, Shen Mi only hopes that everything will be fine ahead, and that once all this is quelled, all their old friends will reunite in Bianjing.
Su Yuzhao, alone on horseback, spurred her horse on and arrived in Luoning territory five days later. Song Zhaohuai had already led his troops to meet Gu Zhan three days earlier. When she arrived in Luoning, she ran into Song Zhaohuai, who was out on patrol.
Song Zhaohuai was quite surprised by her arrival. He stood there stunned for a long time, not daring to approach. After a while, he looked at Su Yuzhao and said, "Sister, what brings you here?"
Su Yuzhao nimbly dismounted and galloped towards Song Zhaohuai.
Without any hesitation, Song Zhaohuai opened his arms and caught Su Yuzhao, who was running towards him.
This was the first time he had been so close to Su Yuzhao, so much so that his heart was pounding and his hand, which was resting on Su Yuzhao's back, was trembling.
He repeated, "The front lines are so dangerous, Sister, why did you come?"
Facing Song Zhaohuai, whom she had not seen for a long time, Su Yuzhao made no attempt to hide her longing. She said frankly, "I miss you, I want to see you."
Song Zhaohuai held her carefully, not daring to hold her too tightly, nor too loosely. His voice was slightly hoarse. "Sister, I originally intended to see you only after I had made a contribution in helping His Highness return to Bianjing safely. Once I had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, I could ask Prime Minister Su to let me marry you. I just wanted to let you know I was safe. I didn't mean for you to come to such a dangerous place as the front lines to find me."
Su Yuzhao rested her forehead on his shoulder, her hands stubbornly wrapped around his waist, and said, "It's because I missed you so much, it's my own idea to come here. Don't feel pressured or burdened."
"Actually, when my elder brother had someone escort me away from Bianjing, I wanted to come directly to Bingzhou to find you. But the people my brother sent kept a close watch on me, so I didn't have a chance to change my route. I could only go to Tongguan first. Otherwise, I would have met you long ago."
Song Zhaohuai took a breath, his eyes welling up with tears. He took a deep breath and finally placed his hand on Su Yuzhao's shoulder and back. He said, "Don't worry, sister, I will definitely not let you down."
He only held Su Yuzhao for a short while before letting go of her, looking directly into her eyes for the first time. "I used to think that you deserved the best, and I always felt that I wasn't good enough, so I never dared to reciprocate your feelings. I thought that as long as I could always protect you, that would be enough. But I never expected that I still couldn't hide my despicable thoughts..."
Su Yuzhao reached out and gently pressed her hand against Song Zhaohuai's lips, stopping him from continuing: "Don't say such things. If you think your thoughts are despicable, then wouldn't I be even more despicable? In my heart, Zhaohuai will always be the best."
Song Zhaohuai smiled and whispered in her ear, "Sister will always be in Zhaohuai's heart."
Gu Zhan saw Song Zhaohuai and Su Yuzhao return to the military camp together. The two were very close, their fingertips intertwined, seemingly inseparable. Gu Zhan understood immediately, and a sense of envy crept into his heart.
But what's more important now is to take down Luoning and Mianchi.
The army has been stationed outside Luoning City for more than ten days. Luoning is not easy to attack, and the longer the battle drags on, the less it will benefit them. The situation is becoming increasingly tense.
Last autumn, Hedong Road suffered a locust plague, and this spring's planting was further hampered by a prolonged drought, leaving them with limited grain reserves. Their ability to hold out for so long without wavering suggests that the King of Wei had transferred grain from Bianjing and Luoyang. Therefore, after several discussions with his generals, Gu Zhan ultimately decided to employ a strategy of feigned retreat to lure the Luoyang garrison out in full force, while secretly intercepting the grain supplies being transported to Luoning, cutting off its supply lines and leaving Luoning an isolated city. Prior to this, Fan Nayan had already led troops to attack Mianchi. Once these two key cities were captured, they could advance swiftly and decisively.
After agreeing on the relevant plans with the generals, everyone performed their respective duties.
Gu Zhan personally led his elite troops to intercept the military supplies transported from Luoyang, while Song Zhaohuai set up an ambush between Mianchi and Luoning.
Everything went smoothly at first, until three days later, Song Zhaohuai, who was seriously injured, retreated to his main camp outside Luoning City.
When Su Yuzhao saw Song Zhaohuai, he was already on the verge of death, riddled with arrows, barely clinging to life, and his consciousness was already hazy.
She reached out to grasp Song Zhaohuai's hand, but he gripped it even tighter.
When Song Zhaohuai spoke, his tone was intermittent, "It was my fault for delaying your youth. I hope you can forget the past and find a good man soon."
After saying this, he smiled slightly at Su Yuzhao and closed his eyes.
As instructed by Gu Zhan, news from the front lines should be promptly relayed back to Tongguan to facilitate a response.
As usual, Shen Mi nervously opened the transcribed military report, but when she saw the words on it, she froze on the spot.
—His Highness has been ambushed, and his fate is unknown.
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Author's note: Hehe, I finished writing it early today and posted it early~ Have a great weekend everyone!
The next chapter, the grand finale, will probably be finished late into the night, and I'll post it around dawn. But I reckon it'll be the middle of the night then, so if you're not used to staying up late, you can read it tomorrow morning! [pat on the head][pat on the head]
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