Chapter 73 The Eldest Princess Disappears: The situation in the capital is becoming increasingly dire, and a major upheaval is imminent.
Xu Yi jumped to his feet, asking incredulously, "Who died?"
"Han Jiwen, the second young master of the Han family, is also known as the military advisor."
Fourteenth was ashen-faced, and Thirteenth sent word that General Han had fallen ill for several days due to unbearable heart pain, and His Majesty had driven back the Xiao Kingdom by several miles in half a month.
But how should we tell Minister Han about this...?
"What happened?"
“The Crown Prince’s secret guards infiltrated the back mountain and murdered the strategist.”
They actually resorted to such despicable and vile means!
Xu Yi's eyes reddened. He had spoken with the second young master of the Han family several times. The man was gentle and refined and well-read. If he hadn't gone to the army, he would definitely have a place in the court!
Clenching his fist so tightly that the veins on his wrists bulged, Xu Yi slammed his fist against a pillar and whispered, looking down, "How could it just be gone?"
A sense of sorrow and the impermanence of life swept over them, and Xu Yi suddenly felt a moment of disorientation, as if he didn't know what day it was.
But even in that instant, now that His Majesty is personally leading the expedition, he still has to sit in the court to oversee things.
Yao Ruyi hadn't had much contact with Han Jiwen. Few people could accept the death of a close relative, and he dared not imagine how Miss Siwen would react if she knew about this. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I'll go with you."
"Little Nineteen, you..."
Fourteen sighed. He knew that Nineteen and Miss Han had some connection. "That's fine then. Let's go."
It was getting late, but this matter couldn't be delayed any longer. The Second Young Master's body also needed to be transported back from Beiyuan. Xu Yi let out a breath, "I'll go with you two."
"please."
Night fell, enveloping the capital. Han Siwen and Xiao Xiaoyuan chatted over tea in the courtyard. The people of the city had long known about the outbreak of war at the front.
It seems like one problem after another has arisen. The Xiao Kingdom and the Yun Kingdom have gone to war again after a year's hiatus, and Xiao Xiaoyuan has been staying home these days.
Her identity is sensitive, so it's best for her to stay in the manor.
"Let me see what you've embroidered." Han Siwen said, craning her neck to look. Neither of them looked down on the other when it came to needlework. One of them had embroidered mandarin ducks into rotten lotus leaves, while the other had even made a mess of the threads on the silk.
Xiao Xiaoyuan suddenly laughed. She casually placed the silk on the table and said quietly, "I wonder how those people were able to embroider such exquisite purses."
She wanted to embroider one for Han Jiqing like an ordinary woman, but this was the fourth or fifth one, and the shape was barely discernible.
"No need to force yourself," Han Siwen said, snapping the thread. "I was just embroidering for fun."
If other young ladies from prominent families saw the two of them doing needlework like this, they would laugh their heads off.
The two had been spending the last few days together. Han Siwen hadn't returned to Jiangzhou and was often bored in the capital. A few days ago, seeing Xiao Xiaoyuan playing with these things, he wanted to try it himself. "Everyone has their own strengths, why force yourself?"
Xiao Xiaoyuan paused for a moment, "That makes sense."
As the two were talking, a servant came running over and said, "Madam, Miss. Lord Xu and Lords Fourteen and Nineteen have arrived and are waiting in the front hall."
Han Siwen suddenly frowned. What were they doing here at this hour?
A sudden unease gripped her heart. Han Siwen told Qiu Bai to take Xiao Xiaoyuan back to the house first, while she patted her robe and said, "Let's go, have someone prepare some tea."
"Yes, Miss."
The entire journey was silent, and even as they stepped into the main hall, they didn't hear a single voice. The deathly silence intensified Han Siwen's unease. Her eyes were clear as she asked, "Gentlemen, is there something you need for our late-night visit?"
Yao Ruyi and Xu Yi exchanged a glance. He held the letter sent back to the capital by the Thirteenth Prince in his hand and silently extended his hand, "Miss Siwen."
Han Siwen recognized the message as being sent back from the front lines, and his heart skipped a beat.
She asked tentatively, "Is something the matter?"
She has two brothers who are both on the front lines...
[The strategist Han Jiwen was assassinated by someone sent by Crown Prince Xiao.]
"Buzz—"
In an instant, the woman's pupils constricted and she stood frozen in place, as if her ears had been filled with water, bubbling and gurgling, making her unable to hear any other sounds.
Snap, snap—
Large tears instantly fell to the ground. Han Siwen's breathing became rapid. She staggered two steps and reached out to support herself on the table to barely steady herself. The letter trembled violently. Han Siwen wanted to take another look, but she didn't have the strength to lift her hand.
"Miss Han!"
Yao Ruyi and Xu Yi stepped forward to help the person up. A white light flashed across Yao Ruyi's wrist, as ordinary as moonlight shining on a silver bracelet. He looked worried.
Han Siwen waved his hand, tears streaming down the woman's face. The words on the paper were striking and glaring. Her voice was completely different from the clear and melodious one just now. "Thank you all for making this trip."
Her voice was hoarse.
At first, it was a dull ache, but as time went by, the pain became more and more acute. Everywhere Han Siwen looked in the Han mansion, she could recall the figure of her younger brother.
When they were children, Ji Wen always loved to follow her around and call her "elder sister" repeatedly. Whenever he got something delicious, he would give it to her first...
"Miss Han, please accept my condolences."
The woman nodded, took the letter in her hand, and used all her strength to control her trembling wrist. She gently closed her eyes and said, "Tomorrow, I will lead people to the front line to bring Ji Wen back."
Yao Ruyi was taken aback. Even if she didn't go, someone would bring Han Jiwen's body back.
But if I were to pick it up myself, I would probably want to take another look. "Okay."
Han Siwen wiped her eyes hard, but it was no use; the hatred in her heart spread from her chest. Xiao Guo was betrothed to their family, and before the expedition, Ji Qing had told her that if possible, he wouldn't want to exterminate Xiao Guo.
But now...
The woman opened her eyes, her handsome and spirited features gradually turning sharp. The Xiao Kingdom and her Han family would never again coexist.
Silence spread through the front hall.
"Please go back, gentlemen. Siwen will speak to Father and Mother herself." After saying that, she looked up at Yao Ruyi, unable to force a smile. "If you reply, please trouble someone to take good care of Ji Qing. Siwen will be extremely grateful."
His voice choked up towards the end.
Her frail body trembled uncontrollably, a heartbreaking sight. Yao Ruyi wanted to comfort her, but nothing she said mattered; Han Jiwen was gone. "Don't worry," she said.
"Thank you, sir."
The three left the Han residence under the steward's guidance. Each of them had their own thoughts and hadn't gone far when they heard a sound of chaos and commotion coming from the Han residence, followed by a shrill cry.
"Ji Wen! My son, my mother—"
Xu Yi finally couldn't hold back his tears. He knew that the women of the Han family were all unpretentious and steady in their actions, but looking at Miss Han and Madam Han now, "How could I bear it..."
The news of the death of the second young master of the Han family quickly spread throughout the capital. Han Dahai took three days off, and Xu Yi and Xue Qingping could not say anything.
If the Han family originally fought against the enemy in Beiyuan for the country, things will be different from now on.
"How can the princess of Xiao Kingdom stay in the Han family?"
"General Han was blinded by that woman, and now! Alas!"
...
Two days later, Fourteen hurried out of the palace. As he passed the Cloud Palace, he saw Yao Ruyi and exclaimed, "Nineteen!"
"What's wrong?" Yao Ruyi and Wang Qianshan waved their hands and turned to follow. Fourteenth said urgently, "A few days ago, along with the news of the Second Young Master's death, there was also news about the Princess of Xiao Kingdom. His Majesty asked if the Princess was still in the capital."
He sent people to keep an eye on things, and they were there the whole time.
But early this morning, the man sent a message: "The Princess has disappeared."
"The person has disappeared?"
Yao Ruyi was shocked. Just two days after the Second Young Master of the Han family was deeply concerned about the front lines and even killed by the Crown Prince of Xiao, the Eldest Princess of Xiao had also disappeared.
It immediately brings to mind that Xiao Xiaoyuan ran away.
"I'm going to the Han residence now. You go to the brothel and find Twelve. Follow the road north and catch up with Miss Han!" Fourteen's pace quickened, and the two almost ran along the palace road. "We must bring Han Dahai back!"
Han Dahai went to the front lines with Han Siwen? Without time to think further, the two parted ways at the gate of Beijing. "Okay."
Now, not only the front lines, but even the capital is gradually falling into tension. Yao Ruyi pursed his lips and hurried towards the brothel, wondering who was orchestrating this in the capital. He had a premonition that the capital would soon descend into chaos.
Her delicate, clear eyebrows lowered, and Yao Ruyi's expression became serious. The people they left behind in the capital weren't useless; they might not be able to do much else, but they could certainly defend the capital!
The winding mountain path stretched northward, with Han Siwen and Han Dahai riding side by side. They barely exchanged a few words, except when feeding their horses at the post station.
Han Siwen knew her father's thoughts, and she also wanted to avenge Ji Wen, but the front lines were in chaos, and they couldn't solve the problem by acting impulsively.
"drive--"
"drive--"
Both of them had lost a lot of weight in the past few days. Han Dahai sat by the roadside without saying a word. The usually burly man with a simple smile had bloodshot eyes and looked at least ten years older in just a few days.
The sound of two horses' hooves grew louder and louder. Han Siwen peeked out from the entrance of the post station and was startled. "My lords..."
Yao Ruyi and Twelve dismounted. Ignoring the stinging pain in his legs, he turned his gaze to Han Dahai sitting on the ground. He frowned. "Your Majesty is well aware of Minister Han's grief. The Second Young Master's revenge will be exacted in blood sooner or later. But now there are no military generals in the capital to hold the city in check. That won't do."
Han Siwen understood as soon as she met Yao Ruyi that these words might not have been spoken by His Majesty, but she thought so too.
Her eyes were still red and swollen, and the woman nodded softly, "Father."
Han Dahai remained aloof and motionless.
"father!"
Han Siwen called out again, and the person on the ground finally reacted. Han Dahai propped himself up and said, "Lord Nineteen." He didn't recognize Twelfth, so he nodded as a greeting.
"Minister Han".
"We two have come to invite Minister Han to return to the capital to take charge."
Han Dahai remained silent for a long time. He gripped the sword at his waist and said in a deep voice, "Although I am old, I am not so old that I cannot go to the battlefield!"
Yao Ruyi frowned. "That's not what I meant."
Han Dahai stared intently at Yao Ruyi, the hatred in his eyes growing stronger. He couldn't control himself any longer and shouted, "Xiao Kingdom has gone too far! Now that my son has died at their hands, can't I, as his father, even avenge him?!"
"Minister Han!" Twelve tried to step forward to stop Yao Ruyi behind him, but was stopped by someone's hand. Yao Ruyi frowned, "His Majesty knows that Minister Han hates Crown Prince Xiao to the bone, but the capital cannot be without a military general to guard it!"
And what good will it do for Han Dahai to go now?
Han Siwen chimed in, "What the master says makes sense."
The father's eyes grew increasingly red. He gripped the sword hilt tightly with his fists, and a wave of pain washed over him, making it hard for him to breathe. He let out a soft moan. The others watched as Han Dahai, who was as large as a small mountain, bent over, stretched out a hand to shield his eyes, and gasped for breath with a wide grin.
Han Siwen felt a pang of sadness. "Father—"
With calluses all over his hands, Han Dahai held Han Siwen's hand tightly for a long time, unable to let go.
After a while.
"Have these guards follow him and bring your brother back safely."
Her father was also worried about her, Han Siwen's throat tightened, "Father, don't worry."
As darkness fell, Han Dahai stood up, tears still streaming down his face. "My lords, please."
"Your Excellency, please."
They thought they would have to argue with Han Dahai for a while, but to their surprise, it went so smoothly. Yao Ruyi and the others said goodbye to Han Siwen and turned to walk back.
As he rode along the path, the stinging pain in his legs became more and more pronounced. Yao Ruyi quietly placed his hand under one of his legs to barely alleviate the pain. Seeing that they were far from the post station, he spurred his horse to gallop alongside Han Dahai.
He said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, tonight you and Madam Han will bring the little princess to the palace."
"For the time being, we will stay in the palace."
Han Dahai turned his head sharply, "What do you mean by this, sir?"
Twelve riders approached, their faces serious. "Xiao Xiaoyuan has disappeared."
"What!"
Han Dahai had been immersed in the grief of losing his son for the past few days, and the oppressive feeling in his heart left him no time to think about anything else. But now, looking at the situation in the capital, it was becoming increasingly severe, and a major change was imminent.
His fingers gripped the reins tightly. "Thank you, sir."
As dusk fell, the three of them traversed the jungle. Yao Ruyi shifted the hand she had been using to support herself to the other side. “These past few days, the Baili family has been making a lot of moves during the morning court sessions. Minister Han should keep a close eye on things in the future.”
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