Northwest, Shuocheng.
The low-hanging night sky reflected the twinkling stars as a troop of cavalry hurried from outside the city toward the city gate of Shuocheng. The leading soldier had bruises on his face and injuries to his legs, looking particularly disheveled.
Behind him, a soldier who was also badly wounded asked with concern, "Lieutenant General Feng, shall we take a break?"
Feng Chang gritted his teeth and said, "What rest? We can't wait to get what we're carrying!"
The soldier immediately fell silent, only cracking his whip before following Feng Chang.
The clatter of hooves was clearly audible in the night. The soldiers guarding Shuocheng had already set up their bows and arrows, waiting to see if the newcomers were friend or foe.
With the flickering firelight, the soldiers guarding the city finally saw what the newcomers looked like. They were terrified and quickly sent men to stop the group while they themselves went to the northwest camp under the cover of night to deliver the message.
The cavalry didn't cause any trouble; they just kept their faces grim. Feng Chang wiped the blood from his face and said weakly, "Go and invite Vice General Mo. Tell him... Feng Chang is back."
These soldiers were the five hundred elite troops who followed Cheng Chu. They didn't know who Feng Chang was. They just looked at the general warily without answering.
Feng Chang looked at them intently, wanting to say something, but suddenly fainted.
"Vice General Feng—"
"Lieutenant General Feng has fainted—"
Feng Chang's last thought before losing consciousness was that Princess Heyang was indeed worthy of being the daughter of the Duke and his wife; she had trained these soldiers very well.
...
When Shang Shaoyan was woken up by Qiao Xiuyu, she was still dreaming. In her dream, there was a fog that she couldn't see clearly, and a couple dressed in armor. She tried desperately to see clearly, but she couldn't clear the fog no matter what she did, and could only stand there anxiously pacing around.
She groggily got out of bed and asked, "What's wrong? Is there an enemy attack?"
Qiao Xiuyu looked at Shang Shaoyan with amusement, and said helplessly, "What enemy attack? You've driven away the Western Turks, and the remaining tribes are no match for you."
He paused for a moment, then said, "It's your parents' old subordinates who have returned."
Shang Shaoyan was now fully awake. She frowned and looked at the dark sky outside: "My parents' old subordinates? They only trusted Mo Xing and Feng Chang. Mo Xing is in Shuocheng, and Feng Chang died with my parents long ago..."
She didn't finish her sentence because she suddenly remembered that her parents were not dead.
Shang Shaoyan perked up, quickly put on his clothes, grabbed a knife, and headed out.
Qiao Xiuyu quickly followed behind her.
Shang Shaoyan picked out a horse and placed Qiao Xiuyu in front of her. Holding the reins, she explained to the stiff Qiao Xiuyu, "I was afraid we wouldn't be able to catch up, so I had to resort to this... After all, you can't ride as fast as I can."
Qiao Xiuyu: "..."
If Shang Shaoyan hadn't laughed out loud after saying that, he would have truly believed it.
Shang Shaoyan seemed to realize that he had been a little bit unfair, so he quickly suppressed his laughter and led Qiao Xiuyu to the Northwest Camp. Fortunately, their residence was very close to the military camp, and they arrived in just half an hour.
Shang Shaoyan's riding skills were indeed excellent. Qiao Xiuyu felt no discomfort or too much jolting. The two dismounted at the entrance of the military camp, where they saw Mo Xing already waiting.
Mo Xing's eyes glistened with tears as she looked at Shang Shaoyan with some emotion: "Princess, it's the wind..."
Shang Shaoyan gave him a warning look, and Mo Xing immediately realized this wasn't the place to talk. He quickly changed the subject, saying, "...People's hearts have changed so much these days! How could such a sad thing happen!"
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
Qiao Xiuyu: "..."
There's no need for that.
Shang Shaoyan rubbed his forehead, then said to Mo Xing, "Whatever it is, let's talk in my tent. Qi Lang, come with me."
Upon arriving at the military tent, Shang Shaoyan saw a pale-faced, handsome man lying unconscious on the small couch where Qiao Xiuyu usually slept. His forehead was covered in cold sweat.
Shang Shaoyan was stunned when he saw that face.
It looks so much like it... so much like it.
Qiao Xiuyu keenly sensed that something was wrong with Shang Shaoyan and quickly asked, "An'an, what's wrong?"
Shang Shaoyan snapped out of his daze, casually shifting his gaze and saying, "It's nothing, he just looks somewhat familiar."
She paused, then lowered her eyes and asked before Qiao Xiuyu and Mo Xing could ask, "Is he Feng Chang?"
Qiao Xiuyu glanced at Shang Shaoyan without showing any emotion, somewhat worried, but ultimately said nothing.
Mo Xing sighed from the side, "Princess, Feng Chang isn't dead, does that mean..."
Does this mean that the old Duke and Duchess did not die?
Mo Xing considered this idea too audacious; he dared not think about it further, nor did he dare to continue speaking.
He was afraid that Shang Shaoyan would get angry and then scold him for being delusional.
However, Shang Shaoyan only glanced at him, and then said ambiguously, "Maybe."
Her conversation with Ashina Yeting was known only to the two of them, and she wouldn't tell anyone until she verified the matter.
Of course, Qiao Xiuyu is an exception.
Mo Xing was about to say something when the three of them heard Feng Chang, who was lying on the couch, muttering something.
Mo Xing leaned closer to listen, then scratched his head and asked, "An'an? What is An'an?"
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
Qiao Xiuyu: "..."
Qiao Xiuyu looked at Feng Chang suspiciously, and then protectively shielded Shang Shaoyan behind her.
Shang Shaoyan panicked as well. She tugged at Qiao Xiuyu's sleeve, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "I don't know him, I really don't know him!"
Qiao Xiuyu chuckled: "I know you don't know him."
But I was still a little flustered inside.
But Mo Xing, oblivious to the situation, muttered to himself, "What exactly is An'an... By the way, Princess, you just said Feng Chang looked familiar. Have you met Feng Chang before?"
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
If looks could kill, Mo Xing would have died three times tonight.
She twitched the corners of her mouth and, under Qiao Xiuyu's slightly worried gaze, replied perfunctorily, "He has a very common face, so it's normal that I find him familiar."
Mo Xing: "...?"
He stared at Shang Shaoyan in shock: "This is what you call a generic face?!"
Shang Shaoyan really didn't want to talk to Mo Xing anymore. She rolled her eyes and said, "Deputy General Mo, please take good care of Feng Chang. Qi Lang and I are going out for a walk and will be right back."
Mo Xing glanced suspiciously at Shang Shaoyan, who seemed off about everything, and said "Oh" in agreement.
Shang Shaoyan pulled Qiao Xiuyu out of the tent, and then found a secluded and deserted place. Under Qiao Xiuyu's questioning gaze, he braced himself and said, "It's like this, Feng Chang looks exactly like my first love."
Qiao Xiuyu: "...?"
Say it again? First what? What kind of love?
Seeing Qiao Xiuyu's wide eyes, Shang Shaoyan quickly explained, "He's...he's my first love in that world, but we only dated for three days, and we didn't even hold hands!"
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