Seeing this, Chi Yan, who was at the summit, felt a throbbing pain in his temples and wanted nothing more than to curse.
"waste."
Chi Yan pinched his brow, his face grim. He shouldn't have expected the Lord of Jade Mountain City to understand the principle of not pursuing a cornered enemy.
"Your Majesty, should we send troops to reinforce the city lord?" asked the Right Protector of the Azure Sky.
Chi Yan had a headache. It seemed that these 180,000 soldiers were doomed. They had chased after them recklessly, but there must be Jin soldiers lying in ambush outside, waiting for them to fall into their trap.
“There must be an ambush outside. There’s no need for reinforcements. Quickly send 100,000 troops to guard Yushan.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a soldier rushed in to report, "My lord, something terrible has happened! The Yue Kingdom's army of 100,000 is attacking Cangshan, and tens of thousands more are on their way."
"What?" Chi Yan's face darkened.
The left guard frowned: "My lord, Cangshan originally had 200,000 soldiers. We just transferred 100,000 to support Yushan. The remaining 100,000 are all elite troops, but Cangshan is our Cangqiong's granary and we cannot afford any mistakes. What do you think...?"
Chi Yan decisively ordered, "Go directly to the main city to transfer troops and make sure to defend Cangshan and Yushan."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The 180,000-strong army led by the Lord of Yushan City fell into a trap set by the Jin army, suffering more than 50,000 casualties. The remaining 130,000 troops engaged in fierce fighting with the Jin army.
Upon receiving this news, Chi Yan was furious. Although he had anticipated the outcome, he still couldn't stop his rage.
Looking towards the fierce battle outside the mountain, he unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure he had been longing for day and night behind the Jin soldiers.
In the distance, atop a tall horse, a stunningly beautiful figure clad in white armor, gleaming with silver light, was gradually receding from his sight.
Too far away, Chi Yan couldn't quite see if it was Leng Qingning.
"Ning'er, is that you, Ning'er?" Chi Yan was overjoyed.
Without giving any other thought, he rushed down the mountain as fast as he could.
A soldier rushed up to report, "My lord, the Yue army is attacking the main city."
"Get out of here."
Chi Yan kicked the soldier away and ran towards the city gates...
Nothing is more important than her right now!
Leng Qingning led her troops back to the main camp, leaving the fighting to General Jin Yan and his men. She had a more important task: to oversee the main camp and strategize.
Chi Yan chased after him to the outskirts of the city, but the figure had already vanished…
As night fell and the moonlight cast a faint glow, the military camp was filled with mournful cries, the prisoners screaming in agony.
Inside the main tent, the military doctor was removing the arrow from Jin Yan's arm.
"Young Prince, please bear with it."
"I am fine, pull it out."
After a muffled groan, the arrow was successfully removed. The medic bandaged Jin Yan, dressed him, and then left the tent.
"Your Highness, you may go in now. The young prince cannot use a sword for half a month due to his injury, otherwise he may be left with a disability."
"Yes, I understand."
Leng Qingning approached the tent and saw that Jin Yan's face was pale, so she must have been seriously injured. She took a clean handkerchief from the side and wiped the fine sweat from Jin Yan's forehead.
This thoughtful gesture made Jin Yan slightly stunned. It was the first time she had been so close to a woman, and Jin Yan felt her face getting hot.
He already had some affection for Leng Qingning.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Jin Yan smiled faintly.
A male servant brought hot water, and Leng Qingning wet a handkerchief and personally washed Jin Yan's face.
Jin Yan smelled the incense on Leng Qingning's sleeve and felt his cheeks get even hotter.
"Young Prince, you truly deserve to be called the number one general of the Jin Kingdom. I didn't even hear you cry out in pain just now."
"I'm used to it." Jin Yan lowered his voice, trying to hide the turmoil in his heart.
Leng Qingning admired this man from the bottom of her heart. In a matriarchal society, he was able to stand out from the crowd and gain the recognition of the entire Jin Kingdom, being named the King of Aoyan. This was truly remarkable.
During this period, Leng Qingning didn't know much about Jin Yan. She only knew that his mother was the younger sister of the Empress of Jin, a remarkable general who commanded 200,000 troops and held a very important position in Jin.
Jin Yan was the nephew of the Jin Dynasty's Empress, who treated him as her own son from a young age and loved him dearly.
Although this is all that she knows about him, the time she has spent with him has been enough for Leng Qingning to understand his character and combat abilities, and she greatly admires him.
Leng Qingning would always take the time to inquire about the generals who would fight alongside her.
Leng Qingning washed her hands with hot water and said to Jin Yan, "Young Prince, you are injured and need to rest well. Today's battle was quite fruitful. I will send another general to fight the battle at Cangshan tomorrow, so you don't need to go."
"Your Highness, this is not appropriate. Cangshan is the lifeblood of the heavens, and I must go to war."
Leng Qingning stared straight ahead: "But with your hand already like this, how can you fight?"
Jin Yan smiled and said, "It's nothing. I was often injured when I fought alongside my mother. This little injury is nothing."
Leng Qingning earnestly advised, "Under my command, I must guarantee the safety of every general. Your arm has been pierced; how can you wield a sword? The army doctor said you need to rest and recuperate properly. If you don't, you may suffer long-term health problems, and what if you become disabled?"
"You are a general of the Jin Kingdom, and there are many battles waiting for you in the future. You don't want to ruin your future because of a small arrow, do you?"
Jin Yan hesitated after hearing this: "But whether we can take Cangshan is crucial to us. It is the best entry point to annihilate Cangqiong."
"I know Your Highness is brave and skilled in battle, but right now, your health is the most important thing. Don't worry, there are other generals, and I will make arrangements for them. Just focus on recovering from your injuries, and I will take Cangshan sooner or later," Leng Qingning said gently, reassuring him.
Seeing that Jin Yan still wanted to argue, Leng Qingning smiled and said, "Young Prince, there's no need to say more. Your personal safety is of utmost importance. How can a mere Cangshan compare to the King of Jin?"
Jin Yan was touched by Leng Qingning's smile and felt a warmth in her heart as she listened to her caring and gentle tone. Unconsciously, her ears turned red.
Over the years, he had become accustomed to coming and going in the military. The people who cared for him were his aunts and uncles of the same generation as his mother. Very few young women could get close to him.
Those women were either afraid of his status as a prince of the Jin Kingdom or kept at arm's length by his perpetually cold and stern demeanor.
He had never been with any woman like this before.
What Leng Qingning might see as merely concern for a colleague, he saw as something different.
"Your Highness, why are you so concerned about me?" Jin Yan regretted asking the question as soon as it came out.
Why ask that! Jin Yan thought to himself, annoyed.
Leng Qingning was also taken aback by the question. Yes! She did seem to have paid too much attention to him. After all, he was a man. Although there were no men and women in the army, her actions just now were indeed a bit frivolous.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. You are a soldier in our army. I was concerned about your injuries and I shouldn't have offended you."
"Only concerned about the soldiers?" Jin Yan was somewhat disappointed.
Seeing Jin Yan's displeased expression, Leng Qingning was at a loss for words. Had she unintentionally offended him again?
"Report."
The two looked outside the tent. "What is it?"
"Your Highness, a messenger from Cang Qiong has arrived, saying he has urgent business to discuss with you. Your Highness, should we tie him up?"
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