Her quiet “I regret it” went unheard by the two petrified figures outside the door. Li Xiang’s tea nearly slipped from her hands, but Yun Shen caught it and dragged her away. They had come to deliver tea but overheard quite the show. Who knew the majestic little princess outside was so “obedient.”
Xun Changqing hugged the quilt, distancing herself from the outer figure. Seeing her calm demeanor, she unwillingly scooted closer to negotiate. “Promise you’ll listen to me this time and stay here.”
“You should sleep.” Wei Lingci turned over, rescued the mangled blanket from her hands, smoothed it out, covered her with it, extinguished the candle, and lay back down. Her expression was serene, as if the playful tussle earlier hadn’t involved her.
Xun Changqing’s face darkened. She knew even if she refused, Wei Lingci would go—stubborn and proud. She rolled over to face her, then softened the mood. “You pinched me hard earlier… It still hurts.”
“What do you want? Bite me back?”
“Don’t want to bite you—it’d hurt my teeth.”
Silence fell in the darkness, broken suddenly by a heavy sigh. Wei Lingci rolled over, pulled her into her arms, pressing her entire body close. Her voice mixed helplessness, gentleness, and comfort. “Is this satisfactory?”
Xun Changqing inhaled her unique fresh scent and said with a hint of disdain, “Wei Lingci, you’re the silliest person I’ve ever met.”
Wei Lingci pursed her lips and said unhurriedly, “You’re the stupidest I’ve met—knowing it’s dangerous and still going. Ana Yanran will skin you alive.”
Xun Changqing poked her chest, her fingertip brushing cool, tender skin, circling it. “Skin me and she’ll skin you too—we’re one. You can’t escape.”
Wei Lingci ignored her and closed her eyes. Fortunately, the one in her arms settled down. After some time, a drowsy voice murmured by her ear. “Wei Lingci, in this life, we’ll live and die together.”
The one in my arms is indeed foolish. I’m over a decade older—how can we live and die together?
…
Ji Province City’s gates were sealed—no entry or exit. Many refugees from Border City were turned away outside. Some cursed and shouted below, even hurling stones at the battlements.
With no choice, the refugees camped in clusters outside the city, unwilling to leave. Yuan Man and the others observed from the walls for several days. Seeing only civilians below, no suspicious figures, they deliberated and finally opened the gates. The refugees surged in like bees, and the heavy gates closed again moments later.
Ji Province City was vast. In remote areas, tents and stoves were set up, providing two meals of rice porridge daily.
Yuan Man’s benevolence was admirable, but it risked spies infiltrating, repeating Border City’s fate of being poisoned. Xun Changqing devised a compromise: watch the refugees, bar them from entering inner areas, or escort them out of Ji Province entirely, keeping them from touching anything in the city.
Yuan Man’s dispatched letter soon received a reply—the opposing commander was indeed Ana Yanran, who agreed to meet Xun Changqing.
Refugees still swarmed outside Ji Province City. When the gates opened again, they rushed in like wolves and tigers but slowed upon seeing the soldiers’ blades and swords. Ji Province’s grain was scarce, but fortunately, a batch of refugees had been sent away earlier.
Xun Changqing and the others headed against the flow of refugees, though some trailed behind them, also bound for Border City in search of lost family.
They had traveled only a few dozen li when they spotted the borderland soldiers encamped. Countless tents dotted the plain, cookfires smoking, patrols circling outside. The main force was clearly here.
Xun Changqing seemed to smell blood again. She urged her horse forward and stopped at the wooden barricade gate, presenting her letter. “Tell your princess that Great Qi’s envoy from Ji Province has arrived.”
The gate guards perked up at “Great Qi,” but relaxed seeing only two women behind her—no threat amid tens of thousands. They took the letter and went to report.
Wei Lingci casually scanned the surroundings. The soldiers drilled methodically, without panic or distraction. Her heart sank. Ji Province had at most twenty thousand troops at best; reinforcements would take half a month. If the borderlands attacked in that time, doom loomed. Border City’s losses were too great; Ji Province could barely fend for itself. Yuan Man’s frenzy was understandable.
Xun Changqing stepped back half a pace beside her and whispered, “The borderlands came prepared. Ji Province… is in trouble.”
Wei Lingci said nothing. Yuan Man had thought too simply. With Ana Yanran at the borderlands, did she hold Great Qi’s defense maps? If so, she knew every deployment, and with her strong army, she was unstoppable.
After the time for a cup of tea, the reporting soldier returned and invited them in—but demanded Wei Lingci surrender her longsword.
The Azure Peak Sword in Wei Lingci’s hand was a fine heirloom passed down generations—how could she hand it to the enemy? She merely glared coldly, scaring off the approaching soldiers, but they still barred her at the gate.
After some commotion, several men hurried out from the camp and barked, “Stand down!”
The gate guards bowed and retreated. Had they shouted later, Wei Lingci might have struck. Xun Changqing peeked out, her heart skipping at the sight of the black-robed, silver-armored female general emerging behind the officers. The words “mother consort” nearly escaped but were swallowed. Instead, she said, “Princess, in war between armies, is this how you treat an envoy? You let us enter the camp but demand we disarm? Does your vast army fear a single sword?”
Ana Yanran subtly appraised the girl before her, puzzlement creeping in. Ignoring the sarcasm, her gaze lingered on the somewhat familiar face. “Why have you two come here?”
