Chapter 76: Seizing Power Part 2

But before she could speak, Yun Shen burst in from outside, water skin in hand, her face tense. “Wei… people are coming up the mountain. We need to leave now—hurry over this mountain.”

Xun Changqing lay there as if soulless, her eyes stinging. She sighed deeply. “She’s really persistent. Even if she kills you, Great Qi has plenty of talents.”

Her world-weary tone amused Yun Shen, who smothered the fire with dirt and laughed. “Little Princess, blame Wei’s martial prowess. The border folk value skill highly, and with her right there—and you a Great Qi Princess amid enemy states—they won’t let such prominent figures go.”

“Yun Shen, I’m just a powerless fallen princess. ‘Prominent’ doesn’t fit.” Xun Changqing seemed to have accepted it. She pushed herself up slowly, stood, and handed Wei Lingci the outer robe that had covered her.

Wei Lingci took it, donned it, and packed the cave. Xun Changqing had already shuffled out slowly. Seeing her hands tremble on the wall, Yun Shen stepped forward tentatively. “Little Princess, want me to carry you? The mountain’s full of loose rocks—not easy to walk, especially with your fever…”

Xun Changqing shook her head, eyeing the lightening sky outside. “No need. I can manage. Just take care of yourselves—I’ll try not to hold you back.” At life’s brink, she wouldn’t drag others down.

Yun Shen didn’t know how to respond. They’d come mainly to protect Xun Changqing; if harm befell her, Yuan Man wouldn’t spare them, nor would the court.

“Little Princess, I didn’t mean… I…” Yun Shen shut her mouth abruptly as Wei Lingci handed her the packed bundle and bent to piggyback Xun Changqing.

Li Xiang tugged her sleeve, smirking at her meddling. With Wei Lingci here, who needed their fussing?

Of course not.

Noise rose from below. Yun Shen stopped fretting, grabbed the bundle, and led the way—she knew the path best. She glanced back occasionally at Xun Changqing, quietly slumped on Wei Lingci’s back, head on her shoulder, eyes softly closed. After a few looks, Yun Shen strode ahead. With Wei Lingci there, the little Princess was in good hands.

The mountain path was treacherous—thorny for ordinary folk, jagged rocks everywhere, uneven footing that could send one tumbling anytime.

Xun Changqing’s arms encircled Wei Lingci’s neck, fingertips on her slender shoulders. Feeling the bumps, she asked, “Are you tired?”

“Not too bad. The path’s rough—don’t move. At this pace, we’ll crest the mountain in two hours. Someone’s waiting there; then we’re safe.”

Wei Lingci’s voice was soft; Xun Changqing barely heard close up. Exhausted and struggling, her eyes drifted shut as she murmured, “Wake me when we arrive. I’m sleepy… want to rest…”

A day and night with only spring water upon waking, now injured and feverish—her strength had given out.

Wei Lingci softly assented and fell silent, embodying that poetic line: sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

By noon, when the pursuers reached the cave, the mountain’s vastness had delayed them—easy to get lost without a guide. Bai Yan had brought hunters, but they still lagged. By the time they pressed on, they spotted Wei Lingci entering Ji Province City.

Bai Yan fumed inwardly but had only hundreds of men—suicide to charge. She spurred her horse back to camp to report.

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in Ji Province City. Yuan Man had evacuated all civilians, turning it into a dead city. Even if the border forces took it, only land, buildings, and weeds remained—everything else carted away.

Ji Province couldn’t hold; better preserve strength, retreat a hundred li, and regroup with reinforcements.

A last resort, born of necessity.

True to her word to Yuan Man, Wei Lingci stayed with the Ji Province troops, sharing their fate. Upon withdrawal, she sent Yun Shen and the arriving Xian Yu to escort Xun Changqing back to the Imperial Capital.

Though the arrowhead was removed promptly, lack of proper care lingered. After two days in Ji Province, Xun Changqing boarded a carriage for the Imperial Capital.

The summer heat still scorched. Xun Changqing leaned inside the carriage, colorless lips, lifting the curtain to watch Wei Lingci instructing Yun Shen outside, brows furrowed. She worried—Xian Yu wasn’t as steady as her sister Xian Yun, who’d gone ahead to the capital with messages. Xian Yu was all they had.

Moments later, Wei Lingci lifted the curtain and climbed in, bloodshot eyes belying her usual cool demeanor with anxiety and sorrow. Xun Changqing reached out first, lips curving in a faint smile. “You seem reluctant to let me go.”

Wei Lingci ignored the jest, grasping her hand. “You’re backwards. Xun Yisu said to take the water route back—avoids trouble, and less jostling for your wound. Should be faster.”

“I know. But protect yourself. I’ll handle the capital. Once you return, we can leave it behind. Let them deal with the war.”

Xun Changqing leaned against her, inhaling her faint fragrance at parting.

Wei Lingci pushed her lightly, tapping her full forehead with mock disdain. “So spineless, always thinking of fun.”

“Spineless or not, if I weren’t, would you still love me? Probably not.” Xun Changqing snuggled closer. This woman’s intellect and strategy outshone all; she’d turned defeats to victories before. Withdrawing from Ji Province was drawing fuel from the pot.

She knew Wei Lingci would safeguard Great Qi.

Compared to brute force, Wei Lingci excelled more.

Wei Lingci found it amusing, unable to bear the rubbing in the sweltering carriage. She brushed aside the stray hairs on her forehead and planted a light, dragonfly kiss full of endless affection. “Behave when you get back. The Prince’s Mansion won’t be yours alone anymore. If you don’t want to stay, go to the palace with the Wise Noble Consort.”