The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 142 Change of Events
In the northern frontier, at the main camp of the Chifeng Army.
The Chifeng Army was a private army of Taizi Feng Zhan, with a strength of around 200,000 soldiers. The troops were composed of the finest soldiers, carefully selected from across the country, and were stationed in the northern borders of the Great Xia, near the Chifeng Mountains.
Inside the main tent, Taizi Feng Zhan sat on the main seat, wearing a dark black brocade robe embroidered with golden threads and a five-clawed dragon design. At the lower end of the table sat General Xie An, the commander of the Shuobei Army and the Marquis of Yongding, General Xie Zhao, General Mingwei, General Duan Hong, the commander of the Chifeng Army, and Feng Subei, the Shizi of the Duan Wang Mansion, who had returned from Northern Liang.
This time, the Taizi had traveled to the northern borders, taking General Xie Zhao with him, while leaving General Lu Chen, the commander of the Southern Yamen Imperial Army, to stay behind in the capital city.
After the meeting, Xie An stood up, bowed to the Taizi, and left the main tent to return to the northern army camp, which was about twenty miles away.
On his way back, Xie An could not suppress the smile on his face.
Even though General Xie Zhao did not recognize him as his father, blood ties could never be severed.
His son, due to his outstanding abilities and not relying on familial connections, had earned the Taizi’s favor. As a father, how could Xie An not feel proud and gratified?
————-
After Marquis Yongding Xie An left, the remaining few continued their discussions inside the main tent of the Chifeng Army.
The matters to be discussed next were of great importance and could not afford any mistakes. The Taizi had ordered strict confidentiality, even excluding General Xie An, the commander of the Shuobei Army, from participating.
At this moment, only four people remained in the main tent, Taizi Feng Zhan, Feng Subei, the Shizi of the Duan Wang Mansion, General Xie Zhao, and General Duan Hong, the commander of the Chifeng Army.
Outside the tent, Song Zhi was patrolling. The guards outside had withdrawn to a distance of 10 meters from the camp.
Feng Su Bei spoke first, “The Emperor of Northern Liang has personally led a large army to the Turkic border. We’ve received word from Northern Liang that they will fully cooperate with the Taizifei’s plan.”
“Your Highness, the Turkic people are fierce and ruthless. They’ve always been the ones to invade other countries. Even with the combined forces of the Great Xia and Northern Liang surrounding the Turkic people, the losses for both countries will be severe.”
“I believe that, regardless of whether the Taizifei’s actions succeed or not, as long as they manage to penetrate deep into the heart of the Turkic lands and disrupt the movements of the Turkic forces, it will help minimize the losses for both Great Xia and Northern Liang.”
“Since the Taizifei has already set out, there is no turning back. The Shuobei Army and the Chifeng Army must proceed according to the original plan to deter the Turkic border. Only in this way can we maximize the chances of success for Taizifei’s actions and ensure her safety to the greatest extent possible.”
After Feng Subei finished speaking, Xie Zhao, who was sitting across from him, let out a cold sneer and, lifting his eyes, said, “Regardless of whether it succeeds or not? Ensuring the Taizifei’s safety?”
“The Taizifei’s mission, if successful, will result in the head of the Turkic Khan.”
“But if it fails, the Taizifei’s life might be lost in Turkic lands.”
“Does Shizi think this is a good plan?”
Xie Zhao had strongly opposed this action when he first learned of it, but at that time, he also realized that Taizi Feng Zhan was the one most unwilling to let Qin Yan take such a dangerous risk on her own.
Feng Subei had no intention of arguing with Xie Zhao. He had only just managed to dissuade the Taizi from personally leading the army to the Turkic lands. He couldn’t let all that effort go to waste now.
Feng Subei lowered his voice and said as calmly as possible, “I’m thinking from the broader perspective. Moreover, the Taizifei’s actions have already begun, and no one can stop them now. What we can do at this point is only to discuss how to better support her actions.”
Xie Zhao remained silent, but his expression made it clear that he wasn’t willing to give Feng Subei a friendly response.
The Taizi, seated at the head of the table, had a cold and grim expression. The atmosphere in the tent was heavy, and everyone could clearly feel the suppressed anger radiating from him.
When Qin Yan had first proposed this plan, Feng Zhan had rejected it without hesitation.
But now, that woman, who was thousands of miles away, had ignored Feng Zhan’s objections and proceeded to Turkic lands with her own troops.
Indeed, it was a common military strategy for the Great Xia and Northern Liang forces to simultaneously pressure the Turkic border while sending an elite unit to strike directly at the Turkic Khan. There was nothing particularly unusual about this approach.
Qin Yan and her subordinates were worthy of the title of elite forces. Moreover, Qin Yan’s team had been gathering intelligence on the Turkic people for years, making them more familiar with the situation than anyone else. Having Qin Yan lead the mission was the most appropriate choice.
However, the person taking on this dangerous mission was Qin Yan, Feng Zhan’s woman, the Taizifei, whom he could not bear to see put at risk.
Previously, when Qin Yan carried out operations in the Western Rong territories, she was well-prepared, and with the Pingxi Army as support, Feng Zhan had been able to rest easy.
But this time, Qin Yan was going into the heart of the Turkic lands with only little support, this was a dangerous gamble.
Moreover, the success of this operation was critical, if the Turkic forces detected even the slightest suspicion, the troops from both the northern and southern fronts would retreat, and Qin Yan’s team might not return.
Such a result was something Feng Zhan could not bear.
But no matter how much he worried about Qin Yan, he had no choice but to remain in command of the Shuobei Army in order to keep the Turkic forces focused on their border affairs, giving Qin Yan the best chance to enter Turkic lands, succeed in her mission, and return safely.
This was likely also the reason why Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang had personally led his troops into the battlefield.
But nothing is certain.
No matter how much Feng Zhan trusted Qin Yan’s abilities, there remained a small knot of unease in his heart.
Feng Zhan silently vowed that once Qin Yan returned safely, he would never allow that woman to be out of his sight, not even for a moment.
But for now, there was nothing he could do but ensure all preparations were made, giving Qin Yan no worries or distractions.
———–
After the meeting in the main tent concluded, the Taizi, along with a few others, rose and headed to the training grounds to inspect the progress of the military drills.
The Chifeng Army adhered to the principle that Taizi Feng Zhan had established during the early stages of its formation which was to focus on quality rather than excessive soldiers. As a result, over the years, the Chifeng Army had not expanded in size but had instead focused on nurturing talent, maintaining only the most elite forces.
The soldiers of the Chifeng Army were all exceptional, possessing both skill and pride, and one could even say they carried a certain arrogance.
However, none of them harbored anything but genuine admiration and submission toward Taizi Feng Zhan.
To the soldiers of the Chifeng Army, the title of Taizi Feng Zhan was more than just the name of the heir to the throne of Great Xia, it was a symbol of a near-divine presence.
Since the establishment of the Chifeng Army, no one has been able to break the records set by Taizi Feng Zhan in military training.
To this day, striving to match one’s abilities to those of the Taizi has become an unspoken tradition in the Chifeng Army, one that fueled the soldiers’ morale and pride.
Therefore, when Feng Zhan entered the training grounds, the soldiers’ faces were filled with excitement and exhilaration. It was a reaction born from both admiration for their leader and the thrill of facing a worthy opponent.
The Chifeng Army’s commander, Duan Hong, glared and shouted at the soldiers in the training grounds, “Stop gawking! What are you looking at? Keep training!”
The soldiers in the training grounds immediately displayed fierce expressions, their fists and feet cutting through the air, the sounds of their training filling the sky with intense grunts and battle cries.
—————
Taizi Feng Zhan stood tall and solemn, his imposing figure on the observation stand at the training grounds. His sharp gaze swept across the soldiers below with piercing intensity.
After a moment, Feng Zhan descended from the stand and began to walk slowly across the training grounds, inspecting the soldiers’ drills. The soldiers, now even more focused, redoubled their efforts, their shouts and battle cries ringing loudly through the air.
Duan Hong narrowed his eyes and smirked. Heh, these young lads…
As Feng Zhan reached the right side of the formation, his steps suddenly came to a halt.
Duan Hong, sharp-eyed, followed the Taizi’s gaze. It was…
Ah, it’s that one.
Duan Hong called loudly toward the formation, “Qin Ming, step forward!”
Qin Ming, who had been glancing in this direction, froze for a moment. He swallowed nervously, trying to calm the anxiety rising in his chest, before briskly stepping out of the ranks.
“Qin Ming reporting!” Qin Ming quickly stood before Duan Hong, his face tense and his gaze firmly fixed ahead, too nervous to look at Taizi Feng Zhan, who was standing beside Duan Hong.
Duan Hong saw the unease in Qin Ming’s demeanor and couldn’t help but grin. He reached out and gave Qin Ming’s right shoulder a hearty slap before turning to the Taizi, “Your Highness, this is Qin Ming, who was selected from the Shuobei Army camp.”
“Qin Ming, greet the Taizi.”
Duan Hong then looked back at Qin Ming.
“Your Highness Taizi!” Qin Ming quickly cupped his fists and bowed deeply to the Taizi in greeting.
Feng Zhan cast a cold glance at Qin Ming, not allowing him to rise. Instead, he turned to Duan Hong and spoke in a chilling tone:
“Is it so easy to join the Chifeng Army?”
Under the Crown Prince’s icy gaze, Duan Hong felt a twinge of guilt.
Each year, the Chifeng Army would select top talents from the northern army camp, and the soldiers of the Shuobei Army saw it as an honor to be chosen for the Chifeng Army. Of course, the commander of the Shuobei Army, Marquis Yongding Xie An, was deeply pained by this practice but could do nothing about it, after all, it was the Taizi who took the best recruits.
Duan Hong paused for a moment, then turned to the Taizi and truthfully reported, “Your Highness, at first, I did have some personal interest. I thought since Qin Ming is Your Highness’s brother-in-law, I should observe him a few times.”
“Ah, I never expected that I’d end up finding a real gem.”
“Though Qin Ming is young, he has the same determination as a veteran soldier who has been in the military for many years. Every mission he takes on, he approaches it as though he’s risking his life. When he first joined the Shuobei Army, his foundation was weak, but his progress has been incredibly fast. I’m confident he’s a good soldier.”
“See that scar on his face? It was earned during a mission at the border. It even gives him a more masculine look.”
“Isn’t that right, Qin Ming?” Duan Hong clapped Qin Ming’s right shoulder forcefully. Qin Ming, still in the posture of saluting the Taizi, flinched from the impact, but he remained perfectly steady and didn’t budge an inch.
At that moment, Qin Ming, still bent over with his head lowered, felt a flicker of darkness in his eyes.
A fresh scar ran from his right eyebrow, across his nose bridge, and down to the left side of his face. It had been inflicted during a border clash with the Turkic forces. After the injury, his feelings had shifted from rage and fear to a twisted sense of relief and even a hint of satisfaction. That was why he never used the scar-removal ointment that Marquis Xie An had sent him.
This scar had marred his face, but it had its own consequences. The older soldiers in the camp, who had once mocked him as a pampered young master with their teasing and sarcastic remarks, no longer used those words. Instead, they treated him with more respect.
Moreover, with this scar, it would be harder for others to discern who he really resembled…
He had already learned of the upheaval in the Qin family. Now, he had no place to go and could only root himself firmly in the army.
But did the Taizi also know about his problematic background? Would he be cast out…?
Qin Ming felt uncertain, and his hands, still cupped in a salute, tightened with anxiety, betraying the tension he was feeling inside.
Taizi Feng Zhan did not speak further but instead took a step forward and continued his inspection.
Duan Hong, seeing this, relaxed a little. He casually gave Qin Ming a not-too-hard kick and pretended to scold him, “Get back to the formation. Don’t embarrass me!”
Then, Duan Hong quickly caught up with the Taizi to continue the inspection.
At that moment, a soldier jogged over and whispered something to Feng Subei. Feng Subei’s expression shifted, and after exchanging a few words with Duan Hong, he left the training grounds.
————
At this moment, at the southern entrance of the Chifeng Army camp, a group of people was stopped, and it seemed there was a dispute with the soldiers guarding the camp. The two sides were at an impasse.
“Have you seen clearly? This is the wife of the Shizi to the Duan Wang Mansion! How dare you stop the Shizi’s wife!” A young maid shouted loudly.
However, the soldiers outside remained unmoved. They cursed the incompetent guards who had allowed these troublesome individuals to enter, but they could only send someone to urgently notify the Shizi to the Duan Wang Mansion while stiffly handling the situation.
“The military regulations are strict. Please understand, Shizifei.”
The young maid was about to say something more when she noticed several people striding out from within the camp, and at the front, wasn’t that Shizi himself?
“Shizi!”
“Shizi has come to greet you, Shizifei.”
The young maid cheerfully turned and ran towards a carriage behind them.
“Shizi.” The soldiers guarding the camp saluted Feng Subei, feeling relieved that the real person had arrived, dealing with this woman had been quite a hassle.
Feng Subei’s face was dark with anger as he strode out of the camp, his gaze locking with An Yanxi’s as she stepped down from the carriage.
As soon as An Yanxi set foot on the Chifeng Army’s territory, she heard Feng Subei’s cold voice, “This is not a place for you. Go back now.”
An Yanxi stood her ground, allowing the young maid to adjust her skirt. She then glanced towards the back of Feng Subei, and with a gentle expression, “Life in the army must be difficult. When I heard that my husband had returned to Great Xia, I thought to come and care for him, fulfilling my duty as his wife.”
Feng Subei’s heart sank, and his eyes darkened with a sharp edge.
An Yanxi’s news had likely come from her father and mother in Youzhou.
If others didn’t know how the couple truly interacted, An Yanxi’s words might indeed sound like a wife expressing concern for her husband, in line with the typical image of marital affection.
But Feng Subei was clear in his mind. An Yanxi was probably not here for him but for the Taizi!
This woman constantly accused him of being unfaithful, yet she had been thinking of nothing but her own affairs since the day she married him.
Feng Subei took a deep breath to calm the anger rising in his chest and spoke in a controlled voice, “The military discipline is strict, and women are not allowed in the camp. You…”
“Hmm?” An Yanxi raised her chin, motioning for him to look behind him.
Feng Subei frowned and turned around, only to see…
Feng Su Bei closed his eyes and wiped his face with a hand.
How did she get here?
The person who approached was the military doctor, Tang Wan, the only woman in the Chifeng Army.
Although the army had strict rules prohibiting women from entering the military camp, Tang Wan was from the renowned Medicine King Valley, and many military doctors in the camp had received guidance from her, benefiting greatly from her expertise.
Tang Wan’s medical skills were indeed remarkable, and she had saved the lives of many soldiers. Because of this, she had become a special presence in the Chifeng Army.
The news from the southern entrance of the camp quickly spread inside, and when Tang Wan learned that a woman was trying to enter the camp, her first thought was whether it was the Taizifei.
Tang Wan still remembered the incident on the ship in Jiangnan, when, out of kindness, she had added a sedative to the Taizi’s medicine to help him sleep. She had also stopped Qin Yan outside the Taizi’s room to ensure he could rest and recover properly.
But Qin Yan had been unreasonable, petty, and narrow-minded!
Originally, Tang Wan had been scheduled to return to the capital, but before leaving Jiangnan, Lord Song had sent someone to inform her that the Taizi had ordered her to receive twenty lashes as punishment for altering his medication without permission. Afterward, she had been reassigned back to the north.
Tang Wan understood that Qin Yan must have been the one behind this, making sure she got into trouble!
As the only woman in the Taizi’s army, Tang Wan had overheard soldiers gossiping more than once. They said she was particularly favored by the Taizi, and perhaps she might even enter Taizi Mansion, becoming one of his women.
Whenever Tang Wan thought about those rumors in the army, there were countless nights when she would lie in bed, her face flushed and her heart racing.
The Taizi was of noble birth, handsome, tall, and imposing. How could a woman like her not feel attracted to him?
Moreover, the fact that Taizi had made an exception and allowed her into the army might be a sign that he had other intentions toward her.
But then Qin Yan suddenly appeared.
Tang Wan glanced at the woman standing opposite Feng Subei outside the camp and felt a slight relief.
Thank goodness, it wasn’t her.
———-
Feng Su Bei turned his head to look at An Yanxi, who had a somewhat mocking expression, and frowned as he spoke, “That’s the army doctor.”
“The distance from Youzhou isn’t too far and it’s still early. You should leave now and not cause any more trouble.”
Tang Wan learned the general situation from the guards at the camp. She slowly walked to Feng Subei’s side, offering a faint smile to An Yanxi, and then spoke, “Even if you were to return to Youzhou, you won’t make it before nightfall. Don’t you worry about the safety of Shizifei? Since she’s already here, why not let her rest in the camp for the night and leave tomorrow?”
An Yanxi nodded in thanks to Tang Wan, then looked toward the still gloomy-faced Feng Subei.
In the end, Feng Subei reluctantly agreed, having the soldiers register An Yanxi’s maid and guards, allowing them entry but still restricting their movements within the camp.
However, Feng Subei didn’t let An Yanxi stay in his own tent, instead, he arranged a separate tent for the Shizifei. This made Tang Wan feel a bit curious.
But, in the end, it was none of her business.
Tang Wan shrugged, then turned to walk away. She had many things to do.
The preparations for the upcoming battle were underway, and she needed to prepare pills for the soldiers to carry with them.
Moreover, she wasn’t allowed near the Taizi’s main tent this time. Perhaps he was still upset over what had happened last time.
She wasn’t sure when she’d have another opportunity to meet with him. She still needed to explain things to His Highness…
—————
On his way back to the camp after leaving the training ground, Feng Zhan encountered Feng Subei and An Yanxi, who were quietly arguing.
Feng Zhan stopped in his tracks, his expression dark and cold.
Feng Subei, seeing the Taizi, was about to speak to explain himself when An Yanxi stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the Taizi.
“This humble woman greets His Highness Taizi.”
Feng Subei’s face darkened visibly. An Yanxi was in such a rush? She wore her desires so blatantly on her face, could she be more shameless?
Feng Zhan didn’t respond to An Yanxi’s greeting. Instead, he addressed Feng Subei with an icy tone, “When did the military rules and discipline change?”
Feng Subei felt a bit awkward and reluctantly replied, “Your Highness, I will send her away tomorrow.”
Feng Zhan gave Feng Subei a cold glance, then took a step aside, preparing to leave.
But An Yanxi quickly stepped forward as well, trying to block the Taizi’s path.
Both Feng Zhan and Feng Subei, as well as Song Zhi, all changed their expressions at once.
An Yanxi looked up urgently and spoke loudly, “Taizi, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but many of the court officials in the capital have already submitted memorials to impeach Taizifei.”
“The Taizifei’s actions are too reckless, without considering the consequences. She has placed Great Xia in a dangerous situation, and I’m afraid she will drag Taizi down with her.”
“Taizi…”
“Feng Subei, control your people,” Feng Zhan said without even looking at An Yanxi. He signaled to Song Zhi, and then took a firm step away.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, ah…”
An Yanxi was roughly pulled into the tent that had been arranged for her by Feng Subei.
At this moment, Feng Subei was completely certain that An Yanxi had come to the camp specifically to use this opportunity to bring up the Taizifei’s flaws in front of the Taizi, hoping to step on the Taizifei’s reputation.
Ha, so what? Was she trying to make the Taizi realize that choosing Qin Yan as Taizifei was a mistake and that choosing her, An Yanxi, would have been a better choice?
“Tomorrow morning, you must leave,” Feng Subei coldly said before walking out of the tent.
An Yanxi’s eyes reddened at the corners as she gently rubbed her arm, which was still sore from being grabbed so roughly by Feng Subei. She stared blankly at the entrance of the tent, lost in thought.
Qin Yan was nothing but a disaster for the country, a demonic imperial concubine. And she, An Yanxi, had come specifically to prevent the Taizi from being further implicated by Qin Yan’s actions. Why couldn’t the Taizi see that… Why couldn’t he see her good intentions…
———
In the evening, after having dinner in her tent, An Yanxi ventured out alone.
This woman had no intention of giving up. She aimed for the most heavily guarded area, making her way toward the Taizi’s main tent. Of course, she was stopped before she could get close.
Disappointed, An Yanxi returned to her tent. She only worried that the Taizi hadn’t realized how much of a threat the Taizifei really was. She just wanted to remind the Taizi, nothing else, nothing more…
Lost in thought, An Yanxi seemed to have taken a wrong turn. When she reached a secluded military tent, she overheard the voices of a man and a woman talking inside.
Just as she was about to step away, one of the names mentioned in their conversation made her freeze in place. An Yanxi suppressed her breath, her heart pounding as she concealed herself in the shadows, listening carefully to the hushed exchange inside.
“This matter concerns the safety of the Taizifei and her party. There are too many people in the army with loose tongues, Doctor Tang, you must not let this information get out.”
“I really shouldn’t be telling you this, my mouth…”
There was a sharp “slap!” sound, as though the man had slapped himself.
“Don’t!” The voice, likely belonging to a woman, sounded worried. “General Duan, I’m just concerned about the military movements, that’s why I asked a few more questions. I won’t ask again, please pretend you never told me, okay?”
“Tang Wan, I… I have feelings for you…”
“General Duan, please don’t say anything more. We’re friends, lifelong friends.”
“Friends…”
An Yanxi covered her mouth with her hand and hid behind a large tree. She watched as a tall and upright man left with what seemed like a touch of melancholy.
This should be the military doctor’s tent and the man… Were they having an affair? No wonder there were no guards around.
An Yanxi tiptoed back to the main road, her heart still pounding. In all of her twenty-one years, she had never done anything so sneaky.
But what were they talking about just now?
What news, if leaked, would endanger the safety of the Taizifei?
Endanger Qin Yan’s safety?
—————
The next morning, An Yanxi went to Feng Subei’s tent. Upon learning that Feng Subei had gone to the Taizi’s main tent for a meeting, An Yanxi told the guards she would wait for him there.
The guards were a bit hesitant, but considering she was the Shizifei, they ultimately let her in.
Once inside Feng Subei’s tent, An Yanxi went straight to the writing desk, only to find it empty. She then searched around the bookshelf, her eyes eventually landing on a worn-out quiver tucked in a corner.
She pulled out a few sheepskin scrolls from the quiver. Unrolling them, she saw they were maps of the Turkic region.
But each one seemed to have something different, marks of some kind.
One of the maps… An Yanxi’s thumb grazed it, and she realized the ink wasn’t dry.
She studied the map carefully, examining the marks on it. Suddenly, her blood rushed faster, and her heart pounded like a drum.
She thought, perhaps, she now understood what Qin Yan was up to, and why she had heard last night that leaking certain information could endanger Qin Yan’s safety.
Qin Yan, you’ve sealed your own fate!
An Yanxi quickly tucked the sheepskin scroll into her clothes, then steadied her breath before stepping out of the tent.
———–
Feng Subei spent the entire night contemplating how best to cooperate with the Taizifei’s actions, considering how to respond to any unexpected situations that might arise.
Early the next morning, he pulled out the Turkic maps, quickly sketched his ideas on them, then returned the maps to the quiver before heading to the Taizi’s tent to discuss matters.
However, when he returned to his own tent, he discovered that one of the maps was missing.
Feng Subei’s heart skipped a beat. He immediately strode out of the camp and asked the guards, “Has anyone entered my tent today?”
The guard replied truthfully, “Shizi, only Shizifei came this morning.”
An Yanxi!
Feng Subei’s expression darkened, and he quickly headed to An Yanxi’s tent, only to learn that the Shizifei had already left the camp over an hour ago.
Without hesitation, Feng Subei ordered his attendant Lin Shu to inform the Taizi of the situation. He then gathered a team of men and galloped off in pursuit of An Yanxi.
————
When Feng Subei caught up to An Yanxi and her entourage, their horses were moving at a leisurely pace toward Youzhou, seemingly with no sense of guilt.
Feng Subei blocked An Yanxi’s carriage and ordered his subordinates to detain her people.
An Yanxi lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Feng Subei with a calm expression.
“Is my husband here to see me off, or are you coming to Youzhou with me?”
Feng Subei sat tall on his horse, looking down coldly at An Yanxi, but did not respond.
One of his subordinates rode over and reported, “Shizi, one of the guards is missing from the group.”
Feng Su Bei’s gaze sharpened, and he coldly asked An Yanxi, “Where did your guard go?”
An Yanxi seemed to have some hesitation on her face, not immediately answering, as if deep in thought.
Feng Subei didn’t have time to play games with An Yanxi, so he waved his hand sharply, “Bring everyone back to the camp for a strict interrogation!”
“Quickly ride back and inform the Taizi. Order the Chifeng Army and the Shuobei Army to immediately station forces at the Turkic border. If any suspicious persons are found, they are to be captured immediately.”
After giving orders to his subordinates, Feng Subei pulled on the reins and rode back to the camp.
An Yanxi furrowed her brows and angrily shouted, “Feng Subei, what are you trying to do? You must give me an explanation! Ah…”
The Chifeng Army soldiers, who had come with Feng Subei, replaced An Yanxi’s carriage driver, quickly turned the carriage around, and hurried back to the main camp.
Upon returning to the camp, An Yanxi’s belongings, including the carriage, were thoroughly searched, but the map was not found. The group was then taken to different locations for questioning.
As the wife of the Shizi, An Yanxi could not be subjected to harsh torture. After a few unsuccessful questions, she was locked in a tent for confinement.
However, An Yanxi’s maid and the guards weren’t so fortunate. The Chifeng Army’s methods of interrogation were quite effective. Despite the guards’ silence, there seemed to be no information extracted from them. They truly appeared to be unaware.
But An Yanxi’s personal maid was not as tight-lipped. After only a few light interrogations, she revealed everything she knew, spilling all the details.
————
At the main tent of the Chifeng Army, under the command of Taizi Feng Zhan.
Duan Hong reported the results of the interrogation to the Taizi, “The maid of the Shizifei of Duan Wang Mansion claims that after the Shizifei left the camp this morning, she saw the Shizifei hand over something wrapped in satin to one of the guards, who then rode off in a direction that wasn’t towards Youzhou. As for what that item was, the maid said she wasn’t sure.”
“Additionally, the maid revealed another matter. During the polo match between the Great Xia and the Turks and Western Rong in the capital, the Shizifei of Duan Wang Mansion had her deliver a note to the Turkic Princess Ashina Mingzhu’s attendant. As for what was written on the note, the maid didn’t know.”
“The maid mentioned these two things as suspicious, but nothing else.”
Feng Subei, in order to avoid suspicion, had not participated in the interrogation of An Yanxi and her group, but he didn’t expect the results to turn out this way!
An Yanxi only did these two things?
These two actions alone were enough to indicate that the Shizifei of Duan Wang Mansion, An Yanxi, had colluded with the Turks and betrayed the Great Xia by leaking crucial information. This was treason!
At the head of the tent, Taizi Feng Zhan spoke in a deep voice, “So, it seems that she leaked the news that the Crown Princess was once the lord of Gu City to the Turks.”
At that moment, a voice came from outside the tent, “General Xie has urgent news to report.”
“Summon him.” Upon the Taizi’s gesture, Song Zhi called out to the tent.
Xie Zhao stepped forward swiftly, bowing to the Taizi before speaking, “An urgent report has come from the front lines. Some of the Turkic forces are beginning to pack up camp, seemingly preparing to retreat.”
Xie Zhao was aware of the possibility that the information about the Taizifei might have been leaked, so the movements of the Turks likely indicated a defensive retreat.
This meant that the missing map was probably already in the hands of the Turks.
And that meant the situation for the Taizifei was dire!
———–
The atmosphere in the main tent was tense. After a moment of silence, Taizi Feng Zhan spoke in a deep voice, “Send orders to the Commander of the Pingxi Army, Duke Shen Changshan. First, hold the Jianmen Pass in Yizhou, second, maintain control of the Western Rong region we’ve already secured, and third, defend the Xiao Pass, the northwestern border of the Great Xia.”
“Order the Shuobei Army to prepare for a full-scale launch against the Turks.”
“Chifeng Army will select 20,000 elite light cavalry soldiers to accompany me deep into the heart of Turkic territory.”
“General Xie, would you be willing to join me?” Taizi Feng Zhan turned his gaze toward Xie Zhao, who stood in the tent.
Xie Zhao immediately cupped his fists and said, “I will obey the order.”
Feng Zhan continued with his arrangements, “The remaining forces of the Chifeng Army, led by Commander Duan Hong, will cooperate with the Shuobei Army to launch an attack on the Turks.”
“Feng Subei will continue to handle communication with Northern Liang, ensuring urgent reports are sent to Northern Liang within eight hundred miles away. Both fronts will engage simultaneously.”
“Get ready immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” Everyone in the tent acknowledged the orders.
The Taizifei had willingly taken risks to reduce the casualties between the Great Xia and Northern Liang, a decision made for the greater good.
But with the changing situation, there is no reason for these big men to hide behind the Crown Princess and act like shrinking turtles.
A battle was inevitable, so let it come!
————
The entire Chifeng Army camp was bustling with orderly activity. The soldiers were both tense and excited, the long-awaited battle was finally about to begin!
Feng Subei, fully armored, made his way to the camp where An Yanxi was being held before leaving the camp. He stood coldly in front of her, his gaze icy as he observed her hands and feet bound with rough ropes. He spoke indifferently, “If anything happens to the Taizi or the Taizifei, you and I will take responsibility by committing suicide.”
An Yanxi looked up in surprise.
“What Taizi? Isn’t it Qin Yan?” she asked, confusion in her voice.
Feng Subei closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Did An Yanxi just admit to her actions?
An Yanxi quickly realized her mistake. She immediately fell silent, regretting her careless words.
After a moment of silence, Feng Subei spoke again, his tone tinged with weariness, “Do you understand? You haven’t just betrayed the Taizifei’s secrets, you’re also betraying the lives of countless soldiers of the Great Xia.”
“If the Taizifei’s plan had gone smoothly, this battle would have greatly reduced the casualties for both Great Xia and Northern Liang.”
“Now that the Taizifei is in danger, the Taizi will personally lead the troops into the heart of the Turkish territory to aid her.”
“An Yanxi, you will be the traitor of Great Xia.”
But An Yanxi’s attention was clearly elsewhere. Her eyes widened in shock as she exclaimed, “The Taizi is personally going into the Turkish territory for Qin Yan?”
“Is Qin Yan really worth it? Is she worth it?”
Feng Subei let out a soft sigh. This woman, An Yanxi, was beyond saving.
Women, it seemed, were indeed so different from one another.
While the Taizifei fought for the good of Great Xia, An Yanxi could only think of love and personal desires.
Feng Subei ordered for An Yanxi and her entourage to be closely guarded, and then he strode off.
————–
In the main tent, Feng Zhan donned his armor, strapped on his sword, and prepared to head to the training grounds to muster the troops.
After much hesitation, Song Zhi finally spoke up, “Your Highness, there have been movements in the southern borders, and the various princes are settling in their fiefdoms. The situation in the capital isn’t ideal. At this time, with Your Highness personally heading to the Turks, should we…”
Feng Zhan raised his hand, silencing Song Zhi.
“If there are changes in the capital, let Lu Chen follow the plan.”
Feng Zhan drew his sword, and with a swift motion, sheathed it again with a sharp “whoosh.”
His eyes were cold, his voice deep as he spoke, “The throne can always be reclaimed, but there is only one Qin Yan.”
Song Zhi silently sighed inwardly.
Does His Highness prefer the beauty over the throne?