The Crown Prince Chases His Wife
Chapter 145: Victory
The joint attack by the Great Xia and Northern Liang forces against the Turkic tribes caught the Turks off guard. Moreover, Taizi Feng Zhan of Great Xia led his forces to strike at the Turkic army camps, disrupting their formations. The Turkic royal camp was attacked, and the Khagan was severely wounded. The Turkic forces immediately fell into chaos and suffered a heavy blow.
After leaving Wolf Valley, Feng Zhan, and Qin Yan did not return to the Great Xia army camp. Instead, they led their elite forces to launch a series of surprise attacks on the Turkic army, and under the pressure of both inside and outside attacks, the Turkic forces were defeated in a rout.
After Khagan Ashina Qigu was injured in Wolf Valley, he was urgently escorted back to the royal capital located in the western part of the Turkic lands.
However, due to the long and fast journey, and with only a hasty and simple treatment of his wounds during the trip, when he arrived at the royal capital the next day, Ashina Qigu had lost too much blood. The wound became infected due to the heat, and he developed a high fever that lasted for days, falling into a coma for three nights. He only began to regain consciousness on the evening of the fourth day.
Once regained consciousness, Ashina Qigu immediately inquired about the current situation of the Turkic forces. His subordinates hesitated for a moment before reporting, “Great Khan, the Great Xia, and Northern Liang armies have been pressing too aggressively. We have already retreated to the royal capital, and the leaders of the various Turkic factions have led their people to continue their westward retreat. The defense of the royal capital is now in jeopardy.”
“An hour ago, Great Xia and Northern Liang jointly sent a letter to the royal capital. The letter demands that the Turks immediately withdraw from the border areas adjacent to Great Xia and Northern Liang. If not, the two forces will launch another full-scale attack on the Turkic tribes.”
“Great Khan…”
The subordinate’s expression was anxious. He was relieved that the Khagan had finally regained consciousness, but the fact that the Turkic forces were now in such a perilous situation was undeniable. It seemed that, aside from surrendering, there was no other choice.
Ashina Qigu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, one hand clutching his still-painful abdomen, inwardly cursing the leaders of the various tribes: These old bastards!
After a moment, Ashina Qigu reopened his eyes and asked his subordinate, “What did Prince Yubei from Northern Liang say?”
The subordinate replied, “Prince Yubei rejected Great Khan’s proposal.”
Ashina Qigu wearily closed his eyes again. Only the occasional flicker of his eyelids indicated that he was not slipping back into unconsciousness.
Ashina Qigu had originally thought that Prince Yubei, who had been selected and installed by Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang as a candidate for the throne, would be the first to oppose the alliance between Northern Liang and Great Xia. However, to his surprise, Prince Yubei had shown no objection to Emperor Xiao Qian’s decision to form a marriage alliance with Great Xia.
Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang was personally leading the campaign. If Prince Yubei had allied with the Turks, this would have been the perfect opportunity for him to seize the throne. Yet, the Prince Yubei had refused.
It seemed that Northern Liang was united as one!
At this moment, new news arrived from outside. After a short while, the subordinate returned to report, “Great Khan, there is news that Emperor Hui of Great Xia has passed away, and there is turmoil within Great Xia.”
“However, reports from the frontlines indicate that the Great Xia Shuobei Army has shown no signs of retreating.”
Ashina Qigu slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze cold and sharp.
The reason the Shuobei Army was not retreating was likely because Taizi Feng Zhan was stationed with them.
Taizi Feng Zhan!
The reason the Turkic forces were reduced to disarray in such a short time was because of the marriage alliance between Great Xia and Northern Liang? Or was it due to Taizi Feng Zhan’s surprise attacks within the Turkic camps? Or perhaps because of the joint assault on him by Great Xia’s Taizifei Qin Yan and Northern Liang’s Ghost-faced General, which left him severely wounded?
The Turkic tribes had formed their state through alliances among various tribes, and now, with Ashina Qigu himself seriously injured, he was unable to rally the various tribes to unite once again.
No matter what, defeat was defeat. The current course of action was not to try to endure it by force. Preserving what remained was the only way to have a chance to rise again in the future.
An incense stick later, a command came from the palace, “Turkic will submit a letter of surrender to Great Xia and Northern Liang, and will immediately relocate the capital to the western frontier.”
———-
The next day, ten miles from the Turkic royal city, Great Xia’s Taizi Feng Zhan and Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang personally led their troops to receive the surrender. The Turkic Khagan, Ashina Qigu, who was still injured, made his way to meet them.
One could not help but admire Ashina Qigu for his dignity in defeat, for even in this moment of loss, he retained a certain grandeur.
A treaty was signed between Great Xia, Northern Liang, and Turkic, marking the official agreement. Turkic decided to relocate its entire nation westward, retreating from the territories adjacent to Great Xia and Northern Liang. The new eastern boundary of Turkic would be defined by the Xiyan Mountain Range and the Datong River.
This meant that Turkic ceded nearly half of its land to Great Xia and Northern Liang. However, this land also included areas that had once belonged to Great Xia and Northern Liang but had been forcefully occupied by Turkic.
Therefore, this victory was also a significant reclamation of lost territories for both Great Xia and Northern Liang.
On that day, Taizi Feng Zhan and Emperor Xiao Qian of Northern Liang agreed that Great Xia and Northern Liang would each take possession of about half of the territory Turkic had ceded. The new southern and northern borders between Great Xia and Northern Liang would be defined by the Huhu Mountain Range, the Asa River, and the Jiamu Mountain Range, which ran across the eastern part of Turkic.
With this, the great war ended, with Great Xia and Northern Liang emerging victorious over the fierce Turkic wolf tribes of the steppe.
———-
When Feng Zhan returned to the main tent of the Great Xia army, Shen Shiying had just finished her conversation with Qin Yan and was about to leave.
As Shen Shiying stood up and passed by Feng Zhan, she half-jokingly, half-seriously said, “Taizi, would you like to call out to your mother-in-law and let her hear?”
At that moment, Qin Yan, still lounging casually in the large chair, looked at the tall and handsome man who had just entered the tent with a faint, amused smile.
Feng Zhan met Qin Yan’s teasing gaze, and his expression instantly darkened.
Mother-in-law? While it was not inappropriate for Shen Shiying to call her that given her position, as the Crown Prince of Great Xia, the address seemed a bit improper in terms of etiquette.
However, Feng Zhan coldly spoke, “Mother-in-law.”
Shen Shiying immediately burst into laughter.
After laughing, Shen Shiying nodded at Feng Zhan and responded, “Mm, good son-in-law.”
This “good son-in-law” made Feng Zhan’s expression even darker.
After Shen Shiying left, Feng Zhan strode over to Qin Yan, who had just picked up her tea cup.
Feng Zhan reached out, snatched the white porcelain cup from Qin Yan’s hand, tilted his head back to drink a sip, and then with his other hand, he grabbed the back of Qin Yan’s head, leaning down to press his lips to hers. The clear tea flowed from Feng Zhan’s forceful kiss into Qin Yan’s mouth.
After the kiss, Feng Zhan’s expression cleared slightly, but it was still evident that his mood was far from pleasant.
Qin Yan tilted her head, smiling faintly as she looked at Feng Zhan. Her delicate hand reached up to caress the chiseled side of his face, and then her full, glossy red lips pressed gently against his slightly pursed ones.
Feng Zhan, initially awkward, gradually regained the initiative. The air in the tent grew thick with an unspoken, seductive tension.
Song Zhi and Shen Ying exchanged an awkward glance. They both moved toward the tent entrance, hesitating on whether they should leave. But just then, the Taizi’s cold voice came from behind, “Song Zhi, report the news from the capital.”
Song Zhi and Shen Ying immediately turned around, only to find that the two masters had already seated themselves in the chairs across from each other. It seemed like they would discuss business first.
———–
Song Zhi detailed the news from within Great Xia over the past few days, and then the tent fell into silence for a moment.
At this point, Shen Ying, who had been pondering a question for some time, decided to voice it, “The Turkic forces collapsed in a rout. Why didn’t Great Xia and Northern Liang take advantage of the victory and completely wipe out the Turkic forces, eliminating them as a future threat?”
This was the question Shen Ying had intended to ask her master earlier, but her conversation with the mistress had dragged on too long. Having spent many years on the northwestern borders, Shen Ying despised the atrocities committed by the Turkic forces. She was eager to eradicate them completely, unwilling to allow them any chance of resurgence.
Seeing her subordinate’s frustrated yet helpless expression, Qin Yan couldn’t help but chuckle.
Shen Ying had asked this question in front of the Taizi, which suggested she had a lot of misgivings about the Taizi’s decision to go to the Turkic camp to sign the surrender agreement.
Qin Yan could understand Shen Ying’s feelings, but…
Qin Yan exchanged a glance with Feng Zhan before speaking calmly, “War is not the goal. It’s merely a means to end the war.”
“We are not executioners. There’s no need to exterminate the Turkic people entirely. The primary objective is to reclaim lost lands at the lowest cost and to ensure the safety of Great Xia’s borders.”
“Turkic has always been strong. This time, Great Xia and Northern Liang only succeeded because we disrupted the Turkic tribes with a series of surprise attacks. That is why we won so quickly. But if we push the Turkic people to the brink of survival, they will fight to the death, and the losses for Great Xia and Northern Liang will be even greater.”
“This time, Turkic has suffered a heavy blow, losing half its territory. It will take at least several decades for them to recover to their previous strength.”
“Peace is never absolute. It is always temporary and relative.”
“And even if we destroy Turkic, we cannot be sure that another ruthless enemy won’t arise from their lands.”
“Moreover…”
Qin Yan furrowed her brows slightly, as though hesitating over what to say next.
Feng Zhan’s deep black eyes locked onto Qin Yan’s face, and he picked up the words she had left unsaid, “Moreover, if there were no common enemy like Turkic between Great Xia and Northern Liang, it would be hard to say whether the two neighboring nations, Xia and Liang, might become formidable rivals in the future.”
“Leaving Turkic a final chance might, to some extent, divert potential conflicts between Great Xia and Northern Liang.”
“There are no forever friends, nor forever enemies. The world is unpredictable.”
“And even though the Turkic issue is resolved, there are still tough battles to be fought in the southern regions of Great Xia, and even in the capital. It would not be wise to continue expending military strength on Turkic.”
Feng Zhan paused for a moment, his gaze filled with unmasked admiration as he looked at Qin Yan, before continuing, “Fortunately, the Western Rong have been held in check, or else our operations against Turkic would not have gone so smoothly.”
“Taizifei, you should take credit for this achievement.”
Feng Zhan’s unexpected compliment left Qin Yan momentarily surprised. She chuckled lightly before lazily speaking, “With the Emperor’s passing, and Liang Wang leading his forces into the capital for the throne, I wonder how much longer my title as Taizifei will last?”
Feng Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the beautiful woman before him, whose expression seemed to carry a hint of teasing. He spoke in a deep voice, “Yan Yan, your position as Taizifei won’t last much longer.”
The meaning behind the Taizi’s words was clear to everyone in the tent.
If the Taizi were to return to the capital and ascend the throne, Qin Yan, as his principal consort, would naturally be crowned as Empress.
However, despite the changes in the capital, the Taizi still seemed to be entirely confident, with no sign of worry. He truly was both self-assured and arrogant, clearly not seeing Liang Wang as a threat.
Qin Yan didn’t pursue the topic any further. Instead, her expression turned serious, and her tone grew cooler as she asked, “Is the person still in your Chifeng army?”
Feng Zhan’s eyes narrowed, the person?
Which one?
Before he could respond, Qin Yan stood up slowly. She stretched her slightly stiff neck and then spoke in a calm voice, “Your Highness, may I have the honor of observing the Chifeng army?”
Feng Zhan also stood up, stepping forward to stand in front of Qin Yan. He reached out and gently adjusted the loose strands of hair by her temple.
The Taizi didn’t speak, so that was considered tacit approval.
Song Zhi, however, felt a sudden chill in his heart.
Was Taizifei going to deal with that person?
———-
Taizi Feng Zhan ordered Marquis Yongding, Xie An, to leave the Shuobei Army temporarily in the Turkic territory, with some of the Chifeng Army providing support to jointly study the new northern defenses of Great Xia.
That day, Taizi Feng Zhan, along with the remaining Chifeng Army and Taizifei Qin Yan, packed up their camp and headed towards the Chifeng Mountain base.
However, after arriving at the Chifeng Army’s main camp, Feng Zhan took Qin Yan to another place first.
They entered the mountain range from a narrow, well-defended path on the mountainside, where exposed rock pits and caves frequently used by sturdy soldiers could be seen.
Qin Yan had some suspicions in her mind, realizing that Feng Zhan hadn’t taken her deeper into the mountains. There were still more important matters for them to attend to, and they couldn’t afford to waste too much time here.
Later, Feng Zhan led Qin Yan to a cliff on the northern foothills of Chifeng Mountain. He gestured for her to look out over the landscape.
The weather was clear, and Qin Yan’s vision was sharp. From the eastward-facing cliff of Chifeng Mountain, she could see an endless plain stretching out before her. In the distance, numerous well-organized fields could be seen, along with herds of horses galloping and vast pastures dotted with cattle and sheep.
Qin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly and turned her head to look at Feng Zhan.
Feng Zhan also lowered his gaze slightly to meet hers, his tone serious and solemn, “Qin Yan, the land you see before you are located beyond the Youzhou Pass. Its size is roughly equivalent to two of Great Xia’s states, and I have named it ‘Jinzhou.'”
“This land was once controlled by Turkic forces, but many years ago, I expelled the Turkic people from the Chifeng Mountain range, took control of this place, and used Youzhou as a cover from within the pass.”
“The terrain here is flat, the land fertile, and most of my military supplies and horses are produced here. The resources from Chifeng Mountain provided the initial capital for the Chifeng Army, along with high-quality weapons.”
“If the capital falls, I will use Youzhou and Jinzhou as the starting point to rebuild my empire.”
Qin Yan understood that Feng Zhan was explaining this to her.
Taizi Feng Zhan was a strategist, decisive in matters of war. He was bold in his actions but never blindly confident. He didn’t rely on others or on luck, always preparing thoroughly for contingencies.
As the Late Emperor had once said to her, Feng Zhan acted steadily and was someone worthy of trust.
Qin Yan smiled. This man, Feng Zhan, truly suited her taste perfectly.
—————
After Feng Zhan and Qin Yan arrived at the Chifeng Army’s main camp, Qin Yan led her subordinates directly to the tent where An Yanxi was being held.
The sight of the Taizi and Taizifei walking together in the Chifeng Army’s camp quickly attracted attention.
The Taizi and Taizifei were both stunning in appearance and commanding in presence, making them an eye-catching couple.
Moreover, Taizifei Qin Yan’s name was as famous in the Chifeng Army as Taizi Feng Zhan’s. Her remarkable feats were widely talked about within the camp.
Her deeds were legendary, first lord of Gu City, she had scolded the Turkic Khagan and Ninth Princess Ashisa in the imperial court, she had killed the Western Rong prince on the polo field and injured the Turkic princess Ashisa Mingzhu, she had brought the Western Rong to submit to Great Xia without a single drop of blood being spilled, and she had led a surprise attack on the Turkic Khagan.
Every one of these accomplishments made the soldiers admire her.
Taizifei Qin Yan was truly a heroine among women!
Inside the camp, An Yanxi, the daughter-in-law of the Duan Wang Mansion, was still bound, her hands and feet tied. She looked disheveled and exhausted, no longer resembling the noble lady she had once been in the capital.
When An Yanxi saw the tall and imposing figure of Taizi Feng Zhan entering the tent, a smile of joy instinctively appeared on her face. What was the Taizi here for?
But as soon as Taizifei Qin Yan, who followed closely behind Feng Zhan, stepped into the tent, the smile on An Yanxi’s face immediately froze.
Following closely behind was Feng Subei and Duan Hong, who had just received the news.
Qin Yan stopped five steps in front of An Yanxi, not bothering with pleasantries. She directly asked, “What’s the current situation?”
Duan Hong, the commander of the Chifeng Army and tasked by the Taizi to lead the investigation into the Shizifei of Duan Wang Mansion’s case, quickly understood that the Taizifei was asking about the progress of the case.
Duan Hong quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke, “Shizifei of Duan Wang Mansion is suspected of treason in two incidents.”
“First, on the day of the polo match between Great Xia, the Turkic Empire, and the Western Rong, she had her maid deliver an unknown note to a subordinate of the Turkic Ninth Princess. Based on the sudden participation of Khagan Ashina Qigu in the match, it is suspected that the note contained information revealing that the Taizifei was once the Lord of Gu City.”
“Second, after Shizi lost a map containing critical information, the Shizifei instructed her bodyguard to pass through the northern frontier with the Duan Wang Mansion’s token and go to the Turkic Empire. This bodyguard was later found dead on the Turkic border.”
“The map the Shizi lost was likely brought to the Turkic camp by this bodyguard, which would explain why the Turkic forces reacted so quickly to the Taizifei’s planned attack on Khagan Ashina Qigu. They sent reinforcements to defend, which then triggered the early invasion of the Turkic capital by Great Xia and Northern Liang. To protect the Taizifei’s mission, His Highness Taizi personally led 20,000 cavalries as decoys to draw the Turkic forces’ attention away.”
Duan Hong spoke with a fierce gaze fixed on An Yanxi, but his rationality prevailed as he suppressed the fury boiling inside him. He continued, clearly laying out the situation, “However, the note that the Shizifei had her maid deliver to the Turkic Ninth Princess is still unclear, and the bodyguard who crossed the border to reach the Turkic Empire did not have the crucial map on them. So, the evidence for both of these incidents is purely speculative. The Shizifei can only be considered a major suspect, but there’s insufficient evidence to convict her, and she has not confessed to any wrongdoing.”
“Given the Shizifei’s special status, this matter is of great importance, and we are awaiting His Highness Taizi’s further decision.”
Though Duan Hong had gathered enough information to strongly suspect that An Yanxi had indeed betrayed Great Xia by leaking information to the Turkic forces, the truth was, as he mentioned, there was no concrete proof.
Even though Duan Hong despised An Yanxi with every fiber of his being, he couldn’t just fabricate evidence to confirm her guilt.
The logic in Duan Hong’s words was clear, and the people present in the tent understood the gravity of the situation.
An Yanxi came from the prestigious family of Taizi’s Taifu, Grand Scholar An Mansion, with both her father and brothers being influential members of the imperial faction in the court. She married into the Duan Wang Mansion, one of the Taizi’s strongest allies.
If An Yanxi were convicted of treason, despite her royal connections and her family’s influence, the political consequences would be enormous. Even if she were given a reduced sentence according to the law due to her status as an imperial family member, it would still provide ammunition for critics to attack the Taizi and the imperial family.
Therefore, how to handle An Yanxi’s case required the utmost caution.
————
Duan Hong’s words reached An Yanxi’s ears, and she immediately felt a sense of relief in her heart.
In the past few days, An Yanxi had repeatedly tried to imagine how this matter would be resolved, but she kept telling herself that this was a complex situation, and the Taizi would not handle it lightly, perhaps he would even let it go unresolved.
Qin Yan’s gaze fixed on An Yanxi’s face, and she did not miss the barely noticeable, smug smile at the corner of An Yanxi’s lips.
Heh, so, An Yanxi thought this matter could really be settled easily?
Impossible.
Qin Yan still looked at An Yanxi with a calm expression, but there was a trace of fierceness in her tone as she spoke, “This matter is indeed a bit troublesome.”
“However, I heard that I, Qin Yan, have always acted arrogantly.”
“Since it’s hard to resolve according to the laws of Great Xia, then let’s do it according to my rules.”
“Take her away.”
Qin Yan waved her hand, and Shen Ying immediately called in two subordinates from outside the tent, who then dragged An Yanxi, still terrified and seemingly unable to react to the sudden turn of events, one on each side.
Feng Subei and Duan Hong’s expressions both changed.
According to the rules of the Taizifei?
However, Taizi Feng Zhan did not react to Qin Yan’s actions, effectively tacitly approving her approach.
———–
As Qin Yan and her group were escorting An Yanxi out of the tent, An Yanxi finally realized that she had fallen into the hands of the ruthless Qin Yan. She immediately turned and struggled, shouting loudly for help, “Your Highness Taizi, this humble woman is innocent! Your Highness Taizi, Your Highness Taizi…”
“Feng Subei, Shizi, save me, Shizi, save me…”
“You can’t touch me, Qin Yan, you can’t touch me! You have no evidence to convict me, you can’t do this to me…”
……
Feng Subei furrowed his brows but didn’t plead for An Yanxi with undue mercy or confusion over right and wrong.
This woman had done things that warranted a hundred deaths.
Both Qin Yan and Feng Zhan had no intention of wasting time here, so Qin Yan did not bother to respond to An Yanxi’s struggles and resistance and continued to lead her group outside the camp.
However, when a woman’s voice, not quiet in volume, came from behind, Qin Yan still furrowed her brows and stopped in her tracks.
A woman from the military?
Qin Yan turned around and looked toward the source of the voice. Standing beside the Chifeng Army’s commander, Duan Hong, was a woman who seemed out of place in the military camp, a striking figure that stood out like a crane among chickens.
Qin Yan thought for a moment, and a scene flashed in her mind. On a ship in Jiangnan, it was the same person who had sternly blocked her outside the Taizi’s quarters, the one from Mr. Jì’s sect, the military doctor of the Chifeng Army?
Tang Wan had heard that the Taizifei had arrived at the Chifeng Army camp and rushed over. Upon arriving, she saw this scene.
The matter of An Yanxi’s treason was known to only a few people. Tang Wan only knew that after leaving the camp, the Shizifei of the Duan Wang Mansion had returned, seemingly under some sort of control, but she was unaware of the details.
Tang Wan had a decent impression of An Yanxi, who was dignified, graceful, and composed in her actions.
On the other hand, Qin Yan, the Taizifei, was notorious for her arrogant and ruthless ways. After hearing An Yanxi’s desperate cries for help, Tang Wan immediately made a judgment in her mind.
It was certainly the Taizifei, Qin Yan, bullying her position!
Tang Wan called out to the Taizifei and then continued, “Everything must be based on evidence. Taizifei, you… ah…”
Before Tang Wan could finish her words, Qin Yan casually drew a military knife from the scabbard of a nearby guard. With a cold glint in her eyes, she swiftly threw the knife at Tang Wan.
The military knife flew toward Tang Wan at high speed. Startled, Tang Wan froze in place but was immediately grabbed by Duan Hong, who pulled her aside. A sharp gust of wind whistled past her cheek.
“Whoosh!” The sharp knife, aimed directly at Tang Wan’s face, struck a tree trunk not far behind her. The tree wasn’t particularly thick, and upon impact, the blade sank deep into the wood, causing the tree to snap at the point where the knife had penetrated. The tree collapsed with a loud crash.
Everyone present stood frozen in shock.
This…
The Chifeng Army soldiers watched in awe and admiration.
Some whispered among themselves, “If the Taizi and the Taizifei were to compete, I wonder who would come out on top?”
Another voice quickly reprimanded them, “Are you out of your mind? Do you want them to fight each other?”
……
Qin Yan didn’t waste any more time. She turned and continued walking forward with firm steps.
Meanwhile, An Yanxi seemed momentarily stunned by the earlier scene. She fell silent, her expression dazed, as Qin Yan’s subordinates dragged her along.
Duan Hong pulled the still-shaken Tang Wan to a quiet, secluded spot away from the others. He had not anticipated that her words would provoke the Taizifei.
After a moment of hesitation, Duan Hong spoke to Tang Wan, “Tang Wan, on behalf of the Chifeng Army, I thank you for your efforts these years.”
At this, Tang Wan snapped out of her shock, noticing that something was off in Duan Hong’s tone.
What was Duan Hong saying? Thank her?
He continued, “You will be compensated handsomely. Leave the Chifeng Army today and go wherever you wish.”
Tang Wang’s eyes widened in disbelief at Duan Hong’s words.
“General Duan, what do you mean? Are you telling me to leave?”
“It was His Highness Taizi who kept me in the Chifeng Army. Who are you to tell me to go?”
Having said all that, Duan Hong didn’t have time to explain further. He turned and strode away.
The Taizifei had likely taken the Shizifei out of the camp for processing. It appeared that both the Taizi and the Shizi had also left the camp. This matter was serious, and he had to catch up quickly. He would deal with Tang Wan’s situation later.
Without responding to her calls, Duan Hong mounted his horse and rode off at full speed.
On horseback, Duan Hong felt a mixture of confusion and a sense of calm resignation.
Tang Wan’s words were wrong. It wasn’t the Taizi who had kept her in the Chifeng Army, but him, Duan Hong.
It had been by chance that Duan Hong met Tang Wan, who was practicing medicine on the border. He had been drawn to her exceptional medical skills and her kind-hearted nature. Afterward, Duan Hong recommended her to Taizi Feng Zhan to be the Chifeng Army’s military doctor.
The Taizi immediately saw through Duan Hong’s hidden intentions, and Duan Hong openly admitted to his feelings for Tang Wan.
Tang Wan had stayed in the army, but she ignored Duan Hong’s direct and indirect hints. Moreover, Duan Hong could tell that Tang Wan had developed feelings for the Taizi.
Today, her disrespectful words to the Taizifei were likely driven by jealousy and resentment.
Duan Hong couldn’t allow his personal feelings to cause a rift between the Taizi and Taizifei.
Someone like Tang Wan could no longer remain in the Chifeng Army.
Duan Hong urged his horse forward, the wind whipping against his face. He recalled the first time he had met Tang Wan, it had also been in the sixth month. Perhaps this unrequited love should come to an end, just like the sixth month fading into the wind.
———–
Just now when Qin Yan was leaving the camp, she seemed to see a face that she was not too familiar with.
Qin Ming.
Qin Ming, who had a clear scar on his face, was completely different from the Qin Ming in the capital city.
Qin Ming was different not because of his appearance, but because of his eyes when he looked at Qin Yan. That was the look of a soldier who had seen many life-and-death separations on the battlefield.
Qin Yan did not have much energy to greet this “brother” who might not have a blood relationship with her. She got on the horse and left after just one glance. She led a group of subordinates out of Chifeng Mountain and came to the former Turkic army station, where the war started. Qin Yan stopped the horse.
Taizi Feng Zhan arrived soon after with his men, including Feng Subei and Duan Hong.
Countless corpses that had not been dealt with in time could be seen everywhere here, including the Great Xia people and Turkic people.
Qin Yan ordered his subordinates to throw An Yanxi off the horse. When An Yanxi landed, she landed on a bloody, rotten body covered with flies and maggots.
An Yanxi screamed and shrank back, covering her mouth and vomiting, but her hands were already covered with rotten meat, which also smeared her face with filth, so she could only scream in fear.
Qin Yan sat on the horse and looked down at An Yanxi on the ground with cold eyes. She drew the sword at her waist and pointed it directly at An Yanxi’s face. Her cold voice was unusually clear in the wind of the grassland, “Because of your selfishness, the soldiers of Great Xia who could have survived shed blood that should not have been shed and lost their lives that should not have been lost.”
“Today, I, Qin Yan, will take your life and offer it to the military flag to comfort the souls of the soldiers lying on this land!”
“Kill her!”
Qin Yan’s subordinates had already pointed their arrows at An Yanxi on the ground. After receiving the order, they shot arrows at the same time. Countless arrows instantly shot into An Yanxi’s body, and An Yanxi’s twisting body on the ground fell powerlessly.
As her life passed, An Yanxi’s eyes were still wide open, and it was unknown whether she was looking at the Taizi Feng Zhan on the horse, or the Shizi of the Duan Wang Mansion next to the Taizi, Feng Subei, her husband.
Qin Yan said to Feng Subei, “This person’s body cannot be taken away. It must be buried on the spot with the soldiers here. Whether she is alive or dead, she must atone for the soldiers who died in battle on this land.”
Feng Subei did not refute Taizifei’s request. The Taizifei dealt with An Yanxi personally, which solved a hot potato problem. Otherwise, An Yanxi would be a big trouble for both the Shizi of Duan Wang Mansion and the Taizi.
Feng Subei clasped his fists to Qin Yan and said, “I, Feng Subei, thank the Taizifei.”
————-
At this moment, Feng Zhan tightened his legs around the horse’s belly and rode up to Qin Yan, his voice deep as he spoke, “I am about to depart and return to the capital. Will you be coming with me?”
Qin Yan declined his invitation, “I have the Western Rong to deal with, but I still need to take one more granary.”
Feng Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Qin Yan… she was planning to take control of Yizhou.
With a half-joking tone, Qin Yan added, “If the Taizi loses the capital, you may come to the Northwest. Since I have already supported you once, a second time won’t be too much.”
Feng Zhan’s face darkened in an instant.
This woman, Qin Yan, always spoke without thinking.
That day, Feng Zhan and Qin Yan led their respective forces to depart. Qin Yan headed west towards the Western Rong, while Feng Zhan went south towards the capital.
Though Qin Yan and Feng Zhan shared a bond, they never relied on one another. Each was busy with their own ambitions and lives.
They maintained a proper distance and an air of mystery between them.
Perhaps, this mutual attraction created by their independence was the secret to their enduring relationship.