War Breaks Out
At the first hint of dawn, Yan Wanning woke up, a rare occurrence. Through sleepy eyes, she saw Si Yunqi getting dressed at an unhurried pace and asked softly, "Where are you going, husband?"
Hearing her voice, Si Yunqi leaned close, pressing his forehead against hers. "Did I wake you, my lady?"
His broad hand patted her back gently. "Be good and sleep a little longer. Something came up in the army. I'm going to take a look."
"Mm." She gave a sleepy murmur, rubbed her little head against him, and drifted off again. Si Yunqi shook his head in amusement, finished getting ready, and left the residence.
Outside, Yun Yin was waiting with two horses. As soon as Si Yunqi emerged, the two rode swiftly out of the city without stopping. On the way, Yun Yin handed Si Yunqi a secret letter. He tore open the envelope and skimmed it, his ink-black eyes turning icy. The envelope crumbled to powder in an instant.
"Western Rong launched a surprise attack on Yucheng tonight. Fortunately, the soldiers had long been on guard and made timely preparations, so they didn't let the Western Rong barbarians succeed. General Zhang and General Meng have now gone outside the city to meet Western Rong in battle. Those barbarians came in force this time, and the two generals have had a hard time defending the city. Deputy General Tian has already mustered ten thousand soldiers overnight and gone to support them."
Yucheng was the city closest to Western Rong, so it was heavily garrisoned year after year, for fear that a moment's carelessness would allow Western Rong to breach it. Every one of the generals stationed there was a valiant fighter.
Western Rong had not attacked for over a year. What could its sudden night raid mean?
By the time Si Yunqi arrived at the army's main tent, the generals were already waiting there. "Prince."
Si Yunqi went straight to the seat of honor and sat down. Before long, a voice called from outside the tent, "Report! Traces of Western Rong troops have been spotted a thousand li from our position."
"What? Those sons of bitches! I'll go hack them to pieces." The hot-tempered officer with a full beard cupped his fists. "Prince, I, Old Leopard, am willing to lead troops against them."
"Old Leopard, don't be hasty." Gu Qingshi also cupped his fists toward Si Yunqi. "Prince, let me lead the troops with Old Leopard."
"Granted." Si Yunqi looked at Old Leopard, but his words were directed at Gu Qingshi. "You must not act rashly. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with under military law."
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I'll listen to Qingshi," Old Leopard said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.
"Gu Qingshi, Leopard, hear my orders. I command you two to take fifty thousand soldiers to the front at once and fight Western Rong."
"We obey."
After discussing countermeasures with the generals, Si Yunqi took Yun Yin and rode hard for Yucheng. Though it was heavily garrisoned, he still could not rest easy.
At Anyuan Courtyard in the Prince of Anbei's residence, Yan Wanning was eating warm, soft rice porridge when Xiao He came running in from outside. She was so out of breath that she could not get her words out clearly.
Yan Wanning sighed and poured Xiao He a cup of tea. After taking quite a while to catch her breath, Xiao He finally said, "Princess Consort, there's fighting on the front."
"What?" Yan Wanning could no longer eat. Her delicate brows drew tightly together, and anxiety appeared on her face. "Where did you hear that?"
"Everyone in the streets and alleys knows now. I heard the Western Rong barbarians raided Yucheng last night, and the Prince's troops are locked in fierce battle with them now." Yan Wanning forced herself to calm down. No wonder her husband had left in such a hurry.
"Is there any news of the Prince?"
Xiao He shook her head. "But there are lots of refugees in the streets now, most of them from Yucheng and the surrounding villages. Aunt Green Cloud, who serves the Old Princess Dowager, came with a message this morning. She said there were many refugees in the city and that Your Highness shouldn't leave the residence these next few days, in case something happens."
"Mm," Yan Wanning answered, but she could not calm her heart. She had no news of Si Yunqi and was anxious, yet she did not know what to do. She wanted to distract herself, but she did not know how.
Yan Wanning's mind went blank. Then something occurred to her, and she stood up and instructed Xiao He, "Xiao He, go tell Steward Mu to prepare a carriage."
"Huh? What does Princess Consort need a carriage for?"
"I want to go and see," Yan Wanning said firmly.
"N-no, you can't." Xiao He hurriedly objected. "The Old Princess Dowager said Your Highness should stay in the residence. Besides, what would we do if something happened to you outside?"
"Then we won't prepare a carriage. We'll go in secret."
"That's even worse." Afraid that she would sneak out of the residence, Xiao He had no choice but to go find Steward Mu.
After hearing her out, Steward Mu did not try to dissuade Yan Wanning. He prepared a plain, unadorned carriage and sent the residence's elite guards to follow in secret and keep their mistress safe. Yan Wanning took Xiao He with her and got into the carriage, leaving the residence as she had wished.
In Cian Court, the Old Princess Dowager was eating soft millet porridge as she listened to Aunt Green Cloud's report. She smiled helplessly. "Let her go. She'll have to face it sooner or later."
The Princess Consort of the Prince of Anbei's residence had responsibilities she had to shoulder. The Old Princess Dowager was also surprised to hear that Yan Wanning had insisted on going out.
She knew her granddaughter-in-law was a gentle, delicate woman, and a kindhearted one too. She had thought that Yan Wanning would wait at least a day or two before going out.
After all, war always struck fear into people's hearts. That was true even for men, let alone a young lady from a great family who had been raised in the sheltered inner chambers.