Qian Hong wore a vivid red dress, her bearing cool and aloof. Though a trace of sorrow clouded her brows, she still forced out a smile upon seeing Li Qing.
Her features were exquisite, and her wheat-colored skin looked healthy. When she smiled, she seemed particularly valiant and carefree.
Li Qing shook his head and calmly said, "Commander Qian, the bandits are advancing with terrifying force. Does the lineage behind you intend to move south?"
Moving south meant crossing Little Cui Ridge, the perilous mountain range stretching from east to west. For ordinary folk, that was unquestionably an exceedingly difficult undertaking, but for a martial lineage like the Qian family, it could be done with ease.
At the words "move south," Qian Hong's smile gradually faded. Only after a long while did she slowly nod. "Mm. Not only the Qian family—the court likely intends to abandon Sheng Tian as well and move the capital to Fengzhou."
That was rather confidential. The war had not even been going on for several months, yet the court was already considering moving the capital south. If word got out, it would surely stir up no small turmoil.
Still, using the towering mountains as a natural barrier to halt the bandits' southern advance could at least spare the Feng Kingdom from the calamity of national ruin and extermination.
This did not surprise Li Qing. The tragic grandeur of an emperor guarding the nation's gates was, in the end, an exceptionally rare case.
As long as the green hills remained, there would be no lack of firewood. That was how most people thought.
"I came today to ask you for a favor," Li Qing said.
Qian Hong was slightly startled. She asked, "What is it? Does Master Li wish to leave together with the Qian family