He sat down opposite Ren Yingying, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I'm afraid we've encountered a problem."
"So you're not leaving?" Ren Yingying was actually quite clever; although she didn't say it, she observed silently.
"Um."
Qu Nian explained the situation in detail.
"Then let's run!" Ren Yingying's eyes widened. "Once we get out of this mountainous area, with no snow-capped mountains blocking our way, can we ambush and capture them?"
"It will take another five or six days to leave the snow-capped mountains."
"Going back won't work either," Ren Yingying murmured.
"There are pursuers too. It's not that it's impossible, but I don't want to confront them head-on and cause large-scale casualties."
Ren Yingying was completely bewildered.
Weren't they here to fight?
Why does it sound Qu Nian is just going through the motions, not really participating?
Seeing her bewildered look, Qu Nian said irritably, "Why should we be the ones charging into battle when it's their internal strife in the Northern Yi?"
They're here to intimidate.
Every human life is a living, breathing human being, not just a casualty statistic on the battlefield.
"You're right, but what can we do?" Ren Yingying said, stroking her chin.
It's difficult, so very difficult.
There are wolves in front and tigers behind.
Qu Nian originally wanted to say, "I'm having a hard time too, don't just focus on your best friend."
But seeing how troubled she was, I felt a strange unease.
He said with a half-smile, "Give me a shoulder massage, maybe I can come up with a solution."
Ren Yingying: "I think I should massage your head to clear the water out of your brain."
What are you thinking about!
What, does he think he can dream just because it's dark?
Qu Nian glared at her. "I knew I couldn't count on you."
"Then let me count on you."
Qu Nian explained his plans.
Climbing a snow-capped mountain? Isn't that a bit strenuous?
"The hardship isn't the problem," Qu Nian said. "The biggest issue now is that we don't have a guide and don't know the road conditions."
Snow-capped mountains are very dangerous places.
If there is any carelessness, with so many people, it could easily cause an avalanche or other disaster, and it wouldn't be surprising if the entire army were to be wiped out.
"Then let's find someone to scout ahead!" Ren Yingying said eagerly.
Qu Nian:???
He's already sent someone, but what does Ren Yingying's expression mean?
The next moment, Ren Yingying said, "I can help."
How do you plan to help?
"I can ski," Ren Yingying said proudly.
She doesn't just know how, she's an expert.
Snow-capped mountains are difficult to climb up and down.
She could go up with others, tie on a rope, and slide around to explore the path, and she could do it multiple times, which was faster than others carefully searching for the path again and again.
Ren Yingying was filled with boundless pride.
This heroine finally had a chance to prove herself.
Qu Nian: "What is skiing?"
It seems like something anyone could do, so what's there to say?
Ren Yingying: Country bumpkin.
"Anyway, let me go."
Qu Nian said, "Stop joking, I don't need you, I've already sent someone."
"But if we're too slow, and someone attacks from both sides, we're finished." Ren Yingying rolled up her sleeves. "It's settled then."
It's time to show our true skills.
Qu Nian refused.
As the commander-in-chief, he could not risk his life.
But if he didn't go, how could he feel comfortable Ren Yingying, who was so impulsive, go?
He couldn't gamble with the lives of his men, much less with Ren Yingying's.
Ren Yingying, however, persisted.
She asked Lu Jiu for help, and the two of them worked together to make their own ski equipment.
Qu Nian disagreed, no problem, she'd demonstrate it for him first.
She and Qu Nian climbed together for half a day, reaching the halfway point, whereupon she demonstrated to him what skiing was.
"Watch closely, I'm leaving!"
Ren Yingying laughed loudly and went downstairs.
Her figure was lithe and graceful, her wide sleeves billowing in the wind, as she rode the wind away.
Qu Nian was stunned.
If this isn't a fairy, then what is?
In this way, Ren Yingying proved herself with her strength. She followed the scout soldiers and quickly locked onto the army's route, which amazed Qu Nian.
However, after Ren Yingying truly gained fame, she remained calm and did not take credit for it, still acting as carefree as before.
Thanks to her "miraculous feat," the army successfully arrived near the capital of the Northern Yi ahead of schedule, catching Northern Yi off guard.
Everything went smoothly, and Leertai was able to return to the Northern Yi, temporarily halting the fighting.
Leertai mediated between the two sides, hoping to negotiate peace with the Central Plains.
After returning to the Northern Yi, Lu Jiu temporarily stayed with the Central Plains army.
Ren Yingying felt that Qu Nian had finally done something good.
Lu Jiu just can't go with that scumbag, Leertai!
But Lu Jiu understood that if she stayed, she would be a hostage.
However, she didn't reveal this to Ren Yingying.
Ren Yingying is a cheerful person; even on the toughest days, she can still make everyone laugh.
"Yingying," Lu Jiu reminded her, "On my way here, I saw the Northern Yi bringing gifts."
"Oh? What gift are you giving?" Ren Yingying fiddled with something and applied it to her face.
It was late autumn and early winter, and the weather was very dry and uncomfortable; so she made her own moisturizing cream, and it turned out to be quite effective.
Lu Jiu said, "Cattle, sheep, and... women."
"Ah? A woman?" Ren Yingying paused what she was doing, her eyes gleaming with gossip. "What do Northern Yi women look like? I've never seen one before!"
I don't know if she's a beautiful woman from another race.
Lu Jiu was in a bit of an awkward situation.
She had always thought that Qu Nian and Ren Yingying had a good relationship and envied it, but she never expected that Ren Yingying was not jealous at all.
"Can you even dance? Is this all you've got?" Ren Yingying moved her neck, her movements alluring and seductive, her eyes sparkling like a fairy, leaving Lu Jiu completely mesmerized.
"Let's go take a look," she said enthusiastically.
Lu Jiu said awkwardly, "I won't go."
If this were to escalate into a fight, it wouldn't be good for her to be there.
"Okay, I'll go take a look."
However, when she arrived, she found that Qu Nian had guests, who the guards told her were Northern Yi.
"Where are the women?" Ren Yingying asked with a grin.
The guard was stunned. "What woman?"
Does the Crown Princess suspect that the Crown Prince is keeping a mistress?
Although Ren Yingying was disguised as a man, she couldn't hide it from her bodyguards.
"Those women the Northern Yi sent over!"
The guard hurriedly said, "The young master refused and had him taken away."
He has to clarify this matter!
Ren Yingying: "Huh? He wouldn't take it even if it were free? Is he stupid?"
Hurry up and bring in more women, let this scoundrel broaden his horizons, and stop him from clinging to her all the time, just trying to wag his tail – that's inappropriate for children.
Since she didn't see any beautiful women, she went back with little interest.
I've been so busy gossiping that I haven't even read Tangbao's message yet!
Finally, as autumn turned to winter, the border town resolved the housing and basic living issues for its people.
Despite the disaster, the people became more united, and the prestige of the Prince of Jin soared to unprecedented heights.
Autumn comes early to the border town; the first snow has already fallen in October.
The Prince's residence is about to welcome a new young master.